Harvest a Pound Every Three Weeks!

offgridgrower said:

hey stink, im on my 6th week of flower, i know im in soil but i cant seem to find the post where you talk about finishing out with nutes and clearex. my last watering i went the highest in the pro bloom than any other watering( 2tsp/per gal of karma, 7tsp/per gal pro-bloom & sweet, 6 gal water total, no cal-mag to reduce the N intake) when should i start the flushing, and should i begin to lower the nute mixture as well? also i wont be able to get the clearex either so I will be using plain water to flush, began looking at the trichomes and mostly all are still clear.

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I always have at least one plant in soil just for shits and grins.

As soon as the hairs start to turn and you see a few cloudy trichs then it is safe to start your flush.

I take my plant and put it under the bathtub faucet on trickle for a couple of hours. Keep the water low enough that it won't overflow the sides.

Then I let it drain while I start on the next one. After flushing don't feed them any more nutes for the last two weeks. Straight water only.

You should see everything turn yellow and look like it's dying. That's good and means the flush is working.

robotninja said:

Hey stink, or anyone for that matter, just got some clones (Super Silver Haze) and am ready to put em in the system. But they are already rooted in rock wool cubes. What should I do? Try and peel away the rock wool? They are pretty decent sized clones too, 5-6 inches tall already. Should I go right to veg with em?

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Can the rockwool cube fit into the net pot? I wonder if you could cut the bottom out of a net pot and put the cube inside somehow.

Anyone else have any ideas?

You could actually go into flower if you have your Aero/NFT system built. My last clones where smaller than yours and they are already 4ft. tall.

pharlow said:

hey stinkbud i have a question to ask i purchased clones that were different strains that are growing at much different rates do you have any techniques in which u would recomend to prevent the others from stretching ????

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There is not a lot you can do about the way different strains grow.

I've been tying my plants down with bread ties. I just bend the tall branches over and tie it to itself.

It gets a little crazy sometimes if you have tall strains!

I only have to do this if I leave my plants in veg a little too long.

DragonPhoenix said:

Two questions -
First - are you guys constantly trimming the bottom leaves that aren't getting enough light and leaves that have some damage for whatever reason? I find myself doing this constantly - every couple of days and I've only got 6 plants in my bloom system that has 4w left. I actually cannot wait until it's ready and to post pics for you guys.

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I fill a paper bag with dead leaves every batch (from all three systems).

You don't have to mess with the new plants but like dirt said the older plants get so big that the bottom leaves are in the shade.

They are also the oldest leaves and have served their purpose. The plant will suck up the left over nutes and then drop the leaf.

Just like we are constantly shedding skin cells. Perfectly normal.

Secondly - I never had to deal with this until a couple days ago but on that same bloom system that I'm constantly trimming the bottom branches/leaves I've found it uses between 1-3 gallons a day now. Again I only have 6 plants in there so I cannot even imagine what would happen if I had it full.

Thanks guys,
DP

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I would say that's about right. I run the hose every morning. The older batch uses as least a couple of gallons if not more.

The new girls will use a half a gallon the first week and then double that every week after.

I also empty my dehumidifier every day. It runs constantly and keeps the room at about 45%.

I keep my room hot, 87 Degrees. It always feels like a perfect Summer day in my flower room. CO2 lets me pull it off.

Can't wait to see more pics!!!

VultureZ said:

Stinkbud: Amazing post, I have read and studied the whole thing. I have a few comments and questions.

1) You describe in detail how to start from clones, but what about seeds? Start in paper towels then move directly to the cloner to get roots then veg and clone? Or do you recommend growing the seed in soil then cloning?

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Keep reading bro! You must of missed it. (It's not hard!)

Basically you start the seed in a paper towel as usual. After it pops put the baby in a Rapid Rooter plug.

Within a few days you will see a tap root coming out the bottom. Very carefully break open the plug and extract the seedling.

Place the seedling in a neoprene collar and net pot. Put the seedling right to veg (skip the cloner).

2) Do you recommend RO/DI water to be used? Or regular tap water?

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If your tap water is over 200ppm then I recommend using an RO machine.

3) I have been a long time reef keeper and noticed many of the same lessons seem to apply to hydroponics. If anyone is looking for a way to auto. add water to their reservoirs I would recommend http://autotopoff.com/.

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Cool! I've always been too paranoid to run an auto filler. I have these nightmares of the valve getting stuck.

Excellent post dude - very informative and in-depth tutorial on aero .. never tried it (I use drip) but reading this has made me want to try it... thx

StinkBud: Thank you! Also, if you are worried about top off problems (As I am with my aquariums) the following will work to prevent this (This is what I have with my setups)

1) http://autotopoff.com/products/DS1/ (Put this device in the rubber maid bin). They also have a new optical one, not sure how that will work.
2) http://autotopoff.com/solenoid/ Place this on your line from your RO system or directly from a faucet (This will turn the water flow on and off when #1 is triggered)
3) http://autotopoff.com/custom/ (GRI Water Sensor Controller) order it to turn off when water is detected.

Then chain the three devices together so that if water is detected it turns #2 off, and if #1 falls below the lower switch it will turn #2 on. The benefits of this #1 device is that if the water gets higher it has another switch to turn off the water if the first one fails.

Now go to Home Depot and get a 1/4" valve (by the water purification stuff). Put it on the line in and turn it so it is at a simple drip, just in case the system fails, you should be able to adjust it over time to fill just what you need.

Using this combination I have never had a flood.

DragonPhoenix said:

Hey andyman -

what is the box with the red wire going to it? It's not in the original picture on p186.

Thanks again,
DP

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the first one I made was a timer and contactor in a box. then after people were asking me about it I made a contactor and power strip so if you allready had a timer you could just add that to it. the first box I made has a recycle timer and contactor. the recycle timer is very exact and I can change the time. It just plugs into a socket so if it ever goes bad I can just pull it strait out run down to the electronic store I got it and plug a new one right in. Its going to be way more reliable than those premade timers that they sell in the hydro shops or that everyone mostly uses. And I can run all my pumps off of one timer.

OK - I know my grow is not on par with you guys (yet), but I thought I would share a quick horror story. Just pasting the paragraph from my log.

Actually, I am lucky I am still growing. I finally updated the plumbing by installing a drain tray over the septic hole where the toilet stood and hooking up the cold water line from the toilet to a filter and then a valve. I thought everything was cool after a few last minute adjustments and then left the house. The old lady calls about 30 minutes later to tell me to turn around because there is a flood of epic portions in the kitchen. The water line had come off with all of the water leaking through the ceiling - destroyed ceiling tiles and drenched everything on the counter in the kitchen. So much water came in that it continued to leak down into the basement and left quite a bit of standing water.

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I managed to cram the rock wool into the net pot and fit the collar ontop. So my clones are chillin, I'll keep em in the clone stage for alil bit longer till the roots drop down some, then it's off to veg.

I know it's supposed to be 24 hour lights on the clones, but whats a safe distance for my light fixture? It's just a 2 light, 24" T8 Cool White florescent fixture from home depot. When I got the clones they were a bit yellowish, but they have got more of there green color back now.

Finally should the clones be under a fan, or should i wait till veg?

I would put them straight into flower, however I don't have my flowering area completly setup yet. And I want to clone off these clones from veg.

StinkBud said:

I always have at least one plant in soil just for shits and grins.

As soon as the hairs start to turn and you see a few cloudy trichs then it is safe to start your flush.

I take my plant and put it under the bathtub faucet on trickle for a couple of hours. Keep the water low enough that it won't overflow the sides.

Then I let it drain while I start on the next one. After flushing don't feed them any more nutes for the last two weeks. Straight water only.

You should see everything turn yellow and look like it's dying. That's good and means the flush is working.

Click to expand...

its well on the way on the yellow and dying look, lol
ok so does that mean stop the sweet aswell?

robotninja said:

I managed to cram the rock wool into the net pot and fit the collar ontop. So my clones are chillin, I'll keep em in the clone stage for alil bit longer till the roots drop down some, then it's off to veg.

I know it's supposed to be 24 hour lights on the clones, but whats a safe distance for my light fixture? It's just a 2 light, 24" T8 Cool White florescent fixture from home depot. When I got the clones they were a bit yellowish, but they have got more of there green color back now.

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Safe distance for flouros is pretty much right on top of the leaves - within an inch or 2. General rule is that if the light isn't going to burn your hand it is not going to burn your babies. I put flouros right up on those plants, often they touch the tubes and it's fine because the tubes run cool.

robotninja said:

Finally should the clones be under a fan, or should i wait till veg?

I would put them straight into flower, however I don't have my flowering area completly setup yet. And I want to clone off these clones from veg.

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As long as there is not a heat problem you shouldn't need a fan for the clones. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt them in any way but it's not necessary.

DP

andyman said:

the first one I made was a timer and contactor in a box. then after people were asking me about it I made a contactor and power strip so if you allready had a timer you could just add that to it. the first box I made has a recycle timer and contactor. the recycle timer is very exact and I can change the time. It just plugs into a socket so if it ever goes bad I can just pull it strait out run down to the electronic store I got it and plug a new one right in. Its going to be way more reliable than those premade timers that they sell in the hydro shops or that everyone mostly uses. And I can run all my pumps off of one timer.

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Can you PM me a part number for your recycle timer? The only contactors I feel safe using that I can get my hands on cost $$ for the 120V Omron contactor, but it handles 15 A no problem. Sorry I'm medicated and can't recall the page number you mentioned it on. I checked in the DIY section and didn't see a thread in there.

I'm working on getting the timing right for this https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/144092-my-quick-cheap-fogoponic-cloner-4.html before

DubB83 said:

Can you PM me a part number for your recycle timer? The only contactors I feel safe using that I can get my hands on cost $$ for the 120V Omron contactor, but it handles 15 A no problem. Sorry I'm medicated and can't recall the page number you mentioned it on. I checked in the DIY section and didn't see a thread in there.

I'm working on getting the timing right for this https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/144092-my-quick-cheap-fogoponic-cloner-4.html before

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the brand is idec
the part # on the box is gt3w-a11af20n
100-240vac
97903
the contactors I use are rated for 30 amp and 40 amps
square D are good ones to use as long as any others you can find that are made in the USA. I can give you the phone # to were I bought mine and they probly would ship you one. you would need the socket it plugs into also.

DubB83 said:

Can you PM me a part number for your recycle timer? The only contactors I feel safe using that I can get my hands on cost $$ for the 120V Omron contactor, but it handles 15 A no problem. Sorry I'm medicated and can't recall the page number you mentioned it on. I checked in the DIY section and didn't see a thread in there.

I'm working on getting the timing right for this https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/144092-my-quick-cheap-fogoponic-cloner-4.html before

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part #s on it
forgot to put the picture

So, i'm looking further into solving our timer problem. I've got an arduino I built myself for about 17$ that's sitting here perpetually turning some LED's on and off at 1/5 minute intervals.

The great thing about this is that it can theoretically control lots of pumps at once and can be adjusted however you want.

I'm looking at maybe 40$. All I have to do now is figure out how Relays work, replace the switch ona power strip with one, and have this device controlt he relay, and shazaam, timed power strip.

When it works i'll probably start selling them and put the plans up too.

DIRTHAWKER said:

Picture time! We need to make a stinkbuddies national anthem..so we can all sing along

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Beautiful photos!

Question for Dirthawker and Stinkbud: I have read in several places that you feel 4 600w lights would be best for this growing style. Wouldn't 4 1000w lights be better? More light, more bud...right? Or how about 6 400w (2 over each station)...Or am I missing something.

Thanks for all of your help

jimo09 said:

Beautiful photos!

Question for Dirthawker and Stinkbud: I have read in several places that you feel 4 600w lights would be best for this growing style. Wouldn't 4 1000w lights be better? More light, more bud...right? Or how about 6 400w (2 over each station)...Or am I missing something.

Thanks for all of your help

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Most definitely 4 1000w would be better, but I think his comparison was as opposed to the 2 1000w hoods he has going now.

IIRC, he was comparing it taking into consideration power consumption as well. IOW, 4 600w lamps will consume 2400w of power, only slightly more than his 2000w currently being used, and those 4 will give better coverage to the sides over his current configuration. Also, because 600w bulbs give more lumens/watt than 1000w bulbs (more efficient), plus the use of digital ballasts, he would be able to significantly increase yield without needing to spend more on power, which is easily one of the most costly of our expenses.

mindphuk said:

Most definitely 4 1000w would be better, but I think his comparison was as opposed to the 2 1000w hoods he has going now.

IIRC, he was comparing it taking into consideration power consumption as well. IOW, 4 600w lamps will consume 2400w of power, only slightly more than his 2000w currently being used, and those 4 will give better coverage to the sides over his current configuration. Also, because 600w bulbs give more lumens/watt than 1000w bulbs (more efficient), plus the use of digital ballasts, he would be able to significantly increase yield without needing to spend more on power, which is easily one of the most costly of our expenses.

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That makes sense. But with 3 units wouldn't 3 600w lights give you adequate coverage. One over each unit. Where does the 4th light get positioned?

jimo09 said:

That makes sense. But with 3 units wouldn't 3 600w lights give you adequate coverage. One over each unit. Where does the 4th light get positioned?

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I don't want to speak for SB but here's my thought. 3 600w units might cover the 3 setups easier but that's only 1800w vs. the 2000w he currently has. More coverage, less intensity, so that would be a downgrade, not an upgrade.

4 600 watters would be a balance between coverage and intensity. So it boils down to kind of how I put it in the previous post, less costly than 4 1000 watters, and more efficient coverage than the 2 1000 watters.