First Auto grow. I would appreciate some expert advice!

stevenpwags · May 11, 2016

This is my first grow of either type plant. I have read books and forums till I can't take any more and I still have a couple questions.
I'm growing an auto Grand Daddy Purple in a five gallon pot. I used Happy Frog dirt with one third perlite. My light is a dorm grow 450 LED 26 inches above plant. My temp is 75deg and humidity is 55% in the tent. My light schedule is 20/4.
My plant is 20 days old and is growing great (about 10 inches tall with 6 or 7 rows of leaves) but the center tips of some of the leaves are down turned, especially on new growth. I'm assuming I over watered it.
I soaked the pot the day before planting the seed and then didn't water again except misting for 9 days . watered again after 7 days and then again after 6 days. The pot was dry down a good 2 inches but the bottom was still wet.
Do you think the curled tips are related to watering and if so how should I be watering If I wait for the bottom to dry out it will take 9 days or more. If I should be waiting then how do I feed them. I haven't fed them yet but planned to start with the next watering. I am growing this for personal pain control and don't want to screw it up so any help would be greatly appreciated.

upnsmoke13 · May 12, 2016

Looks good so far.
I do not grow with LEDs but I'd lower the lights and add a fan to move some air around her! Both will help dry your soil. Go light with your nutes (1/4 strength at most), autos are not heavy feeders. What nutes you using? Good luck with the grow!

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

upnsmoke13 said:
Looks good so far.
I do not grow with LEDs but I'd lower the lights and add a fan to move some air around her! Both will help dry your soil. Go light with your nutes (1/4 strength at most), autos are not heavy feeders. What nutes you using? Good luck with the grow!

I have a fan in there blowing right on it but it is still not drying out. Do I water when it's dry down two inches if it's still wet in the bottom third of pot or wait for it to dry out farther? I was planning on using the advanced nutrients three part system or wwas going to use scotts osmacote plus. I haven't decided yet. any thoughts?

Afgan King · May 12, 2016

Let it dry out all the way leaves should pick back up then start to fall when drying. Pick up the pot once it's dry see what it feels like and know that that's when you need to water/feed

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Afgan King said:
Let it dry out all the way leaves should pick back up then start to fall when drying. Pick up the pot once it's dry see what it feels like and know that that's when you need to water/feed

Thank you.

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

I'd be doin some leaf tucking , but Dnt look bad , r u feeding yet ?? My autos r 21 days from the day of soaking but only 17 days from actually time they were put in dirt ... Mine ain't real tall my lights r 19inch I run 2 400w and 220w led and 50w led for side light , I'm bout same as u for watering schedule or close to it . Pre water hole pot then only watered the center size of solo cup next watering will be Ina day or two gonna water hole pot again

mine are around 6 inchs tall two are smaller trailing the pack . I started tucking leaves yesterday so that's why some look funny ...

Are you feeding nutes yet

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Shadytrees88 said:
I'd be doin some leaf tucking , but Dnt look bad , r u feeding yet ?? My autos r 21 days from the day of soaking but only 17 days from actually time they were put in dirt ... Mine ain't real tall my lights r 19inch I run 2 400w and 220w led and 50w led for side light , I'm bout same as u for watering schedule or close to it . Pre water hole pot then only watered the center size of solo cup next watering will be Ina day or two gonna water hole pot again View attachment 3679867mine are around 6 inchs tall two are smaller trailing the pack . I started tucking leaves yesterday so that's why some look funny ...

Are you feeding nutes yet

I don't know anything about leaf tucking. Could you explain? I haven't fed them yet but planned on feeding them with the next watering. I have advanced nutrient grow, micro, and bloom but don't really know what to do for a feeding schedule. Also you mentioned side lights and I have two 4ft t5 flourescent lights. Would it help to put them in the tent for side lights..My tent is 3ft by 3ft.
Today is day 21 and it measured 11 inches. I think it's starting to bud.

Thanks

Evil-Mobo · May 12, 2016

Depending how much Perlite you used, you might get through your entire grow without needing any nutes. I would wait for the plants to ask you for nutes before giving any.

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

Watch this short video as a guy explains tucking leaves

Some get great results with topping autos I'm not risking it. I do some light LSTing but mainly just tuck leaves by that I mean the big fans leaves I will tuck under out of the way so the bud sites pistols what have you r exposed to more light then being hid under a leaf ..... I use FFOF and happy frog mine are still growing strong with no nutes but I'm tempted to go a 1/4 strength on them ... As for advanced nutes I Dnt use but I do use general hydro 3 part system for our door and use the duo for indoor .
My out door I Dnt need much nutes cause I mix my own soil so lil nutes needed , but u can run the Lucas formula on the 3 part and I think Lucas cut out the gro bottle sayin that the bloom and micro are enough .. That ratio is I think 8ml micro / 16bloom... If u got a tc/ppm pen I would start out feeding your autos 200 to 300 ppm , that's not counting ur water ppm , so say ur tap water is 107 like mine then u would feed 307 or close to that 200 nutes 107 tap , to me using ec/ppm is better then goin off of the bottle and guessing and u can to me keep better tabs on things ...
But My flora duo 2 part and the additives I use are pretty well spot on to General hydros ppm ratings , but I think in a auto grow u Dnt need all the extra at all ,
If advanced nutrients are what everyone says they are then Your micro and bloom contain all the needs to run autos , I always say start small and work ur way up meaning Dnt go out and buy a bunch of shit cause some guy said it works. What works for some is a disaster for most when u get things dialed In and u feel u need a change for better yield then do so , I've reader days and days of post and writing bout autos and the do and don'ts the biggest Dnt is topping and cutting . I may try it down the road but ive heard to much bad to try right now , Especially if ur new or newer or tryin to get a good line on everything . So if I was u I would run the micro and bloom at low ppms 200 to 300 work ur way up slow , if u feel she is lacking something add a dab more micro or bloom . Small changes , less is usually more , most of these guys that r growing top shelf large yeilds The first time had either help or they just got plum lucky . the first time or they got it figured out and DIALED IN , when u run the same strain few strains for years and years it's hard to have a fuck up... My nutes consist of flora duo A AND B , rapid start , FLOROLICOUS plus , bloom A B F+ canna boost and pk13/14 . Oh and molasses . Simple not 13 diffrent mixes , I no people that get just as good if not better results from as much or less then I use and also of some that think they need the whole line up , mayb u do mayb u Dnt , I use less , I can afford it all but no need ... Hope this helps Hollar if u need anything ... I got a grow log goin also , our grows r bout the same time frame id like to keep following yours for sure , I just did start 10
More autos though ...

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

I'm kinda like the one above , I Dnt like adding till they tell me but I Dnt wan an wait to late either , but I wanna see how early I can push it on a couple to say hey well I can go light this early ,,

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Shadytrees88 said:
Watch this short video as a guy explains tucking leaves

Some get great results with topping autos I'm not risking it. I do some light LSTing but mainly just tuck leaves by that I mean the big fans leaves I will tuck under out of the way so the bud sites pistols what have you r exposed to more light then being hid under a leaf ..... I use FFOF and happy frog mine are still growing strong with no nutes but I'm tempted to go a 1/4 strength on them ... As for advanced nutes I Dnt use but I do use general hydro 3 part system for our door and use the duo for indoor .
My out door I Dnt need much nutes cause I mix my own soil so lil nutes needed , but u can run the Lucas formula on the 3 part and I think Lucas cut out the gro bottle sayin that the bloom and micro are enough .. That ratio is I think 8ml micro / 16bloom... If u got a tc/ppm pen I would start out feeding your autos 200 to 300 ppm , that's not counting ur water ppm , so say ur tap water is 107 like mine then u would feed 307 or close to that 200 nutes 107 tap , to me using ec/ppm is better then goin off of the bottle and guessing and u can to me keep better tabs on things ...
But My flora duo 2 part and the additives I use are pretty well spot on to General hydros ppm ratings , but I think in a auto grow u Dnt need all the extra at all ,
If advanced nutrients are what everyone says they are then Your micro and bloom contain all the needs to run autos , I always say start small and work ur way up meaning Dnt go out and buy a bunch of shit cause some guy said it works. What works for some is a disaster for most when u get things dialed In and u feel u need a change for better yield then do so , I've reader days and days of post and writing bout autos and the do and don'ts the biggest Dnt is topping and cutting . I may try it down the road but ive heard to much bad to try right now , Especially if ur new or newer or tryin to get a good line on everything . So if I was u I would run the micro and bloom at low ppms 200 to 300 work ur way up slow , if u feel she is lacking something add a dab more micro or bloom . Small changes , less is usually more , most of these guys that r growing top shelf large yeilds The first time had either help or they just got plum lucky . the first time or they got it figured out and DIALED IN , when u run the same strain few strains for years and years it's hard to have a fuck up... My nutes consist of flora duo A AND B , rapid start , FLOROLICOUS plus , bloom A B F+ canna boost and pk13/14 . Oh and molasses . Simple not 13 diffrent mixes , I no people that get just as good if not better results from as much or less then I use and also of some that think they need the whole line up , mayb u do mayb u Dnt , I use less , I can afford it all but no need ... Hope this helps Hollar if u need anything ... I got a grow log goin also , our grows r bout the same time frame id like to keep following yours for sure , I just did start 10
More autos though ... View attachment 3679947

Thank you. I really appreciate all the help. I always try to look everything up first but it's great there are people willing to take time to help newbies like myself when we're not sure.

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

It's easy to get side tracked by all the advertising and talk , not takin nothin away from advanced but it's to high and I think over rated , which each is there own , as much as most put into there big nutes package id rather have that extra money in lights tent vent seeds ,

Watch that video they use next to nothin for nutes , and put it all into set up , if that right there can be achieved and is true bout just using those lil bit of nutes then why does one need a full line up .. ... Kinda like fishin at first you buy all this crappie fishin stuff u think u need , u end up using the same colors and what not each day the rest sets , once u figure out what they like it rarely changes so that's why I block all that sales pitch stuff , which it may help it may increase but how much a few grams a zip a elbow doubtful , most likely it wount be worth the extra money u spend , so if u can pull 2 oz a plant or 2-1/2 mayb 3 off a auto with A AND B and mayb a additive or a booster then why buy 12 other products or 6 to pull a shade more , just to take pics and show everyone this is what I use lol , but again everyone does what works for them and if u can justify it then I guess it doesn't really matter as long as everyone's happy and got good harvests

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

That video that guy put a 80 day of cure on that smoke and a 30 day flush along with defoliation at week 3 I think it was , with little nutes and good setup so not only did he save on nutes he perfected something that a lot wouldn't have the patience to do or dare to risk a 30 day flush 80 day cure , even cuttin the fan leaves off in week 3 to put all the energy to the bud , it makes sense but it's a risk some can't afford or wanna mess with ..

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

There's more videos bout this method of cuttin leaves off at week 2 or 3 or something in flowering to increase yeild Weight Ect , some rather hands on videos mostly i think been preformed on there prefected strain Chemdog or something like that

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Shadytrees88 said:
It's easy to get side tracked by all the advertising and talk , not takin nothin away from advanced but it's to high and I think over rated , which each is there own , as much as most put into there big nutes package id rather have that extra money in lights tent vent seeds ,

Watch that video they use next to nothin for nutes , and put it all into set up , if that right there can be achieved and is true bout just using those lil bit of nutes then why does one need a full line up .. ... Kinda like fishin at first you buy all this crappie fishin stuff u think u need , u end up using the same colors and what not each day the rest sets , once u figure out what they like it rarely changes so that's why I block all that sales pitch stuff , which it may help it may increase but how much a few grams a zip a elbow doubtful , most likely it wount be worth the extra money u spend , so if u can pull 2 oz a plant or 2-1/2 mayb 3 off a auto with A AND B and mayb a additive or a booster then why buy 12 other products or 6 to pull a shade more , just to take pics and show everyone this is what I use lol , but again everyone does what works for them and if u can justify it then I guess it doesn't really matter as long as everyone's happy and got good harvests

Good point. I admit I'm kind of a sucker for the next greatest thing. I laughed when I saw your fishing analogy because I have a whole room full of fishing shit I never use! I don't know if you saw in my original post but what do you think about putting my t5 flourescents in the tent for side lighting. Would there be any harm?

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

Before I got my second 400w I actually had 2 t5s or 8s or whatever but this is my set up now . I have 2 mh bulbs runnin in there pic shows hps . But that my basic setup , people ask why u run 2 400 when there not as efficient as a 600 well I figure my setup I can cover a better area with two 400s then one six yea I running 800w hid and 270w led but I Dnt think u can look at it that way bc each 400 will cover a 3x3 area solid not well mayb a 4x4 3x3 solid with the hoods I use , so 2 400w covering 3x3 each lil extra led kick I'm
More solid then a 600 being a lil light on the edges mayb I can also run one light north and south one east and wet I can run my 21 day autos under one side and my
New up and comers on the other side high light , more versitale . But yea the t5s should do ok it's more of a white light I think right so it's across the board be ok , u May to get any good benifit have to have them close to make a real difference and that may mess up ur overall light above , each setup is diffrent , I built mine cause I can do more with that tent then just one thing , clone and veg , or late veg and seedlings Ect u get my drift , I've not done much reading on compacts vs CFL but u might could make u up a CFL side lighting kit that may benifit better .... Side light or supplemental light in is good u see some big grow tents running hid down the middle and LEDs in the corner that's cause u can't hit it all evenly

Also not this 21 day batch but my
New batch imma runn mh till flower then hps but the last little bit maybe 2 weeks or so imma go back to mh suppose to make more resin , along with flushing and setting in dark and all that ...

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Shadytrees88 said:
Before I got my second 400w I actually had 2 t5s or 8s or whatever but this is my set up now . I have 2 mh bulbs runnin in there pic shows hps . But that my basic setup , people ask why u run 2 400 when there not as efficient as a 600 well I figure my setup I can cover a better area with two 400s then one six yea I running 800w hid and 270w led but I Dnt think u can look at it that way bc each 400 will cover a 3x3 area solid not well mayb a 4x4 3x3 solid with the hoods I use , so 2 400w covering 3x3 each lil extra led kick I'm
More solid then a 600 being a lil light on the edges mayb I can also run one light north and south one east and wet I can run my 21 day autos under one side and my
New up and comers on the other side high light , more versitale . But yea the t5s should do ok it's more of a white light I think right so it's across the board be ok , u May to get any good benifit have to have them close to make a real difference and that may mess up ur overall light above , each setup is diffrent , I built mine cause I can do more with that tent then just one thing , clone and veg , or late veg and seedlings Ect u get my drift , I've not done much reading on compacts vs CFL but u might could make u up a CFL side lighting kit that may benifit better .... Side light or supplemental light in is good u see some big grow tents running hid down the middle and LEDs in the corner that's cause u can't hit it all evenly

Also not this 21 day batch but my
New batch imma runn mh till flower then hps but the last little bit maybe 2 weeks or so imma go back to mh suppose to make more resin , along with flushing and setting in dark and all that ...

You have a nice set up. Thanks again

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

It's been a journey building that damn thing lol . On ur overwatering , I tried a lot of cans and pitchers and whatever else , but I use a 32oz Gatorade bottle , I cut a hole in the top of the cap put a aquarium tube in and glue it down , u can lightly loosen the cap to get air so u Dnt air lock , and I also have a 1 gallon apple juice jug same thing , agreed it does take longer to water but u can be thorough , go slow and make sure u have no dry spots then just flooding the soil like some , I like the 32oz better cause I can put one one each plant then come back and do it again , when u got short bushy plants that hose can b ran under the stems and around base that is offen hard to get to with a big can or something with a spout just to bulky , and u no down to the ml how much water they get , and I keep records of that , mayb over kill but I like to be able to go back and check and read ... So that may help u on adding to much water , but watering to offen is just something ull have to feel out .. I think happy frog and just perlite is not a ideal mix I think the happy frog alone even wth some perlite from my expererice wants to clump up or not drain as good , I mix ocean forest say 3 1.5 cu ft bags to 1-/ to 1 bag happy frog and then add big and chunky perlite idk if ur using normal or big and chunky but I got ahold of fox farms perlite and it is huge love it . So mayb next time try a courser perlite if u ain't or add in another soil mayb even light warrior just to break that soil up sum ; everyone I no uses FFOF and happy or something mixed with happy and even ocean . I'm watering bout 1000ml just in the center solo cup size circle every like 5 days and my soil is still a tad moist but bout right to me , my temps r lil higher then urs 80-81 usually 70 at night , 45 to 50 percent humidity ...

stevenpwags · May 12, 2016

Shadytrees88 said:
It's been a journey building that damn thing lol . On ur overwatering , I tried a lot of cans and pitchers and whatever else , but I use a 32oz Gatorade bottle , I cut a hole in the top of the cap put a aquarium tube in and glue it down , u can lightly loosen the cap to get air so u Dnt air lock , and I also have a 1 gallon apple juice jug same thing , agreed it does take longer to water but u can be thorough , go slow and make sure u have no dry spots then just flooding the soil like some , I like the 32oz better cause I can put one one each plant then come back and do it again , when u got short bushy plants that hose can b ran under the stems and around base that is offen hard to get to with a big can or something with a spout just to bulky , and u no down to the ml how much water they get , and I keep records of that , mayb over kill but I like to be able to go back and check and read ... So that may help u on adding to much water , but watering to offen is just something ull have to feel out .. I think happy frog and just perlite is not a ideal mix I think the happy frog alone even wth some perlite from my expererice wants to clump up or not drain as good , I mix ocean forest say 3 1.5 cu ft bags to 1-/ to 1 bag happy frog and then add big and chunky perlite idk if ur using normal or big and chunky but I got ahold of fox farms perlite and it is huge love it . So mayb next time try a courser perlite if u ain't or add in another soil mayb even light warrior just to break that soil up sum ; everyone I no uses FFOF and happy or something mixed with happy and even ocean . I'm watering bout 1000ml just in the center solo cup size circle every like 5 days and my soil is still a tad moist but bout right to me , my temps r lil higher then urs 80-81 usually 70 at night , 45 to 50 percent humidity ...

I planted my seed right in the 5 gal pot and everywhere I read that the FFOF was too hot for seedlings and recommended Happy Frog but I think you are right.When I watered I may have packed it down also but next time I will do something different. I thought about making super soil but it seemed like kind of a waste for 1 plant at a time. I wish I was in a different state!

Shadytrees88 · May 12, 2016

Never ran FFOF alone , always mix with happy frog ; they say it's Not as stable of a soil either , but when I mix with happy it's perfect . If ur worried bout soul being to hot which I doubt cause my photo plants I mix happy and ocean put seeds right in it , now autos I use light warrior in the middle of my container that's as big of spot as a solo so the seed can make it down somewhat before hitting hot stuff , basically same thing in a super soil u only put on the bottom half to 1/3 , and yea supper soil is probly a waist for one plant , I just mixed 6 bags of ocean and 2 bags of happy 2 cuff of perlite , lime , happy frog 3-4-3 , and bat guano kelp meal , the other soil mix I made for some of my outdoor plants was with marine cruisne , lime and kelp , I've not actually made a tru sub cools super soil I didn't have time this year and busy I just couldn't so I got these mixes wrote down gonna see how long they go without adding nutes and what not yeild and so on tru super soil next year I hope , some
Say they Brew it some say they Dnt gonna try a lil so both side by side with super silver by Dina fem and see what happens ... I use some 7gal smart pots for outdoor to I know with them I gotta put sticks or wedges in the soil if it gets dry on top it makes it a bitch to water so those sticks let a lot of water run down into open soil lettin the top get wet without runnin over . U might could try even puttin a couples holes up the sides of the containers to add some airflow , but I say if u let these dry cycle a lil cut back on the water some then u should be ok , I got a small probe I'll run up the bottom of the container or down a inch off the sides and if I pull out and the lower half is wet or got dirt stuck to it then I'll no somewhat .. Like others have said thou weighing that pot feeling it when it's wet or dry is a good indicator when to water , ... Oh question for you now ur happy frog soil have u gotten fungus gnats , these two auto runs I've had gnats in my
Soil only this last batch of soil I got though had them or whatever , misquito dunks clear it right up and yellow stickies but I've not heard much talk of people having them in there batche of soil or what ...

First Auto grow. I would appreciate some expert advice!

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