Help needed any suggestion??

NUTES
The soil I used was a MG with some time release in it all NPK was less than 1.0 each cant remember exactly what they were.
I just remembered I had used some of the wifes flower nutes she had laying around (bad move I know) one time right when i was putting them into flower it was some type of blossom builder it had a NPK of 10-18-8. I only used this one time and just sprinkled about 1Tbs. over the top surface of the soil and slightly mixed it into the top 1"- 1 1/2" of the soil and watered it from there. after that I never used any additional nutes as I was affraid to burn them like I see happening often here.

CONTAINERS
I now know I used the wrong containers (opaque) and should of used larger ones.
The ones I used had large holes cut into the bottom of them.
I should have mixed more perlite in my soil for better drainage.
I never transplanted before flower. (only transplanted the worse one after in flower the other day in hopes to see some improvement)

Watering schedule
I know as a noob I messed up here....
When watering at first I wasn't letting the soil dry up enough in between watering's.
When watering I wasn't watering enough to get any run out of the bottom of the container. Back then I was using maybe a quart at most and watering about every 2 days.

LIGHTS
I wanted to start out cheap... who doesn't!!! should have just bit the bullet up front on a HPS for what I have invested so far it would be a nice start to a decent HPS.
Right now I have
2- 4' T12 Floro fixtures 4 bulbs total which is running 13,600 Lumens in the 3000K spectrum. Had the fixtures bought the bulbs $14.00
6- 23 Watt CFL's which are running 9600 lumens in the 2700K spectrum. Bought the 3 bulb fixture for $8.00ea 10 bulbs for $9.90 Total $17.90
1- 24' T8 Floro which is running 2800 Lumens in the 3000k Spectrum. Had the fixture bought the bulbs for $12.00
So for the lighting I have $43.90 out of pocket invested...
I have went out and purchased a ACURITE Temp/RH meter for $9.95 A cheap Soil PH/Moisture/light meter for $9.75
BUT YES, to answer your question why I have not went with a HPS? It is because I haven't had the extra money laying around to do so and wanted to see how it went before I jumped fully into this.
I will be getting one before my new plants are ready for flowering. Can I get by with a 400W HPS?? reason I ask is I can get a brand new set up for about $150

SO here is where I am.... Old plants are still chugging along sadly no change for the better or the worse.
The new seeds are being germinated in Plastic SOLO cups and awaiting there arrival to sprout. I will veg the new ones as I did the last ones as I had no problems getting that far. I do have some different bulbs in the 5500K spectrum I will veg with.
What nutes should I look into and how far into veg am I going to be needing these so I can prepare?
If you can think of anything else to help me prepare please feel free to throw it out there.
I know its a little long winded but wanted to share as much as I could think of.
I appreciate all the help and many thanks!!!!!

Very detailed, thank you.

LIGHTS
A 400w HPS will be better than these flouro's by leaps and bounds, but you'd be better off with at least a 600w in that space. That being said a 600w will probably cost double your $150.00 easily so if you can find a 400w for $150.00 that's a SOLID start. Your yield with a 600w though would be doubled. I would think that a 400w though would give you a good start and if you get some ganja and you can save some money up you can use the 400w in veg and a bigger light in flower down the road if you want. If not, then you're all set and you'll still be looking somewhere in the 4-8oz's range on yield.

SOIL

There are a lot of options on soil, but you need to stay away from Moisture Control and Time Release types of soils. It's difficult to use time release nutes from growing MJ, again, not impossible, but very difficult. Every time you water it releases nutrients, just not ideal for what we are doing here. MG soil is okay as Scotts/MG are the only shit sold at big stores anymore. Again, stay away from Time Release and Moisture Control, find regular organic potting mix.

Watering Schedule

I think you've got this now. Nothing really needs be said. Water until it comes out of the bottom, let it dry until the pot is nice and light again or it's dry about an inch or two under the top. Personally I pick up my pots to get an idea of how much water is in them.

Containers

You should only have your plants in two containers throughout your grow. The first container is Red Solo cup as you've indicated and your second is your final destination. Personally I use 3.5 gallon pots, but the size is up to you. With a 400w light I would think somewhere around 3 gallons would be sufficient.


We haven't actually discussed the water itself. Are you using RO water, Distilled, tap water?

Nutrients should be mixed with water not added directly to soil.

sorry had to add this....

lime73 said:

View attachment 1934857View attachment 1934864 just thought i would share...grown with normal shop lights...and Miracle Grow soil

View attachment 1934874View attachment 1934875 its the one in my avatar...finished

Click to expand...

I have been using Rain water, I do not live in an area where "acid rain" is present but I do have municipal water so I figured the rain water would be a better option. winter is here now so I will use snow water. Is that ok?? Thanks... I have a grow shop near by so I will probably check the prices out there or shop on line for nutes. I do know a bag of perlite there is $37 as I called today and asked if they had it.

Here is the light I have been looking at. Any ideas? is it decent light is it a good deal??

Here is the litature on it

LIGHTING BALLAST AND HOUSING:

Dimensions: 9" long x 4" wide x 5.5" tall

The grow light ballast is a brand new REMOTE 400 watt HPS ballast, with an innovative design that separates the ballast core away from the capacitor and ignitor components to provide high performance and long life. This grow light ballast is made to our specifications with high output lighting results for horticulture / hydroponics / indoor gardening use. The High Pressure Sodium grow light ballast also features a convenient retractable handle with large keyholes for wall or ceiling mounting options. The lighting ballast also has over-sized rubber feet for electrical safety and quiet operation. The 8 foot power cord and 10 foot light bulb output cords are constructed of the highest quality, heavy gauge industrial grade electrical cord usually seen on grow lights costing much more. The HPS ballast is pre-set and ready to plug into standard 110/120 household voltage, but can easily be changed to 220/240 volts. The High Pressure Sodium 400 watt High Pressure Sodium grow light ballast will operate any standard or horticultural 400 watt High Pressure Sodium lamp or 400 watt Metal Halide Conversion lamp. For future upgrades, the universal socket set can be used with many other reflectors; including, air-cooled reflectors, umbrella style hoods, and many other grow light reflector hoods. This makes the system a great value in hydroponic and indoor gardening lighting.

FOUR-SIDED HORIZONTAL GROW LIGHT REFLECTOR:

Dimensions: 15.5" long x 12.5" wide x 6" deep

This quality grow light system features a lighting reflector hood that is a highly efficient FOUR sided reflector. This top of the line HORIZONTAL REFLECTOR is made from the HIGHEST QUALITY MATERIALS available! Specifically designed for growing plants indoors, this reflector incorporates a steel socket and reflector bracket, 5kv Pulse Rated Mogul Based socket, and highly reflective polished aluminum reflector. The highly polished aluminum reflector has a mirror-like finish rated at 95% reflectivity for MAXIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT. This grow light reflector hood is built to last a lifetime and can easily be cleaned with common household window cleaner. The grow lights Horizontal lamp configuration design allows for the greatest light coverage over the top of your indoor garden area while providing the highest light intensity levels possible. It is widely recognized that the BEST design for horticultural and hydroponic reflectors is the HORIZONTAL REFLECTOR design incorporated with this reflector. Additionally, this versatile grow light reflector can be used as a 4 sided reflector or as a completely adjustable BATWING reflector. This grow light reflector hood comes with two heavy duty steel hangers to hang your reflector from, and a 10’ cord from the reflector to the remote 400 watt High Pressure Sodium ballast housing

400 WATT HPS LIGHT BULB:

This standard bulb emits 55,000 lumens with a rated life span of 24,000 hours.
Features:

• 55,000 lumens
• 24,000 hour rated life
• mogul base
• universal mounting position

WARRANTY FOR THE 400 WATT HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM GROW LIGHT:

This quality grow light system features a fantastic warranty usually found with grow lights costing much more. The High Pressure Sodium 400 watt High Pressure Sodium grow light carries a 2 year warranty for the High Pressure Sodium ballast and components and a 1 year warranty for the High Pressure Sodium lamp. If you need any help or assistance with your purchase, feel free to contact our hydroponics and indoor gardening experts via phone or email.

Anyone have some input on these lights? are they decent? is this a good price? Thanks.

TwoTokeSmoke said:

Anyone have some input on these lights? are they decent? is this a good price? Thanks.

Click to expand...

laserbrn said:

Very detailed, thank you.

LIGHTS
A 400w HPS will be better than these flouro's by leaps and bounds, but you'd be better off with at least a 600w in that space. That being said a 600w will probably cost double your $150.00 easily so if you can find a 400w for $150.00 that's a SOLID start. Your yield with a 600w though would be doubled. I would think that a 400w though would give you a good start and if you get some ganja and you can save some money up you can use the 400w in veg and a bigger light in flower down the road if you want. If not, then you're all set and you'll still be looking somewhere in the 4-8oz's range on yield.

Click to expand...

as laser stated...

I thought I responded to this post about the lights. One of those should be fine. Are those from ebay or HTGSupply? You'll be really happy with the results switching to HID's.

laserbrn said:

I thought I responded to this post about the lights. One of those should be fine. Are those from ebay or HTGSupply? You'll be really happy with the results switching to HID's.

Click to expand...

Laser, they are direct from HTGSupply and I have a store close by within a half hour away. I will be making a call to them and hopefully a visit soon. Thanks.

dont make a noob mistake. unless u r cooling the air somehow in ur room or box u should look into a vented hood. u r going to have issues with heat at first cuz ur not used to using a hid light. u will have to adjust ur grow accordingly. meaning probably an in line fan of sorts. if u dont buy a vented hood off the bat ur gonna regret having to spend the extra money later on if u truely do need it. that or ac. a 4 hundred had my closet at close to 90 degrees in the middle of the night without a fan sucking the hot air out and even hotter during the day. first grow and learned the hard way. good deal for the ballast and bulb but i would still recomend staying away from some of the ebay stuff but it will work for ur first till u decide to upgrade. and a 600 in all honesty would be more available light for ur plants. hence fatter and denser buds. but a 400 will work. or get a digital ballast that will run both mh/hps bulbs in a dimmable 600. that way in veg u can still run it at 400 watts with an mh bulb and when in flower run it with a100% power with the hps bulb. no need to take everything down to set up the t5s. just a bit worried about how ur gonna deal with the heat from it tho.

Thanks for the heads up on the heat. This is NOT from ebay but from HTG. I have 2 different rooms, one for veg and one for flower so the hassle of taking down and switching lights is eliminated. As for heat I dont think it will be a problem. Right now I have to run a heater to maintain 75deg. I have an exhaust fan in the top of my room to pull the extra hot air out that this would produce.

good shit. u probably wont have to even heat the room with the light going. good luck.

I had come concerns about heat, but a 400w in a 5x5 space almost certainly won't require an air cooled hood. You will likely need to vent the room whem temperatures come back up, but it's so cold in most places right now that unless you're in a small closet, a 400w should be fairly easy to keep cool.

A 600w and we definitely would've had a discussion about it, but 400w's don't put off that much heat when not air cooled. A box fan blowing across the bulb was always good enough for me.

hes like me laser , he will buy another place to grow , just to keep the dead one goin. (fortunately he already has a place for a fresh start)

im the same way , very dedicated , i have let whole crops go to shit because i simply refused the easy way out. (instant food) i knew what they wanted an still refused to give it to them any other way then my way. (they hated me !) ..... i hung in there .... they gave up , an now i can tell you every reason for every prob i had.
it was a long few years , but i got the better in the end.

so while you , me an several other folks help him on the new ones ..... i will hang in there for the dead one cause thats me. the worse the health the more interested i get.


as always laser thanks for your expertise .... the growers need ya






soil

laserbrn said:

I had come concerns about heat, but a 400w in a 5x5 space almost certainly won't require an air cooled hood. You will likely need to vent the room whem temperatures come back up, but it's so cold in most places right now that unless you're in a small closet, a 400w should be fairly easy to keep cool.

A 600w and we definitely would've had a discussion about it, but 400w's don't put off that much heat when not air cooled. A box fan blowing across the bulb was always good enough for me.

Click to expand...

its not a 5x5. anymore its half the size now. thats why i was concerned.

I'm surprised the plant didnt hermie with the abuse it took.

wheels619 said:

its not a 5x5. anymore its half the size now. thats why i was concerned.

Click to expand...

Just to clearify the room is still 5'x5'x7' tall, I had asked what would it do for lighting requirements if I made it smaller.

oh my bad i was under the assumption u had cut it in half. if u make it smaller i still wouldnt go less than a 400. in fact with a 5x5 space u should look into two 400s or at least a 600 or a 1000. as u get bigger in room size ur light footprint needs to get bigger if ur going to be using the room and its space to its full potential. plus the more light u have going to them the denser ur bud will be. two 400s would be amazing. im actually thinking about upgrading from my thousand to two 600s in my 6x4 box. now thats some light. but i understand with the holidays and everyone being broke becuz of them. lol. so a 400 will work for a while until u decide to put like 5 or six good sized plants in there. then its time for an upgrade.

just thought of something if u get a cool tube u could rock it verticle and maximize ur light from the center of ur room. now that would be pimp. or look into a parabolic hood. u could rock the 400 without any issues then and would probably never have to upgrade. sorry i got high and started thinking about my setup and all these cool ass ideas popped into my head. lol.

wyteboi said:

hes like me laser , he will buy another place to grow , just to keep the dead one goin. (fortunately he already has a place for a fresh start)

im the same way , very dedicated , i have let whole crops go to shit because i simply refused the easy way out. (instant food) i knew what they wanted an still refused to give it to them any other way then my way. (they hated me !) ..... i hung in there .... they gave up , an now i can tell you every reason for every prob i had.
it was a long few years , but i got the better in the end.

so while you , me an several other folks help him on the new ones ..... i will hang in there for the dead one cause thats me. the worse the health the more interested i get.
as always laser thanks for your expertise .... the growers need ya
soil

Click to expand...

wyteboi, Well I must say that the soil in the plant I transplanted the other day has now dried pretty decent. All the larger mature fan leaves are crispy dead. Dead but still very green and the smaller newer leaves are droopier then they were before. What would you suggest I do at this point? Thanks

TwoTokeSmoke said:

wyteboi, Well I must say that the soil in the plant I transplanted the other day has now dried pretty decent. All the larger mature fan leaves are crispy dead. Dead but still very green and the smaller newer leaves are droopier then they were before. What would you suggest I do at this point? Thanks

Click to expand...

well i was hopin you woulda watered a tiny bit like you would with any other transplant , but my mis communication made you think the drier the better ..... o well ... "our bad"

if you woulda done that then when she dried is when i woulda expected good results ..... water it now (plain water or if you have molasses would be great) to the point where all the soil is moist ...... then wait for it to dry. were lookin at about a week , so be patient. she might not make it through it , but theres hope.



now what about the other one ?






soil