upgraded grow room: Few questions remain.

About ready to start my next grow with a few new upgrades.
New grow room: 3.5'W x 6'L x 7'H
New grow light: 400w HPS & MH

I have a few questions.

1. How many plants can that light and space handle? My max is 6 plants, but not sure if that's too many for the light and space I have here.
2. The space seems kind of small. Would it best to ScroG 2-4 plants, or just reg 6 plants?
3. I don't understand how to use nutes during the flowering stage. I've tried to read about it, but I can't keep up with all the lingo. Can someone break down brand and use for me? Would like to spoil my plants this time around.
4. I simply don't understand how to properly cure. How do I know when it's done? Why does my current cure smell like tea and not bud? It's dry and staying dry.. Are my jars not holding in the moisture?

I deleted a bunch of the stupid questions. These are the one's I can't find stupid answers to.. So if someone would be so kind as to shed some light on my dark corner, it'd be greatly appreciated.

1. I would do 4-6 plants, and not do SoG, i dont like SoG just because it makes it much harder to work on the plants. I prefer cropping and LST over SoG anyday.
2. See 1.
3. During flowering you need nutes that have a high Phosphorus content, plants use more P in flowering and more N(Nitrogen)in veg. I only use true organic nutrient sources like guano and compost, but i am in the minority, most people by brand name liquid nutes that you just mix with water. There will be anywhere form 2-6 different products for various stages of growth depending on the brand.
4. Curing can be a slow and kinda tricky process. Sounds like you let it dry out to fast last time. To get a good cure you need to let it dry slowly in a humidity controlled environment, then get it into jars at just the right time. If it dries out to much before it gets jared there is no going back at that point. I hang dry my buds for 6-8 days in a dark room with 70-75% humidity then final trim and into jars from there. The outside of the bud should be a little crispy, the middle still a bit moist, and the stem should snap when bent, but not break. Once into the jars, burb them 1-2 times a day and store them in a dark cool area. After a few weeks you can stop burping the jars and the herb should store for a long time. It takes practice and patience, but hopefully some of this info will get you on the right path.

You may struggle to light all your space.
It is tough to provide illumination to a rectangular space with one light source.
I think I saw a reference document that said a 400W lamp was ideal for 2x2 space (may have been 2.5x2.5).
Ever thought of dividing your space in half? veg one side, flower the other?

mrwood said:

Ever thought of dividing your space in half? veg one side, flower the other?

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nope. I've only thought of making it bigger. Will probably add another 400W before too long.

Twohearted said:

..hopefully some of this info will get you on the right path.

Click to expand...

super helpful answers btw.

in reference to 1. & 2.
I used LST with my last grow and it was a total pain in the ass having things tied down all over the place. Really taken by the idea of ScroG and am itching to give it a try. You didn't mention anything in reference to this type of grow. Any particular reason why it would be a bad idea with 6 plants, my given space, and a 400W HPS? With enough profitable success, I could easily add another 400W lamp to the space next grow.

in reference to 4.
Pretty sure I'm letting it dry out way too quick. Humidity in the drying area was around 30%-40%. Stuff turned to dust after a week of hanging.
I read about doing a 50 hour dark period without water before harvest to aid in drying. May give that a try from now on.