Well 1 week till I harvest 3 Chrystal and a White Rhino grown together in homemade 4-pot bubbler system using Ionics.

This was my first attempt at hydro and it has been dead easy. They are 4-5' high plus a runt. I will try to get some pics up later but I have the crappiest camera in the world.

Temps range between 72-82%, RH 45-50.

Up until 2 days ago I had been growing under 1x400W HPS. I then introduced a second and at the same time switched over to a weak mixture of Bio Bizz ferts and changed light regime over to 13/11. I intend flushing for last 2 days with pH-adjusted water. Do you think this is a good way to end the grow or should I have kept it simpler?

Also, looking back I'm sure I could have used leccy more productively. Will extra 400W make any difference now. Does anyone see a problem in setting airpump to 15mins on followed by 15 off, throughout. I also have 4 clones vegging in flood and drain set-up with drippers. At the moment both pumps are set to come on for half hour every 3 hours. Does anyone know of a more productive cycle?

Anyway, thanks to all at uk420 for all the support. It's been a wonderful journey and I can't wait for the final party.

Just a couple of points that are my personal opinions...

I would flush for the last 7-10 days with GH Ripen not pH adjusted water, and the airstones I would run 24/7 but there's nothing wrong in your schedule...

My drippers I feed 18/6 whatever the lighting regime, I am no expert with NFT so can't comment there, sorry!

I hope that you get plenty from your harvest

Thanks for good will G-Whizz!

I'll order Ripen but not sure if it will arrive in time as I was hoping to harvest at Day 55. Today is 50 so I will probably stick with what I'm doing. If I decide to wait 2 weeks I'll use it, else, I will be interested to see difference it makes to next grow.

I've also got 2 2month old Chrystal in Bio Bizz Pre-mix, which I started from seed; and 4 clones in a tubbler setup which will go into flower room when I harvest from bubblers. The Crystal looks great and I'll see how she smokes but better genetics are available, I'm sure. I also kept 2 WR mums from which I will take a bunch of cuttings for another grow.

I'll let you know how the harvest goes as it happens.

Another question I didn't answer concerns air supply to res.

I usually top up bubblers from res. every second night so it seems pointless to have a powerhead oxygenating it 24/7. I have a lot of air at the roots coming from a compressor which is, surely, all I need. I understand organic ferts need a regular supply to prevent stagnation but not Ionics.

Does anyone use organic ferts when leeching? I managed to keep all fan leaves a healthy green colour right up to harvest at 62 days.

Never heard of it before, but sounds like it could be a good idea for hydro growers who want to kepp their plants nice and green all the way up to the end.

Can you tell us more about the plants?

This was my first attempt at hydro and it looks like I got about 5Oz off 3 plants(1WR and 2Chrystal). I flowered them all for 60 days then 48hrs dark and straight water for last 24hrs. I used Ionics up to day 48, then switched over to Bio Bizz Grow, Bloom and TopMax.

I used a little CannaPK13/14(Day39) as well as Ionic Boost and PPM level got a bit high over next couple of days. I kept it back at around 2000 for a week then stopped H2O2 and changed over to BioBizz organic nutes.

2 weeks should be long enough for a healthy number of microrganisms to flourish. Traces of chemical ferts were disposed of but no flushing. I reduced PPM to 500 over a few days - then H2O only.

After slight potassium OD there was no noticeable yellowing to even largest fan leaves. Not sure what these strains are like normally but I didn't lose a single leaf. Buds were covered in crystal and are going to be a lovely smoke.

. Que honda UK420.

I've read Chrystal matures very late but 62 days was definitely enough as 80% of hairs had turned and trich's looked ready - second grow remember. Smaller leaves were very dark green and others yellowed slightly.

Pheno was same for both Chrystal - they had a lot of sat. Both 5'; narrow leaves; long side branches etc. Strainguide suggests usually more short, indica. WR was also 4.5' which is taller than usual. They all really took off in second week flower. Even the runt was atleast 3' but slight(15grams!).

Anyway, the buzz is really a head-high. Could be smoother and tastier but hasn't cured yet. I leeched for 24hrs 1000PPM, 24hrs at 500PPM then 24hrs just water.

I reasoned that all chemicals would have been used up over the 10 days on organic feed and final leeching would use up any reserves in leaves. Organic ferts could be used at full strength right up till then. Also different forms of nutes could help prevent any last minute deficiency.

I did wonder if 10/14 days would be long enough for plant to ingest whole variety of microorganisms but it wouldn't be for too long as last of chemical ferts passed through system.

Anyway, hope this is interesting to someone Cheers K