LED AutoFlower Grow Diary 3rd Time Lucky

[BriD]

Hi guys only started growing this year. Started with a digital HPS and failed pretty bad due to hi temps, hi humidity and low experience. I've since acquired a new LED light and done quite a lot more reading. So i thought i would start a grow diary, Maybe i can get some pointers if/when i start messing up.​

Equipment
Room 5ft x 3ft x 7ft tall lined with emergency blanket.
MarsHydro TSL2000
MarsHydro TS600
2 x 50w 660nm LED flowering bulbs
2 x 4" Carbon filters
16" Desk fan
USB Humidifier
200w Dehumidifier

Nutrients
BIOBIZZ range. Grow/Fishmix/Bloom/Topmax
Vitalink CalMag
Slightly hot Organic compost, 12ltr Pots.
Rain water
Digital PH tester, PH up/down,

Seed's
Skittles Auto... Tastebudz
Northern lights Auto... Dr Ray Seeds
2 x White Widow Auto... Silver Leaf
Sour Diesel Auto... Silver Leaf
Lemon Haze Auto... Silver Leaf


I think that's about everything, rooms temp is 26c/78f RH is around 65%. I started the seeds in 10cm pots not long after they germinated i over watered them slightly and saw yellowing on one and drooping leafs on the others. I re-potted them hoping the compost will soak up the water and it seems to have done the trick as they doubled in size the last 2 days. No feed yet.

A few pics of setup and seedlings.

Ignore the plant at the back she has gone.


Room was an unused toilet.

6 Days old, one on the right had yellowing but seems to be recovering.






I've got the light on 60% hung about 24", I don't think the TSL2000 is enough light for six plants, so i have the TS600 and 2 50w 660nm LED flower lights to add later.
Im hoping with my new kit along with everything i've learnt and a bit of advice i can have a successful grow 3rd time lucky.

Thanks Guy's


Brid

 

[BeastLebanese]

Welcome to RIU!! Everything looking good, definitely good idea to add the extra lights once they start getting big in a couple weeks, before they hit flower stage.

Sorry to hear about the hps not working out for you. Unless you have an air-cooled hood/tube it can get real hot, real quick.

 

[BriD]

Welcome to RIU!! Everything looking good, definitely good idea to add the extra lights once they start getting big in a couple weeks, before they hit flower stage.

Sorry to hear about the hps not working out for you. Unless you have an air-cooled hood/tube it can get real hot, real quick.

Thanks

Yes a cool tube would have done the job. I had mold, temps above 30c/85f and humidity above 70%. What also pushed me over to LED was the cost to run a HPS on 600w with the ballast's inefficiency, fans etc... I was pulling close to a kilowatt. Just to much for me. Spent more now to save later Hopefully.

 

[BeastLebanese]

Thanks

Yes a cool tube would have done the job. I had mold, temps above 30c/85f and humidity above 70%. What also pushed me over to LED was the cost to run a HPS on 600w with the ballast's inefficiency, fans etc... I was pulling close to a kilowatt. Just to much for me. Spent more now to save later Hopefully.

I understand, believe me. I've been a long time mh/hps user. When I first started I never even heard of anyone using LEDs to grow, I don't think LED grow lights were even in production at that time. Now I see them everywhere. I always kept saying I would switch over when they got better and caught up to HIDs in intensity, maybe that time has come and I should finally change my ways.

 

[BriD]

I understand, believe me. I've been a long time mh/hps user. When I first started I never even heard of anyone using LEDs to grow, I don't think LED grow lights were even in production at that time. Now I see them everywhere. I always kept saying I would switch over when they got better and caught up to HIDs in intensity, maybe that time has come and I should finally change my ways.

I don't think they have the flower power.. of a HPS that's why i'm adding more 660nm Lights for flower to bring up the read spike. I'm sure if you went with light's better than mine, Like a custom Quantum board, they would mach yields.

if it works for you, it works. My energy prices are stupid, eye watering.

 

[BriD]

Day 11

3 of them have fully recovered from the over watering 3 are still a bit yellow but seen to be happy, If they don't darken up and start vigorous growth soon ill replace them. I've started 3 more seeds. I need this grow to be as successful as possible as i don't want to do another large grow till next winter.

I'm watering only very slightly at the moment as the compost is a little more wet than you'd like, hopefully the roots will follow the moisture down as the soil drys, I don't plan on giving a full watering for 2 weeks or so.

TSL2000 Hung 20" on 70% Power
26c/ 78f
RH 52%

 

[kovidkough]

I wouldn't think in terms of plants per light. size is relative , instead try to fill a canopy of a meter squared, then get your lighting to fill that meter with as much ppfd as possible.

 

[BriD]

OK... Hmmm

My space is 5x3 the TSL2000 flower coverage is 4x2, another 100w mars light and 4 x 54w 660nm led lights should bring that flower coverage to 5x3.. ? Not sure. 520w total.

Im going to low stress train about 12 to 15 branches on each, well that's my average. Would you recommend a scrog net?

 

[kovidkough]

I use HID, but I think led is 30-50 watts per square foot, so 3x5 = 15x50 =650

 

[kovidkough]

3x3 would be 450 and so your 520 would be highly efficient in that meter

 

[kovidkough]

scrog if you can yes

 

[BriD]

I use HID, but I think led is 30-50 watts per square foot, so 3x5 = 15x50 =650

Ok Thanks, i see how you work it out now. So it would make sense to add another TSL2000. I'm sure i can make up the difference with 2/3 50w full spectrum bulbs.

Or like you said just slim the width by 4inch's each side.

 

[BriD]

The strong white widow is still going but all the other plants are still showing signs of stress. I think my problem is down to Infected soil or environment. Im using some organic compost from Melcort industry's in the uk, base in Malmesbury but distributing through Dobbies garden center's. I've been using it for a few years on my veg patch with great success. I had a feeling this compost might have unwanted friends when i top dressed a plant back in late summer and saw nutrient deficiency after 10 days with noting changed but a top dressing of compost. I sort of dismissive d this and started a new run with this compost.

This 6 plant run is my second attempt with all 6 plants failing last time with one growing normally this time. I think i have an infestation of nat flys or fugus nats or some sort of fly, of witch its larva eat roots or God Kno's.... from what i gather Nematodes could be my answer.

Any who... I have a fresh 50l bag of BioBizz Light mix and a fresh batch of seeds. I would like to keep the one white widow that's still going strong so i've ordered the Nat Flay Nematodes to treat the White widow along with my house plants and indoor veg box...

Fingers crossed this is my answer.


Ive taken a small amount of compost put it in a pot and covered it with cling film.... place it in my grow room and with in 12 hours theirs thousands of tiny maggots crawling on the cling film..... Has to be the compost??????

 

[BriD]

Right all sorted, fly's are pretty much gone. Just the odd one on the fly paper now. The Nematode warriors work fast.

Started a fresh batch of seeds with all 5 showing this morning, I've got rid of my organic compost and switched to Light-mix. The white widow is still going strong after tie down.

5 x Northern lights/cheese from Ministry of Cannabis. Suppose to be 65-67 day Autos.

 

[BriD]

Having a few problems and i don't Know why, These seedlings are week 1 from germination, Got some sort of burning and slow growth on 2 out the 5. It can't be nutes as i've only gave them water and there in Light Mix. Only thing i can think of is their not liking 24 hours light. Temp is 26C constant.

TSL2000 is hung 24" on 75%




These 2 seem fine..?




Any advise would be great.

 

[BriD]

Had a slight CalMag problem but all seems to be growing nice now.

Week 2

Raised temp to 28c Fed with 0.5ml CalMag per Ltr.

Happy girls.

 

[BriD]

End of week 2 from germination.

First tie down slight bit of stretching, light is now on 100% hung at 24 Inches.

Had a few freezing nights lately, only just keeping the air temp up so I've added a heated blanket under them. The other 2 are still quite small not sure whether to give them a slightly higher dose than 0.5ml per Ltr of CalMag or give them water.?

Super happy with the other 3 i think their going to be some big girls.






Started another 3 plants that will stay in those 2Ltr pots, just in case those 2 don't make it. Also never bonsai-ed a cannabis plant so quite interested to see how they'll grow, bit of fun.

They all look a bit over watered on the last photo but I've just sprayed nematodes, think i need the soil wet for a few hours for them to get down into the soil. Got 3 more treatments if needed. Not seeing many but the fly's are still about.

 

[Cvntcrusher]

Invest in a shop vac and keep that room clean. Keeping a clean grow space is one of the main ways to prevent pests and diseases.

Nice job so far man

Also, I usually hit my pots with 3% peroxide and then put sticky traps down and within 48hr all larvae are dead and all gnats are gone.

 

[BriD]

Invest in a shop vac and keep that room clean. Keeping a clean grow space is one of the main ways to prevent pests and diseases.

Nice job so far man

Also, I usually hit my pots with 3% peroxide and then put sticky traps down and within 48hr all larvae are dead and all gnats are gone.

Cheers.

I've got 3 more doses of nematodes, if I'm still having the problem after Ill look into that thanks. Its really not a problem compared to before i used them, maybe 3/4 flys a day on the fly traps atm. In a few more days ill start hitting the plants with fans, that should help a lot if the buggers cant fly.

I do make a mess, if it's wet i clean it strait up but if its dry i tend to pull them all out once a month and do a deep clean. My floor is layers of 2mm foam, bit hard to Vac but i get what you mean.

 

[BriD]

Invest in a shop vac and keep that room clean.

Thanks for the kick up the ass. Finished of my grow room how i want it. I've glued survival blanket to the floor and any parts of the wooden frame, full bleach clean.

Shinny.