Buds always light/airy/ fluffy...help!

[AllThingsGreen]

If your power bill is an issue like you say, I would just go with a better LED light. The better LEDs are about as energy efficient as you can get. Look up HLG. Blurples lights are inefficient and power draw is often misrepresented. For example, I bought the better viparspectra 300w lights with timers and red/blue dimmers, and remote. It was advertised as a 300w. It actually had about 135w power draw from the wall fully powered. But about half of that wattage is lost in heat. So you’ve now gone from what you’ve been lead to believe was a 300w light to a light that is actually only delivering about 70-80 w of light to your plants. It sucks because when us new growers are led to google. All the “bloggers” and sites dominating search results will hype these lights up to those unaware of communities like this knowing there’s much better alternatives at slightly higher price points. I paid about $250 ish for the 2 vipars I originally bought. $350 for an HLG lighting kit that fit the same space. No exaggeration..every single baby I have perked up about 8 hours after installing the light including 2 that had been inexplicably droopy.

 

[nurrgle]

There are 3 fans in the tent - 1 tower oscillating (left back), 1 short tower oscillating (right back), and stagnant (doesn't move but can move) clip fan (middle center/front). Tent ALWAYS OPEN. How can I get BETTER airflow etc in a tent?

I should have said the most important thing, genetics. You have to start with fire that you know throws dense nugs.

Sounds like your airflow is good, with the door open your getting air exchange. As others have said lighting is the next thing I’d look at. You can grab stuff on Craigslist for super cheap but it would be worth a couple hundred extra if your going to end up with more/better product.

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

What is the cost of electricity per kwh in your area?

 

[David Ferguson]

I believe that we are paying 8 cents per kwh....maybe 10 cents.

 

[StareCase]

Good to hear honesty there....I'll have to do research on what is most practical. My tent I flower in is just 3x3x7 ...

Viparspectra will work for smaller grows like a 3x3. Pulled just over 8 oz. from 2 plants in a 2x4 using 2 of their 600 Reflector Series which pull 560 watts from the wall. My grow space was maybe 60% used so that yield can go higher.

For a 3x3, you would probably need a third one to really make some hay, as it were.

Did you use both veg & bloom switches from start to finish? How high were the lights from the canopy?

 

[David Ferguson]

Viparspectra will work for smaller grows like a 3x3. Pulled just over 8 oz. from 2 plants in a 2x4 using 2 of their 600 Reflector Series which pull 560 watts from the wall. My grow space was maybe 60% used so that yield can go higher.

For a 3x3, you would probably need a third one to really make some hay, as it were.

Did you use both veg & bloom switches from start to finish? How high were the lights from the canopy?

Yeah, so I have used them (Vipar 600 reflector series next to Vipar 700 reflector series) in the last grow. I had started from clones in a 3x3x7 tent and the lights started just inches away, then as they started flowering after 2 months, the light SLIGHTLY higher (approx 18") above plants. Rewind to veg, we DID have some issues. As clones we went through about a week were plants looked really sad from nute burn. We went out of town and the person we trusted to take care of the 2 plants (that's it!) Managed to mess up bad. Immediately I had flushed and started over.Also, when I grow indoors, which is newer to me, the room is slightly too warm during the day @ approx. 80-85 degrees. As mentioned, I kept the tent door open and 3 fans circulated air (but all fans are IN the tent). Strains were Forbidden Fruit and Zookies (unsure if it's REAL Zookies). F. Fruit still hanging and ZOOKIES finishes curing in like a week. So far, Zookies looks like only about 1 oz.....and F. Fruit looks like it will be about the same, maybe 1.5 oz. I know I can do better.
Ps- I do have access to 2x4x6 tents (2 actually). Are these better than the 3x3x7 size? Only used the taller because my plants stretched alot and wasnt sure 6 ft was enough head room w/ lights etc. PLEASE respond with all opinions here, and thank u! Sorry long.

 

[David Ferguson]

Oh sorry! On this last grow, I had used the blue and white switches for Veg and all 3 for bloom.

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

I believe that we are paying 8 cents per kwh....maybe 10 cents.

Shit I wish I paid that per kwh. In any case at 18 hours a day & .8 per kwh that is about 216 kwh for the month. That would equate to roughly $17.28 for the month to run a 400 watt light. At .10 that's roughly $21.60. Obviously when you switch to flower that price would go lower.

Bro, if your wife is going to freak out over less than 25 dollars a month extra on the electric bill, so you can grow some dank buds, It's time to find a new wife! especially if she's smoking with you.

Fucking .10 per kwh I wish. I would go nukin futts with lightning if I paid that. Shit that's cheap!

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

Oh sorry! On this last grow, I had used the blue and white switches for Veg and all 3 for bloom.

I dont have your light but everything I've ever read regarding blurple lights says to run all switches on throughout the whole run. That's probably another reason that you're not getting tight nugs my friend. You need to run all switches on. I would run that light at full on and adjust the height.

 

[Ryante55]

Viparspectra will work for smaller grows like a 3x3. Pulled just over 8 oz. from 2 plants in a 2x4 using 2 of their 600 Reflector Series which pull 560 watts from the wall. My grow space was maybe 60% used so that yield can go higher.

For a 3x3, you would probably need a third one to really make some hay, as it were.

Did you use both veg & bloom switches from start to finish? How high were the lights from the canopy?

So less than .5g per watt? You could probably match that yield with cfl lights

 

[David Ferguson]

Lol...yeah my wife isn't freaking about THAT MUCH at all. Her friend told her it was WAYYYY more. I told her that's wrong which made her say that she believes me, but that we will have to make sure on the bill...and "go ahead and prove it" (hps 400 watt). I am actually not POSITIVE on price per kwh... that's what I thought it was, but from your response I'd say it's PROBABLY more then lol. I live in Cali, everything is expensive as fuck.
You mentioned you veg for 18 hours on 6 hours off? If so please tell me! I'm doing 24/7 currently, so if the other regimen is better, I want to know . Thanks a ton!

 

[David Ferguson]

I dont have your light but everything I've ever read regarding blurple lights says to run all switches on throughout the whole run. That's probably another reason that you're not getting tight nugs my friend. You need to run all switches on. I would run that light at full on and adjust the height.

What should my space between lights and plants be for veg? Bloom?
And yes, full power now forward, thanks!

 

[StareCase]

I hear you about your betrothed. I bet it will be difficult to justify the expense of a totally new lighting set-up. Correct? So let's see if you can augment what you have first before you do a "rip & replace".

I believe that the 3 x 3 x 7 would be better with that extra 1' of height. PAR 600 & Reflector 600 = 570 wall watts. So you have 60 watt /sq ft. I used 70 watts / sq. ft.

You should use the full spectrum during both veg & bloom. And I have read, and am going to try this myself next time, that 12" - 14" above plant canopy is OK for LED's.

Do you extract the air in the tent or just circulate it?

 

[David Ferguson]

So less than .5g per watt? You could probably match that yield with cfl lights

Well....if that's HONEST, then I appreciate it! What can I do to improve on this, IYO?

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

For the price you guys are paying for those blurple lights you could diy a setup for the same price or a bit cheaper. Shit you could buy a ready made light from hlg for the price of those blurple. I'm not knocking you in any way. I hate that people take advantage of new growers, it really fucking pisses me off! That being said before you or anyone else who's new and read' this, before you jump in and buy something ~ dont! Ask around here DO NOT listen to any blogs or ads get real world opinions and feedback.

 

[David Ferguson]

I hear you about your betrothed. I bet it will be difficult to justify the expense of a totally new lighting set-up. Correct? So let's see if you can augment what you have first before you do a "rip & replace".

I believe that the 3 x 3 x 7 would be better with that extra 1' of height. PAR 600 & Reflector 600 = 570 wall watts. So you have 60 watt /sq ft. I used 70 watts / sq. ft.

You should use the full spectrum during both veg & bloom. And I have read, and am going to try this myself next time, that 12" - 14" above plant canopy is OK for LED's.

Do you extract the air in the tent or just circulate it?

Only circulate BUT with the tent door open, it probably "escapes" some too. Should there be 1 fan outside of tent and 2 inside, perhaps?
The reason it's open is because of room temps during summer. During winter, it's good temps with door open. Not sure on closed, never tried.
Does the humidity escape due to open door negatively affect the structure too, due to low/escaping humidity?

 

[David Ferguson]

For the price you guys are paying for those blurple lights you could diy a setup for the same price or a bit cheaper. Shit you could buy a ready made light from hlg for the price of those blurple. I'm not knocking you in any way. I hate that people take advantage of new growers, it really fucking pisses me off! That being said before you or anyone else who's new and read' this, before you jump in and buy something ~ dont! Ask around here DO NOT listen to any blogs or ads get real world opinions and feedback.

Thank you.

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

What should my space between lights and plants be for veg? Bloom?
And yes, full power now forward, thanks!

To be honest I'm not sure. To be on the safe side I would start at 24" and see how the plants respond. Lots of new growers (not saying you) think to them self, I'm going to buy this that and the other and grow 30lbs. No, not at all. The first few runs are going to be trial & error. Things take time and patience. I would write down everything you do during your run. That way you can go back and see where you effed up along the way. Growing weed is easy. Growing good weed takes time, patience' & skill. Also your temps seem a bit high get a fan in there. Get your humidity on point as well. Google a vpd chart and learn it, it will help alot!

 

[SoMe_EfFin_MasS_HoLe]

Go into my grow journal you will see how to set your tent up properly!

 

[StareCase]

For the price you guys are paying for those blurple lights you could diy a setup for the same price or a bit cheaper. Shit you could buy a ready made light from hlg for the price of those blurple. I'm not knocking you in any way. I hate that people take advantage of new growers, it really fucking pisses me off! That being said before you or anyone else who's new and read' this, before you jump in and buy something ~ dont! Ask around here DO NOT listen to any blogs or ads get real world opinions and feedback.

Agreed! You find out that hard way that the marketing by these manufacturers is total BS. One 600 W "equivalent" LED is not 600 watts and they don't have 3' x 3' coverage - 2' x 2' max. Had I have known earlier ...