Question about supplemental lighting

To preface;

Just finished drying/curing first grow. I dont have a final weight, but came in around 3oz dried between the 2 "purple kush" autoflowers.

Attached are photos in mid-late flower, and how it came out after drying/cure. To be fair, i ran into a number of issues that have since hopefully been ironed out. Waiting for the 2nd grow round to sprout. I am hoping for suggestions to implement for lighting, or the dry/cure process to imrpove my quality. Ill be running two of the same strain now that i have a baseline to go off.

Grow environment details;
4x2x5ft tent, passive intake
4" exhaust w/carbon filter @195 cfm,
1800w hollandstar x6 cob (310ish draw)
Ive got the timers dialed in to maintain 18-23*c and 50-65% humidity, running a heavily modified AN schedule with some additives that have worked so far to correct some issues. Seedlings under a sunblaster t5ho.

Given the past run dried pretty fluffy, im hoping to see improvements this run, with issues fixed. But at the same time, im also planning on adding some lighting to help supplement the led for bloom. Leaning towards 2:1 ration of 2700k:6500k cfls on y splits, 3 strings of them around the plants (rotated plants daily)

Id prefer to learn to build a qb for this space, but budget is on hold for house improvements this summer, and i cant get higher than the 5ft height of tent (floor joists directly above) keeps me pinned to shorter plants for now, but thats my issue i guess lol. Also, whoosh. Diy tutorials i can only shake my head at. I recognized what aluminum was, understood nothing else. Questioning my understanding of what aluminum is now. Lol.

Based on my thoughts, im pretty sure i can push these next 2 a lot further than the first ones, just trying to line up any lighting adjustments i should make before the next 30days or so go by and they start bloom. Spent hours googling to basically just read adverts for misleading lights, constantly. And never the answer im looking for lol.

Really just hoping for some budget friendly options for the time being, until i can actually just upgrade the space entirely. Not disappointed, just know that it can go muuuuch better.

Ive formed a lot of opinions on some of the myth-or-not subjects, but being 2nd grow, cant really argue for/against, but im open to ideas that have worked for others. Whether or not it might apply to my grow is different, but im certainly accepting any comments, suggestions, ideas, experiences, etc.

switch to a green strain. Purples like that are never potent. Sure they are pretty but who really cares about that.

The potency isnt too bad, obviously ive had better. The stone is very very nice, but wears off rather quickly afyer the first hour or so. Not necessarily a bad thing, guess it depends on the perspective. Colours came secondary or further, it was the effects i was more concerned with. Not gonna lie though, it was fascinating to watch the colours change.

Im 50-50 on the grow ending the same, dense but dried fluffy, less bag appeal, but it just might turn out decently better just fixing the issues i had previously. Still half expecting to be wanting more/better lighting in the future, exploring options for long-term, as well as short-term additions to supplement the current light, regardless of how 'ideal' it is, looking nore at how 'effective and appropriate' the solutikn can be in this situation.

Yes, wipe and start over with any tech of lighting is an option. Yes i also want the less efficient, quick and dirty fixes that i can play with in the meantime.

Appreciate the input, thanks.

Some semi-weekly pics for colour progression included

Fluffy bud is caused by three main factors:

1) Genetics! This is the biggest factor.
2) Hot temperatures in flower.
3) Chopping too early.

It sounds like you have plenty of light. Doesn't look like you chopped too early. So if it wasn't running on the hot side during flowering then I am going with genetics as the cause.

Growinmitties said:

Id prefer to learn to build a qb for this space, but budget is on hold for house improvements this summer, and i cant get higher than the 5ft height of tent (floor joists directly above) keeps me pinned to shorter plants for now, but thats my issue i guess lol. Also, whoosh. Diy tutorials i can only shake my head at. I recognized what aluminum was, understood nothing else. Questioning my understanding of what aluminum is now. Lol.

Really just hoping for some budget friendly options for the time being, until i can actually just upgrade the space entirely. Not disappointed, just know that it can go muuuuch better.

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hm, not a fan of em, but instead of CFL maybe try some recent branded normal LED bulbs.
investment will be low and you can see later in which direction you will go.
that will give you a much better ppfd for watt, then cfl do.
cfl is great, very soft light,have some 420nm blue, but very inefficient.
of course as mentioned , genetics plays the biggest role, just if you want to try something for 20 bucks and see.
QB board diy isnt that hard! btw.

no idea which COBs your light is using, there is a wide range, watts dont tell the whole story.
i could use 250W wall draw on 5pcs CXB3590 cobs in a 2.5x2.5, wont be able to use this amount with a recent led strip build or led boards.... too much light.

Renfro said:

Fluffy bud is caused by three main factors:

1) Genetics! This is the biggest factor.
2) Hot temperatures in flower.
3) Chopping too early.

It sounds like you have plenty of light. Doesn't look like you chopped too early. So if it wasn't running on the hot side during flowering then I am going with genetics as the cause.

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Ren, I know you mentioned it but it should be in your list. How about factor four:

4) Lighting.

Just kidding man. I hope you can laugh at my shit giving.

cobshopgrow said:

hm, not a fan of em, but instead of CFL maybe try some recent branded normal LED bulbs.
investment will be low and you can see later in which direction you will go.
that will give you a much better ppfd for watt, then cfl do.
cfl is great, very soft light,have some 420nm blue, but very inefficient.
of course as mentioned , genetics plays the biggest role, just if you want to try something for 20 bucks and see.
QB board diy isnt that hard! btw.

no idea which COBs your light is using, there is a wide range, watts dont tell the whole story.
i could use 250W wall draw on 5pcs CXB3590 cobs in a 2.5x2.5, wont be able to use this amount with a recent led strip build or led boards.... too much light.

Click to expand...

Yeah, not teally a whole lot of info avaliable for the light i grabbed. Decent price, hald decent results imo, but Yeah it could be better. I was initially misled, i guess. Not salty yet, but searching for adjustments xD

'Recent led strip build or led boards', can you clarify? Do you mean a 250w draw would be too much for a 2.5x2.5 with recent tech? I might be a bit behind still if thats the case lol or is that just the cbx3590s
Too much info floating around my head still. Need to digest a bit

PadawanWarrior said:

Ren, I know you mentioned it but it should be in your list. How about factor four:

4) Lighting.

Just kidding man. I hope you can laugh at my shit giving.

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Very well could be genetics tbh. From what ive researched; yeah the strain sounds nice, and the effects match. But i have serious doubts about it being a true purple kush. Maybe close, but if it was clone only, maybe bastardized to shit to make the strain semi-legit for sale

Growinmitties said:

Very well could be genetics tbh. From what ive researched; yeah the strain sounds nice, and the effects match. But i have serious doubts about it being a true purple kush. Maybe close, but if it was clone only, maybe bastardized to shit to make the strain semi-legit for sale

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Listen to Ren man. I was just giving him shit. He's one of the master's here.

PadawanWarrior said:

Listen to Ren man. I was just giving him shit. He's one of the master's here.

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Hehe yeah, very well may be gentics. Wasnt disagreeing. Its really too bad. I would love to have really seen this strain in its prime. Not to say that the high is bad in any way. It might take an extra bowl or two to feel truly inebriated for a few, but im quite content currently.

Hell, its a week before my cure is "finished", and im sitting at my dads, smokin my own early weed, drinking beer, and playing golf. Wtf else could i really ask for.

Sorry again, "recent branded leds" can you provide an example? It doesnt have to be an exact best-of-the-best match, just a general direction i can focus myself towards.


Cheers guys, appreciate the input!

Own weed, beer and golf. Sounds freeking amazing rn

Growinmitties said:

Hehe yeah, very well may be gentics. Wasnt disagreeing. Its really too bad. I would love to have really seen this strain in its prime. Not to say that the high is bad in any way. It might take an extra bowl or two to feel truly inebriated for a few, but im quite content currently.

Hell, its a week before my cure is "finished", and im sitting at my dads, smokin my own early weed, drinking beer, and playing golf. Wtf else could i really ask for.

Sorry again, "recent branded leds" can you provide an example? It doesnt have to be an exact best-of-the-best match, just a general direction i can focus myself towards.


Cheers guys, appreciate the input!

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If you want a quality LED. This would rock that space. You could even get away with the HLG 135 Rspec, but the 260 would be better. Or 2 135's. I like multiple vs a single light myself, but it costs a little more. I have 2 135's in my 2x4 veg tent. And if you order from HLG use promo code "RIU10" for 10%off.

Hey @Stephenj37826, I think you owe me a freebie. I've sent tons of people to you so far, lol. Just kidding man. You're products rule and I'll keep recommending them to everyone on here. I already own a bunch.

PadawanWarrior said:

If you want a quality LED. This would rock that space. You could even get away with the HLG 135 Rspec, but the 260 would be better. Or 2 135's. I like multiple vs a single light myself, but it costs a little more. I have 2 135's in my 2x4 veg tent. And if you order from HLG use promo code "RIU10" for 10%off.

260W QB® V2 Rspec LED Kit

Ultra High Efficiency LED Boards for DIY. QB288 has 288pcs Samsung 301H or 561C LED

horticulturelightinggroup.com

Hey @Stephenj37826, I think you owe me a freebie. I've sent tons of people to you so far, lol. Just kidding man. You're products rule and I'll keep recommending them to everyone on here. I already own a bunch.

Click to expand...

Mm, yeah. I think that was around what i was looking at. Rspec/r2 or similar. I'll have a gander, i think when i do it though, itll be the 2 135s. Multiple point sources and all the tinkering options ftw lol.

I cant doorstop the current light. Not neutered yet, not looking for it anytime soon either lmao.

its been chopped too early.

coreywebster said:

its been chopped too early.

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Veru good possibility. I was around 5%amber, waited a week, chopped the top half, until i was getting looser stuff, then stuck the bottom back in for another week.

I ran out of patience lol, had issues, and wanted to get the next batch going to start fresh with my list of fixes

For sure could have went longer. Right up my alley for how i like my stone though. Ill probably leave one of the next 2 for an extra week or two this go around. See how that goes

no idea if light is your issue.
the led bulb i suggested as its easy to make, cheap n something to play around with (you asked for it), in worst case the bulbs find their use somewhere in the home later on.

the rspec light is for sure a recent led light, its a good one, provides your space with plenty of light and people here know it well.
if you want to dig deeper in to leds you can do tons reading here in the led section or even start a thread there.
The brand names for leds you should look for are, samsung (above HLG is),cree, osram, bridgelux.

cobshopgrow said:

no idea if light is your issue.
the led bulb i suggested as its easy to make, cheap n something to play around with (you asked for it), in worst case the bulbs find their use somewhere in the home later on.

the rspec light is for sure a recent led light, its a good one, provides your space with plenty of light and people here know it well.
if you want to dig deeper in to leds you can do tons reading here in the led section or even start a thread there.
The brand names for leds you should look for are, samsung (above HLG is),cree, osram, bridgelux.

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Time will tell, right? Lol
I might just be overthinking it atm anyways. Gonna see how everything goes with my "fixes" before i stick my feet in too. I'll probably not mess with the hardware until afterwards, see how these changes go first before starting to overhaul others, but itll have to happen at one point or other haha.

Need to do me some more reading

Def. appreciated! Cheers