First grow advice please!

[PistilPete27]

Hi there!

Firstly, thanks for reading.

I’m looking for advice on my first grow with my first post. I was a little ambitious and went with hydroponics after doing some reading as I am often on the road for multiple days at a time and watering would be an issue. It’s been four weeks since my seed sprouted and I’m elated with the growth.

My question is, when should I switch to flowering? - I’m concerned it might get too close to the lights when the buds come and I have about 16”/40cm between the current top of the canopy and the maximum height I can raise the light above the plant.

It’s been four weeks between photos. I’m using a 5 gallon bucket, a 200W grow light from Vivosun with a built in fan and topping up the reservoir about 11litres/3 gallons every 10 days or so - she seems to be a thirsty girl!

Any advice is much appreciated to help maximize the potential yield without the risk of burning the plant as she grows.

Thanks in advance!

Pete

 

[medidedicated]

If you only have a foot of height then flip now since no one knows how big it will get. Each plant is different but flipping sooner is good for small spaces.

Looking nice nice job welcome to roll it up!

 

[futurebanjo]

Yeah they've not started 'the stretch' yet.... you can expect them to double in height, or more during flower unless you agressivley tie them and twist them.

try not to end up like this https://www.rollitup.org/t/crystal-white-kush-dwc.1100723/post-17589822

 

[Week4@inCharge]

Flip asap

 

[PistilPete27]

If you only have a foot of height then flip now since no one knows how big it will get. Each plant is different but flipping sooner is good for small spaces.

Looking nice nice job welcome to roll it up!

Thank you!
I’ve got another four inches beyond a foot - and am toying with the idea of routing a large hole in the base of the converted wardrobe/ ‘grow closet’, then dropping the bucket through that, which’ll gain another 10 inches of vertical grow space. Although this’ll be worst case Ontario if she gets too big

I’m just loving the learning process. I’ll flip her in a couple of days when I’m home. Thanks for the guidance and the warm welcome.

 

[PistilPete27]

Yeah they've not started 'the stretch' yet.... you can expect them to double in height, or more during flower unless you agressivley tie them and twist them.

try not to end up like this https://www.rollitup.org/t/crystal-white-kush-dwc.1100723/post-17589822

Jeez! Yup! That’s my fear. Flipping in a few days. Thank you!

 

[medidedicated]

The more height the better, just got rid of my 2x2 and 2x4 that are 5 foot tall for tents that are 6.5 feet tall. My shortes flower tent is a 3x3 thats 6 feet tall. I wish it was 6.5 but its good enough.

Can never have enough height indoors. Thats already almost as tall as the ceiling lol. For ease of growth and yield.

But ya flipping smaller is a good measure if height is limited.

 

[PistilPete27]

Flip asap

The more height the better, just got rid of my 2x2 and 2x4 that are 5 foot tall for tents that are 6.5 feet tall. My shortes flower tent is a 3x3 thats 6 feet tall. I wish it was 6.5 but its good enough.

Can never have enough height indoors. Thats already almost as tall as the ceiling lol. For ease of growth and yield.

But ya flipping smaller is a good measure if height is limited.

So I’m learning! I’m only getting away with this project because my other half will ‘reap the benefits’ - but in my world the whole spare room and its 9 foot ceilings would be ‘The Tent’.
Thanks again!

 

[PistilPete27]

Hey people,

So I followed the advice and it was spot on. Thank You! The stretch put the buds within a few inches of the light and she’s been healthy and happy until recently. So glad I flipped when I did - phew!

Unfortunately, I believe I’ve given her nutrient burn. I only recently learned how to use pH meters and a ppm meter, which I recognise is a pretty rudimentary part of hydroponics. I had it at 6pH and 900ppm but checked on it 5 days later because so many leaves were curling and going yellow and it had jumped to 7.3pH and was at 1300ppm. Am I right in thinking that the evaporation/consumption of the reservoir (which had dropped by half) was concentrating the nutrients as only the water was being consumed?

I added more pH balanced nutrient water, but as I was pouring it in was thinking this is going to help a little initially but make it worse when even more nutrients start to get concentrated and raise the ppm even further.

This morning I just switched the whole reservoir and have it at 5.6pH and 900ppm - here’s my main question: am I right in thinking that I should just routinely top up with pH balanced deionized water between full reservoir replacements that I do weekly?

Attached are some pics for context and I’m using general hydroponics flowering mix and have added Overdrive this week as she’s in week 5 of flower with about 20% orange pistils.
This is my first hydroponic grow and second ever grow, so there’s no failure, just feedback.

Thanks in advance for any help or guidance

Pete