Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures & Photos From The Garden - 2012

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

thanks for the bud porn on this sacred 420 day!!!
lol
happy 420:thumb:

Thanks Chronic!:thanks:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey, what about the Ushio bulbs? They have a higher lumens output that the Horti don't they?

Also, how the hell did you get your pics uploaded? I can't get it to work in the new site format.

Hey, what about the Ushio bulbs? They have a higher lumens output that the Horti don't they?

Also, how the hell did you get your pics uploaded? I can't get it to work in the new site format.

As far as the Ushio, I believe that's correct, but then I keep hearing that lumens are what people see, not plants. I don't know - it couldn't be more confusing. I don't think the lumen difference is signficant anyway, and the real advantage the Hortilux has supposedly is that it doesn't degrade as fast/stays bright and effective longer than most bulbs.

Having said that, if I could have found Ushio bulbs near me I might have tried them, but I couldn't find them anywhere and the Hortilux still seems like the top of the line, anyway. I still may try the Ushio some day. From what I can tell, Ushio is the best alternative to the Hortilux. German made, high quality, good solid bulbs from what I've heard.


After I upload them, I click on the photo I want from my photo gallery (in a different browser tab), then I copy the link address to the photo. In the reply section, there is a little icon that looks like a picture of a tree, and you post the link address there. Kind of tricky, but not too bad once you get the hang of it. I'm sure they'll come up with something better eventually.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Looking great, Brother & Happy belated 420! I didn't have time to really make the rounds yesterday, either, and having the same problem you are keeping up with journals AND the insomnia....although, the insomnia does help me keep up with the journals! :)

That JTR really does have some "funky foxtail growth" going there!

Stay healthy, my friend! :high-five:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Xlr8;1501164 I did learn a few other things - these are just opinions based on my research gathering. A friend of mine works at a hydro store in the returns dept said:
. [/SIZE];)

Damn it, buyers regret has set in before I even get the merchandise. I just bought 3 Digiluxe bulbs that are still in transit. Hopefully I'll get three of the good ones. I agonized over that shopping cart for months before moving to check out. Hirtiluxe were only another 40 bucks a bulb but I had remembered reading that they were having problems in digital ballasts and did not know that they had fixed the issue. I wish there was a consumerreports.org for growers. It is hard to tell the manufacturers hype from the science most of the time with garden supplies. I suppose that this might be one of those cases where you get what you pay for. I should have done a little more research.

Thanks for sharing that info though, It is appreciated even if it is a little late for me.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Looking great, Brother & Happy belated 420! I didn't have time to really make the rounds yesterday, either, and having the same problem you are keeping up with journals AND the insomnia....although, the insomnia does help me keep up with the journals! :)

That JTR really does have some "funky foxtail growth" going there!

Stay healthy, my friend! :high-five:

Thanks buddy!

Yeah, it seems it may be a JTR thing, maybe even a Subcool thing a little, I know Quix is having the same type of bud development with his Jilly Bean which has some same genetics (Space Queen for one I think). JTR is heavily Sativa, so the buds and structure are quite different from what I'm used to. Just when you think it's wanting to start "finishing" it has another big flourish of new bud development. Then in a few days, that all frosts up, and new ones stack right on top. As I understand it, this is fairly common behavior for Sativa heavy strains like this. The "foxtail" look to them is pretty common, too, as I understand it.

Sure sorry to hear you have bad insomnia, too. I'm working so hard on it, but as you pointed out, it does help keep up on journals! Sure appreciate you dropping by - hope you have a great weekend!
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Damn it, buyers regret has set in before I even get the merchandise. I just bought 3 Digiluxe bulbs that are still in transit. Hopefully I'll get three of the good ones. I agonized over that shopping cart for months before moving to check out. Hirtiluxe were only another 40 bucks a bulb but I had remembered reading that they were having problems in digital ballasts and did not know that they had fixed the issue. I wish there was a consumerreports.org for growers. It is hard to tell the manufacturers hype from the science most of the time with garden supplies. I suppose that this might be one of those cases where you get what you pay for. I should have done a little more research.

Thanks for sharing that info though, It is appreciated even if it is a little late for me.

I think they perform really well from what I can tell, which is why I was considering them, too, but the quality control is supposedly spotty. I'd make sure they have a good warranty of some sort, so that if the quality issue hits you, you'll have some recourse.

I had heard about Hortiluxe and digital ballasts, too. But, after looking into it I've been assured that they've re-engineered them slightly to work well with the digitals, too. Which is ultimately what swayed me to stay with them. That, and the fact that I've had really good luck with them using digital before they were "optimized" for it.

I hope your Digiluxes work great for you. Sorry brother if I put remorse in your mind. :goodluck:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

I thought that this was a good article. I'm a big fan of DJ Short's and thought I'd share this as I get close to harvesting the plants I have in bloom. Hope you are all having a great weekend!


When to harvest - By DJ Short

There are several important points to consider when choosing the optimum time to harvest your marijuana crop. There are different factors to consider between indoor and outdoor marijuana plants. There is the difference between Sativas and Indicas in bloom duration and final effect.

There is the difference between early and late harvest to encourage head to body high respectively. There is the issue of chemistry because what we are really considering in terms of the ripeness relates directly to the chemical nature and state of the plant at harvest. Last, but not least, is the concept of the window for marijuana harvest, where I will begin.




Window For Harvesting Your marijuana Crop

This term indicates the period during which the plant is at its optimum state of ripeness. The window opens when the plant is first ripe. Somewhere along the line the plant becomes over-ripe which signifies the closing of the window of harvest.

For most Indicas grown indoors, the window of harvest is about two weeks long give or take a couple of days for various strains. Indoors, if going directly from an 18/6 hour vegetative light cycle to a 12/12 hour bud cycle, most indicas take about eight weeks to fully mature.

As to outdoors I can only speak from experience at the 45th parallel and the bloom times there. At the 45th parallel I've found most Indicas to be at peak harvest starting at the beginning of October, sometimes very late September, and running until the end of October, sometimes running into November during mild years or in a greenhouse. My favorite time to harvest a nice Blueberry Indica outdoors is in the second to third week of October.

For Sativa grown either indoors or outdoors, the window may be open much longer. Some Sativas take up to thirteen weeks to mature indoors. Outdoors many will go well into November and even December, if conditions are right (again, this is near or at the 45th parallel). Head High or Body Stone?

An important consideration has to do with one's preference for a head high or more of a body high. A good head high can positively influence one's mental state much like a psychedelic; whereas a good body high is more similar to a narcotic effect. Generally, head highs tend to be more up and body highs tend to be more down. Suffice it to say that a good healthy mix of the two is a fine goal to achieve.

Sativas and early window harvests tend to be more of a head high, whereas Indicas and late window harvests tend to be more of a body high. Given this rule of thumb you can pretty much come up with what you want. That is, if you prefer a very psychedelic head high, then an early harvested Sativa might do best.

If a very narcotic body high is desired, then a late harvest indicas would probably do best. For that best-of-both worlds high, experimentation with late harvested sativas and early-to-mid harvested indicas usually proves interesting.




Magnify Your Buds

When we speak of various highs experienced by different products, we are noting variations in plant chemistry. The chemicals we enjoy are produced within the glandular stalked trichomes, along the surfaces of the bud flowers (calyxes), bracts, leaves and stems, starting in or around the fourth week of the bud cycle. More and more of these trichomes develop as the plant matures.

I highly recommend that the serious cannabis student acquire a 30X power, illuminated magnifier. These can be found at most local electronics stores, often for under fifteen dollars. With the aid of the magnifier one can learn more about the detail of trichome development and ripeness.

As far as trichomes are concerned, the tall ones with swollen, clear, bulbous heads are what to shoot for. The denser the concentration, the greater the potency.





The Cycle Of Marijuana Plant Maturity

Starting in the third or fourth week of the flowering light cycle, glandular stalked trichomes will begin to form along the surfaces of leaves, flowers, bracts and stems. At the same time, more and more flowers (also called calyxes) develop into densely-packed floral clusters.

The pistils of the young flowers are bright white and turn reddish brown with age. The pistils and flowers develop from the bottom of the bud to the top. The older, lower pistils are the first to turn reddish brown. For most basic indicas this usually happens by the sixth week in the flowering cycle. It is about this time that the calyxes begin to swell.

Calyx swelling is a major indicator of peak maturity. The lowest, oldest calyxes swell first and the swelling works its way up to the highest, youngest flowers on each bud. At peak maturity about 90% of the calyxes will almost look seeded, they are so fat.

Three quarters to 90% of the pistils will have turned reddish brown as well. For a basic Indica this takes well into the seventh week of the flowering cycle.

By the end of the eighth week most of the calyxes will have swollen and a surge of trichome development has coated most of the buds. It is now that the development of a very discerning palate comes into play to determine the finest harvest time. Remember - patience is a virtue and often a discipline.

The ripening signs for most Sativas are highly similar, except extended over a longer period of time. Occasionally, some Sativas have windows of peak harvest that actually open and close. That is, for a week or so the plant may exhibit signs of peak ripeness.

However, a week later the plant may have a growth spurt, which lowers the trichome-to-fibre ratio and overall potency for a little while. Usually a fibrous growth spurt is accompanied by a corresponding trichome increase. Again, time and experience are the key elements in this regard.





Changes In Marijuana Chemistry

As the plant matures through its window of harvest its chemistry changes. As the window closes, the more desirable compounds begin breaking down into less desirable ones. Primarily it is THC breaking down in CBNs and CBDs.

Which particular combination of chemicals is the most desirable is purely a matter of taste and choice, developed over time and with experience. Set and setting also play an important role in determining which type of product is best appreciated.

Pleasant head highs are often desirable for social occasions, whereas a narcotic late-window Indica may work better as an evening medicinal herb. The main point is that these differences are chemical in nature and more research is needed to more fully understand this phenomenon.

Another important point is that much can be done to further enhance the chemical process, especially in regard to bouquet, aroma and flavour, given the proper curing process.




 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Sampled the OG Kush and Jack the Ripper so far today. JTR was great, and I had a hint of the flavor I might expect, which was like the smell - sort of a fruity gummy worm. Cherry maybe. Definitely creeper, and good.

Better yet, at least with these sample buds, was the OG Kush. Holy shit! We were giggling and having a good time, this is my kind of bud. Seemed to be great for my aches and pains too. I have a feeling I'll like it, though it will be a paltry yielder. She's really purpling up since I've started to flush. She should have a few gorgeous buds.

Tonight, we'll sample the Deadhead. Or maybe right now...

:bong:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Sampled the OG Kush and Jack the Ripper so far today. JTR was great, and I had a hint of the flavor I might expect, which was like the smell - sort of a fruity gummy worm. Cherry maybe. Definitely creeper, and good.

Better yet, at least with these sample buds, was the OG Kush. Holy shit! We were giggling and having a good time, this is my kind of bud. Seemed to be great for my aches and pains too. I have a feeling I'll like it, though it will be a paltry yielder. She's really purpling up since I've started to flush. She should have a few gorgeous buds.

Tonight, we'll sample the Deadhead. Or maybe right now...

:bong:

OG Kush sounds like fun!
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Do you know which chemicals are better for making "the oil"? THC vs CBD/CBN?

Hi SurfBuddy -

Not sure what you mean exactly by "the oil", I'm sorry. I mostly vaporize my bud, but I sometimes smoke from a bong or make edibles. THC seems to be most effective for my nerve pain, which is what I suffer from the most pain-wise. But, I'm wanting to try growing a CBD strain to see how I like it for pain.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Thanks for the info from DJ Short, good read. I heard subcool was working with a Harlequin starin should be a good one for a added CBD.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hi SurfBuddy -

Not sure what you mean exactly by "the oil", I'm sorry. I mostly vaporize my bud, but I sometimes smoke from a bong or make edibles. THC seems to be most effective for my nerve pain, which is what I suffer from the most pain-wise. But, I'm wanting to try growing a CBD strain to see how I like it for pain.

It's a cannabis oil that supposedly helps cure cancer--my mom has stage 4 lung. Your re-post of DJ short got me thinking that I wasn't sure whether this oil needs more THC or more CBD... Sorry I was barking up the wrong tree...
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey X,

First off, I know you were looking at bulbs and not the relationship of bulbs and ballasts but I found this info and thought it was interesting. I did not write this and most of it is copied from High Times article. Most all the info comes from Hortilux in their 4 page paid for editorial, as well as testing done at a certified SunPulse laboratories.

So what i take from this article is that there are no hps bulbs compatible with electronic and digital ballasts and that makes everyone wonder why? Traditional magnetic ballasts run at about 60 hertz where the electronic and digital ballast run at about 20k hertz, the higher frequency keeps more of the gases inside the HID bulbs ionized in the arc stream which increases efficacy(amount of light produced.)
At 10khz the efficacy increases about 9% and keeps climbing till around the 20khz mark. Which does lead to about an 18% increase in efficacy from electronic and digital ballast. However this leads to a lamp ballast conflict, bulbs are rated at 60 hz because of the technology we have, and no bulbs can be made to work in electronic and digital ballasts because the current technologies do not exist.
With all those extra hertz running through it leads to issues like acoustic and magnetic resonance that contributes to the total distortion of the system causing arc streams to become unstable. Standing waves created by the high frequency ballast occur inside the interior jacket or envelope destroying bulb components and unseating glues inside the bulb that were constructed for 60 hertz. All this leads to significantly decreased bulb life, bulb may burn out after 6 to 9 months compared with 12-16 months in traditional core and coil (magnetic) ballasts.

Has anyone actually had bulbs that burn out in less then 10 months on a consistent basis? I’ve never really noticed this in journals that I’ve read, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Just alittle reading for the mind.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

It's a cannabis oil that supposedly helps cure cancer--my mom has stage 4 lung. Your re-post of DJ short got me thinking that I wasn't sure whether this oil needs more THC or more CBD... Sorry I was barking up the wrong tree...

No no, please don't be sorry. It was a great question, I just haven't made an oil like that before, and just don't know. I'm really interested in it, though. Sure sorry to hear that your mother has cancer - I know how difficult it is to watch a close loved one suffer with such a terrible disease, and I admire you for trying to find a way to help her out.

I tried to do a little more research to see if I could find an answer for you (cancer is a real risk for me based on family history, too). Everything I've found, begs your same question, though -- more THC or CBD? I couldn't find anything that provided the answer, though I've just started to look. Here are a couple of links I've been checking out and will read more thoroughly when I can - thought they might interest you if you haven't seen them. They are compilations of studies done on the medical benefits of cannabis. Also, I'm assuming you've read up on Rick Simpson and his cannabis hemp oil? If not, try g*ogle'ing "rich simpson hemp oil".

:goodluck:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Thanks for the info from DJ Short, good read. I heard subcool was working with a Harlequin starin should be a good one for a added CBD.

Next time I order seeds I intend to get a high CBD strain to try. I really want to see what the effect is for my types of pain/issues. Harlequin is the strain I've heard the most about, but there are some other interesting ones, too. I'll definitely have to keep an eye on what Subcool's working on. Thanks for the heads up! :thumb:
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey X,

First off, I know you were looking at bulbs and not the relationship of bulbs and ballasts but I found this info and thought it was interesting. I did not write this and most of it is copied from High Times article. Most all the info comes from Hortilux in their 4 page paid for editorial, as well as testing done at a certified SunPulse laboratories.

So what i take from this article is that there are no hps bulbs compatible with electronic and digital ballasts and that makes everyone wonder why? Traditional magnetic ballasts run at about 60 hertz where the electronic and digital ballast run at about 20k hertz, the higher frequency keeps more of the gases inside the HID bulbs ionized in the arc stream which increases efficacy(amount of light produced.)
At 10khz the efficacy increases about 9% and keeps climbing till around the 20khz mark. Which does lead to about an 18% increase in efficacy from electronic and digital ballast. However this leads to a lamp ballast conflict, bulbs are rated at 60 hz because of the technology we have, and no bulbs can be made to work in electronic and digital ballasts because the current technologies do not exist.
With all those extra hertz running through it leads to issues like acoustic and magnetic resonance that contributes to the total distortion of the system causing arc streams to become unstable. Standing waves created by the high frequency ballast occur inside the interior jacket or envelope destroying bulb components and unseating glues inside the bulb that were constructed for 60 hertz. All this leads to significantly decreased bulb life, bulb may burn out after 6 to 9 months compared with 12-16 months in traditional core and coil (magnetic) ballasts.

Has anyone actually had bulbs that burn out in less then 10 months on a consistent basis? I’ve never really noticed this in journals that I’ve read, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Just alittle reading for the mind.

Hey Blazin!

Thanks for the additional info. :thumb:

I was just looking into the article you are mentioning, and it appears to be from 2010, but reprinted from 2008. Assuming the info I dug up was indeed correct. The only reason I mention that, is all 3 hydro stores I talked to mentioned that Hortilux has made recent changes in their bulbs to make them more reliable on the digital ballasts. As I understand it, they had a non-standard ignition pulse that shortened the bulb life with digital ballasts, and supposedly they changed it to work better. Additionally, I've heard that the digital ballast companies (they are very aware of Hortilux's extreme popularity and customer base) have made adjustments to their ballasts to account for the non-standard ignition pulses anyway. From what I can tell, there is no reason to think Hortilux won't work for a long time reliably in a digital ballast. I DID have, however, a non-Hortilux HPS bulb blow out after about 3 months use with a Lumatek digital ballast (it was my first bulb, and I don't remember the brand). This was back in 2009, though.

That same Lumatek ballast only lasted another year itself, before it filled my house with acrid smoke and scared the living SHIT out of me (I heard a loud "POP", followed by smoke and smell, and thought I was going to burn my house down). The ballast had a circuit protection "breaker" on it, but it didn't work correctly. There was sparking and smoke - very scary. Honestly, not going to go Lumatek anymore even though I don't think my experience was a common one. I have a Galaxy and a Quantum now, and an extra Lumatek that was a warranty replacement (to their credit, it was replaced no questions asked). I should note, that with all the Lumatek ballast drama, the Hortilux bulb that I had in the mogul was fine afterwards! I actually assumed it blew with the ballast, but it worked fine afterwards much to my surprise.
 
Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Thanks for the bulb info, I had a digilux bulb and it burned out after 2 weeks. Now I know where to spend my money.

Hey Blazin' -

Bummer about the bulb, sorry that you had it burned out. I didn't mean to "like" it for the fact that it burned out - just that you found it helpful. ;)
 
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