First time CFL Grow

Shanej94 said:

Thank you! Since this is my first grow I'm focusing alot on learning and documenting every step. I will definetly try to keep it up, but with a full time job it can get difficult at times. I take all the information you guys offer and look into it and I appreciate everything bit of it. The feedback definetly makes this whole journal experience alot more helpful. I'm going to read into LST some more today. I have read about super cropping and am wondering how that would be in a grow like this. I don't mind moving my lights either, it's another way for me to interact with them and learn a bit more.

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I felt exactly the same!!!
Just to keep my 2 cents going, I did read about super cropping, main lining topping, fming and everything in between to manipulate the plants. But I ended up doing only LST the first grow as the other more "drastic" methods like super cropping scared me. And only on half my plants at first. I ended up tying of all of them one way or another late into flowering. And that's when I learned planning earlier on the shape of all my plants would have helped.

Early on its fun to move lights around and interact with them, but later in flowering it becomes a pain and more difficult than fun, especially when you have a main branch way taller than the next branches, which are themselves unequal...and you want to keep your lights close (inches with cfls) to all of these, who sway a lot due to their weight. And all of this in a small space.

Personally, I recommend this to a friend who I help setup a small cabinet size cfl grow box: start with just bending the plants the first grow. As the main top gets taller then the next set of cola sites, bend it 90 degrees so it's level with said next set of colas sites. You do this when the stalk is soft enough and bends easily, tie it down how you can to gently hold it in place. It's bent, not broken and it will eventually harden in this shape. The tip of the bend branch will grow and straighten and you can keep repeating the process to keep the whole plant levelled. You then apply the same logic to other branches as they poke high enough above your set canopy. I start with zip ties, one end on the branch im bending and the other into holes I poke in my pots, and later in put a home made screen when there's a lot to manipulate. but whatever means you can craft to come to similar results should work, and teach you how to best approach it for you. It's also good to consider with different strains growing - one could easily get much taller then the other, for example.
Then try your hand at topping, super cropping, etc, again trying it once first, rather than over all your plants is how Indidbit and recommend it, but having the reference of growing 1 plant "naturally" is slot of help when trying harder techniques.

Anyways, I'm probably rambling by now, but food for thought I guess. cheers!

Thank you!Been reading up on LST And you just added alot of useful information. I think I will try LST because super cropping is a bit scary and I would feel more comfortable doing cropping after I am a bit more experienced.

Also I'm going to invest in a larger cabinet. With all of the time and effort being put into my plants I hate to limit them so much In such a small space when I do not necessarily need to.

Light stress training is a major help with stem strength and bigger yields just put a round of screws along the top edge of your potter and then tie Down nod by nod

First picture aside from the second, when I started too do LST then the second photo is after a month or so of LST and trimming cropping, and any other tips I've learned from people

Decided to give a brand new update too show the benefits of LST

Wow that's beautiful. I will definetly be experimenting with LST later. Quick question on trimming lower folaige. Doesn't that induce unwanted stress, from the plant repairing itself. And what are the effects of trimming. Does it stimulate growth faster after she repairs?

I'm not sure on how the stress is managed, but as far as I've seen, when I trim some lower branches off they just sort of cauterize quickly and the plant moves on. I use clean scissors and trim those branches which I know will never reach close to the canopy. But even then I've been surprised before, so I'm never in a rush to trim stuff off and really do it a bit every now and then through out the grow. Even in my current grow, about 2 weeks into flowering I've left lower branches on that I'm only deciding to cut now - they aren't going to make it and I can see they won't yield mature buds by now so I'll cut them off.

Honestly brother, I cut off any of the new break offs on the nods when they grow, it's called weed for a reason the plant is extremely resliant just take it step by step you'll tell the stress signs when growth slows down and leaves are not growing quickly I tend too un tie and re tie my LST twine and Let it have some recover and grow taller I let my plant get too the sixth nod before cropping and only took it down one or two nods and let it grow into a double top coal
While letting each arm grow its own way

Even super cropping is easy just gently bend the stem back till you hear a gentle snap try not too damage the skin if do little clone gel and tape if this is done right you'll have a perfect knuckle

I like alot Of results I have seen using lst and light trimming.this is what ive gathered ,so those lower leaves require energy that could be placed elsewhere and by trimming, that growth is dispersed to more essential sites correct? And with my small setup, trimming those leaves I could get better light penetration to essential sites if I use light on the sides, is this correct or do I have the wrong idea.

Thanks Kyfe, I will definetly try super cropping when I feel a little more comfortable. My main goal for this grow is to learn. And with only 2 plants I want to be extra cautious. Lst and trimming seem very low risk and that's what I need at the moment.

Once your plant reaches 14 days old, its officially left seedling stage and is in vegetative stage.
The new growth on my plants started at about day 21.
So I didn't do any LST'ing or lollipop-ping or topping until about day 30.
Basically, the first 30 days; i watched the plants grow and watered them from time to time, and adjusted lights.
After 30 days the fun begins.

I have not trimmed the lower leaves yet. I am waiting until I get an even canopy.
I am doing a scrog at 13 inches high. Once the scrog is full. I will trim the lower fan leaves. Wait about 1 more week. and flip the lights to 12/12.

Hope I helped you out a little....
I am also on my first grow. Growing is fun, and sometimes stressful. Mostly fun.

Spent a lot of time in the room today. Just reading and researching and looking at every little detail of my plants. It's almost therapeutic, and the humidifier helps with my allergies haha. My bag seed did some growing today, her new leaves look so beautiful, the colors and how she grows just fascinates me. The little pineapple express sprout did a bit of growing as well. She is staying strong, I am very excited to grow some pineapple express. It is one of my top 5 favorite strains to medicate with. I love it. Here's a photo of the wonderful bag sprout. Goodnight all, hopefully I will update in the morning. Depending on my mood.

Girls look great, not much time this morning, gotta Go to work. Do not mind my dirty ass fingernails or hands if I ever get them in picture, I am a mechanic so my shit gets dirty as fuck. I'm also very clean so chances are I've already tried a million times to get it off my hands. Had to add that because I hate my dirty hands sometimes.. will post about the girls after work. Peace guys, happy friday. This is pineapple, hoping here true leaves come out while I'm working, and here is the bagseed next still looking perty,

Good morning rollitup members, my bagseed was growing so much yesterday she got a bit twisted but straightened out by morning, she is coming onto her second node. Her first leaves and yellowing around the edges and they are crispy as if they are burnt edges. What issue does it look like I'm experiencing. I'm thinking ph or nitro burn from the mg? I don't have a ph tester unfortunatley. The pineapple express is also looking good her first set of true leaves are coming out and should be pretty prominent after work . Photo 1 is bagseed photo 2 is pineapple express

what have you done recently (or not done)?
You mention mg supplement, did you give a full dose? I start wit 25% of recommended dose with seedlings and increase it every other feeding until I get to 100%. I also do his for regular nutes but again, I use coco which has nothing in it.
I'd also make sure my lights aren't too close as well (even with cfls). Small plant don't need so much light so I've found it safer to give mine more room when they are still young seedlings.
And an aquarium ph test kit is cheap if you want to test your water

I made the mistake of watering the leaves also.
You water the soil not the leaves, because when you water the leaves: the water weighs down the plant and leaves a residue when the water evaporates.

I am using mg Potting soil with water/time release nutes. I have also watered the leaves a few times on accident, it is tap water and it did rest on the leaves until absorbed or evaporated.