TotalSnafu
Member
The Situation:
I am an experienced orchid and tropical plant grower in the Mid-Atlantic in the US. I've always loved cannabis, and used to smoke every week when I was younger. Now, I don't smoke but once or twice a year, but I still love the plant. I originally had 1 super silver haze to keep as alongside my orchids in my greenhouse, but that changed when my job looked like it was on thin ice (by factors outside my control). Now I have taken several clones, and am focusing entirely on high yield instead of aesthetics. I'm working, but I'd like to have a little boost to my savings in case shit hits the fan, ya know?
The Cannabis:
Currently 5 Super Silver Haze plants. 1 mother and 4 clones. The mother has been in vegetative growth for nearly 8 weeks. Clones at about 2 weeks. The mother plan is undergoing LST to open up the center stalks and promote more node growth, hopefully leading to more big colas. I plan on switching to 12/12 sometime in January, and harvesting sometime at the end of March, beginning of April.
The Setup:
*****Pics of my setup available in my profile in my album
I am currently growing 5 Super Silver Haze plants in a 4'x4'x8' high "closet" in my backyard greenhouse.
Lighting- 3x 250watt metal halides, approx 62,000 lumens total. Running 19/5. I turned the whole ceiling into a parabolic reflector using some quality aluminum flashing. All walls are white.
Ventilation- 1x 18" fan on low, 1x 8" fan on high, and 1x 8" vent fan pushing air outside via aluminum ducting. Fresh air comes primarily from the drain and ventilation holes in the floor and gap under the door.
Medium- Potting soil: 66% Organic Potting soil, 33% medium and large-grain perlite, and dashes of blood and bone meal.
Watering/Fertilizer- Watered every 4 days, or as needed. Miracle Grow 24-8-16 is diluted to 3/4 strength and applied every 3rd watering. Soil is flushed (leached) every 10th watering, give or take a week.
Temp/Humidity- Daytime: 80-85F and 50-60% humidity, Nightime: 65-75F, 30-40% humidity.
The Questions:
*****Please reply based on your experience, not what you read on a seedbank's website. My policy is, "Don't know? Don't tell." Thanks!
1. What technique/s would you recommend to increase yield, given my setup? Why?
2. What was your yield, in dried bud, with the same or similar setup?
3. What would produce a greater yield by taking advantage of the 8' high room and the relevant growing techniques? 2 or 3 tiers of small plants (12-18 plants), or 3-5 very large plants?
4. Would the addition of a fourth 250w metal halide be worth the increase in cost and heat buildup?
Thanks for your time and consideration!
I am an experienced orchid and tropical plant grower in the Mid-Atlantic in the US. I've always loved cannabis, and used to smoke every week when I was younger. Now, I don't smoke but once or twice a year, but I still love the plant. I originally had 1 super silver haze to keep as alongside my orchids in my greenhouse, but that changed when my job looked like it was on thin ice (by factors outside my control). Now I have taken several clones, and am focusing entirely on high yield instead of aesthetics. I'm working, but I'd like to have a little boost to my savings in case shit hits the fan, ya know?
The Cannabis:
Currently 5 Super Silver Haze plants. 1 mother and 4 clones. The mother has been in vegetative growth for nearly 8 weeks. Clones at about 2 weeks. The mother plan is undergoing LST to open up the center stalks and promote more node growth, hopefully leading to more big colas. I plan on switching to 12/12 sometime in January, and harvesting sometime at the end of March, beginning of April.
The Setup:
*****Pics of my setup available in my profile in my album
I am currently growing 5 Super Silver Haze plants in a 4'x4'x8' high "closet" in my backyard greenhouse.
Lighting- 3x 250watt metal halides, approx 62,000 lumens total. Running 19/5. I turned the whole ceiling into a parabolic reflector using some quality aluminum flashing. All walls are white.
Ventilation- 1x 18" fan on low, 1x 8" fan on high, and 1x 8" vent fan pushing air outside via aluminum ducting. Fresh air comes primarily from the drain and ventilation holes in the floor and gap under the door.
Medium- Potting soil: 66% Organic Potting soil, 33% medium and large-grain perlite, and dashes of blood and bone meal.
Watering/Fertilizer- Watered every 4 days, or as needed. Miracle Grow 24-8-16 is diluted to 3/4 strength and applied every 3rd watering. Soil is flushed (leached) every 10th watering, give or take a week.
Temp/Humidity- Daytime: 80-85F and 50-60% humidity, Nightime: 65-75F, 30-40% humidity.
The Questions:
*****Please reply based on your experience, not what you read on a seedbank's website. My policy is, "Don't know? Don't tell." Thanks!
1. What technique/s would you recommend to increase yield, given my setup? Why?
2. What was your yield, in dried bud, with the same or similar setup?
3. What would produce a greater yield by taking advantage of the 8' high room and the relevant growing techniques? 2 or 3 tiers of small plants (12-18 plants), or 3-5 very large plants?
4. Would the addition of a fourth 250w metal halide be worth the increase in cost and heat buildup?
Thanks for your time and consideration!