1st Grow - Waterfarm - CFL- DIY Stealth Box - Spoetnik #1
- Thread starter SunnyJim
- Start date
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
-- Day 51 --
Hi team,
Here are some pics so you all can see the growth over the last week. I took some advice and have let my ladies veg for a little longer than I had planned. I really think this will be their last week of veg before I change the CFLs over to Red spectrum and flip the switch to 12 -12. They've been on full strength vegging nutes for about a week now. Again, a little burn, but nothing worrisome.
One plant is clearly dominating the other in terms of size. Still, the smaller of the two only looks a week behind. If I had a second grow box, I would leave her to veg for an extra week to catch up, but I don't, so I can't. They'll both be flowering together, so one might throw more bud than the other. We'll see.
Comments always welcome, folks.
Jim out.
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CabinetBuds
Active Member
Nice work!! I'm Subbed!
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
-- Day 1 of Flowering (Day 58 from Seed) --
I finally changed the bulbs over from blue to red spectrum this morning. I amended my timers so the light cycle will now be 12 - 12 (from tonight).
My ladies are now on bloom nutes (3/4 strength). I dumped the tank this morning. They also received another little round of LST to keep them short(ish) and bushy, and also to promote lower node growth.
They're both still only about 9in tall, but each easily measure 20in wide from their furthest points. It's hard to stop vegging them - I could watch them grow another 2 weeks like this, but I really don't think I have the space. I've read that they can more than double in size during flower, so I hope I haven't left it too late.. I simply didn't want (and still don't want) little plants that didn't have many bud sites (or just had tiny buds).
I've also researched this strain (as much as I could.. very little information around about Spoetniks..) and found that 1st time growers like myself can panic about the lack of bud development with this strain. Apparently they explode at around day 40. So I'm not expecting much for the first month of flower, but at a minimum I hope I'll be able to determine their sex within a week to ten days.
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, here are the last pics you'll see of my ladies in veg.
Jim out.
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SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
Thanks dude. It's coming along nicely. The LST might start to get a little crazy with cable ties running everywhere, so I may still scrog this grow. I haven't decided yet, but I think the next 2 weeks will tell.
The only thing I'm concerned with is light leaks in my box. I have two holes in my box for the fans, so I guess I have to get some sort of pipe or ducting to cover them... pain in the ass. I didn't concern myself at all with light leaks during veg. I hope that wasn't a mistake, but I'm sure I read somewhere that it doesn't really affect the plant until flower.
How important is it for absolutely no light to penetrate the box during lights off? Or can a minimal amount get in from ambient light in the room seeping through the fan holes?
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
-- Day 17 of Flowering --
So as expected, flowering was slow to start. Thankfully, both ladies are now starting to produce buds. I have also confirmed both are females. I am so stoked! Little white pistils everywhere, and I've given both ladies a thorough check for pollen sacks - I can't see any, so it looks like we're in good shape.
I can relax a little now, and just patiently wait for the buds to grow. This strain is slow to flower, so I'm still not expecting huge growth for another couple weeks. The last two weeks are the most productive, apparently. Nute solution changed a few days ago.
At a guess, a month to six weeks left of flowering before harvest.
My apologies for the pics - I'm using the camera on my blackberry, so I can't get great close-ups of the buds or pistils. I'm getting a camera this weekend, so next week I'll post some decent shots. In the meantime, here are a few:
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SimplySmoked
Well-Known Member
First I'd like to say, Nice grow. Now for questions.. How tall is your plant? and how much room is left to flower? Just asking because it looks a little cramp, but I also understand the importance of having the lights close to the plant. Also just a thought on the importance of light leaks.. The moon reflects light on the earth at night so total darkness isn't completely necessary.
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
Hi, thanks for the comments. I caught the first comment that you left, but didn't have time to respond.
My plants (there are two in the box) are 18 inches tall at the highest point. I still have about a foot of grow height left in the box, and I'm still LSTing as they grow. I have always been really concerned with the height issues I may face, but so far I haven't run into many complications. I simply tie the longer branches down when they punch through the canopy. Also, the main stem of both plants is probably close to 2 ft, but both have been LST'd to well below 12 in.
To answer your original question - I'm not sure what I'll do if they outgrow the box.. Maybe harvest them early, I'm not sure. I hope it doesn't come to that.
I also take your point about light leaks. I did the best I could to seal it, but it's possible that a minimal amount creeps in every so often. I absolutely agree that as outdoor plants are subjected to moonlight which doesn't do them much harm, the same principle should apply to indoor grows. As this is my first grow, I could be completely wrong about this - I'll soon find out.
So far so good, though. Loads of pistils shooting out of the buds. No pollen sacks. Knock on wood, things continue this way.
EDIT:
It might not look like I have a spare foot of height from the pics I posted, but that is simply because the lights are hung about 10 in from the box ceiling . I can raise them as the plants grow. Fingers crossed a foot will be sufficient.
My plants (there are two in the box) are 18 inches tall at the highest point. I still have about a foot of grow height left in the box, and I'm still LSTing as they grow. I have always been really concerned with the height issues I may face, but so far I haven't run into many complications. I simply tie the longer branches down when they punch through the canopy. Also, the main stem of both plants is probably close to 2 ft, but both have been LST'd to well below 12 in.
To answer your original question - I'm not sure what I'll do if they outgrow the box.. Maybe harvest them early, I'm not sure. I hope it doesn't come to that.
I also take your point about light leaks. I did the best I could to seal it, but it's possible that a minimal amount creeps in every so often. I absolutely agree that as outdoor plants are subjected to moonlight which doesn't do them much harm, the same principle should apply to indoor grows. As this is my first grow, I could be completely wrong about this - I'll soon find out.
So far so good, though. Loads of pistils shooting out of the buds. No pollen sacks. Knock on wood, things continue this way.
EDIT:
It might not look like I have a spare foot of height from the pics I posted, but that is simply because the lights are hung about 10 in from the box ceiling . I can raise them as the plants grow. Fingers crossed a foot will be sufficient.
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
-- Day 22 of Flowering --
A few more pics to look at.
I was meant to go get a camera this weekend, but one thing led to another. You know how it is. I'll try to get one this weekend.
You should be able to see the little pistils shooting out, though. I'll be dumping and refilling the tank in a few days. It seems to take my ladies about 10 days to drink the tank dry, although I'm not expecting huge buds for another two to three weeks.
Also, they're starting to smell awesome.
More LST this morning. Space is slowly running out, but I think I should be able to manage it through to the end without an early harvest. I intend to squeeze every available inch out of this box, but I'll be doing things slightly differently for my second grow.
Peace
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CabinetBuds
Active Member
Nice!! Looking good man! I think you are only about a week behind us!
rombomb420
Well-Known Member
They look great jim it's been a couple weeks let's see what they've done for you!
CabinetBuds
Active Member
I wanna compare to mine!! LOL
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
Dude, I just checked out your grow. I'm astounded. Seriously good grow, man. You should be delighted with that. My buds are about half the size of yours. All of a sudden I have 'locker room syndrome' lol. So you swear by advanced nutrients? Have you compared results with and without AN?
CabinetBuds
Active Member
Well the first half of this grow we used up the FF Nutes we had left over. But as soon as we started using AN line including Bud Ignitor etc... We noticed a HUGE change!! I cant wait till the next round now!! Not only will we start with their whole product line, but we are going to scrog that Cabinet and hopefully double our yield from the first grow! Just remember...this was our first attempt!! It is only bound to get better!!
Looks good keep it up man!
SunnyJim
Well-Known Member
-- Day 38 of Flowering --
Here are some pics as promised. Sorry I took so many, I just couldn't seem to get decent shots. I tried to hold a few nugs to give you all an indication of the size. My hands smell so good right now. Citrusy awesomeness. And they're so sticky!
Over the last week to ten days, the buds have probably doubled in size, and are really dense. I was afraid of getting popcorn, but they look and feel good (gave them a little squeeze test, and they feel tight).
I figure I have about 3 weeks left to flower, but I guess I'll let the ladies tell me when they're ready for the chop. All the pistils are still white - no amber yet.
I'm also going to stay away from advanced nutes for this (my first grow), but most likely get some for my next grow so that I can make a direct comparison with and without AN. I'm really looking forward to my next grow.
Almost time for another tank dump and refill. Not much to dump, as my ladies drink about ten liters every couple weeks. I thought the last time I dumped the tank would be their last with nutes, but I think they could still benefit from another full dose. I'll start flushing in a couple weeks, probably. I'll keep my eye on them and see how it goes before I make a decision.
Enjoy.
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CabinetBuds
Active Member
Looks really good man!!
Those girls should start to really frost up ... heres a couple of pics from ours at 42 days of flower.
Keep up the great work! I think we have at least 3 more weeks before harvest, and because we have 2 different strains, I think it might be a staggered harvest!!
Later
Those girls should start to really frost up ... heres a couple of pics from ours at 42 days of flower.
Keep up the great work! I think we have at least 3 more weeks before harvest, and because we have 2 different strains, I think it might be a staggered harvest!!
Later
