Northern Lights First Grow Hydroponic

W N L

W N L

Active Member
WnL NL

Ok, so this is our first grow attempt. If you see ANY issues that are life threatening to the plants, please post and let us know. Any pointers also along the way will be a HUGE help!!

Here is our info and what we are doing.

This is our setup.

101_0104.jpg101_0105.jpg101_0103.jpg

I know CFLs don't have a ton of fans on this forum, I really don't want to hear how a MH or HPS would do me better. Trust me, once I sucessfully complete this grow, I will be upgrading the lights, already invested about $400 into the project and didn't want to put more in until I was more understanding with the grow process.



VEGETATING LIGHT SET UP

4x - 100W 5000k
4x - 60W 5000K
4x - 60W 2700k
1x - 120W (flood light CFL) 5000k
CFLs.jpg



FOWERING LIGHT SET UP
4x - 100W 2700k
4x - 60W 2700k
4x - 60W 5000k
1x - 300W 2700k
( Just found the 300W 2700k, was psyched, )



Nutrients
I will be using the FoxFarm Trio pack.

FoxFarm.jpg

Medium
RockWool
then onto Hydroton



Other Shi* to know
I have a suspended fan in the closet now that keeps the air circulating quite well, eventually, closer to summer, I will have 2, one pumping IN and one pumping OUT.
Suspended fan.jpg
All the lights are suspended by chain.
chains.jpg


The heater that is used during the day.

heater.jpg
►►►Progress ◄◄◄

I will be posting progress reports between 3-4x a week depending on whats going on so check back!


Week 1

Day 5:
d5.jpg
So far... : So far I am happy with whats showing. I was worried for a while on the 4th sprout just because it took longer than the others, but it is poking up now and it seems healthy.

ISSUES : The only issues so far have been controlling the heat and keeping it warm during the night. The lights are on from 6AM until Midnight and we have a heater that runs during the day to keep the warmth. Morning can sometimes get down to about 71 Degrees F. Just worried that it might become a problem...



​
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
I just noticed, my humidity sucked nuts, its been about 20% and I was ignorant to the fact that it should be between 60-65, just threw a humidifier in there. Might be the reason for the drooping leafs lately.
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Here is Day 6

day 6.jpg

No issues really, just concerned about the dark spots on the leafs. They are the same spot the seed held onto for a while and then dropped off, so I am not really all that worried, just something to note.


:!::!: COMMENTS ARE NOT ONLY WELCOMED, THEY ARE APPRECIATED! :!::!:
​
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Day 7
Day 7 - Side Shot.jpgDay 7 - OverView.jpgDay 7 - Roots.jpg
Problems :
Still no problems really, just concered about the roots touching the dish. Trying to figure out when would be a good time to move them to the Hydroton rock.


:!::!: COMMENTS ARE NOT ONLY WELCOMED, THEY ARE APPRECIATED! :!::!:
​
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
The roots are coming through the bottom, should I cut the plastic off around the rockwool and lay them on top of some hydroton? Just don't want root issues.
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
On day 15 , looking great! Will post some pics here in a second. INPUT IS APPRECIATED!


COMMENTS ARE NOT ONLY WELCOMED, THEY ARE APPRECIATED!
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Day 15


day 15 and they seem quite healthy. Got the water turning on 7x a day and its been that way for 5 days now and everything is looking heathly. day 15 2.jpgDay 15 top.jpgDay 15.jpgDay 15 side.jpg​
 
Wolverine97

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
W N L said:
WnL NL

Ok, so this is our first grow attempt. If you see ANY issues that are life threatening to the plants, please post and let us know. Any pointers also along the way will be a HUGE help!!

Here is our info and what we are doing.

This is our setup.

View attachment 1435832View attachment 1435833View attachment 1435834

I know CFLs don't have a ton of fans on this forum, I really don't want to hear how a MH or HPS would do me better. Trust me, once I sucessfully complete this grow, I will be upgrading the lights, already invested about $400 into the project and didn't want to put more in until I was more understanding with the grow process.



VEGETATING LIGHT SET UP

4x - 100W 5000k
4x - 60W 5000K
4x - 60W 2700k
1x - 120W (flood light CFL) 5000k
View attachment 1435847



FOWERING LIGHT SET UP
4x - 100W 2700k
4x - 60W 2700k
4x - 60W 5000k
1x - 300W 2700k
( Just found the 300W 2700k, was psyched, )



Nutrients
I will be using the FoxFarm Trio pack.

View attachment 1435876

Medium
RockWool
then onto Hydroton



Other Shi* to know
I have a suspended fan in the closet now that keeps the air circulating quite well, eventually, closer to summer, I will have 2, one pumping IN and one pumping OUT.
View attachment 1435845
All the lights are suspended by chain.
View attachment 1435860


The heater that is used during the day.

View attachment 1435846
►►►Progress ◄◄◄

I will be posting progress reports between 3-4x a week depending on whats going on so check back!


Week 1

Day 5:
View attachment 1435861
So far... : So far I am happy with whats showing. I was worried for a while on the 4th sprout just because it took longer than the others, but it is poking up now and it seems healthy.

ISSUES : The only issues so far have been controlling the heat and keeping it warm during the night. The lights are on from 6AM until Midnight and we have a heater that runs during the day to keep the warmth. Morning can sometimes get down to about 71 Degrees F. Just worried that it might become a problem...



​
Click to expand...
Here goes. Night temps of 71f are perfect for veg, don't raise it at all. Regarding the CFL's, I'd rethink your stance depending on what you define as "successful". I'm not trying to sound snarky at all, I just want to be realistic with you. Those wattages you listed are not the actual watts, they are equivalent watts, which is not at all the same thing. CFL's will work for rooting clones, and early veg but that's about all they're good for.
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Wolverine97 said:
Here goes. Night temps of 71f are perfect for veg, don't raise it at all. Regarding the CFL's, I'd rethink your stance depending on what you define as "successful". I'm not trying to sound snarky at all, I just want to be realistic with you. Those wattages you listed are not the actual watts, they are equivalent watts, which is not at all the same thing. CFL's will work for rooting clones, and early veg but that's about all they're good for.
Click to expand...

Seen "FAIR" yields from CFLs. If using the right bulbs, and the right care, its possible. I appreciate your input, but I have done quite the reading on the subject as well, is IS in fact doable, just not nearly as good as a HPS lamp would be over them.
 
Wolverine97

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
W N L said:
Seen "FAIR" yields from CFLs. If using the right bulbs, and the right care, its possible. I appreciate your input, but I have don't quite the reading on the subject as well, is IS in fact doable, just not nearly as good as a HPS lamp would be over them.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is doable, I'll give you that. I don't mean to sound dickish about it, really, I just try to let people know what to expect. The thing is, you have to have so many of the damn things to make it work that you don't save any real amount of money in the end. Then you have to be meticulous in maintaining the bulbs no more than 2" away, the bottom growth sucks, you waste half the light because fluoro's reflect very poorly, it's just not efficient at all. You'd be much better served to bite the bullet and pony up the dough for a decent fixture that you can raise/lower at will, and not have to stay so close to your plants with the light.

Hey man, I've been there too. My very first grow (in a galaxy far far away) was done with nothing but T12 fluorescents. I had some beautiful plants, they smelled great, stunk up my parents house to high hell, and even had some (as I thought) decent trichome production. I harvested, dried it, smoked some, smoked some more, got kinda bummed, the end.

Now, 15 years later, I've experienced all of that and learned from it. I'm trying to save some others the trouble.
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Wolverine97 said:
Yes, it is doable, I'll give you that. I don't mean to sound dickish about it, really, I just try to let people know what to expect. The thing is, you have to have so many of the damn things to make it work that you don't save any real amount of money in the end. Then you have to be meticulous in maintaining the bulbs no more than 2" away, the bottom growth sucks, you waste half the light because fluoro's reflect very poorly, it's just not efficient at all. You'd be much better served to bite the bullet and pony up the dough for a decent fixture that you can raise/lower at will, and not have to stay so close to your plants with the light.

Hey man, I've been there too. My very first grow (in a galaxy far far away) was done with nothing but T12 fluorescents. I had some beautiful plants, they smelled great, stunk up my parents house to high hell, and even had some (as I thought) decent trichome production. I harvested, dried it, smoked some, smoked some more, got kinda bummed, the end.

Now, 15 years later, I've experienced all of that and learned from it. I'm trying to save some others the trouble.
Click to expand...
Hey man, input is appreciated. Good news, we went and bought a 400w HPS / MH from HTG and will be installing it as soon as it arrives. I am really excited to see the difference.
 
Terri73

Terri73

Member
Looking good! Did you find the answer to whats wrong with the leaves? is there a lighter green between the veins too? if so I have the exact problem I can't figure out what it is mne are on day 15.

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W N L

W N L

Active Member
Terri73 said:
Looking good! Did you find the answer to whats wrong with the leaves? is there a lighter green between the veins too? if so I have the exact problem I can't figure out what it is mne are on day 15.

subscribed
Click to expand...
No, no one has answered that, but I really can't worry about small stuff, I can only assume its from the PH level being up and down.

Got the MH installed, will post some pictures soon. :-) :D
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Day 23, some random shots, got the MH 400w installed and just swapped out the res water and nutrients. Give input . :D



Day 23 2.jpgDay 23 4.jpgDay 23 3.jpgDay 23 1.jpg


COMMENTS ARE NOT ONLY WELCOMED, THEY ARE APPRECIATED!
 
W N L

W N L

Active Member
Wolverine97 said:
Looks good man. How close is that light? It looks like maybe you could lower it just a wee bit.
Click to expand...
Yea, we were thinking that, not too sure. Will check the heat tomorrow before work and most likely lower it. I read a few different places that its best to 'feel it out' before just dropping it in there. Like you said, we assume its too high, but didn't want to risk burn right away. I love having all the CFLs out of there though, just makes it soo much easier to look at all the girls, instead of having to move the CFLs away every time. So psyched to see the changes in the next couple of days.
 
meetjoeblow

meetjoeblow

Well-Known Member
yea i think your lights are a little too high if u can lower them with out making it too hot i would. use the back of your hand as a guide. wen it gets uncomfortably hot for your hand your plants feel the same way. i try to keep mine 20inches at the most from the top of canopy
 
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