1st Time CFL Closet Grow

ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
This is actually my second attempt at a grow but I want this to be my first good grow. Last time the plant was too tall and lanky, didn't yield much, and tasted rather harsh.

I'm using 2 of these bulbs.


Here's the setup for Tom & Jerry. Using Miricle Grow potting soil with seeds just saved from some bags.



Here's Tom


And Jerry

I'm getting a water ph tester tomorrow as I'm concerned about using it out of the dispenser on the fridge. All comments or suggestions are welcome, I want to make these ladys right :)
 
matthebrute

matthebrute

Well-Known Member
looking good. as far as PH goes i did read that it shouldnt be a issue for you since its a soil grow, i think Rj41 is the one who said it so maybe he can share that with ya.

ill sub up

oh and i use 2 bulbs right now for 7 seedlings and they are thriving, check out my journal in sig im doing a CFL grow as well updated daily and always looking for people to shoot the shit with :)
 
massah

massah

Well-Known Member
PH CAN be an issue in a soil grow, but as long as you don't fuck it all up by throwing shittons of nutrients in it that you don't need, then it should be fine :) The idea behind using MG soil is to make sure you are only watering it as needed...if you water it too often or too much you'll release those time release balls quicker burning your plant...but if you only water when it needs it and use it sparingly, you can do an entire grow without having to add any nutrients ;)

Now you are off to a good start, but I'd suggest getting 6 Y adapters and 6 more bulbs for when you really start growing...the stretch you had before was due to lack of lighting, but if you put 4 CFL's over each plant that will provide just enough to keep the plant shorter and bushier and prevent stretching, the more lights you can get on them the better :) Also use about a 4:1 mixture of 6500k to 2700k spectrum for veg, and the reverse for flowering if you can afford it :)
 
ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
I do have one question though, I will be traveling out of town for 5 days for the holidays. I've had a few of those mini aqua globes for a while and I wondered if it was safe to use one of these while I'm away or if I'm good to just water before I leave and when I get back?
 
massah

massah

Well-Known Member
Your soil could probably do 5 days...plus you've got drip trays under it...before you leave just give it a good soak...it should be fine by the time you get back...just make sure your lights are up high enough so the plants dont hit em...but not too high that they cause stretch ;)
 
SmeLLyTreeZ

SmeLLyTreeZ

Well-Known Member
massah said:
PH CAN be an issue in a soil grow, but as long as you don't fuck it all up by throwing shittons of nutrients in it that you don't need, then it should be fine :) The idea behind using MG soil is to make sure you are only watering it as needed...if you water it too often or too much you'll release those time release balls quicker burning your plant...but if you only water when it needs it and use it sparingly, you can do an entire grow without having to add any nutrients ;)

Now you are off to a good start, but I'd suggest getting 6 Y adapters and 6 more bulbs for when you really start growing...the stretch you had before was due to lack of lighting, but if you put 4 CFL's over each plant that will provide just enough to keep the plant shorter and bushier and prevent stretching, the more lights you can get on them the better :) Also use about a 4:1 mixture of 6500k to 2700k spectrum for veg, and the reverse for flowering if you can afford it :)
Click to expand...
Was going to suggest the same thing! Hit on all points I was going to make lol.. I'll add this though lol, I've found those reflectors build up heat too, I've always taken them off and never really had a problem with yield at all with cfl's! Remember cfl's put off most light from there sides, you can tell by how there designed. So say if you put 2 y's together running 3 bulbs on one chord the bulbs will be sitting more horizontal.. I'm runing just single Y's for side lighting so that will work too I just wanted to make the point that you get a lot more light when there angled the right way even without the reflectors!

Also look into "topping" or Lst. Basically keeping your plant short with cfl's is the way to go seeing they start to loose lumens after a few inches! This is key to producing good yields with cfl's. You can grow tall plants it just gets to be a head ache dealing with tons of side lighting lol.
 
ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
So Jerry died today.... Was perfectly fine at lunch but came home to this tonight :(



I gave Jerry Some water, maybe he'll pull threw.

Tom's still kickin it!!

 
ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
Sorry for the huge pics. I can't resize them on photobucket from my iPhone. I will adjust in the morning
 
matthebrute

matthebrute

Well-Known Member
looks like something got jerry, do you have a cat or anything like that? bury him up to the leaves and stop watering he might make a recovery :)
 
ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
No cats, just a Beagle that can't get to the closet. I'll take your advice and burry him up a little bit. I'm leaving out of town for the holidays tomorrow so I won't be able to check on the boys until Sunday.....
 
matthebrute

matthebrute

Well-Known Member
ZipDriveX said:
No cats, just a Beagle that can't get to the closet. I'll take your advice and burry him up a little bit. I'm leaving out of town for the holidays tomorrow so I won't be able to check on the boys until Sunday.....
Click to expand...
let me know how you make out. this method im sorry i cant say is tried and true but its what i would do in that situation. best of luck man :)
 
ZipDriveX

ZipDriveX

Active Member
Since Jerry is no more I rearanged the lighting for Thomas. I gave him a good watering and now will leave him for 5 days while I head out of town. Hope to have some noticable growth by the time we get back :)

 
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