Flowering Tips for a First Timer

[Jus Naturale]

Hey all,

I plan to turn to 12/12 in a couple days (just waiting on a blackout curtain in the mail), and I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for doing it right and not screwing it up. I'm running a four-bulb, two-foot, HO T5 panel, currently on a 18/6 cycle, and have one plant that's about 7-8 inches tall, a seedling that's just now working on its second set of leaves, and a seedling that just broke ground today. Pics are attached. The plant seems more than ready to turn to flowering, and, once I've turned to 12/12, I don't plan to turn back (just run a perpetual 12/12 from seed thing, for personal use only, going forward).

Btw, I plan to get some more-P-heavy nutes, and probably a bloom (red) bulb or two. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome (particularly about 12/12 from seed(ling) and things to watch for to make sure I'm not killing my babies!) as this is still my first attempt at growing anything, ever.

 

[hotrodharley]

The plant will flower when forced. It's mature enough to do so. It beats screwing with autos doing 12/12 from seed. However, without HPS or some source of red light and a lot of it, you will not have much of a plant. I highly suggest you buy a 400 watt HPS and no less. Check out this thread if you are handy or know somebody who is.

https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/164853-how-use-industrial-low-bay.html

However they are much more popular in MH than HPS so be sure it is an HPS as they cannot interchange bulb types. Otherwise go on Amaon or eBay and look into 400-watt HPS or the newer digital ballasts that can run either (I know old EM can as mine does) that comes with both MH and HPS bulbs and a reflector.

 

[slightlytoasted]

The two biggest issues that will take a good crop and destroy it for new growers are seeded crop and rotten crop. Once you flip, make sure that the 12 of dark is completely dark, the whole time! failing to do this will result in what some ppl call "light leaks". these leaks can trigger a hermaphroditic response in some strains, esp. sativa dominant ones. avoiding stressing the plants will reduce the risk of hermaphrodites pollenating the rest of your garden and seeding out your buds. the second risk to new growers is what i call rotten crop. that is disease, infestation, powder mildew, botrytis. by taking preventative measures like using organic pesticide root drenches, maintaining adequate air flow through the canopy, and keeping a clean grow space will see you through to a successful harvest. good luck and happy growing!

 

[Jus Naturale]

Thanks Hotrod, I've heard nothing but about HPS, and am already saving to make the switch (or grow to use my T5s for veg and the HPS for flowering), but can't quite afford it (what with needing ballast, reflector, ventilation, etc. In the mean time, how much do you think supplementing with a couple CFLs or something would work? Also, any idea of what sort of yield I could expect from the T5s on a 12/12 from seed cycle? I've heard that HPS will get a zip or two on average, but nothing about T5s.

 

[hotrodharley]

A T5 fixture is my first purchase to be made for vegging. I use CFL in early veg, keep them close, and they bush like yours. Then the MH - and then the HPS. But yours is pretty and will stretch nicely under HPS if placed under one.

 

[Mcwhippin420]

Wish I could help on yield I'm doing 2 blue dream 12/12 from seed , but they first week and half the were under way way to little cfl light so what I finish with I think won't be what I could have done... Personally I think next time ill spend more time vegging and using scrog I think but good luck

 

[Mcwhippin420]

Thanks Hotrod, I've heard nothing but about HPS, and am already saving to make the switch (or grow to use my T5s for veg and the HPS for flowering), but can't quite afford it (what with needing ballast, reflector, ventilation, etc. In the mean time, how much do you think supplementing with a couple CFLs or something would work? Also, any idea of what sort of yield I could expect from the T5s on a 12/12 from seed cycle? I've heard that HPS will get a zip or two on average, but nothing about T5s.

Bro look up del6666 I believe his name will show up u type del6... He has AMAZING 12/12 from seed results in coco medium also tho but that is what made me attempt it lol

 

[joe blow greenthumb]

Make sure you know the strain. I got one that was supposed to flower in 8-9 weeks and I've just started the 12th. Don't interrupt the dark phase, don't worry if she doesn't look as good as others' girls, be patient and don't overwater. Let her use the water/nutes before feeding again.

 

[dreamseaofgreen]

between your 18/6 cycle and 12/12 cycle you should have a 24 hour dark period. ive had good results doing this and I feel like it made my plant sex faster.

 

[wtffuxor]

I personally like to veg for at least a month before switching to 12/12

 

[slightlytoasted]

between your 18/6 cycle and 12/12 cycle you should have a 24 hour dark period. ive had good results doing this and I feel like it made my plant sex faster.

Interesting..you havent seen any negative effects on the plant like hermie while doing this? i like this idea. i may try it with a few plants to see if it really does speed up flower.

 

[Jus Naturale]

I use CFL in early veg, keep them close, and they bush like yours. Then the MH - and then the HPS. But yours is pretty and will stretch nicely under HPS if placed under one.

Wow! Lucky plants! Any recommendations on a brand for HPS? From what I've seen, there are about 8000 different brands.

 

[Jus Naturale]

Thanks ST, light leaks are the biggest thing on my mind, so I hope I'm erring on the side of caution. Things are pretty dry (16-21% on average) with good air flow in and around the room, and fairly clean (so the wife can't complain!). Thanks for the lucky tidings, too!

 

[Jus Naturale]

Make sure you know the strain. I got one that was supposed to flower in 8-9 weeks and I've just started the 12th.

Good point, thanks! Any suggestions on info on strains (other than seed banks promoting their own stock)? I found one website that had growing profiles of several strains listed, but seemingly only those that the site's members had grown/created themselves. I'm growing from seeds I pulled from nugs from dispensaries, so the genetics aren't necessarily clear.

 

[Jus Naturale]

Interesting..you havent seen any negative effects on the plant like hermie while doing this? i like this idea. i may try it with a few plants to see if it really does speed up flower.

Interesting indeed. I had planned to taper down over a couple days, but may have to rethink that. Any idea where I can do more reading on the 24 dark period before flowering? I'd love to learn more.

 

[slightlytoasted]

Thanks ST, light leaks are the biggest thing on my mind, so I hope I'm erring on the side of caution. Things are pretty dry (16-21% on average) with good air flow in and around the room, and fairly clean (so the wife can't complain!). Thanks for the lucky tidings, too!

Thats about as low RH as you wanna go. too dry brings spider mites. i learned the hard way. 45-65% during veg, and 25-45% during flower is what i found works best. haha and ya my wife trips out too when my grow supplies swallow up the house. lol!

 

[DarkStar73]

hey Jus,

I am just about to chop my first grow - which was grown under T5's right from seed through flowering. I alos used a coco medium. I have a 2x2 grow tent, 8 bulb 2 ft HO T5 fixture with mixed spectrum (4 red and 4 blue) throughout the grow. I nthe pots are 4 Liberty Haze now at 10.5 weeks flowering. My suggestion is try your first grow using the T5's first. I am quite pleased with what my yields look to be with the T5's. Based on what I'm seeing, the first of my plants should yield two ounces, the second should yield an ounce and a half, the third should yield an ounce and the runt of the litter will yield about 3/4 of an ounce. T5 light doesn't penetrate the canopy well so in order to maximize yield, you really have to supercrop well and make sure you have lots of tops. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results you can get from T5's and there are others on here that have also had excellent results with T5's. If you go to the "flourescent growing" section of RIU you'll find lots of others using T5's. For the avoidance of doubt, I am not knocking HPS for flowering, there is no question it is a better light and you will have better results. However, the results I am getting with my T5's have given me no reason to change or spend the additional dough on a new light, plus the added electricity costs. I also have some heat issues in my grow space - and an HPS light will only make the problem worse, even with a cool tube.

The only other advice I can give you is that if you choose to flower with T5's, use multi-spectrum (equal number of reds and blues). A lot of people on this board said to me that I should use only reds or more reds than blues and, with respect, I have come to disagree with that. After doing my own research, plants need both blue and red spectrum light during both veg and flowering. The blue spectrum in flowering really goes to assist with the crystal production. If you use all red bulbs, your yield may be greater but the buds may be less potent. A balanced full spectrum will most likely achieve a balanced result. Good luck!

 

[VTMi'kmaq]

hey Jus,

I am just about to chop my first grow - which was grown under T5's right from seed through flowering. I alos used a coco medium. I have a 2x2 grow tent, 8 bulb 2 ft HO T5 fixture with mixed spectrum (4 red and 4 blue) throughout the grow. I nthe pots are 4 Liberty Haze now at 10.5 weeks flowering. My suggestion is try your first grow using the T5's first. I am quite pleased with what my yields look to be with the T5's. Based on what I'm seeing, the first of my plants should yield two ounces, the second should yield an ounce and a half, the third should yield an ounce and the runt of the litter will yield about 3/4 of an ounce. T5 light doesn't penetrate the canopy well so in order to maximize yield, you really have to supercrop well and make sure you have lots of tops. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results you can get from T5's and there are others on here that have also had excellent results with T5's. If you go to the "flourescent growing" section of RIU you'll find lots of others using T5's. For the avoidance of doubt, I am not knocking HPS for flowering, there is no question it is a better light and you will have better results. However, the results I am getting with my T5's have given me no reason to change or spend the additional dough on a new light, plus the added electricity costs. I also have some heat issues in my grow space - and an HPS light will only make the problem worse, even with a cool tube.

The only other advice I can give you is that if you choose to flower with T5's, use multi-spectrum (equal number of reds and blues). A lot of people on this board said to me that I should use only reds or more reds than blues and, with respect, I have come to disagree with that. After doing my own research, plants need both blue and red spectrum light during both veg and flowering. The blue spectrum in flowering really goes to assist with the crystal production. If you use all red bulbs, your yield may be greater but the buds may be less potent. A balanced full spectrum will most likely achieve a balanced result. Good luck!

t-5's when used with proper spectrums ...such as 6000k for veg and 300 k for flowering or both during flowering (even more ideal imo) can ngrow everybit as good herb's as hid's can, t-5's dont penetrate the canopy at all and tend to not bush the flowers out the way hid do(hps specificly). ^^^such a good post above me!

 

[Relax62]

Quick question, I have a 400w and ffof ans ff trio, what kind of yield could be expected with this if do a perpetual 12/12.