4ft² CFL Melamine Cabinet

[JGibs420]

My first grow, just looking for some input/advice regarding my setup

Some information

The size is 4ft²
I've got 2x 18watt cool white CFL in (probably need more?)
3x air circulation pc fans, 1x bigger pc fan extract
Negative ion generator

Basically took an old air cooler and put it in my grow cab.


Does this seem okay? How can I improve

 

[lootznbootz]

My first grow, just looking for some input/advice regarding my setup

Some information

The size is 4ft²
I've got 2x 18watt cool white CFL in (probably need more?)
3x air circulation pc fans, 1x bigger pc fan extract
Negative ion generator

Basically took an old air cooler and put it in my grow cab.


Does this seem okay? How can I improve

More light!
You will need more light for sure.
With more light comes more heat so be prepared to battle it
Not sure about the ion generator...

If your going to go the cfl route i would get 1 big cfl Like the 150w and accent it with a few smaller cfls to hit any shaded areas.

Again with more light is more heat.

Spreading the heat across more cfls is ideal.
I havent grown with cfls full cycle in a while but those are a few tips to get you started.

Any more questions lmk ill be glad to help if i can

 

[lootznbootz]

Oh also in that small space you should definitely be reading up on lst and plant training to help maximize your space and the low intensity lighting

 

[JGibs420]

Already doing a bit of LST

Added 2x 23W lights, planning on adding a few more 20W bulbs along the front and sides as seen in picture.

How many do you recommend?

 

[Merkle420]

I'd have 8+ you can have too much light, but at that point you could just buy a decent led panel.

 

[Tokistani]

Approx 20,000 lumens for veg and 50,000 plus lumens for flower. Search the site there is an article about lighting, gl

 

[JGibs420]

I'm in the process of updating my lighting system.
So now I will have (from what I found lying around the house)

Cool white
2x23w
4x12w

Warm white
2x15w

Total of 124w

As per other research for flowering you need 2000 lumens per square foot minimum.

I have a 4sq cab which means 8000 lumens? With what I have now I have around 7000 lumens total

That would do for now till I replace the smaller cfl with 20w bulbs?

 

[Weezze]

Cool setup!
Maybe you should get the light closer to the plants.

Do you have an exhaust fan?

 

[JGibs420]

@Weezze I do have a PC fan working as an extraction at the moment (most top fan in pics, hidden behind the CFL floodlight) and another smaller one for fresh air in (most bottom)
I don't exhaust air outside, just out of the cab. The negative ion generator seems to be eliminating the odor completely so far. No smells in the house as of yet.

Updated the cabinet this morning, added a few more small CFLs untill I manage to buy a few bigger ones.
In the top light there are now 2x23w bulbs

Will be replacing the other 6 with 20w bulbs soon if needed.

Grow box setup with lights off

Babies enjoying the renovation
(Image seems dark but there's actually a lot of light coverage my camera is just bad, no shadows)
Elevated them a bit as recommended, are they okay to be this close to the lights?

Some of the leaves have taken some damage with all the movement past 2 days but overall they still seem healthy.


Outside temp is currently at 57F
Inside temp after an hour with lights on currently at 70F
(Winter here at the moment)
Temp range is good I think?


I've been trying to start the flowering since May 1st, but still no visible gender as far as I can tell..
The door in front is light-prooff no light coming out or in, but the holes in the back against the wall aren't covered.. could they still be in Veg because of light leak at the back(holes for extracting and fresh air fans)? I didn't think it would be a problem seing as it's practically up against the wall.
Trried testing for light leak using my camera video rec inside with doors shut, couldn't see anything, but then again how reliable is a mobile video recording...

Any advice?

 

[JGibs420]

I meant June 1st started flowering schedule 12/12

Sprouted on May 2nd, so about 5 weeks old now, 1 week into flowering

 

[Weezze]

It will take longer time to show the pistils, mostly because it still young to be in bloom. It will work, but you should have waited 2-3 weeks more in veg.
But its ok, the flowering process is so cool! You will learn a lot!

 

[JGibs420]

Weezze do you think I should go back to veg? Or could that mess with Gender selection?

I see some bulge-like stuff forming where the pistils might be.. I'm hoping it's not male.. doesn't really resemble anything at all yet..

Overall though do they look okay? I feel like they might be a little under developed for their age, but as you say they are still youngens.

 

[Weezze]

Weezze do you think I should go back to veg? Or could that mess with Gender selection?

I see some bulge-like stuff forming where the pistils might be.. I'm hoping it's not male.. doesn't really resemble anything at all yet..

Overall though do they look okay? I feel like they might be a little under developed for their age, but as you say they are still youngens.

If your patient you can put her back to 24h of light. But it should be for at least 3 weeks. Its your choice.
And at the same time you could change de pots for bigger ones.

But overall they look great!

 

[JGibs420]

I was considering replanting them in bigger pots.. but I was stupid and put 2 plants in 1 pot... Wont I damage the roots?

Any signs of female gender here? The reason I'm asking is because of this next picture... Some bulges forming and not sure if that's just stem growth or possibly male sacks forming?

 

[Merkle420]

I was considering replanting them in bigger pots.. but I was stupid and put 2 plants in 1 pot... Wont I damage the roots?

Any signs of female gender here? The reason I'm asking is because of this next picture... Some bulges forming and not sure if that's just stem growth or possibly male sacks forming?

Nah mate just the knuckles of the joints, I have them aswell, it'll be very clear when they start forming preflowers

 

[JGibs420]

Okay cool thanks was starting to feel worried, will keep an eye on them next few days and update

 

[Merkle420]

Nothing to worrie about mate mine were HUGE where I topped my plants they looked abnormal but nothing bad cane of it

 

[JGibs420]

I think I might have had too much wind on them, 2 pc fans were blowing directly on plants, didnt think it would be that bad.
Possible wind burn? New growth seems to be droopy, every thing else seems fine still.
Ruled out under/over watering (soil usually pretty dry till I water it til I see runoff (once every 2-3 days))
Roots don't look to be rootbound.
I don't feed nutrients though, only used a little fertilizer after 1st transplant.

 

[Weezze]

I think I might have had too much wind on them, 2 pc fans were blowing directly on plants, didnt think it would be that bad.
Possible wind burn? New growth seems to be droopy, every thing else seems fine still.
Ruled out under/over watering (soil usually pretty dry till I water it til I see runoff (once every 2-3 days))
Roots don't look to be rootbound.
I don't feed nutrients though, only used a little fertilizer after 1st transplant.

Its not the fan for sure. How is your temp?

 

[JGibs420]

During lights off temps are around 55-60F, lights on is 70-80F

They seem to be getting worse, will upload a photo during lights on