First Closet Grow: Top Skunk 44 - Indoor, 18-6 4 females from seed

hi guys,

I wanted to start a journal so i could share all my photo updates as I go. I'm 16 days in now since the seeds popped.

my setup is:

This 105W (525W equivalent) Blue CFL: http://bit.ly/Lypf1K
Using my wardrobe with a sliding door, it had white walls but I lined it with reflective foil anyway.
Its about 3 feet wide by 2 feet deep.

I have 4 top skunk 44 seeds, all popped the seed fine, planted them in paper cups with decent compost from my garden center.

here's some photos of the progress so far:

So here's a little update for you, i'm exactly 3 weeks in since the seeds popped, all plants are looking healthy I think!
I've migrated them into their new pots for the rest of their grow, 2 plants have some minor browning on the lower leaves, but i guess that's either because they aren't really needed/not getting enough light down there/i maybe over or under watered when i moved them to the bigger pots!

comments are appreciated as always

You should start thinking about an upgrade in lighting. That wont be enough in the end.

Yeah I reckon I will get a second bulb soon, they're one for now though, the tips are ever closing up from too much light

3 and a half weeks

Im now about 6 weeks in (just under)
here's some photos from today!

really wide leaves, so I'm assuming they're indica - I read top skunk 44 is mostly sativa, but I guess as its a mix they can vary? one of my 4 looks much lankier and has thinner leaves, so maybe that one is more sativa? but then again, im a total noob.



what do you think? they look healthy enough right?
im wondering at what stage I should switch to 12/12 and get a red bulb?
also - do i need to replace this blue bulb? or run both simultaneously?

cheers

Looking good man. How is the smell? Do they have that skunky smell already?

Cheers!
Yeah I get hints of skunk now and again, but this is in my room so I think I've got used to it. It smells strongest when I first get home from work. And when I stick my face in them!
Is that a sign to switch to 12/12 then, when they start smelling?

I thought skunk was more indica. In any event, have you thought about topping those. With the smaller light training is pretty important.

Yeah me too, but the websites I've seen say top skunk 44 is mostly sativa.
And no not really, I've considered it but worried I'll mess it up! They look so natural & beautiful right now I can't bring myself to intervene.... Do you think it's really important then? What exactly do I need to do?

Definitely and it is easy. you basically clip the plants top growth shoot. you can do it above any node on the plant. I like to go down one or 2 to where there is an obvious healthy node. then judt clip the stem above that node. It will make the plant start growing side branches, getting a bushier plant...which gets light to more colas = big, better, higher, quality buds

make sense?

Ok.... Can I use 'fimming' instead? I'm just kinda reluctant to cut off something that looks so healthy!

is the stock still flexible? if yes then you can fim by tieing the top down ... if the stock is too firm already, and you cant do some major bending (Like bend the thing in half in the shape of an inverted "L"). If the middle of the stock is to firm then you need to top or just let it grow. Fimming or topping helps keep the plant shorter though

Well I've just snipped the very top as seen in some fimming videos on YouTube, I'll see what effect that has, if it doesn't split the growth I'll try topping next. I'll post some more pix very soon.

Cheers for your help!

And yes the stalk is still pretty flexible at the top, and super floppy when the soil dries out! but I haven't seen any fim methods that use tying yet? I thought bending and tying was for low stress training?

sorry, i was thinking. LST, low stress training. That is the bend over method. snipping the top is topping. you'll get more side growth now. When you get a couple leading shoots, tie them down when they are young and the ones below will reach the same level. you will get a more even canopy

Good news!!! Today I noticed all 4 plants have started preflowering, and all seem to be female
got some great close up shots of pistils, I'll upload them tomorrow for those who are interested.

P.s - thanks for the likes!

Tried to uploa pictures but the upload function doesn't seem to work will try again soon

Raybad said:

Tried to uploa pictures but the upload function doesn't seem to work will try again soon

Click to expand...

Try with Mozilla firefox or google chrome if you have those browsers .

Epic looking plants got very similar looking plants that are going to replace my current flowering plant which is some landrace , think they are some skunk variety also . Nice setup its a good controlled environment compared to mine haha . Congrats on getting all females and goodluck budding them peace . subbed

**************UPDATE************

hi guys, bad news, it all went tits up. all 4 are dead and buried
I've just started all over with 5 8-ball kush and 5 Afghan #1.

will keep you posted, I may start a new thread.