how long do I have left?

[MDEVA]

Flourescents don't seem to penetrate very well to get light to the middle of the plant and the lower limbs. With the CFL setup I've got going, I can have lots of light up top, and also kind of "inject" light into the spots that seem lacking with just some simple clamp fixtures that you can pick up from the hardware store for under $5. I know it seems like a lot of lights, but it actually looks pretty clean. I'll have to post up some pictures when I get the new bulbs and get everything set up. I'm just happy that I more than doubled wattage & lumens. I hope to get the bulbs tomorrow or Monday so that I can put more 2700K colored light on her ASAP

 

[berkman858]

Flourescents don't seem to penetrate very well to get light to the middle of the plant and the lower limbs. With the CFL setup I've got going, I can have lots of light up top, and also kind of "inject" light into the spots that seem lacking with just some simple clamp fixtures that you can pick up from the hardware store for under $5. I know it seems like a lot of lights, but it actually looks pretty clean. I'll have to post up some pictures when I get the new bulbs and get everything set up. I'm just happy that I more than doubled wattage & lumens. I hope to get the bulbs tomorrow or Monday so that I can put more 2700K colored light on her ASAP

I don't know if your assumption of the effectiveness of your lighting is correct, but I could be dead wrong. All I hear from hard core flouro grower is T8s and T5s all the way, not much talk of CFLs. I wish one of those fucking HID-haters would chime in. They always seem to be there when I say my 1000 watt HPS kills their shitty flouro setup.

Any takers??????

P.S. - I aint knocking your setup, just trying to rattle some cages.

 

[MDEVA]

I know you're not trying to knock me. Hell the way I see it - the best setup is the one that works for me. And this works for me, LOL. So I was reading through your journal grow and see where someone chimed in about you maybe "under lighting" your 5x5 tent. He said that you are at 40 watts/ sq ft, and that 50 watt per sq. ft is optimal. I haven't been able to verify that what he says is true, but if so, I should be right on the money with watts per sq ft. 757 total watts in 14 sq ft closet = 54watts per sq ft, right? I SUCK at math...

 

[berkman858]

I know you're not trying to knock me. Hell the way I see it - the best setup is the one that works for me. And this works for me, LOL. So I was reading through your journal grow and see where someone chimed in about you maybe "under lighting" your 5x5 tent. He said that you are at 40 watts/ sq ft, and that 50 watt per sq. ft is optimal. I haven't been able to verify that what he says is true, but if so, I should be right on the money with watts per sq ft. 757 total watts in 14 sq ft closet = 54watts per sq ft, right? I SUCK at math...

First of all, my tent is 5x5 and my canopy is smaller so those numbers are not completely accurate. My actual wattage/sq foot is closer to 55.

Secondly, you are correct in your math. 54 watts/sq foot. I am not sure if many small lights are as efficient as a few big lights. Either way you should be ok with your new lights. Just make sure you have proper ventilation.

 

[MDEVA]

Thanks for confirming that... If you read some of the CFL forums and check out other's CFL set-ups, mine isn't too far off. The majority of my lighting comes from the top, and I have a few on the sides. Another beautiful benefit to using CFL's is that they don't emit much heat AT ALL! Ventilation is pretty much a non factor, though I do have a small oscillating fan to move some air, and also to get the branches moving to let light hit spots it normally wouldn't if the plant was stationary. Something I was tinkering around with was using some components from a microwave, and putting my pot on the tray so that it will constantly rotate 360* while the lights are on.... I want to do some reading before I actually implement that little project though. I don't see what it could hurt.... If nothing else, it would atleast be unique... and may actually help get the light into every little nook & cranny. Is that the most retarded thing you've ever heard of?

 

[berkman858]

Thanks for confirming that... If you read some of the CFL forums and check out other's CFL set-ups, mine isn't too far off. The majority of my lighting comes from the top, and I have a few on the sides. Another beautiful benefit to using CFL's is that they don't emit much heat AT ALL! Ventilation is pretty much a non factor, though I do have a small oscillating fan to move some air, and also to get the branches moving to let light hit spots it normally wouldn't if the plant was stationary. Something I was tinkering around with was using some components from a microwave, and putting my pot on the tray so that it will constantly rotate 360* while the lights are on.... I want to do some reading before I actually implement that little project though. I don't see what it could hurt.... If nothing else, it would atleast be unique... and may actually help get the light into every little nook & cranny. Is that the most retarded thing you've ever heard of?

Rotating the plant should do a good job at creating even lighting but that is kind of the opposite of what most growers use, they mostly use light movers which essentially does the same thing that you are trying to achieve but they get more light usage out of their lights. You are just trying to create more even lighting, correct? I would be interested in your results.

 

[MDEVA]

Yeah, that's exactly why I was thinking about rotating the plant. It might end up being more trouble than it's worth, but could end up being the most awesome thing I've ever done. The important thing is, I don't think I can hurt anything by trying. I'll let you know when it's set up & send you some pictures or something. It's going to be after this harvest, hopefully that won't be too much longer.

 

[MDEVA]

Ohhh... speaking of Harvest - I started this thread off by asking how long it looks like I have left until Harvest Time. I found the calendar I was looking for, and may be able to answer my own question, LOL.

Sprouted on Feb 8th. Vegged for 57 days. Started Flowering on Apr 5. First pre-flowers started showing 19 days later (Apr 23rd). So I've been flowering for a total of 37 days so far. My target harvest date is now 5/31 - which will be a 57 day flowering period. Does that sound pretty reasonable? 57 days veg & 57 days flower? This morning when I checked on her, a few pistols had started to change to a dark red color instead of their usual white. I don't have a microscope to check the trichs, so I'm going to go by the hair color alone I guess. I'm under the impression that when 75-85% of all the "hairs" have changed color, and the small leaves start curling upwards, it's time to go?

 

[berkman858]

Ohhh... speaking of Harvest - I started this thread off by asking how long it looks like I have left until Harvest Time. I found the calendar I was looking for, and may be able to answer my own question, LOL.

Sprouted on Feb 8th. Vegged for 57 days. Started Flowering on Apr 5. First pre-flowers started showing 19 days later (Apr 23rd). So I've been flowering for a total of 37 days so far. My target harvest date is now 5/31 - which will be a 57 day flowering period. Does that sound pretty reasonable? 57 days veg & 57 days flower? This morning when I checked on her, a few pistols had started to change to a dark red color instead of their usual white. I don't have a microscope to check the trichs, so I'm going to go by the hair color alone I guess. I'm under the impression that when 75-85% of all the "hairs" have changed color, and the small leaves start curling upwards, it's time to go?

That sounds about right, and about the same time I will be harvesting. Good luck!

 

[MDEVA]

Thanks. Good luck to you too. I hope things don't go as planned for you though... I hope they are BETTER than you could have anticipated. I'll try to remember to check in with ya sometime closer to the end of the month & see how it finished up! Peace.

 

[berkman858]

Thanks. Good luck to you too. I hope things don't go as planned for you though... I hope they are BETTER than you could have anticipated. I'll try to remember to check in with ya sometime closer to the end of the month & see how it finished up! Peace.

Thanks, that's very nice of you to say that. I hope the same for you as well, remember the only person you are in competition with is yourself. I just want to beat my own personal best every time I grow, unless I am experimenting. If I am experimenting then I better already have some pounds of primo bud sitting around.

Check back towards the beginning of June, harvest and my birthday very close together. Now that's a happy mutha fuckin birthday!

 

[MDEVA]

Well I'm sure it will be a nice birthday for you, LOL. Funny how things work out.... My wedding anniversary is at the end of this month, which also happens to be when I plan to chop. SOOO... I may be sleeping on the couch for my anniversary, but I'll be too baked to care, LOL.

Just kidding... I'm sure the ole lady'll be happy to grab some trimmins & get the crockpot started to make butter.

 

[berkman858]

Well I'm sure it will be a nice birthday for you, LOL. Funny how things work out.... My wedding anniversary is at the end of this month, which also happens to be when I plan to chop. SOOO... I may be sleeping on the couch for my anniversary, but I'll be too baked to care, LOL.

Just kidding... I'm sure the ole lady'll be happy to grab some trimmins & get the crockpot started to make butter.

Nice, I like pot butter. Yummmmmmm