NL CFl and LED grow(1st time noobie!)

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athlete201

Member
Hey guys... Hope this will give some other ppl education on a cheap efficient way to have fun with their harvests. I started by getting 10 seeds and only 6 popped.. I have had 3 seedlings that we're put in a window to sprout (THAT DIDNT WORK) 'i didnt join this board yet"

So as im reading as to why they are stretching there wasnt enough light so i then did research and looked into desktop lamps with a single CFL bulb 60 watt equiv. (That didnt work ) 2 plants fell over like the eifel tower haha. So i ordered 2 LED boards off ebay for 30 bucks each! i have 1 plant currently under a LED board 1 inch away (pics to come)

I have a small closet wtih 1 seedling about 7 days old with a new CFL setup that seems to be working better ( i ordered 85 watt 5k bulbs to come) As of now i have 4 CFL 60 watt equiv and 1 40 watt flour tubes. This lil one finally got her first 4 leaves and seems to be popping another one straight out. So far so good i guess. I have 20 seeds coming to experiment more next week with LED and CFL side by side.. the whole setup is kinda ghetto rigged but hey lets have some fun! Pics and everything to come...

Miracle grow soil and distilled water all i used/using
20/4 light schedule now (finally some order to this process)
 

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athlete201

Member
so it seems that this lil guy is growing a lot better with my ghetto rigged setup here... it sprouted the middle leavs for the 2nd node i guess/ What do you think about the color on the bottom leaves?? not enuff water?
 
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athlete201

Member
leaves are bottom have some sort of yellow discoloration.. i am not sure why.. seems healthy but can someone shed some light on this?

day
 

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secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
Lemme see If I can help.

I'm running a CFL/LED stealth PC setup right now. What kind of LED panels are you using:
1) wattage of the whole panel?
2) size of each diode (in mm)?
3) colors of LEDs?
4) etc?

I recommend less diodes but bigger diodes--10mm are nice and put out some good power. I recommend 50w or more of power per panel.

Direct your LEDs right in line with your plants. LEDs are highly directional.

Put your LEDs CLOSE! Light power diminishes considerably with distance with LEDs and since they emit virtually no heat--you can have them almost touching your plants.

Disassemble your LED lights. You heard right. Disassemble them. Many LED products have a very large case for the lights when all the lights are really just mounted on a flat electronics board, This extra space serves really no purpose. Take off the back of your panel, clip the excess length off of the diode connectors (down to the solder), and duct tape over all connections and wires. You will have a very compact light with no risk of overheating--just use good duct tape to avoid shorts and holes. I'm using this method with my LEDs with much success.

You can ask me any questions you have--I'll be happy to help :leaf:

Also, check out my grow. The link is in my signature. It has pics and much more info on my setup and methodology.



best and good luck!

secretforestgarden
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secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
Also, a note on your discoloration. This could mean a few things.

1) Nute burn--too many or low quality nutes. Use something organic and high quality like Fox Farms. The increases in yield will offset the price of the nutes.

2) Nute deficiency--not enough nutes. Plants need a lot of nitrogen in vegetative growth. If you're already using a good comprehensive nute, add pure blood meal which will only add nitrogen and nothing else. Miracle Gro (believe it or not) has a good organic blood meal available at most Walmarts and big name hardware stores. If you don't have access to these--you're gonna laugh--add your own fresh urine to your water. Just piss and add a bit. Just don't add "bloom nutes" during the vegetative stage--you need "veg nutes" or nitrogen-rich nutes.

3) pH problems. This is tricky as this is interrelated to nute problems. You want your pH between 5.5 and 7. This means your soil is slightly acidic. Good nitrogen-rich nutes will bring down your pH. If you think you have enough nutes but your pH is still high--you're gonna have to add something to bring down your pH. Start by using distilled water. There are other minerals and additives for bringing down pH--look around the forum.

4) Temperature problems. Get a thermometer and make sure your grow is somewhere in the ballpark of 68F-85F. You may have your lights too close and/or not enough ventilation.

5) Pests. Read a thread about pests. This is tricky business too. I always microwave or bake my soil to sterilize it before planting. There are organic and non-organic pesticide sprays for pest problems. Spider-mites are common and a nightmare.

There are a myriad of ways you could have discoloration. These are just a few major and common problems. Look at a plant problems thread for more detailed help.



best,

secretforestgarden :leaf:
 
secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
One more thing! I just looked at your picture again and it looks healthy. You have two types of leaves: the cotyledon and "true leaves". The cotyledon are those little round leaves at the bottom of your plant--they basically come with the seed and are the way your plant gets its initial light. The plant then grows its "true leaves." These are the prototypical "pot leaves" with more texture and taking the finger-like shape of cannabis leaves. The cotyledon should eventually yellow and fall off--they're kind of like training wheels. You shouldn't worry but I'll periodically check in on your grow to see if I can offer help--or if you can offer me help!



best,

secretforestgarden
 
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athlete201

Member
Thank you very much!! i have started a grow journal so i would love to have advice!! I didnt put the led panels on them just yet (there was a problem with one seedling) so i threw it up my CFL bomb lol.

The main leaves are looking strong so far. just those yellow ones on the bottom are the tricky ones...

I have NOT started nutrients YEt i was gonna wait till next week... 1/4 for cple days etc then 1/2 i'm trying to find a place around here where i can get some stuff to help me out home depot walmart etc..
 
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athlete201

Member
here are 2 nutes i picked up today.. i am around day 9 from sprout and it's looking good!! i will post pictures soon!
When can i start these ?

Or should i only use just one?

I am adding this LED board to the mix soon with another plant or perhaps to supplement what i have now!

The bottom 2 leaves are falling off but every other leaf is looking PERFECt .. *jinx!
 

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secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
Good work on the LED panel.

Now for the nutes. I don't know what that bag of fert is. You're truly, honestly, absolutely best off ordering some dutch gold or fox farms online. That's what nearly everyone who wants their grow to succeed uses.

That little box is an "all purpose" fertilizer. See the values 10-15-10. Those are N, P, and K. Or, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. Nitrogen is really essential during the vegetative growth phase and P and K are more important during flowering. That 10-15-10 has a ratio of N that is too low to the P and K. For vegetative growth you're gonna want a high N and low P and K. Then, get a big bloom or something like that for flowering but I will keep the N comin' even in later stages of the life cycle. Blood meal is pure N and a good supplement.

You run a good chance of ruining your grow with those Walmart nutes. No offense man.
http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/
Good luck.


best,

secretforestgarden
 
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athlete201

Member
secretforestgarden said:
Good work on the LED panel.

Now for the nutes. I don't know what that bag of fert is. You're truly, honestly, absolutely best off ordering some dutch gold or fox farms online. That's what nearly everyone who wants their grow to succeed uses.

That little box is an "all purpose" fertilizer. See the values 10-15-10. Those are N, P, and K. Or, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. Nitrogen is really essential during the vegetative growth phase and P and K are more important during flowering. That 10-15-10 has a ratio of N that is too low to the P and K. For vegetative growth you're gonna want a high N and low P and K. Then, get a big bloom or something like that for flowering but I will keep the N comin' even in later stages of the life cycle. Blood meal is pure N and a good supplement.

You run a good chance of ruining your grow with those Walmart nutes. No offense man.
http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/
Good luck.


best,

secretforestgarden
Click to expand...
Great information. Thanks man! i love honesty!

here is my Northern Lights baby at day 9 . Looking good 2 node already up and 3rd appears to be popping!

I should be getting my autoflower and my blue mystic seeds anyday now ! Grow #2! :)
 

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J

jc405161

Member
Your first post said something about using miracle grow soil, then you started talking about different nutrients. Be careful with that soil as many miracle grow soils already have nutrients that release slowly for months. You may want to check the bag and see if there is NPK info on it. Also, I noticed the picture of 4 CFL's plugged into a single lamp which looked interesting as I too am using CFL's. I was wondering if the lamp came like that or are those 1-to-2 splitters? (white part between black part and bulbs). If they are an attachment I was wondering where you bought those? And good luck on your 1st garden.
 
secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
jc405161 said:
Your first post said something about using miracle grow soil, then you started talking about different nutrients. Be careful with that soil as many miracle grow soils already have nutrients that release slowly for months. You may want to check the bag and see if there is NPK info on it. Also, I noticed the picture of 4 CFL's plugged into a single lamp which looked interesting as I too am using CFL's. I was wondering if the lamp came like that or are those 1-to-2 splitters? (white part between black part and bulbs). If they are an attachment I was wondering where you bought those? And good luck on your 1st garden.
Click to expand...
Definitely be careful with Miracle-Gro soil. I didn't pay for the Fox Farms Ocean Forest but am using a Pro-Mix Organic to which I've added pearlite and Fox Farms Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer and Organic Blood Meal.
 
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athlete201

Member
Hey guys... appreciate the feedback so far!! I am using miracle grow soil that has nutes in it already good up to 2 months.. but i will be transplanting tomorrow.. judging by the picture do you think its finally a good idea? the stem seems lil thin so i might put the soil little higher to support it... no nutes are going to be added just yet.. i just received my other 15 seeds 10 germinating now and i received my new LED board so that will start soon!!

Let me know what you think.. day 12
 

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secretforestgarden

secretforestgarden

Active Member
athlete201 said:
Hey guys... appreciate the feedback so far!! I am using miracle grow soil that has nutes in it already good up to 2 months.. but i will be transplanting tomorrow.. judging by the picture do you think its finally a good idea? the stem seems lil thin so i might put the soil little higher to support it... no nutes are going to be added just yet.. i just received my other 15 seeds 10 germinating now and i received my new LED board so that will start soon!!

Let me know what you think.. day 12
Click to expand...
Plant looks good man! You said you're germinating another 10 seeds and you have 2 x 15w panels and a CFL? Um, that's a fairly big grow and not nearly enough light. More plants doesn't necessarily mean more bud. Product is all proportional to the light, water, nutes, pH, etc. If you just LST one plant under a given amount of light, compared to 15 plants under that same amount of light, you might actually get more bud from the one plant. With the amount of light you have, you're best off with 2, maybe 3 plants AT MOST. You're gonna need a lot of big CFLs or go HID.
 
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