First Time Grow - Advice Welcome

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Yeah i just asked the seller to cancel my order. Damn thats what i get for buying something cheaper lol

 

[oldhippie64]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

it's ok at least you got to cancel it and not burn something up/down trying to use it. the other bulb the was linked in your earlier post was more(~ $36), but sold from USA so it should be ok. I think you could could build one of the CFL set ups in the DIY forum for that.

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Im thinking that im jut gonna buy to CFL 125W and call it a day for the entire grow. Until i need to flower.

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

What you mean call it a day, dont give up on them PLEEEASSE all will be alright how are they looking under the current light set-up.

 

[oldhippie64]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Popcorn I think what he meant was he's just getting the more expensive 125watt bulb to continue grow and giving up on trying to go cheaper since he bought wrong light.

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

What you mean call it a day, dont give up on them PLEEEASSE all will be alright how are they looking under the current light set-up.

Popcorn I think what he meant was he's just getting the more expensive 125watt bulb to continue grow and giving up on trying to go cheaper since he bought wrong light.

Hilarious!!! Yeah what i meant was im just gonna buy the good lights and stop playing. Besides, my kids need the best nutrition. BTW the guy hasnt canceled the order just yet!

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Just found this on Ebay. These 4 have more lumen and higher wattage than 2 125W. SHould i go for the 2 125W or the 4? Also when i buy my 125W's should i get 1 64k-65k and 1 27k and run them at the same time or should i just get 2 64-65k?

 

[oldhippie64]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

those on ebay look good. they are right for usa and good color(65k). it up to you if you want the 2 125w or the 4. if you buy the 4 will you need additional sockets? I think that would be my deciding factor.

2 65k or 1-65k&1-27k ? if you do go with the 125 watt bulbs I do the 2 65k cause I cant think of way to balance light and area I think you'd end up with half your under the 65k which would be shorter and busher then the other half with would be taller and thinner. that's what happens when they vegg under the different light colors. flowering is another thing and they like the 27k for that not sure what happens when you flower under 65k light.

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

those on ebay look good. they are right for usa and good color(65k). it up to you if you want the 2 125w or the 4. if you buy the 4 will you need additional sockets? I think that would be my deciding factor.

2 65k or 1-65k&1-27k ? if you do go with the 125 watt bulbs I do the 2 65k cause I cant think of way to balance light and area I think you'd end up with half your under the 65k which would be shorter and busher then the other half with would be taller and thinner. that's what happens when they vegg under the different light colors. flowering is another thing and they like the 27k for that not sure what happens when you flower under 65k light.

Thanks man, hey so just to clarify. How long does it take till harvest and how long will it need to stay in VEG state and flowering stages?

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Thanks man, hey so just to clarify. How long does it take till harvest and how long will it need to stay in VEG state and flowering stages?

That Completely depends on the strain you are using noob, on average i would say 4 weeks veg 8 weeks flower but you can veg for as long as you want really then its the flowering period that is a precise timescale.

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

That Completely depends on the strain you are using noob, on average i would say 4 weeks veg 8 weeks flower but you can veg for as long as you want really then its the flowering period that is a precise timescale.

Damn POPCORN, YOU DA MAN!

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Damn POPCORN, YOU DA MAN!

so just look online at what strain you got and should tell you the flowering times.

Always glad to help where i can

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Truth is the seeds i used was just from some mid that i bought. No Northern Lights or anything special. They're mystery seeds lol

 

[oldhippie64]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

That Completely depends on the strain you are using noob, on average i would say 4 weeks veg 8 weeks flower but you can veg for as long as you want really then its the flowering period that is a precise timescale.

like popcorn said you can veg as long as you want. but you wouldn't want let it get too tall in veg cause when you start to flower they stretch some. My outdoor grow got twice as big.

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Truth is the seeds i used was just from some mid that i bought. No Northern Lights or anything special. They're mystery seeds lol

Thats alright just keep an eye on the trichomes and you will know when to harvest

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

I have a lot to learn cause i have the slitest idea what that is lol

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Basically when the pistiles start turning so you can just have a look through a microscope (get them very cheap mine cost £3) and look at the colour and that will tell you when to harvest.

will find a much better explanation for you later

 

[Popcorn]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Harvesting your weed based on trichomes is probably the easiest way for most growers to harvest as close to peak harvest as possible.


The difficulty in the method comes with how to determine the state of the trichomes and what each state means.
If you have the equipment needed it is however very easy and with experience it gets even easier.


To explain how to harvest by trichomes properly I will go into detail as to how to determine when trichomes are at their peak and which substances these trichomes contain, which are desirable and which are not.






The first thing you need to know is that there are 3 "states" in a trichomes development.




The first state is clear. Clear trichomes contain precursor cannabinoids (cannabinoids are the different substances in cannabis).
These precursor cannabinoids are not psychoactive (they do not produce a 'high') yet and harvesting clear trichomes will not give you a proper harvest.




The second state is cloudy/milky. Cloudy trichomes contain fully realized THC (the by far main contributing substance in any cannabis high).
You want to get as close to 100% cloudy trichomes @ harvest to get the most potency out of your plant. It's impossible to get 100% cloudy trichomes, since trichomes are always being produced and are always maturing, even after harvest the trichomes will continue to develop.




The third state is amber. Amber trichomes contain degraded THC --> CBN. CBN represents a loss of 90% potency (from THC).
CBN is not desirable in any harvest, since it not only represents a huge loss of potency but research into the substance has also shown that CBN does not produce a high like THC does, CBN produces a more sickly feeling not a true high.




Understanding the difference between clear - cloudy - amber trichomes is essential in getting a proper harvest with a peak potency.




This image is a good helper to remember the differences:

To understand how substances change and are developed in cannabis you will need to read extensively on each substance to understand what each substance does and how they affect each other.


This image is helpful in getting a vague knowledge of substances in cannabis and how they develop:

I will not go deeper into what each substance (CBG, CBD, CBC, CBN, THCV etc.) do, suffice to say they all play a part in the cannabis high, albeit a minor part for most of them, since THC is the main factor in a cannabis high.
Some provide pain relief, some reduce muscle spasm, the list goes on and research is still being done to figure out all of the benefits of these substances.


I can however post an image that explains rather well which effects the substances have on the human body:

Trichomes are of course not the only indicator of when to harvest.
There are other factors that should be taken into account when determining when to harvest.


Calyxes on the plant will swell up, these swollen calyxes are a sign of maturity.
The pistils (what some new growers call hairs) will change colour (often to an orange tinge) and recede into the calyx.
Receding pistils are also a sign of maturity.
Then there is the overall look of the plant. Many experienced growers simply go by this factor, they can determine peak harvest just by looking at the plant and seeing how it looks from afar regarding colour tinge and the look of the calyxes.


All these factors should be taken into account when harvesting. All of these factors usually align when peak harvest approaches.






The best way to check how the trichomes on your plant are doing is by means of a loupe or a microscope.
I would recommend getting ones that can at least go to 60x magnification.
Getting one that can go to 100x would be even better, but the more magnification the more cost.


All you have to do is take a small sample of a leaf with trichomes on it, or if you have a loupe or a USB microscope simply look at the trichomes on the plant to determine their 'state'.
It's important that you check all over the plant, since trichomes will usually develop and produce faster at the top(s) of branches and slower and the bottom of the plant.


Some people choose to harvest the tops first and let the bottom nugs grow a bit more to let the trichomes mature and develop further but also to let the buds fatten up more. It's a judgement and preference call really.




It's almost impossible to harvest without at least some amber trichomes (and some clear), keeping the amber trichomes to the minimum is key if you want maximum potency out of your plant.
Usually if you are careful and watchful you will end up with around 5% clear trichomes, 10% amber and 85% cloudy trichomes.
That is a very reasonable % split and is what you should be aiming for.

Found this info it should help alot

 

[oldhippie64]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

Truth is the seeds i used was just from some mid that i bought. No Northern Lights or anything special. They're mystery seeds lol

I've used bag seed from mids, it turned out better then the bag the seeds came from LOL. another thing to add to using trichomes is to look a a fully developed leaf ( yours should be old enough now)to see if it's a indica with has a shorter fatter leaf or a sativa with has a longer skinnier leaf. then you should have a rough idea of harvest date cause indicas have a 8 week flower period and I think indica is 12 weeks(double check me please). I don't know if this is fool proof as breeders are always cross breeding but it worked for me.

 

[noobtoexpert]

Re: First Time Grow. Am i in the right direction?

I've used bag seed from mids, it turned out better then the bag the seeds came from LOL. another thing to add to using trichomes is to look a a fully developed leaf ( yours should be old enough now)to see if it's a indica with has a shorter fatter leaf or a sativa with has a longer skinnier leaf. then you should have a rough idea of harvest date cause indicas have a 8 week flower period and I think indica is 12 weeks(double check me please). I don't know if this is fool proof as breeders are always cross breeding but it worked for me.

Yeah that trichomes ill have to read more on. Hey my plants are that big yet tho. How long should i wait for the leaf to finish so i can tell the difference.? <-- You dont have to answer that, idky i typed it lol