First Mainlining Attempt

GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
Hey guys just wanted to get some feedback from the group. This is my 3rd growing attempt and I'm trying the manifold technique for the first time because of space. I'm working with (2) 6500 lumen large CFL bulbs accompanied with 5 100W smaller CFLs. I'm in a shed and it's winter so I have a space heater keeping the temps at about 75degrees. Humidity is about 48%. These were started from seed and they're supposed to be Sour D. Smell is already pungent even this early. Seedlings emerged from the soil on Oct.18th and it's now Nov 21st so we're right at about a month of age. I think I may have started training a little early, I made the first top to the 3rd node a week ago, and yesterday I cut again to make 4 colas. Still deciding if I want to do 4 or 8.
I have 3 ladies. 1 is very strong, the other slightly less, and one is puny. The puny one I'm just leaving alone as a sort of control to the experiment.
Any tips or feedback are greatly appreciated.
 

Attachments

GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
T
Alienwidow said:
They look great man. You did good. Cfls arent known for amazing growth rate, but eveything looks just fine.
Click to expand...
Thanks man. My cousin is growing in Oregon and has keyed me in on some nutrient brands to buy over the internet. Being in the Bible belt keeps my options for soil and nutrients pretty limited as far as commercial options. I'm working on cultivating my own soil at home. CFLs are what I'm working with now for monetary reasons. If I switch to HPS or Metal Hallide for flower will that be too much shock for my ladies or no? I've never switched lights during a grow session before.
 
Alienwidow

Alienwidow

Well-Known Member
GreenThumb65 said:
T

Thanks man. My cousin is growing in Oregon and has keyed me in on some nutrient brands to buy over the internet. Being in the Bible belt keeps my options for soil and nutrients pretty limited as far as commercial options. I'm working on cultivating my own soil at home. CFLs are what I'm working with now for monetary reasons. If I switch to HPS or Metal Hallide for flower will that be too much shock for my ladies or no? I've never switched lights during a grow session before.
Click to expand...
Hell no, they love getting tossed under a higher wattage light for flower. You toss those plants under a 1k light and theyll double in size in a week. Watts = weight. Just remember, when you add light you get heat, and temps are one of the most vital parts to growing. So depending on the area you have to use, a smaller bulb hps could be a better option. A 1k will grow a 5x5 area pretty good, a 600w will do a 4x4 spot, and a 400watt will do a small tent perfect.
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
GreenThumb65 said:
Hey guys just wanted to get some feedback from the group. This is my 3rd growing attempt and I'm trying the manifold technique for the first time because of space. I'm working with (2) 6500 lumen large CFL bulbs accompanied with 5 100W smaller CFLs. I'm in a shed and it's winter so I have a space heater keeping the temps at about 75degrees. Humidity is about 48%. These were started from seed and they're supposed to be Sour D. Smell is already pungent even this early. Seedlings emerged from the soil on Oct.18th and it's now Nov 21st so we're right at about a month of age. I think I may have started training a little early, I made the first top to the 3rd node a week ago, and yesterday I cut again to make 4 colas. Still deciding if I want to do 4 or 8.
I have 3 ladies. 1 is very strong, the other slightly less, and one is puny. The puny one I'm just leaving alone as a sort of control to the experiment.
Any tips or feedback are greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Looks like a proper start of a mainline to me. Good job! If I wasnt into running clones, I'd love to try my hand at mainlining.
I'd suggest getting an HID light. If your currently using lets say a 900-1500W space heater, you might as well get a 1000W light and heat your space and grow nice plants for that same 1000W you are already using just to heat your space. Be prepared to face heat issues (as @Alienwidow mentioned) though in warmer weather.
 
GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
HydroRed said:
Looks like a proper start of a mainline to me. Good job! If I wasnt into running clones, I'd love to try my hand at mainlining.
I'd suggest getting an HID light. If your currently using lets say a 900-1500W space heater, you might as well get a 1000W light and heat your space and grow nice plants for that same 1000W you are already using just to heat your space. Be prepared to face heat issues (as @Alienwidow mentioned) though in warmer weather.
Click to expand...
Oh I did this past summer. Heat stress and spider mites. Temps were up to 105 a few months ago. I just gotta figure out a way to keep it warm during lights off in a month or so.
Here's my last fail, or learning experience, however you look at it.
 

Attachments

chillok

chillok

Well-Known Member
OP there are great nutrient brands available online or at a hydro store if you have one. I love me some Botanicare! Easy to use, mostly organic, and you can use it all the way to finish if used properly. You need strong light penetration for mainlining girls that stretch. Consider getting HPS again or go LED. Here's one of my girls a few weeks from chop. Mainlining is great. So easy towards after stretch, just let em sit..
_20161121_202019.JPG
 
GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
Lordhooha said:
What sort of genetics you working with?
Click to expand...
I was speaking generically about genetics. 3 different seeds, 3 different levels of progress.
I honestly have no verification for the genetics. It's whatever they sent me. I don't feel like Bergman was the optimal choice but the price was right.
 
GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
Update. They're about two days away from their 3rd cut to make 8 colas. I've tied down the 4 growth tips on each of the ladies, waiting for em to turn up. I was a little rough tying them down but they should bounce back, minor tears. And as with every good gardener, every grow you want something better and to improve so I'm gonna break down and shell out for two ceramic hallides. Will be interested to see the growth rate change, I've always done CFLs
The first photo is obviously the beefier of the two strong ones. The third is still pathetic.
 

Attachments

GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
Question. My ladies have been cut to make 8 mains, and I removed all lower growth tips. As the main colas have been growing they have continually put out new growth tips on the main 8 nurteint lines, do I keep these are do I always remove any new growth tips and keep the original 8?
 
chillok

chillok

Well-Known Member
GreenThumb65 said:
Question. My ladies have been cut to make 8 mains, and I removed all lower growth tips. As the main colas have been growing they have continually put out new growth tips on the main 8 nurteint lines, do I keep these are do I always remove any new growth tips and keep the original 8?
Click to expand...
Good question OP. I like to prune early growth tips which helps the mains focus on vertical growth (which were forcing to go horizontal by tiring down). The hub is creating space between mains. Each cola needs their center mass to continue pushing out. once the hub and colas are grown and spaced out enough, you allow them to go vertical. That's when I allow growth tips to remain. hope that makes sense
 
sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
Looks good buddy. Mainlining takes time, but it's worth it. Creates a beautiful plant.


You're supposed to be stripping away all other growth, but I'm not sure I ever really understood that.. :) Is it so you don't get any side shoots and lower popcorn nugs?

I did it once... plant looked like a dog that just got it's ass shaved :) Here is a progression

trim1.jpg

trim2.jpg

the ring.jpg
2014-09-15 09.03.45.jpg

oct1_1.jpg
 
Last edited:
GreenThumb65

GreenThumb65

Member
chillok said:
Good question OP. I like to prune early growth tips which helps the mains focus on vertical growth (which were forcing to go horizontal by tiring down). The hub is creating space between mains. Each cola needs their center mass to continue pushing out. once the hub and colas are grown and spaced out enough, you allow them to go vertical. That's when I allow growth tips to remain. hope that makes sense
Click to expand...
Yes! Thank you. That makes perfect sense. No one responded in the first couple of days after that question so I did it anyway. They've really started to shoot up since then, so I'm glad the instinct paid off.
 
Nugachino

Nugachino

Well-Known Member
Looking really good there OP. I mainlined mine too. Only have 5 out of the 6 heads I wanted. I accidentally broke one. Hope it goes well for ya.
 
GuerillaGanjaGrower

GuerillaGanjaGrower

Well-Known Member
GreenThumb65 said:
Update. They're about two days away from their 3rd cut to make 8 colas. I've tied down the 4 growth tips on each of the ladies, waiting for em to turn up. I was a little rough tying them down but they should bounce back, minor tears. And as with every good gardener, every grow you want something better and to improve so I'm gonna break down and shell out for two ceramic hallides. Will be interested to see the growth rate change, I've always done CFLs
The first photo is obviously the beefier of the two strong ones. The third is still pathetic.
Click to expand...
Leave more of a stump behind when you top and you won't split your plants at the knuckle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top