First Grow Journal - PC Grow Box
- Thread starter JayDoe71
- Start date
JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Aug 9 (late afternoon) - Overhaul! I decide to visit my local hydro store and milk the owner for some knowledge. As I suspected, I was way overwatered. Because I'm only using 2" dia net pots I greatly cut down the rockwool way too small in order to accommadate both rockwool and clay pellets. I learned recently that I really don't need both with such a small grow.
Because the rockwool is so small any water that touched it was sucked up like a wick completely soaking the small rockwool.
New plan - I transplanted the small, tender sprouts into new 2" rockwool cubes that are full size and dampened with phed water only. I placed the net pots in the DWC system with the bottom of the pot barely touching a 200ppm solution. I then filled a spray bottle with the weak solution and sprayed only the sides of the exposed rockwool through the net pots (this came as a suggestion from the hydro shop guy) making sure that I didn't spray the sprout itself with the solution. I then sprayed the sprout with clean phed water to get the humidity up and used the Wolfmans' small, plastic cup method as a humidity dome.
The sprouts are about 3-4" under 125W daylight CFL. The rockwool now looks moist but not soaked, which I believe was my biggest problem...I hope
Because the rockwool is so small any water that touched it was sucked up like a wick completely soaking the small rockwool.
New plan - I transplanted the small, tender sprouts into new 2" rockwool cubes that are full size and dampened with phed water only. I placed the net pots in the DWC system with the bottom of the pot barely touching a 200ppm solution. I then filled a spray bottle with the weak solution and sprayed only the sides of the exposed rockwool through the net pots (this came as a suggestion from the hydro shop guy) making sure that I didn't spray the sprout itself with the solution. I then sprayed the sprout with clean phed water to get the humidity up and used the Wolfmans' small, plastic cup method as a humidity dome.
The sprouts are about 3-4" under 125W daylight CFL. The rockwool now looks moist but not soaked, which I believe was my biggest problem...I hope
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
Sounds like it will work... but why do you insist on using nutes in your rez?
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JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Aug 10 - I have one sprout with four tiny leaves! At the suggesstion on the hydro shop guy, the bottom of my net pot is just touching the 200 ppm solution. The rockwool it self was moistened with phed water only, and a very light spray of nutes.
When I lift the pot out of the res the bottom half of it is well dampened, but the top of the rockwool seems kinda dry to me. I've been spritzing the plant with just water once a day.
Another thing that's concerning me is that the little plant seems to have not grown in the past 24 hours or so. Also, One of the leaves is pointed strait up to the light while the rest seem to be normal.
When I lift the pot out of the res the bottom half of it is well dampened, but the top of the rockwool seems kinda dry to me. I've been spritzing the plant with just water once a day.
Another thing that's concerning me is that the little plant seems to have not grown in the past 24 hours or so. Also, One of the leaves is pointed strait up to the light while the rest seem to be normal.
JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Aug 10 - A revelation! I decided to take the Wolfmans' advice and fill my res with plain water only.
In order to get the plants close to the light I simple moved the res up toward it by placing the res on top of a large, upside-down tupperware container. This brought the top of my sprout(s) to about 3-4" away from the light, which I've read is OK with CFL's.
What I didn't take into account was that such a small res being so close to my light was making the water very warm. I don't have a liquid thermo but I would estimate the temp at over 80F.
I lost the tupperware and placed the res on the bottom of the system as was intended, which gets the res about 10-11" from the light (it also, unfortunately, gets the tiny plants away from the light as well). My res if filled with approx 5.5 phed water only - no nutes or SuperThrive!
So someone please answer this question:
Is it better to have the lights real close to the new seedlings and have warm water in the res?
Or, is it better to keep the light further away and keep the res water cooler?
My res only hold a quart of water filled to the top!!!
In order to get the plants close to the light I simple moved the res up toward it by placing the res on top of a large, upside-down tupperware container. This brought the top of my sprout(s) to about 3-4" away from the light, which I've read is OK with CFL's.
What I didn't take into account was that such a small res being so close to my light was making the water very warm. I don't have a liquid thermo but I would estimate the temp at over 80F.
I lost the tupperware and placed the res on the bottom of the system as was intended, which gets the res about 10-11" from the light (it also, unfortunately, gets the tiny plants away from the light as well). My res if filled with approx 5.5 phed water only - no nutes or SuperThrive!
So someone please answer this question:
Is it better to have the lights real close to the new seedlings and have warm water in the res?
Or, is it better to keep the light further away and keep the res water cooler?
My res only hold a quart of water filled to the top!!!
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
Well with my experience with the guys that work the hydro shops.. I notice that these guys know a great deal about one or 2 of there products, and how to apply it to.... VEGETABLES.. lol at least the guys I've talked to.
Saying to use 200ppm of nutes makes no since.... All nutes are different. 200ppm of one nute could barely feed anything, were 200ppm of another nute could kill a plant.
I'm sure a little bit of nutes could be good for your little plant, but how do you know how much to actually give them... But then again... pure water is guaranteed to work.. so why take chances. (just my opinion)
And I'm glad to help out... I'm all for people growing there own personal supply =]... I wish I could get everyone who smokes to grow there own.
That is a small rez lol... but then this is as micro as it gets no?
I would place the seedling at around 5"- 6". This should help with the water temp of the rez, and still give your seedling enough light, with out it stretching too much.
Also have a small fan blow fresh air over the rez will help a lot.
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fitzyno1
Well-Known Member
Yes i agree, just use water (no nutes yet). Ordinary bottled water for your seedlings, they dont need nutes yet especially 1/4 strength!
Jay, you are asking people here for their help, and when people (who know how to grow marijuana) do give you good advice, you'd rather ask the dealer at your local hydro store.
Jay, you are asking people here for their help, and when people (who know how to grow marijuana) do give you good advice, you'd rather ask the dealer at your local hydro store.
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
I was assuming that your rez is covered in reflective material or white... if it isn't.. use reflective chrome tape to tape up your rez... that should reflect light back to your plant and reflect the heat too.
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JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Wolf
Aug 11 - I still have a green sprout!!
The res and little plant are now approx 6" away from the light. There are two incoming fans and one exhaust. The PC Grow Box does have good air circulation.
The res is filled with phed water only. Is it nessessary to buy distilled water, or is tap water ok if adjusted with the ph up/down? My tap water tested at 7 out of the faucet.
The res is completely covered with reflective tape. Apparently that's the one thing I did right!
Aug 11 - I still have a green sprout!!
The res and little plant are now approx 6" away from the light. There are two incoming fans and one exhaust. The PC Grow Box does have good air circulation.
The res is filled with phed water only. Is it nessessary to buy distilled water, or is tap water ok if adjusted with the ph up/down? My tap water tested at 7 out of the faucet.
The res is completely covered with reflective tape. Apparently that's the one thing I did right!
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
I'm using tap water myself... but I hear you should let your tap water kick back for a few hours to let any chlorine evaporate first...
I don't have any chlorine in my tap, so i'm lucky I guess.
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I don't have any chlorine in my tap, so i'm lucky I guess.
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JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Aug 12 - When I came home from work tonight I was dissappointed to see that two out of the four leaves of my little sprout have brown spots. The other two leaves look good.
Also, I haven't seen any growth in the past 3 days, isn't that unusual?
Anyone, 3 days with seemingly no growth and brown spots on the leaves. If I don't act fast I fear I will lose my last little sprout. Please help!!
Also, I haven't seen any growth in the past 3 days, isn't that unusual?
Anyone, 3 days with seemingly no growth and brown spots on the leaves. If I don't act fast I fear I will lose my last little sprout. Please help!!
JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Aug 12 (cont) Also, I lowered the plant away from the light with the thought that it may be heat stress. The top of the plant is now approx 10" away from the light.
I changed the res with 5-6 phed water, and spritzed her again.
I have a thermometer that reads 80F directly under the light, but only around 73-75F when placed away from the light. My little plant still has her clear plastic cup humidity dome.
I changed the res with 5-6 phed water, and spritzed her again.
I have a thermometer that reads 80F directly under the light, but only around 73-75F when placed away from the light. My little plant still has her clear plastic cup humidity dome.
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
Interesting... does your himidity dome have holes at the bottom.. just enough to let some fresh air.. I didn't have any on mine, but then again it didin't make any kind of seal at the bottom so there was plenty of air circulation.
I wish I could see your little girl... but keep us updated...
Oh and one last thing I was thinking... You should change the water in the rez at least every 3 days... I don't know how long you can go with the rez, but I changed mine every 3 days... or sometimes even sooner if I had to change anything.
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I wish I could see your little girl... but keep us updated...
Oh and one last thing I was thinking... You should change the water in the rez at least every 3 days... I don't know how long you can go with the rez, but I changed mine every 3 days... or sometimes even sooner if I had to change anything.
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JayDoe71
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Aug 13 - I came home and immediately checked on my little plant. The browing on the leaves has gotten worse but strangely the other two leaves (the jagged ones) seem to have grown, and it looks like I'm getting a second set of leaves.
I decided to have a closer inspection so I removed the clay rocks from on top of the rockwool, and as I suspected, it was totally soaked! I squezzed delicately as not to harm the roots and removed as much water as I could.
It seems that even when I fill the res high emough to just touch the bottom of the rockwool it acts like a wick and overwaters my roots!
Could overwatering have turned my leaves brown?
I decided to have a closer inspection so I removed the clay rocks from on top of the rockwool, and as I suspected, it was totally soaked! I squezzed delicately as not to harm the roots and removed as much water as I could.
It seems that even when I fill the res high emough to just touch the bottom of the rockwool it acts like a wick and overwaters my roots!
Could overwatering have turned my leaves brown?
JayDoe71
Well-Known Member
Wolfman Zen
Well-Known Member
I can imagine 125w cfl's giving off a lot of heat... I know this is going to sound crazy, but in your mini-micro-grow.. you may want to replace it with a small 26w daylight cfl from walmart... at this stage any way... you could always go back to the 125w cfl later if need be.
The new growth is a great sign..
as for the over watering... try keeping the level in your rez.. below the cup.. this way the rockwool will only get moist from the popping bobbles.
Yes I'm proud of my grow.. but I will admit I'm also surprised.. Ididn't expect it to go so well... For now any way... I know anything can happen at any time.
I don't know what the seeds are... I got them from a local med-user, that likes his privacy.. the seeds were given to me through a trusted 3rd party who forgot the name of the seeds lol... I started naming off some well known medical strains, and he stopped me at both White Widow and White Rhino. So I don't know, but a good chance it's in the white widow family.... I'm trying to find out for sure.
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The new growth is a great sign..
as for the over watering... try keeping the level in your rez.. below the cup.. this way the rockwool will only get moist from the popping bobbles.
Yes I'm proud of my grow.. but I will admit I'm also surprised.. Ididn't expect it to go so well... For now any way... I know anything can happen at any time.
I don't know what the seeds are... I got them from a local med-user, that likes his privacy.. the seeds were given to me through a trusted 3rd party who forgot the name of the seeds lol... I started naming off some well known medical strains, and he stopped me at both White Widow and White Rhino. So I don't know, but a good chance it's in the white widow family.... I'm trying to find out for sure.
.
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