60 days seedling to harvest auto grow

[Driver77]

I've got 3 of the Atlas seed Top Gun autos started up front and center and 2 Multiverse Genetics Star Froot autos in the rear. The Top Guns are advertised at 60 days seedling to harvest and I have hit that a couple times with them. The Star Froot are 70day plants supposedly....we shall see. Growing in an Aircube system with Jacks 321 under a Mars Hydro fc8000 with uv/ir/red supplements. I use the same res to feed my wick bases so starting them at a higher ec than recommended at 950ppm(700) with Hydroguard, Orca, and Hygrozyme. They usually get a shot of Fulvic and kelp at start of flower. I soaked seeds in a peroxide solution for 24hrs and then placed them in rockwool in the system. All are up and starting to grow. Seeds were stuck on the SF's but I managed to get them off without killing the seedlings Lets see how close to 60 days I can get....

 

[GrumpAzz]

Is there a reason you're using Hydroguard AND Orca? I'm pretty sure Hydroguard only contains one form of beneficial bacteria whereas Orca contains multiple bacteria and fungus strains including what comes in Hydroguard.

 

[Driver77]

Is there a reason you're using Hydroguard AND Orca? I'm pretty sure Hydroguard only contains one form of beneficial bacteria whereas Orca contains multiple bacteria and fungus strains including what comes in Hydroguard.

This is new for me with information gained on One_bell's thread. The Orca has myco's also that Hydroguard doesn't...supposedly they work great in combination. The enzymes are new also, again from that same thread. We shall see what happens.....
This is from "Claude" AI
Yes, you can use Hydroguard and Orca together in your hydroponic reservoir. These products are compatible and can complement each other well in your system.


Hydroguard contains beneficial bacteria (primarily Bacillus species) that colonize your root zone and help protect against pathogenic organisms. Orca is also a beneficial microbe product but contains mycorrhizal fungi along with various beneficial bacteria and trichoderma.


Using them together can provide:

• More comprehensive root zone protection
• Enhanced nutrient uptake
• Improved overall root health
• Different beneficial organisms that serve complementary functions

For best results, follow the manufacturer's recommended dosages for each product. Some growers prefer to alternate applications, while others add both products simultaneously at their respective recommended rates.

 

[GrumpAzz]

This is from our neighborhood expert...

Correct. On the next grow, we can plan for and implement a live res if that is your choice. That's what I typically do. I also like fungi down there like what you get in Orca or Great White. If you use them, you can skip the hydroguard. Hydroguard has 1 form of bacteria. Great white has many as well as helper fungi. It really helps with root health.

I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong but, to save you some money in the long run, Hydroguard + Orca is a bit redundant.

Either way

 

[Driver77]

This is from our neighborhood expert...

I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong but, to save you some money in the long run, Hydroguard + Orca is a bit redundant.

Either way

I agree...just want to see if it makes a difference and if so is it worth it. The myco's are what interest me the most...I was under the impression they were worthless in hydro. I used Great White in soil grows and love the stuff and I guess it could have been used instead, but the bottle was only $20 so cheap enough to play with. I could probably get away with running just the Orca but Hydrogaurd has been good to me so I'm sticking with it. Which gets us here where both will be in there for this run. lol But yes some redundancy going on here for sure.

 

[GrumpAzz]

Yeah it surely can't hurt to double-dose that particular strain.

I went with Orca over Great White with my hydro grows simply because it's in liquid form. Makes mixing it in super easy.

I use RapidRooter for seedlings and germination. Don't ask me why though

 

[Driver77]

Yeah it surely can't hurt to double-dose that particular strain.

I went with Orca over Great White with my hydro grows simply because it's in liquid form. Makes mixing it in super easy.

I use RapidRooter for seedlings and germination. Don't ask me why though

I read the Great White can sometimes leave a film or residue in hydro...that's what pushed me to Orca.
I've used Rapidrooters before....and the peat pucks and everything else under the sun lol. The peat puck seemed to work the worse for me...probably user error though. I like rockwool for hydro though.

 

[GrumpAzz]

I read the Great White can sometimes leave a film or residue in hydro...that's what pushed me to Orca.
I've used Rapidrooters before....and the peat pucks and everything else under the sun lol. The peat puck seemed to work the worse for me...probably user error though. I like rockwool for hydro though.

I misspoke. I do use the Rapid Rooters but above I meant to say Rapid Start.

I've had nearly 100% germination rates with Rapid Rooters though. The Root Riot grow plugs were a huge fail for me.

 

[Stoneyluv]

I read the Great White can sometimes leave a film or residue in hydro...that's what pushed me to Orca.
I've used Rapidrooters before....and the peat pucks and everything else under the sun lol. The peat puck seemed to work the worse for me...probably user error though. I like rockwool for hydro though.

it leaves a little agent in the bottom of the rez, next time i'm going to try mixing it first then siphoning off the top to try and leave the sand behind.

great white is said to be better than orca according to the manufacturer. it's the only reason i tried it this time.

 

[moe.red]

Yeah hydroguard is spores of Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens only.


Orca and great white have that plus a lot of others including other bacillus strains.
Southern ag has the same but is typically a lot cheaper.

It’s not a bad idea to double up if you have the bottles handy. Better in your res than going bad on the shelf. They are good for 6 months once the bottle is open per manufacturer. So you really only get 2 grows per bottle anyhow.