Need help - 600W HPS - Too bright?

Critical Canuck · Aug 13, 2020

Bukvičák said:
I see that you have some boxes under the pots, but not sure if you have only 2 plants or 4...? I always have issues with watering plants at the back when went scrog in whole tent. I have tried p-scrog on each plant separate but not sure if flowers being stressed when moved for watering and putting back under the light in different position where it was before. Do not know what costs more work, if normal or individual, so thinking about get back to normal but still looking for a solution how to simply figure out watering and collecting runoff in “hand“ watering system.

I only have two pots sitting on a raised shelf with holes so runoff can drain into bins below it. My tent has access on the sides as well if I needed to water plants in the back. I don’t move the plants, they’re locked in place. To water I have a 6 gallon plastic carboy used for brewing and an auto siphon with a 6’ hose. I just aim the hose to where I want to water under the net.

You can see in the picture the white bins are used to catch the runoff. When the the water stops draining I just pull them out and dump them. The black and orange buckets aren’t really needed. I have holes drilled in the bottom near the front so the water all empties from a single spot; easier to aim into the bin below.

the auto siphon tacking cane is similar to thishttps://www.amazon.ca/Fermtech-Large-Deluxe-Siphoning-Auto/dp/B07WHSC9WH/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=auto+siphon+racking+cane&qid=1597322238&sprefix=auto+siph&sr=8-14

Critical Canuck · Aug 13, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
The black and orange buckets aren’t really needed. I have holes drilled in the bottom near the front so the water all empties from a single spot; easier to aim into the bin below.

the big holes in the buckets are just for airflow around the fabric pots. The drainage holes are on the bottom of the buckets

coreywebster · Aug 13, 2020

Yeah hoods too directional to be so close, needs raising, a cheap/free light meter will help you balance your light distribution out but your getting too intense in the centre and too little around the edges, raising light will help.

Good few weeks left yet, take no notice of breeders times.

Bukvičák · Aug 13, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
I only have two pots sitting on a raised shelf with holes so runoff can drain into bins below it. My tent has access on the sides as well if I needed to water plants in the back. I don’t move the plants, they’re locked in place. To water I have a 6 gallon plastic carboy used for brewing and an auto siphon with a 6’ hose. I just aim the hose to where I want to water under the net.

View attachment 4652167
You can see in the picture the white bins are used to catch the runoff. When the the water stops draining I just pull them out and dump them. The black and orange buckets aren’t really needed. I have holes drilled in the bottom near the front so the water all empties from a single spot; easier to aim into the bin below.

the auto siphon tacking cane is similar to thishttps://www.amazon.ca/Fermtech-Large-Deluxe-Siphoning-Auto/dp/B07WHSC9WH/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=auto+siphon+racking+cane&qid=1597322238&sprefix=auto+siph&sr=8-14

Thank you for explanation. Apreaciate that!

Critical Canuck · Aug 13, 2020

Anyone want to take a guess how much I may end up with, like a weight range? I have no idea what to expect, I haven't even counted how many bud sites; I'm guessing 250-300 buds.

Skuxx · Aug 13, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
Anyone want to take a guess how much I may end up with, like a weight range? I have no idea what to expect, I haven't even counted how many bud sites; I'm guessing 250-300 buds.

Bout a pound.

Critical Canuck · Aug 13, 2020

coreywebster said:
a cheap/free light meter will help you balance your light distribution out

Thanks, I didn't think I could get a decent one, but amazon had an AP-881E for $40 CAD

Critical Canuck · Aug 15, 2020

Ok, I've got the meter in and at the current height I'm only getting 25-35K lux which I think is too low at 300-500 par.
I'm dropped the light a bit to 16" and getting peaks of 65-72K at the brightest spots, 35K outside the footprint.
The spread is decent from to back but the sides are really shaded.
I think I will manually move the light side to side throughout the day to reach each corner

NukaKola · Aug 15, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
Ok, I've got the meter in and at the current height I'm only getting 25-35K lux which I think is too low at 300-500 par.
I'm dropped the light a bit to 16" and getting peaks of 65-72K at the brightest spots, 35K outside the footprint.
The spread is decent from to back but the sides are really shaded.
I think I will manually move the light side to side throughout the day to reach each corner

If you are concerned the sides are being deprived of light just raise the light a bit more. The yield master reflector you have is intended to be hung higher because it focuses the light straight down. If you invest in a wider reflector that spreads light better you can run it closer.

ilovetoskiatalta · Aug 15, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
I posted in the newbie forum yesterday, no response. Trying again here.
I have a 600W HPS in a sun system hood in a 4x4 tent over a scrog.
I had the lights 14" above the canopy during veg (MH) and flipped to flower and HPS and the center mass of the canopy started turning a lighter green.
I figured light burn so I backed off the lights to 18" and it seemed to continue so now I'm up to 20"

So now I'm just trying to figure out if I'm really looking at light burn or a nutrient problem. I don't want to pull the light so far back that it reduces yield.

Canopy-
This was two weeks ago when I first moved the light up to 18"
View attachment 4649590
This is now
View attachment 4649591

Some of the leaves have progressed from lightening to full on looking bleached.

View attachment 4649592 View attachment 4649598 View attachment 4649599

The buds are looking nice now though, I'll be at 5 weeks tomorrow.

View attachment 4649600

Looks like you need Cal/Mag...although Ido not know the strain. What are your temps and RH? Just trying to figure out your set up and gear.

ilovetoskiatalta · Aug 15, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
I'm concerned about bud rot, PM, etc.. There are a lot of leaves in the canopy and the buds can be pretty tight together in some spots.
my RH is at 40% and there are two fans under the canopy and the one bar fan over top. Assuming 3 weeks to go should I even consider removing leaves at this point? Does this look ok or is it still too bushy?

View attachment 4651900

I think I made the mistake of tucking too late, there wasn't a lot of stretch after flipping to flower. So unfortunately most of the bud sites didn't have a lot of vertical growth above the canopy before flowering. I'll see what I get out of it, my first attempt so as long as I get something decent in the end.
Everything is stripped below the net.. Except for the odd popcorn bud just at the canopy level. Figured I'd just leave them there since they're getting light, not sure if it's worth it or not though.

View attachment 4651899

I see the RH is 40% so I still think you have need cal/mag. Also I am a firm believer in giving nitrogen up until the last two/three weeks at 50%, it aids in growth, the goal is a healthy plant through harvest(think tomatoes best advice I have ever been given about growing weed...if you can grow nice tomatoes you can grow nice weed).
Defoliating after the day 23 from flip seems to be the magic day. Stripping everything below the light line is the goal. After that stripping every other week is critical. The fan leaves need to be culled in moderation. I have grown critical widow before, dense nugs that need correct RH(which you have), just deal with culling leaves. You don't want to be touching them at the last week covered in trichomes. You want to let the light into the canopy and thin the fan leaves. Just my .02. I think you will be fine with a few tweaks.

ilovetoskiatalta · Aug 15, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
I'm concerned about bud rot, PM, etc.. There are a lot of leaves in the canopy and the buds can be pretty tight together in some spots.
my RH is at 40% and there are two fans under the canopy and the one bar fan over top. Assuming 3 weeks to go should I even consider removing leaves at this point? Does this look ok or is it still too bushy?

View attachment 4651900

I think I made the mistake of tucking too late, there wasn't a lot of stretch after flipping to flower. So unfortunately most of the bud sites didn't have a lot of vertical growth above the canopy before flowering. I'll see what I get out of it, my first attempt so as long as I get something decent in the end.
Everything is stripped below the net.. Except for the odd popcorn bud just at the canopy level. Figured I'd just leave them there since they're getting light, not sure if it's worth it or not though.

View attachment 4651899

Put vinyl gloves on and open ups few buds to inspect. Cull some fan leaves and promote more air flow through the canopy.

Critical Canuck · Aug 18, 2020

This is today, day 42, I'll be starting week 7 tomorrow. Still 2-3 weeks to go at least?

Merkn4aSquirtn · Aug 18, 2020

Aaaaat leeeeast
They haven't even swolled up yet
3 weeks and check back :eyesmoke:

Critical Canuck · Sep 3, 2020

Just an update. Day 58 since 12/12 switch. More bud then leaf in the screen now. Many more brown hairs and some trichomes are starting to turn white.
feed them today but not sure if I should switch to plain water from now on or keep up with the fertilizer for another week

Bukvičák · Sep 3, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
Just an update. Day 58 since 12/12 switch. More bud then leaf in the screen now. Many more brown hairs and some trichomes are starting to turn white.
feed them today but not sure if I should switch to plain water from now on or keep up with the fertilizer for another week

View attachment 4672948 View attachment 4672949 View attachment 4672951 View attachment 4672952 View attachment 4672953 View attachment 4672993 View attachment 4672995 View attachment 4672996 View attachment 4672998 View attachment 4672999

Now that great job you did finally pays off. Be carefull with drying and curing and enjoy...

Critical Canuck · Sep 9, 2020

Merkn4aSquirtn said:
Aaaaat leeeeast
They haven't even swolled up yet
3 weeks and check back

Here's the 3 week check in, I started just water on Friday.
Thinking of giving some Dry Koolbloom today to finish it off then maybe harvest in 5-6 days after another watering?
Am I being premature?

Most pistils have turned brown, there are now a new batch of white ones though.

Trich's are mostly cloudy from what I can tell, seeing the odd amber one here and there

HydroKid239 · Sep 9, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
Ok, so 14" is 35 cm - I was going on temps at the canopy level and not thinking of light intensity.. My canopy temps are usually under 80f (26c) So heat's not a problem. From mixed sources it didn't seem out of the ordinary to be 12-14" from canopy with temps in check. Many sources I've seen said 16" for daylight equivalent; I'm at 20" now to be safe

I have an air-cooled sun system hood and a vivosun 600w HPS bulb. Growing in pro-mix hp. Feeding General Hydroponics flora series following their drain to waste schedule. I added Koolbloom and Floranectar when flipped to flower. There are two plants in 7 gallon fabric pots. I need to water 2-3 a week, about 3 gallons each pot. Runoff PH has been around 6.

My daylight tent temps are 75-80 and RH of 42%; Critical mass is the strain, shorter flower timeline ~50-55 days - I'm at day 34 now so I only have a week or two before I start flushing.

My current plan, in case there's any nutrient lockout, is to flush them next time with double the water. Then 1/2 dose feedings the next two. that should bring me to week seven, then maybe one more feeding and then just flushing.

This is my first grow but to me it looks the trichomes are already starting to turn white; so I think I maybe only have 2 weeks. I took some closeups with my phone through a loupe:
View attachment 4650062 View attachment 4650063 View attachment 4650064

Still see lots of clear

Critical Canuck · Sep 9, 2020

HydroKid239 said:
Still see lots of clear

There're plenty of cloudy ones too. Maybe 1-2 weeks then?

HydroKid239 · Sep 9, 2020

Critical Canuck said:
I'm concerned about bud rot, PM, etc.. There are a lot of leaves in the canopy and the buds can be pretty tight together in some spots.
my RH is at 40% and there are two fans under the canopy and the one bar fan over top. Assuming 3 weeks to go should I even consider removing leaves at this point? Does this look ok or is it still too bushy?

View attachment 4651900

I think I made the mistake of tucking too late, there wasn't a lot of stretch after flipping to flower. So unfortunately most of the bud sites didn't have a lot of vertical growth above the canopy before flowering. I'll see what I get out of it, my first attempt so as long as I get something decent in the end.
Everything is stripped below the net.. Except for the odd popcorn bud just at the canopy level. Figured I'd just leave them there since they're getting light, not sure if it's worth it or not though.

View attachment 4651899

Can always throw the popcorn in the bubble bags

Need help - 600W HPS - Too bright?

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