1st time grow - 5 cfl's for veg - 1000w HPS for flower - Buddha seeds Red Dwarf

[movement]

This is my first time grow and I am going to be posting tons of pictures of my little buddies as they grow up. I am just here to share and learn. I appreciate all the advice I can get!

I am starting these 5 Buddha Seed Red Dwarfs out under 5 14w (60w equivalent?) CFL bulbs. The lights were about 6 in. away on the first 3 days and then I moved them to about 2 inches since the sprout was growing super fast. I have a disc heater in there because it is about 60 degrees in my house so I just keep it on really low. I do not have a thermometer or a PH tester right now and I am sure I should be scolded for that, but I saw that many people are using distilled water (with no PH testing) with no problems and the temperature thing I figure I can feel out for now. I went way over budget getting the best light I could and all the other stuff so I am having to wing it from here with what I got. Hope you guys enjoy this thread and I appreciate anybody letting me know if I am screwing up!

 

[movement]

Update Day 16: I found out I was overwatering them in the beginning and I think that slowed their growth down just a bit. I moved them under the 1000w HPS at about 1 week old. I have been noticing "the claw" here and there but I have not added any nutes yet since the guy at the hydro store sold me soil and said to wait 3 weeks until adding any nutes. I am using Roots Organic Original soil mix. It already has a lot of stuff in it like bat guano, kelp meal, worm castings, fish bone meal, soybean meal, greensand, alfalfa meal, coco fiber, bla bla bla... Is this small for the Red Dwarf strain at day 16? And is it possible that I have too much nitrogen already without adding any nutes which is causing the claw?

I also learned that I need much more airflow. I have one 85cfm intake and one 85cfm exhaust and one 10 in. fan blowing inside. My light is outside the box and has it's own separate fan. Any thoughts?

Oh yea, I just noticed there is no size reference here really so I should add that these are 5 gallon pots and the box is 4 ft tall 2 ft wide and 4 ft deep. I will take some better pictures soon, just had to turn off the big light and use the flash on my camera since the HPS makes the color look funny.

I spend half my time doing google searches to learn as much as possible, but this is my first grow so I have no experience to go on!

 

[scottarm2013]

they look healthy enough, but pots may be a little big for there size shouldnt worrytoo much tho, growth should take off now they are establishing

 

[movement]

Yea, next time I am definitely using smaller pots. The guy at the hydro store recommended 5gal ones since that is what they use, but they also have much more space to work with than I do. Today is day 17 and for autoflowers that is about when they are supposed to start fast growth. We will see!!

 

[scottarm2013]

you do want 5 gallon pots but transplant using smaller pots let roots fill then end up in 5 gallon pots grows stronger more compact roots resulting in bigger stronger plants, having never grew autos not sure if works the same as grow time is alot shorter

 

[ThePerfectGrow]

Update Day 16: I found out I was overwatering them in the beginning and I think that slowed their growth down just a bit. I moved them under the 1000w HPS at about 1 week old. I have been noticing "the claw" here and there but I have not added any nutes yet since the guy at the hydro store sold me soil and said to wait 3 weeks until adding any nutes. I am using Roots Organic Original soil mix. It already has a lot of stuff in it like bat guano, kelp meal, worm castings, fish bone meal, soybean meal, greensand, alfalfa meal, coco fiber, bla bla bla... Is this small for the Red Dwarf strain at day 16? And is it possible that I have too much nitrogen already without adding any nutes which is causing the claw?

I also learned that I need much more airflow. I have one 85cfm intake and one 85cfm exhaust and one 10 in. fan blowing inside. My light is outside the box and has it's own separate fan. Any thoughts?

Oh yea, I just noticed there is no size reference here really so I should add that these are 5 gallon pots and the box is 4 ft tall 2 ft wide and 4 ft deep. I will take some better pictures soon, just had to turn off the big light and use the flash on my camera since the HPS makes the color look funny.

I spend half my time doing google searches to learn as much as possible, but this is my first grow so I have no experience to go on!
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So far so good. My best advice is always remember less is more from watering to nutrients feeding.

Your store guy is right! Most commercial organic soil like roots organic n fox farm are hot out of the bag. Some strains struggle with the excessive nitrogen "clawing" but eventually work through the problem on there own. A lot of us cut the hot soil with promix or something similar for future grows. PS that blah blah blah gets me .6-.75 grams per watt of smooth tasting dank!

Air exchange formula: Rm Vol = L x W x H = approx cfms needed for 1 minute of air exchange
example: 4x4x4 = 64 cfms needed

 

[movement]

Scottarm, I was unsure about the transferring method since everybody seems to say different things about it. It makes sense that the root system would be more dense by doing so, but I worry that my soil is so loose that it will just fall apart and I will stress the crap outta my plants. I just decided to play it safe this time and maybe as I get more experience I will try it out. My next grow will be White Widow and Delicious Cotton Candy and I hear it is much more delicate, so I have to be on point by then!

 

[movement]

Thanks ThePerfectGrow! That formula is just what I needed!

It is also reassuring to hear that it is OK to wait 3 weeks before adding nutes because of the soil. I keep a close watch for yellowing, which there is a bit toward the center of each plant, or maybe it is just bright green and I am paranoid haha!

I noticed a couple of those tiny black flying bugs and I am planning to use Captain Jack's Deadbug spray since it is still organic. I heard of people using traps and neem oil and sand but there was always a down side to using those methods. I have yet to hear any negative effect from Captain Jack and people who use it swear by it so I guess I will see.

 

[ThePerfectGrow]

Thanks ThePerfectGrow! That formula is just what I needed!

It is also reassuring to hear that it is OK to wait 3 weeks before adding nutes because of the soil. I keep a close watch for yellowing, which there is a bit toward the center of each plant, or maybe it is just bright green and I am paranoid haha!

I noticed a couple of those tiny black flying bugs and I am planning to use Captain Jack's Deadbug spray since it is still organic. I heard of people using traps and neem oil and sand but there was always a down side to using those methods. I have yet to hear any negative effect from Captain Jack and people who use it swear by it so I guess I will see.

I use neem oil on my girls every seven days as a preventative n stop 10 days before harvest. Never had a problem or complaint about taste.

Simple diy gnat trap I use that has worked well. 2 litre cut, flipped n taped. Add cup of apple cider vinegar too attract buggers n drop of dish soap to drown em.

 

[scottarm2013]

an inch of aquarium sand and a fly trap worked great for me

 

[movement]

I use that DIY gnat trap for my kitchen to get rid of fruit flies... maybe I will try that, but I figured it would only minimize them but not solve it. I can see the neem oil being a good preventative measure in addition.

 

[movement]

an inch of aquarium sand and a fly trap worked great for me

Does the sand end up mixing into the soil or does it stay on top? I was worried about that causing problems with the soil since I think it is supposed to stay pretty light and airy. Did you just have to do it once or do you have to keep adding it throughout the grow?

 

[scottarm2013]

just add it to the top about an inch once, flys lay there eggs there and when larve hatches they get cut by the sand. so sand kills the babys fly traps get the adults,

should all be gone by a week maybe less

 

[movement]

I just have a hard time bringing myself to put sand on top of the soil especially this early on. I am sure it works, but I think this stuff (Captain Jack's Deadbug Spray) might be better. It is organic and so far everybody says it works great unless you are trying to kill large beetles. I am ordering it now and I will let you know how it works!

http://www.amazon.com/BONIDE-PRODUCTS-250-Ready--Captain/dp/B001VJ4FYQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381960429&sr=8-2&keywords=captain+jack's+deadbug

 

[scottarm2013]

ok never tryed sprays heard they can burn plants so i stay away, good luck

 

[420rhino]

White Rhino is an excellent cross of White Widow and a powerful Indica strain. It is very high in THC, White Rhino has a sweet, slightly hashy taste, ideal for bonging. Due to the Indica cross, White Rhino is denser and shorter than White Widow, with very white crystals. Its Only One.!! I have its an Outside grow & its my I am New grower did use 2 Nute's & do water it every other day I started in August 2013 & Now in October 2013 its the Flowering Stage it getting Smelly & Skunky & very Strong.!!! smell... should be ready by Middle of November