My first grow, 200W CFL, whatcha think? - Cannabis.com Forums Message Boards - Medical Marijuana, Cannabis Club, Dispensary, News

Bulster · #1 (**permalink**) Nov-10-2007, 17:57

Well, despite being a few weeks into flower already I thought I would start a log. I always have new questions and this way I can keep them in one place. I hope some of you find it interesting.

Some info on the grow:
- 2 x Sour Diesel and 2 x MK Ultra clones.
- SuperSoil w. 25% perilite
- Using GH 3 part nutes, CalMag, Liquid Karma, SuperThrive and sometimes hydrogen peroxide and alfalfa tea.
- Light is 1 x 100w CFL + 3 x 23w CFL + 1 x 18w CFL.
- Space is approx 3 sq.ft.

I started flowering on 9/14 so now I'm almost a month in. I have no experience but they look good to me. What do you think?
These plants were actually started way back in July, I ended up vegging for two whole months but really only got growth in the second month. The first month I was .... well.... learning, and almost lost the lot.
I have LST'ed them since they were quite small, probably too small, which was part of my many original problems.

These days I'm thinking of replacing the CFL's with a 150 or 250 watt HPS light. I wonder if 150w HPS will yield the same or more than my close to 200w CFL's?????

I will post the pictures below in 3 separate posts and note the dates the pictures were taken so you can 'keep up'.

Would love to hear comments and questions.

Peace !

Bulster · #2 (**permalink**) Nov-10-2007, 18:11

So here we are back on 8/16, six days after I got them, they look pretty sad with spider mites and growing in 100 degrees F.

Two plants per pot and straight in the big pot, no transplanting. Not sure I'd do it that way next time.
These are 4 gal pots.

Bulster · #3 (**permalink**) Nov-10-2007, 18:21

Fast forward to 9/7.. no difference, the plants haven't grown at all and vultures are starting to circle above the grow !

:
It's hard to see the size of the plants in these pic's but they are pretty close to every bit as small as when I got them and I'm losing my mind

Bulster · #4 (**permalink**) Nov-10-2007, 18:35

OK, now fast forward all the way to 10/28.... Two weeks after I started the flower cycle... sorry no pics in between.
As you can see all is well now, to make a long story short I finally flushed the heck out of them and started giving them the GH 3 part nutes at very low dose, and bought a good ph meter. BLAM....they perked up and grew like mad.

I was going to start flower at around 12 inches of height but got delayed so they were more like 14-16 inches.
As mentioned this is two weeks in....

Bulster · #5 (**permalink**) Nov-10-2007, 18:59

And now on to 11/7 - 24 days of flower. Still going strong... have been adjusting the nutes to more PK and less N and have increased the amount of total nutes with each watering. At this point I started to see slightly burnt tips and stopped increasing the nutes. My TDS/PPM is about 1150 for those who care and they need water every 3 days.
Also have continued to LST in order to keep a relatively even canopy.
These are my last pics and from 3 days ago, I'll wait a few more days now before posting more since there isn't that much happening.... they're just chuggin' along.

Man, I just love the thought of being able to avoid illegal dealers and get my medicine for less $.. and better quality too! (I hope)

What do you all think? Am I looking fine for 24 days in? REALLY fine? Not so fine? You wanna smoke this?
Anyway, I'm playing with the idea of changing to 150 or 250 watt HPS... not sure if it's worth it? I mean of course the 250 is .... but the 150???

PEACE!

PS: The pic that's taken from above is of the MK Ultra (90% sativa), didn't take one of those of the Sour Diesel (Indica).

whisky · #6 (**permalink**) Nov-11-2007, 03:10

nice man, you can get the 150w and keep some cfls for side coverage.
those nugs are looking awesome that is going to kick street seaweed in the head. ( just dont harvest early and resist the temptation, but you already knew that.. just checking

)
keep em coming

Lucky_13 · #7 (**permalink**) Nov-11-2007, 04:06

Very nice

Bulster · #8 (**permalink**) Nov-11-2007, 13:51

Thanks guys. I hear you on the harvesting early part, but I am armed with patience and focused on maximum yield. I wonder how much I'll get? Is it too early to guestimate at this point?

hydrocannabis · #9 (**permalink**) Nov-11-2007, 23:29

UR plant looks killer.

spongebobsmokepants · #10 (**permalink**) Nov-11-2007, 23:53

Another successful CFL grow! congrats! My grow is also CFL, Check it out in my sig.

Bulster · #11 (**permalink**) Nov-12-2007, 00:46

Thanks guys, just checked out your logs... Nice work!

klondike_bar · #12 (**permalink**) Nov-12-2007, 10:18

tips for mites: spray bottle full of saopy water. either that or a few ladybugs.

in my experience, clones can take several weeks to build a rootbase before they even CONSIDER growing upwards. (thats why ppl use seeds unless cloning for genetics, its just faster and eisier)

Bulster · #13 (**permalink**) Nov-12-2007, 14:53

Thanks Klondike, yeah I figured out how to deal with the mites, just add some Neem Oil to the soap mix and it really kicks their butt!
You mention several weeks before clones develop any roots? Wow, are you sure about that? It just sounds excessive. But I guess it's not a big deal as I expect to be vegging in a separate spot most of the time, so it's really just about timing the cuttings so they are ready at the right time to be put in flower.

Question for all: Where can I find a FAQ or get some answers on what to do the last 3 weeks of flower? I need to get a grip on Flushing, extended dark period, etc etc... I already found a bunch on harvesting, drying and curing but not much on the weeks leading up to harvest.

klondike_bar · #14 (**permalink**) Nov-12-2007, 15:41

well personally, when i took clones they looked like complete crap for about 2 weeks where the leaves looked underwatered and took forever to get up agin.

and the seeds i planted a day after taking clones were at the same height as clones by the time the clones actually started to make any growth.

Bulster · #15 (**permalink**) Nov-13-2007, 04:42

Still hoping someone out there can show me the way to some info on how to prepare for harvest. Do I start watering with just water? When? For how long? Do I keep it dark for a few days before cutting? Even if I am harvesting in two separate rounds two weeks apart? etc etc...

CannabisCarl2134 · #16 (**permalink**) Nov-13-2007, 05:12

Just use Plain water the last week (7-10 days), and no water 1-2 days before Harvest.
I think light schedules are kept the same, up until the final "Hack". Pretty much Just be very careful and meticulous with the harvest, plan it out thoroughly.

After that its the Curring process.

whisky · #17 (**permalink**) Nov-13-2007, 09:55

you can leave the plants you will harvest 1-3 days of complete darkness before the harvest.. im not sure but some people say it makes the plant squeeze out the last juice it can on the buds..
like carl said use plaint water 1 week before harvest but also flush 1-2 times throughly

specs · #18 (**permalink**) Nov-13-2007, 15:23

Nice CFl grow.

I think if you have the right conditions for cloning, it is much faster than seed. If you do some research you'll find that a clone retains the age of the plant from the time you cut it, so let's say you took a couple of clones at say 2-3weeks of veg, then when they root, they will continue from 2-3 weeks and move quickly, seeds start from 0. I have used a couple of cloning methods and I find the bubble cloning method (I think that's what it's called) the fastest-- usually takes 1 week to 10 days for very strong root growth.

Another thing with clones is, try not to plant them in too big of a pot too soon, as they will have to shoot the tap root to the bottom and then the off shoots BEFORE it shows signs of growth- this will slow it down. I transfer to 16oz cups then to veg pot, then to flower, but I like my plants to grow up to 18+ inches before flower.

Hope that helps.
Keep Growing.
Bless
specs

spongebobsmokepants · #19 (**permalink**) Nov-13-2007, 15:48

I mist my clones 3-4 times a day for the first week, and 2 times a day for the second week. Clones need the high humidity and moisture as they have no roots to provide water and nutes to the leaves. Clones are great because you know exactly what you will end up with.
Lookin great man.

Bulster · #20 (**permalink**) Nov-14-2007, 03:40

Thanks for all the tips, think I'll continue future grows with clones.

Bought a ducted 6" fan from HD, 250CFM. Thing makes quite a bit of noise so I'm playing around with how to muffle it. Any ideas?
In retrospect I should have mounted a tube to the hole in the ceiling and then put the fan on the tube down the line....oh well, learn a little every day.

Bulster · #21 (**permalink**) Nov-16-2007, 02:44

Hey all, just a picture update.
Now 32 days in and still 30 to go for the two Sativa MK-Ultra's and at least 45 to go for the two Indica Sour Dielsel's.
Perhaps it's because it's my first grow, but damn, I think they look pretty darn good for a less than 200w CFL grow.

BTW, will be getting a 150w HPS very soon...

What do you think of the pic's?

jchap · #22 (**permalink**) Nov-16-2007, 02:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulster

And now on to 11/7 - 24 days of flower. Still going strong... have been adjusting the nutes to more PK and less N and have increased the amount of total nutes with each watering. At this point I started to see slightly burnt tips and stopped increasing the nutes. My TDS/PPM is about 1150 for those who care and they need water every 3 days.
Also have continued to LST in order to keep a relatively even canopy.
These are my last pics and from 3 days ago, I'll wait a few more days now before posting more since there isn't that much happening.... they're just chuggin' along.

Man, I just love the thought of being able to avoid illegal dealers and get my medicine for less $.. and better quality too! (I hope)

What do you all think? Am I looking fine for 24 days in? REALLY fine? Not so fine? You wanna smoke this?
Anyway, I'm playing with the idea of changing to 150 or 250 watt HPS... not sure if it's worth it? I mean of course the 250 is .... but the 150???

PEACE!

PS: The pic that's taken from above is of the MK Ultra (90% sativa), didn't take one of those of the Sour Diesel (Indica).

they look like that after 24 days flower??

mine been flowering 20 days and they only just showed sex

and wow @ jump from sorry looking dead things to budded up....unbeleivable

how long did you flower before you noiticed first sings of bud?

OrangeWidow · #23 (**permalink**) Nov-16-2007, 03:09

Lookin great man, in the last week really cut down on the watering and stop when its the final 2-3 days (but keep close watch on the plant and the trichs) this will help the plant produce more resin to protect the leaves and the buds from the light.

Bulster · #24 (**permalink**) Nov-16-2007, 14:34

JCHAP, since this is my first time I'm not sure why, but when I put them into flower it only took a couple of days for flowers to form and they've been growing ever since.
If you are growing from seed and starting flower very early with a very short veg period then t