Checklist

This is a good daily check list to use for your grow room. This checklist ensures that your system is in top working order and the plants are happy.

Power and Timers

  • Check that your lights, pumps and fans are going on and off as scheduled whenever you can
  • Check your surge protectors are plugged in and the light is on

Air

  • Airflow – check that your fan is circulating air out properly and that your intake feels like it pulls in at least a little
  • CO2 – manually spray the leaves as often as possible or check your automated system
  • Temperature and humidity – monitor your temperature and humidity and adjust to keep within limits

Lights

  • Check their distance from the plants – use your arm to test if it is warm at the top of the plants. Move the lights as close to the plants as your arm is comfortable with and adjust as needed as the plants grow
  • If air cooled check that the fan is working and properly ventilating
  • Change bulbs every 4-6 months (I write the date on the outside of them with a dry erase marker and schedule in my phone) or as often as suggested by the manufacturer.

Water

  • Check the reservoir level, add only pure water or 50 nutrient/50 water solution. Make sure anything you add is always PH balanced and the solution is still balanced after you add it as well
  • PH –  between 5.6 and 6.0, ideally 5.8 in the reservoir and the Rockwool cubes. You can use a pipette to suck water our of the cube for testing
  • Medium – check your Hydroton for salt buildup. You will see powdery white buildup on the top of the hydroton only, especially on the pellets closest to the top
  • Rockwool Cube – check for mold, algae, and all those bad things. Also ensure that they never dry out and are always at least slightly moist. Remove any pieces that may come loose, it happens sometimes.
  • Water pump – check that it is properly flooding the tray and that the tray is draining back into the reservoir in the proper amount of time
  • Air pump and air stones – ensure they are not clogged and you see a fully bubbling tank
  • Check your flush and nutrient schedule which will be about every two weeks. Schedule a reminder in your phone

Plants

  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Pests – look on the top and bottom of leaves, check the stems, medium and the reservoir
  • Discoloring of leaves, stems or roots
  • Wilting of leaves or stems
  • Roots – ensure there is no rotting, discoloring, sludge, etc.

Short Version

I have this laminated up on walls on both sides of the grow room to remind me of this regular routine.

Daily Checklist for the Grow Room

Power and Timers

  • Check lights
  • Check surge protectors

Air

  • Airflow
  • CO2
  • Temperature and humidity

Lights

  • Distance from plants
  • Check ventilation if air cooled
  • Change bulbs (schedule)

Water

  • Reservoir level
  • PH level –  5.6 to 6.0
  • Hydroton medium
  • Rockwool cube
  • Water pump
  • Air pump and air stones
  • Check flush and nutrient schedule

Plants

  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Pests (look under leaves)
  • Discoloring
  • Wilting
  • Roots