My neighbor helped me set up a DWC and now I’m troubleshooting.

[Belle Snugleaf]

I'm in Milwaukee and my neighbor helped me build a basic hydroponics rig using a 3.5-gallon DWC bucket and a single net pot. I transplanted a seedling from rockwool once the roots were showing but after 5 days in a weak nutrient solution, the stem is still soft and no roots have dropped. I lowered the water level and switched to distilled water with a pH around 5.8. It's under a 120W LED at about 9 inches and the leaves are trying to open. Should I wait longer before adding nutrients again or try a root booster?

 

[JackPumpkin]

You're babying it too much. Constantly swapping water and chasing pH is more stress than the plant can handle. Five days is nothing... stop fussing and let it do its thing. Add a weak feed back in or it's gonna starve.

 

[plastic.catcher]

I'd hold off on nutrients for now and let the roots establish a bit in just water. A mild root booster can help, but don't overdo it just yet

 

[Belle Snugleaf]

I've received some conflicting information here so I want to be sure before I act. One of you suggests adding a weak feed immediately while the other recommends holding off on nutrients. My seedling is still very young and has not dropped roots into the water yet. For a plant at this early stage, what's the more immediate danger, starving from a lack of food or burning from a weak solution?

 

[joecettina]

Ive always started the seedling with a General hydroponic flora series nutrient schedule. of 1/4 tsp per gal of FloraMicro, FloraGrow, FloraBloom, and 1 tsp of Cal-Mag. check PH after nutrients and adj 5.5 to 6.5 In my 15 gal container, I put 6 gal of nutrient mixture, an air stone, an aquarium heater, and a pump that pumps oxygenated nutrients. on top of the net pot with hydrostone. check out growweedeasy website they have a very good growing info

 

[Belle Snugleaf]

Ive always started the seedling with a General hydroponic flora series nutrient schedule. of 1/4 tsp per gal of FloraMicro, FloraGrow, FloraBloom, and 1 tsp of Cal-Mag. check PH after nutrients and adj 5.5 to 6.5 In my 15 gal container, I put 6 gal of nutrient mixture, an air stone, an aquarium heater, and a pump that pumps oxygenated nutrients. on top of the net pot with hydrostone. check out growweedeasy website they have a very good growing info

Thanks for laying out your mix. You're the only one so far who gave exact nutrient ratios, while earlier replies leaned more toward waiting and letting roots establish. Since my seedling is still small, I'll probably start with a weaker version of your formula and monitor pH closely. Did you notice any burn when starting that early, or did the Cal-Mag buffer it enough?