7 Deep Water Culture (DWC) tips to get your best ever results
Looking to get the most from your DWC system? Then follow our top tips to growing success.
Check your roots
Before you start growing in a DWC system you’ll need to make sure that there’s sufficient root growth before transplanting. Make sure there’s plenty of fine roots on show. They should be anywhere between 6-8cm long.
Maintain a consistent temperature in your system
Anywhere from 19oC – 21oC is ideal for growing using the Deep Water Culture. One way of doing this in colder weather is to add a heater to the reservoir of your DWC system.
Keep your pH stable
The range you should be aiming for with DWC is 5.7-6.3, at this range your plants will get the most from the nutrient solution in the reservoir.
Managing pH is simple, but if you’re looking for help, check out our guide to how to manage pH.
Make sure to keep your nutrients fresh
Change them every 14-21 days. Over time the nutrients in your deep water culture systems will need refreshing.
Some systems like IWS R-DWC will refresh the nutrients at timed intervals, though most don’t.
Rinse your media
Make sure to clean the dust from the pebbles, particularly if you’re using a pipe based DWC system. You don’t want to encourage any build up that might inhibit the flow of nutrients. You’ll really only ever be using a handful of clay pebbles, so this won’t take a long time.
Adjust your water levels
During the vegetative growth stage when the roots aren’t as full and thick, make sure that the water level is 2cm above the base of your net pot. When the roots have developed towards the flowering stage, you’ll want to let them get even more access to oxygen, so lowering the water level to 2cm underneath the basket is where it needs to be.
Keep the systems running
Unless your system is timed to refresh the nutrients, make sure they’re in operation 24/7.
For systems like an Oxypot, there’s no need to put them onto a timer to stop the system. Just keep it going the plants will take what they need.
BONUS TIP
Check your leaf colour!
If you find that your leaves are Brown, then there’s likely to a lack of oxygen in the root zone. If that’s the case, just make sure there are bubbles coming from the air stones in the reservoir.
A yellow colour to your leaves will likely mean the pH is too high. Give it a check and if necessary use a reputable pH down solution to correct this.
