First Grow: 2 white widows

ViCiOsO · 12-31-2007, 02:36 PM

I also had 2 northern lights. One turned out male, and the other stopped growing a long time ago. I suspect I fried it with nutes. Live and learn?

Anyway, I learned that the soil I chose had alot to do with such slow growth. I used Schultz growing mix by itself. BAD IDEA! I feel I'd have way better results had I mixed a medium with the right drainage and sufficient oxygen.

It doesn't help that I added a product called Rare Earth from General Hydroponics. This was added on top of the soil before watering. It's supposed to coat the roots and help them take in more nutrients. What it really did was make my soil even worse. Very clumpy! I uprooted the male to take a look and noticed the clumps too hard for the roots to get through. Lesson learned!

growspace about 3 x 3 x 7
seeds from nirvana
400hps
MaxiCrop Liquid Seaweed (also used for foliage spray)
Flora nutes from general hydroponics (started in flowering stage)

Forgot to mention, the plant that has been doing better was planted in Black Gold cuz I ran out of Schultz. What a difference!!!

The plant on the lowerleft is in Black Gold, planted almost two weeks after the rest.

Experimented with LST. Unfortunately this plant turned out male. I think it was too under-developed when I started the LST.

This pic was taken late in the veg phase. I had just gotten a metal halide bulb compatible to my hps ballast. Wish I did this from the start.

Day 1 of flowering. Notice the hps light. The two NL plants on the bottom were trashed.

Lights off.

Day 7 of flowering. I realllllly start to notice the new growth. Very exciting.

Day 14. 3rd week of flowering.

I was getting a bit worried that my light was too close to the tops, but there aren't any signs of them being burnt so I guess they're doing fine. I'm sure the two fans on both ends of the reflector help.

Boss · 12-31-2007, 11:37 PM

They look VERY healthy, Like Roor said, watch the reaching fan leaves, I have burned many a tips like that :-)

Great Job!

ViCiOsO · 01-01-2008, 03:59 AM

Thanks man. Keeping an eye on them isn't a problem. I find myself sitting on the floor in front of them just watching them for what seems like forever lol.

Medical Marijuana · 01-01-2008, 05:38 AM

Healthy and beautiful plants, and a spotless grow room. I will be following this journal for sure. +10 reps for luck!

runbyhemp · 01-01-2008, 09:52 AM

Looking very nice ... nice and green

ViCiOsO · 01-01-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks for the nice words fellas.

Question: I've really made a point of not overwatering. I mix a gallon of water with nutes ONCE a week and I feed each plant half a gallon. I then wait until i see the fan leaves droop a little (which only takes about 2-3 days) and I give them just enough water (about 1/4 gallon) to see those fan leaves straighten out in minutes. My question is, should I be waiting for the leaves to droop? I hope it isn't very stressful.

Oh, and they're in 5 gallon pots, only filled up about 3/4 of the way up.

kickstart · 01-01-2008, 04:52 PM

I usually water when the very lower leaves begin to show droopiness and I usually give them a good blast of water. I would guess they get about a gallon if not a bit more... I look for a small amount of run off (water coming out the bottom vents on the pot). The best way I have found to determine if they need water is to pick up the pot with one hand. It is an acquired sense that comes with time and experience. If you let them droop too much you will notice leafs dying off a couple days after watering.

ViCiOsO · 01-01-2008, 06:00 PM

Great! .. I haven't lost any bottom leaves yet, so that's a good sign. I'll definitely start weighing out the pots to get an idea of what they're supposed to weigh fully watered and dry. Thanks.