First time growing in 10 years, tell me what you think of my setup

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berkman858

Well-Known Member
AdvancedNewbie said:
Hey berkman585... Sorry if I'm bring up something old, I don't have that much time to read through posts today, but my plants look almost identical to yours right now (including the bushiness and distance away from each other). That's my concern actually; did you find any problems having the plants so close to each other? When my babies started getting a bit taller I noticed the lower leaves drying up and I pick the ones that are dried up all the time - I want to help airflow and prevent mold. I'm also using a T5 fluorescent from my cloner and I have it sitting on top of my hydroton pointing upward to help the lower leaves to receive a little light - I was just wondering if you had any problems with your lower leaves or if you're using anything extra for the lower half of the plants?
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No I haven't had any issues with the plants being too close together. I have trimmed a little bit to allow better light penetration to the lower leaves. I have 2 circulation fans and a filter/fan scrubber that also circulates air and this coupled with 50-56% relative humidity and I have been ok so far. (fingers crossed)

I think you may want to rethink the T5 under the plants because from what I have read and heard, light under the plants does not really do much and can actually confuse the plant. Side lighting is ok but under lighting doesn't seem to be all that useful, at least from what I have heard. What wattage lamp are you using? My 1000 watt gets down through the canopy pretty well since I did some minor trimming.
 
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AdvancedNewbie

Well-Known Member
Since the T5, I have had less wilting and less dry leaves. I'm using a 1000W HPS as well, but my babies are over 4 feet now and the bottom leaves don't get much light at all. I think next time I probably won't grow them as tall, but the bud production really took off in the last couple days - like I said it seems like I'm ~ 1 to 2 weeks behind what your pics look like. I've topped the plants quite a few times and they bushed right up. The T5 isn't that intense, but I have noticed the bottom leaves growing some hairs now too. It seems pretty ambient and not too directional, but none the less, the light is under the leaves. Maybe I'll take some pics. But thanks - you got me thinking now.
 
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berkman858

Well-Known Member
AdvancedNewbie said:
Since the T5, I have had less wilting and less dry leaves. I'm using a 1000W HPS as well, but my babies are over 4 feet now and the bottom leaves don't get much light at all. I think next time I probably won't grow them as tall, but the bud production really took off in the last couple days - like I said it seems like I'm ~ 1 to 2 weeks behind what your pics look like. I've topped the plants quite a few times and they bushed right up. The T5 isn't that intense, but I have noticed the bottom leaves growing some hairs now too. It seems pretty ambient and not too directional, but none the less, the light is under the leaves. Maybe I'll take some pics. But thanks - you got me thinking now.
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Like I said, I do not know if under lighting is bad from experience, just from books, internet, or hearsay so take what I say with a grain of salt. Have you tried trimming for light penetration?

P.S. - I only FIM'd one plant (the one in the back left) and that thing is fucking bush-e! The other 3 are just growing naturally and all plants are between 24-31 inches tall. I think the look of my plants is a combination of my setup and the strain, Pineapple Kush. When my partner grew some in his tent he got a similar effect, it is a very high yielding strain.
 
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AdvancedNewbie

Well-Known Member
Haven't trimmed at all yet. I think I might wait a bit longer; let the buds find a home then I'll push the shit out them and then start cutting leaves I think. I've 'heard' things about cutting leaves too. lol It never ends.
 
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berkman858

Well-Known Member
AdvancedNewbie said:
Haven't trimmed at all yet. I think I might wait a bit longer; let the buds find a home then I'll push the shit out them and then start cutting leaves I think. I've 'heard' things about cutting leaves too. lol It never ends.
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That sounds like a good idea, I didn't start trimming until this past weekend.

I've "heard" things about things...:grin:
 
wheels619

wheels619

Well-Known Member
AdvancedNewbie said:
Since the T5, I have had less wilting and less dry leaves. I'm using a 1000W HPS as well, but my babies are over 4 feet now and the bottom leaves don't get much light at all. I think next time I probably won't grow them as tall, but the bud production really took off in the last couple days - like I said it seems like I'm ~ 1 to 2 weeks behind what your pics look like. I've topped the plants quite a few times and they bushed right up. The T5 isn't that intense, but I have noticed the bottom leaves growing some hairs now too. It seems pretty ambient and not too directional, but none the less, the light is under the leaves. Maybe I'll take some pics. But thanks - you got me thinking now.
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take ur t5 and mount it on a wall about midway up ur plant facing sidwaysrope will even work.. it will hook up the rest of the plant with lighting. lower leaves wil stop dying off and yellowing plus it wont twist all ur buds op from having light coming up thru the plant. i have a nice 150 hps i use for side lighting. it works pretty sweet for the plants above 3 ft tall. just have to rotate them about a quarter turn every day or so.
 
wheels619

wheels619

Well-Known Member
berkman858 said:
That sounds like a good idea, I didn't start trimming until this past weekend.

I've "heard" things about things...:grin:
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i trim leaves thruout the plants flower life. pull a few here and there as needed. ive found that pulling leaves help the lowers get light and try to at least be somewhat worth it. altho i pretty much just trim the whole lowest foot completely off of the plant now. tends to help the tops bulk up more in flower since it diverts all the energy it was using for the lower stuff up to the tops. however many there may be. also helps not having to deal with all that lower popcorn stuff that i feel is such a waste to put into my hash pile. but it also helps that i grow three foot plants almost all the time. lol.
 
wheels619

wheels619

Well-Known Member
berkman858 said:
That is great to hear! It's about time, slacker.

I have heard that constant trimming can actually stunt a plant, your thoughts? Or maybe it was just trimming too much at once.
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i think its too much at once. lol. i cut a shit ton off my plants and they are fine. just dont pull the leaves off during veg unless its absolutely needed to free up light and to help with circulation. the fan leaves are still used during flower they are just gradually needed less and less becuz as the plant grows buds it will grow a lot of the actual leaves needed for flower production as the bud grows. but everyone grows different ive just found a way that works for me.
 
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berkman858

Well-Known Member
wheels619 said:
i think its too much at once. lol. i cut a shit ton off my plants and they are fine. just dont pull the leaves off during veg unless its absolutely needed to free up light and to help with circulation. the fan leaves are still used during flower they are just gradually needed less and less becuz as the plant grows buds it will grow a lot of the actual leaves needed for flower production as the bud grows. but everyone grows different ive just found a way that works for me.
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Sounds about right. I will just have to find what works in my setup, strain by strain.
 
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budleydoright

Well-Known Member
berkman858 said:
I fully expect to see my plants dead every time I open the tent. I am very happy so far because they are still alive!!
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Happened to me once! A defective circuit breaker on a power strip took down a whole crop. I thought I was the only one that had that feeling!
 
wheels619

wheels619

Well-Known Member
berkman858 said:
That is great to hear! It's about time, slacker.

I have heard that constant trimming can actually stunt a plant, your thoughts? Or maybe it was just trimming too much at once.
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also im not a slacker. lol. im in fact getting ready to order a shit ton of equipment again. lol. moving my grow completely into my room for the 2 4x4 scrogs. :) ordering another tent and fan along with the necessary ducting for the fans and lights. gonna veg one 4x4 scrog screen while i flower the other in a xxl hood with a 1000 hps. im completely digital finally on ballasts and have balling hoods have circulation down pat. now just need ac. dont think im going to run co2. its just too much of an investment for me at the moment. got bills to pay. maybe when i get a huge grow going. lol. ill rock it.
 
wheels619

wheels619

Well-Known Member
budleydoright said:
Happened to me once! A defective circuit breaker on a power strip took down a whole crop. I thought I was the only one that had that feeling!
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i had my only ballast die on me cus a three way splitter melted under load and almost killed everything. surprised my shit didnt burn down. lol. but now i made sure to buy decent ballasts so that if it ever happens again it will just pop the fuse instead of killing my whole grow. had to buy a new ballast, power strips splitters the whole nine yards. was such a pain. to top it off it was fucking raining outside. lmao. thought the world shit on me that day.
 
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berkman858

Well-Known Member
budleydoright said:
Happened to me once! A defective circuit breaker on a power strip took down a whole crop. I thought I was the only one that had that feeling!
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I still feel that way, every time I open the tent and they are alive my balls glow green. That sucks about your power strip, how did it take down a whole crop?
 
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berkman858

Well-Known Member
wheels619 said:
also im not a slacker. lol. im in fact getting ready to order a shit ton of equipment again. lol. moving my grow completely into my room for the 2 4x4 scrogs. :) ordering another tent and fan along with the necessary ducting for the fans and lights. gonna veg one 4x4 scrog screen while i flower the other in a xxl hood with a 1000 hps. im completely digital finally on ballasts and have balling hoods have circulation down pat. now just need ac. dont think im going to run co2. its just too much of an investment for me at the moment. got bills to pay. maybe when i get a huge grow going. lol. ill rock it.
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Alright alright, calm down. I wanna see some pics of this vertical scrog idea of yours. Get to work! :shock:
 
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