My First Grow..cfl veg/hps flower

I dig the pie pans, how those working? I might just consider that
I just got the idea a few days ago whilst at the H.D. because I am tired of spending $9 a piece on those fancy smancy ones with metal lids...They are holding over for now, doing well actually...It helps with being able to angle the Y split sockets so that no one plant is getting MORE than the others ya know? However I'm sure the compulsive neat freak in me will make me purchase those hoods eventually. Then again, maybe not! This is my first setup for a CFL grow...I am only running 5000k bulbs...haven't had time to go to a grow shop to check for 6500k bulbs, but I would like to get them as well!!
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
here is pics of the tent/area around it. let me know what your advice is/comments! :-o

main vent on the back/bottom is open, has a screen underneath that I have open to help with ventilation as well.
Is that your inline fan I see on top of the tent? That won't work, I know those fans they are quite weak. I use those cheap guys to push air in, not out. What you honestly need is this here http://www.progressive-growth.com/proddetail.php?prod=15040 or the 4 inch of this model at 170 something cfm should still work, these fans are realllly good and strong, all I use for exhausting. Okay for feeding... first you need to get a Rubbermaid tote, medium size or whatever you think will be ok. You need to go out and purchase this along with a small air pump, line(s) and airstone(s) I used 2 lines off of one pump with 2 x 6 inch stones for a large Rubbermaid bin, you should be fine with 1 line and a 6 inch. What this does is very important, it aerates your solution providing a lot of DO (dissolved oxygen) to your plants roots when you water. DO is a key component for growing in any medium. Oxygen content in your nutrient solution is often neglected. Plant roots absorb O2 and need it for various purposes, but the primary reason for keeping an oxygenated solution is to fend off anaerobic bacteria such as root rot (blight) and fungus. Air stones do the trick. Keep your water agitated for at least 24 hours before adding nutes and feeding. 20 degrees is the perfect temp for your solution at feeding, it allows the best uptake. Plant foods have 3 main ingredients that will be the mainstay of the garden, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. These 3 ingredients are usually listed as N-P-K. A 20-20-20 plant food has a Nitrogen level of 20% P=20% K=20%
Secondary nutrients are Calcium, Sulphur and Magnesium. In trace quantities, boron, copper, molybenum, zink, iron, and manganese. The key to feeding is to only give the plants what they need, no more, no less. If I was you I would watch for any signs of overfeeding and decrease to a safe level. Stick with one two strains at the most so that you can dial in their specific needs. Every strain is different and trying to feed/maintain 6 diff strains is not logical, it's too hard IMO. Molasses is best used between week 4 of flowering until the end. It feeds the good bacteria in your medium and creates a larger uptake of nutrients near the end of the cycle, it's a bacteria inducer. I use 100% sugarcane at 1 tbsp. per gallon dissolved in boiling water than cooled. I wouldn't use it in veg myself and Id wait until the last month to use as it will cause serious buildup in your medium. Do you know about flushing?
Before I type a whole bunch more please tell me what you already know about training, pruning techniques as this will be important in some cases to create the biggest yield. A big fundamental is cleanliness. You will avoid so many issues if your sterile in everything you use. Another reason why I want you to use an outside source is that you SEAL your tent and do not use household air, only outdoor air filtered through cheesecloth that is secured on the end of your ducting. You want to control everything in your space with a scientific mind. But hey man, I get it, your renting and your not really able to vent in good air, too bad though. I rented too but I always fixed any damage I did before leaving the home. Like I said everything I tell you is me being kind and trying to give you the best advice to produce large, potent yields with little to no problems. What you do with this advice is your own business. What do I care how much you get and how good your weed is lol. I just love educating newer growers, plain and simple. Is this really your first time growing as you stated in your first post? How much do you know already? Is my info helpful or do you know most of this stuff already. There is so many more little things I haven't mentioned, simple once learned, that can optimize your mini ecosystem you've created. I believe in simple growing yet it may seem complicated to a neophyte, all your doing is best creating optimal environment for thriving in each and every aspect. So many guys overcomplicate growing, NO NEED, it's pretty basic once you understand everything that a plant needs. ~ BCbuddy420 :leaf:
 
On my mobile phone at work for now. Apologize in advance for errors!

I will look into a way to pull air in. Most likely find a way to block the window out and put in an intake hose on there? I can vent it out into the rest of the house.

Definitely my first time. Ive helped/assisted a few friends with theirs and taken advice but no where near experienced...yet! I want to make it as efficient as possible. My next investment will definitely ve a 4" inline to pull air out with my carbon filter.

The fan on top is pulling air in, then fan inside is circulating it about and have the vent holes opened. With air flowing out on its own...I definitely nees to rip up an airway in...ill get home and rwad more on your nutes advice and take notes.

This is my first and im absorbing all the info I can from the forum and users on here like you! Thanks a ton!
 
Im going to be thinking of ways to bring in air. Im also thinking of building an actual smalll veg box with fans mountes for circulating...not certain yet....first priority though is efficiently pulling in air from the outdoors!!!!!!!
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
No problem that vent system your doing is so many ways of wrong though...just as long as you know. Your better off using that fan to PULL out air and allow passive to run new air. You can do things the best way with what you have or waste time doin it wrong and suffer. not trying to be harsh at all man but that plan is ass-backwards :S Gotta get the CD outta there! :bigjoint:
 
Im not taking any of it as harsh! Only friendly advice/experiences. I will switch that fan around to pull out air right when I get home...put the 6" fan on the bottom blowing across plants and have 6"pulling air out the top. Ill get the intake setup ASAP with my work schedule...thanks again bc!
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
no problem. You had asked earlier another method for dealing with smell. Some of my friends have used this stuff and said it works quite well. http://www.progressive-growth.com/proddetail.php?prod=29029 Keep me posted as your grow continues. BTW here's a pic of me stirring my solution in my Rubbermaid tote right before a feeding. So you can see what it should look like as far as agitation.
that's with just the one airstone I think, before I went to 2.
 
All right, finally home after work. Stopped by wally world, the only retailer open this late and got an air stone, they were out of pumps, aside a $20 dollar one that is way more than I need. Going to get one tomorrow, plus a tote, or would a 5 gallon bucket work with a lid? Also, would I do different nutrient mediums for veg/bloom?? Therefore needing two different totes?

I'm either going to run a duct to the window on the back of the house, or to the front, most likely the back as it's less obvious to the outside world. It will be easier than putting a hole in the wall as the wall is upstairs on the front of the home or out the side of the roof lol. I will however get fresh air pulled in from outside and blow the other air out. Any advice on way's to do this, I will gladly take them! lol

I've read majority of stickies on all the newbie/other forums and watched most of the documentaries on it. Taken ton's of notes, plus a friend of mine who's grown 4 full times is helping, but he's rather new as well...Take it all as it is, advice. I definitely appreciate all your help and time already BC.

As for training/technique's I have never done any, read/watched a bunch on topping/f.i.m. etc. This is my first time ever getting clones, lights, everything..total n00b to it all but, trying to be as competent as possible here and learn as much as I can! I figure I can only give it a valiant effort and continue on and not repeat mistakes ha!
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
All right, finally home after work. Stopped by wally world, the only retailer open this late and got an air stone, they were out of pumps, aside a $20 dollar one that is way more than I need. Going to get one tomorrow, plus a tote, or would a 5 gallon bucket work with a lid? Also, would I do different nutrient mediums for veg/bloom?? Therefore needing two different totes?

I'm either going to run a duct to the window on the back of the house, or to the front, most likely the back as it's less obvious to the outside world. It will be easier than putting a hole in the wall as the wall is upstairs on the front of the home or out the side of the roof lol. I will however get fresh air pulled in from outside and blow the other air out. Any advice on way's to do this, I will gladly take them! lol

I've read majority of stickies on all the newbie/other forums and watched most of the documentaries on it. Taken ton's of notes, plus a friend of mine who's grown 4 full times is helping, but he's rather new as well...Take it all as it is, advice. I definitely appreciate all your help and time already BC.

As for training/technique's I have never done any, read/watched a bunch on topping/f.i.m. etc. This is my first time ever getting clones, lights, everything..total n00b to it all but, trying to be as competent as possible here and learn as much as I can! I figure I can only give it a valiant effort and continue on and not repeat mistakes ha!
5 gallon should be enough yeah. and you can either try to stagger the veg/flower feedings (using the same container system) or buy 2, I would just feed veg on a different day than flower myself. Now honestly, I don't want you to get busted so please use your own judgement on whether someones gonna see this tube sucking air out a window lol. It's better to starve your room of fresh air than get it taken away hehe. If I was there looking at the situation I'm sure I could come up with something... but i'm not. Maybe get your buddy over and brainstorm. You know what if it's this difficult just maybe leave the window open a crack and fasten the tube below ( out of sight) so it can draw air? btw you have an excellent attitude about doing it the right way! and no problem, my pleasure, glad to help out. My suggestion is to keep reading the finer points about every detail in re-creating this man-made ecosystem that you are attempting to do and do the best you can. I have outlined ALOT of the things for you in previous posts, you just have to absorb all this stuff and put it to practice man, like I said do the best you can with your situation and gain knowledge. Your logical unlike a lot of guys I have tried to help and you have the makings of a great grower.
 
5 gallon should be enough yeah. and you can either try to stagger the veg/flower feedings (using the same container system) or buy 2, I would just feed veg on a different day than flower myself. Now honestly, I don't want you to get busted so please use your own judgement on whether someones gonna see this tube sucking air out a window lol. It's better to starve your room of fresh air than get it taken away hehe. If I was there looking at the situation I'm sure I could come up with something... but i'm not. Maybe get your buddy over and brainstorm. You know what if it's this difficult just maybe leave the window open a crack and fasten the tube below ( out of sight) so it can draw air? btw you have an excellent attitude about doing it the right way! and no problem, my pleasure, glad to help out. My suggestion is to keep reading the finer points about every detail in re-creating this man-made ecosystem that you are attempting to do and do the best you can. I have outlined ALOT of the things for you in previous posts, you just have to absorb all this stuff and put it to practice man, like I said do the best you can with your situation and gain knowledge. Your logical unlike a lot of guys I have tried to help and you have the makings of a great grower.
Thanks Man! I appreciate the support. It's an endeavor I've always wanted to do, always feared the authorities. I have my medicinal card in CO. I'm not worried of legalities, more of someone maybe wanting to break in or something...I have camera's monitoring the front(always have since being vandalized once).

No problem doing two. I'll get the pump with two hose outputs(and one more stone), one for each bucket. That way there's no issues or mixing/cleaning of the buckets and worrying about a damn thing! Buckets are like $4 with a lid at H.D.

Also, how about this http://htgsupply.com/Product-Inline- 4in-High-Output-Fan-by-CAN.asp for a fan?
It's a shop that is local I can go to, most the stuff on the site is about a 30 min drive or so from me. I might try to fabricate a carbon filter of my own, or just break down and drop the $100+ on one.

He and I were already discussing a way of rigging it up so that the whole window is not WIDE open, but only partial with hooking up a tubing to connect to ducting to the fan....We will definitely engineer something and I'll upload the pics!

I will definitely purchase those strips then for sure! I'll continue reading, if you have any rec's on books/articles let me know!
 
ALSO! Forgot to add that I added 4 18watt 6500k bulbs to the veg room today...after looking at two Home Depot's and nothing I was at costco and looked there, realized I already had a box AT HOME in the laundry room...so added those guy's in today! Hoping adding in the higher spectrum helps them!
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I've never been legal hehe but I live on an island in Canada and they don't take it too serious here. I got caught with over 30 4 foot plants because a neighbor ratted me out and the cops just came in and cut the plants down, leaving me branches of near done bud to smoke later too. I heard them discuss it and they were like " nahhh I'm not unhooking all this equipment, you wanna? No lets just leave it " so they left all my gear plus didn't even criminally charge me for it. I still have a clean record. That fan should do the trick. I just prefer my vortex brand, those things are real sweet! Can't wait to see the new rig and the aerated water reservoirs! :clap: Good job.
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
I know it's cocky to make statements like that but I did learn my lesson and will never use that much wattage/greed again...for a long time. I mean I plan on a 600watt grow next so if the cops want to hassle me for that? Than by all means... lol.
 
One of the main reason's is they repair/warranty everything of their's on site there. So it makes it easier on me if problems do arise! I believe it's a 5 yr too.

I'll have the setup for the watering done by tomorrow. Not a problem there! Will most likely be able to get the fan on tues when I am off.

You're crazy lucky they didn't do anything! That's unheard of! Plus you didn't lose your gear...it's so damn easy to wrap thousands of dollars into this hobby! haha :weed:
 
Got my water pump all setup with a bucket, stone is bubbling the water now! Forgot the splitter, so only got one bucket going for now. Will get that tomorrow, mix nutes then get you a pic! I'm also trying to think of a better way to veg...the closet is definitely not suitable without a better ventilation form...
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
Got my water pump all setup with a bucket, stone is bubbling the water now! Forgot the splitter, so only got one bucket going for now. Will get that tomorrow, mix nutes then get you a pic! I'm also trying to think of a better way to veg...the closet is definitely not suitable without a better ventilation form...
I agree. A small veg tent? Hey kudos on that bubbler system, your plant roots will love the DO. So how do you feel about adding another HID light (250?) on your next grow. a MH. This is one semi-secret elite growing tip I've been wanting to share with you. Balance your spectrum with HPS and MH for incredible potency. In fact I just stumbled on a bunch of pro's (mostly pro's) talking about this very subject. You will be very very happy with the results, I was.BTW I know growing stuff is expensive but once it's bought it's bought ( except for nutes and bulbs, stuff like that), and it's best to buy good useful equipment. Here's the thread, read this man... https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/612126-using-mh-bulb-last-2-a.html and nevermind the title the 2 should be used through the entire flowering phase. Switching the plants between them regularly.
 
I agree. A small veg tent? Hey kudos on that bubbler system, your plant roots will love the DO. So how do you feel about adding another HID light (250?) on your next grow. a MH. This is one semi-secret elite growing tip I've been wanting to share with you. Balance your spectrum with HPS and MH for incredible potency. In fact I just stumbled on a bunch of pro's (mostly pro's) talking about this very subject. You will be very very happy with the results, I was.BTW I know growing stuff is expensive but once it's bought it's bought ( except for nutes and bulbs, stuff like that), and it's best to buy good useful equipment. Here's the thread, read this man... https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/612126-using-mh-bulb-last-2-a.html and nevermind the title the 2 should be used through the entire flowering phase. Switching the plants between them regularly.
I already own a 250w MH bulb(it's a converter type to fit my 250hps ballast). I used it for vegging these first two plants I have...I have a friend who is using t8's and had exponential growth against my two with my MH...the guy at the grow shop I bought my setup from was the one who recommended a MH only for veg though? Going to read that thread now.
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
I already own a 250w MH bulb(it's a converter type to fit my 250hps ballast). I used it for vegging these first two plants I have...I have a friend who is using t8's and had exponential growth against my two with my MH...the guy at the grow shop I bought my setup from was the one who recommended a MH only for veg though? Going to read that thread now.
I have a suggestion... Why don't you use that 2x3x5 tent for vegging and get a 4x4x6 tent for flowering with either 2 x 250w or go with one 600 watt MH or HPS if you want. By the time you will read this you may see that guys that are growing for incredible potency use just MH and HPS is more for weight as it supplies 0 UV rays. I grow for mostly weight and then potency so I use a combo of the two but for a medicinal guy please read more about the benefits in MH for explosive trichome development. To be honest I've found that most hydro shop owners don't know alot of the advance techniques of growing, I've literally proved them wrong quite a few times "awkward" lol. I promise you if you grew the same strain under just hps then tried mh or a combo you would be shocked. Oh and btw even a beginner could achieve 1 lb or more from a 4x4x6 with 600w. My buddy got 1.28 lbs bone dry his first grow off of this setup. That's a lot of weed, you may not want that much lol. BTW what are your restrictions??
 

BCBuddy420

Well-Known Member
And yes you may be better off with cfl's or t8's for veg, I don't know much about fluorescent lighting, never touched it except for a big tubed shop light for clones. One thing I should tell you is that two tent setup would be perfect as you can easily get away with a much smaller area for veg than flower, plus the ability to perfectly control both mini-environments. And you should look for the guys that are experienced growers on here and apply their knowledge (sift through crap and find the logical stuff) and not pay too much attention to hydro store guys IMO and from experience.
 
Top