CFL growing question for more experienced.

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

So I just got done with my third grow. I have noticed a couple of things that seem not to be right about my grows. I want the readers opinions. One of the things that I have noticed is that my stalks, even the main, stay thin. Dont know if that is due to the CFL's or not enough direct air flow from my fan. Another thing that I have noticed was that some of the strains take sooo long to finish. I will get about half of my hairs to change color and then there will be another spurt of growth with new white hairs, and foxtailing like crazy. This seems to happen more with kush strains for some reason.

This has really get me wondering. Any constructive suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.

webb107 · Jan 4, 2011

How close do you keep your cfls to the plants? and also how big is the occilating fan?

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

My fan is not an oscillating one. I have two 200 watt bulbs for top light, and a couple more 42's hanging in between for side lighting. This is just in a 2x4 closet. I keep my lights within 2-3 inches for the top lights and about an inch with the 42's.

pitbudz87 · Jan 4, 2011

lets see the room some pics please of plants nd such i cant give any advice without seeing anything what are you feeding your plants and what strains have you grown all these need to be awnsered then we will be able to better help you

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

Dont have any pix right now. Just harvested. It was just an observation that I had. Im in soil and feeding with foxfarm beastie bloom and cha-ching granules. I have done some GDP, Blue dream, OG Kush, Blueberry Kush, and some Purps.

pitbudz87 · Jan 4, 2011

is that the only type of nutes of ff u r running i use both of those as well but also their whole line grow big big bloom tiger bloom and their soulbles i have really good results lets see some harvest pics u dident take ny of those either?

IXOYE · Jan 4, 2011

Hey Obi - I have this thinner stalk problem too - not too bad but not near as nice as many trunks I see on RIU. I switched last week from CFL to HPS and did notice them bulk up a bit. I also use all the FF big bloom and tiger bloom but aside from the ocean forest soil didn't use any nutes while vegging (finance problem). What I thought was interesting is that your fan is not oscillating, and neither is mine. That might be the key? I run a box fan through my closet (same size space) while the lights are on - and it turns off with the timer. I figured a fan during the day and none at night would be plenty but the oscillation might make the difference for us. I won't know until my next grow in a couple months though!

pitbudz87 · Jan 4, 2011

i do not run a oscilitang fan in my grow i run all ff the soil ect nutes im in of atm nd i have good sized trunks in hydro they were bigger for me

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

IXOYE said:
Hey Obi - I have this thinner stalk problem too - not too bad but not near as nice as many trunks I see on RIU. I switched last week from CFL to HPS and did notice them bulk up a bit. I also use all the FF big bloom and tiger bloom but aside from the ocean forest soil didn't use any nutes while vegging (finance problem). What I thought was interesting is that your fan is not oscillating, and neither is mine. That might be the key? I run a box fan through my closet (same size space) while the lights are on - and it turns off with the timer. I figured a fan during the day and none at night would be plenty but the oscillation might make the difference for us. I won't know until my next grow in a couple months though!

Yeah I hear ya. My fan is just helping with circulation and not so much directed on the plants. The air isnt making the stems and leaves bounce back and forth. Thats my guess.

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

pitbudz87 said:
is that the only type of nutes of ff u r running i use both of those as well but also their whole line grow big big bloom tiger bloom and their soulbles i have really good results lets see some harvest pics u dident take ny of those either?

How is me showing some harvest pictures gonna tell you how my stems are thin and week? I dont get it... you just seem to want to see pix of my room and product.

angryblackman · Jan 4, 2011

ObiJwon said:
How is me showing some harvest pictures gonna tell you how my stems are thin and week? I dont get it... you just seem to want to see pix of my room and product.

If you show what you are growing in they may be able to get a little better idea of what you are talking about and where you can improve on the design to help. And pics of the product is just bud porn.

I don't have much more to add unfortunately....

Darwin Riddle · Jan 4, 2011

It's important to have air flowing across the plants, that much I have learned. If you can't managed that then I've heard that picking the plants up and shaking them a bit, every day, can be effective at helping strengthen the stems. Not enough to give them shaken baby syndrome or anything tho!! LOL :mrgreen:

I leave my fans on at night as well....and I frequently rotate fans and plants. I don't have oscillating but I have the fans positioned in such a way as to provide a light breeze across the ladies!
:blsmoke:

angryblackman · Jan 4, 2011

I have an oscillating fan under my grow area forcing fresh air through a few holes that I made. All my plants seem to get the circulation that they need.

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

angryblackman said:
I have an oscillating fan under my grow area forcing fresh air through a few holes that I made. All my plants seem to get the circulation that they need.

Not a circulation problem. Just wondering if not having direct breeze is what is making my stems weaker than expected. Wondered if it has anything to do with CFL's in general.

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

Darwin Riddle said:
It's important to have air flowing across the plants, that much I have learned. If you can't managed that then I've heard that picking the plants up and shaking them a bit, every day, can be effective at helping strengthen the stems. Not enough to give them shaken baby syndrome or anything tho!! LOL I leave my fans on at night as well....and I frequently rotate fans and plants. I don't have oscillating but I have the fans positioned in such a way as to provide a light breeze across the ladies!

I get a light breeze but nothing to actually move the branches enough. My exhaust fan will actually MOVE the leaves a little. If I move my fan to where it is more directly on the girls then it blows to hard maybe. Still dont know if that is the problem though lol.

TokeSmoker420 · Jan 4, 2011

if u want those fat stocks your fans should make your plants "dance" when the airflow is on them. oscillating is the best so your plants dont just tip over from constant wind

KushXOJ · Jan 4, 2011

about how thick was your stem ? i noticed that my stems aren't that thick as some of the plants ive seen on here but they are still strong, mine are about the size of a penny maybe a little bigger ...but i dont have much wind blowing on them either just enough to move the leaves around maybe shake a branch or two ...i guess the stronger the fan the more the plant will put energy into building a strong root/stem system to keep it upright

It also depends on how big your pots are
what size pots are you using ? or are you hydro ?

ObiJwon · Jan 4, 2011

KushXOJ said:
about how thick was your stem ? i noticed that my stems aren't that thick as some of the plants ive seen on here but they are still strong, mine are about the size of a penny maybe a little bigger ...but i dont have much wind blowing on them either just enough to move the leaves around maybe shake a branch or two ...i guess the stronger the fan the more the plant will put energy into building a strong root/stem system to keep it upright

It also depends on how big your pots are
what size pots are you using ? or are you hydro ?

View attachment 1364164 View attachment 1364163

My stems are maybe like 1/2'' at the most. I am doing these in soil and three gallon buckets. Yeah.. I think I need to get more air flow directed onto my girls.

Darwin Riddle · Jan 5, 2011

Keep your setup the same just give em' a shake a few times a day, if you can. If you can't do it a few times a day, do at least once. I would love to know if it's effective or not! I give mine a rattle, everday, along with the fan setup, and they seem to have nice strong stems.

ObiJwon · Jan 8, 2011

Maybe I will give that a go, or just reposition the fan a little so the girls have more air to ruffle their skirts, so to say. Thanks Darwin Riddle.

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