Getting started.
- Thread starter LongWay2GROW
- Start date
ok ur setup looks good nice air current and adjustable lights thats awesome so the soil thing u can do at ne time just b careful and dont crush ur babies wen u add it the watering cycle should b newhere from 1-2 times a week if that u should water until it starts to run out the drain holes in the pot that way u kno u got all of the soil and then let it dry about 1.5-2 inches below the surface before watering again i suggest getin a 15$ moisture tester it takes all the guess work out of watering also have u tested ur waters ph level cuz i made the mistake up using mineral water and bottled water and all of the stuff i thought was good for it but turned out it was either to acidic or too basic so i had to adjust tap water left out for 24-48 hrs works pretty well as long as its ph tested b4 using.....um on the lights u will probly b ok for now but im using the cfls as well and i have 5 23w daylights 4 one plant and that seems to do great 4 on each side and 1 over top but the setup is watever works for u man ...... if u hav ne ?s just ask ive done alot of research and have been grownin my baby girl for a lil over a month now... o b4 i forget ur soil not the greatest choice it works wonders for actual plants but not for hemp too many added nutes in the soil already but keep an eye on em and hopefully ull get good results out of it just b careful with that stuff.
i recommend
https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/113223-skip-cfls-20-150w-complete.html
instead of cfls... i regret going cfl...
https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/113223-skip-cfls-20-150w-complete.html
instead of cfls... i regret going cfl...
kpw555
Well-Known Member
I'm currently growing some from seed in Miracle Grow soil and it is pretty hot. Some White Widow that started liked it ok. The Bubblegums are very very dark green with the very slightest of curl to their leaves. Some strains might be killed by this soil. I will not use it again. Start with a sterile soilless mix and add your own nutes.
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
I got a 3 in 1 tester today at Lowe's that measures pH, moisture, and light levels and here's the readings I recorded.
pH: 7.5 soil, 7 water. *Is this acceptable???
moisture: "moist" (dead middle of the reading, which goes from "dry" to "moist" to "wet")
light: 2,000+ lumens. The bulbs are rated at 2,300 lumens so that's dead on the mark, and with the setup I now have I'm able to keep the lights right at 1" above the tops with no heat issues whatsoever.
Also I noticed too that the fan is producing miracles as the plants don't "sway" from the bottom anymore. They appear very strong and only the top halves of the plants move at all in response to the circulation.
All in all I think this is turning out very well for my first time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! This is so much fun I haven't even messed with anything else in like, I don't know, 13 days lol.
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
Dude that's really awesome. I'll DEF keep that in mind for the very near future. I'll give these lights I have a try for a little while longer for energy bill purposes but if they don't work out like I need them too I'll be more than happy to buy. But I'll get it regardless because I want to upgrade as soon as I start to flower, and this looks like a great deal.
longway2grow ur startin to get the jist of everything i c and thats awesome ur ph should b about 6.5 to 7 which is wat most recommend for these god givin creations in which we love to watch grow up in front of our eyes but ya if u can adjust ur ph just ever so slightly ul have a perfect setup ur water should b neutral or 7 and if possible the same ph as the soil, ur lumens are at 2000 even or is that just per light cuz ur plants will need lots more b4 the end of ur grow ruffly 12000 per plant which would b the best thing for ur new babies but if u cant get that many lights in there try a diffrent lighting setup the fluorecent bar bulbs put out quite a bit of lumens but ull need sumthin to penitrate down thru the branches and light the whole plant so thats like a personal thing if u can figure sumthin out but other than that sounds like uve covered the basic for starting ur grow and gettin them thru vegging GOOD LUCK Man
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
2300 lumens per light, per plant. that's about the best i can do right now given my financial situation and space. I plan on getting a couple HIDs before flower, but I MIGHT be able to do it here in the next two or three weeks. But thanks for the props, heaven knows I'm trying!
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
Looks good, globeguy. I just planted some seeds and once they sprouted I kind of went out in a rush to add what I could. But yours are looking nice. Keep me updated on the grow, man.
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
It's day 15 into the grow, and here's some updated pictures taken today. Let me know what you think. I also have more pictures in my gallery if you want to see.
420weedman
Well-Known Member
raise those lights up a little bit .. looks like they startn to burn a little
420weedman
Well-Known Member
and are you using a fan ?
wannabe grower
Well-Known Member
If/when you get HID lights I have read that MH is good for vegging while HPS can be used for both vegging and flowering. If you can afford to get a digital switchable ballast that handles both types of bulbs then that'd be the way to go. 400 Watters are getting relatively inexpensive as more people upgrade to 600's and 1000's. Think fully assembled kits with all you need to operate can be had for around $200.
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
Yes, I use an oscillating Aloha Breeze tower on med speed. They hardly respond to the fan being on low, and med only gently moves them now. They're getting pretty strong.
Because of the dark edges and new growth? Yeah, I thought that but when you look at them closer they're a dark purple color. I asked and did some research and found out that it's not heat (temp's only 83 degrees avg.) it's a phosphorus deficiency. I was going to go to the hydro store today and pick up some P but they were closed. I have to wait until tomorrow and hopefully try Frank's Nursery or a megastore, and if they don't have any it's looking like Monday until I can get it.
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
400 watts is a little over our electric bill budget right now. I know I need one, or could use one pretty bad, but I just can't right now
But I CAN do these...check em out.
http://www.1000bulbs.com/85-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents/9183/
420weedman
Well-Known Member
3x 85 = 255 watts .... 4200lumens each 12,600 total
for another 30 bucks you can just use 250 watts and have 27,000 lumens !!
same power cost and give better buds
http://htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47994
for another 30 bucks you can just use 250 watts and have 27,000 lumens !!
same power cost and give better buds
http://htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47994
LongWay2GROW
Active Member
Dude, 420, that's freakin sweet. I like the $20 one suggested above, but this one you have here is perfect...reflector and all! What a find, man. Kudos. I can do this one, and will be on it here verrrrrrry shortly. Thanks, man!