The big switch, HPS to LED

[Hashman0042]

First, it's "guerilla".



Now, to be of help, you really have to be pulling better than one per light before you start thinking about expanding. You need to figure out why you aren't pulling better numbers with your current setup. You might want to consider hydro, but I know that some of the soil guys here on RIU crush it, so if that is what you're comfortable with, than stay with it. You might want to look into the "super soil" threads(is it super soil? build a soil? soil guys, help me out here) if you're just running store bought soil.

My suggestions for upgrading your current setup -----> Consider purchasing 4 315s. Sell 2 of your 1Ks. Put the 315s in the corners, with the remaining 1K in the middle. You'l probably pul the same numbers, while using less heat and elec. Get remote ballast 315s. Or, replace your 3 1Ks with 3 750 DEs. Or go LED, but the initial light purchase will be substantially more than my first 2 suggestions.

Last, LEDs don't use half the power consumption. With current tech, you need about 75% of the watts you would need for an DID setup, meaning it takes 650 to 800 watts of LED to replace a 1K. They still generate heat, but you can run less watts, which equates to less heat.



Oh, and stop referring to yourself as a commercial grower. That term tends to apply to licensed growers. You're just a grower, dude.

Here are a few pics. They are the last week of flower. I try to keep them about 70% milky 20% amber and 10% clear. Maybe you could see something i dont. I use a water softener to keep water levels around normal. Also fox farm nutes. Soil does need a bit more perlite light added in. Like you said before i am going to mix up my own super soil but i need to find a soil that will be good for the AK47. I have over a 1000 seed of Ak so finding a soil to fit them is a must. These are just a few i took of last harvest. Thats about a week before chop down

 

[coreywebster]

Here are a few pics. They are the last week of flower. I try to keep them about 70% milky 20% amber and 10% clear. Maybe you could see something i dont. I use a water softener to keep water levels around normal. Also fox farm nutes. Soil does need a bit more perlite light added in. Like you said before i am going to mix up my own super soil but i need to find a soil that will be good for the AK47. I have over a 1000 seed of Ak so finding a soil to fit them is a must. These are just a few i took of last harvest. Thats about a week before chop downView attachment 4439516

Here is your number one problem dude. You chopping them way too soon. I would be looking at at least 3 more weeks on those plants. Possibly longer.
Zero sign of pistils receding and most are white. Your not giving them chance to put most of the weight on.

Your soil is doing you no favours either, ditch it and either go hydro or coco so you have full control of what they are feeding.

Edit, I would consider a bit of topping or super cropping to take away the apical dominance too. 4 good colas will beat one massive one in yield.

 

[a mongo frog]

Here are a few pics. They are the last week of flower. I try to keep them about 70% milky 20% amber and 10% clear. Maybe you could see something i dont. I use a water softener to keep water levels around normal. Also fox farm nutes. Soil does need a bit more perlite light added in. Like you said before i am going to mix up my own super soil but i need to find a soil that will be good for the AK47. I have over a 1000 seed of Ak so finding a soil to fit them is a must. These are just a few i took of last harvest. Thats about a week before chop downView attachment 4439516

You should just try one LED and see how you like it. You obviously have shit dialed in as far as plant health. Those are nice plants in anyones book.

 

[Hashman0042]

Here is your number one problem dude. You chopping them way too soon. I would be looking at at least 3 more weeks on those plants. Possibly longer.
Zero sign of pistils receding and most are white. Your not giving them chance to put most of the weight on.

Your soil is doing you no favours either, ditch it and either go hydro or coco so you have full control of what they are feeding.

90% of the time i go by what the loop shows me. If those trichomes are 70% milky i chop them down. The last time i let them go full term my customers bitched about couch lock. What % would you suggest

 

[diggs99]

Here is your number one problem dude. You chopping them way too soon. I would be looking at at least 3 more weeks on those plants. Possibly longer.
Zero sign of pistils receding and most are white. Your not giving them chance to put most of the weight on.

Your soil is doing you no favours either, ditch it and either go hydro or coco so you have full control of what they are feeding.

Edit, I would consider a bit of topping or super cropping to take away the apical dominance too. 4 good colas will beat one massive one in yield.

I was thinking exactly all of this. Those buds are still firing off whites everywhere, they look to have atleast 2-3 weeks left and atleast another swelling phase.

 

[diggs99]

90% of the time i go by what the loop shows me. If those trichomes are 70% milky i chop them down. The last time i let them go full term my customers bitched about couch lock. What % would you suggest

Its your crop and your customers, so only you know the best answer to that, but to the eye they look like they are stll 2-3 weeks away from being completely done.

 

[coreywebster]

90% of the time i go by what the loop shows me. If those trichomes are 70% milky i chop them down. The last time i let them go full term my customers bitched about couch lock. What % would you suggest

I don't go on trichs as a main signal, I wait for the stuff I said to tell me when to get the loupe out first.
That way you get the weight you should. Never had a time when the plants didn't look ready by eye and the trichs said they were though.
Usually when I think they are ready im sat waiting for a week waiting for a few more amber, but by then there is maybe 10-15% clear with most cloudy.

 

[Hashman0042]

You should just try one LED and see how you like it. You obviously have shit dialed in as far as plant health. Those are nice plants in anyones book.

Thank you but something is off. I am using 3 1000w hps and only get 1lb per light. Should be higher

 

[Hashman0042]

Its your crop and your customers, so only you know the best answer to that, but to the eye they look like they are stll 2-3 weeks away from being completely done.

I am going to try your way and see how it goes. They will buy it either way and i need to maximize my grow.

 

[Nizza]

your yield and quality will be much better by following advice

let it ripen up you won't regret that, they are definately not ready

 

[Hashman0042]

I was thinking exactly all of this. Those buds are still firing off whites everywhere, they look to have atleast 2-3 weeks left and atleast another swelling phase.

3 of those from that crop had super long hairs bro. All my uears of growing i have never seen them that long before. Is that some sort of over nuting

 

[Nizza]

the calyxes will swell up, and appear to be almost exploding with resin
the hairs will recede into the calyx, and around then you can start using a loop to decide when to cut

 

[Hashman0042]

your yield and quality will be much better by following advice

let it ripen up you won't regret that, they are definately not ready

Will waiting those extra weeks improve flavor and smell. Those taste really good and sweet but could that make them even better

 

[Nizza]

yes and yes
mature but not only is stronger and tastier, but it dries better and you get more weight from your plants

waiting long enough makes trimming and drying alot easier

don't cut yourself short! AK 47 should be knocking people on their asses man, that is a KO strain

If you aren't sure, try it on a few plants

 

[Nizza]

I'm letting this go at least 3 more weeks

 

[Hashman0042]

yes and yes
mature but not only is stronger and tastier, but it dries better and you get more weight from your plants

waiting long enough makes trimming and drying alot easier

don't cut yourself short! AK 47 should be knocking people on their asses man, that is a KO strain

If you aren't sure, try it on a few plants

It does and my clients LOVE it. I stopped growing all other strains and just focus on the AK. I believe and trust 90% of you guys and will definitely let this round go the extra weeks. As i said before i just keep running 30 days short of the 70 day cycle and am trying to see why its not bringing the weight i need

 

[Hashman0042]

View attachment 4439532
I'm letting this go at least 3 more weeks

That looks fuckin tasty man. I wouldn't smoke that for any amount of money. Probably be in the ER lol

 

[Nizza]

thanks dude I'm really happy with this grow. I used to cut too early, then I started telling myself when I feel like I wanna chop it, it at least will need 2-3 more weeks. Ever since then the nuggets have been solid !

Alot of people love premature bud because of the cerebral energetic buzz you get. If your customers are after this perhaps a different strain will work better like a sativa dominant variety that gives those effects

Heres a pic from today day 46 of flip

see all the hairs standing straight out? Needs much longer

 

[Hashman0042]

thanks dude I'm really happy with this grow. I used to cut too early, then I started telling myself when I feel like I wanna chop it, it at least will need 2-3 more weeks. Ever since then the nuggets have been solid !

Alot of people love premature bud because of the cerebral energetic buzz you get. If your customers are after this perhaps a different strain will work better like a sativa dominant variety that gives those effects

Heres a pic from today day 46 of flip
View attachment 4439552
see all the hairs standing straight out? Needs much longer

Look great brother. Ak is mostly sativa. I do believe its a hybrid. Having all these seeds and everyone loving it thats the strain i chose to master. Yes i am most definitely going to let it go to full term. I just HATE buying from my competition to get me through the last 30 days. But if we need those extra three weeks we'll make up for my lost weight then so be it my clients will just have to deal with it. Bro you plants look great. What nutes you using

 

[Hashman0042]

I would also like to learn how to fo sea of green. Hopefully letting it go those 3 more weeks will change my weight problems. I just cant see 3 weeks giving me an extra lb per light