Day 55/12
Right hand side is just starting to age up now, the red/purple pigments just started to change today so they are gonna be degrading to a brown color over the next week and a bit, the green pheno seeds i expect to finish later than the others just with how things are looking for it.
As for the LECA/Rockwool side, im partially at a loss for tackling what i want to happen.
This is my condensed thoughts over the last while, In order to utilize the LECA how i want i need to try and see how i can maximize lateral advantageous root develop. Currently the roots have been driving down following the water right to the drain holes for the res with long water style roots, now i would like the roots to utilize and be contained within the pots instead so im trying to think how to alter that to suit.
The direction well at least my thought on it is i need to try and maximize lateral growth early, whether say possible tap root trimming early if really needed or possibly myself running a lot lower watering frequency on the start utilizing the rockwool and directly watering it. Idea im thinking is to concentrate a center top moisture zone with the rockwool being wetter and holding onto moisture more so than the LECA around it. The reason im thinking that is that lateral air style roots would be more likely to form and can fill up the spaces between the leca a bit easier till there are enough roots in place to hold onto and access more water, once im at that stage then i can progress to a forced watering situation where more water style roots would be forming, but being that the roots spread out a bit better earlier on then hopefully im starting with a better base vs say having roots drive down and first fill the bottom of the pot then slowly fill up the gaps as more roots fill the space.
Honestly there seems to be very little of the more advance knowledge on LECA/Hydroton use out there, typically its only basic typical beginner stuff that ive been running across, sure the odd person, growlog or more like snippet of info where you can see things are being utilize effectively, but also a lot of hydro “water” systems just utilizing it as a bridge or support media and just growing in water anyways. It just makes me question why im not seeing more “good” grows with it, or just thats its a more challenging media to truly utilize it effectively…
Anyways kinda rambling there, but adjusted the watering frequency quite a bit back tonight, changed one side to be a bit longer span between waterings yesterday and it was the better looking set today, so i need to play around, as really i have no clue or at least feel that way currently with it.