Stealth Auto Grow - LED

[Sheikster403]

Plants lookin good. How long are they expected to go before chop?

I'm looking to add a 2x3 veg tent but only 2 feet tall. I have a 2ft 4 bulb fixture on the way. How did your t5 fixture work for you? Any heat issues?

 

[NateDerWeise]

Thanks man! I'm expecting to let them go 70+ days so about another 46 days till harvest.

The t5 fixture worked great! I had a 2' 4 bulb fixture as well with 2×6500k and 2×3000k bulbs and as long as you keep the light 1-2" away from the tops it kicks ass, especially in veg. Even with the light being that close, as long as you have decent air circulation you shouldn't have any problems with heat.

These are on day 28 with just the 2' t5 fixture:

 

[Sheikster403]

Oh wow those are real short an bushy. What size pot were those?

How did you hang yours from the top of the tent ? I'm trying to figure out how to get as close to the top as possible.

 

[NateDerWeise]

They're 3 gal pots but I LST'd the crap out of them. All the hemp strings hanging down the sides of the pots are from tying the branches down. T5 lights work best when they're kept really close so I tried to train the canopy flat for even coverage.

I currently have my LED light hanging from 2 hooks screwed into the top of the cabinet, which gives the ladies a couple extra inches of head room. Previously, I had the T5 light suspended from the cross bars with adjustable hangers.

Hanging the light always results in a couple inches of dead space above the fixture so maybe you could create a frame to hold the light right at the top of the tent...

 

[Sheikster403]

How have you found training autos effecting the plants?

Thanks for the idea. I'll see what I can craft up.

 

[NateDerWeise]

Day 28:
Ended up training the plants a bit more...the screen is totally filled out on the Industrial Plant side now

Industrial Plant is flowering nicely! The flower development is definitely farther along than day 28 with the T5 light.

Haze plant doesn't seem to be flowering...I'm debating chopping it down and planting a Dutch Passion Frisian Dew Auto I'll probably let it go another 2 weeks though before doing anything drastic.

 

[NateDerWeise]

Opened the tent the other day after not checking in for 24 hours and to my dismay most of the oldest fan leaves had developed rust coloured spots and died...the discolorations had kind of a watercolor look to them.


I clipped off all the effected leaves and it seems to not be spreading (that was 2 days ago) but I'm pretty bummed at the bald spots left in my SCROG now...oh well!

The Haze is definitely flowering now so I guess that's good news.

 

[Tjohnsoniv1200]

Whats up @NaterDerWeise. The rust colored spots sound like some sort of deficiency...possibly CalMag. Make sure to check the pH levels and shoot for the 6.5-6.8 range. Too high or too low of pH could prevent the right nutes from getting to your girls. Sorry to see you are having some trouble.

 

[NateDerWeise]

Whats up @NaterDerWeise. The rust colored spots sound like some sort of deficiency...possibly CalMag. Make sure to check the pH levels and shoot for the 6.5-6.8 range. Too high or too low of pH could prevent the right nutes from getting to your girls. Sorry to see you are having some trouble.

Thanks @Tjohnsoniv1200! I checked the runoff pH and it's right at 6.5 so I'm thinking it's a magnesium deficiency like you said (starts in old growth and moves up). I'll swing by the hydro store after work and grab some CalMag

 

[Sheikster403]

What do you use to water? Do you check your ph every time before watering?

 

[NateDerWeise]

What do you use to water? Do you check your ph every time before watering?

I just use tap water that I allow the chlorine to evaporate out of. No I don't pH it every time, I probably should start though...

 

[Sheikster403]

I just use tap water that I allow the chlorine to evaporate out of. No I don't pH it every time, I probably should start though...

You don't PH after adding nutes?

 

[NateDerWeise]

Up until yesterday (dosed them with 3mL/gallon CalMag) I've been using powdered organic nutes in small amounts every 2 weeks, so there hasn't been a need for pHing the water. I got some bloom booster and brix molasses at the hydro store along with a roll of pH strips though so I'll be testing my water every time I add something now.

Plants aren't showing signs of deficiency anymore! I think I'm back on track

Day 36:

 

[NateDerWeise]

Just ordered a pH meter:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01ENFOHN8/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Time to step up my game! My goal is to have a flawless run one of these grow cycles so I'd better start making sure I'm not getting f@$&ed by my pH...Thanks for the input guys

Fed the plants some 3-6-5 Be-1 organic powdered nutes with 0-0-7.5 CytoPlus seaweed extract/micronutrients in addition to CalMag and brix molasses today (pHd to 6.5!).

I figured out what the issue was... I'm 99% sure I had a phosphorus deficiency (probably caused by my lack of pH monitoring) which looked precisely like this: (Thanks GrowWeedEasy!)


Otherwise the plants are doing great now. The Industrial Plant's bud development is light years ahead of where it was with the T5 light. I have a feeling I'm finally going to get the dense, chunky nugs I've been dreaming of growing...

Day 37:

 

[Sheikster403]

Haha that's crazy. I never PH'd my water when feeding. I was using only cal mag and molasses. I ran into the same phosphorus deficiency. Crazy ours happened at the same time. At first I thought the p300 was giving them light burn.

Your net looks full and bushy. I think you'll be satisfied with this run.

 

[Tjohnsoniv1200]

Looking good @NateDerWeise! Can't wait to hear about how those girls smell and taste!

 

[Gowing238]

What light cycle are you running? I'm planning similar with 18/6 lighting

 

[Squatch69]

Haven't seen an update from Nate in awhile now...

 

[NateDerWeise]

What light cycle are you running? I'm planning similar with 18/6 lighting

I'm doing a 21/3 light cycle

 

[NateDerWeise]

Haven't seen an update from Nate in awhile now...

Got my pH meter in the mail last Wednesday and to my dismay the water I've been feeding my plants tested at 7.8 !!... no wonder I've been having random/sudden nutrient deficiencies! After 2 waterings adjusted to 6.5 the leaves on the Haze plant are regaining some color and the Industrial Plant is looking frostier than ever!

Day 51:



The Industrial Plant should be ready to harvest in ~2ish weeks!