What are the watering cycle timelines for various hydroponic systems?
Once the reservoir is filled with nutrients, it is time to put your hydro system to work! The ease of hydroponics is automation – automation is achieved by putting the pump on a timer according to your watering needs. The watering cycle depends on growth stage, growing medium and hydroponic system. In an ebb and flow or drip system with rockwool as the medium, seedlings, clones and plants in the early vegetative stage require watering only once a day for 15-30 minutes (twice a day for higher temps). Mature, flowering and fruiting plants require a heavier feed and can be fed once a day for 30 minutes (twice a day for higher temps). Typically soiless mixes and coco fiber can be watered for about 15 minutes twice a day, and can be adjusted for heavier feeding during the flowering and fruiting stage or higher temps. ViaStone, Hydroton, Grow Rocks, and Silicate mediums need to be watered more frequently – a constant drip for drip systems, and about 15-30 minutes every 3 hours for ebb and fl
