first grow...any help is appreciated - Cannabis.com Forums Message Boards - Medical Marijuana, Cannabis Club, Dispensary, News

gottagrow4 · #1 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 09:28

ok so this is my first grow...5 of them sprouted around jan 14th and the other 7 sprouted around jan 25th. im using 2 175 watt metal halides and 2 40 watt tube flouros. i built a box that is 6' long 4' wide and 6' tall.. up until last night i had the light on 24 hours straight and now ive got them on a 20/4 light cycle. i had some problems last week with nute burns so i had to clip off some leaves but i flushed them twice and they seem to be doing better...some of the tips are still turning yellow but its not that bad...i also had a weird problem last night with mushrooms growing out of the pots so i scooped all the soil out from around them and refilled with new soil.. any criticism or help would be appreciated...ill be updating often with new pics

oh by the way i dont smoke weed or grow weed and any pictures here are all pictures i found on the internet so anything i say is complete bullshit

basementbotany · #2 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 10:20

the only suggestion i can offer, should have stayed with 24/0. though some people go 18/6, you'll have faster growth with a 24/0 schedule for now. the only reason people decrease the light cycle is for faster 'root' growth. so if you are going to give them a light break, take it to 18/6, it has been proven that the best cycle if giving a rest period is in fact 18/6.

basementbotany · #3 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 10:22

other than that their looking beautiful, keep up the good work

**stinkyattic** · #4 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 10:28

Just keep your light cycle steady from now on.
I like the looks of the side growth on 'heads #1'. Did you already pinch the growing tip or was that natural? Good work so far.

psteve · #5 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinkyattic

Just keep your light cycle steady from now on.
I like the looks of the side growth on 'heads #1'. Did you already pinch the growing tip or was that natural? Good work so far.

I agree. Stop changing the light cycle. As long as they get the same thing every day, and not more than 6 hours of dark.

Backpacker420 · #6 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 11:12

Wow, "Heads #1" is beautiful!

psteve · #7 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottagrow4

i also had a weird problem last night with mushrooms growing out of the pots so i scooped all the soil out from around them and refilled with new soil.. any criticism or help would be appreciated...

Those little mushrooms were a GOOD sign. They meant you had good healthy soil. Which you removed.
When I get a mushroom, I pick it, and break it up into all the other pots.

Don't worry unless you get big slimey mushrooms that grow out the bottom of your pots.

gottagrow4 · #8 (**permalink**) Feb-14-2008, 16:31

to stinky attic its all natural...i havent pinched the tops on any of them...and the thing with the light cycle i had a friend that told me i should cut the light back alil so i can give the leaves a break from the light or some shit...hes in college for horticulture so i figured he would know what he is talking about..ill be updating alot so keep an eye on me make sure i dont get out of line.....thanks

gottagrow4 · #9 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 10:41

well here are some pics of the actual box itself...

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gottagrow4 · #10 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:00

and here are my girls in all their glory

so there they are...a few of them arent looking to good and got burnt tips on alot of the leaves and i dont know why....also i got a problem with alot of the stems turning red and purple...i dont know if this is a major problem but it dont seem to have any effect on the plants..since i transplanted a few went downhill but i think there all pulling through...i dont know how much longer i should keep them on a 24 hour lights on cycle but when i cut them back to 12/12 i have a 1000 watt high pressure sodium im going to be putting in..can anybody give me some advice?also on heads 1 it seemed to have stopped growing taller but the side growth is almost doubling every day, i havent pinched any tops and im not sue if i want too or cut clones or lst them...what do ou think i should do with my circumstances? someone please help...im real unsure of what i should do with them.....thanks in advance

**stinkyattic** · #11 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:17

Could be the soil mix, check the runoff pH next time you water.
REMOVE THE DRIP TRAYS FROM THOSE POTS!!!!! They make the bottom layer of soil stay soggy and create perfect conditions for root rot, pests, and lockouts.
Drop that halide a foot or so.
Otherwise, you're looking good.

psteve · #12 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:25

What stinky said.
And if you can't lower your light due to box design, then jack your plants up on a milk crate or something.
Also, why is your fan pointed away from the plants?

**stinkyattic** · #13 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:34

I actually prefer to point fans away from the plants- the air moves in the space fine either way, and you avoid desiccating the plant closest to the fan.
I didn't notice the light is fixed up[ there.
Box retrofit idea: Add eye-bolts and chains to hang lights. Convert the hole into an exhaust duct with a big bad blower. That's an ideal spot for the intake of the exhaust, right over the light, at the highest point in the grow cab.
CRAFTY!!! Nice box.

psteve · #14 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:42

I use an oscillating fan directly on the lower part of the plants. I find I get stronger stalks if the fan actually moves the plants. It also stimulates capillary action, helping the plant to uptake nutrients better.
Never had a problem with dessication. Just some edge wear on a few leaves.

Johnaldinho · #15 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:48

gottagrow4 · #16 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:49

i check the ph everytime i water..ph is betweek 6.7 and 7.0 on all of them...im using miracle grow potting soil....the temp in the box is at a steady 76. so when should i cut the light to 12/12 and put in the high pressure sodium? and the fan is facing away cus it seems to even out the amount of wind in the box instead of the plants getting slammed with high winds and when i tried it facing them they almost got ripped out of the soil..it didnt look like a good idea..atleast facing away i get the leaves shaking and i nice cool breeze...and what should i do about lst or pinching the tops or cutting clones? am i ready for any of that and will it increase my yeild?

**stinkyattic** · #17 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 11:56

IT depends on what you have space/time for.
If you have time and a spot to keep a prop dome under constant light and nice and cozy, by all means pinch the tops, wait another 1-2 weeks for that side growth to get stronger, cut clones, LABEL THEM, wait another 2 weeks for the plants to get over the shock, and flower away.
Don't cheat yourself by taking small wimpy clones. They should have a growing tip, 2 fan leaves cut down to 1" blades, and a stripped node further down the stem. That's pretty much a minimum for healthy clones.
Your plants do not appear sexually mature yet, so flowering now isn't going to get you too far- it will take longer for sex to show, and you can be adding undue stress.
Doing the clones in a week or 2, you are givine the plants time to mature, and giving yourself the option of skipping the whole seedling-rearing/sexing step on your next grow.

psteve · #18 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 12:00

First get your plants a little closer to the light, or you'll have stretching problems.
Then wait until you have 5 or 6 nodes before you start to LST. I never top anymore, I just train the plants to go where I want them.
You might want to consider a scrog to even out your canopy and maximize your use of the space.

gottagrow4 · #19 (**permalink**) Feb-19-2008, 12:31

what do you mean a prop dome? as in take them out of the box and put them somewhere else? and by pinching do i literally jst pinch the top with my fingers? how? and which would be better lst, pinch,both maybe? sorry i realy dont have any idea what to do...ive read so much online about growing but now im just getting alil confused so i really just need someone to walk me through this first grow day by day so i get it right the first time...i have a 6 foot by 4 foot base and its 6 feet tall...whats the best thing to do to get the most buds in the room i got...i have a daughter coming tomorrow(c-section) so i want to keep everything in the basement and out of view of her so all im working with is my box and nothing else

Weedhound · #20 (**permalink**) Feb-21-2008, 00:36

Well you have the best help in the world with Stinky.

Your plants look great. I won't go into my horrors with soil growing which is why I stick with hydro.

Good luck with your grow.

gottagrow4 · #21 (**permalink**) Mar-04-2008, 02:06

ok so i pinched the tops about 4 days..i left about 10% of the growing tip...they called it FIMS in high times when you dont cut the whole tip and said insead of splitting into two growing tips it will turn into 4 but i am still waiting for results..but side growth is growing much faster nd keeps doubling almost every day...unfortunately my digital camera died and i havent had a chance to get to the store to get new batteries but i do have some pics from feb 26th that im going to post...i wish i had pics from today because they are looking soooo much bigger and i also cut back the light and started flowering on march 1st because there all showing slight preflowers..1 def female and the rest i really cant tell..i need a 420scope...(next investment) and i got even better news...my friend gave me about 15 clones from a jack herer, grapefruit, and sour diesel that i put under T5s..there all rooted and i just transplanted them into 4" square pots which i think i will start a new grow log on...so look for it...well heres some pics from last week before i FIMSed the tips and LSTed one becasue it was stretching ay too much and got too close to the light...i will try to post up to date photos tomorrow if you want to keep an eye out for it.......