GreatLife4All
New Member
Hello Everyone.
This is my first post, but I have been growing for many years now. Started in my garage in CA in 1996 — and been doing it off and on ever since. My first grow was soil and Miracle Grow - and it worked so well I couldn't believe it.
I grow for personal use for me and a small circle of friends. After taking many hints and tips from this board, I have decided to give back if I can.
I just completed my first grow in a new house with a mixture of new and old equipment. In my opinion, I completed that grow with mixed results. Plants got too large, burned in the light... my ph meter screwed me over and I coated the roots with limestone right before flowering (a long story...).I nearly threw all the plants away in disgust - instead I cloned them and put them into flowering. I now run R/O water and have a good pH meter. And yet, I still harvested about 30 grams per plant of excellent quality herb. Nothing to brag about, but a pretty good recovery story. These clones are the second generation in the flowering tent right now. I must have a very strong version of White Widow genetics to withstand all the abuse I put those first ones thru. Read on and you will see.
About that old equipment... I had an old 400w magnetic ballast that I was using for the veg tent. I put one of those conversion bulbs in to it and the ballast quit working a couple of weeks later. I don't think it was related to the bulb, but would love to hear anyone's comments on this. Anyways... So i am forced to change out the light about two weeks into vegging. In the process, I drop the old hood right on top of the plants. I broke one plants stem into a right angle... and the plant survived and produced. The rest lost a few leaves and branches - but recovered quickly.
I currently have a dedicated room in my unheated basement that I use for a grow room. It is right next to the furnace room which helps to hide noise. The ambient temperature stays at 64 to 68 degrees with relative humidity around 75%. I use a dehumidifier in the grow room set at 55 to 60% - this raises the temperature of the grow room to a consistent 68 degrees. The tents run a couple of points higher on average.
On this particular grow, I have 6 White Widow clones, an unknown indica (from free seed), and a Light of Jah clone (I just had it laying around and decided to throw it in — probably a mistake). My plan is to take the LOJ out during week 6 of the flowering and move it to the other tent — where I will be flowering some other sativas. It will finish earlier than the others, which means no flush. But I just wanted to see what that plant was like - so anything is a bonus.
I am currently in Week 4 of a nine week flowering cycle. I burned the plants during Week 1 of flowering by playing with the humidity levels. I started running the humidity at 45% - but the dehumidifier caused the temperature in the grow room to climb to 74 degrees and inside the tents it was hitting 82 - and over 90 at the canopy. My DWC system doubled its water usage and the plants browned within two days. Oops. Everyone is doing better now. But if you wanted to force feed your plants nutrients - that is an excellent way... as long as you don't kill them.
Because I run a 9 week flowering cycle, I use a 3 week cloning schedule, a 3 week veg schedule, and two tents. It allows a harvest every six weeks when everything is said and done. There is always at least one tent flowering, and for 3 weeks both tents are in flowering (while the next gen is in the clone box). It works very well. My third generation of clones from the same White Widow plant are in the veg tent now. I take clones right before flowering - I prefer to trim the bottom third of my plants for air flow. So i pick clones from these trimmings.
A list of active equipment.
I am running two tents (4' x 4' x 6.5') and using a 9 week schedule. I typically run 4 plants per tent for flowering. This grow I am experimenting with a low maintenance SOG type of grow. I am not using a screen and did not train the girls. I simply lollipped them, increased the number of plants to eight, and allowed the eight plants to completely fill the tent. It looks just like a SOG — but the plants are much larger.
I built my own "indirect pressure recirculating deep water culture" system from PVC and buckets. I am still running an ebb and flow system in the other tent. I have to admit that I am truly amazed at the difference in growth and the ease of maintenance on the DWC system. The system holds 35 gallons if filled to the max — but I have been running it about ½ to ¾ full — depending on where the plants are at. I am currently dropping the level each week as the plants get bigger root masses. I am at ½ full and will likely leave it there for the duration of the flowering cycle.
I am running six inch net pots in this system using Hydroton. The last grow was a Perlite / Coco mixture in an ebb and flow. Nearly all of my grows have been indoors using hydroponics equipment of various flavors. The ebb and flow was my favorite till I built that DWC system. I am thinking about building a second one now.
I have a float in my reservoir (just another bucket) attached to a 33 gallon storage tank. This allows me to easily adjust the level of the nutrient solution. I also love the fact that this dribbles new nutrient solution in on a constant basis — helps to keep the ppm and pH very stable. I run a standard nutrient solution (1G 2M 4B using AN with a ppm of 835 and a pH target of 5.6) in the storage tanks — I use it for any stage of life including seedlings — some strains can't handle this so I don't grow them. I use nutrient additives to make up the difference between this standard solution and the correct nutrient ratio in each system.
I tend to run 1,000 ppm for Veg. I then up it to 1200 for transition. And then I work the plants up to 1500 ppm during bloom (based on the plants reaction to boosts). I am currently in Week 4 of flowering and the ppm level is just under 1400.
I also have a 66 gallon reservoir attached via a float and control valve onto an R/O water system. This gives me clean water with a PPM of 125 and a pH of 7.4. I am on well water - so I believe that these numbers are very good. This tank gives me enough clean water to fill my system, and then refill the smaller storage tank. It takes a couple of days to fill this large storage tank - but I have never had a lack of water since installing it.
I used to switch my nutrient solution every week out of paranoia - needless to say this works very well but the pH never really stabilises. On my first grow at the new place, I switched to every two weeks - the pH would stabilize after a week and then just hum along with little variance for another week - it was great and a lot less work. With the new DWC system, I simply fill it with nutrients and additives, place an equal amount of the base nutrient solution into the storage tank — and when that is gone I replace the nutrient solution. It is working very well and is a HELL of a lot less work. Well worth the investment in a storage tank and float, IMO.
I have 3 exhaust fans on the two tents. One is attached to both lights via duct work. And the other two are used to individually control the exhausting of the tents. I tried running with less exhaust fans - but it seems it is much better to overdo it and turn them down; rather than start out under-powered like I did. All exhaust fans are now 6" 440cfm Active Farm. Each tent has its own carbon filter attached to the exhaust. These fans are noisy, but very effective — I have all fans attached to individual controls or timers. With this fan setup, I can keep the temperature of the canopy within 8 degrees of ambient temperature when the lights are on. So I run about 76 during lights on and 68 at night.
There is almost no daily variance in these temperatures. I have heat and humidity controllers in both tents, but I just run the exhaust fans constantly at about ½ speed on a 24/7 basis. I have experimented, and the plants seem to prefer this. I also use a circulating fan... but I have taken it out of one tent and it seems to make no difference to the plants. Undoubtedly because I have good air flow using the exhaust fans 24/7. I don't think I will use a circulating fan from now on... but I am still up in the air about it. Seems like a waste of electricity to me with the setup that I am using.
I also have a 6" intake on each tent covered by a hepa filter. This helps to keep everything clean in the tent. I also put a hepa filter on the end of the light exhaust duct. I was getting a lot of dust on the light during my first grow - so I decided to fix that for this round.
I have a 600 watt grow light attached to a cool tube in one tent — with a dimmable electronic ballast. In the other tent — I just purchased my first 1000 watt light and have been running it during this flowering cycle. I started it on 75% and moved it to 100% after transition. Both hoods are attached to a single ventilation system on a timer — and heat from the lights is a manageable problem.
I have always used Rockwool cubes to clone. I started using an EZ Cloner during this cycle (the six WWs started there) as I thought it would be easier to transition into net pots and the DWC system. I have to admit that it is cool to watch the roots growing — you don't get to see that in a rockwool cube. And it works very well as long as you always remember to plug it back in after maintenance. Another oops during the lifetime of these plants. I walked in one morning and everyone was laying down on the deck of the EZ Cloner. I admit that they recovered rather quickly and I only lost two plants — which is why I am growing the LOJ and unknown indica.
I haven't had any issues with molds, rots, or fungus yet. I clean and wash all equipment with a strong bleach solution between grows — and I believe that helps. One or two of the leaves got chewed on while in the cloning box by some unknown insect — but I am guessing from the damage that it is some type of beetle. Certainly not enough to cause concern.
I will post pictures later tonight of the current state of things.
This is my first post, but I have been growing for many years now. Started in my garage in CA in 1996 — and been doing it off and on ever since. My first grow was soil and Miracle Grow - and it worked so well I couldn't believe it.
I grow for personal use for me and a small circle of friends. After taking many hints and tips from this board, I have decided to give back if I can.
I just completed my first grow in a new house with a mixture of new and old equipment. In my opinion, I completed that grow with mixed results. Plants got too large, burned in the light... my ph meter screwed me over and I coated the roots with limestone right before flowering (a long story...).I nearly threw all the plants away in disgust - instead I cloned them and put them into flowering. I now run R/O water and have a good pH meter. And yet, I still harvested about 30 grams per plant of excellent quality herb. Nothing to brag about, but a pretty good recovery story. These clones are the second generation in the flowering tent right now. I must have a very strong version of White Widow genetics to withstand all the abuse I put those first ones thru. Read on and you will see.
About that old equipment... I had an old 400w magnetic ballast that I was using for the veg tent. I put one of those conversion bulbs in to it and the ballast quit working a couple of weeks later. I don't think it was related to the bulb, but would love to hear anyone's comments on this. Anyways... So i am forced to change out the light about two weeks into vegging. In the process, I drop the old hood right on top of the plants. I broke one plants stem into a right angle... and the plant survived and produced. The rest lost a few leaves and branches - but recovered quickly.
I currently have a dedicated room in my unheated basement that I use for a grow room. It is right next to the furnace room which helps to hide noise. The ambient temperature stays at 64 to 68 degrees with relative humidity around 75%. I use a dehumidifier in the grow room set at 55 to 60% - this raises the temperature of the grow room to a consistent 68 degrees. The tents run a couple of points higher on average.
On this particular grow, I have 6 White Widow clones, an unknown indica (from free seed), and a Light of Jah clone (I just had it laying around and decided to throw it in — probably a mistake). My plan is to take the LOJ out during week 6 of the flowering and move it to the other tent — where I will be flowering some other sativas. It will finish earlier than the others, which means no flush. But I just wanted to see what that plant was like - so anything is a bonus.
I am currently in Week 4 of a nine week flowering cycle. I burned the plants during Week 1 of flowering by playing with the humidity levels. I started running the humidity at 45% - but the dehumidifier caused the temperature in the grow room to climb to 74 degrees and inside the tents it was hitting 82 - and over 90 at the canopy. My DWC system doubled its water usage and the plants browned within two days. Oops. Everyone is doing better now. But if you wanted to force feed your plants nutrients - that is an excellent way... as long as you don't kill them.
Because I run a 9 week flowering cycle, I use a 3 week cloning schedule, a 3 week veg schedule, and two tents. It allows a harvest every six weeks when everything is said and done. There is always at least one tent flowering, and for 3 weeks both tents are in flowering (while the next gen is in the clone box). It works very well. My third generation of clones from the same White Widow plant are in the veg tent now. I take clones right before flowering - I prefer to trim the bottom third of my plants for air flow. So i pick clones from these trimmings.
A list of active equipment.
I am running two tents (4' x 4' x 6.5') and using a 9 week schedule. I typically run 4 plants per tent for flowering. This grow I am experimenting with a low maintenance SOG type of grow. I am not using a screen and did not train the girls. I simply lollipped them, increased the number of plants to eight, and allowed the eight plants to completely fill the tent. It looks just like a SOG — but the plants are much larger.
I built my own "indirect pressure recirculating deep water culture" system from PVC and buckets. I am still running an ebb and flow system in the other tent. I have to admit that I am truly amazed at the difference in growth and the ease of maintenance on the DWC system. The system holds 35 gallons if filled to the max — but I have been running it about ½ to ¾ full — depending on where the plants are at. I am currently dropping the level each week as the plants get bigger root masses. I am at ½ full and will likely leave it there for the duration of the flowering cycle.
I am running six inch net pots in this system using Hydroton. The last grow was a Perlite / Coco mixture in an ebb and flow. Nearly all of my grows have been indoors using hydroponics equipment of various flavors. The ebb and flow was my favorite till I built that DWC system. I am thinking about building a second one now.
I have a float in my reservoir (just another bucket) attached to a 33 gallon storage tank. This allows me to easily adjust the level of the nutrient solution. I also love the fact that this dribbles new nutrient solution in on a constant basis — helps to keep the ppm and pH very stable. I run a standard nutrient solution (1G 2M 4B using AN with a ppm of 835 and a pH target of 5.6) in the storage tanks — I use it for any stage of life including seedlings — some strains can't handle this so I don't grow them. I use nutrient additives to make up the difference between this standard solution and the correct nutrient ratio in each system.
I tend to run 1,000 ppm for Veg. I then up it to 1200 for transition. And then I work the plants up to 1500 ppm during bloom (based on the plants reaction to boosts). I am currently in Week 4 of flowering and the ppm level is just under 1400.
I also have a 66 gallon reservoir attached via a float and control valve onto an R/O water system. This gives me clean water with a PPM of 125 and a pH of 7.4. I am on well water - so I believe that these numbers are very good. This tank gives me enough clean water to fill my system, and then refill the smaller storage tank. It takes a couple of days to fill this large storage tank - but I have never had a lack of water since installing it.
I used to switch my nutrient solution every week out of paranoia - needless to say this works very well but the pH never really stabilises. On my first grow at the new place, I switched to every two weeks - the pH would stabilize after a week and then just hum along with little variance for another week - it was great and a lot less work. With the new DWC system, I simply fill it with nutrients and additives, place an equal amount of the base nutrient solution into the storage tank — and when that is gone I replace the nutrient solution. It is working very well and is a HELL of a lot less work. Well worth the investment in a storage tank and float, IMO.
I have 3 exhaust fans on the two tents. One is attached to both lights via duct work. And the other two are used to individually control the exhausting of the tents. I tried running with less exhaust fans - but it seems it is much better to overdo it and turn them down; rather than start out under-powered like I did. All exhaust fans are now 6" 440cfm Active Farm. Each tent has its own carbon filter attached to the exhaust. These fans are noisy, but very effective — I have all fans attached to individual controls or timers. With this fan setup, I can keep the temperature of the canopy within 8 degrees of ambient temperature when the lights are on. So I run about 76 during lights on and 68 at night.
There is almost no daily variance in these temperatures. I have heat and humidity controllers in both tents, but I just run the exhaust fans constantly at about ½ speed on a 24/7 basis. I have experimented, and the plants seem to prefer this. I also use a circulating fan... but I have taken it out of one tent and it seems to make no difference to the plants. Undoubtedly because I have good air flow using the exhaust fans 24/7. I don't think I will use a circulating fan from now on... but I am still up in the air about it. Seems like a waste of electricity to me with the setup that I am using.
I also have a 6" intake on each tent covered by a hepa filter. This helps to keep everything clean in the tent. I also put a hepa filter on the end of the light exhaust duct. I was getting a lot of dust on the light during my first grow - so I decided to fix that for this round.
I have a 600 watt grow light attached to a cool tube in one tent — with a dimmable electronic ballast. In the other tent — I just purchased my first 1000 watt light and have been running it during this flowering cycle. I started it on 75% and moved it to 100% after transition. Both hoods are attached to a single ventilation system on a timer — and heat from the lights is a manageable problem.
I have always used Rockwool cubes to clone. I started using an EZ Cloner during this cycle (the six WWs started there) as I thought it would be easier to transition into net pots and the DWC system. I have to admit that it is cool to watch the roots growing — you don't get to see that in a rockwool cube. And it works very well as long as you always remember to plug it back in after maintenance. Another oops during the lifetime of these plants. I walked in one morning and everyone was laying down on the deck of the EZ Cloner. I admit that they recovered rather quickly and I only lost two plants — which is why I am growing the LOJ and unknown indica.
I haven't had any issues with molds, rots, or fungus yet. I clean and wash all equipment with a strong bleach solution between grows — and I believe that helps. One or two of the leaves got chewed on while in the cloning box by some unknown insect — but I am guessing from the damage that it is some type of beetle. Certainly not enough to cause concern.
I will post pictures later tonight of the current state of things.
