My second grow attempt. Skunk #1 CFL.

Ayo y'all.
I had a post here years ago, trying to stealth grow in a Guitar Amp. Naive and to be honest very annoyed, I gave up. So now I've researched like hell, picked some really solid genetics and I've built a grow box that has taken a lot of time. Light proof, CFLs with ajustable heights, internal fan and I'm currently working on building a carbon filter air outtake. It's only a small CFL grow of one plant, but my thermometer is reaching up to 34 degrees celcius (93 Fahrenheit) which is way too warm. So as it stands, I'm 1 week into the grow. This is a Skunk #1 autoflower from Sensi Seeds. It's going far better than the last grows, IE it's made it above ground and is living. I'm going to make this a kind of a grow journal (kind of) to hopefully update and check progress and see if anything can be improved within my price range (working with basically nothing).
At the moment I'm worried if the plants are stretching too much, or getting light burn and curling away from the light (directly opposite problems) but I honestly think I'm just being over cautious. I'm also a tad worried that I'm over watering them, but every time I water them the soil is very nearly dry. Is it true plants need some dry soil time? Would stand to reason considering there aren't many situations in the wild where they would have that.

(Edit: 18:6 light cycle)

Anyway, here are some pictures. Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Danner.

Too wet when it is wet. You should add some Perlite when you transplant and make that soon. If the heat is not an issue then the plant is not too close. You are going to have to supply air exchange.

Way too wet looks like agree @hotrodharley those roots need air, too much lovin kills the ladies. I've been growing for years and murdered a few this year. Less is more.

Fantastic advice cheers guys. So basically, ease it up on the water and air exchange and it should be better?

PS, I don't understand "Too wet when it is wet", what does that mean? Will transplanting it this early not put it into shock? It's only a baby.

no it will be fine, and put it in the soil its getting tall meaning its stretching towards your lighting

i would also but just out of personal preference straighten up the cords in your grow lookin a little close to the lights themselves

sunni said:

no it will be fine, and put it in the soil its getting tall meaning its stretching towards your lighting

i would also but just out of personal preference straighten up the cords in your grow lookin a little close to the lights themselves

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Thank you very much. You know what, I'm not even joking here but I'm such a lazy ass that I didn't even notice how unruly the wires were. Opening the box I just stare at the plant like crazy, but I'll definitely do that. Found a shop here that stocks Perlite even though it's "out of season" at the moment so I'm going to grab some of that tomorrow, transplant into a bigger pot with Perlite mix. I've seen mixed reports on keeping the soil the plant is in vs removing the soil from the root ball, if I'm transplanting into a pot with Perlite mixed, what should I do?

Cheers guys

Dannermc said:

Thank you very much. You know what, I'm not even joking here but I'm such a lazy ass that I didn't even notice how unruly the wires were. Opening the box I just stare at the plant like crazy, but I'll definitely do that. Found a shop here that stocks Perlite even though it's "out of season" at the moment so I'm going to grab some of that tomorrow, transplant into a bigger pot with Perlite mix. I've seen mixed reports on keeping the soil the plant is in vs removing the soil from the root ball, if I'm transplanting into a pot with Perlite mixed, what should I do?

Cheers guys

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https://www.rollitup.org/t/replant-those-long-stretchy-stems-its-easy.429767/
this thread is really great read easy to read too and has photos, works likea charm

Dannermc said:

Thank you very much. You know what, I'm not even joking here but I'm such a lazy ass that I didn't even notice how unruly the wires were. Opening the box I just stare at the plant like crazy, but I'll definitely do that. Found a shop here that stocks Perlite even though it's "out of season" at the moment so I'm going to grab some of that tomorrow, transplant into a bigger pot with Perlite mix. I've seen mixed reports on keeping the soil the plant is in vs removing the soil from the root ball, if I'm transplanting into a pot with Perlite mixed, what should I do?

Cheers guys

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Break up those root balls. Don't go ape shit. Gently break up the clump and lay the roots out in the hole. Just dumping the clump in slows the root development.

Thanks very much guys. I think leaves are curling because of temps, so tomorrow is the day that I'll fix both air flow/temps/watering and air in the root system. Will keep you posted with pictures. If this seed dies, at least I'll know what I did wrong for next time.

Update:
So I've made an exhaust fan, exhausting through a DIY activated Carbon Filter (2x fibre pots of different sizes with ends cut off, tights covering ends and carbon fillings between two cups), but the problem is it is pretty loud. I'm not really able to leave it on because other people will hear it and make it obvious. One option is running it on and off for an hour at a time during the light period. The other thing I have come up with is as suggested in other topics, using silicone caulk to create a barrier against the box to minimise vibrations, adding in my idea of covering the fan with a PVC elbow or pipe fully padded and covered with foam lining from sleeping bags. Do you think this will serve to sound proof the fan a reasonable amount?

What happened here then? How efficient is the carbon scrubber you made? What fan are you using for exhaust? Update..