My First Grow, Complete noob Any Advice welcome. Thanks

[eddkushnoob]

Hi all so this is my First grow. I have kitted out my wardrobe. Im Using a 200w cfl 8900 lumens, 2 plants (Barneys Farm critical kush) Any advice for max potent yields.
Now This Is day 28 and they are only 9in tall is this because i had the light to close ? It was 7in away i have moved it to 14in today will this allow the plants to grow more vertically because they are reaching for the light ?
I've got the light on 24/7. Is 200w enough light? Or should i get 300w for flowering?. I feed them about a liter of water every 2/3 days is that ok ?food = plant magic 5-3-3 I know nothing about pruning or topping. When and How do you start pruning for max yields etc Any Advice welcome thanks. (more pics below)

 

[ISK]

your plants look damn good to me, you seem to be doing everything right so i wouldn't change a thing.

you can always add more lights when it comes to CFL, but maybe consider side lighting with lots of 23 watts bulbs (2700K) for the flower stage

Suggestions: clean up your room, it's a bit untidy, and consider some mylar for the walls...or paint them flat white

EDIT: please consider tending to that dangling wire....always keep your electrical cords in order, tucked away so you can't snag or trip on them

cheers

 

[Merlot]

You need to do a lot of reading...

Nice ghetto grow

 

[eddkushnoob]

Thanks alot! ye i plan on getting proper reflective materials next week and im i right in thinking that there growing more horizontally then vertically because i had the light to close (7in) iv moved it 14in away. is that a good distance ?

 

[ISK]

Thanks alot! ye i plan on getting proper reflective materials next week and im i right in thinking that there growing more horizontally then vertically because i had the light to close (7in) iv moved it 14in away. is that a good distance ?

many people claim flat white paint is the best for reflecting light.... it's easy/quick to apply and is cheap

can't advise on the light distance as I'm not familiar with large CFL bulbs, but I keep my 600 w HPS about 10 to 14 inches away

they say put your hand on top of the plants and if if feels comfortable then it's likely okay for the plant, if uncomfortable for you, then too hot for the gals

BTW: did you see my edit about your electrical cord...remember electrical safety has to be your #1 priority, everything else is mice nuts

 

[Roobarb]

Thanks alot! ye i plan on getting proper reflective materials next week and im i right in thinking that there growing more horizontally then vertically because i had the light to close (7in) iv moved it 14in away. is that a good distance ?

No- CFL's need to be really close. Move it back
Your plants look pretty good but I think you will
need more light for flower. If you want to grow good
weed you might consider a 250/400 watt HPS

Some good advice to offer you is
Do not under estimate the smell of a plant in flower.
If you don't use a filter or something you whole house
is gonna smell. If you share a house with others they
are will probably smell it at some point - particularly
harvest time

 

[SPLFreak808]

Thanks alot! ye i plan on getting proper reflective materials next week and im i right in thinking that there growing more horizontally then vertically because i had the light to close (7in) iv moved it 14in away. is that a good distance ?

What you want is a short plant if using cfl's. its up to you to raise the cfl. But it will stretch your plant more, making it harder to use CFL's for flowering. When your cfl is on, if it is illuminating more than just the plant (walls,roof,ground ect) it is already loosing 50% +/- output. If you want to flower with cfl's then start buying small 23 watts instead. 10 23watts > 250watt cfl

 

[eddkushnoob]

thanks lads, right so iv moved the light back down to about 10in. Will get some flat white paint tomorrow. i think i'll keep growing how i am with what iv got until flowering then get a 400w HPS will this be ok ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FoxHunter-Dutch-Reflector-Shade-Hydroponics/dp/B00CSPVRB6/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y/276-0016068-8313215
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HPS-400w-Pressure-Growlight-HPS400w/dp/B002CI6822/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y

that seems a bit to cheap to me ? i thought they were really expensive

 

[ISK]

thanks lads, right so iv moved the light back down to about 10in. Will get some flat white paint tomorrow. i think i'll keep growing how i am with what iv got until flowering then get a 400w HPS will this be ok ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FoxHunter-Dutch-Reflector-Shade-Hydroponics/dp/B00CSPVRB6/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y/276-0016068-8313215
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HPS-400w-Pressure-Growlight-HPS400w/dp/B002CI6822/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y

that seems a bit to cheap to me ? i though they were really expensive

the first link is the wing reflector, and the second link is just the bulb.....but you need to plug the hood into a ballast, that's more bucks

 

[HaveYouSeenApril]

Your setup looks good. I've only used the smaller cfls but looking at your plants I'd lower them back to 7. you want the lights as close to the plant as possible. with the smaller cfls 2" is fine because they don't generate very much heat. I've even seen plants grow touching them without any damage. what you have there is a strong, indica dominant plant. The node spacing is gonna be short and is a good indicator that your plants are getting enough light. keep in mind that the space between nodes increases throughout the duration of the plants life cycle. since youre looking for max yield then you want them short. the height of the plant has nothing to do with yield. each branch grows the flower so, the more branches the more flowers. for example a 4' plant with 4 branches cannot produce as much as a 3' plant with 8 branches under the same conditions. (these are under exaggerated numbers, just keeping the math simple)

As for improvements I would advise:
A. Use a reflector around your light if you don't already have one (cant tell from the pics) a lot of light is lost from the sides.
B. Use the screen of green (SCROG) method to spread out the plants. This method fills in normally unused space in the grow room and allows more light into the insides of the bush using a screen (chicken wire works well)
C. Supplement your grow with smaller CFLs around the the base and sides. The light from CFLs dont penetrate the canopy (top of the plant} very well. The extra light will help the plant blossom all over rather than just on top.

 

[SnotNazi]

No- CFL's need to be really close. Move it back
Your plants look pretty good but I think you will
need more light for flower. If you want to grow good
weed you might consider a 250/400 watt HPS

Some good advice to offer you is
Do not under estimate the smell of a plant in flower.
If you don't use a filter or something you whole house
is gonna smell. If you share a house with others they
are will probably smell it at some point - particularly
harvest time

This is a good one to pay attention too. I have yet to get a carbon filter but my last grow stunk up my entire house to the point that you could smell it even in the basement when I'm growing on !! lol. As far as you lighting goes, get 1 more of those puppies and you'll be set. Get one that is 2700K though. I used two 40W 2700K and two 40W 6500K for my first grow. I've switched to LED's for my second grow due to heat but the CFL's do a good job in the right setting. I agree with everyone else, keep them close, as close as possible. Other than that you're doing an awesome job for your first round. Keep up the good work!!

 

[weedenhanced]

Hi all so this is my First grow. I have kitted out my wardrobe. Im Using a 200w cfl 8900 lumens, 2 plants (Barneys Farm critical kush) Any advice for max potent yields. View attachment 3404048
Now This Is day 28 and they are only 9in tall is this because i had the light to close ? It was 7in away i have moved it to 14in today will this allow the plants to grow more vertically because they are reaching for the light ?
I've got the light on 24/7. Is 200w enough light? Or should i get 300w for flowering?. I feed them about a liter of water every 2/3 days is that ok ?food = plant magic 5-3-3 I know nothing about pruning or topping. When and How do you start pruning for max yields etc Any Advice welcome thanks. (more pics below)
View attachment 3404062

View attachment 3404066

Nice short node spacing maybe top em and start to lst em

 

[eddkushnoob]

lads thank you all soooooo much. ISK it makes scene now so im looking at about £12 for a HPS 400w bulb and your right i need a ballast there about £50 i all ready have the e40 reflector.
New Plan
Flat white paint every nook and cranny. Keep every thing how it is and when it comes to flowering up grade to 400w HPS. As regards to the smell at my local grow shop they have this stuff its a gel in a tub when you take the lid of its an over powering smell of nice stuff kinda like a car air freshener. The bloke said it will neutralize the smell of bud.
now what to do with ma little babys what do i do next ? topping ? pruning or just leave them ? Once again thanks for your advice. Also have any of you used this or something like ?
http://www.plant-magic.co.uk/products/evolution/6/
guy at the shop said its the nutz i 100% agree

 

[eddkushnoob]

do i even need 400w HPS for my little set up? Would 250w be enough. Just worried that 400w will rinse electricity. Is there much yield difference between 250 and 400 ??

 

[SPLFreak808]

thanks lads, right so iv moved the light back down to about 10in. Will get some flat white paint tomorrow. i think i'll keep growing how i am with what iv got until flowering then get a 400w HPS will this be ok ?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FoxHunter-Dutch-Reflector-Shade-Hydroponics/dp/B00CSPVRB6/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y/276-0016068-8313215
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HPS-400w-Pressure-Growlight-HPS400w/dp/B002CI6822/ref=pd_bxgy_light_img_y

that seems a bit to cheap to me ? i thought they were really expensive

They are not exspensive at all. Its up to you 250w vs 400w. Obviously the 400w will be near a double yield if you can keep the area beloq 80f

 

[SPLFreak808]

do i even need 400w HPS for my little set up? Would 250w be enough. Just worried that 400w will rinse electricity. Is there much yield difference between 250 and 400 ??

Whatever you go with, a 250w hps will be much better than what you have. Draws less energy than an xbox 1.

 

[eddkushnoob]

400w double yield you say lol 400w it is then looking at my set up do you think it would be hard to keep it under 80f. ?

 

[SnotNazi]

lads thank you all soooooo much. ISK it makes scene now so im looking at about £12 for a HPS 400w bulb and your right i need a ballast there about £50 i all ready have the e40 reflector.
New Plan
Flat white paint every nook and cranny. Keep every thing how it is and when it comes to flowering up grade to 400w HPS. As regards to the smell at my local grow shop they have this stuff its a gel in a tub when you take the lid of its an over powering smell of nice stuff kinda like a car air freshener. The bloke said it will neutralize the smell of bud.
now what to do with ma little babys what do i do next ? topping ? pruning or just leave them ? Once again thanks for your advice. Also have any of you used this or something like ?
http://www.plant-magic.co.uk/products/evolution/6/
guy at the shop said its the nutz i 100% agree

Do some research on that gel. I was going to use the same thing but after reading quite a few blogs I came across a standard answer - the smell leeches into the bud and causes a funny taste in your bud. If you do use it I would be interested in your findings as everything I read seemed to be speculation.

 

[SnotNazi]

400w double yield you say lol 400w it is then looking at my set up do you think it would be hard to keep it under 80f. ?

I had a hard time with just my 4 CFL's so I'd say yes. If you're going to invest in HPS get a cool tube and dedicated exhaust for it.

 

[eddkushnoob]

I had a hard time with just my 4 CFL's so I'd say yes. If you're going to invest in HPS get a cool tube and dedicated exhaust for it.

ye ok mate i'll look in to the smell gel dont want it messing up my smoke. maybe i'll just stick to a 250w hps then. guy at my grown shop recommended critical kush to me for its 750gr/m2 yields he seemed to think i would get a oz (27grams) per plant on my cfl. so maybe 2 oz a plant with 250 hps ? what do you think ?