first hydro grow, need advice and feedback please - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

funtime1 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:01 AM

Hi all.

newbie here on GP and I'm working on my first hydro grow.
brief summary of my set-up:

DWC type set-up
(2) 18 gal storage totes with 6 3" net baskets in each
each grow tub has 3 airstones in it
dedicated airpump per grow tub
bagseed (it's all I had to work with - mixed unknown strains - some decent other only "so-so")
FoxFarm nutrients - used Big Grow for the vegging and now currently using the Tiger Bloom for flowering.

I started the seeds germinating in 1" rockwool cubes than put them in the netbaskets with hydroton pellets under floro lights for the first few days than replaced the floro light with my 400w HPS light.
Tried to keep the light as close as possible to the plants without causing heat stress or burnt plants but they stretched more than I wanted regardless.
My plan was to only veg a short time to keep overall height down, I wanted more numerous shorter plants rather than fewer taller plants - plan didn't seem to work.
I vegged for 4-5 weeks with 24/0 lighting until plants were about 18-20" than switched to 12/12 lighting and changed the nutrients to to Tiger Bloom.

I still keep the light as close as possible to the plants but had to keep raising them when the plants would grow literally right into the light - I have been averaging a good 1"-2" growth a day. I'm on day 22 under 12/12 and they are still growing!! height is now 60" on the two tallest plants and the lights were just raised yesterday again to the highest they can go, I have no more room to raise the light anymore if they keep growing.

Starting out with 12 seedlings, and with a small "incident" that made me lose 3 plants and cutting out a few males I'm left with 7 females. One is very, very small and being blocked from most of the light so I'm probably going to cut her out also to make more room for the other, better plants.

About a week or so after switching to 12/12 lighting I also added a clamp-type reflector light with two 45w CFL bulbs and another standing light fixture with 2 65w CFL bulbs just to fill in some shadow areas to suppliment the main 400w HPS light.

QUESTIONS:

1. I'm at 22 days under 12/12 lighting for flowering - approx when should I expect the plants to stop stretching and growing so much??

2. do the plants look about where they should be for 22 days flowering?

3. any overall comments on the grow that may help me?

I admit I went into this hydro grow completely 100% clueless what I was doing. the fact that anything grew at all is amazing to me so any feedback, advice, or constructive criticism is welcome.

funtime1 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:03 AM

just a few more pics of my set-up

SmokeToLive · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:06 AM

The leaves look to have good color. There are buds forming too. They should start to slow down soon if they haven't already, especially as it switches to focusing on bud production. But that is somewhat strain dependent.

Trainwreck · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:18 AM

Good looking crop!

Hatch · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:33 PM

Ya, It Look's Like You Are Doing Just Fine, They Are Happy Camper's & Loving Life!!EH!!!,,,Best Of Luck, Wishes & Karma On Your Growing.

funtime1 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:14 PM

thanks guys. good that everything seems to be OK.
I just hope they stop growing REAL soon as I only have 3-4" more before they are into the light again.

I guess at this point all I can do is try not to screw up to much and just keep them alive long enough to finish flowering and get thru to harvest time.

tokecrazy · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:53 PM

Hey Funtime1,There looking good,nice and green.They should stop the stretching now that buds are forming.If they get to close to the light you can bent them over and jangelize them to.You just tie the top over a little at a time till you get them to grow that way. It's easy.Your doing very well for the first time in hydro.Keep up the good work. Peace

funtime1 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 09:24 AM

Update - day 26 in 12/12 lighting for flowering

light is raised as high as it can possibly be raised
plants have reduced their stretching it seems but still have grown a bit - tallest plants are now 64" (5 feet, 4 inches).
they are only 3-4" below the light now so heat is an issue i'm trying to keep a close eye on.
I have an oscillating fan on high speed blowing whenever the light is on and i'm now keeping the closet door open to let as much heat out as possible.

Here are some pics from this morning

Raider_aod_2000 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-18-2009, 07:13 PM

There is a few easy things you can do that will help you out with your next harvest. 1st this you can do is line your walls with a reflective metalic paper so they dont stretch for the top lighting so fast and which will also cause them to be larger and strockier making them hold more bud. The 2nd is keeping them in their veg state for about a week longer than you would like, this will allow them to get a larger leaf area of effect so will gather more light and will cause them to resiste then need to grow to the light at a fast rate. Keeping them in the veg stage a bit longer also helps with producing more bud in the end because they will be a lot stronger from the wait. 3rd and final option is to just slowly bend them over as they get closer and closer. The only problem about bending your plant is that if they are weak from stretching, bending them will cause them to produce more bud then they can handle so they will crush themselves. I only recommend bending them if you have done any of the other steps for they will be able to handle to weight then. I hope this helps and i wish you good luck and a good harvest.