Alt0's Grow (1st timer)

[Alto]

Thanks 1skittles6
I hope so as well, but with all the experience and know-how here at riu how can I go wrong.
Went to the basement today and was moving some stuff around when a bottle of PH down fell off a shelf.
The top popped right off and spilled a bunch all over the floor.
It cleaned up well and did not get into anything but now all liquids are banished to the shelf near the floor. And BTW acid really makes your floor shine! I never thought it could look so clean lol

going down after dinner to take some photos.
They dont have their heads out yet but I can see down in the cubes and everyone has sprouted a tap root!

In other news: The order from Dr Greenthumb came today!
so I am 2 for 2 on seed orders now. Ordered 10 got 12.
Took a while but if the plants look like the picture when I am done it would have been worth the wait. They just have to be my next grow however being I had 100% germination. Hurray!

 

[Alto]

Well the images of the rockwool don't show very much, so instead I will share the package that came from Canada yesterday.
1- is the envelope
2- is the contents
3- is the end result (with some patience and love)
This morning showed more progress and I should have a picture in a day or so with their heads sticking out.
Here are the "specifics" about Grenadine. Gr I got these because along with the other strains I have collected I wanted a "piney" smelling strain
because, well I like that =)
_____________________________________________________________________
Grenadine
Product Code- GR
[(Niagara X Shiva) X G-13]

Potency 4
Potency Key: Strains like
AK-47 or White Widow would
have a rating of 4 out of 5

Indoor Growth
Cutting height
*18" to 24" Plant Height
*When flowered at a cutting height of 12"
(with 36 hour dark period at onset)

Yield (g/m²)SOG
350 to 400 g

Flowering
50 Days
Finish
_______________________________________________________________________
Current Room Conditions
DARK

Temperature 75 - 80 F

Humidity 65%

Water Conditions
PH 5.8

Temperature 68 F

Straight H2O with 10ml per gal. Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution.

PPM (waiting on a meter but this will be included once I start nutrients)

 

[Alto]

While I am at it...
These are the strains included in the Mega Mix package I got from Golden Seed.
Later on you all can help me decide what ones I chose to grow as they were not packaged separately. It will be a sort of "can you identify this" game we can play.
I numbered the cubes (in my head) being I don't want to name them until I know they are Females.
I would hate to have to kill named plants that I have gotten to know should some end up male.
The following in order are
1-Shiva Shanti, 2-Jack Herer, 3-Bigbud, 4-Mazar, 5-Northern Lights, 6-Sweettooth #3
This should be fun, I tried to pick seeds to start with that looked "different" from each other and everyone germinated so hopefully I will have quite the variety.

 

[toolage]

man i'm stoked to see this grow set off. This is a very nice stealthy grow and I'm sure your going to get some dank smoke when you are done. only one word can describe how I feel.....jealous!!!!

 

[Alto]

Well this will be day one of the actual "Grow Journal"
(second official day of the grow)
**call it nurse**
"April 12, 2000 and something - 6:31 Tibet"
________________________________________________________________________________
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 2'x4 tubes - 6500K) ON!
Distance from top of rockwool 9.5"
Temperature - 76F - 25C
Humidity - 69%
vent running
heater on (at 72F)
small room fan (on low, facing room for circulation)
Water Conditions:
Temperature - 66F - 18C
PH - 6.2
PPM - (still looking for a good meter, cheap, but straight H2O with 10ml per Gal Hydrogen Peroxide 3% solution)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Well, I am so happy!
5 of the six I started have completely sprouted (I have doubts about #6)
So, I took one of the new batch of seeds I got and chucked one into the
rockwool with the non-sprouted seed as a backup, and to increase variety.
I covered with a piece of opaque black plastic to keep the sun (my T5s)
out and we will see what happens.

Baby Pictures below in order:
1- #1
2- #2
3- #3
4- #4
5- #5
6- room temp
7- water temp
8- humidity
9- nursery tray.

*Notes:
I reordered the cubes in the tray to match the numerical listing in the photos to keep track.
PH was up a little and so I drained the tray and added water balanced at 5.5
(together with the water in the cubes it should slowly lower the PH the plants are seeing. We are dealing with a very small qty. of water)
Lowered the temperature the heater is running to 72F (we expect a few cooler days ahead so I left it on)
Took photos of sprout heads
Need to check more for a good meter soon!
Added a Grenadine seed to #6 as I think I had a miss-fire. (plan if both sprout is: decide what to do when its time to move to hydro pots )
possibly move additional sprout first to dirt indoors, then to outdoors for the season. We will see what happens.

Enjoy my baby pictures!

 

[toolage]

OHHH SNAP! and so it begins....i'm so anxious to see this grow op in full effect. glad to see they are poking their heads out! Now the fun can begin!!

 

[Alto]

Checked in on the lil family this afternoon.
________________________________________________________________________________
Day 2-4/12
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 - 2'x4 tubes) ON!
Distance from top of rockwool 14"
Temperature - 72F
Humidity - 75%
vent running
heater off
small room fan (off)
Water Conditions:
Temperature - 66F - 18C
PH - 5.7
PPM - (still looking for a good tri-meter, - H2O with FloraNova Grow 1.0 ml per gal.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: Humidity went up but thats OK.
Raised lights a little.
Went to Hydro shop and did not buy anything! (thats a first for me)
But found out that the nutes I am going to use (being they were free)
(FloraNova by General Hydroponics) is at least partly organic
and Hydrogen Peroxide will KILL the live parts.
So,... I flushed the reservoir for my Emily's Garden,
refilled with PH balanced (5.5) H2O that has a very small amount
(1.0 ML per Gal) of the Veg nutes in it.
Guy at the hydro store said its a good idea to start them on it as "slips"
and that it will help with root development so I did it.
Everyone looks very happy

Emptied the seedling tray and washed it out then using my syringe
flushed the rockwool cubes with plain PH balanced H2O
to aid in removing the rest of the Hydrogen Peroxide.

Placed the cubes into the Hydroton (1/2 way filled) grow pots
and covered the sides.
(another level will go over the cubes once my babies are big enough)

I am all planted, and now it is just a waiting game for the next few months.
Along with all the nute changes and such.

I am going to be following the FloraNova Feeding Schedule
(for circulating systems) exactly as they recommend.
That would include the 1.0 ML per Gal. FloraNova Grow for the first week and up from there.
I will start adding Floralicious Plus after the first week and switch to Nova Bloom on the sixth week
(that is if they are ready to go to flower at that time, at least 12")
with Kool Bloom starting during transition and increasing as I go.
I will be using another product for Foliar Feeding.
Van De Zwaan / House and Garden - Magic Green
I would use all of their products but I have the ones I have so I will use those.
I will also introduce CO2 during the Bloom Cycle using CO2Boost.

Sixth week will be transition to bloom phase if everything works as directed.
With the Fifth week being a Transition week from Grow to Bloom.
Fifth week Lights will go to 12/12 with a solid 24-36 hrs dark in between.

Attached is Nutrient Feeding Schedule adjusted for my set-up
and I increased blooming weeks from 4 to 6.
(considering everyone here will tell me to wait at least 2 weeks like they do with everyone =) )

If anyone wants to use this product this may be a good test as to its effectiveness. I may want to adjust as I go as far as PPM and time in each phase.

Hung Mylar (floor to ceiling) on the side of the room where the HPS is going to go.
It should be here in about a week or so.
I plan to move to that side of the room once its set up
It wil be a week into the grow and the light came with a conversion bulb for veg so more light better right?
I can still use the other box for mothers or new seedlings.

 

[Alto]

Date: 4/13-Day 3
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 - 2'x4 tubes) _ON
Distance from top of Rockwood 12"
Temperature - 70F
Humidity - 72%
vent running
heater off
small room fan off
Water Conditions:
Reservoir Aeration running _yes
Temperature - 65F
PH – 7.2
PPM - ________
Nutrient Solution _FloraNova GROW 1ML per Gal.
Foliar Solution
______________________________________________________
Notes:
PH was way up lowered to 5.5 by draining and adjusting then returning to reservoir.
#6 has joined the party and have 6 sprouting now.

#1 has almost lost the seed husk. (finally)
#2 has very small first leaves as compared to the others, yet the second (or first pointy) leaves seem larger than the rest?
#3 - #4 look almost identical now and are about the same size.
#5 is finally all the way out from the Rockwool. It is overall larger than its siblings.

Camera batteries died after taking #4 picture L will have to get more this evening.
Covered walls in the area where the new light will go with Mylar film.
Need a container to use to rinse out PH test tube in Grow Room.

Used 10ML syringe to suck water from reservoir and carefully spray onto Rockwool cubes to keep better saturated.



Hey hi
I ran out of battery juice (re-chargeable batteries in charger now/environment and all)
But here are the kids that I did get shots of...
1- #1
2- #2
3- #3
4- #4
Once batteries are charged I will get the rest as well as the new Mylar in the HPS area.

 

[Alto]

Date: 4/14
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 - 2'x4 tubes) _on
Distance from top of Rockwood 9"
Temperature - 72F
Humidity - 72%
vent running
heater off
small room fan (on_low, facing room)
Water Conditions:
Reservoir Aeration running _yes
Temperature - 65F
PH – 6.5
PPM - ________
Nutrient Solution 1.0ML Gal. FloraNova GROW
______________________________________________________
Notes: added 10 drops of “PH down” to reservoir to lower PH.
PH has been up since HP flush and have been adding “PH down” slowly to bring it back down.
Removed light cover on #6 (see photo #4)
Everyone stretched a little (about ½&#8221 so lowered lights a small amount.
Lights are now 9” above grow medium.

I have been making all changes in a very slow fashion.
Just a bit at a time, and waiting to see result.
Eventually I should have conditions with water and room just as I want them.
I obviously picked well as all plants are showing different characteristics other than 3-4 which still seem to be very alike
Images:
#1- #1 (it seems to be slower in development than the rest, and was the first to poke its head out)
#2- #3 looks just like #4
#3- #5
#4- #6 (you can now see the root developing and it is starting to reach toward the lights, I expect it to be above the surface very shortly)
#5- new bench I made for under the HPS, with Mylar on walls.
#6- air intake filter above bench

Made a new shelf under where the HPS will be. It is 2' high to get passive wick hydro off floor (easier to control water temp with air under res.)
Last image shows air intake filter that will attach to HPS. I placed this at ceiling height to better exhaust hot air from room.
I anticipate heat issues once the HPS is running, (hopefully not that bad) so I am prepared to purchase a larger duct fan like a Vortex to resolve it.
The reason I am only using a duct booster fan (although a big one) is the noise issue, I have purchased some R30 Fiberglass insulation to resolve that.
My intention is to insulate the back of the facade wall around the room to cut down on transmitted noise.
I mean what is the use of a "stealth room" if you can hear all the motors (air pump, fan(s) running from the main cellar?
I intend to have this completed by when the HPS arrives.
Thats about it, thanks for stopping in

 

[1skittles6]

how old are they?
3 or 4 days?

 

[Alto]

Well depends on your take of when life begins, Heh
(an age old argument between the chicken and the egg)

They sprouted April 10th, I noticed on the 11th.
So officially I guess they are 3 or 4 days old. lol
Lets call them 4 days old.
(Then my journal will stay accurate.)

Started germination Thursday April 9
seeds cracked in 24 hrs Friday April 10
sprouts heads (most) appeared Saturday April 11.

one I added cracked on Sunday April 12
(so that one is 2 days behind the rest)
hope to see a sprout on that one tonight.

and thanks for stopping by to clear that up,
I was actually trying to decipher it myself
now its official, They are chickens.

 

[1skittles6]

ok so you've had seedlings for about 3 days
looking good

 

[toolage]

Oh alto things are looking great on your end! Great record keeping, top notch journal! I can't wait to see the innocent lil seeds turn in to big green smoking machines!!

 

[Alto]

Date: Day 5 – 4/15 – 6am
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 - 2'x4 tubes 6500K) ON
Distance from top of grow medium 4”
Temperature - 78F
Humidity - 60%
Room vent running YES
heater ON (at 72F)
small room fan ON LOW, facing plants
Water Conditions:
Reservoir Aeration running YES
Temperature - 72F
PH – 5.8
PPM - ________
Nutrient Solution FloraNova GROW @ 1.0 ml per gal.
______________________________________________________
Notes:
Everyone was stretching a bit last night at check in.
So, I lowered lights as close as possible. Not touching plants. (image #7)
Lights are now at 4” from grow medium.
After 9 hrs., I checked this morning and no signs or heat stress or burning. Will check again at 6pm.
Got chilly last night so I restarted heater @72F
This is very good for raising room temp but lowers humidity a bit too much.
Once HPS is on I fear I will have the same problem.
I tried leaving open water container in room to help humidity rise.
There was some small whitish residue on some of the Hydroton. (image #8 )
Rinsed by using syringe and washing with reservoir water.
This should also help humidity near plants without saturating cubes.
Cubes seem to be staying moist in spite of fan blowing directly on them.
Stopping at Hydro store tonight for more Hydroton,
and General Hydroponics Floralicious Plus.
This is to be added to Nutrient solution starting Saturday
@ 2.0 ml per 2 gal water, as recommended on nutrient chart I am following.(see post #27 for chart)
This is a:

found here
concentrated blend of plant, marine, and mineral extracts one part nutrient
additive to be used throughout the plants growing cycle.”
Its purpose is to provide “natural building blocks of life and is used in addition to
your regular fertilizer program.”
By “enhancing mineral nutrient uptake and transport in your plants. The active carbon
technology facilitates the conversion and biosynthesis of complex secondary aromatic
compounds. Floralicious Plus enhances metabolic growth, promotes flower development,
encourages fruit swelling, and facilitates essential oil production. Floralicious Plus will
also encourage beneficial microbial activity in the root zone.”

Its probably Molasses, but molasses for hydro without the mess
_______________________________________________________________

Hiya everyone thats the report for this morning.
Kids seem to be loving the light being that close.
Leaves got a bit bigger since last night when i moved it closer.
As long as there is no heat issues "the closer the better" right?

On another note: I found what I wanted to plant in my garden this year (outdoors vegetables)
Every year I grow Tomatoes in my garden for use in BLTs and salads at home.
Every year the hybrids made for transport and supermarket sales get "harder" (they call it "more solid")
and more "tasteless" (they call it "less acidic")
Being raised near New Jersey as a child I grew to LOVE the taste of the old time Jersey Tomatoes.
But now being in Nepal it is very difficult to get that strain.
It is even hard to get it in New Jersey (or so I am told)
But the good, smart folks at Rutgers University Agriculture Studies have the answer for me.
The Return of the Olde' Time Jersey Tomatoes!
It is a little late for this year here in Kathmandu, but I sent for seeds for next season.
They also have seedlings available if your anywhere near Jersey.
Maybe if I go home to visit I can get some and smuggle them back to Indonesia with me?
_____________________________________________________________
Back to the grow at hand with todays images.
It was measuring day and everyone had their picture taken.
People don't take this many pictures of their kids!
1- #1
2- #2
3- #3
4- #4
5- #5
6- #6 (Grenadine)
7- New light position
8- Residue on Hydroton
______________________________________________________________
OK enough chat see you all later today with a report on the closer light situation.
Guesses about the residue are welcome, as all comments always are.

 

[1skittles6]

your first and fourth look like there reaching for light...
are they or did they just grow funny?

 

[Alto]

your first and fourth look like there reaching for light...
are they or did they just grow funny?

Yes that is what I thought too
I have lowered the light fixture to just above them (like 4") and they seem to love it.
There is not any burning of any sort yet and a thermometer placed on the grow tray surface indicates there should be no heat issues with doing this (reads about 80F)
Once the bigger light gets here This should not be an issue.
I really don't want them to get at all spindly so that light can't get here soon enough for me.
This weekend I should have everything installed and working.

the location of each seedling in the grow tray is 1-left rear 2-center rear 3-right rear 4-left front 5-center front 6-right front
so as you said the extreme left side both front and rear are the ones that seemed to be stretching.
I also moved the tray slightly to the right to better center the light on the tray (easier than moving the light)
I think they will be fine, they go under the 400W MH on Saturday.
Thanks for stopping in 1skittles6

 

[1skittles6]

if you put some rooting hormone on the stalk of your plants and fill the pot all the way none of your plants will stretch and they'll grow thicker

 

[1skittles6]

even if you get a metal halide on the seedlings they will still stretch if they already started to...
not trying to knock you or anything just a tip i learned from some very experienced growers

 

[Alto]

Date: Day 6 – 4/16 – 6am
Room Conditions:
LIGHTS (T5 - 2'x4 tubes 6500K) ON
Distance from top of grow medium 4”
Temperature - 77F
Humidity - 65%
Room vent running YES
heater ON (at 72F)
small room fan ON LOW, facing plants
Water Conditions:
Reservoir Aeration running YES
Temperature – 69F
PH – 5.5
PPM - ________
Nutrient Solution FloraNova GROW @ 1.0 ml per gal.
__________________________________________________ ____
Notes:
Everyone seems to like the lights at their new height.
There has been a noticeable enlargement on the first set of leaves,
and a stoppage (or slowing) of vertical growth.
Stopped stretching for the light now that the light in closer.

#3 and #4 seem to have shown the most growth (on first leaf set)
I like #2 the most so far It has a fat stem and is very “squat” in its profile.
Just sits there all strong looking and firm.

No adjustments were necessary today, yay!
I think I have settled the conditions down to where both I and the plants
Are comfortable.

#6 is going to be an issue.
Now it seems I jumped the gun and BOTH seeds have sprouted and
Are out of the Rockwool.
While this means I have had 100% germination of the seeds I bought so far
It also means I do not have a home for one of my kids.

Plan is:
While I do not want to wait any longer than I have to, I will wait until the weekend to divide them. The roots may intertwine more by then, but I want the tap root on each to develop some as to better take the strain of their separation.

I am going to start pre-soaking a new Rockwool cubes after work today in
PH balanced H2O.
Saturday morning I will split the cube (which is their current co-habitat), and also split the new cube in half vertically.
I will then (keeping one in each of the original cube) mate those halves up with the new ones making two whole cubes.
One I will place back into the grow pot/Hydroton they are currently living in.
The other will be covered to the top with Hydroton in a Plastic container,
where I will attempt to do a DWC until I can sex the plants.
Moving to the larger light at this time will help insure their survival without trying to crowd them under the 2’ T5 fixture.
I will empty and refill the DWC container (sort of like a time delay
Re-circulating Grow) with water / nutes from the main reservoir.
Added insurance for the possibility of males in the grow.
__________________________________________________

Hey there hi there



Whats a daddy to do? Seems I over reacted and added that additional seed because I thought I had a miss fire! Duh.. Now I have a double-yolker (as we used to say back on the farm) two sprouted seedlings in a single Rockwool starter cube.
Anyone see a problem with the plan as described above in the Notes section of my journal?
Any other ideas (other than killing one of the kids?)?
I feel I can sustain the DWC one with some love and patience until I am able to sex the plants and move the DWC one into the set-up should a male appear.
I may even be able to bring them all to harvest should I have all girls!
Wish me luck, we are entering the "wing it" zone on this.
Images 1-6 are kids #1 through #6
with 6-7 being the "split personality" cube.
8- look at circulation fan location/position
9-General Hydroponics Nutes I will be using

I will of course document all steps in the big breakup once I do it on the weekend.
Side note: The ONE plant that I was sure of the genetics (Grenadine) has a partner and believe me there is no telling which is which

 

[1skittles6]

yea dont change anything if its not necessary
they look great and filling your pots should help with strecthing
good luck