Hydro Light Worker journal

[Light Worker]

I am new at all of this so please have patience. I would like to say as many others have that this site is amazing. You guys have already helped me more then you will ever know. Thank you all!!!

This is my first grow in about 30 years and what little I knew back then didn't get me any were. In fact after reading from this site I don't know how I grew anything then.

So here I am 30 years later trying to figure out how to do it half as good as some of you. I bought a used Trinity 3.0 that was purchased from Super Closets ( A sponsor here ) before reading anything about growing because I heard Hydro was the way to go and liked what I read about their closets. Then I read that you should not do hydro until you had a grow or two under your belt. OOPS. Well I bought 10 clones and mixed my nutes. I almost killed the girls all the first week. Luckily the guys at Super Closet wanted to help even though I didn't buy directly from them and they told me how to mix my nutes correctly. I only lost three after doing a two day flush.

When I got the clones from a local guy he told me some were Amsterdam Blueberry and some were Chem Wreck. When I emailed him and asked how to tell which were which this was his reply. "the ones with a wholely purple stem are the Amsterdam blueberry, and the ones with the green and purple striped stems are the chem wreck" Well they all look the same to me so I don't know what I have.

BTW the nutes I have came with the system and it looks like they are from a company called Technaflora plant products ltd. And they tell you to mix way to hot.

So after spending the first two weeks learning and getting the nutes, temp and humidity under control I think I am on track and am seeing new growth daily.

My light is on an 18/6 cycle. My PPM is now 450 and PH is between 5.5 and 6.0 .I may have to be in veg for an extra week or two to make up for my mistakes. What do you think?

Can I list the nutes individually? They are not a sponsor on this site but they do come with super closets cabinets who are a sponsor.

These are about 2 weeks after I picked up my clones and got them back on track.09/09/12

These are about 2 1/2 weeks into vedg. 09/13/12

These are 09/14/12

Is it good that they are staying so short? I know stretch isn't a good thing but are dwarf plants okay? lol

 

[Mastahkushy]

Looks good!

I am fairly new to this site so I don't know about the sponsor thing, but your setup is very nice.
Therefore, ur ph, ppm and lighting schedule are pretty much perfect, I would suggest leaving them in veg for a few days at least, then carry on to flowering! Good luck I'll be right here watching these girls progress

 

[Alaskan1]

I use to use Technoflora nutes. mix it at 75% of what they tell you to use

 

[Light Worker]

Thanks Mastah. I was editing my post when you were replying so I don't know if you have seen the new pics yet. the plants are only about 7 to 8 inches high now. At least that is what they were this morning. They seem to be growing about an inch a day now. I think I want them about 30" before I send them into vedg. That is about 1/2 my growing capacity but not sure if they will be too dense to grow that tall. What do you think?

 

[Light Worker]

Alaska1 I cut it down to about 25% of what they said and slowly working up to see what the plants will accept.

 

[Alaskan1]

Thanks Mastah. I was editing my post when you were replying so I don't know if you have seen the new pics yet. the plants are only about 7 to 8 inches high now. At least that is what they were this morning. They seem to be growing about an inch a day now. I think I want them about 30" before I send them into vedg. That is about 1/2 my growing capacity but not sure if they will be too dense to grow that tall. What do you think?

I'd suggest 24 to 26 inches them flip them. Since you have never grown these before you don't know just how much they will stretch. Take into account the distance you will need from the top of the plant to the bottom of the light when the light is drawn up as high as it will go. i have waited too long to flip them and then I'm fighting plants that are growing into my light. Then you REALLY have problems.

 

[Alaskan1]

Alaska1 I cut it down to about 25% of what they said and slowly working up to see what the plants will accept.

1st week 25%
2nd week 50%
3rd week 75% and the same from there on out

 

[Light Worker]

That is a good point. And I forgot to take into consideration the space needed between the light and the top of the plants.

Thank you.

 

[Light Worker]

1st week 25%
2nd week 50%
3rd week 75% and the same from there on out

Thanks again.

 

[Alaskan1]

That is a good point. And I forgot to take into consideration the space needed between the light and the top of the plants.

Thank you.

Thanks again.

No problem, I enjoy helping new peeps. BTW welcome to the forums. I'll keep an eye out on your journal. If you need help right away just ask the question in one of my journals
Might be a few to get back to you as I'm in the middle of building a new grow room.

 

[Mastahkushy]

I'd suggest 24 to 26 inches them flip them. Since you have never grown these before you don't know just how much they will stretch. Take into account the distance you will need from the top of the plant to the bottom of the light when the light is drawn up as high as it will go. i have waited too long to flip them and then I'm fighting plants that are growing into my light. Then you REALLY have problems.

I strOngly agree with Alaskan1 because you got to remember these are like weeds, they will grow like weeds! So if you have minimal space then use your minimal "flipping" time which I'm your case seems to be around 20 inches tall then flip to flower

 

[Light Worker]

I am defiantly glad I posted this journal. It just goes to show you that you don't know what you don't know until someone tells you.

Alaskan1 how do I find one of your journals to ask a question?

 

[Bassman59]

I actually tend to disagree with the others on when to flip. Don't get me wrong, I like a decent size plant. But the issue here is the number of plants in a small tub. Little center to center distance on the top side, small netpots that can't hold taller plants from falling over and a very limited root zone space for the number of plants.

Having grown multiple plants in single dwc tubs in 3" net pots, I suggest flipping them soon. Keeping the height down and smaller root mass, allowing more actual nutrient in the tub (think of roots taking up 5 gals of mass in the tub). Multi plant tubs like these don't really like too big of plants imho.

 

[Alaskan1]

I actually tend to disagree with the others on when to flip. Don't get me wrong, I like a decent size plant. But the issue here is the number of plants in a small tub. Little center to center distance on the top side, small netpots that can't hold taller plants from falling over and a very limited root zone space for the number of plants.

Having grown multiple plants in single dwc tubs in 3" net pots, I suggest flipping them soon. Keeping the height down and smaller root mass, allowing more actual nutrient in the tub (think of roots taking up 5 gals of mass in the tub). Multi plant tubs like these don't really like too big of plants imho.

Good point Bass as always. I was thinking about when I flip and didn't take into account how many plants he has in that small tub and area. If growing like Light Grower is then maybe lollipopping might be the way to go?

 

[Grand Daddy Purp]

This looks like a good journal to follow. I am a new grower nearing the end of my grow and without the help I have received here I probably would have lost my plant long ago. I may not be much help but I agree that you will need to do Sog. Sog is Sea of Green. You keep the multiple plants small and grow them quick to make a level canopy to get yield. I think that this is a good way to grow with clones but not seeds. And with your limited space it will be better than trying to fight bigger plants. I would research SoG as my explanation is very butchered. May the grow goods be with you.

 

[Grand Daddy Purp]

I am defiantly glad I posted this journal. It just goes to show you that you don't know what you don't know until someone tells you.

Alaskan1 how do I find one of your journals to ask a question?

It is a link in our siggy boxes. He has several going so he is not hard to find. Mine is also in my siggy line in green font. Feel free to drop by.

 

[Light Worker]

I actually tend to disagree with the others on when to flip. Don't get me wrong, I like a decent size plant. But the issue here is the number of plants in a small tub. Little center to center distance on the top side, small netpots that can't hold taller plants from falling over and a very limited root zone space for the number of plants.

Having grown multiple plants in single dwc tubs in 3" net pots, I suggest flipping them soon. Keeping the height down and smaller root mass, allowing more actual nutrient in the tub (think of roots taking up 5 gals of mass in the tub). Multi plant tubs like these don't really like too big of plants imho.

Thanks Bassman for your input. I wanted to do a little research before I responded that is why it has taken me a while. I found another forum were several people have used my system and while I haven't had time to review complete journals it looks like they are filling these cabinets to capacity in every respect. I may find different the more I research but I also contacted the manufacture and they said to send them into flower around 18 to 24". I Think that is what I am going to try for my first grow and see what happens from there.

 

[Light Worker]

Quick question for you guys. When you mix up your nutes and measure your ppm do you take a measurement of your water and then subtract it from your TDS or do you figure that with your end result? In other words my water starts with about 100 ppm and so if I want my nutes to be 400 ppm do I mix my water and nutes to 500 ppm or 400 ppm ?

Thanks

 

[Light Worker]

I staked up my plants and gave them a little more support with the net trellis. My humidity is going a little crazy so I am going to have to get some more ventilation for my closets withing a closet. I am getting up to 80% RH and finding water droplets on some leaves. What should I be concerned with when this happens?

 

[Grand Daddy Purp]

I was told to get the Rh down to 40-50% during veg.... so that is where I kept mine at. You need the lower RH so your leaves can aspire was my understanding. I could be wrong but I have had no issues and I am less than a week from chop.