beginner

[serene1]

I'm glad I found this place. I am new here and I am growing peppers in an ebb and flood system for the first time. I was totally inspired by the article I read in "Urban Garden", with Fatalii. So I built an Ebb and Flood system. I started my seeds in soil and later moved them to rockwool. When they got big enough I moved them to the Ebb and Flood table. I started flooding the table twice a day, but the rockwool cubes seem to stay too wet, holding ALOT of water. Should I flood the table less often? Should the water be heated? should I keep light on them 24/7 for now? My plants look pretty good but at this point, I'm stumped!

[MasaT]

My plants look pretty good but at this point, I'm stumped!

Are you sure you don`t worrie too mutch?
I don`t grow in water but if your plants are looking healthy why worried?

[serene1]

I am a worrier. This I do not deny, but this defect in character could very well work to my advatage. I am new at hydro and if I am making any mistakes, it is better to know now than too late! This just seems to be alot more water than I am used to.

[Fatalii]

Hi Serene1!

Glad the Urban Garden magazine article was useful for you!

Don't worry, it's all simple from there on!
When the plants are still small, it's okay the rockwool cubes are small, when the roots grow a little, you can lower the surface of the nutrient solution from the growing container by using overflow tube to prevent the oversaturating of the cubes.
If you are growing in a humid space, like greenhouse, you can flood only once a day or even less.
But for small plants, I recommend twice a day during the luminous period.
I always give the plants some rest, so something like 16 hours (or whatever you prefer) is very good period for chiles.

As long as your plants look good, you shouldn't be nervous.
Just enjoy the growing, the plants will then enjoy it too!

I will be updating the hydroponic section very soon, any feedback is appreciated for ideas here or at feedback section. It would be very good to know what chileheads would like to know more about. I try to include as spesific information as possible.

A little offtopic but worth mentioning:
I get lots of questions about the measures of the nutrients. It's impossible to tell how you should portion out the nutrients as it depends on the growing conditions and varieties. Actually, the needs of the nutrients with chile varieties and especially species can vary as much as between completely different plants!
I could give some amounts, but then, most likely I would just confuse people and limit the  variation possibilities you could try with nutrients.
The amounts on the floramato bottle are good to start with! Just remember to use very mild solutions for cuttings and small seedlings.

Good luck! I'll be happy to help you with any questions if I possibly can!

I'm glad I found this place. I am new here and I am growing peppers in an ebb and flood system for the first time. I was totally inspired by the article I read in "Urban Garden", with Fatalii. So I built an Ebb and Flood system. I started my seeds in soil and later moved them to rockwool. When they got big enough I moved them to the Ebb and Flood table. I started flooding the table twice a day, but the rockwool cubes seem to stay too wet, holding ALOT of water. Should I flood the table less often? Should the water be heated? should I keep light on them 24/7 for now? My plants look pretty good but at this point, I'm stumped!

[JungleRain]

Hi Serene1
welcome from Australia
I used to use a ebb and flow ( flood and drain) with rock wool, how old are your seedlings now? at first you only need to water every other day, its a bit of a trial and error as each hydro system is different. I have adapted my flood and drain now to a recycling drip system using coco coir and clay ball mix, I found this a better and cheaper medium.
Grant

[serene1]

Thanks to every one for the warm welcome. This is great, being able to talk to other chile heads around the world. Also, thanks for the input. A 16 hour break from time to time sounds like a good idea.
I do not have a greenhouse but I was thinking of putting an ebb and flo table on my back patio. But it seems that the water in the reservoir will heat up to quickly and too hot.  I live in Indiana (u.s) and the summers here can get in the mid 90's F and extremely humid. How could I accomplish this?

[serene1]

Grant
My plants are about 7 weeks old. Thanks for your welcome. So, the coco coir and clay ball mix sounds interesting.
Is this a 50/50 mix?  Whats the ratio? How often do your plants need to feed?

Hi Serene1
welcome from Australia
I used to use a ebb and flow ( flood and drain) with rock wool, how old are your seedlings now? at first you only need to water every other day, its a bit of a trial and error as each hydro system is different. I have adapted my flood and drain now to a recycling drip system using coco coir and clay ball mix, I found this a better and cheaper medium.
Grant

[Fatalii]

Hmm.. I also have very hot solution in the reservoirs during the summer inside the greenhouse. It's not optimum but still, the plants grow very nicely, thanks to EBB system. In my humid greenhouse coco was too wet for chiles so I use just expanded clay, it's also easier to keep clean between the seasons. It might be that coco is better at dry places.

[serene1]

When growing outdoors, I will probably use white containers for my reservoir, so they don't absorb so much heat.
Is it necessary to use an airstone in the reservoir? I did have one in there but now it's being used for my DWC system. Thanks again for all your help! I'll try not to ask too many questions. But, you've been an inspiration for me in my little corner of the world!

[Fatalii]

No need for airstone if you use other ways of oxygenizing the water. Water pumps and EBBs etc make it much more effectively than air pumps which are more for decorative use

Just ask you you have questions, this forum is exactly for that and I'm happy to help when ever I can!

Thanks for your kind words also!

[snu]

A little late answer, but you can also paint a black reservoir white, or with some kind of mirroring paint. If the reservoir is white to begin with, it will let the light to the water, and it may cause some unwanted growth in there.