NorthofEngland
Well-Known Member
Today is the 42nd day that I have been caring for 9 plants.
I bought all 9 cuttings/clones on Thursday November 14th. They all came grown in circular plugs and were transplanted straight into 18 lt pots of clay pebbles at between 8 and 9pm.
I had arranged to buy all 9 from one person - who arrived with 3 tiny cuttings and a story.
I persuaded him to get me another 6 and he phoned around until it was sorted.
6 were about 5 - 6" tall and quite vigorous, 3 were 1.5 to 3" tall (one was on deaths door....).
I used a 600w Sylvania Duel Spectrum lamp and a Lumii ballast, with euro-reflector and bulb holder/lead, that I bought from ebay for £40.
The postage made it cost £3 less than a brand new Maxibright but it came with 2 brand new bulbs.
I have a WILMA BIG 9 (on continuously during the 18 light hours - clay dries out QUICKLY!) with an air pump, air lead and air stone oxygenating the reservoir
A 6" RUCK and 6" Rhino Carb Filter scrubbing out odours and exchanging the air.
And 2 fixed head 6" clip on and 1 x 18" oscillating fans to circulate air, stimulate stem strengthening and (let's be totally honest) keep the ladies happy.
They like it, and I can tell they like it.
During the first 5 days I was being instructed by a relative who has grown several crops. Although I had EC and pH pens I didn't use them because my instructor discouraged it.
"I just did what Barry does - and it's always fine. You just do what I do - and it WILL always be fine....".
For the first 5 days they didn't grow, then the smallest started to have the tips of its leaves look like burnt paper....
After reading up and asking around I found this was most likely nute burn.
Earlier a RIU member had offered some advise to me, so I shamelessly contacted him for suggestions.
"What are the EC and pH?" he asked.
So I used the EC and pH pens for the first time. This was Tuesday November 19th.
I used the pens and messaed back:
"EC is1.8, pH is 7.5"
The reply came quicker than I expected
"!!!!! WHAT !!!!
He then told me to drain my reservoir (140lt res - 75% full) and give them nute/water that was 0.8 - 1.0 EC and pH 5.2 - 6.2.
It was 11.45pm,i was up for work at 5.30pm.
Because I was totally inexperienced I got wet through - using the water pump to empty the res but WITHOUT ever turning it off whilst I changed connecting tubes....)
By 2am (and several adjustments) I had 120 litres of EC 1.0, pH 6.0 nute/water mix.
I also discovered that my tap water was 0.5EC and 7.3pH.
Which was probably the reason why my friends nute ratio's turned my water TOXIC!
A few days later and the res had stabilised at EC 1.0, pH 5.8 and my plants started to grow (and they just looked better!).
The tiny one has never caught up.
I think the first feed shocked them and stunted them, especially the smaller ones.
A week to 10 days was added to their grow time - but I learnt from it.
EC and pH are tested TWICE DAILY now - my Nute/water is EC/pH tested BEFORE it goes in the res.
I even collect EC neutral RAIN WATER and mix it with TAP for EC 0.2 as a baseline (before Nutes, etc).
By DAY 21 the plants were looking healthy and steady growth was obvious to see.
I bought all 9 cuttings/clones on Thursday November 14th. They all came grown in circular plugs and were transplanted straight into 18 lt pots of clay pebbles at between 8 and 9pm.
I had arranged to buy all 9 from one person - who arrived with 3 tiny cuttings and a story.
I persuaded him to get me another 6 and he phoned around until it was sorted.
6 were about 5 - 6" tall and quite vigorous, 3 were 1.5 to 3" tall (one was on deaths door....).
I used a 600w Sylvania Duel Spectrum lamp and a Lumii ballast, with euro-reflector and bulb holder/lead, that I bought from ebay for £40.
The postage made it cost £3 less than a brand new Maxibright but it came with 2 brand new bulbs.
I have a WILMA BIG 9 (on continuously during the 18 light hours - clay dries out QUICKLY!) with an air pump, air lead and air stone oxygenating the reservoir
A 6" RUCK and 6" Rhino Carb Filter scrubbing out odours and exchanging the air.
And 2 fixed head 6" clip on and 1 x 18" oscillating fans to circulate air, stimulate stem strengthening and (let's be totally honest) keep the ladies happy.
They like it, and I can tell they like it.
During the first 5 days I was being instructed by a relative who has grown several crops. Although I had EC and pH pens I didn't use them because my instructor discouraged it.
"I just did what Barry does - and it's always fine. You just do what I do - and it WILL always be fine....".
For the first 5 days they didn't grow, then the smallest started to have the tips of its leaves look like burnt paper....
After reading up and asking around I found this was most likely nute burn.
Earlier a RIU member had offered some advise to me, so I shamelessly contacted him for suggestions.
"What are the EC and pH?" he asked.
So I used the EC and pH pens for the first time. This was Tuesday November 19th.
I used the pens and messaed back:
"EC is1.8, pH is 7.5"
The reply came quicker than I expected
"!!!!! WHAT !!!!
He then told me to drain my reservoir (140lt res - 75% full) and give them nute/water that was 0.8 - 1.0 EC and pH 5.2 - 6.2.
It was 11.45pm,i was up for work at 5.30pm.
Because I was totally inexperienced I got wet through - using the water pump to empty the res but WITHOUT ever turning it off whilst I changed connecting tubes....)
By 2am (and several adjustments) I had 120 litres of EC 1.0, pH 6.0 nute/water mix.
I also discovered that my tap water was 0.5EC and 7.3pH.
Which was probably the reason why my friends nute ratio's turned my water TOXIC!
A few days later and the res had stabilised at EC 1.0, pH 5.8 and my plants started to grow (and they just looked better!).
The tiny one has never caught up.
I think the first feed shocked them and stunted them, especially the smaller ones.
A week to 10 days was added to their grow time - but I learnt from it.
EC and pH are tested TWICE DAILY now - my Nute/water is EC/pH tested BEFORE it goes in the res.
I even collect EC neutral RAIN WATER and mix it with TAP for EC 0.2 as a baseline (before Nutes, etc).
By DAY 21 the plants were looking healthy and steady growth was obvious to see.