SmokingCali's Ghetto CFL Grow

[SmokingCali3]

I had a few Kosher Kush and bag seeds from a past grow so I decided to throw them in the dirt. The Kosher Kush seeds were germed and planted simultaneously and later on I germed the bag seeds and planted them. I eventually want to move them outdoors after i determine the sex. They were on a 18/6 light schedule for the first two weeks then i switched over to a 12/12. I bought a basic soil PH/moisture meter from homedepot but, I couldnt get a proper reading so, I know I will have to find a decent one soon. Temps on both grows range from 80-90 with the lig hts on mid day then drops down below 80 later in the day. RH ranges from 20%-40%. I had a little flying aphid problem but i corrected it by allowing the top soil to dry up a bit. I have the lights approximately 4-6 inches away from my babies.I eventually want to move all of them to bigger pots once the sex is determined on the bag seeds.

What Im using:
.Vigoro all purpose potting soil
.Dixie cups
Tap water
.Panda paper
.35gal Tote
.(3) 23W 5000k CFL, (1) 23W 2700k CFL
.2 speed fan for air circulation

The larger plants are another grow

what Im using:
.Vigoro all purpose potting soil
.Dixie cups
.Tap water
.Panda paper
.2 speed fan for air circulation
.(6) 23W 5000k CFL, (1) 23W 2700k CFL
.

I have a few questions regarding the bigger plants. Can I sex them at the length they are now? Should I begin nutes after 5 week stage? I also want to eventually move them all outside into my greenhouse. *Note* The Kosher Kush seeds were already fem.

 

[SmokingCali3]

I forgot two pics

 

[robnarley1111]

They look good so far!
One thing I would recommend is that you get some perlite, and mix it in at about a 30% ratio with the soil you're using. That way, you will get proper drainage, and it will be much harder to over water.

Do you know the N-P-K/nutrient content of the soil you're using? It's possible that your plants don't need any nutrients, but it all depends on your plants and what they are "telling" you.

One way to know if it's time to feed them is: The color of the leaves are starting to get a lighter-green than your plants usually are; that's a sign that it's time to feed them nutrients.

I usually feed after 2 weeks from seed, but I am using soil less and there are no nutrients at all in the medium. Your mileage will vary with soil...depending on what yours has.

--

You can tell the sex of your plants once they are "sexually mature" enough. At that time, they will show usually show pre-flowers that indicate sex. Usually plants start to reach maturity at or by 6 week. Do you notice any male or female pre-flowers showing anywhere?

 

[SmokingCali3]

Thanks for the reply robnarley1111. The NPK content of the Vigoro potting mix im using is 0.07/0.04/0.03. My plan was to let the soil feed them for a few weeks and like you said, if I notice any changes on the leaves then add a 1/4 strength mix of nutrients. 4 of the bigger plants have already began to show signs of pre-flowers and so far no balls! lol

 

[robnarley1111]

Lol. That's a good thing! Yeah, your N-P-K is pretty good...low enough so you don't have to really worry about burning your plants unless you really "hit" 'em hard!

 

[SmokingCali3]

Alright so I'm having a bit of downward curling and yellowing of leaves on the 1st of leaves on the lower nodes of a few plants. I suspect thats just because I havent given them any nutes yet. I put a few drops of super thrive in a 1gal sprayer and sprayed the leaves hopefully that helps. I also have a question on my soil mix when I put them outside in the ground. I've decided on using a 50/50 organic mix with woodchips,chicken poop and clover. I'm not sure if I want go organic and start off with bat guano or just use this fox farm trio I have lying around. I will also be foliar spraying early in the am before the sun comes up with kelp. I have a gravity irrigation setup to water them 2 times a day 30min cycles.

 

[SmokingCali3]

Any advice on if I should use this fox farm trio I have already or should i just feed with organics? I don't have much experience with organics btw but, Ive read loads of threads and took notes just in case I decide to go organic.

 

[SmokingCali3]

So i decided on saving some money and just using the fox farm nutes. I have recently come into a grow area I can use outside and I want to move them from indoors to outdoors. Currently I have them on a 18/6 light schedule. Do I need to harden the plants with a few hours of real sun light for a week and then move them outdoors? Or can I plant them straight into the ground? Im in cali so the days are longer now we are getting about 16 hours of day light already.

 

[B166ER420]

I definitely recommend hardening them off for a few days..
Good luck with your grow

 

[skinnysmoke]

So i decided on saving some money and just using the fox farm nutes. I have recently come into a grow area I can use outside and I want to move them from indoors to outdoors. Currently I have them on a 18/6 light schedule. Do I need to harden the plants with a few hours of real sun light for a week and then move them outdoors? Or can I plant them straight into the ground? Im in cali so the days are longer now we are getting about 16 hours of day light already.

I've always heard that recommended but have never done it. I have put 2 autos out 2 different strains (NLxBigBud, Dark Devil) both straight from cfls to direct sunlight in seedling stage. Also have done this with schwag seeds with no issues. Not sure of what to tell you because if it was me I would plant 1 and harden 1 to see if there is a difference. I can tell you that with my plants have never seen an issue, but your strains may react differently so experiment. Good Luck!

P.S. Wish I could plant in the ground

 

[skinnysmoke]

So i decided on saving some money and just using the fox farm nutes. I have recently come into a grow area I can use outside and I want to move them from indoors to outdoors. Currently I have them on a 18/6 light schedule. Do I need to harden the plants with a few hours of real sun light for a week and then move them outdoors? Or can I plant them straight into the ground? Im in cali so the days are longer now we are getting about 16 hours of day light already.

16hrs of direct sun! Your gonna have crazy bud. Are you doing an outdoor thread for these?

 

[SmokingCali3]

No I dont have an outdoor thread on these. Maybe a MOD can switch my thread over to the Outdoor forum. Thanks for the replies guys, more pics coming soon!