First Grow Wisdom - Page 2 - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

insub4u2 · #21 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 06:46 PM

It amazes the simplest things you learn. Now to me, logically, you'd water just the plant, so your point is well taken. Also, seeing why not to pot them too big, takes a ton of water they aren't using yet. Those are three 3 gallon, and 2 five, I put the 2 biggest girls in the 5's. I also planted the peat pots about an inch under the soil to give the stems more strength. Oscillating fan on low blowing 24 hours. The soil is VERY loose, drains really well, which is another problem till they grow up, water drains out from under.

Thanks for the input!

SmokeToLive · #22 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 06:58 PM

Hey, I just wanted to wish you good luck. I'll be watching your grow! Thanks!

jangel · #23 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:12 PM

Hey Insub, how long ago did you plant those in the big pots? maybe you could put them in smaller ones without too much drama.

Peace

insub4u2 · #24 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:26 PM

I potted them on 2/4, one week ago. They seem to be adapting well, and suddenly getting much stronger. May have been having the light too close too soon. Stays plenty cool 12" away. I plan to top them once or twice, after the 4th node.

insub4u2 · #25 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:30 PM

Hey, Jang-meister, being an optimist, I expect them to grow a foot this week, so repotting will be a moot point, lol!!

Oh, hey, just got Indonsian Bat doo doo for flowering, and have Karma and Big Bloom on the way. What should I do with the Karma at this stage?

jangel · #26 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 07:37 PM

You should just look at the karma at this point.

Couldn't resist! They are fine, leave them alone and let them grow in peace. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it. As long as they are doing well, do what you are doing. There is enough in that soil to get them going well for now. More plants are killed by over feeding than under feeding.

Peace

chadman01 · #27 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 08:32 PM

Great thread and goodluck with your grow. I'll be watching this one. There is already a ton of good info in here for novice growers like myself. Thanks for the good read so far.

insub4u2 · #28 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 08:44 PM

Maybe I should take up a hobby, while I'm waiting for them to grow up, or they'll never get any peace!!! LOL, any suggestions? Hacky-sack? Wii? Basket weaving?

insub4u2 · #29 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 08:48 PM

Thanks, Chad, welcome! Hey, since I had to write a grow journal anyway, thought I may as well do it like this. Besides, I didn't want anyone else to ever go thorugh all that readin' and shit, lol! Someone should invent a push button pot growing machine!!

Ooops, gotta go! Gilligans Island is coming on!!

insub4u2 · #30 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Ok, woke up this morning and the babies are finally taking off, grew an inch in 12 hours!! It seems they enjoy less light, and do better with the 430 watt higher, about 24 inches from the tops, and slow down at 12 inches. Mines the 430 SON AGRO with 430 watt ballast, so more blue for vegging. I know light degrades with distance, and my temps are well controlled, so could put it 8 inches away, but that seems to slow growth. They are 17 days old today, and tallest is about 4.5 inches. At this rate, they will be ready to flower in under 30 days, which is fine by me.

Does anyone have a feel for distance with their HPS, and how it affects their grow rates? I mean I've read all the charts, and stats, that imply closer is better, but hey, a little distance seems to jump start these White Widows.

Here's some pics:

Zigzagman · #31 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 10:36 AM

Ola insub4u2, seedlings are fragile when young, you can start moving the light closer now and the rule of thumb is, keep the top of your bare hand at the plant height and if you can't leave your hand there comfortably, back
the lights off abit. Closer is better.

insub4u2 · #32 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 10:54 AM

Thanks, I know about the hand thing, I could put them 6 inches away, and hand is really cool still with all the air flow. Just curious about what others have discovered with HPS lights, as my limited experience is teaching that closer isn't always better? I think maybe what I'm learning is not to rush babies, rush the adolescents with more light, nutes, etc?

jangel · #33 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 10:57 AM

Just make sure what you are seeing is not stretching because they are too far from the light. But for seedlings, they do not need too much light and you should gradually get them closer over time. Put your hand under the light. Feel that point where it is just warm, not hot, and that is where you want them to be and stay when they are a bit older. Can you post a pic so I can see the new growth you are talking about, babes? This is why people like cool tubes as thier plants can be far closer to the light and therefore get more benefit from the light.

Peace

jangel · #34 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigzagman

Ola insub4u2, seedlings are fragile when young, you can start moving the light closer now and the rule of thumb is, keep the top of your bare hand at the plant height and if you can't leave your hand there comfortably, back
the lights off abit. Closer is better.

LOL! Must of been answering at the same time, Zig, except I talk more!

Peace

insub4u2 · #35 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 11:18 AM

Yes, will post pics later today when I can so you can see what I'm talking about, not an expert, but these are looking pretty good! They don't seem to be stretching at all, and only have about one straggler now, and she seems to be catching up. Stems are really thickening up, and turning purplish red in spots. Biggest plant is starting it's third node, was planning to top once on each plant between 4-5 node, to control height and branch out the tops to fill the room nicely.

I think what is helpful for me is sharing results, since if you haven't done this before, you have an idea what you are looking for, but not sure exactly what to expect with all your individual variables. TIP: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

Just watered today AROUND THE EDGES (thanks, J-angel!) of the pot, and watched the moisture soak towards the center. Hey, while we're on that subject, distilled water is going to get expensive, and don't like having 20 jugs in my trash. What's everyone's feelings on Tap water? I already use it in my humidifier, and ph it with a few drops of lemon juice to bring it down to about a 6, then let it sit out for AT LEAST 2 days to allow chlorine to evap, but haven't used it yet on my plants. To throughly water 5 plants in 3-5 gal pots, it's already taking almost 2 gallons, and expect it'll take a lot more the bigger they get. Watering every 4 days Growing completely organic, so don't want to muck it up with crappy water that will kill all the good bugs. What do you guys think?

Zigzagman · #36 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 12:07 PM

Water is heavy too.....
I use a GE cartridge filter, carbon core replacements are $15.00 a pair at H.D. or Lowe's, good for about 200 Galls a pop. Decant it for a day and then I mix my feed. pH is 7.1 and I use F.F. products so my balanced pH runs about 6.5, works for me.

insub4u2 · #37 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 05:05 PM

Thanks, Zig!! Doh, never thought of a water filter, lol. Back to Lowes....sigh......wonder what I'll forget this time!!

Zigzagman · #38 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 05:21 PM

The cheap way of hooking one up is with a hose bib connection, I have a utility tub with a course thread head, I run thru hoses and use a garden gun end, really cheap and disappears when not in use, when you notice the pressure dropping, change the filter

insub4u2 · #39 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 09:20 PM

Ok, stayed out too late last night, so chilling and finding out my digital camera actually has settings for close ups, low light, and vibration, can you believe it?!!! Is this a great country, or what?!!

So, thought I'd put it to good use. Lot's of pics tonight, so you won't get boret. So, grab some popcorn, sit back in that old easy chair, shoes off, cold one, if you're so moved, and enjoy.

First some tips, get some of these little white hooks at Wally World for 1.69, and use them to route your cords. Rather than tie them up, put them wherever you want to hold all the light , ballast, fan cords etc. Keeps everything nice an snug and out of the way, so you can enjoy your grow later on.

I hung my fan slightly above where the light will hang in flower, so it is also always blowing down and around my light as well as my plants, stays nice and cool, abut 78 degrees right now 18" under the hps.

I always keep a couple water jugs in the room, so water will be the same temp as plants, measuring cups, etc. Was thinking of building a shelf higher up, but remember,if you're in a confined space like I am, and if you're clumsy like me(sometimes!), there's a danger of knocking stuff off on your babies, it vibrating off, etc. To fix that, nail a small 1"' strip around your shelfs to keep stuff from falling off, or if you use that wire shelving, turn it upside down so you'll have a ridge along the front of your shelve. Case in point, I came in to take pics, and found my thermometer on top of a seedling! The fan had blown it off eventually. Babies ok though.

Tip #3- Hang a Hooters calender right above your grow light so your plants can see what you want them to grow up to be. This has been proven to dramatically increase the number of females in your grow.

Here's what my closet grow has grown into:

insub4u2 · #40 (**permalink**) 02-13-2009, 09:39 PM

Here's a look at 17. What do you guys think? I noticed a few very pale yellow spots on one or two plants, but they are on the lower leaves, and think it was from when I was misting them under the light, and burning them, doh!!!!

Moving right along, I've got some Indo bat guano for flowering, and had to have some Big Bloom, just to say I have some too! But thinking of just a T or two of guano when time to flower. Mix has got 1/2 cup per gal now, so pretty darn rich, as I've read a lot of advice of only a T per gal, which would have been a whole lot cheaper!!

Oh well, looking good, comin together. I feel more like I do now than I did when I first got here!

Happy Valentines day to all the girls!! Guys, I'll buy you a beer.