Yet another LED thread.
- Thread starter themanwiththeplan
- Start date
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
thanks. i plan on using a 2ft 2 bulb t5 for clones. i plan on using a 4ft 6bulb for mothers & vegging plants (to go straight into 12/12 in the flower room after being under said 4ft t5 fixure).
should i be ok with that?
how long do you figure (on avg as i know its not that easy of a question to answer) it would take to go from seed to 1ft tall vegging plants under a 4ft 6bulb (30K lumens) t5 fixure assuming i have 4-6 vegging plants in 3 gal pots?
and/or
how many clones can one expect from 3-5 mothers...and how often with that type of setup?
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
btw thanks for being such an awesome contributor to this thread!
virulient
Active Member
No probs I would highly recommend getting an HPS light for flowering at least. And if you can, get a switchable ballast so you can get a MH bulb for veg/HPS bulb for flowering. Florescents are fine for clones/mother plant, and even for veg to be honest. But for flowering, you're probably going to want an HPS. Keep in mind, IF a 400w light is the right size light for you, then you can pick up an older, magnetic ballast and a Ceramic Metal Halide bulb. This would take out the need for an HPS at all, as this bulb has a much fuller spectrum than a MH or HPS by themselves, and is around the same price. But they are only available for 400w. If you need larger than this, I would recommend a switchable, digital ballast, with a MH and HPS bulb combo to go with. As for a reflector, regardless which way you go, I recommend a CoolTube.
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
thanks again for the speedy reply.
I already have 2 mh/hps lights (both have digital ballasts). From my 2nd grow till now (4 years or so) ive had 2 600w lights. both are mh/hps. Ive been growing one whole cycle at at time (ie. starting all the plants at the same time and seeing them through to harvest without planting any more until those are chopped).
Now a new possibility has opened up for me (using this new 83 1/2 inch tall x 7 ft long x 25inches deep) space to grow. its a glorified closet pretty much. It has two big front doors on it in the event it gets too hot and/or the small fans i intend on using dont keep up.
I really don't see temps being an issue though.
My plan is to use this space for one of two things at a time (wont do both at once)
Grow strictly plants in veg in the small space until ready to flower...
send them to the 1st 600w light. plant new plants in veg
end of the month move those plants in veg to flower under the 1st 600w light while moving the plants already in flower to the 2nd 600w
and round and round we go with monthly harvests (assuming i grow plants that flower in 8 weeks)
AND other times id use this space for mothers and i'd be making clones.
sometimes i MAY do a lil bit of both.
but basically im looking to do clones and get on a good schedule so im not counting every gram till my next harvest is complete so i dont run out of meds.
my plan for clones is simple: 10x20 trays...humidity dome..clonex (or similar brand)...rockwool cubes...and a water bottle to mist them & thats it. no clone machines or fancy equipment. gonna keep it simple.
I already have 2 mh/hps lights (both have digital ballasts). From my 2nd grow till now (4 years or so) ive had 2 600w lights. both are mh/hps. Ive been growing one whole cycle at at time (ie. starting all the plants at the same time and seeing them through to harvest without planting any more until those are chopped).
Now a new possibility has opened up for me (using this new 83 1/2 inch tall x 7 ft long x 25inches deep) space to grow. its a glorified closet pretty much. It has two big front doors on it in the event it gets too hot and/or the small fans i intend on using dont keep up.
I really don't see temps being an issue though.
My plan is to use this space for one of two things at a time (wont do both at once)
Grow strictly plants in veg in the small space until ready to flower...
send them to the 1st 600w light. plant new plants in veg
end of the month move those plants in veg to flower under the 1st 600w light while moving the plants already in flower to the 2nd 600w
and round and round we go with monthly harvests (assuming i grow plants that flower in 8 weeks)
AND other times id use this space for mothers and i'd be making clones.
sometimes i MAY do a lil bit of both.
but basically im looking to do clones and get on a good schedule so im not counting every gram till my next harvest is complete so i dont run out of meds.
my plan for clones is simple: 10x20 trays...humidity dome..clonex (or similar brand)...rockwool cubes...and a water bottle to mist them & thats it. no clone machines or fancy equipment. gonna keep it simple.
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
so i feel pretty much set. the only thing i keep worrying about is lighting.
i feel like my design is simple (for the space) & solid.
My budget isnt too low for this
Heat/temps wont be an issue.
if humidity is a problem i wont hesitate to introduce a humidifier to the area etc.
so i think i got everything else i just dont wanna screw up and get lights that are either too weak or get too hot. im hesitant to go with HID lighting in the 1st place as i know how hot it can get as i own 1200w of mh and hps lights. in the winter its pretty much a heater. when i get cold i go in the room and its no unusual to find temps around 78 lol. i live where the summers are hot (100+ easily) and where the winters can dip into the 20s a night in certain times of the year!
i would have just got one of those 8 bulb t5's that have the switch to turn off certain bulbs to fit your purpose but they wont fit in the space. all the models ive seen are an inch or two too big & im not certain 6 bulbs can handle it.
i guess i'll trust you guys on this 1 but at this point im not certain.
i feel like my design is simple (for the space) & solid.
My budget isnt too low for this
Heat/temps wont be an issue.
if humidity is a problem i wont hesitate to introduce a humidifier to the area etc.
so i think i got everything else i just dont wanna screw up and get lights that are either too weak or get too hot. im hesitant to go with HID lighting in the 1st place as i know how hot it can get as i own 1200w of mh and hps lights. in the winter its pretty much a heater. when i get cold i go in the room and its no unusual to find temps around 78 lol. i live where the summers are hot (100+ easily) and where the winters can dip into the 20s a night in certain times of the year!
i would have just got one of those 8 bulb t5's that have the switch to turn off certain bulbs to fit your purpose but they wont fit in the space. all the models ive seen are an inch or two too big & im not certain 6 bulbs can handle it.
i guess i'll trust you guys on this 1 but at this point im not certain.
virulient
Active Member
I agree with the DIY cloner. There's a nice one here https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/466338-my-diy-fog-cloner.html . I'm sure you could just make something with a clear dome on top to trap the moisture in. Those mist-makers are pretty awesome. The setup you described sounds perfect. If you already have 2 lights, and ALL of your flowering plants go under them, and you got HPS bulbs in them obviously, then really everything else can go under fluorescents. You can even use CFL's for your mother if it's more energy effective/cheaper than the t5 fixtures. I WOULD, however, recommend the t5's for the clones. Otherwise, double and triple check your schedule for when you're going to take cuttings to when they will move into veg, to when they'll go to flower and by they time you'll need new cuttings to be coming out of cloner to veg room, etc etc. Sounds like you got everything pretty much ready to go now though, just need to double and triple check everything to be safe. With that setup though....it's going to work out really nice man. I think you'll be extremely happy with this as long as you keep them all healthy.
ps-I always used Clonex, though if you want a different brand try Olivia's. I always use the gel only, though I hear some people use gel and powder.
ps-I always used Clonex, though if you want a different brand try Olivia's. I always use the gel only, though I hear some people use gel and powder.
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
awesome. so do you suggest a clone machine or clone fogger in place of just a simple 10x20 tray plus humidity dome, rockwool cubes (or some type of soil. not sure which way to go yet) and some water in the bottom of the tray??
I assume using the tray w/ dome, rockwell cubes and a lil water in the bottom of the tray (clones dipped in clonex of course) should go a long way? or am i wrong? i really don't know for sure as ive seen many ways to make clones. I just wanted to keep it basic for now before diving full into it. would my basic idea work well? or should i go with the fogger?
virulient
Active Member
Your idea sounds like it would work, in theory. I have no experience making anything besides the mist-maker, but I like the sound of what you're describing. As for soil, I wish I could help more, but I run DWC in most of my plants (some aeroponics), no soil yet, though. I fell in love with hydroponics from the start, and I've been using different methods of ponics since. People say soil is better though so I'm going to try it out soon
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
oh i see. well im the opposite. Ive been soil only the whole time lmao..
Idk if soil is better but it sure is more difficult (lugging 5gal or 7gal pots of plants from a fresh watering back to the grow room gets rough)
so does mixing soil. ive always liked the concept of hydro, etc. as its more plug and play where soil grows feels like you're building something everytime. lol
Idk if soil is better but it sure is more difficult (lugging 5gal or 7gal pots of plants from a fresh watering back to the grow room gets rough)
so does mixing soil. ive always liked the concept of hydro, etc. as its more plug and play where soil grows feels like you're building something everytime. lol
virulient
Active Member
Yea, for sure. I can definitely agree soil is harder. Or I would imagine so. I change my reservoir every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks and check ppm/ph daily....that's it haha. Soil has to worry about over/under-watering and possible nute burn from what I hear. When I have a little more free time I'm definitely going to do a few soil crops though. I hear it helps the taste a lot if you get the right mix perfected.
themanwiththeplan
Well-Known Member
i agree. if you go soil either go fox farm ocean forest and their trio of nutes (big bloom, tiger bloom, grow big)
or
go all organic (soil and nutes) i havent experimented enough with growing 100% organic but i did have success of the grows i did do. i found using all organic stuff tends to bring out the smell and taste more than poor soil and chemical nutes. could be a fluke but im pretty convinced.
i like the fox farm because its really easy. no guess work. generally you can follow the feeding instructions to the T and not have a problem. only thing i'd do (if using ocean forest soil) is mix a little perlite in. It helps keep the soil from getting as clumpy and keeps the plant from drying out too quickly (holds moisture)
virulient
Active Member
Somethin' like this : https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/447503-c-wiz-doo-doo-germs.html
But indoors
But indoors