Nic's First Grow: Hydro + Soil - Indoor, 1,800 Watts / Outdoor

Nicademus

New Member
Hi all, long time coming but here we go.

First of all strains. This morning i ordered 10 AMS medajuana + 20 free seeds.

60 femmed White Widow,12 SSH/fem, 12 Himalaya Gold/fem and 12 Juicy fruit(wifes choice) from cannabisseed.com.

On a side note. AMS is awesome. I had a confirmation E-mail instantly and another E-mail in about an hour saying my order had been shipped already. I feel really good about my purchase. The other place on the other hand has been the opposite. So far no E-mails and no reply to my e-mail asking for confirmation of the order. Its making me nervous and i kinda want to reverse charges already. Anyone ever deal with them before? Did you get you beans? It was a really good deal so i will be bummed if it doesn't work out.

I have some bagseed that is from a friends Romulan xBlueberry that accidentally went to seed that i started 2 weeks ago. They are about 3 inches tall and some are starting there 3rd set of leaves. They were started in jiffy pellets and have since been transplanted into 4" jiffy pots with some good soil from the grow shop. These Romuberry and possibly a couple of the other strains will be going outside when its time and grown out. This will be a semi-guerrilla grow in the sense that its legal but i still have to worry about thieves. I cant really grow outside at my house unless i can find a way to camo it from neighbors or it will be gone or i will have to shoot someone over it. Don't wanna do that so going to grow on forest service land. Most likely going to be on the far side of a mountain lake near my home that gets no foot traffic. Will take everything over in a small boat. More about this sceme later.

So today i picked up a bunch of grow stuff. Some from the local grow shop, most from a friend of a friend who was selling his old setup so he could buy a welder. So i paid $500 for the following;

1 400W HPS MAG ballast +reflector 2 bulbs
1 400W MH MAG ballast +reflector 2bulbs
1 3x6 ebb n grow flood table w/ 35 gal res and all the plumbing
2 Hydrofarm 8 site grow systems w/ all plumbing
1 Ring drip 5 gallon bucket stand alone system? lol sorry it's buried atm and don't remember the actual name but you get the jist.
1 30 site Ez-cloner
1 wall mount fan
9 timers
4 power strips
4 extension cords
4 brand new in the box air pumps
2 new airstones
10-15 gallons of various Botanicare newts
2 more big boxes of various spare parts for all the systems

Personally i think i got a good deal but idk. It was used for about 2 years 3.5 years ago.

What i picked up from the grow shop.

1 1000w HPS from xtrasun with a 6" glass covered hood
1 Hortilux super HPS
1 Ecotestr ph meter + cal solution
1 TDS-3 from HM digital
Some Buddha grow for my dirty girls
some ph up and down
various other odds and ends we needed
i have a 6 inch inline fan on order they were out of the brand he wanted to sell me. The grow shop guy was great. Never had someone try and talk me out of spending money before. I am picking up a 2' 2 tube T5 flour tomorrow.

What i don't have is a for sure grow space. I was looking at getting a tent and will most likely be getting a 6x6 from my best friends caregiver in a couple weeks. I would make this my flower room and just veg/clone in like my living room. I also have a 5x6 closet i could use but it going to be really hard to keep cool this summer so i am hesitant. My question is, based on the lights and hydro setups i have what would you do? I could theoretically buy another 4x4 tent to veg in but i am getting kinda over-budget as it is and would like to avoid that for now. The closet wouldn't be impossible to cool just difficult and i don't own the place i live at so i cant go remodeling.

Another question. I tested my tap water and it tested at 116 PPM and 7.6 PH. Is this going to kill me in PH down costs? Should i do something else for water? Don't have a lot left in the budget but if i need it then i need it. :thanks: for the reply's in advance. I'll put some pics up of the equipment and the babys tomorrow its late and it has been a long day.

:bongrip: for all
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Ok. Update incoming.

I have all my supplies now. I got a 4' 8 tube T5 flouro to veg under and a 5x9 grow tent to flower in. Going to veg in both rooms at first since i am going from seed.

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My babys at 1 week.

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1.5 weeks

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Mutant

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Transplanted them today and put them under the T5.

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Top of the flouro

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My first lesson. Don't feed seedlings, they don't need it.

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What's up with these weird leaves huh?

Still waiting on the seeds i ordered to get here. Just puttering around with these plants till then. I planted some more bagseed but nothing sprouted yet.

And some bud porn before i go. I got a half of this Snowryder about a week ago and it was the best stuff i have had in recent memory. It is a locally grown Lowryder Snow White cross. Super crystally and super stoney. Both body and head. Taste wasnt bad.
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Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Quick update... All seeds have arrived and i have some new babies. Will do better update with picks tomorrow.
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Ok. Have some pictures.

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My Medajuana + 20 free from AMS came. I also got my seeds from the other place. YAY!!! I planted 6 medi's, 4 in root roit plugs and 2 in jiffy plugs. Going to do 4 in hydro and 2 in soil. I also germed 3 femmed WW and 3 Juicy fruits.

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I got 3 free clones from my caregiver. The 2 in front are Bubba Kush and the scrawny one in the back is Headband.

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My wife engineered this seed scarafier with a match box and an old emory board. Place a few seeds inside and close it up. Shake the box for 5-10 minutes. This supposedly increases water penetration by the seed and improves germination. I had 3 out of my 6 medajuana seeds sprout in 2 days after using this method. Actullay those same 3 had cracked after soaking overnight in water.

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My veg room all set up. I am running Botanicare nutes. I gave em a 1/2 strenth dose for first week of grow,cal-mag+, and Liquid Karma. Flooding for 30 mins 5 times a day. For medium i am using 4 inch rockwool cubes surrounded in hydroton in 6 inch net pots. Is 30 mins 5 times a day to much? To little? They seem to be doing ok but there is quite a bit of yellowing around the edges going on. My PH started on sunday at 5.5 and has risen about .1 point a day and is now at 6.1, 2 days from res change so that seems good. My PPM has been rising about 100 PPM a day as well. Is this normal? I would think it would go down not up, as the plants are using nutes.

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My dirty girls are growing and branching like crazy. All kinds of new growth. They are truly amazing to watch. I have a question. These look like male pre-flowers to any of you guys?
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This is the only plant that has growth like this. Plants are getting close to a month old. The dirt girls are about 4-5 inches tall and doing so good.
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I saw one small spot of rust on one leaf and have not seen anymore. I am thinking slight calcium def due to soil PH as i am trying to keep it around 6.0 and calcium doesn't absorb well until 6.5 PH. It isn't bad but I'm going to add a little cal-mag to there next watering to hopefully help out a little.

So overall i am really happy so far. Everything seems to be cruising along well. I am a little worried about the clones but they still seem to have new growth and the roots are already getting into the hydroton. So I don't know lol. It sure is fun. Any comments or suggestions are much appreciated. Peace out.
Nic
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Root porn incoming.
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Those long ones are from one of the medijuana that popped last week. 9+ inches of roots and turned 1 week old today. I am one proud daddy.
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Ok this Bubba Kush is wierding me out. It keeps growing deformed leaves, but also grows some perfectly normal ones as well. Here are some pics. Anyone know wtf this is? Anyone growing this strain run into this?
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Thanks for any help, if anyone is even watching lol.
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

In other news...
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2 clones from plant BS #1

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the 2 dirty medi's

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Roots after 5 days

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This is the BS#1 mother

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I decided that i am going to put these into flower in another week or 2. At 16 inches anyways. The 2 taller girls are 8" now and growing about and inch a day.

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The next generation. That one with the monster roots is on bottom right. That thing is a freaking monster. 1 week old today.

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Bub Kush up top and the Charlie Brown headband on the bottom. These Kush i will prolly flower at 16 inches as well but not sure how long that will take. Maybe another 2-3 weeks ? Idk. The Headband is growing like a little bonsai. Miniature everything.

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Camera wouldn't focus that great but you can see the beautiful female pre-flowers on this girl. Textbook.

Until next time...
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

cut back on the watering cycle just a lil bit, they look pretty good though.
try setting your ppm at 5.8 and let it rise thru 6.2. then adjust
yes it will change daily....dont adjust it daily.
the wierd leaf growth may be due to that strain not just liking the PH
keep in mind that if most of your plants like a certain ph and nute amount than target those. you dont want to grow for minor ones....protect the herd, cull the weak
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

cut back on the watering cycle just a lil bit, they look pretty good though.
try setting your ppm at 5.8 and let it rise thru 6.2. then adjust
yes it will change daily....dont adjust it daily.
the wierd leaf growth may be due to that strain not just liking the PH
keep in mind that if most of your plants like a certain ph and nute amount than target those. you dont want to grow for minor ones....protect the herd, cull the weak

Thanks a lot for stopping by. I appreciate it. I have been doing weekly res changes and PH the water after i get my nutes in it to 5.5 letting it rise slowly throughout the week. Last week it was 6.5 at the end of the week. I learned from reading your journal on that. When you say cut back on the watering cycle do mean how many times a day i water or how long i water? The Bubba Kush are just weird i think because it will trow out perfectly normal leaves then on the other side it will throw deformed growth. And i have 2 BK plants and one does it really bad the other only a little bit.
These kush are going into flower in about 2 weeks i think anyways. I want them out of my garden. They freak me out and make me have nightmares.
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Hi Nicademus, I not a hydro guy. I think Pit means 5 down to 4 watering times a day. He'll probably be back to check on you. Looks pretty good! :thumb:
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

About your pH down. With the water at 7.5 once you start adding full strength nutes it should pull the pH pretty far down. I don't think it will be a problem for you. My problem is I am going through a ton of pH up. You might want to look into getting an RO filter on eBay....you can get one for 135 with shipping...it will pull you pH down though so you might end up in the same boat I'm in. Looks like you've got a nice set up...looking forward to you gorilla grow. You going to document it?

Nic, I saw that you are a geologist. I have always been interested in that...you make good money?
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Thanks for the info Kiwi.I will document as much as can without compromising security. I only plan on visiting the site(s) a minimum number of times. I will definitely get pictures every time i go though. Thanks for stopping by. We just set up our flowering tent tonight. I'm stoked!! Will update with some pics in the AM.
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Hey guys and gals.:ganjamon:

Got my flowering tent all set up and going last night. It is freakin huge!!!
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Fan has great suction. It collapses the tent a few inches when its all sealed up. I have a 1000w HPS and a 400w MH in there right now.

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BS #1 and #3 under the big light.

All is well in the nursery.
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The 2 soil medijuana's
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Hydro Babies, prolly going to cull the one in far back left as i am going to need the room soon. It isn't growing worth crap.
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Clones seem to be stabilizing and showing some new growth.
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Ok. This brings us to an issue i am having. I think BS#1 may be an autoflower strain. She is growing tons of hairs all over and what look like calyxes. I couldn't get and really good pictures becuase my camera freaks out when it is near the HPS. I will pull it out later tonight and try and get some really good ones. Here is what i got though tell me what you think.
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Transplanted BS 1 and 3
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And lastly, I love my LST'd BK lady.
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Everything seems to be chugging along. My original plan was to veg for 1-2 weeks in tent while they got used to the lights, then switch to flower. If that plant is indeed an auto-flower i am going to leave it on 20/4 and veg the other 3 while i flower the single auto. Anyone done this? Good idea, bad idea?
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

So much going on here I dont know where to start lol

Interesting tho and will be watching!
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

So much going on here I dont know where to start lol

Interesting tho and will be watching!

Woot. Thanks for stopping by. There is a lot going on and i have a sinking feeling it is going to bite me in the ass but whatever, I'm havin fun.:roorrip:

Quick update. The seeds i was having trouble getting to sprout, sprouted.
Happy Happy Joy Joy. <insert happy dance here>
So the new babys are 1 SSH 1 HG 1 WW and 3 Juicy Fruit. I think my main problem besides poor seed quality was that i was keeping the root riot plugs to wet. I wrung the water out of them, took them out of my bubble dome, put them in non sealed tupperware container on top of my T5 and 4 sprouted the first night and i had 2 more sprouted when i woke up this morning. I guess i just didn't realize how well those root riot plugs hold on to water. I never re-watered after the first time i put them in the nursery and they were still sopping wet. So now i'll smoke an offering to pot gods and pray for females. The seeds were all femmed cept the JF. :peace:Out
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

lol great news, not necassarily the reason of course, only repetition can prove that, i.e do them all wet again versus some drier, but whatever, its good news! 95% of the time femmed seedas will be fems so dont use up all yer god wishes on that lol
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Hello Nic, Just read over your grow. Very interesting and complex. I'm not a hydro guy, so much of your grow is beyond my limited knowledge! But I'll try to follow along with you the best I can. Reps to you Nic and good luck with what''s ahead!:nicethread:
 
Re: Nic's first grow:hydro+soil;indoor,1800watts/outdoor

Hello Nic, Just read over your grow. Very interesting and complex. I'm not a hydro guy, so much of your grow is beyond my limited knowledge! But I'll try to follow along with you the best I can. Reps to you Nic and good luck with what''s ahead!:nicethread:
Ty for the kind words my friend.
 
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