The Miracle-Grow!
- Thread starter Mudslide9791
- Start date
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hey Jparris. I'm keeping mine on 24/0 lights during veg. I've got some plants in flower that just started so they've got a good 10 weeks. These 4 Widow's are going to have about that amount of time in Veg until some more room opens up in my flower room.
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
So good news! I've run into some Christmas cash and plan on giving my grow rooms an upgrade. I'm ordering a 1000watt HPS with cooltube, and a 6" inline fan and carbon filter for my 5.5x5.5x8 flower room and a 4x4x6 tent to replace the veg cab. I'll also be moving my 400watt MH/HPS light to the tent along with my 4" inline and carbon filter that I currently run in my flower room.
I'll have pics as the upgrades arrive and I begin the upgrades. I'll keep posting updates and pics of this grow as well as when I begin there transition into their new homes =)
I'll have pics as the upgrades arrive and I begin the upgrades. I'll keep posting updates and pics of this grow as well as when I begin there transition into their new homes =)
SimplySmokin
Well-Known Member
well Merry Christmas the lights will do well 4 ya
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Just put down a $720 order for gear upgrades. I'm not in a huge hurry to get everything built as I still have 4-6 weeks before I will be dropping more seed or I may be taking clones of these 4 if I can get them to pre-flower in a timely manner and if I like their grow characteristics.
So far, end of day 13, they have perked back up and continued new growth. There is little to no stretch in these little guys with tight node formation so far. No issues with the miracle-gro medium thus far that I can see. I am being very cautious with my watering. I noticed the time release ferts are in what appear to be gel caps. The water dissolves the fertilizer gel caps over time and this is what they mean by time release ferts. Less water means less nutrients being forced into the soil. Less is good at this stage of growth, they are still very young but very healthy. Watering gently with tap water PH balanced to 5.8-6.2 roughly, no nutes
I think we can expect some LST action on these little tykes judging by the nice growth I'm getting so far
Pics coming in a couple days =)
So far, end of day 13, they have perked back up and continued new growth. There is little to no stretch in these little guys with tight node formation so far. No issues with the miracle-gro medium thus far that I can see. I am being very cautious with my watering. I noticed the time release ferts are in what appear to be gel caps. The water dissolves the fertilizer gel caps over time and this is what they mean by time release ferts. Less water means less nutrients being forced into the soil. Less is good at this stage of growth, they are still very young but very healthy. Watering gently with tap water PH balanced to 5.8-6.2 roughly, no nutes
I think we can expect some LST action on these little tykes judging by the nice growth I'm getting so far
Pics coming in a couple days =)
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
In case anyone is reading this. I have been doing some major remodeling in my grow areas. Getting ready for my equippment upgrades. I'll post progress pics tomorrow if anyone is still interested in this. So far the Miracle Gro medium is holding up and I'm getting vigorous vegetative growth.
Pics tomorrow, promise!
Pics tomorrow, promise!
Jefferstone
Well-Known Member
I use MG without any added nutes until the switch to flower. Then I use Schultz African Violet (8-14-9) with every watering. I get some pretty decent yields using this approach with a minimum of muss and fuss. Don't let anyone tell you MG doesn't work.
I do think the one of the keys to success with MG is using a slightly longer veg. I mean if you are going three weeks of veg you have to be very careful with added nutes because the soil will still be full of them. If you veg closer to 6-8 my experience has been you've depleted the MG and you won't nute burn by adding more. Yes I know it says it lasts up to six months, I just haven't seen it do it. I have absolutely no scientific basis for this idea, just my own observation over time.
I look forward to seeing your results.
Good luck
I do think the one of the keys to success with MG is using a slightly longer veg. I mean if you are going three weeks of veg you have to be very careful with added nutes because the soil will still be full of them. If you veg closer to 6-8 my experience has been you've depleted the MG and you won't nute burn by adding more. Yes I know it says it lasts up to six months, I just haven't seen it do it. I have absolutely no scientific basis for this idea, just my own observation over time.
I look forward to seeing your results.
Good luck
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hey thanks Jefferstone =)
I have a question for ya. I've got my plants in roughly 1 gallon of soil and I will be transplanting into 3 gallon bags. I'm afraid adding the fresh MG is going to mess with the plants. When do you recommend I transplant into the final grow container. I'm looking to produce roughly 3ft plants.
Jefferstone
Well-Known Member
You're welcome.
If you plan to veg for 8 weeks, I'd transplant after 3 weeks. I don't think you have to worry. That may actually work better. Just keep an eye on the leaves for nute burn.
FYI, I add some perlite to help with drainage. I put about 1/2" of sand at the bottom of the containers too. It's good to have some sand on hand anyway, just in case you get fungus gnats.
If you plan to veg for 8 weeks, I'd transplant after 3 weeks. I don't think you have to worry. That may actually work better. Just keep an eye on the leaves for nute burn.
FYI, I add some perlite to help with drainage. I put about 1/2" of sand at the bottom of the containers too. It's good to have some sand on hand anyway, just in case you get fungus gnats.
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'll give that a shot. I use a little Hydrogen Peroxide in my nute solution to kill fungus gnats. Works great and oxidizes the soil so my plants don't mind it either.
Pic's today when I get off work =D
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hello everyone (hopefully folks actually look at this) lol.
Here's some pics DAY 17 Veg from seed.
So far I don't have any complaints with the MG Potting Mix. Watering every 3-4 days with PH balanced water (around 6.0ph)
Growth has been vigorous, the size has nearly doubled in 7 days. Thumbs up Miracle-Gro! =)
Here's some pics DAY 17 Veg from seed.
So far I don't have any complaints with the MG Potting Mix. Watering every 3-4 days with PH balanced water (around 6.0ph)
Growth has been vigorous, the size has nearly doubled in 7 days. Thumbs up Miracle-Gro! =)
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Some of my supplies came in and my flower room has begun a transformation. Here are some pics of the progress. Still have the 400watt HPS in there. It will be moved to the 4x4 grow tent Monday or Tuesday when the 1000watt HPS arrives.
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hiya Scar =)
I'm only worried about heat, since I only have passive intakes for that room. I have an air cooled hood coming and a 1,000BTU AC unit coming in. I hope it's enough to control the temps.
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hello again everyone. Day 19 and all is moving along quite nicely.
I had a little time on my hands so I decided to run some PH checks on my operation.
1. Testing relative PH with a simple $12.99 liquid test kit.
2. Lets go ahead and test our plant watering solution and make sure we're sitting at roughly 6.5-7.0 relative PH. Looks good according to our handy dandy color chart =)
3. Lets go ahead and take a test of the MG potting mix from the bin (not our plant mix runoff). Took 3 separate samples from the 50 gallon tote that I keep my MG/Perlite mix. Hey, run off looks good, sitting at 6.5-7.0 =) (Hard to tell with the blue background but the reading was indeed within plants optimal threshhold of 6.5-7.0)
4. Lets go ahead and check our plant run off. I went ahead and sampled Widow #2. Excellent after 19 days Veg, our run off is sitting relative 6.5-7.0. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me =)
So from this I've determined that thus far, using standard tap water PH balanced to relative 6.5-7.0 MG will perform as intended, releasing nutrients that my plants are obviously enjoying. Growth is excellent for being so young =)
I'll update plant pics around day 25 Veg.
Thanks for hangin out! =)
I had a little time on my hands so I decided to run some PH checks on my operation.
1. Testing relative PH with a simple $12.99 liquid test kit.
2. Lets go ahead and test our plant watering solution and make sure we're sitting at roughly 6.5-7.0 relative PH. Looks good according to our handy dandy color chart =)
3. Lets go ahead and take a test of the MG potting mix from the bin (not our plant mix runoff). Took 3 separate samples from the 50 gallon tote that I keep my MG/Perlite mix. Hey, run off looks good, sitting at 6.5-7.0 =) (Hard to tell with the blue background but the reading was indeed within plants optimal threshhold of 6.5-7.0)
4. Lets go ahead and check our plant run off. I went ahead and sampled Widow #2. Excellent after 19 days Veg, our run off is sitting relative 6.5-7.0. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me =)
So from this I've determined that thus far, using standard tap water PH balanced to relative 6.5-7.0 MG will perform as intended, releasing nutrients that my plants are obviously enjoying. Growth is excellent for being so young =)
I'll update plant pics around day 25 Veg.
Thanks for hangin out! =)
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Hey lambofgod,
The light leak has been temporarily fixed. I can't cover up the door unfortunately because the seam around and the gap under the door is how I get my cool air vented into the flower room when the carbon filter is running. The light is coming from the home made temporary veg box that I have running outside the flower room. That will be solved when the 4x4 tent gets here Tuesday.
I simply cover the veg box with a massive quilt my grandmother made me to keep it from leaking light under the flower door.
Because of my lack of large air intake, I have also purchased a small portable 1000BTU AC unit for use with the 1000watt light and a dehumidifier to run during lights out.
Flower room currently runs at 83 degrees and 40% humidity with the 400watt (non air cooled hood) during lights on and 73 degrees 55% humidity during lights off. I think the de-humidifier is going to be set on an opposite timer the 1000watt runs on and have it kick on when the lights go out. It's going to be close but I think I can make the closet run pretty efficiantly once all my gear gets here.
Thanks for stopping by =)
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Gonna go ahead and give yall a growth update and plant measurements. Day 20 Veg
Notice the very tight node spacing and the bushy undergrowth. They are only 7 inches tall but very dense (thumbs up). Can't stress enough the important's of keeping lights as close to your plants as possible. Tall, lanky plants aren't as appealing, at least to me they aren't =) These plants are getting roughly 80watts of 6500k light each on a 24/0 schedule. The lights are adjustable and are kept around 1 inch from the tops of each plant.
Since these little tykes are getting a longer veg time (10-12) weeks, I have marked the calendar for transplant into 3 gallon containers on day 25 and they will be topped at day 30. I will examine the root balls of each and document. =)
Widow #1
Widow #2
Widow #3
Widow #4
Thanks for stoppin by!
Notice the very tight node spacing and the bushy undergrowth. They are only 7 inches tall but very dense (thumbs up). Can't stress enough the important's of keeping lights as close to your plants as possible. Tall, lanky plants aren't as appealing, at least to me they aren't =) These plants are getting roughly 80watts of 6500k light each on a 24/0 schedule. The lights are adjustable and are kept around 1 inch from the tops of each plant.
Since these little tykes are getting a longer veg time (10-12) weeks, I have marked the calendar for transplant into 3 gallon containers on day 25 and they will be topped at day 30. I will examine the root balls of each and document. =)
Widow #1
Widow #2
Widow #3
Widow #4
Thanks for stoppin by!
Mudslide9791
Well-Known Member
Haven't heard of Environment Controllers, what exactly is it (other than to obviously control an environment, lol) As far as the 3 gal bags, yeah they will be flowering in them as well. Thats mostly because of my grow environment. I would like to move into 5 gallon, but that would increase the amount of huge bags of soil I lug indoors. I already have to move soil in and out of here at 1AM-3AM in the morning otherwise other condo residents may decide to ask questions and that's unacceptable, =D
But yeah I fill the bags up with a gallon of soil or so, let em veg for 5 weeks or so, then move them into the 3 gallons where they will stay til harvest.
