78w of CFL and my plants don't seem to be growing?

S

Sr. Verde

Guest
This is my first grow, they're in a small box 3.5ft high, 2.5 feet wide 2.5 feet deep with 3x 26w CFL's (1x 5500k, 2x 6500k) - lined with aluminum foil. (I've been checking each day for any issues related to the tin foil and I can now deem it safe to use for my setup)

But the thing is, it just doesn't seem to grow? Or at least it grows PAINFULLY slowly, its on its 4th set of fan leaves after two and a half weeks or so, maybe 3. The fanleaves are like 3/4 the size of a credit card.


Will my guys start to rapidly grow soon? Is this a part of the seedling stage?

I'm using FFOF, a 20/4 light cycle (was previously @ 24/0 but I read the idea of letting the plants rest and I thought that was logical) My main plant I'm looking at got transplanted into a very decent sized pot and hasn't gotten any roots to the bottom of the pot yet.

I haven't started on nutes yet, but may begin to foliar feed low doses soon once it gets a little bigger.

I'm contemplating adding more light, if I were to do that what should I do? Just hang up more wal-mart lights? Bring it to like 120w or something?


Any help appreciated, I understand this is my first grow and good results shouldnt be expected, but I feel like maybe I'm missing something here? I'd love nothing more than my babies to grow up nice and strong with meaty leaves and thick stems :)

[it's bagseed btw]

Thanks.

~Sr. Verde



Also: I've been looking for pics but cant seem to find any.

It would be great if someone/people could post some pics of plants @ 3 weeks from seed?
 
djlifeline

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
Mate in my opinion you need shit more light. I have a 125w CFL atm and that struggles so im also adding a 300w CFL monday. You need alot more light. More light=more lumens= more bud. How many plants you trying to grow?
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
djlifeline said:
Mate in my opinion you need shit more light. I have a 125w CFL atm and that struggles so im also adding a 300w CFL monday. You need alot more light. More light=more lumens= more bud. How many plants you trying to grow?
Click to expand...

hahahaha ohh shit your gunna laugh... I got 8 in there now, 4 are mine but my buddy needed his outta his house for a few days so I got them sitting under some light over here

Theyre all under 3 weeks though, I figured id have half the plants I started with (sorting male/female) so I'd only be caring for 2 plants

I'm kind of broke though, I mean I really cant spend more than another $50 for this, I've already dropped $110+ for all this random shit (pretty much starting from scratch)

The problem is I'm not sure if I'm ready to invest all that much more money into this because it's more of a just messing around with it. I mean I'd love to get some serious equipment and grow but space is an issue and so is privacy. I wanted to get a few plants going and harvest them and see where I was with everything and encounter the problems ill end up facing before I actually invest in it.

On another note how hot do those big CFL's get
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
how far away are you keeping the lights from the plant? my 2 week olds(sorry, no pics) that i lsted and fimmed already all have multiple main colas with at least 3 sets of fan leaves on each. im only using about 250w of cfls at the moment, but im adding a bulb or 2 a day(ive got tons of them, 24 42w's altogether i think) as they grow faster and bigger.
 
djlifeline

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
Sr. Verde said:
hahahaha ohh shit your gunna laugh... I got 8 in there now, 4 are mine but my buddy needed his outta his house for a few days so I got them sitting under some light over here

Theyre all under 3 weeks though, I figured id have half the plants I started with (sorting male/female) so I'd only be caring for 2 plants

I'm kind of broke though, I mean I really cant spend more than another $50 for this, I've already dropped $110+ for all this random shit (pretty much starting from scratch)

The problem is I'm not sure if I'm ready to invest all that much more money into this because it's more of a just messing around with it. I mean I'd love to get some serious equipment and grow but space is an issue and so is privacy. I wanted to get a few plants going and harvest them and see where I was with everything and encounter the problems ill end up facing before I actually invest in it.

On another note how hot do those big CFL's get
Click to expand...
Well m y 125w just about does my 2 ladies atm. You need to get more CFL's. Shop around. I can't suggest somewhere as I do not know whats around you im from UK. Try ebay.
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
the solution to both problems is pretty simple actually. go buy a bunch of y splitters and cords, then get as many lower watt bulbs(i wouldnt use 13w's though, 23w is the minimum i would use) and surround the plant with them. it will work good for just a plant or two and i highly doubt it will cost you more than $50, you could also make a diy cfl lightbar fixture or 2.
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
darkdestruction420 said:
how far away are you keeping the lights from the plant? my 2 week olds(sorry, no pics) that i lsted and fimmed already all have multiple main colas with at least 3 sets of fan leaves on each. im only using about 250w of cfls at the moment, but im adding a bulb or 2 a day(ive got tons of them, 24 42w's altogether i think) as they grow faster and bigger.
Click to expand...
I'm keeping the light pretty much as close as possible without burning the plants, the light did fall into my main plant but i ended up topping it anyway

djlifeline said:
Well m y 125w just about does my 2 ladies atm. You need to get more CFL's. Shop around. I can't suggest somewhere as I do not know whats around you im from UK. Try ebay.
Click to expand...
Damn, yeah I'm thinking the internet will probably have the best deals.


Ill go take some pics right now so yeah brb
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
self ballasted 65w cfls do exist actually, i think at lowes or home depot you can get them for like 18, more smaller lights is better than fewer big lights.(w/cfls that is)
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
darkdestruction420 said:
the solution to both problems is pretty simple actually. go buy a bunch of y splitters and cords, then get as many lower watt bulbs(i wouldnt use 13w's though, 23w is the minimum i would use) and surround the plant with them. it will work good for just a plant or two and i highly doubt it will cost you more than $50, you could also make a diy cfl lightbar fixture or 2.
Click to expand...

Yesssss thats good.

Where the fuck do you get those splitters though?
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
Okay, so

Question: With 2-3 plants, how many watts of CFL should I shoot for. I'm not looking for crazy huge plants with huge yields I'm trying to keep the tops of the plants from getting past like 3 feet or more (they will be trained down though
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
Damn. Okay.

Well then, I'm thinking 8x 26w cfls so about 208 total watts? I would do your 240w but I don't think I can fit um all :( Maybe Ill throw in a side bulb :P



Now, where to get those Y splitters - retail store preferably?
 
djlifeline

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
Them party cups plants look similiar too mine which are easy ryders (LR#2 X AK-47) but they could well be low ryders.
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
fleetfarm is where i got mine. lots of hardware stores carry them, what you want to do is just surround the plant w/bulbs on all sides and on the top. for now that should be fine(the 8 bulbs) but i'd add more for flowering. the 26w bulbs are the most effecient in lumen to watt ratio most of the time too, thats the watt i'd reccomend
 
S

Sr. Verde

Guest
darkdestruction420 said:
fleetfarm is where i got mine. lots of hardware stores carry them, what you want to do is just surround the plant w/bulbs on all sides and on the top. for now that should be fine(the 8 bulbs) but i'd add more for flowering. the 26w bulbs are the most effecient in lumen to watt ratio most of the time too, thats the watt i'd reccomend
Click to expand...
Cool thanks


But fuck man I don't know if Ill be able to finish this


I just checked the money I have now and the money I owe the bank.

:neutral::neutral::neutral::neutral::neutral:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top