Building single-plant growbox, I want your opinions!

[Fractus]

...Also, my lights right now in the top of the box are at LEAST 5 inches from the highest point of the plant, yet all my buds are growing as if the light is right on top of it and all of them growing equally. That bright white styrofoam interior is super reflective and really doing an awesome job and maximizing my light from every direction.

 

[GypsyBush]

the smell starting to kick up yet?

 

[bigjesse1922]

Well I have been lurking...

And I'm glad my potential concerns have not materialized.

That's one crazy lookin plant I don't know if I have seen something quite like that before!

She looks nice though, very good job on the tying. The budsites all look quite happy and these is very little shade, if any. I am not quite sure about your potential yield...we will have to see just how much they fatten up in the last few weeks.

Where are you at with nutes right now? I am just curious how you plan on flushing her without drainage?

 

[Fractus]

My carbon filter kicks ass, it doesn't smell at all closed, open is another story. She smells strong and yummy

My last feed was a few days ago and I'm thinking I just wont feed it anything except water until harvest. I hardly ever gave it anything anyway. Just half strength doses of MG plant food shots mixed in my water. Less than once a week, not on a specific schedule. Is it always necessary to flush? I kinda wasn't planning on it. If I really should do it I guess I'l make drain holes in the bottom with a screwdriver or something. No big deal, it's only styrofoam

Edit:
Yield, I'm banking on nearly two ounces. If each budsite comes out to a gram that gives me two ounces. They may very well get bigger than that, in which case 3 or 4 ounces from it wouldn't surprise me. Then again I've never harvested before either. But it just looks like a lot of weed haha

 

[bigjesse1922]

My carbon filter kicks ass, it doesn't smell at all closed, open is another story. She smells strong and yummy

My last feed was a few days ago and I'm thinking I just wont feed it anything except water until harvest. I hardly ever gave it anything anyway. Just half strength doses of MG plant food shots mixed in my water. Less than once a week, not on a specific schedule. Is it always necessary to flush? I kinda wasn't planning on it. If I really should do it I guess I'l make drain holes in the bottom with a screwdriver or something. No big deal, it's only styrofoam

Edit:
Yield, I'm banking on nearly two ounces. If each budsite comes out to a gram that gives me two ounces. They may very well get bigger than that, in which case 3 or 4 ounces from it wouldn't surprise me. Then again I've never harvested before either. But it just looks like a lot of weed haha

I would flush FOR SURE. MG wouldn't taste good in the smoke, if you ask me.

Also, have you thought about using backstrap molasses at 1-2 TBLS per gallon and pure ph'ed water for the last 14 days? Just water the normal amount but put some hole in to leach the salt buildup from the nutes you've used.

Even if it hasn't been a lot, flushing in soil is tried and true. I have done both. Actually, I didn't properly flush my first grow with MG nutes and it didn't taste good.

 

[Fractus]

I'll look into it for sure. Good taste would be nice. Hey can you feed your plant coffee and make Kappuccino Kush? Just curious lol. I've heard of using molasses before though so I may do that. I'll keep you posted with what I do, but I will probably flush. I know it also strengthens the plant, kinda like conditioning it. Put it through flood and drought. I personally think a carefully stressed plant would be healthier than one that lives in perfect conditions all the time. I give mine lots of attention and mix it up for her sometimes. Watering more or less frequently, I don't stick to a schedule on purpose. Just play it by ear, get creative because we all know Mother Nature does and she grows awesome plants doesn't she? haha

 

[bigjesse1922]

I'll look into it for sure. Good taste would be nice. Hey can you feed your plant coffee and make Kappuccino Kush? Just curious lol. I've heard of using molasses before though so I may do that. I'll keep you posted with what I do, but I will probably flush. I know it also strengthens the plant, kinda like conditioning it. Put it through flood and drought. I personally think a carefully stressed plant would be healthier than one that lives in perfect conditions all the time. I give mine lots of attention and mix it up for her sometimes. Watering more or less frequently, I don't stick to a schedule on purpose. Just play it by ear, get creative because we all know Mother Nature does and she grows awesome plants doesn't she? haha

Actually I agree completely.

I do several different things to stress my plants at different times.

I crush the stems to fatten them for later enhanced transportation for food/water and to halt vertical growth temporarily. I let me freshly rooted clones dry out once transplanted and watered once until they start to droop slightly, to encourage the quick development of roots. With watering I would rather water a day late than a day early, if I had to choose.

And yes, sometimes weeds preform best under stress. Provided it managable...

It drives my girl crazy when I pull her hair, but if I smacked her in the face then shit would hit the fan!

 

[Fractus]

It drives my girl crazy when I pull her hair, but if I smacked her in the face then shit would hit the fan!

I like this anology haha.
Those are some cool techniques I'll probably also try in the future. I think stem crushing would be beneficial in my case where height is an issue. Would have been better than chopping her head off. But then again this shape works much better for my box. Just a wide abundance of buds and it's very low. The highest part is no more than a foot high I don't think, it just branches out wide. I also don't think I ever water too early. I water when I know the dirt can hold plenty and is dry or near dry. Just the extent of the dryness varies when I water. And even nutes don't come on a schedule for me. I just give her a taste and when I think she used it all up I give her another taste. I don't think much will drain out when I flush, but maybe it will surprise me and my runoff will be yellow. Hard to say lol.

 

[Fractus]

I fed just less than a teaspoon of MG with 2 litres of water, probably 4 times since it went in the box, and none as a seedling. I was planning on just stopping now and letting it clean itself out by only giving straight water, but a flush couldn't hurt either way. Let her droop for a day and then perk up the next day bigger and tougher than before eh? I think that tip will dramatically increase my yield and flavor. Ty for that one.

 

[bigjesse1922]

I like this anology haha.
Those are some cool techniques I'll probably also try in the future. I think stem crushing would be beneficial in my case where height is an issue. Would have been better than chopping her head off. But then again this shape works much better for my box. Just a wide abundance of buds and it's very low. The highest part is no more than a foot high I don't think, it just branches out wide. I also don't think I ever water too early. I water when I know the dirt can hold plenty and is dry or near dry. Just the extent of the dryness varies when I water. And even nutes don't come on a schedule for me. I just give her a taste and when I think she used it all up I give her another taste. I don't think much will drain out when I flush, but maybe it will surprise me and my runoff will be yellow. Hard to say lol.

Well it doesn't have to be yellow to be a signal of a good flush.

The key is to unlock the salt bonds and also force the plant to use up the nutrients it has stored in its leaves, often discoloring them yellow, light green, brown, or even purple and reddish hues.

Now some, like Gypsy, don't flush. But he grows in hydro and changes this medium (water) every two weeks, I assume, by draining and cleaning his rez. Some people in hydro still flush.

I just know from what I have learned from experience: my flushed nugs tasted better and smoked nicer than those that weren't. Just food for thought

 

[Fractus]

I like the idea of flushing. Any estimate on how long I should wait before doing it? I already know a few ways to do it properly. I'll probably make holes and use the bathtub method lol, seems effective and easy for something like what I have.

 

[bigjesse1922]

I like the idea of flushing. Any estimate on how long I should wait before doing it? I already know a few ways to do it properly. I'll probably make holes and use the bathtub method lol, seems effective and easy for something like what I have.

Yeah that's what I do, flush in the tub.

Well let's see...you want to flush for about 14-21 days max.

So yours are 40 days old? Since they are in dirt and under CFL'S, let's say they take 10-12 weeks. So that's about 2-4 weeks. Probably closer to the 4 weeks based on the pics.

I think you could have some real nice nugs if you are patient and let them swell up.

The key is not to rush it. Watch for the hairs to start to turn amber in large numbers, for the calyxes to swell and the pistils to recede back into them.

Got a scope to check trichs? If you are going to half cloudy/amber, wait until you get some amber starting to develop and then flush for two weeks (provided the other signs point to it looking to being done in 14-21 days max)

The way your buds are in full light...if you can slowly convince them that they are dying...they're gonna get all fat and sticky for ya

Then......CHOP!

Really though, with CFL'S, things develop a tad slower, so you will be able to figure it out. And if you need help...logon

 

[Fractus]

Maybe this is a newb question but what is the purpose of flushing more than once or a couple times? It should clean my medium with a couple rinses, could I not just give her straight water after that? Or is it more about the fact that the flushing will make the plant think it is dying and help the buds? I also have a can of CO2 from paintball, and a computer air duster. Both of these things could probably simulate a first frost too couldn't they? Just a thought. I haven't looked into it but I'm sure it's been done.
I could also gradually make the days shorter, it's on 12/12 now, I can adjust my cheap timer to intervals of 15 minutes. I don't have a budlooker so I'll need to invest in one of those.

 

[nickbbad]

when people talk about flushing at the end they usually just mean watering with straight water for the last couple of weeks.

 

[bigjesse1922]

Maybe this is a newb question but what is the purpose of flushing more than once or a couple times? It should clean my medium with a couple rinses, could I not just give her straight water after that?

That's what flushing is, just giving her straight water...maybe some molasses...not sure what you mean?

I don't flush my soil excessively. Meaning if I normally water 1 litre per plant, I still water 1 litre per plant. I just do it for two weeks.

Some people think you should dump huge amounts of water through...I don't. The last thing I want right before I harvest is root rot.

Or is it more about the fact that the flushing will make the plant think it is dying and help the buds?

It's got duel purposes IMO.

 

[KaleoXxX]

wow fractus, i am truly impressed

when are you planning your harvest for? and do you have a magnifying glass of some kind to check you trichs? i like the super stoney couch lock of a fully ripe bud, but its all up to your preferences

i have to give you all the rep in the world, because this is the best first (successful ) grow ive ever followed

 

[littlegrower2004]

Today, just after I watered her:

you do know that getting water on the buds is bad thing right? thats an easy way to ruin ur first female. it would suck to end up with moldy rotten bud.

 

[Fractus]

That's what flushing is, just giving her straight water...maybe some molasses...not sure what you mean?

I was under the impression that flushing was the act of running a bunch of excess water through the soil to rinse it all out until clean water is coming out of the drain holes. The method I liked most for doing this was to fill a bathtub up with water and then lower the plant "pot" down into the water until is seeps in the holes and then lift it out and let all the water and drain, and do it a couple times until your probably yellow water drains out clear. And the soil will be soaked and the plant will droop because of it, but within a couple days it will use up all that water and be stronger and and have 100% clean dirt. All I'm going to give it from now on is water anyway, i give it 2litres every second day for the most part, unless the soil is dry before that. That one single plant drinks a LOT of water.

Thanks again for the support KaleoXxX, I don't have a magnifying glass but I will get one. Maybe even today. I'm expecting that 2 full weeks from now my buds will be big ang sticky and mature, every day they are significantly bigger. She really likes her house

I've had several private messages asking specific details because people want to construct their own box just like mine lol, it's like I'm revolutionizing mini grow ops for those on tight budgets with limited space. This grow seems to have attracted a lot of attention. Thanks again to e eryone who has helped me along the way. My advice for anyone else trying a first grow is to do some reading first. Even reading this whole thread would give you sufficient knowledge to grow a successful plant I think. A lot of useful info has been posted here.

 

[Fractus]

No lol I didn't know it was bad. If anything I thought it would be good. It's just water, and in direct light. It hasn't seemed to hurt anything... the water is gone off of the plant itself after less than an hour. Should I avoid getting water on them?

 

[KaleoXxX]

you do know that getting water on the buds is bad thing right? thats an easy way to ruin ur first female. it would suck to end up with moldy rotten bud.

i assume its dry in his box, and he did say it was JUST after watering. honestly, with all what green, could you think of a good way to water thoroughly without getting the buds atleast a little wet?