Newbie, wanting advice on what i did wrong.

Dani007

New Member
I'm thinking that I needed more light. I used TaoTronics Hydroponic LED Grow light, I only used 1 until the flowering stage and I added another. My set up was one light from the top the entire time and then another the other light angled from the side in a grow tent. The bottom of the plant is a little bit bushier but the top is real thin. I used Botanicare BCOP2 1-Liter Organicare Pure Grow Plant Food and I also only used a 3 gallon soft sided container and am thinking I should have used a 5? The plant is about 38 inches. Just wondering everyone's thoughts.
 

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az2000

Well-Known Member
You should visit the LED forum (under Indoor forum). Those inexpensive Chinese import LEDs (MarsHydro, Tao, all the stuff found on eBay and Amazon), they're not much better than growing under CFL. In fact, the spectrum can be worse.

You're better off with ceramic metal halide in a tall (> 5') space, or T5HO in a short space. To do LED, you have to spend some money on Area51, or put some elbow grease into a do-it-yourself COB.

Also, don't fall for the "more money means better LED." There are some predatory brands out there like HydroGrowLED (scammie MacKenzie), Lush, Kind, BlackDog, GrowBlu which are little more than rebranded epi-whatever lights sold for 5x markup.
 

$bkbbudz$

Well-Known Member
LED light sources should be VERY close to the top of the plant, you need not worry about burning because they put off little heat. The distance you have the plant from the source is the issue. Good effort for a first grow though.

I suggest much more research and study for your next attempt.

Good Luck and Great Growing
 

Dani007

New Member
Do you think i need additional lighting or just to have the light closer to the plant? Thanks for everyone's advice and help, this is great!
 

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Do you think i need additional lighting or just to have the light closer to the plant? Thanks for everyone's advice and help, this is great!
Both. Those blurple LEDs are weak.

Light from the side, but not from beneath.

Next time, top your plant once it's a foot tall with some nodes or side branches. It will then spread out and give you a much bigger yield.

Props on the quality of the smoke you DID grow!

I'd strongly recommend CFL or a six to eight bulb 2' T5HO fixture to go with what you have.

Soil, nutes and watering all look on point, so you're closer to healthy yields than you may think!
 

Dani007

New Member
I'll definitely get a better light setup. Do you guys think a 5 gallon is necessary ? My grow tent is small and only 5' tall.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
I never go larger than 3 gal, even in a 7' tall tent. I think it has to do with how long you want to veg. If you top the plant as suggested, you can train it sideways, top each branch again, train the resulting growth sideways again (google for "mainlining on growweedeasy"). Instead of growing a plant fast (normal timescale) you spend more time creating a large, bushy plant. That's when I would consider 5gal containers.
 

woody333333

Well-Known Member
I'll definitely get a better light setup. Do you guys think a 5 gallon is necessary ? My grow tent is small and only 5' tall.
One plant I would tell ya to get the biggest pot you can fit...... More soil is more room for error.....and roots....
 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member
Weak veg spectrum, possibly high temps too. When you use lights like those they can be a bit underpowered. They try to compromise by adding more bloom spectrum but the plant ends up stretching.
 

Joe Blows Trees

Well-Known Member
If I'm not topping a plant or topping it only once, 3 gal pots is what I use. Topping twice or more, I use 5/7 gallon pots. That way, the roots have plenty of room to grow and support the extra branches created.
 
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