Thanks, man! I appreciate it.
First Grow Ever - Stealth DIY CFL DWC Auto AK & Fem Big Bud... Help Wanted
- Thread starter 4204l1f3
- Start date
(Butters)
Well-Known Member
Holy crap that is some serious MacGuyver shit you put together there! Well done. Sounds like a great closet to be doing this too. All you'll really need is 4' height anyway.
As for humidity, I've read to keep it between 40 and 50 but apparently this may vary by strain. For my last grow it would dip below 40 frequently and it wasn't a problem. Just try to avoid going past 30 as that is definately too low and will stress. Temps and everything sound perfect.
If you're using the foil tape I've seen a bunch of other people use on dwc's then you should be fine. No worries of hot spots or anything. Where did you find that stuff anyway? It's like the only thing I can't find in wackomart. They need to get a pot-growing section there...save me walking all over to get stuff.
Dude, those are some picture perfect looking plants. And you weren't kidding about those roots! I speak weed fluently and they are very happy with you. Hopefully you'll pull some nice yield off of those babies.
Not sure about you but the more I read about pretty much all of these autostrains the more I hear that they're not all that potent (lower on the thc content than non-autos...generally speaking). If you're going for personal use only, you might want to think about water curing some of it to get a more concentrated bowl to thc ratio. I'm doing this with the grow that I just finished from bagseed. Downsides are that it loses it's taste, smell (not necessarily a bad thing), and final weight. Despite the loss in weight, it doesn't lose any thc really (since it's not water soluble) so the overall concentration of thc goes way up (not the amount). Apparantly the end result is stronger weed with less weight. I have a friend who did it this way who was literally able to mix it with just a smidge of tobacco in a joint and smoke it in public without anyone thinking anything of it. Pretty crazy. And the best part, instead of a 3-4 week dry cure, it takes a total of 10 days!
Here's a link if you're interested:
https://www.rollitup.org/harvesting-curing/102641-greenx-how-tos-how-water.html
Keep up the good work boss. You definately gotta green thumb for this. I'm off to smoke the rest of what I got left and get ready for Lost. Later and thanks for being the only one to check out my grow too.
As for humidity, I've read to keep it between 40 and 50 but apparently this may vary by strain. For my last grow it would dip below 40 frequently and it wasn't a problem. Just try to avoid going past 30 as that is definately too low and will stress. Temps and everything sound perfect.
If you're using the foil tape I've seen a bunch of other people use on dwc's then you should be fine. No worries of hot spots or anything. Where did you find that stuff anyway? It's like the only thing I can't find in wackomart. They need to get a pot-growing section there...save me walking all over to get stuff.
Dude, those are some picture perfect looking plants. And you weren't kidding about those roots! I speak weed fluently and they are very happy with you. Hopefully you'll pull some nice yield off of those babies.
Not sure about you but the more I read about pretty much all of these autostrains the more I hear that they're not all that potent (lower on the thc content than non-autos...generally speaking). If you're going for personal use only, you might want to think about water curing some of it to get a more concentrated bowl to thc ratio. I'm doing this with the grow that I just finished from bagseed. Downsides are that it loses it's taste, smell (not necessarily a bad thing), and final weight. Despite the loss in weight, it doesn't lose any thc really (since it's not water soluble) so the overall concentration of thc goes way up (not the amount). Apparantly the end result is stronger weed with less weight. I have a friend who did it this way who was literally able to mix it with just a smidge of tobacco in a joint and smoke it in public without anyone thinking anything of it. Pretty crazy. And the best part, instead of a 3-4 week dry cure, it takes a total of 10 days!
Here's a link if you're interested:
https://www.rollitup.org/harvesting-curing/102641-greenx-how-tos-how-water.html
Keep up the good work boss. You definately gotta green thumb for this. I'm off to smoke the rest of what I got left and get ready for Lost. Later and thanks for being the only one to check out my grow too.
Thanks, man... Appreciate it.
Update 04/16
Day 14
Sorry for not updating in a while, I figured it would be a waste of space to post about every millimeter of growth, etc...
The new seedlings are lookin great... They're stretching a bit, but simply because the lights are a bit higher to make room for the older kids...
One of the AKs and the Gigabud have already stretched their roots down to the water. The other new AK seed was a bit runty, so that one's in a little humidity dome. I'll throw it in the DWC once its roots come out of the rockwool. It looks healthy, though.
I'm starting nutes tomorrow on the next res change (Friday). I'm probably gonna go a little under 1/4 strength to make up for the newer plants.
All the roots are looking amazing, and foliage growth is pretty good as well. There are a few brown spots on my two inner AKs, but I think that's from the lights being too close. I'll post pictures tomorrow night, after a day of nutes...
Temps are staying in the low 80s, and the humidifier keeps it at 40%
pH has been most triumphant, staying at a solid 6 every time I check... Both reservoirs, too. I love it!
I ordered 3 80mm pc fans off ebay and they guy threw in a free one, so I'll have four brand new pc fans to wire into the boards I'm getting cut. They'll be the exhaust for the cabs.
Thanks for stoppin by! Like I said, all input is greatly appreciated and most welcome.
Update 04/20
Day 18
Happy 420 Everyone!!! Take the time today, no matter what you're going through, to stop and toke up with your good friend Mary Jane... Enjoy yo' muthafuckin' lives!
Alright, so things seem to be going pretty well so far. I finished the majority of the work on the room, and the plants are adapting nicely.
Pics 1-3 are of the new setup. The area on the left will be the flowering area, and the bigger area is the veg area. As you can see, I have two passive intakes cut in the veg area, and two active pc fan exhausts coming out the top. The top fans will each be covered by a homemade carbon filter soon. The flowering area will have one passive intake hole and one active exhaust in the top.
My question is... Did I do that right for a passive intake/active exhaust system? Will the pc fans be strong enough?
The temps stay in the mid 80s and the humidity stays around 40%. Both the humidifier and a bigger fan are pointed in the direction of the vegging area.
Pics 4-10 are the autos... They are staying really short, so I raised the lights a bit. I can't really tell, but it looks like little pistils are growing from the bigger two. Can anyone tell from the pics? Sorry, shitty cam. The roots are yellow, but I think that is from the nutes. Water temps stay around 60.
Pics 11-13 are the fems. The Purple Lady is looking real nice, and she is very perky. She reaches up a bit with her leaves...
I'm really excited that things are going so well for my first grow. Some of the leaves have browned just a tad in some spots, but I think that's from having the lights too low early on.
Enjoy the pics, enjoy your day, and thanks for stoppin by!!!
Day 18
Happy 420 Everyone!!! Take the time today, no matter what you're going through, to stop and toke up with your good friend Mary Jane... Enjoy yo' muthafuckin' lives!
Alright, so things seem to be going pretty well so far. I finished the majority of the work on the room, and the plants are adapting nicely.
Pics 1-3 are of the new setup. The area on the left will be the flowering area, and the bigger area is the veg area. As you can see, I have two passive intakes cut in the veg area, and two active pc fan exhausts coming out the top. The top fans will each be covered by a homemade carbon filter soon. The flowering area will have one passive intake hole and one active exhaust in the top.
My question is... Did I do that right for a passive intake/active exhaust system? Will the pc fans be strong enough?
The temps stay in the mid 80s and the humidity stays around 40%. Both the humidifier and a bigger fan are pointed in the direction of the vegging area.
Pics 4-10 are the autos... They are staying really short, so I raised the lights a bit. I can't really tell, but it looks like little pistils are growing from the bigger two. Can anyone tell from the pics? Sorry, shitty cam. The roots are yellow, but I think that is from the nutes. Water temps stay around 60.
Pics 11-13 are the fems. The Purple Lady is looking real nice, and she is very perky. She reaches up a bit with her leaves...
I'm really excited that things are going so well for my first grow. Some of the leaves have browned just a tad in some spots, but I think that's from having the lights too low early on.
Enjoy the pics, enjoy your day, and thanks for stoppin by!!!
(Butters)
Well-Known Member
Wow. You have seriously transformed that closet space you started with. As for the exhaust ?, try posting on the Grow Room Design thread. I know that the power of the fans has alot to do with the overall space you are working with. They're geniuses on that forum and have it all down. For now, the fact that your temp and humidity is staying stable is a good sign (I would think).
Plants lookin good too man. Can't tell gender from those pics but don't worry too much. When they are male, they tend to clearly be male and have little tiny seed-like sacs coming from them. You'll be able to tell the males before they even think of releasing pollen. Whatever you do don't rush to chop any of them until you're 100% sure. I almost did that on my first grow and would've had it all backwards (killing my females and letting my male live). Also, when posting pics for gender, I found it helpful to take the picture from farther away so it'll get in focus and then use what picture software your computer software to "zoom" and then save the zoomed pic to post here. Works like a charm for me. Good luck bro.
Plants lookin good too man. Can't tell gender from those pics but don't worry too much. When they are male, they tend to clearly be male and have little tiny seed-like sacs coming from them. You'll be able to tell the males before they even think of releasing pollen. Whatever you do don't rush to chop any of them until you're 100% sure. I almost did that on my first grow and would've had it all backwards (killing my females and letting my male live). Also, when posting pics for gender, I found it helpful to take the picture from farther away so it'll get in focus and then use what picture software your computer software to "zoom" and then save the zoomed pic to post here. Works like a charm for me. Good luck bro.
Hey 4204l1f3,
I just got my bubble ponics system and I was wondering where are you supposed to position the tubes running from the underwater pump? I know your supposed to run them up into the pots but are they supposed to be on top of the cubes or below them, and actually touching them? Good luck on your grow!
I just got my bubble ponics system and I was wondering where are you supposed to position the tubes running from the underwater pump? I know your supposed to run them up into the pots but are they supposed to be on top of the cubes or below them, and actually touching them? Good luck on your grow!
I think you mean the drip lines. you run them next to the stalk on the rockwool or whatever medium you are using. the "drip store" has adjustable drippers for .40 a piece. I like to put a floating "mist maker" in the tank. It works wonders to keep the root between the baskets and water level soaked. It also helps form small roots to grow off larger roots and it's a nice back up. I run mine six on then 2 off and just repeat three times. You will be surprised at the health of the roots and how fast the growth is. Good luck!!!
Yep I meant the drip lines. The reason I ask the question is cause I've pics of people laying the lines on top of the cubes and then other lay the lines below the cubes, Probably doesn't make much of a difference? But since I'm new to this medium I want my first grow to go as good as I can cause I am OUT OF WEED...BUMMER, LOL.
Hey, man, thanks for the info. Haha, yeah, and I'm still not done with the work, lol... I'm OCD, what can I do? I've been checkin in on your grow every once in a while. Good luck with your troublemaker, man... Really, once that root hits the water, it's smooth sailing just like ya said. Thanks for all the helpful links, man. Good luck to ya. Keep checkin in, bro!(Butters) said:
Good shit with the info for him, man... +Rep.ganjalord said:
Actually, I didn't use a drip line or a water pump at all... I use an airpump that has a line running to an airstone(s) at the bottom of the res. I didn't wanna risk overwatering rockwool by using water pumps and lines running into the net pot. Aerating the water is much easier. Good luck with your grow, man... And thanks for stopping by!
Update 04/22
Day 20
Woke up this morning to the greatest surprise EVER!!!!
Three of the AKs are a definite female, with little white pistils growing out from the nodes, and only one of them has balls!
The other two are still seedlings, so obviously I don't know the sex yet.
As far as the Purple Lady and Gigabud, they are feminized seeds so I'm pretty sure they'll be female.
Pics included.
1-2 are Autos and their roots. I moved the male closer to the front, away from the females, for my own organizational purposes.
3-4 are the feminized plants and their roots.
Today's a triumphant day... Thanks for checkin' in! Any advice is most welcome.
Day 20
Woke up this morning to the greatest surprise EVER!!!!
Three of the AKs are a definite female, with little white pistils growing out from the nodes, and only one of them has balls!
The other two are still seedlings, so obviously I don't know the sex yet.
As far as the Purple Lady and Gigabud, they are feminized seeds so I'm pretty sure they'll be female.
Pics included.
1-2 are Autos and their roots. I moved the male closer to the front, away from the females, for my own organizational purposes.
3-4 are the feminized plants and their roots.
Today's a triumphant day... Thanks for checkin' in! Any advice is most welcome.
Attachments
(Butters)
Well-Known Member
Congrats on the girls. 3:1 female to male ratio is pretty damn good, you lucked out. I still can't get over the root mass in there. Those are gonna produce some nice buds boss. Are you up to full strength on the nutes yet or are they growing like that without the full blast? Keep it up.
Nah, man... That was 1/4 strength nutes, started after their first week. I think I'm gonna bump up to 1/2 strength next res change (Friday). I also tried my hand at LST with the Purple Lady... I trimmed some leaves from the side she'll be laying on and bent up a plastic coated paper clip which hooks to the edge of the net pot. Worked out nicely. Gave my wife a big leaf as a present, lol. I'm definitely doing a seed run on the autos, though... Fuck buying seeds every month. Thanks for checkin' in, brotha. Sorry about any grammatical fau pas, I'm catastrophically stoned...
Hey, no prob man... Thanks for stoppin' by!
Update 04/24
Day 22
Today is the second res change for the autos, and the fems get theirs tomorrow.
I added 1/3 strength nutes this time, hopefully that won't be too strong for them.
Everything is coming along great. I couldn't ask for an easier grow. I was so afraid I was gonna fuck shit up, but everything's goin' smooth.
The AK females, and male actually, look like they are preflowering already.
I'm having trouble deciding something, and need some further input.
Should I:
A.) Grow the Autos as planned, plant 6 White Russian seeds in a week, and grow out the fems for buds;
B.) Seed the Autos with my male, plant a new 6 every month, and grow out the fems for buds;
C.) Turn one of my Auto females into a hermie via light poisoning and pollinate another fem with it, thus creating fem seeds but wasting two female Autos. I would then run a perpetual Auto AK grow;
or
D.) Grow these out as planned, grow my 6 white russians as planned, then clone my Purple Lady/Gigabud for a perpetual clone harvest.
I'll post pics tonight after the Autos' first day on stronger nutes.
Thanks for stoppin' in!
Day 22
Today is the second res change for the autos, and the fems get theirs tomorrow.
I added 1/3 strength nutes this time, hopefully that won't be too strong for them.
Everything is coming along great. I couldn't ask for an easier grow. I was so afraid I was gonna fuck shit up, but everything's goin' smooth.
The AK females, and male actually, look like they are preflowering already.
I'm having trouble deciding something, and need some further input.
Should I:
A.) Grow the Autos as planned, plant 6 White Russian seeds in a week, and grow out the fems for buds;
B.) Seed the Autos with my male, plant a new 6 every month, and grow out the fems for buds;
C.) Turn one of my Auto females into a hermie via light poisoning and pollinate another fem with it, thus creating fem seeds but wasting two female Autos. I would then run a perpetual Auto AK grow;
or
D.) Grow these out as planned, grow my 6 white russians as planned, then clone my Purple Lady/Gigabud for a perpetual clone harvest.
I'll post pics tonight after the Autos' first day on stronger nutes.
Thanks for stoppin' in!
Update 04/25
Day 23
All the plants are on their second week of nutrients now... This week they're at 1/3 strength. Everything's looking amazing, I'm so happy. I thought I'd fuck this up for sure.
I separated the male from the entire room. I'm going to collect his pollen regardless of what I choose to do. I made a little DIY pot for him. I cut a 2L soda bottle about 2/3 of the way up. I filled the bottom portion with pHed water, then I just stuck the top in upside down and threw the netpot in, guiding the roots through the mouth. This way, the top of the bottle will collect the pollen. I have the male cleaning the air in my living room, lol.
Pics 1 & 2 are the AutoAKs and their roots.
Pics 3-5 are the Purple Lady/Gigabud and their roots. Can you tell I did some LST on the Lady? I only pinned down the main stem so far. I'm letting it grow some more before I pin it again. I'm using plastic coated paper clips, and they bend so easily I can just hook them onto anything.
Pic 6 is my AK male that I separated.
Please check my last update and help me make a decision on what to do as far as breeding. This is really important, and I need some advice fast. Thanks again!
Day 23
All the plants are on their second week of nutrients now... This week they're at 1/3 strength. Everything's looking amazing, I'm so happy. I thought I'd fuck this up for sure.
I separated the male from the entire room. I'm going to collect his pollen regardless of what I choose to do. I made a little DIY pot for him. I cut a 2L soda bottle about 2/3 of the way up. I filled the bottom portion with pHed water, then I just stuck the top in upside down and threw the netpot in, guiding the roots through the mouth. This way, the top of the bottle will collect the pollen. I have the male cleaning the air in my living room, lol.
Pics 1 & 2 are the AutoAKs and their roots.
Pics 3-5 are the Purple Lady/Gigabud and their roots. Can you tell I did some LST on the Lady? I only pinned down the main stem so far. I'm letting it grow some more before I pin it again. I'm using plastic coated paper clips, and they bend so easily I can just hook them onto anything.
Pic 6 is my AK male that I separated.
Please check my last update and help me make a decision on what to do as far as breeding. This is really important, and I need some advice fast. Thanks again!
Attachments
(Butters)
Well-Known Member
Looking good. Definately pollinate at least one bud site before you're done with this round. Those look too good not to take advantage of the breeding option. White russian sounds good too. They're autos right? White widow cross with the lr2 or something. Supposed to have a high concentration for an auto. Be sure to pollinate those ones too!
Light poisoning is one way to get fem'd pollen but I've read that this method tends to result in more hermie-labile seeds. The easier a plant turns hermie with light poisoning, the stronger the chance of producing hermie seeds. If you flower it a few weeks past when it would normally be ready, the plant will form some pollen sacs on it's own to try and pollinate itself (kinda like a defense mechanism to ensure the plant's gene line carries on). Here's a link that explains what to do.
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-faqs/34027-somas-version-making-feminized-seeds.html
Keep up the good work my man.
Light poisoning is one way to get fem'd pollen but I've read that this method tends to result in more hermie-labile seeds. The easier a plant turns hermie with light poisoning, the stronger the chance of producing hermie seeds. If you flower it a few weeks past when it would normally be ready, the plant will form some pollen sacs on it's own to try and pollinate itself (kinda like a defense mechanism to ensure the plant's gene line carries on). Here's a link that explains what to do.
http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-faqs/34027-somas-version-making-feminized-seeds.html
Keep up the good work my man.
Hey thanks, man... Yeah, the White Russians are autos as well.
Aw, man... I read about that a couple weeks ago but forgot where it was! That's a great method, I'm probably gonna do that.
Thanks for the compliments, bro!
if you use dwc you can't overwater. the drip line is just another way to get moisture/nutes to your roots in the net pots. I use it as a back up in the event the air pump fails. It will buy me some time. Likewise with the fogger/mister, it's an added system but also a backup. So, for my grow to fail I need all three systems to die. It would take a power outage for that to happen. DWC/bubleponics+fogger/mister+drip system=a fast, safe, less worry grow with huge roots and great yield. I really love the fogger/mister!!!
Awesome. I'm glad you like it. I have personally heard that misters suck... I also use rockwool (you would've known if you had read this thread) so a tube to the netpot WILL overwater the plants, because the rockwool will be too wet and it'll get moldy. Fuck that. Everything's going great as it is, and I don't fix shit that isn't broken. To me, all that extra bullshit is a waste of money, and I don't wanna risk hurting my baby girls. I have extra pumps in case they fail, I pay my electric bill, and my city gets a blackout once every three years or so, so I'm good as far as failures go. Thanks for trying to help, though...