First indoor DWC Hydro grow. CFLs and BIG BUD

The Setup...

- I am using 2 stealth hydro DWC bucketeer systems to grow 2 large plants. For water I am using reverse osmosis Using BIG BUD seeds.

- I am growing in a closet that is about 1.5 ft deep, 4ft wide, and 6.5 ft tall. It is light proofed by hanging a blanket on the inside that covers the door

- Using (4) 55 watt CFLs at 5000k for veg, and (4) 65 watt CFLs at 2700k for flowering. Couldn't go with HPS because of the heat problem, and the expense.

- Using florogro (2-1-6) and florobloom (0-5-4) for nutrients

- Using a hydrometer and thermometer. My humidity is usually around 20-30% but I bought a closet dehumidifyer to help when the hydro is going. The temperature ranges from 66 degrees (absolute lowest) to 82 degrees, but the plants should be warmer than the since they lights will be 2-4 inches from the tops of them.

- For ventaltion, I have a large (see pic) fan on low, blowing up at the ceiling so it pulls air from the bottom of the closet. I am hoping this will also pull in air from outside to renew C02, but I do plan on opening the closet multiple times a day.

- Got PH test strips with PH up and down. I am thinking about having the PH around 6 or so.

- I live in an urban area, and I read that I shouldn't be too concerned with PPM since there is already a lot of C02 in the air.

- I am also going to be growing cilantro with the pot to help cover up smell. Do I need more?

Plants germinated starting to sprout. Starting to have temperature problems, and learned that I only want to use a Dehumidifier for blooming, and a humidifier for VEG. So I will switch that out.

DAY 4

My two sprouts are dying. Need to switch stuff up for ventilation. Temp was about 95-105 degrees with the closet door shut, so I added another fan. The other fan really helps to circulate the air, but the temp is still to high. I think i'll just keep the door open as much as possible, and stop having people over to smoke multiple times a day!

DAY 10

Ugh! Sprouts dead, but I planted 2 more BB germinated seeds into some soil. Ran outta rockwool They sprung up somewhat quick and I transplanted them to the DWC. It sucks that I am a week or so behind because I screwed up with the first sprouts. The temp for the most part is under control now (78 - 85 F). I think I might invest in FLOROMICRO but am not sure if it will help that much during my grow. I am a little worried since one plant sprung up a ways and started to leaf, while the other one didn't grow tall at all before its leaves sprung out. Does this mean anything?

poorcrippledkid said:

DAY 10

Ugh! Sprouts dead, but I planted 2 more BB germinated seeds into some soil. Ran outta rockwool They sprung up somewhat quick and I transplanted them to the DWC. It sucks that I am a week or so behind because I screwed up with the first sprouts. The temp for the most part is under control now (78 - 85 F). I think I might invest in FLOROMICRO but am not sure if it will help that much during my grow. I am a little worried since one plant sprung up a ways and started to leaf, while the other one didn't grow tall at all before its leaves sprung out. Does this mean anything?

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Bro, still can't see the pics. Need help?

Okay, so I am now attaching the photos instead of using the "insert image" button. Hopefully that will allow ya'll to see pictures.

Yesterday I removed the soil so now its just the plant and the nutes. I am afraid I maybe did this prematurely, but I saw that my roots are starting to grow down into the water, and the soil dirtys the water really bad, so it had to go. From what I can tell by looking at the plants today, they seem fine.

I am starting to think that I am growing 2 different strains of pot. I ordered BIG BUD off the internet, and it came with a package of 20 generic seeds. I planted some of each for shits and giggles, but I think somewhere I fucked up in figuring out which one was which (this is not terribly unlikely cause I have done this whole project ripped).
The reason why I think they might be diff strains is because they look totally different. One grew tall and has softer and smaller leaves, while the other one is short but the leaves are much more broad and rugged. Anyone know anything about that subject, to tell me if I am right or if it wouldn't be able to tell strain type until later on?

Any problems seeing pics? Any suggestions or criticims? This is my first grow so I mainly just want to learn from it, and hopefully harvest some DANK while i'm at it. THANKS!

PICS. WOOO HOOO. You little seedlings look good. Personally I think it's a little soon for nutes, but as long as you go very very very slowly you should be ok. Seriously, be careful, start really low.

As for the strains, I'm not incredibly experienced, but I know what I see with mine. 5 of my clones are from the same mother, cut the same day, and some of them look very different from the others. For example, my 6th plant is a white widow and it looks more like some of the hindu skunks than some of the other hindu skunks (i hope that makes sense). Anyhow, I don't think you will be able to be for sure for a couple weeks at least.

But I could be totally wrong. (hows that for useless advise)

It's nice to see leaves and roots huh? I'm totally stokes to see my little girls growing, and I didn't even raise them from seeds.

Good stuff.

Yeah man, don't use ANY nutes for a couple weeks. Then start them off at 1/4 strength......

- I live in an urban area, and I read that I shouldn't be too concerned with PPM since there is already a lot of C02 in the air.


What does that mean? PPM is for water not air. You need to know your PPM of your water when you start to add nutrients

Swale84 said:

- I live in an urban area, and I read that I shouldn't be too concerned with PPM since there is already a lot of C02 in the air.


What does that mean? PPM is for water not air. You need to know your PPM of your water when you start to add nutrients

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PPM = parts per million... its a unit of measurement. Used for C02 as well. You can buy C02 meters that measure the PPM in the air. You want to have typically a c02 content of about 1200-1500 PPM.

ahhh gotcha.....i don't mess with CO2 so had no idea you could measure it in PPM!!! Thanks for the info

Plants look healthy. There is definitely more growth, on both plants the second leaves that came in are now bigger than the first pair. I was wondering, does anyone know if nutes change PH at all?

poorcrippledkid said:

Plants look healthy. There is definitely more growth, on both plants the second leaves that came in are now bigger than the first pair. I was wondering, does anyone know if nutes change PH at all?

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You are asking for later right? You are not giving the little things nutes yet, right? If so, don't. Wait some.

Anyways, Plants are looking good.

Yes nutes change pH. But it's not like all nutes raise ph, or all lower it. Different things do different. I'm no expert, but I believe most of the basic grow/ flower nutes are ph balanced to be around where you want stuff (for soil or hydro), but I just know from my own grow that different additives do different things, up and down, some minor, some major. I use one additive that 60 mL raises my 30 gallons pH up .5 or something.

So you really need a ph meter and some ph adjusting liquid or powder, whatever.

One word about that, I bought a gallon of pH up and a gallon of pH down. The stuff I got is so concentrated I don't think I will ever use a gallon. Plus, I only have ever used my pH Down. I think I totally wasted my money on the pH up.

Not to say your nutes will be the same, but something to think about.

Thanks for that info JigFresh. I am using the FLORO series nutrients and am using the suggested dose for seedlings (about 1/4 normal dose). But I diluted my water a bit just in case.

I was worried about how big the leaves are getting on the short plant for how short the stem is. I think it should be okay though since they are still young.

poorcrippledkid said:

I was worried about how big the leaves are getting on the short plant for how short the stem is. I think it should be okay though since they are still young.

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I think short and stubby is good. I don't think big leaves are bad in any way. More work area for the plant to do it's thing. It's when the leaves are shriveled up and falling off you need to worry.

Thanks for the pics. They do look kinda funny with their big leaves right next to the stem, like dumbo (in a good way)

Well FUCK! My plants were looking big and glorious (sorry no pictures), but my house got RAIDED (illegally)! They hit me with Possession of Drug making Equipment (2nd degree felony), possession of firearms around controlled substances (3rd degree felony), and 2 misdemeanors for paraphernalia and possession. So all my stuff was confiscated and since I was close to a school (drug-free zone) there is a good chance that I will be going to prison. But the cops made 2 mistakes on the warrant, so I might get out of everything since I have a badass lawyer. So this is officially the close of my journal. I hope to start another one when I start to grow legally in Oregon Baby!

Wow man that sucks sorry to hear that.

Wow, I will aim any shread of good luck and vibes toward your lawyer. There is no one greater in this world than a good lawyer on your side.

I'm sorry.

We'll see you in Oregon.