First Grow, White Widow & Northern Lights Autos, Indoors In Soil

[Michgrower]

First grow so starting off small with two white widow and two northern lights autos.
- growing indoors
- home made growing tent 4’w x 2’l x 6’h w/reflective Mylar velcroed to the tent frame. tent is not covered on top.
- soil is equal parts happy frog and coco in 2 gallon fabric bags
- using four 48” T5 54W growing lights

Followed Crop Kings germination process:
- two white widow seeds sank within three hours
- northern lights seeds sank after 15 hours
- put all four seeds with damp paper towel after 18 hours
- after two days white widow tap root 3/4” long planted these seeds directly in 2 gallon fabric bags. (I read somewhere to just plant autos directly into final planting pot.)

(white widows are on the left, northern lights on the right)

- northern lights tap root take another two days to reach 1/2” long. Planted northern lights four days fire starting germination process.

 

[Michgrower]

As mentioned above I planted the northern lights this morning. Planted the white widows two days ago. The widows are on the right just breaking thru, northern lights on the left.

Growing indoors in the winter so RH very low, 22%. Will this require more watering than growing in higher RH or do I need to do something to raise RH?

 

[Michgrower]

Week 1 day 6. Seed will not fall off WW1 WW2 doing ok, the two northern have not broken through yet.

WW1

WW2

 

[Orlando Scout]

You wanna get some humidity pumping for those little ladies. I grow in Northern MI so I know the low rh issues. You can get a Vicks humidifier for cheap. I will stick around for this one if you dont mind.

 

[Michgrower]

You wanna get some humidity pumping for those little ladies. I grow in Northern MI so I know the low rh issues. You can get a Vicks humidifier for cheap. I will stick around for this one if you dont mind.

Don’t mind at all, I could use the advice. Picked up a humidifier on the way home.

 

[Jdeck]

I hope u don’t mind if I join in. I’m on my first NL grow, I’m on the W side of the mitten. It’s been cold and dry the last two days. I’ve been hanging a wet towel in my tent to raise the humidity. I have to soak the towel 2-3x daily. Hope this helps.

 

[Michgrower]

Ok week two day one, nothing much changed expect I pulled that stubborn seed casing off WW1. Neither of the northern lights has broken through yet.
- RH 22% Added a humidifier to the tent, I will needed to figure out receptacles if I add anything else.
- Maintaining temp ~78 degrees F.
- Trying to be patient and not over water.
- Using 4 54W 48” T5 grow lights. Keeping them about 6 to 8 inches above the soil right now.

WW1 sans the seed casing.

WW2.

 

[Michgrower]

I hope u don’t mind if I join in. I’m on my first NL grow, I’m on the W side of the mitten. It’s been cold and dry the last two days. I’ve been hanging a wet towel in my tent to raise the humidity. I have to soak the towel 2-3x daily. Hope this helps.

I hope u don’t mind if I join in. I’m on my first NL grow, I’m on the W side of the mitten. It’s been cold and dry the last two days. I’ve been hanging a wet towel in my tent to raise the humidity. I have to soak the towel 2-3x daily. Hope this helps.

Don’t mind at all.

How long did it take your NLs to brake thru the soil after you planted them? Planted mine two days ago and nothing. My WWs broke through less than two days.

 

[Jdeck]

Don’t mind at all.

How long did it take your NLs to brake thru the soil after you planted them? Planted mine two days ago and nothing. My WWs broke through less than two days.

2-3 days, but there all different. I am also growing Blue Dream photo, those took 3-5 day and both had helmet heads until I plucked them off.

 

[Michgrower]

Week 2 day2

Northern lights 2 finally broke through.

I need to seal top of my tent to keep the humidity from the humidifier in. RH say 22% but when I open the tent the escaping air is moist.

Other than that WW1 and WW2 still have original 4 leafs but a little taller.

 

[Jdeck]

Week 2 day2

Northern lights 2 finally broke through.

I need to seal top of my tent to keep the humidity from the humidifier in. RH say 22% but when I open the tent the escaping air is moist.

Other than that WW1 and WW2 still have original 4 leafs but a little taller.

 

[Michgrower]

Week 2 day 3 (10 days)

Reconfigured the tent in an attempt to get RH above 50. Lost one of the northern lights, down to 3 seedlings, 1 NL, WW1 and WW2.

Nutrients arrived today. I’ll start applying in about a week.
NL
WW1
WW2

 

[Michgrower]

Week 2 day (11 days from start of germination)

Finally got the RH up to 60%, trying to hit 70% while still seedlings. Temp staying between upper 70s lower 80s.

Lesson learned for next grow. Plant germinated seed in something the size of a solo cup. I read somewhere that autoflowers go from start to harvest in 7 to 9 weeks, so plant directly in final planter. Also read planter size rule of thumb is one gallon/foot of growth. My autos are expected to be 24” so 2 gallon pots. That’s a lot of soil and water for a seedling.
Northern light

White widow 1

White widow 2

 

[Michgrower]

16 days since planting the germinated seeds. Thought I posted a couple of days ago but apparently not.

Dropped my thermometer/hydrometer in a bucket of water, need a new one now. I’ve fed and watered the girls three times since last posting, each time increasing amount of the nutrient solution.

Advanced Nutrients Sensi grow A&b
Advanced nutrients voodoo juice and B52.
Solution ph tested mid 6s. Need a ph pen tester.

First feeding 1 liter nutrient solution @ 1/4 strength shared with all three plants.
Second feeding 1 liter nutrient solution @ 1/2 strength shared with all three plants.
Third feeding was last night 2 liters @ 3/4 strength shared with all three plants.

I feed the plants when the leafs start to droop and soil feel dry down to 2 knuckles.

White widow 1
White widow 2
Northern lights, runt of the litter.

 

[Michgrower]

Day 18 since planting the sprouts in the soil and they just keep growing. Will probably need feeding again tomorrow.

Thinking about starting some LST on the white widows in a few days.

WW1
WW2
NL

 

[Michgrower]

Another couple of lessons learned.

If you have a 2 x 4 tent and use 4’ T5 light fixture, don’t grow 2 different strains as they will probably grow and flower at a different rate and time. My Northern Light is half the size of my white widows. No big deal elevating the NL to get it as close the the light as the WWs. My concern is I have a feeling the WWs will bloom before then the NL. I plan on switching to bloom bulbs when the WWs start to bloom, probably further stunting the growth of the NL. So, it’s either grow one strain at a time or get two 2’ light fixtures.

Spread out the plants today to get them centered under the lights. Started LST on the White Widows. Fed and water the girls again today.
. WW1
WW2
NL
Best use of TV treys ever.

 

[Michgrower]

@Jdeck and @Orlando Scout stay warm and save the next few days.

 

[Orlando Scout]

You to brother!! Suppose to be -30°f with windchill and 8-12" of snow. Im staying in for the next couple of days lol!!!

 

[Jdeck]

I’m trying, I’m a HVAC/R guy, so I’m on a damn roof constantly. Betcha the Weeds are nice and cozy. Your grow is looking great.

 

[Michgrower]

I’m trying, I’m a HVAC/R guy, so I’m on a damn roof constantly. Betcha the Weeds are nice and cozy. Your grow is looking great.

Hope you made it thru the hard stuff.