Ak-47

Hey everyone,

This is my first grow. The plants pictured here are no older than three weeks (three weeks ago the first plant germinated). I began in a jiffy green house and transfered all into either 8 inch pots or plastic cups filled with Organic soil that is 25% worm castings. Each pot is also 1/8th miracle grow potting mix. Right now I have four forty watt (4ft) flourescents (2 soft red (3000k) one soft white (4700 K) and one daylight (6500 K) as well as two cfl's rated at 6000 K. I plan to upgrade more lights and larger pots as well as buy hps for flowering. There are 5 larger plants, and 3 smaller ones that are catching up quickly. The story behind these plants is funny, as I casually mentioned growing plants to my neighbor (tomatoes and basil), he showed me his girls in flower, and gave me three year old seeds! 8 out of 10 sprouted.

Advice is welcome concerning topping and nutrient feedings. I've been reading as much as possible and have been researching here for over a month. I will begin updating pictures as much is as needed. Thanks alot.

So my plants are now about 4 and half weeks old. Since the last post I've transferred the five biggest into gallon pots filled with a combo of organic miracle grow garden, organic potting soil, and worm castings. The roots were very well developed grew out of the previous 8inch pots. I gave them a small dose of plant food and they responded well. They're drinking lots of water now, needing floods every three days. I've also had to upgrade to many more lights, mostly 30w cfl's at 6000-6500 k. I'm assuming the yellowing of the bottom leaves is because they're not receiving enough light. Also, one plant has separated naturally to grow new leafs out of four nodes. I tried to show this but it did not turn out well. I have three other smaller plants in 8inch pots. I'll post more pictures in a week or until I have problems.

when leaves aren't getting enough light they start to get really soft. they feel a lot like silk. that doesn't appear to be your problem. more nutes than needed maybe. from the pics you don't have too much to worry about. they look good.

Last time I know I Posted it at 4.5 weeks, but I was wrong and the plants are only 5 weeks now. They're doing well, except for my biggest which had split its thick stem into two equally as thick stems and had loads of new growth. I got drunk the other night, and when I woke up I saw that I had burned all the growth with a fallen cfl. I gave it a few days to see if it would perk up, but it didn't, so I hacked off all of the burned plant (most of it) and kept a few healthly leaves. Does anyone know if it will recover? It has a thick stem which is filling up with sap. The other pics show the bigger five, and my lighting set up. I have two 6500k daylight floros, and two more 3000k of the same 40w 4ft size (Daylights are above the plant, the 3000k are on they're side). I then have 5 cfls at 27w and 6500k on each of the bigger plants. Other pics are of the chopped girl next to a more healthy plant, and one to show the thick underbush of this strain. I also have 3 smaller plants which I've kind of purposely kept small because I live in a small college apartment. Does anyone know that if increase their light and length of vegetation that they'll grow to normal size? or have I stunted them?
Peace.

Can't wait to see some bud shots. This plant is one of my favourites.

Thanks skunkushybrid. I can't wait to flower either! I think I probably will in about three weeks, however input is appreciated. I also checked out your grows...I wish I had as many plants!

I do plan to keep my four smaller plants (since the burning of a bigger one) in vegetative for a few more weeks. I'm wondering about a 400w hps but a 250w hps with cfl's might be more sensible for the flowering of four plants max at a time. I've found some lights($150 usd 250w light with ballast, bulb and shield on ebay from hydroponic wholesalers who have high ratings. Despite this I'm still not sure because I can't see the physical product. Has anyone had any experience with this? Help is appreciated.

Get a 400w HPS. Get a 600w if you can. More light always equals more bud. Denser. With 400w your plants will have 100w each. That's fairly good. With 600 they get 150 each.

As you're growing in soil, I'D recommend just potting straight up into large pots of at least 2 gallons. Veg' for 6 weeks. take clones and then bang them into flower. Are these from seed or clones?

veg 6 weeks? man if i go 33 i got tree's i cant imagine 2 more weeks.

it depends, from seed you should veg' until the plant is mature enough to flower. In most strains this takes AT LEAST 6 weeks.

Clones, you can flower when you like.

I stated in the beginning of the post that I'm growing from seed, and three year old seed at that. Thanks for the advice skunkushybrid. They're in 1 gallons and your absolutely right they need the extra gallon so I'll transfer them a week before flower into 2 or 3 gallon pots.

An update...the plant that got burned is sprouting new leaves from where it was cut. Its amazing how hardy these plants are.

Being an undergrad with barely enough money to drink beer of my taste I think I'll op for the 400w hps for four plants...thanks for the breakdown. Hopefully I'll buy one within the week.

The plants growth is extremely rapid now. I understand they grow quite a bit in flower but I think I'm establishing a good base.
Thanks alot.

Another update...I spoke with my neighbor who's same strain of plants are ending their flowering. He veg'd his from February until the first day of May. They look absolutely terrific and did it all with floro's, however in a really effective growing enclosure that was walled with a mylar sheet with the "U-tube" floros surrounding the plants. From the one plant he's almost done curing, the estimated weight at completion is 2 oz's. We're all college students so economy is essenstial.

When I watered my plants on the Fourth about an hour later I came back and each plant was SWARMING with white larve. I did some research and their fungus gnats. I've killed all the adults however I must flood my plants tommorrow in order to spray down the soil and make contact. I'm using a rose and flower spray specifically for them and is safe on pretty much anything. Then I did like every good american and got wasted on redbull and stoli for the celebration of independence.

Anyway, growth has been explosive, particularly the undergrowth. I've supplied pictures of the three plants where this is most evident, however in bad quality as they're from my cell phone. I think I'm going to flower as I'm growing pretty impatient. However it might just be the biggest one for now. I'm also going to pick up an 100w hps and six 27w cfls at 2700k today, for the purpose of flowering. In reality this means the biggest plant is gonna begin 12/12 this weekend. While the three smallest not for atleast another month. The plant that I burned and hacked has made incredible regrowth, and will flower with the three that I've kept small by limiting their light absorbtion.

In the pictures you can get an idea of how bushy and compact these are. I'm still at around the end of the fifth week/beggining of sixth (since germination) and the three beaut's are 18inches.

Sorry for the poor quality, however I'll upload pictures of the Fungus gnat larve when I flood my plants tommorrow morning and use the digi camera.

Anyone else burning in the U.S. West? On a 5 mile hike yesterday I went through 4L in my camelback! I barely had enough water for climbing. The valley I was in was 110!
Peace!

Kill em all, damn bugs. Nice plants you got there. I saw you mentioned starting your flowering stage. They are going to get humongous, so def. think about doing that soon. I started my Blueberry at 5 weeks, and they have more than doubled in size since. check em out. anyway, keep it up man.

Thanks Johnny...I've been following your grow for a bit....badass.

I'm putting one in flower starting tommorrow (I threw her under the 2700k when i got home from the bars, (Hopefully a girl!). After my last update today I picked up two 43w 2700k and two 26w 2700 k. I have all of that on one plant in a separate area. In the picture that is attached all but one of the red lights are off. I almost fell taking the picture. Irishman and drinker first. Horticulturist second. I can't wait to sex them all (though I am told they were "feminized"...whatever that means). Peace!

Update:

First week of flowering is done, and today when I took the plants out of their dark space that I have my first confirmed female! The other one in flower is quite taller so I suspect a hermie/male. However, the female is by far bushier and has 21 future colas. I still have six other plants under vegetation, and I've topped some and am really happy with the results. I have one plant, that if female, will have 8 large colas. On to the pictures.

Picture One: Confirmed female. I have no close ups due to my poor photography skills. haha I can't focus it you'll have to believe me until it shows buds.

Picture Two: My six plants in vegetation that I've pretty much ran 24/0.

Picture Three: My girl again.

Picture Four: Future small colas on the girl.

Picture Five: Large fan leaves on the unconfirmed plant I'm flowering.

Peace and Enjoy!

Your plants look well, and it's nice to see you giving them a nice long veg'. You going to clone the female? It's still not too late if it's only been a week flower.

Thanks for that info skunkushhybrid! I'm definitely going to clone her tommorrow. Do you have advice for this? such as where on the plant to take it. They will be grown in soil. My neighbor cloned his by just putting the cuttings into water until it developed a root, but I'm unsure about this method. I checked out some of your grow journals, and I see that your pretty experienced in this department so I'd appreciate some good info from you. peace.

Ok so I did some research this afternoon and decided to clone today. I took seven clones of the female using peat pellets, root hormone and a jiffy green house. late.

what do you have for light on the 6 vegging,they seem fat.

Four forty watt four foot floros (two 6500k, two 3000k) and four 26w cfls. From the pictures a few posts up, you can see that the 3000k and cfls are on the side, with the 6500 on moveable chains above. This way its surrounded by light, not reflectors.