"I Think I Can!"...First Grow from seed!

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Sorry for the delayed post folks. I had a couple of side jobs come up and well in this economy ya' take what ya' can get.

I wanted to say thanks to rollitup for the site. The reference material on this site alone has been invaluable.

I introduced myself in the Intro section, but I thought I would do again here. I wanted to thank the folks for their kind words. I am like most on this board. I am not a criminal. I am not taking on this little project for profit or prize. I think the MJ laws are BS and this is an attempt to be free of the darker element and have anonymity. I am lower working middle class. I served in the Army and drove Truck for 20 plus years. I have been married to the same woman for 20 years and I have no children. I became sick in 06' and they retired my medical card...no more driving. In desperation I turned my Computer Hobby into employment. I have been a self made Computer Nerd since the early 80's. Truck Driver/Computer Field Tech.......Figure that one out! I was laid off this year and have been turning another hobby into work. Bikes and Hot Rods. I am a casual Bike/Car Builder and I love my Harley's. I also help maintain some valuable car collections. I do it for the love of the cars and bikes. I have always been a wrench. It doesn't pay much, but sometimes its good to just DO something. I have lot of build pics, can post if ya like. All and all from what I have read on this forum, I am pretty much a clone of the rest on this board.

This is my first grow as mentioned and I am still learning a lot. Any advice or comments are welcome and like I said. I am a total noob at this. I have been a connoisseur for over 25 years. This is my first attempt at growing the grapes that make the wine....so to speak!

I set my project up in my office and I germinated the old fashion way. I am using a floro with lights my wife use to grow corral for salt water tanks. My wife has been a Saltwater Hobbyist for decades. I used some tiles I use in the shop to set up as reflector walls with aluminum foil and added a small fan. I can foresee having to make many adjustments and improvements to this area so bare with my noobness!

Thanks for the look. I will let you all know whats going on fail or succeed. I am sure it will be a total learning exp whatever way it goes.

Here are some shots at one week from seed. I added four more (smaller pots) about 3 days ago. Two are starting to sprout. I think I need to lower my lights though.
 

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greenquartz

Well-Known Member
thanks for the comment on my post appreciate it looks like u sprouted them nicely u are going to want to keep those lights close as u can to minimize stretching and what budget are u working with lots of improvements but some are more important than others
 

idlehands80

Active Member
yeah definetly lower the lights, also let the fan blow directly on the seedlings as this will help strengthen the stem (as long as you are not using a real high power fan. its ok if they sway cause that is what help strengthen the stem. Also it looks like you may be keeping them too moist unless the shots are just after watering. adding some perlite and/or vermiculite will help with drainage. you want to let the soil dry out quite a bit before watering again. this may mean watering only 2-4 times a week, but that is fine. Be sure to wait at least 2-3 weeks before introducing nutes. Good luck with the grow.
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
yeah definetly lower the lights, also let the fan blow directly on the seedlings as this will help strengthen the stem (as long as you are not using a real high power fan. its ok if they sway cause that is what help strengthen the stem. Also it looks like you may be keeping them too moist unless the shots are just after watering. adding some perlite and/or vermiculite will help with drainage. you want to let the soil dry out quite a bit before watering again. this may mean watering only 2-4 times a week, but that is fine. Be sure to wait at least 2-3 weeks before introducing nutes. Good luck with the grow.
Thanks Bro! Yeah I always go and take pics when I water. Got your first advice down. I only water 2 or 3 times a week and I just started nutes this week.
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Hey Folks!

Just wanted to give you and update on my first Grow Attempt! The larger pots are just at 4 weeks and the smaller ones are 2 and half weeks and one at about a week and half. Yeah, Yeah I know. I started the first five and I got real excited and planted more. These are all suppose to be Northern Lights and man they are coming up fast, and getting a nice little skunk smell to them.

Tomorrow Morning I am going down to pick up a few more lights. Thanks for all the help and advice folks. Members on this board and the board itself has really been a god sent.
 

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Pipe Dream

Well-Known Member
lookin much better i was going to suggest you get some cfls. nothin to really add it's good to see someone a little older doin this as I think more thought will go into it with your experience (in life)you planning on getting a bigger light for flowering I would recommend it highly!
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
lookin much better i was going to suggest you get some cfls. nothin to really add it's good to see someone a little older doin this as I think more thought will go into it with your experience (in life)you planning on getting a bigger light for flowering I would recommend it highly!
Thanks PD!

Yeah I got a couple CFLS going but I need a couple more. I also have grow light on them as well. Temp is held at a constant 80 degrees. They are going good but a little behind and it has to be from light shortage.

I agree. I think for the most part anyone shouldn't have to much trouble growing. Do your research, and ask questions. I think the number one thing that really makes the difference is patience. I think the over watering and over fertilizing is due to lack of patience. It's a gorgeous plant, it has a great smell, and well we know what happens when you cure it, and add a open match to it. With that in mind I think to many people get over anxious and try to rush it. As the old saying goes, the best things in life are worth waiting for!

Peace!
 

greenquartz

Well-Known Member
DUDE they look freakin amazing great job keep it up it helps NL is a very established old school strain very easy to keep happy so looking forward to comapring hehehe keep it up
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Thanks GQ!

I added a couple more CFL's and the girls are really perking up. I talked to my buddy the other day that I got the seeds from and he is telling me its a strain called U-Dub. I got a bag a' buds from him of this strain and it was DAMN good! ......I think NL is mixed within U-Dub. Not sure, but these little girls are really starting to let off that skunk smell!

This is a really fun Hobby I tell ya!
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Well I added two more CFL's 2 days ago and WOW!!! What a difference. I am running four 6500 Cfl's right now and a t-8 Grow light. Things are really moving into 2nd gear and I am really getting excited. I intend to go and pick up a few more lights and set them down low.

I talked to my buddy that I got these seeds from and I was thinking that these plants were pure NL's. He told me that they are a strain called U-Dub. I researched it a bit but can't find a lot on this strain. Anyone heard of it?

If you take a look at the last two pics of the grow cupboard you can see the growth spurt in just 2 days.

Amazing!

3.5 weeks from sprout, 4 weeks from planted seed for plants in bigger pots........I didn't know what I was doing and should have started them smaller pots. I also had my lights to high when I started.
 

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Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Week 5 veg for the girls in the big pots. The smaller pots are at between 2 and 3 weeks.

I really increased my lights this week. I am over 2000 lumen a sq ft. Changed out about 4 days ago to be more precise. I was at the point where everyone was viable and I need to really give them the exposure they require. The plants took right off. I am seeing and inch or so a day in growth.

Anyways here are some pics. Just amazing!

........my whole office has a slight Indica Skunk smell to it. I love that smell!
 

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greenquartz

Well-Known Member
dude they are looking awesome not a single health issue at all and really growing strong have u started thinking about a flowering box its gonna have to be soon and remember they are at least going to triple in size unless u lst like a mother
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
dude they are looking awesome not a single health issue at all and really growing strong have u started thinking about a flowering box its gonna have to be soon and remember they are at least going to triple in size unless u lst like a mother
I am with ya on the flower box GQ! I am prepping it now. I want to let them go another 2 weeks or so and then into flower. I will take clones because I want to try LST grow next. This grow has been a total learning experience for me. I am learning a lot and some of the old timers on this board can teach you a lot if you listen to them. Give'em enough light, don't over-water them, don't over feed them. Watch you PH, keep'em warm, and let your water sit open in the air for at least 24 hours. That and a whole lot of love and they grow.....well.......like a weed!

This Grow is really doing well. The best advice was from an old time BC grower on these boards. He told me what I wrote above on watering and what not but he said the number one thing is be patient. You can help to make it grow in some ways, in others you are at the mercy of mother nature. The quicker you learn that the better you will grow!

I am not to flowering yet, and I still have to show a yield, or this is all for not!

.....keep learning!
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Got off work early and got a nice Ride in. Came home and replanted my young girls into new pots.....let's hope they survive.

I foresee more y-connectors and lights in the near future. Got to pick up 2700k's too.

Anyways, here are some shots of how things are going!

Peace...
 

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Pipe Dream

Well-Known Member
I love those big peat pots....how much they run ya? They would be perfect for mothers or transplanting larger plants after you've flowered. I wish I was using those right now :(

I'm still watchin too
 

Mr. Leafy

Active Member
Not sure PD!

Wife snagged them today when she was in town. I will ask her!

Thanks for the look. Things are moving along......flowering coming up!
 
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