My DWC CFL Grow

NeWcS

Well-Known Member
Well I'm in the beginning stage of my first grow since the early 90's. Due to a lake of space and money I went with CFL's. The 4 white clf's are 23w/ea and the blue and red ones are 15w. The two tubes on the outside are 45w/ea. Once my girl :leaf: gets bigger Ill add some 45w x 2 on the sides.

Thinking about going with a Lemon Skunk or Sweet Tooth.

Id like some suggestions of a strain that stays fairly small but has a high yield?

Thoughts?
 

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NeWcS

Well-Known Member
Any other tips for growing under this setup?

Here are some more pics
 

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NeWcS

Well-Known Member
The strain I went with is Maui Blue which crossed itself naturally in Hawaii. It's about an 80/20 sativa/indica. I will be renaming this strain to 'Maui Blue Loach' thanks to the fish water being used. :) I'm using a mix of 1gal fish tank water (which I vacuum the rock's as this is where all the fish shit falls to) to 2gal of normal water. Because the fish tank water has nutrients in it I'm using half the recommended dose of Ionic grow.

Here are some updated pics....

















More to come
 

john pickle

Active Member
interesting setup.

The only things i can say are the two cfls on the outside are hanging too low and away from your girl...

and im not exactly sure what good your fan is doing hanging above your ceiling...
 

NeWcS

Well-Known Member
interesting setup.

The only things i can say are the two cfls on the outside are hanging too low and away from your girl...
I just added those in anticipation for when she gets bigger and is going to need light on the sides. I just leave them on now, in the early stage as they do add a lot of light.

and im not exactly sure what good your fan is doing hanging above your ceiling...
I hear you. This is a high end very powerful computer fan. Although it is up high, I have it angled down to hit the lights and the plant. If I ran it straight across the top of the plant and the bottom of the lights it would snap the plant in half most likely.

Thank you so much for the input.
 

zovoel

Active Member
I agree with the above post.. It's a very interesting set-up but I think you could do a little more research on these forums to maximize your success.. i.e. light proximity, lumen output, and even building a decent light fixture. Not trying to criticize, just offer my opinion.

Check out my grow

https://www.rollitup.org/blogs/296347-zovoel.html
 

john pickle

Active Member
I just added those in anticipation for when she gets bigger and is going to need light on the sides. I just leave them on now, in the early stage as they do add a lot of light.



I hear you. This is a high end very powerful computer fan. Although it is up high, I have it angled down to hit the lights and the plant. If I ran it straight across the top of the plant and the bottom of the lights it would snap the plant in half most likely.

Thank you so much for the input.
Right on man. i see i see.

Now just make sure that fan is moving good air around your girl, the wind simulation will thicken up your stalk and make for some chronic.

Anyway you seem to have this under wraps, cya @ harvest!
 

zovoel

Active Member
I have over 500 watts of CFL lighting several inches above each plant. From the pictures it looks like your plants are stretching significantly. The shorter the distance between nodes the tighter the buds man!
 

zovoel

Active Member
How tall is your plant and how many alternating nodes does it have? What is their average distance from one another? How many full sets of fan leaves does the plant have now? From those pictures it's just looks really skinny and tall. The shorter and bushier the better when using CFLs. Like the ones in my prof pic. Easy fix if you read up on some good info about lumen output per watt and the usable colors of the visible light spectrum. Then you can maximize growth outward rather than up for more bud sites. And those colored bulbs aren't helping the grow any..
 

john pickle

Active Member
How tall is your plant and how many alternating nodes does it have? What is their average distance from one another? How many full sets of fan leaves does the plant have now? From those pictures it's just looks really skinny and tall. The shorter and bushier the better when using CFLs. Like the ones in my prof pic. Easy fix if you read up on some good info about lumen output per watt and the usable colors of the visible light spectrum. Then you can maximize growth outward rather than up for more bud sites. And those colored bulbs aren't helping the grow any..
i believe its a freshly rooted cloned cutting....
thats why its so stretched and proportionally skinny
 

NeWcS

Well-Known Member
It was planted as a clone a week ago. The roots just came through the mesh pot into the bucket. The plant is 9in tall. I'm thinking of doing some LST if you all think it will help the yield?
 

john pickle

Active Member
It was planted as a clone a week ago. The roots just came through the mesh pot into the bucket. The plant is 9in tall. I'm thinking of doing some LST if you all think it will help the yield?
Most definitely.

I would top it, and LST.
Snip the top right off that little lady. And start tying.
A combination of those two things will help spread the weak cfl lights amongst the plant.
I would know, as im in the cfl ball park myself.
 

zovoel

Active Member
It's called topping and/or fimming. Basically take the newest growth at the tip of the plant and cut off the top 80% of baby leaves. What happens is the growth below will utilize the energy and nutrients no longer being used by the top, and grow two or four new main stalks. It makes the plant grow out rather than straight up.
 

NeWcS

Well-Known Member
JP, Thx, I know how to use google and forums and yes I found the needed info. But if everyone used a search engine for all their questions and help we wouldn't need a place like this would we? See how zovoel just answered the question? Thanx! :)
 

MoNk0

Well-Known Member
Yeah I would definatly top right about 1st or second node your choice to knock some height off that sucker.. I'd also place a small fan blowing right on the plant also (not to much pressure) with this it will help thicken up the stem.. LST is nice it will help you spread that light you have over the entire plant.. If you want to take a look at my grow, link in sig, I'm LSTing my little one.. Good Luck
 

NeWcS

Well-Known Member
Thank you for the advice. I just topped her and put my first tie on for LST. I will post some more pics tonight.
 
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