DIY Closet DWC Grow - First grow ever

[drynroasty]

Be friggin careful man, most gnomes are allergic to insect bites... If you haven't seen the gnome, it's probably female.

Being indoors I have had minimal guests. I see a flying bug (white fly?) every so often and keep telling myself to get fly paper, but besides that I have found one spider that I let live so maybe it would eat the flies and sting/bite the gnome (I'm allergic to gnomes).

My girl smoked some of the Jah harvested and she likes the taste. It doesn't seem very stoney, but time will tell. Jah/Jack is a very cerebral high so if it over-ripens I imagine it may balance out correctly.

Takes some shots of the VERY topped plant, I'd like to see more of it. That technique may come in handy in the future.

If that VERY topped plant were below the middle of a screen, could you spread those branches out like the spokes from the center of a wagon wheel or an asterice? I believe the balance between the number of buds growing and the ability to transport nutrients to them from the roots is the key here. I imagine there is a rule the OG scroggers use, but we will ahve to learn on our own. If you've got many shoots and branches (many buds), you would need more food moved up the plant to them or they would be tiny popcorn nuggets. If you had the proper balance, that plant could start a new revolution in scrogging if the ratio works out for you.

great job though!

 

[drynroasty]

I think the scrog methods are just getting popular (I think?), so it's like the Wild West, there are no rules cowboy... Make it up as you go.

I did read that you are considering not changing nutes for an entire grow? Go for it, tell me how it works. I have seen that each time I change my nutes I get some astonishing results in growth. I change mine every 2 weeks, but have considered shorter intervals due to conditions of leaves. I have noticed rust and some yellowing just before my 2 week changes, and the local shop guys tells me to use half RO water and half tap water. He, a very experienced builder/grower from the local pot shop, says I will notice a deficincy using only RO water, and I believe what he says so i will try 50/50 on my next run.

My vegging purps are just about ready to go in, and I should be finished harvesting the Jah by mid week.

I still need the CO2 brass (regulator and valve/solinoid).

 

[jigfresh]

The plants look very happy today. They are still growing a lot overnight and during the light. I have the light about 6" from the tops right now.

pH was a tiny little high at 5.97 so I lowered it to 5.70. It slowly goes up, so I adjust a little low let it average around 5.8. I need to mix some more pH down. I had bought a gallon of GH pH down, and couldn't believe how strong it was, but now with all the nutrients in my reservoir (around 1700 ppm) it take a little more pH down to do anything.

I've been tucking like crazy still, trying to get things to catch up. It's looking more and more like a scrog is supposed to (i think, i don't really know).

Water temps are at 66.5, very slowly rising. Room temps are between 70 - 80 F. Humidity is pretty constant at 50. Overnight it has been rising to 80+. I am going to do something about that.

Pics tomorrow.

 

[jigfresh]

In case you didn't notice I switched up my post titles. No big deal, but show the flowering time first.

Today I sprayed the girls with Liquid Light, and they absolutely loved it. Leaves got all beautiful looking. It was fun too, because the other day I told my neighbor about this cool spray I had for plants that worked really well.

Let me tell you guys too. The liquid light, even though I only mix a little bit, I still have some left over each time, and I am not going to keep it (even though you can). So... I've been trying the spray on many plant around the house and outside. It doesn't do so well on the outdoor plant (in my experience). However, I have this African fig tree cutting from a friend in Pennsylvania, I've had it almost 9 months. It has never really changed, just grown a couple leaves, while shedding a couple leaves. Just one sad little stalk about 6 inches tall. However, after spraying the little thing with left over liquid light, she (or he) has started branching. After I think 2 weeks it sprouted 3 new branches. One strong looking one near the bottom of the stalk, and two cute little new growth branches. The leaves have looked better (i really should spray them with plain RO after letting the Liquid Light set in), but man the plant is doing better than ever. And you may be thinking it is because of spring and light, i disagree. The way our house is situated the back room gets the most direct light in dec.

So I told this to my neighbor the other day, and today I went over to let her use the extra on a plant of hers. We are going to test this stuff on everything. She in return gave me a jar of Worm Poop Tea. Man did it taste good. haha, just kidding. But she really did give me some and said the guy down the street makes it.

I'm not going to use the stuff on my girls or anything. But it was a nice gesture and I'm going to try it on some of the indoor plants, see how they like it.

Also, the exciting plant action of the day was pulling off undergrowth. As you can see my buddy Drynroasty stopped by and said it was ok to pull off undergrowth. We work well as a team, so I took the green light and went. I only pulled off fan leaves that were either really small, or bigger and dying. Either way, I only pulled stuff that was less then 4 inches off the bottom. I didn't touch anything even close to the screen. I feel so much better about things without that stuff down there, and the fans are working so much better circulating the air much more efficiently. The picture is a little more than half of what I pulled. And while it looks like a lot, I don't think the plants will even notice.

The screen is looking more like a scrog I think. I have tucked fan leaves better, because the branches are all pushing up against it now, I can tuck under them further. Man it going to be really good I think.

Also, I think I'm going to attach a single wire across the side shoots going up all the walls, so they can be held up. It's going to be a box of green.

The last picture is the biggest bit of new growth I picked off, you can see it brown around the edges already from too much shade.

And don't worry about the black cat, we fed her so much she multiplied.

 

[jigfresh]

Takes some shots of the VERY topped plant, I'd like to see more of it. That technique may come in handy in the future.

If that VERY topped plant were below the middle of a screen, could you spread those branches out like the spokes from the center of a wagon wheel or an asterice? I believe the balance between the number of buds growing and the ability to transport nutrients to them from the roots is the key here. I imagine there is a rule the OG scroggers use, but we will ahve to learn on our own. If you've got many shoots and branches (many buds), you would need more food moved up the plant to them or they would be tiny popcorn nuggets. If you had the proper balance, that plant could start a new revolution in scrogging if the ratio works out for you.

I had never really thought about it in term of energy spent on many smaller vs fewer larger branches. Very interesting. I'll have to pay close attention to my different plants. They are all in different places so not exactly the same conditions.

I will deffinitely take a lot of pics of the monster, especially becuase I can see below the screen now.

It's crazy to think I am out of space in my screen. I'm having to lace 2 and 3 little branches across 1 square.

Oh, and thanks for the tip on 'weaving'. I actually hadn't done very much of it, just used the work. But there were maybe 10 branches I pulled over once, then under for a few inches. I fixed all but one of them. One was stubborn, and I figure breaking it off would be worse than letting it be.

 

[jigfresh]

I did read that you are considering not changing nutes for an entire grow? Go for it, tell me how it works. I have seen that each time I change my nutes I get some astonishing results in growth.

I still need the CO2 brass (regulator and valve/solinoid).

I've written a lot on here, but I'm not sure what I meant by what you read.

I have been changing nutrients once a week. Completely drain the reservoir, new water, new nutes. The plants do seem to love it. And the water I have been changing out it crystal clear, with a hint of pink (from nutes). Also keeps the temps down changing that often. I'm sure I could do things less often, but I have an RO filter, and I bought enough nutrients for at least two grows (i think) so, I'm going the extra mile.

I use MagiCal to supplement the RO. I'm sure my tap water would be ok, as the ppm is 150 and is the best tasting tap water I've ever had in my life. This is where they bottle Arrowhead water (not my house, but the area). Anyways, I haven't had any yellowing, or any nutrient burn, or deficiencies yet. Just at the very beginning I over did the nutes. You told me what the problem was I believe.

Co2 is top of my wish list. That and another fan (but that's cheap).

 

[jigfresh]

Hey guys, so last night, for an hour before lights went out, I removed undergrowth. I thought the girls might be shocked from it, but this morning I believe they all decided they liked it. (well the white widow is undecided, but she's a stubborn one) It could have been imagination, or something the plant does at this time in it's life cycle, but the new growth that is usually above the screen looked bigger. It was all about the same height above the screen after a night of darkness, but the leaves looked a little fuller. Could this be from the plant focusing energy up already?

I think so. I am moving up today to remove all the stuff that isn't higher than 6 inches up.

And just to clarify for my masses of followers basing their scrogs of me, When I say I'm removing growth 4 inches high, or 6 inches high, what I mean is... No part of what I am removing is above 4 inches. I'm NOT ripping out lower shoots that can actually reach the screen, I am ONLY ripping things that are inches from any quality light. Most of it is already browning on the edges from no light.

Removing things is also giving me a better picture of the plants in my head. They are really quite beautiful things. I can't believe they are so big and strong. Only being in their home now 36 days.

The pic of the branch looking thing, is one of the larger pieces I removed, and you can see in the detail pic, the browning. It was sad.

 

[jigfresh]

Hello everyone. Removing the undergrowth has really help me get a better hold on the situation in the grow room. I can actually see stuff, and tell what things are. When I look at the top of the screen it no longer looks like a nightmare. Now it looks like a twisted web of beautiful branches. I can more easily see which squares need to be filled more.

Hulk, I didn't forget your question. I'm not going to let any of the branches or tops go through the screen at all, unless they are around the edges. I'm going to try to keep everything below the screen until the flowers start growing, then I'll let them through, reach up for the light.

Both the ballast and bulb are scheduled to arrive Tuesday.

My wife is placing the order for the Dehumidifier as I type this.

If it wasn't before, This grow is ON.

pic 1-6: Before, during, and after trimming
pic 7-8: Before and after tucking. Pic 7 is what it looks like in the morning after overnight growth.
pic 9-14: Plants branch view. The white widow is the second one, with the fewest branches.
pic 15: Overall scene

 

[Hulk Nugs]

looking good man .....did a nice job trimming the bottom ...... another week we should see some big changes hahaha flowering is so fun, its all fun but flowering is when all the hard work pays off

 

[Hulk Nugs]

Hey man i was looking at my thermostat thinking of how i was going to wire it and i dont know if i am just really baked or what but .... from what i am looking at with this wiring diagram .... i just tap into the black and white wires coming from my fan before my plug ........ i am thinking of hooking it up to my Canfan OR Blower ... but still have to make sure this thermostat can control them i believe so but it says right there no more then 120vac 60hz ...so don't wanna blow anything ....but yea haha back to what i was saying .... i am trying to figure out this wiring not really getting it ...if you could throw me some info on it i would appreciate it thanks man.

 

[jigfresh]

yeah man. I can't wait for some flowers to show up. Your right that it's all fun, but this is the pay off.

I sure hope I didn't mess nothing up. Not that I think I have, just really want things to come out nicely.

I saw you on the construction thread. Thanks for digging that thing up. I added a couple pics of handy work I've done, you should check it.

 

[jigfresh]

Hey man i was looking at my thermostat thinking of how i was going to wire it and i dont know if i am just really baked or what but .... from what i am looking at with this wiring diagram .... i just tap into the black and white wires coming from my fan before my plug ........ i am thinking of hooking it up to my Canfan OR Blower ... but still have to make sure this thermostat can control them i believe so but it says right there no more then 120vac 60hz ...so don't wanna blow anything ....but yea haha back to what i was saying .... i am trying to figure out this wiring not really getting it ...if you could throw me some info on it i would appreciate it thanks man.

Alright, so take the thing you want to run. Let's say a fan. If that fan has a normal plug that goes into the wall, then what you want to do is....

First, look at the Plug itself. Is one of the metal pieces bigger than the other. If so, then you want to mess with the wire that goes with the 'smaller' of the two pieces. You'll take that wire (half of the plug wire) and cut it. Peel it away from the other half, to give you room to work with, strip both ends and connect those with the two tails sticking out of the thermostat.

Then plug the thing in.

If the plug things are the same size, then which wire (half) you cut doesn't matter.

Also, if you wire the thing to too big a draw, all it will do (my guess) is fry the thermostat wiring. You shouldn't burn your house down. But then again, better safe than sorry.

Let me know if I didn't make things clear (i have that talent sometimes).

 

[Hulk Nugs]

very clear man thank you very much...... i was kinda thinking that's how it would be but then i saw that diagram and was like what white and black huh what hahaha ...... glad you were here to help man not sure when the last time i gave you rep but its still not letting me hook you up grrr i have spread tons of love around ........... went fishing the other day around my house and was thinking of going up to big bear you luky fuk hahaha wish i lived up there......do they have a big hospital up there ?? only have to find a good hospital for my girl and i can find work anywhere, going to have to move possibly in 4 years .... that would be nice to live up there .... did you buy a house up there ??

 

[jigfresh]

Yeah man there are two hospitals up on the mountain.

Lake Arrowhead - http://www.mchcares.com/

Big Bear - http://www.bvchd.com/

I think the Arrowhead one is bigger, not sure. Actually just spent the weekend in the ER at the Arrowhead one with the wife. Nice people there.

You might move in 4 years. Maybe you could buy my place, ha. Yeah, me and my wife bought a house up here, because it was the only place in the SoCal area we could afford to buy (and still want to live there).

We were paying $1600 rent in LA for two bedroom apt. Now we pay like $850 for mortgage and insurance together. The place we live is a bit white trash, but you get used to it. Plus if you let the trash know you are here, they don't like hanging around so much.

In 4 years I'll probably be in Pennsylvania. Do you have any idea what land prices are in other parts of the country. And I don't even mean in the middle of nowhere. We are looking at farm land, only 15 min. from a big city, and you can get 2-3 acres for $130k. Nice land too.

Where do you fish down there? The ocean?

 

[Hulk Nugs]

well i normally just fish up at my cabin but i really like fishing so i wanted to get into it more down here.......got some local fishing books and have found a few lakes and parks that i can fish at.... i normally just do stream fishing so this lake fishing is kinda new to me but i will get the hang of it or find some cheap floats haha or a boat and go out on the lake........ yea i was thinking of out of cali maybe but i have my cabin up north cali so i might go up there ..... i just was watching this show called green earth shows you how to build green .... just was watching some guy who bought a lumber mill farm built in the 1830s ....he and his wife did some work and got all the tools working again and the farms back up and running cutting lumber for there new barn there building aww shit i love shows like that ........ did you ever see this thread called Off The Grid ? ..... some crazy guy on there has a crazy show i think is bass-ed in canada http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7740441619915152822 check it out ...... its alright might want to burn one first gives me ideas thoe

 

[dirtystacks]

Subscribed! I have read this entire thread and can't wait to see the end product. Kuddos.

 

[yamin]

posted pics....

ur plants lookin good....

cheers

 

[jigfresh]

Subscribed! I have read this entire thread and can't wait to see the end product. Kuddos.

Thanks so much. That means a lot to me that you read through the whole thing. I definitely owe you a joint. We are all glad to have you along. Hope you either learn something or laugh.

So today I took some more undergrowth off. It is all becoming so much clearer, like I said before. I can see which squares need something in it, and which branches need scooting over. It would be SO easy to just look at it each day and think, that's fine, no work needed. But I'm still spending a lot of time pushing down fan leaves and arranging things just right.

My light arrives Tuesday (scheduled to), and I ordered the Dehumidifier.

I'm hoping to see flowers soon.

Thanks for reading everyone.

Pics tomorrow. It looks pretty much the same, unless you are here and looking all the time.

Oh, and you guys should check out my buddy yamin's grow. It's in his sig, the post before this. He's one of the few growing chronic in India.

 

[jigfresh]

Today was fun. I raised the light to spray on the Liquid Light/ Penetrator combo. I think the girls liked it ok. I'm not sure what was going on today, but they seemed a little sad. There wasn't anything too noticeable, just the leaves looked a bit droopy. Nothing major, but I thought I would tell you all.

The branches are getting all set now, and things aren't growing as much as before. There is still some movement, but it's more shifting. I feel like if I look close I can see little flower-ettes. I'm sure in two days they will have tiny little flowers everywhere. We'll see.

I removed a little more undergrowth today, as it's becoming apparent what is going to make it to the screen, and what isn't.

I think I will change the nutrients on Monday or Tuesday (sunday now). By nutrients I mean a whole reservoir flush with a fresh set of nutes. I think I will raise the mix just a little in strength to see if they can take it.

Last night, I checked in on the room momentarily to see the humidity. After having the door closed and no fan going for an hour and a half, the humidity was 90+ %. So I just plugged the exhaust fan in to run continuously the whole night. In the morning the room was around 60 % humidity, and the air was cooled to about 68 f. To try and help I put saran wrap over the pots tonight. I figure that's where most of the humidity is coming from. It would make sense with the air bubbles splashing up water into the air, and having 6 - 6 inch pots only full of hydroton give a big space for wet air to come through. I'm going to check again tonight to see how humid it is after 2 hours. I'm not expecting it to be dry, but I hope it helps a bit. That way when the dehumidifier comes, it can really dry things out and not just fight the high humidity that is already there.

 

[dirtystacks]

I'm amazed at how green your screen is looking in just 38 days! If you haven't noticed, I'm brand new to this site, and I have to tell you, I love it. I've learned so much in just a couple of weeks....reading....reading....reading. I've wanted to start my own grow for some time but didn't have the knowledge. I helped out a buddy a few years ago by buying his seeds for him and he in return provided me with product....months later. He sneaked me into his grow room once and I was amazed at what I saw...and overwhelmed. He was using an ebb and flow system - which was actually quite simple, but having never seen anything hydro before, I was leary to ever attempt such a thing. It just looked way too complicated. What I do remember though is that it was some of the dankest bud I ever smoked!

Anyways, don't mean to highjack your thread. Just wanted to say that I'm alot more educated because of this site and because of growers like yourself. I am so going to start growing this year! I have a 1500 sq ft unfinished basement that the "War Department" (read spouse) has authorized me to take about 100 sq ft to do with what I will....so long as no one can tell. I'm going to frame it out over the next month and make a "secret room". I'm so stoked to think about toking my own shit.

Keep up the good work....I'm totally along for the ride!

Peace!