New setup advice - how many plants for this giant table?

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thelittleninja

Member
Hi Guys,

I'm new here. Please go easy... lol. I just inherited some equipment from a friend which I'm going to use for a grow.

I've been reading and researching for a while now on how to use what I have properly. Please let me know if you think this sounds OK?

The equipment I have is 2 x HLG V550 V2 lights (the manufacturer says this will cover 4.5' x 4.5' area) also a HUGE grow table (7.5' x 3.6') around 100 grodan 6" rockwool cubes, 30+ plastic top feed covers, reservoir, etc.

I'd like to use this single table, put the lights side by side across it - I'm assuming this should give me excellent light coverage for this area as the footprint of both lights overlaps the table quite a bit.

The main thing I'm trying to work out is spacing of the plants on the table. I want to flower them at around 12" and will be growing short indica plants.

I read somewhere that giving each plant 1 foot should be OK - so with the table I have it means I can fit 21 plants in to a space of 7.5' x 3.6' - does that sound too much?

Any advice is welcome. Thank you. TLN.
 
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piratebug

Well-Known Member
There are to many variables that you didn't include to honestly answer your question. But in general terms, for rooted clones... 8 per light if you veg for 28 days (usually results in 18" to 20" plants), 16 per light if you veg for 21 days (usually results in 14" to 16" plants), 32 per light if you veg for 14 days (usually results in 10" to 12" plants). And the resulting veg plant heights I quoted relate to using either a single 550 in 3.5 x 3.5 or 2 x 320 in that same size space. But if you were going to use HID MH 6500K for vegging you could veg longer cause your node spacing would be much tighter. Yeah, that's one of the penalties you will always face when it comes to older qb boards, as you can't simply change a bulb to better control vertical growth during veg. Oh yeah, now you can change your boards out if you got the newest (samaung horticulture) [h chip] based boards, because now you can actually veg under cri 90/6500k if you want, and really flower under 2700k, which results in more flavorful myrcene profiles at harvest time compared to flowering under the older 3000k (samaung non-horticulture) [b chips].
 
T

thelittleninja

Member
Thanks for the answer. Maybe I'll just start with 16 plants - 8 per light for my first grow. I want to make sure they're getting optimum light. I have a PAR meter so I can also test with that once set up.
 
New Age United

New Age United

Well-Known Member
16 12" plants will produce less than a lb under a 600w HID I'm not sure about your lights, I would shoot for 32 total 16 per light, that's after your first grow of 16 since you're starting with seeds, but after that you should start cloning to save money on seeds, you will need another light to keep a few mothers under, with the short veg time of sog there will be too long a gap between crops to continually clone of the clones you will have to keep mothers or get another table and then your timing would be right for a perpetual grow.
 
T

thelittleninja

Member
Hey - thanks for the reply. i'm going to veg them until around 12" then flower, so with the stretch the plants would be a minimum of 24" - I guess maximum 36"

The HLG 550 V2 LED lights I'm using are supposed to replace a single ended 1000W HID. I have two of these units, so should have the equiv of 2000W for the grow.

I did consider mother plant and cloning but it would mean setting up another tent inside my room with light, etc, it's too much hassle, I don't mind losing a month per grow when growing direct from seed. Plus I'll be controlling the temp and humidity in the room as it's a sealed room and I'm using C02. So during veg I'll have high humidity and high temps and in flower it'll be much cooler with low humidity. Then will use the entire room for drying out, then start again.
 
HPSandLED

HPSandLED

New Member
may ask in this forum since this question is kinda relevant, and i am also a noob

i have a 1000 watt hps/mh ballast
with a 600 watt super hps from sunburst? i think thats the name i ripped the box a little bit

i have 6 plants that are 3 feet tall in there 3 gallon containers from that are taking up room in my veg box (i procrastinated and did the last grow from start to finish in a 3x3x4 box with 1000 watt led off of amazon ((no clue what its actual draw is or par put out)), if i transplant them to 5 gallon buckets before i put them in the flower room i have to build ? it will be 6 feet x 6 feet x 8 feet.

last grow i also did with general organics go box full line of nutrients in coco coir/pearlight 50/50, finished 4 plants g-13 was the strain in 3 gallon or a little smaller pots after 6 months veg 9 weeks flower, only yielding 31.5 grams dried

which part of that roiund led to such a small harvest?
if anyone has an opinion i would glad to hear them, anything to get a better harvest this go around!!!
 
New Age United

New Age United

Well-Known Member
thelittleninja said:
Hey - thanks for the reply. i'm going to veg them until around 12" then flower, so with the stretch the plants would be a minimum of 24" - I guess maximum 36"

The HLG 550 V2 LED lights I'm using are supposed to replace a single ended 1000W HID. I have two of these units, so should have the equiv of 2000W for the grow.

I did consider mother plant and cloning but it would mean setting up another tent inside my room with light, etc, it's too much hassle, I don't mind losing a month per grow when growing direct from seed. Plus I'll be controlling the temp and humidity in the room as it's a sealed room and I'm using C02. So during veg I'll have high humidity and high temps and in flower it'll be much cooler with low humidity. Then will use the entire room for drying out, then start again.
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Then I would say it would still be worth it to buy 32 seeds and do 16 under each light, you should be able to yield between 1 and 2 lbs per light so with 2 weeks veg 1 week stretch and 9 weeks flower then allow 2 weeks dry time every 14 weeks is a 2-4 lb crop so around 2-4 oz a week.
 
New Age United

New Age United

Well-Known Member
HPSandLED said:
may ask in this forum since this question is kinda relevant, and i am also a noob

i have a 1000 watt hps/mh ballast
with a 600 watt super hps from sunburst? i think thats the name i ripped the box a little bit

i have 6 plants that are 3 feet tall in there 3 gallon containers from that are taking up room in my veg box (i procrastinated and did the last grow from start to finish in a 3x3x4 box with 1000 watt led off of amazon ((no clue what its actual draw is or par put out)), if i transplant them to 5 gallon buckets before i put them in the flower room i have to build ? it will be 6 feet x 6 feet x 8 feet.

last grow i also did with general organics go box full line of nutrients in coco coir/pearlight 50/50, finished 4 plants g-13 was the strain in 3 gallon or a little smaller pots after 6 months veg 9 weeks flower, only yielding 31.5 grams dried

which part of that roiund led to such a small harvest?
if anyone has an opinion i would glad to hear them, anything to get a better harvest this go around!!!
Click to expand...
You do mean 31.5 per plant avg eh? I've never used LEDs but from what I gather the cheap ones are no good, I've heard good things about gavita but you're looking at $600-800 just for a thousand watt equivalent.

You'll do much better with the HIDs but dont run a 600w bulb with a thousand watt ballast that's a serious fire hazard.
 
HPSandLED

HPSandLED

New Member
New Age United said:
You do mean 31.5 per plant avg eh? I've never used LEDs but from what I gather the cheap ones are no good, I've heard good things about gavita but you're looking at $600-800 just for a thousand watt equivalent.

You'll do much better with the HIDs but dont run a 600w bulb with a thousand watt ballast that's a serious fire hazard.
Click to expand...

it is an adjustable power sun ballast so it is turned down to put 600 watts, although i may get a 1000w bulb soon when i can afford to go back into the grow shop in a month or so. I just curious if i will have enough room for 6, 5 gallon buckets with 2-3 foot plants under a 1000w or 600w hps .in a grow room that is 6x6 x 8 feet tall? im framing it in and sheeting it with a door the same size as to get in any other room, but is that high enough away from the plants?

, may not be for this harvest but next even as i spent almost 500$ in there last time i went a couple weeks ago grabbing HPS, ballast, hanger and reflector, timer and new nutrients, I got a new 3 stage nutrient, with calmag from "emerald harvest" that im exited to use in flower, also going to pick up there bloom booster, and a veg booster called a plant tonic? as this nutrient line has done wonders so far in veg

and no that was not average 31.5, sadly it was a grand total of 31.5 once had finished curing for a month. it really was pathetic, i guess maybe 10 grams more for buds i tested while waiting for it to cure that never got the chance to cure,

i think the blame would lay between the cheap led of amazon and the general organic go box nutrients, (I wasn't a fan of those nutrients they stunk) I have had better luck with this g-13 strain and the general hydroponic 2 part nutrient system under 200 watts of 2700k cfl before i moved into my current place, so not sure if the light or the nutrients i was using this time.

this time around i have 4 different strains as well and dont have any g-13 clones or seeds left so was my last time going with that strain.
 
New Age United

New Age United

Well-Known Member
HPSandLED said:
it is an adjustable power sun ballast so it is turned down to put 600 watts, although i may get a 1000w bulb soon when i can afford to go back into the grow shop in a month or so. I just curious if i will have enough room for 6, 5 gallon buckets with 2-3 foot plants under a 1000w or 600w hps .in a grow room that is 6x6 x 8 feet tall? im framing it in and sheeting it with a door the same size as to get in any other room, but is that high enough away from the plants?

, may not be for this harvest but next even as i spent almost 500$ in there last time i went a couple weeks ago grabbing HPS, ballast, hanger and reflector, timer and new nutrients, I got a new 3 stage nutrient, with calmag from "emerald harvest" that im exited to use in flower, also going to pick up there bloom booster, and a veg booster called a plant tonic? as this nutrient line has done wonders so far in veg

and no that was not average 31.5, sadly it was a grand total of 31.5 once had finished curing for a month. it really was pathetic, i guess maybe 10 grams more for buds i tested while waiting for it to cure that never got the chance to cure,

i think the blame would lay between the cheap led of amazon and the general organic go box nutrients, (I wasn't a fan of those nutrients they stunk) I have had better luck with this g-13 strain and the general hydroponic 2 part nutrient system under 200 watts of 2700k cfl before i moved into my current place, so not sure if the light or the nutrients i was using this time.

this time around i have 4 different strains as well and dont have any g-13 clones or seeds left so was my last time going with that strain.
Click to expand...
Wow, let's say 42 grams off of 6 plants that's only a quarter per plant. That light is obviously garbage and yes the nutrients may have had some affect. Yes 6 × 6 is plenty of space for 6 plants in 5 gallon pots, I would go with 7 gallon smart pots if I was you. And yes 8 feet is high enough for 3 foot plants the 7 gallon pot is a little over a foot, 3 feet plants, 2 feet between the 1000 watt light, that leaves 2 feet between the light and the ceiling, just keep in mind that your plants are gonna double in height when you flip them, so flip them when they're around 18 inches.
 
HPSandLED

HPSandLED

New Member
New Age United said:
Wow, let's say 42 grams off of 6 plants that's only a quarter per plant. That light is obviously garbage and yes the nutrients may have had some affect. Yes 6 × 6 is plenty of space for 6 plants in 5 gallon pots, I would go with 7 gallon smart pots if I was you. And yes 8 feet is high enough for 3 foot plants the 7 gallon pot is a little over a foot, 3 feet plants, 2 feet between the 1000 watt light, that leaves 2 feet between the light and the ceiling, just keep in mind that your plants are gonna double in height when you flip them, so flip them when they're around 18 inches.
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that was 4 plants my first grow in this new house,
was also first grow with

general organics
this amazon Chinese brand 1000watt dual spectrum purplish red or bright white light, use both together is a purple reddish light and the full "1000watts of power"(really want to and have to get a PAR reader and a power meter to figure it out i guess)
and first grow with a framed and sheeted 3x3x4 homemade sealed off box
still using coco and pearlight 50/50 with sprinkles of worm castings on the tops and inside of the transplanting space when transplanting

last time it was literally just my entire closet for growing, related storage, water,aerated nutrient reservoir everything was in there lol
my next run for flower i have 6 plants of only 4 new different strains(not feminized) BUT still same medium
now new flower room is 2ce as wide and 2ce as tall
using HIDS for the first time, if i am able to afford it later on this grow I may buy a 1000w bulb to replace my 600w or buy the same set up i have and step it up to 1000w for both next time depending on how hot it gets in there
First run with emerald harvest nutrient line
going to try transplanting a week before flowering in 5 gallon containers for the first time
first run with carbon filter and inline exhaust fan, built in intake and light trap for the flower box

alot first time tries for this run so no idea what to expect hoping it goes well and i don't burn the crop or dry them out to soon or burn them with the new nutrients. but should have alot better harvest i would imagine !

TIPS AND CRITICISM POINTERS WELCOMEhave any pointers for growing with HID how far do they have to stay away from the plants? if i let it have a week of veg under the HPS would it start to stretch right away? i would transplant to 5 gallon before putting it under that light so would want it to build some root mass before flowering
 
HPSandLED

HPSandLED

New Member
New Age United said:
Wow, let's say 42 grams off of 6 plants that's only a quarter per plant. That light is obviously garbage and yes the nutrients may have had some affect. Yes 6 × 6 is plenty of space for 6 plants in 5 gallon pots, I would go with 7 gallon smart pots if I was you. And yes 8 feet is high enough for 3 foot plants the 7 gallon pot is a little over a foot, 3 feet plants, 2 feet between the 1000 watt light, that leaves 2 feet between the light and the ceiling, just keep in mind that your plants are gonna double in height when you flip them, so flip them when they're around 18 inches.
Click to expand...
thanks so much by the way that will be helpful,
i didn't see you had the distance between the plant and light there just exited about getting this flower room set up today.
and i think i will go with the 7 gallon pots like you said instead of the 5 gallon
 
New Age United

New Age United

Well-Known Member
HPSandLED said:
thanks so much by the way that will be helpful,
i didn't see you had the distance between the plant and light there just exited about getting this flower room set up today.
and i think i will go with the 7 gallon pots like you said instead of the 5 gallon
Click to expand...
You wanna stay 2 feet away from the canopy with the light that's at full power a thousand watts, 18 inches a 600w, however when the plants get older you can get the light even closer to the tops, I've never used a thousand watter so I'm not sure how close you can go with it, but with my 600w I can get to within 6 inches of the tops in the last few weeks of flower without any issues.
 
HPSandLED

HPSandLED

New Member
New Age United said:
You wanna stay 2 feet away from the canopy with the light that's at full power a thousand watts, 18 inches a 600w, however when the plants get older you can get the light even closer to the tops, I've never used a thousand watter so I'm not sure how close you can go with it, but with my 600w I can get to within 6 inches of the tops in the last few weeks of flower without any issues.
Click to expand...
well awesome thank you for the pointers and advice i cant wait till i get the flower room all together and last bit of supplies gets in from amazon (took your advice and got 7 gallon smart pots) and they have a good deal on 600 watt HPS light ballast and reflector, may run 2 600 watts for this run after all.
 
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