Tips for first grow please!

TacoMac

TacoMac

Well-Known Member
dicko138 said:
Hey all!

Ok so ive started my first grow. I’ve always wanted to grow cannabis as I thought it would be great fun but my Mum getting brain cancer really spurred me to get my ass into gear so I could grow and make some oil as well.

I’ve using a 1.5m-1.5m-2m tent. And currently just running 1 1200 watt viparspectra LED to start with (I know I will need more light later). I have a second tent as well which I will be setting up for a couple of different high thc strains.

I rescued this little white widow that my sister had germinate and it was dying as she had no idea what she was doing but it’s currently looking quite good! About ready to transplant into a bigger pot I think.

I’m keeping it pretty basics and using all canna products so I can do the nutrients easily and follow a basic schedule. I’m using canna Terra professional soil mix and started with using the nutrients they suggested to start with.

One question I do have! Is that my watering can which I mixed the correct amount of terra Vega and rhizotonic into distilled water has started getting a build up of algae in it as I leave it in the tent and obviously the light and humidity has made algae thrive. Does it matter at all that there is algae in the watering can? Should I clean it out and remix again or does it not actually matter?

Any tips will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Click to expand...
Keep it simple in soil grows. The biggest mistake most people make is over feeding and over watering. DO NOT confuse a hydroponics feeding schedule with a soil grow. That happens a LOT around this place and always leads to disaster.

In the event of a problem: turn off your blurple light and take pictures and post them under normal lighting. It's much easier to tell what's going on with a plant under normal lighting and it's easier for folks to help you out.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
dicko138 said:
Thanks for the reply man! I think your definitely right with the lighting situation. When I get home I’m gonna do some research to find a good 1000w hps and then I’ll post and see what you think. Will one 1000w hps be enough for the whole grow?

So I will need a MH Light for the flowering stage?
Click to expand...
Yeah a 1000w is standard for 5x5ft or 1.5m x 1,5m. For that sort of money you should be able to pick up a decent digital dimmable ballast and a good HPS bulb and Metal Halide bulb, possibly an air cooled hood too. If you get a dimmable ballast you can use a 600w MH bulb for veg then swap over to full blast 1000w HPS.
You can veg with HPS but you will get better results, tighter internodes with MH. You can veg with your LED just fine for now, you don't need huge amount of light for veg and they do make pretty good veg lights. With the right amount of those LEDs they flower ok too but its just a bit of false economy to be using more of those for what they cost and what power they use.
 
TacoMac

TacoMac

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Yeah a 1000w is standard for 5x5ft or 1.5m x 1,5m. For that sort of money you should be able to pick up a decent digital dimmable ballast and a good HPS bulb and Metal Halide bulb, possibly an air cooled hood too. If you get a dimmable ballast you can use a 600w MH bulb for veg then swap over to full blast 1000w HPS.
You can veg with HPS but you will get better results, tighter internodes with MH. You can veg with your LED just fine for now, you don't need huge amount of light for veg and they do make pretty good veg lights. With the right amount of those LEDs they flower ok too but its just a bit of false economy to be using more of those for what they cost and what power they use.
Click to expand...
He's growing one white widow. His existing light will do for just the one plant.

When you're going to do 4 to 6 plants and fill that tent up is when you'll need the HPS, and a 600 would suffice. 1000 is for a 6 x 6 and would be better, but it's not necessary.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
TacoMac said:
He's growing one white widow. His existing light will do for just the one plant.

When you're going to do 4 to 6 plants and fill that tent up is when you'll need the HPS, and a 600 would suffice. 1000 is for a 6 x 6 and would be better, but it's not necessary.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree there, but im talking long term to light up the space properly. Rather than buy more blurples for those prices.
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Yeah a 1000w is standard for 5x5ft or 1.5m x 1,5m. For that sort of money you should be able to pick up a decent digital dimmable ballast and a good HPS bulb and Metal Halide bulb, possibly an air cooled hood too. If you get a dimmable ballast you can use a 600w MH bulb for veg then swap over to full blast 1000w HPS.
You can veg with HPS but you will get better results, tighter internodes with MH. You can veg with your LED just fine for now, you don't need huge amount of light for veg and they do make pretty good veg lights. With the right amount of those LEDs they flower ok too but its just a bit of false economy to be using more of those for what they cost and what power they use.
Click to expand...
Ok so I've bought an XXXL Air cooled reflector hood with 8 inch flange (as my ducts are 8 inch). Now just doing some research into Globes and ballasts.

Will I ever need a 1000w MH bulb?

Currently tossing up between -

Pro Grow Digital Metal Halide (MH) Lamp - 1000W | 4K | 240V | SE | Day Light Bulb and

Powerplant Metal Halide (MH) Lamp - 600W | 240V | Retro Fit | Runs on HPS Ballast

and this for a ballast

Nanolux Slim Digital Dimmable Ballast - 1000W | 240V | SE | HPS MH | NCCS Ready

I cant post links yet as I havent been on the forum long enough...





 
Last edited:
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
dicko138 said:
Ok so I've bought an XXXL Air cooled reflector hood with 8 inch flange (as my ducts are 8 inch). Now just doing some research into Globes and ballasts.

Will I ever need a 1000w MH bulb?

Currently tossing up between -

Pro Grow Digital Metal Halide (MH) Lamp - 1000W | 4K | 240V | SE | Day Light Bulb and

Powerplant Metal Halide (MH) Lamp - 600W | 240V | Retro Fit | Runs on HPS Ballast

and this for a ballast

Nanolux Slim Digital Dimmable Ballast - 1000W | 240V | SE | HPS MH | NCCS Ready

I cant post links yet as I havent been on the forum long enough...
Click to expand...
Nanolux ballasts are good but from what I can see the dimming is in percentages, 75% 50% ect, you want one that dims 1000w 660w 600w, so that you can use it for the 600w MH bulb in veg.
Theres nothing stopping you using a 1000w MH bulb but if you can get a ballast that does 1000w and 600w then you may as well.
Vivosun 1000w digital dimmable dims to 750 and 600w, there must be more but the market in the uk will be different than yours.
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Nanolux ballasts are good but from what I can see the dimming is in percentages, 75% 50% ect, you want one that dims 1000w 660w 600w, so that you can use it for the 600w MH bulb in veg.
Theres nothing stopping you using a 1000w MH bulb but if you can get a ballast that does 1000w and 600w then you may as well.
Vivosun 1000w digital dimmable dims to 750 and 600w, there must be more but the market in the uk will be different than yours.
Click to expand...
So i've decided to go with a Lumatek Digital Dimmable HPS and MH Ballast 600w. If i end up needing more then I think I might just get another hood and another ballast and run 2 600w lights instead of the 1 1000w.

Now my next major decision is hood. I'm weighing up the option of an Air cooled hood, just not sure if it would be easier just to go with a standard big wing reflector to keep it easier...
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
It would be easier to just hang a dutch barn or other standard reflector but your in Aus? I would of thought getting rid of every bit of heat you can would be a bonus.
You can get a standard reflector though with your ballast and bulb and see where your at with temps. You can always move on to air cooled if its needed.
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
It would be easier to just hang a dutch barn or other standard reflector but your in Aus? I would of thought getting rid of every bit of heat you can would be a bonus.
You can get a standard reflector though with your ballast and bulb and see where your at with temps. You can always move on to air cooled if its needed.
Click to expand...
Yeah I’ve changed my mind and I’m going to get the air cooled reflector. I think heat will be quite an issue coming into our summer. I’m just having trouble getting it shipped from one side of aus to the other. But will be able to organise it. I’ll post some picks at the end of the week once I have it all set up exhaust fan will arrive on Friday.

On another note I transferred the blue dream to a bigger pot and it’s going gang busters! Also for a tiny plant it has a bloody strong smell!
 
vtim802

vtim802

Well-Known Member
Im new but i had a viparspectra par 600 for about 5 days before i returned it to amazon. rapidled has cobs for cheaper and are better. i bought and returned 3 chinese leds before getting some good advice and buying the quantum board and a cob light i have now. grand total for 75 watt 5k cob (149) and hlg 320 (340ish) was 500 and im satisfied with my lighting. thanks for the help guys. this is a good site for real talk on the lights. i notice the other internet forums are pretty happy go lucky to call anything the best if they got free lights for a trial...
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
Ok I’ve got my first coupe of hiccups. Check. The photos. Got some little browns spots on the tips of the white widow and it’s just looking a bit sad with some curling up of the leaves and the blue dream leaves have these funny little kinks in them?

I think I’m under watering the white widow? I’m about to water and feed it now will just wait for some replies first...

I also don’t have my exhaust system set up yet. I will be setting that up tomorrow! And my MH Light will be arriving this week...
 

Attachments

D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
So I’ve assumed it’s underwatering for the white widow but not sure on the strange leaves for the blue dream?

Changing the set up tomorrow and moving the tent into a different room as I need somewhere to mount the exhaust filter... didn’t realise I bought something so fucking massive
 

Attachments

M

Mrherbal

Member
how often are you feeding them??
dont let peat moss go dry as it can be really hard to re wet again
see how heavy pots are after watering and when they feel half to a third of the weight its time water
the soill should have some nutes in to last first 2 weeks maybe and then start feeding at 1/4 strength
feed/water/feed and so on, making sure to get etleast 10/20% runnoff everytime you water.. this will stop salt buildup watch your plants and if they seem hungry slowly increase feed, if you get tip burn back off a bit
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
Mrherbal said:
how often are you feeding them??
dont let peat moss go dry as it can be really hard to re wet again
see how heavy pots are after watering and when they feel half to a third of the weight its time water
the soill should have some nutes in to last first 2 weeks maybe and then start feeding at 1/4 strength
feed/water/feed and so on, making sure to get etleast 10/20% runnoff everytime you water.. this will stop salt buildup watch your plants and if they seem hungry slowly increase feed, if you get tip burn back off a bit
Click to expand...
I am watering/feeding them every 3-4 days. Was trying to do what u said and waiting for the pots to feel about a third the weight but I definitely left it a day too long this time.

So I’ve basiclaly been putting the nutes with the water every time I water? Is this right? Or should I be using nuterients only every 4th water or so?

Thanks man
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
I’m using canna nutes and currently per 1litre if water I add 3.8ml canna Vega, 2.5 ml rhizotonic and 2ml cannazim....
 
M

Mrherbal

Member
i think those brown tips are signs of nute burn.. the plant only uptakes a certian amount you put in.. any excess will still be in the soil so if you feed every watering the excess nutes will build up and start causing problems..
iv never used canna but i would feed 1/4 strength of whatever it recomends.. most nutes are not needed at full strength and can end up doing more harm then good..
you definately should be doing plain water in between feedings
water/feed/water.. or water/water/feed/water/water
stay below the maximum dosage on the bottle.. start at 1/4 if they seem pale bump it up slightly closely watching for tip burn.. if you get tip burn just back off the nutes abit
 
D

dicko138

Well-Known Member
Mrherbal said:
i think those brown tips are signs of nute burn.. the plant only uptakes a certian amount you put in.. any excess will still be in the soil so if you feed every watering the excess nutes will build up and start causing problems..
iv never used canna but i would feed 1/4 strength of whatever it recomends.. most nutes are not needed at full strength and can end up doing more harm then good..
you definately should be doing plain water in between feedings
water/feed/water.. or water/water/feed/water/water
stay below the maximum dosage on the bottle.. start at 1/4 if they seem pale bump it up slightly closely watching for tip burn.. if you get tip burn just back off the nutes abit
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help man. Much appreciated!
 
M

Mrherbal

Member
for the next 1 or 2 waterings just use plain water.. then start your cycle of feed/water/feed/water etc back the vega down to 2.5ml and see how they look after 2 weeks of your new schedule.. if they look healthy carry on the same.. if they look pale bump it up a bit
if you are following their feeding chart just stay at 1/4 to 1/2 of what they recommend and you should be fine
all the time watching plants and how they react so u can get a feel of when there thursty or hungry etc
all the best bro
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top