Dual PC Stealth Grow -- Aurora Indica & Mazar x Afgan

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

To start my updates I would first like to thank you guys for your exhaust ideas. I have pondered them over the past few days and have some questions and questionable updates that might cancel a new set up. Lets get to it:

1 week from soil
5 days from breaking-soil

Current temp: 90F at tops and 88F at soil
Current humidity: 38%

AI#1: Just roughly over an inch tall. Has just sprouted its second set of fan leaves. Very short, dark emerald green, and a sit slower of a grower than AI#2. However, looks lush and dense.

AI#2: Hasn't been growing quite as rapidly after the re soil. I figure it is spending energy converting stem into roots, but I do not know if this is a correct theory. Either way standing right under two inches she will hopefully start showing her third set of fan leaves in the next few days. As I said before this one has settled to a more lighter green than AI#1, which makes me question the seed bank, but time will tell. Could be a male, 'rare' genetic, etc. Hope for the best, but aside from that she looks amazing, bigger, green, and starting to get more stable.

Now I guess Ill throw out the questionable updates. After finally, getting my air conditioner working properly we can get the apartment down to 70 again. After testing the temps tonight it was staying at 84F@tops so I decided to throw that extra 13W in there and test the temps. Thus far, the temps have only risen to 90F@tops. I feel like this is a good number as long as it never rises. It does question ever being able to keep it on 24/0 or something similar because I just don't think the ac will stay at 70F during the day. I would like to know what you guys think.

To do List:

-Mylar both units after deciding on a exhaust system
-Start working on the two carbon filters
-Get both units 99% light proof and set up for my vacation


Questions & Comments:

1) When should I start looking to transplant to 1ltr pots?
2) Can some Indicas start off in a lime green color?
3)

LT, Yeah I am running 12.12. for stealth, ease, and quick results. However, I will agree with you the heat they produce can be immense. Thanks again for the diagram, it had my brain twist around a few new ideas. However, as tonights tests proved though I might already have a workable set up as long as environmental controls were constant. I do think the plexi glass is a good recommendation, have you heard of any negatives on lumens or anything?

V12, Thanks again for the diagram. That is an excellent set up, however, I don't know if I can have two fans on the front of the case. If maybe I could see the front of your case that might help me. Mine just has these drive slots, but I think that the stealth would be compromised. I really do think your system is efficient and effective though. Lemme know what you think of my questionable update, too.

Time for me to hit the hay. I will try and post the highest temp tomorrow afternoon, but it has been stuck at 90F for the past few hours. Still hoping for the best and easiest lol. G'nite everyone.

-X

First thing to remember Xander is that you are doing this at the hottest time of the year and your temps reflect this. If you can get temps stable at 90 then you will have achieved a great deal.
Plexiglass is helpful. Don't go over 2mm thickness or it will block some of your light from getting to the plants.
There are always variations in the genetics even from the same pack of seeds. Nature has to do this to ensure propagation of the species so it isn't something you can control. Just admire all the pretty colours

If you were to make a cardboard wall the same size as the front of the case and fit it 1 inch behind the actual front like a false ceiling then you can use the low down hole to feed fans which are placed up at the top. Hope that makes sense. Let me know if you need me to break out the crayons again

I tend to transplant at around 3 weeks.

i havnt heard much negitive about plexiglass other then HPS bulbs sometimes would melt half way through a sheet if your fan goes out... like V12XJS said i wouldnt recomend going thicker then 2mm ,

even with 2mm youl ight loses some lums but with the heat controlled you could put your plants alot closer to the light source, like i siad though i didnt have to do the plexiglass so no pro here..

90 seems decent to me....outdoorp lants live fine with 100+ around here... i dunno why "78" is so ideal seems cold to me

plexi is OK, someone on here grows in a PC case and uses a 250w envirolite isolated with plexi.

And now a haiku because...well, because I'm high.


Cannabis tingling
Bathed in bright summer daylight
To feel this right. Wrong?

Saturday, June 27th, 2009


It is 917PM here so the ladies are in darkness for another 45 mins or so. I have a few updates, but not as many as I wanted to have. Due to an 1/8 laziness and procrastination disorder I rarely get shit done. I wasn't able to get on the next day to let you know the highest recorded temp. So, for those wondering, it eventually reached 93F, I think that it was sometime in the early mourning because at 5am it was only at 90F. My cycle is still 10pm-10am for stealth reasons, but I might alter this to 9pm-9am or even 8pm-8am just to keep the temps down in the mourning.

10:01PM here now *was getting hy* and the lights are now on so now I can see them. They look beautiful.

Current Temp: 87F@Tops

Current Humidity: 48

AI#1: Not much has happened, really. Growing a bit denser and the second set of fan leaves is getting larger. I have moved away from lights to about 3 inches away, in hopes for a bit quicker growth.

AI#2: One word. Sexy. It seems as the second set of fans leaves are starting to grow fingers. As that is going on right above them the third set of fan leaves are taking hold. Bird eye view is so pretty.


For other updates, I have started card boarding and mylaring the second unit. I took the third fan out and reversed the intake and exhaust. Now all I have to do is finish the making the units light proof and build my carbon filters.

Pics:

Pic 1: AI#2, erected and smiling at the lights.

Pic 2: AI#1, as I said a bit smaller, but much darker *placing dark magic spell on it to be blue *

Pic 3: Distant comparison. Since then, I have moved it down about a half inch making it only about a half inch away from level with AI#2. Hoping this might spark a growth spert. Read on to see if it did...

Pic 4: Lighter Comparison to AI#2

Pic 5: Lighter comparison to AI#1 *upside down lighter*


Comments and Questions:


V12, I think you are right about the temps. I think I had just so often read 75-85F but honestly they are doing great at 90F. Thanks for reassuring me on the plexi glass. I don't think I need it just yet, however, it is something I will definitely be looking into when I start upgrading my units So I, also, have to give thanks to LT for that idea.

As for the genetic's I had wrote that down as a possibility, but the way things been going....I was expected for anything Truly, glad to hear some reassurance though!

I think I grasp the idea of what you mean with a false wall. If I don't have to do this I won't because it would take away from my growing area, however, it is a really good idea that I might have to utilize later on.

LT, thanks again for the plexi glass idea. Like I said to V12, it is something I can definitely look for in the near future to 'beef' up my units.

So far, man, 90F has been fine for them. The night I added the 13W to the unit and temps maxed at 93F, they weren't burnt, droopy, or anything. Perfectly lush and healthy. I haven't let it get up to 93F again, but I don't think it effected them to negativity. I have decided that I will remove the extra 13W from the units before I leave for Chicago. Just have more faith that nothing will go wrong with just 60W.

DCN, thanks for the reassurance and beautiful haiku. I'll make one for you someday.

Well, guys that is my time for tonight. Hope you enjoy the pics and updates. Thanks for helping me make this happen

-X

i have some advice.
i have some aurora indica just a couple weeks ahead of yours. i had them in one liter pots thinking that since they were so short they wouldn't need larger pots until later, but then they started looking really crappy, and showed signs of nute lock and i thought it was root rot, but when i got in there i found that my 5in plants were practically root bound. so pay attention to that.

also, i've had really good luck with topping.

Thanks for the quick tips, User. I will definitely keep that in mind. I should be repotting to 1ltr pots when I get back from vacation at the end of the first week of July.

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

It is roughly 2 hours before I leave to go on my vacation. I have checked on and watered the babies. I got a quick second to fill out an update so here we go. I have germ'd a successful Mazar.

Current Temp: 89F

Current Humidity: 38%

AI#1: Still a bit small in stature, but is starting to grow third set of fan leaves while the second set starts to grow fingers. Looking great, still a great deep green color and has a very dense stable stem.

AI#2: Growing like crazy. Honestly, I think in a few days or so I should start LSTing. If I recall correctly the starting point is roughly three inches? This, hopefully, little lady is sitting some where on the 2-3in marker. Currently has three sets of large, tropical green, fan leaves. I, truly, hope this beaut is a lady.

MZ#1: Just poked it's little head out of the soil. I hate having to leave it in such status, but I must. I will have my brother stopping by more frequently throughout the week now.

I got some new Pics, however, my blackberry is acting up with its media card so it will not allow me to upload them. I will get some more the day I get back and have a nice comparison.

Welp, need to go finish packing. Talk to you guys when I get back from my vacation!

-X

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009


Got back from my vacation on the 6th, but then had to immediately head into work so today was based on me getting back to the grind. Glad to be back, worried quite often about my little ladies. The vacation was nice, but it did come at a price. While I was gone, my girlfriend whom I went with, nabbed up all the keys which *made me forget to leave one for my brother to get in. Coincidentally, both AIs and the very little Mazar went without water for all five days. With that said I will get to my update...

Current Temp: 89F@tops 83F@soil

Current Humidity: 38%

AI#1, After I got back I noticed that she had grown a bit. Bottom leaves are starting to turn yellow (I think this is suppose to happen), and she was drooping a bit. I have watered her the past two nights. She is starting to look upright again, and now has three maybe four sets of decently large fan leaves.

AI#2, When I first seen her I was quite relieved that she didn't grow into the lights. That was one of my worries when I noticed that my brother couldn't get in. She did grow a bit, but more outwards than upwards. Her stem is getting harder, but bottom leaves like AI#1 are even more yellow. The only difference between AI1 and AI2 is that the yellowishness is not only on the 'baby leaves' but also the first set of fans leaves are more yellow than the rest. This leads me to believe that it was more of water deficiency. Either way I hope that she will be fully looking upright by tomorrow.

M#1, Well when I said that my vacation came at a cost this is what I meant. When I got back I found out that she never made it past poking her head out. I put M1 at the bottom because I didn't want it to be directly under the light so early (higher temps, etc) but this might have been the death of her. Don't know, but either way RIP M#1

Misc Updates:

I have finished mylaring each unit. Both cases are now fully mylar'd and functional. However, with the death of my last two Mazars my 10 day perp is quite off schedule. I have also recently noticed that I can get two sets of dvd cases in each unit to provide lighting leverage, however, they will only fit at the expense of blocking my intake. Thus, I have just recently decided to just run a 15 day 6 plant perpetual. This will also, give me a few days extra just in case I get a 'dud' or have any problems.

I think that pretty much wraps me up for tonight. I have some pictures but I don't feel like uploading them right now so I will do a quick update tomorrow with all the pics and descriptions. Good night everyone!

-X

PS= Wanting someone to look over my pics tomorrow, I think it about time to start LSTing.

Hey Xander
Sorry to hear about the mazar. It may have been temp/humidity related rather than a lack of light, they just stretch if the light level is too low. I tend to put a zip lock bag over them for the first few days as this gives them plenty of humidity and helps them to acclimatise to higher temps.
I'll keep an eye open for the pics.

Just got a minute to provide the quick update I promised. I will start off by saying that the little ones have started developing small greyish spots on their fan leaves. I think the yellowing has stayed about the same as last night, and they still weren't straightly erect. This is when I decided that they might be a little to close to the lights. I have moved them down close to one extra inch. They look about 2.5-3 inches away from the lights now. When I last checked on them they 'seemed' like they were a bit more comfortable. I just hope it's not false hope talking to me. Anyways lets get to the pics:

1. AI#2 the night I left for vacation.
2. AI#1 the night I left for vacation.
3. The 'setup' after getting mylar'd.
4. AI#2 the day after I got back from vacation.
5. AI#1 the day after I got back from vacation.
6. Close up of AI#2.
7. Side view of case *AI#1 closest #2 farthest*
8. Showing my new found knowledge that 4 plants would block my intake.
9. "" "" "" Close up.
10. Pics of outside exposure after the mylar.
11. Same as above, I would say they are 75% light proof. I still have to put up the carbon filter on the top, but I don't know of a good way to get the cracks and bottom fan light proof.
12. Close up of a 'spot' that has started showing up on both plants.

Questions:

1. Is it about time to start LSTing?

2. Should I start pumping in nutes after I see the first sign of hairs?

3. Any suggestions on the yellowing or spots?

4. I am thinking about re potting soon. They will be 3 weeks old Friday.

That is all I have for now. They are growing quite well, but I have started to worry about this yellowing and the recent 'spots'. Also, I just noticed that both are starting to form a ball with a hair sticking out in the middle of the cola. Looks like it could be my first time ever to see hairs on something I have grown.

Thanks for stopping by guys,
-X

Hey Xander

Plants still look ok in those pots for now but only for maybe another week. The yellowing is a sign that they want a feed. Gently does it to start. I nearly went cross-eyed trying to focus on the spot in the last pic. It's not really clear enough for any proper diagnosis but as a rule, dark spots are droppings from bugs, so be vigilant when you are checking the plants. Often bugs will be located on/in the soil or on the underside of the leaves. A magnifying glass will help.
They look like they will be fine to start LST.

Lightproofing needs to be addressed but can reduce fan efficiency somewhat. How are your temps now?
For the sides you can use blutac, playdoh or plastecine as a kind of flexible filler. Put it along all the seams and flatten it down so everything still fits.
Until you get some odour control on the fans you can just use a simple light trap to help at the back.
A tetra pak juice carton should be ok. Cut off the front where the logo is and the top where the pourer is. Turn it upside down and fit the bottom of the carton over the top of the fan so that the air is forced downwards out where the top of the carton used to be. It should reduce the light considerably without affecting temps.

Hey everyone,

As I woke up today I checked on the babies in their last hour of light. Some of the greenness is comming back to both of them, however, AI#2 is starting to get consumed with these 'dark spots'. I have read what v12 posted and I will be reviewing that when I get home tonight. I took a few quick shots of AI#2 before they had to go into darkness, but AI#1 actually looked quite a bit better this mourning. The few spots it has last night have seemed to succede, but not fully. Here are some better pics (for v12's eyes ) Please help me out guys, I didn't notice any bugs, but I still need to get a mag glass.

ALL PICS of AI#2








BTW, I guess I'll have to reuplaod that pic, IDK wtf that anti sec shit is and it wasnt there a few mins ago.

Also, quick edit...There are 4 directions for feeding on my 'Peace of Mind' 3-8-8 fert. It has on the back: New container bulbs, Established container bulbs, New in Ground Bulbs, Established in Ground Bulbs, New Raised Bulbs, and Established Raised Bulbs. Also, it is not a liquid, but came in 'rock' or peeble form...is this okay?

Roughly, three days away from the four week mark *from planting* and I just had my first bad run in. After I got back from my vacation on the 6th, my young little ladies looked rough to say the least. They had yellowing on the lower half up to their first set of fan leaves, and each plant had a few small 'grey-brown' spots.

After the next few days, I guess *bit hy right now*, the yellowing spread to the next set of fan leaves. V12 said that this was a nute deficiency, N, I believe. However, I held off feeding because I wanted to know what the grey spots were because they are spreading quite rapidly. After V12 suggested bugs, I got to looking closer and felt them. Fairly sure they weren't caused from bugs I thought maybe fungus because the way it felt.

After getting home from work and seeing the spots progressing I had to do something. I started researching it and comparing to other pics. Come to find out it was because of a *rare it said* P deficiency. So basically feeding it last night/early this mourning probably would have fix it. So I decided to finally go ahead and start feeding them. I know I need to get 1ltr pots soon for a transplant, but for how I just poured 1 tablespoon *measured out to a 1/2tbs but probably a light tbs if flattened out* around the base of the stem and throughout the soil. I did this with both plants then lightly watered because the soil was still a bit moist. The back of the carton suggested 1-2tbs, but taking V12's advise *like I should have in the first place* I started out lightly.

The little ladies are sitting in the sun right now.
Current Temp is: 89F@tops Current Humidity is: 36%
The humidity generally doesn't get much higher than this I was wondering if that was an ok range. Uhm, V12, I know you asked me about my temps have been ranging, and the Highest I have seen is 95F the day I got back. However, lately they have been averaging about 92F and I seen one 93F. I have been questioning the third bulb, because like you know I still have yet to put on my carbon filter on the exhaust. I think that could possibly push it up a degree or two. So the cons are starting to out way the pros for even a small third bulb. I doubt they make anything lower than a 13W.

Either way, I found that to get my 15 day 6plant perp up and running that I need to germ my next seedling on the 14th and plant, hopefully, on the 16th. This will finally get my 2nd chamber up and running. Without it being light proof, though, it will be twice as much light. So I think I am going to start pondering over ways to conceal the light. V12 made some great suggestions and I will probably be trying those over the next few days. 99% is good enough, but honestly, I think I am only at like 75%. So got some work to do.

I will probably check on them in a few hours and see how they are doing. Might take a few pics and hope they start turning around by tomorrow. Nite to all.

-X

The plants are resilient and they should bounce back fine. Those bottom leaves are gonners but they were never going to be part of the harvest so no big loss.

Maybe you could try to make the exhaust a bit more efficient to help with the temps. The air you want to get out is the air directly above the bulbs. Can you use some ducting between the exhaust fan and the top of the lights to get at it?
They sell 4 inch ducting in DIY places for bathroom fans that would prolly do. You can also get similar stuff from hydro stores that they sell for use with big carbon scrubbers.

Thank you V12 for the encouragement. As for the temps and duct work, I doubt I can do any of that. No experience, but also I didn't leave much room between the 'roof' and the tops of the lights. I am adding an extra AC window unit to the room they are setting in, however, I don't know how much that will effect the temps just yet. I'll get back with more updates.

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

Well this is the third time I will be posting this post. Hopefully it'll fucking take without error.

As I was saying, I have not had a full update with pics in some time. I have transplanted both AI's into 1 liter pots. Also, last night I started LSTing both of them.

AI#1: After the first feeding she ceased yellowing, and all the spots have just about been erradicated. However, the feeding didn't offer any growth in height or width. Just a night or two after the transplant, however, she started to grow upwards again. She is still towered over by AI#2 but now stands over a Bic lighter at about 3 inches.

AI#2: After the first feeding the same results came to the problems. The yellowing was replenished to lushish green and the spots were no longer. The feeding offered this one about an inch in height, too. After the transplant she grew about another inch or so and spread out her fan leaves even more. Right now I'd say she is nearing 6-7 inches tall.

I have, also, reached a point where I am unfamiliar on what comes next. It had become apparent that AI#2 is growing these clusters of small light green balls. I have never got this far is growing, and I have read about sexing but these could be 'balls' or early flowers. Not to for sure. I have been expecting it to be a male due to the fast growth and 'balls'.

Pics:

1: AI#1, finally growing larger than a Bic


2. Bird view of AI#1


3. AI#2


4. Another of AI#2


5. Close up of AI#2's cluster balls


6. Both after LSTing them...


Questions:
Mainly wondering if cluster balls is what I should be seeing, and wondering if I am LSTing correctly.

It's a bloke.
Your call what to do with him. I would get him out and squish him right now, but if you want pollen then learn how to collect it & get him sealed off. If any of those balls pop in your case he will be impregnating girls for a long time.
Try to keep the lst within the confines of the container. It will save problems later on, and keep pulling the very top bit of the plant back down for best effect.
Good to see them looking healthy again.

Def male there If you kill it take it outside to the trash, those sacks are so close to opening and dropping powder it shouldn't even be in the house