Yep, another newbie CFL grow! Kind of

[Schwaggy]

Hello everybody! I am new here and this is my first grow in over 11 years. I know, let's not even go there! I swear to God? Never again. I am a grower at heart, it's my passion, and never again will I not do this in my life. I know a lot of you can relate to this. So here we go.

I love to read this forum, as there are some amazing growers here, some of the best in the world! I feel so blessed to be part of this community, and taking on this adventure, once again.

I successfully pulled about six or seven harvests within a couple years over a decade ago. I have very little experience, especially in the drying and curing aspect. But then again, I'm a perfectionist and I want to have some danky dank, so I'm back to make this happen.

All that being said, be gentle! I'm not a stupid stoner, but I know I have a lot to learn, so all of your positive comments are greatly welcomed.

So, without further ado..

I am currently fighting a workman's comp case, so my income is fixed. I decided to do a budget grow, so I purchased a 2x4x5 Vivosun tent, three small fans and 3 x 85 watt CFL 6500k.

Rather than describe the setup I'll show you with photos. It took me a week or two to get it all dialed in, but it's done. I live in a very hot climate, and my room is a sun-facing room which really sucks. I run the AC as much as I can afford, but I can't do it as much as I would like.

As well, because at the moment, I don't have resources to purchase anything else to make it light proof yet, I am running her on 24-hour light.

I know this is a divide in opinion, but I personally prefer 20/4 for veg, but that's not what this thread is about so let's not bring this into the discussion, thank you.

This is a bag seed I got from a dispensary, I think it might be Fatso. I am curious to hear what you all think, in my opinion she looks to have very sativa dominant like traits, and Fatso is not as such. I might have a pheno here, I'm pretty stoked. Anyways...

The first photo is her at just shy of 5 weeks. I took two clones, defoliated a little bit (I had some issues from seed, which I will explain later on this thread.... I was in a pinch, I'm paying for it now!)

Second photo is after that defoliation and clone taking, and doing a little LST.

Third photo is her a couple days after that, this plant is a beast. I have grown enough to know when I have good genetics at least!

 

[Schwaggy]

So I germinated her, and I actually found her in my carpet. I was about to vacuum I was sitting on the floor smoking a bowl, and I felt a little bump and it happened to be a seed!

She popped within 24 hours, and grew the tap root within another 24 hours and I was like holy moly! I need to get her in some dirt.

The only thing I could get...and come on y'all don't hit me for this, it was Miracle-Gro potting mix. Not even potting soil. I know. Let's just pretend it never happened

But you know what? She did fine for the first 3 weeks, and then...

I was so heartbroken I couldn't even take photos of her, she was so close to death. And I knew why. It wasn't necessarily the toxicity of the soil, I tested the pH it wasn't that bad. It was that the roots were getting strangled because it was a potting mix and it was compacting on her.

I was so grateful for that experience because I learned so much, and got some great feedback from some people I kind of wish I had photos to post here to help others learn from my mistakes.

Oh well, we all live and learn!

So I finally got my disability check, and I was able to buy some ocean from Fox farm, a little hot for her but she's doing okay. Mixed it up with a bunch of perlite and she's in a 3 gallon aerated bag. And as you can see, she's feeling a lot better!

And so am I.

Anyways, it's glad to be back, hope you'll stay tuned watch this grow and help me out. I will be reaching out to others as well cuz this community is awesome, and we can all strive to happiness and growing together.


As promised here are photos of my setup. Very meager, but nonetheless it's going to give me a little bit of fun while I'm waiting for my body to heal and fight this case.

 

[Alter Jean]

So I germinated her, and I actually found her in my carpet. I was about to vacuum I was sitting on the floor smoking a bowl, and I felt a little bump and it happened to be a seed!

Ah aren't those the best moments? Like a diamond in the rough... I bet your eyes lit up when you found it!
Mine still do when I find the occasional drifting seeds.. Like love at first sight. Every sight!

Hope you don't mind if I join along. I enjoyed the long story/write up and the pics to go with it.

some ocean from Fox farm, a little hot for her but she's doing okay. Mixed it up with a bunch of perlite and she's in a 3 gallon aerated bag. And as you can see, she's feeling a lot better!

Was JUST talking with a friend about the FFOF. I was talking smack and they were talking back. In the end convinced me it was decent jsut needed more aeration.. Good on you for adding that perlite.

My kinda grower

 

[Schwaggy]

Ah aren't those the best moments? Like a diamond in the rough... I bet your eyes lit up when you found it!
Mine still do when I find the occasional drifting seeds.. Like love at first sight. Every sight!

Hope you don't mind if I join along. I enjoyed the long story/write up and the pics to go with it.



Was JUST talking with a friend about the FFOF. I was talking smack and they were talking back. In the end convinced me it was decent jsut needed more aeration.. Good on you for adding that perlite.

My kinda grower

Are you kidding me? So happy to have you! It's funny how we keep bumping into each other around the forum, as well. Kindred spirits, me thinks.

And you are absolutely right! I still get chills when I think about that moment finding the seed. And, if you can believe it? I got a half ounce from THC design, gorilla goo which is the real gg4 from Josey wales, and it was completely seeded.

I smoked two of them before I figured out what was going on lol. All four have sprouted, I have put them in their birthing homes and waiting. The universe is raining blessings upon me!

And since you're here, I would like to share this with you as well. I am a raging alcoholic and have been suffering from this disease for the last 32 years. I've recently lost the dog you see as my avatar, severe stage 4 arthritis had to put him down. My drinking escalated to the point where my family thought I was probably going to die.

Well, one day, I was working on my tent trying to fix these issues, and it dawned on me that my drunkenness was causing the problems. Not only in this grow, but in my entire life. I broke two of my CFLs, almost killed her with stupid potting mix and no drainage, and a myriad of other problems.

Epiphany. I realized I'm going to kill this plant because I'm so drunk, and the Cascade continued. I realized I was going to die as well. We lost my mother to alcoholism two years ago, and my family cannot believe I'm doing what I'm doing to myself. So I stopped.

It's been 10 days, and I've never felt better. A Phoenix rising from the ashes. And I appreciate people like you, because I know after hearing this, you will probably only become more supportive and kind, if that's even possible from a soul like you.

Sorry if I'm pouring out too much! LOL I have found that this plant can take you amazing places if you let it, so I just go with the flow you know? And I don't really have much to hide from the world. Getting too old for that shit.

So thank you again Alter Jean, love the name btw... and the photo in your avatar? Kind of spooky but I like it...

So glad to meet you, and thank you again

 

[Alter Jean]

Well thank you 10x for the warm welcome! And yes some kind of spirits for sure.
I dig the energy.

And you are absolutely right! I still get chills when I think about that moment finding the seed. And, if you can believe it? I got a half ounce from THC design, gorilla goo which is the real gg4 from Josey wales, and it was completely seeded.

I smoked two of them before I figured out what was going on lol. All four have sprouted, I have put them in their birthing homes and waiting. The universe is raining blessings upon me!

You smoked two seeds? did they pop? LOL! Makes me think of an old friend..

Always said " What's poppin' yo! Hopefully not your oil! And if it's your weed, better plant those seeds! "
Good times...

And since you're here, I would like to share this with you as well. I am I used to be a raging alcoholic and have been suffering from this disease for the last 32 years. I've recently lost the dog you see as my avatar, severe stage 4 arthritis had to put him down. My drinking escalated to the point where my family thought I was probably going to die.

Well, one day, I was working on my tent trying to fix these issues, and it dawned on me that my drunkenness was causing the problems. Not only in this grow, but in my entire life. I broke two of my CFLs, almost killed her with stupid potting mix and no drainage, and a myriad of other problems.

Epiphany. I realized I'm going to kill this plant because I'm so drunk, and the Cascade continued. I realized I was going to die as well. We lost my mother to alcoholism two years ago, and my family cannot believe I'm doing what I'm doing to myself. So I stopped.

RIP Doggo. Very cute pupper. Jah blessings I am sorry to hear this. All dogs go to heaven so you can be sure of that!

Drinking may as well be the Devil.. I can think of a few other things also ( Greed, Money, Substance ) but I am familiar with the Hennessey. I cannot give you a high five or a secret handshake through the screen but keep on keeping it green and keep it clean.
So now I edited your quote above for you.

It's been 10 days, and I've never felt better. A Phoenix rising from the ashes. And I appreciate people like you, because I know after hearing this, you will probably only become more supportive and kind, if that's even possible from a soul like you.

Sorry if I'm pouring out too much! LOL I have found that this plant can take you amazing places if you let it

10 days is a long time. Don't discount your effort. Will soon be 1 month and then 1 year and you will feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from you. Keep it up. And don't have to apologize.

So thank you again Alter Jean, love the name btw... and the photo in your avatar? Kind of spooky but I like it...

So glad to meet you, and thank you again

Don't mention it and likewise. I will tag along and help where I can, if needed. But it seems like you're already off and going.
Thanks for the compliment on the name.. I found it in a very weird place!

If you say it slow maybe it makes sense in the second half but I guess you'll have to see the plants for it to really hit home.

The picture yes. I'm part Native America that is a very classic photo of a Navajo Rain dancer.
A friend of mine shared it with me. He will probably tell you that I stole it.

Shit 10 minutes later and I'm talking your head off.
You are going to grow some mean greens I can feel it! Thanks for being cool as hell and chatting!

Now you got me thinking about starting a journal myself

 

[Schwaggy]

Lol, no. No pop, but the very distinct taste and smell let me know! Always such a weird feeling when it happens too. A mix of frustration and bliss all in one! Cuz you know there's going to be more.

With the current grow I have, I am 99% sure it is feminized because I only found a couple of seeds, and this was the only one mature enough that popped. Probably came from rodelization.

This gg4, however, was littered with seeds so I don't know with high probability. Last time this happened to me, they were not feminized when I found this many seeds in a batch. And what's really funny? All the bag seed I've ever grown has always grown better than any genetics I buy from seed banks! Recently just wasted $80 on some white widow seeds that just all runted and wouldn't do nothing. Goin with the flowin.

Thank you so much for sharing all that, I am quite the talker myself (look, I'm doing it again lol) so no harm done lol. And thank you, too, I have a feeling we'll be talking a bit throughout our grows.

Start a journal? So you don't have anything going with your current girls now? I'd like to check it out. Sounds like you got some skills in your hat

 

[Alter Jean]

With the current grow I have, I am 99% sure it is feminized because I only found a couple of seeds, and this was the only one mature enough that popped. Probably came from rodelization.

If you didn't already know: Fem seeds, often times (especially as of recent) can also throw male parts that release pollen. They call those Herms. Also can happen from bagseed, but sometimes you get lucky and the bagseed was from a crossing.

It's hard to know EXACTLY what you're growing from there you know. Either it selfed, or a cross contaminated it. This happened to me recently I was duped on some 'rare seed' that I actually paid for. That fact is more rare than the seeds I got. Ended up herming everything and I killed them all before anything bad happened to my own plants. Maybe it was their plan though, to sabatoge me... Good think I have cat-like reflexes.

Without getting into that rabbit hole.. Keep it flowing. I am here for the ride

Start a journal? So you don't have anything going with your current girls now?

Just some smaller things. I like Grape and Bubblegum but I'm all out of bubblegum.
For the journal you know, I am focused so if I go and start a journal I'll start trying to do something different/.

Going to finish what I'm doing and then get something clean for a journal.

 

[Schwaggy]

If you didn't already know: Fem seeds, often times (especially as of recent) can also throw male parts that release pollen. They call those Herms. Also can happen from bagseed, but sometimes you get lucky and the bagseed was from a crossing.

It's hard to know EXACTLY what you're growing from there you know. Either it selfed, or a cross contaminated it. This happened to me recently I was duped on some 'rare seed' that I actually paid for. That fact is more rare than the seeds I got. Ended up herming everything and I killed them all before anything bad happened to my own plants. Maybe it was their plan though, to sabatoge me... Good think I have cat-like reflexes.

Without getting into that rabbit hole.. Keep it flowing. I am here for the ride



Just some smaller things. I like Grape and Bubblegum but I'm all out of bubblegum.
For the journal you know, I am focused so if I go and start a journal I'll start trying to do something different/.

Going to finish what I'm doing and then get something clean for a journal.

WOW! Absolutely stunning! By the way, I love rabbit holes! I go running down dreams with Alice all the time!

I agree with you 100% on that observation. You never truly know what you're getting, but as I mentioned, I come across bag seed quite often and I don't know why! And on top of that, when I find only a couple of seeds in a batch of a few grams, I get super lucky and they have always been females.

GG4 herself came from a hermie plant, and seeded Joesy Wale's entire tent. And look what that blessing brought him!

You know something, I sometimes think the same thing about some of these seed banks... You spend all of this time and money and effort creating amazing genetics, and then you just spill them out into the world? You've now created immense competition for yourself LOL. IF you are doing this as a money making enterprise. And that's where the plant gets left in the dust and greed takes over, and we all know what happens after that.

All that being said , I am so hoping I get blessed with a male in this outfit so I can breed and make my own. These genetics are insane, all of the seeds popped within 24 hours, and then broke soil within two to three more days after that. I want to keep this DNA. Last time I came across this magnificent of genetics, I let them all go and did nothing to keep it... and I still remember. This time, I want to preserve the blessings of the universe has offered me. There is a plan here, I know it! Just have to keep my-self out of it as much as possible LOL.

I don't mind dealing with strains that have hermaphroditic tendencies. When done on a small enough scale, they present no problems for me. And, they have put out the most intense potent buds I've ever smoked!

And who knows? If it all works out and takes me that way, maybe I will breed the hermie tendencies out, if that's even possible. A new rabbit hole to go down LOL! If you haven't noticed, I am absolutely passionate about genetics and the makeups of all the strains that are out there, I have like an encyclopedic memory. I love it.

I knew you had skills! Those babies are beautiful and very nice photography, as well. That's something I would like to get in the near future, a decent camera. Flowering cannabis plants are the most beautiful and photogenic creatures on the planet! Well, I guess puppies and kittens can be in there, too

 

[Alter Jean]

GG4 herself came from a hermie plant, and seeded Joesy Wale's entire tent. And look what that blessing brought him!

Archive Seedbanks Faceoff stud is also from some bags. I don't know the exact origin but I know it's from herm.
I grow it I have a male and a female. I was actually going to flower the mother one last go. Maybe it will be the journal.

Those plants up there are pregnant. Little small something while I had the chance. Sometimes chances only present themselves once..

I knew you had skills! Those babies are beautiful and very nice photography, as well. That's something I would like to get in the near future, a decent camera. Flowering cannabis plants are the most beautiful and photogenic creatures on the planet!

Haha thank you very much. My plants are my caretakers. I just hang out with them for the most part...
I look forward to your next updates. So glad we bumped into each other you seem super mellow.

If I ever get annoying just report me and boot me from the thread I will go peacefully ~

Plant seed & be free

 

[Schwaggy]

Archive Seedbanks Faceoff stud is also from some bags. I don't know the exact origin but I know it's from herm.
I grow it I have a male and a female. I was actually going to flower the mother one last go. Maybe it will be the journal.

Those plants up there are pregnant. Little small something while I had the chance. Sometimes chances only present themselves once..



Haha thank you very much. My plants are my caretakers. I just hang out with them for the most part...
I look forward to your next updates. So glad we bumped into each other you seem super mellow.

If I ever get annoying just report me and boot me from the thread I will go peacefully ~

Plant seed & be free

Oooooo... I love me some good Face Off! You have been blessed with some amazing genetics. Well done on preserving them!

I would probably annoy myself before you ever did and I am so on that wavelength! Often times the chances are now or never. I am definitely feeling that right now. I can't wait to hear about the offspring of your gorgeous preggers

And I love how you say you just hang out with them, they are your caretakers. That's exactly the relationship, if one allows it to be that way. But a lot of these ego maniacal growers like to say look what I can do LOL. Oh boy, if they only knew. I know, because I used to be that way.

And now I have not only a caretaker, but a lifesaver that has taken me on. I want to share this beautiful plant with other suffering alcoholics, if she guides it to be so. But that's my idea, and maybe not hers. Wherever she takes me, all I'm going to do is everything I can to preserve her in one form or another, and see where she takes us.

And now the other four! Just completely blissed out today the path before me is unknown, and I am so excited to see what's around the bend, and up on the other side of the mountain as we climb. Especially after drowning in alcohol for the last three decades!

Peace and blessings, and likewise- I am glad to have met you, too... so nice to meet an honest soul. Plant seed and be free, indeed

 

[Schwaggy]

And look who's joined the party! More bag seed- this time Gorilla Goo, also known as GG4 the real deal from Joesy Wales!

I am getting these seeds from fairly top shelf cannabis from SoCal dispensaries, too. Wonder what's going on out there in the commercial world of growing lol. Keep making those oversights, I'm loving it!

These little sprouts are moving faster than my Fatso did. 24 hours to germinate, and then another 36 after put into soil to surface. Go babies go, we ride!

Hoping for at least one male in this bunch

Only thing is, now I'm going to have to get a whole other tent and set up! I'm thinking LED...

 

[BudmanTX]

you know you can bring those lights down a bit, don't you......like about 6" from the top of the plant or the seedling???? Helps with stretch btw...and space your bulbs out...one on outside of the pot line, one in the middle between them and another on the outside....

i've worked with cfl's for a lot of years

 

[Schwaggy]

you know you can bring those lights down a bit, don't you......like about 6" from the top of the plant or the seedling???? Helps with stretch btw...and space your bulbs out...one on outside of the pot line, one in the middle between them and another on the outside....

i've worked with cfl's for a lot of years

Thank you so much for the input, can't tell from the angle but I have that CFL only 2 inches from them and that is only a temporary box. My other tent that is flowering, that is where they will end up under 255 watts of CFL, and I try to keep those lights about 6 in from the plants. They are quite hot and intense, I don't really like them. I'm itching to switch them out for a better option in the next few weeks. Maybe LED, as I shell out more cash to make another setup

Either way, in 2 weeks I will have a tent and lighting for them to veg while I finish out the other flowering tent. Just have to make up my mind on how I want to proceed from here. Keep it small and simple? Or go big!

I've also been looking at t5's, I'm thinking of putting one or two vertical in my flower tent to get that side lighting you speak of. Always has been on my mind over the years growing with CFLs... Home Depot has a super bright setup for about $100. So many options!

I, too, have predominantly grown with CFLs over the years, and I like it! I live in a very hot climate, so the pros and cons weigh out best for me there.

And thanks again for stopping by, keep peeking your head in and help out when you can cuz I know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be solid this is why I am here! To get pointers from more experienced growers like yourself, so thank you so much, I really mean it.

 

[BudmanTX]

actually you can use 5 bulbs but you wanna do mixed colors......6500k and 2400k....and mix them 3 at 24ook and 2 at 6500k....or vice versa...


oh and just a heads up, you can switch those out and go LED bulbs with the tops taken off...if dinero is a problem.....

 

[Schwaggy]

actually you can use 5 bulbs but you wanna do mixed colors......6500k and 2400k....and mix them 3 at 24ook and 2 at 6500k....or vice versa...


oh and just a heads up, you can switch those out and go LED bulbs with the tops taken off...if dinero is a problem.....

I have been looking at the LED bulbs, particularly the corn cob ones? They produce a lot of lumens and have decent wattage, but are they intense enough to grow? And sorry, what do you mean by take the tops off? Dinero is a slight problem at least for the moment, but within the next 4 to 6 weeks it will not be. That's why I'm on the fence! I kind of want to just float through these next four weeks and then get what I really want to get, know what I mean?

I just don't know if these fast little beauties will allow that to happen lol, what a wonderful "problem" to have

 

[Alter Jean]

Taking the tops off I think he means the little bulb covers.
This is common in EU because electric is so high, they have found many ways to get around it.

I believe it's 10-15% increase in light without the covers.

Exciting about your next seeds! Wishing you the best luck. I actually love getting seed with some expensive weed.
Especially in California. Testing the chances is always fun.. But sometimes they will go haywire on you.

I wanted to respond earlier but had got into a small arguement with this troll that has been following me around. You know, I was right and giving good information but people don't like being wrong. He lost so he got his friends and reported all of my comments.. I cannot participate in the forum right now everything goes really slow or just doesn't load for me.

I will be lurking in spirit..

Love & Livity

 

[Schwaggy]

Taking the tops off I think he means the little bulb covers.
This is common in EU because electric is so high, they have found many ways to get around it.

I believe it's 10-15% increase in light without the covers.

Exciting about your next seeds! Wishing you the best luck. I actually love getting seed with some expensive weed.
Especially in California. Testing the chances is always fun.. But sometimes they will go haywire on you.

I wanted to respond earlier but had got into a small arguement with this troll that has been following me around. You know, I was right and giving good information but people don't like being wrong. He lost so he got his friends and reported all of my comments.. I cannot participate in the forum right now everything goes really slow or just doesn't load for me.

I will be lurking in spirit..

Love & Livity

humans go haywire more than bag seed, apparently! Sorry for the gang up on you, I used to be on this forum years ago but left because of that very thing. People go crazy with their egos over growing this stuff, and I do not know why. It grows itself!

Interesting. About the leds.. I kind of figured it was something like that, I'm going to check it out on youtube. I am definitely going with those bulbs, they are really cheap and throw out a lot of power. At least for the next few weeks until I can get a better LED grow light.

I thank you so much for the encouragement and support, I love it. I have a passion in this, nobody around me does and it's fun to share!

Oh well! Glad you're still here, and lurk on LOL

 

[BudmanTX]

I have been looking at the LED bulbs, particularly the corn cob ones? They produce a lot of lumens and have decent wattage, but are they intense enough to grow? And sorry, what do you mean by take the tops off? Dinero is a slight problem at least for the moment, but within the next 4 to 6 weeks it will not be. That's why I'm on the fence! I kind of want to just float through these next four weeks and then get what I really want to get, know what I mean?

I just don't know if these fast little beauties will allow that to happen lol, what a wonderful "problem" to have

the answer to your question is yes they do......a nice mix pack of 5 will grow......if you look at the bulb it self you can take the diffuser off


like so......they come in 6500k and also 3200k as well....the small led panel inside of them are bright and will grow.....

 

[Schwaggy]

Oh

the answer to your question is yes they do......a nice mix pack of 5 will grow......if you look at the bulb it self you can take the diffuser off

View attachment 4942853View attachment 4942853
like so......they come in 6500k and also 3200k as well....the small led panel inside of them are bright and will grow.....

Whoa! Thank you for sharing that. I am going to check this out right now! I have one of those here... Thanks again BudmanTX

 

[BudmanTX]

Oh

Whoa! Thank you for sharing that. I am going to check this out right now! I have one of those here... Thanks again BudmanTX

np, just becareful when you do it....i used a pocket knife and a pair of pliers to take mine off....