ok. here is the state of my grow:
2 foot high plants. One suspected male (looks like a miniscule ball on a stick) and a female (one confirmed preflower).
4 8-inch plants - no sex.
a 2 inch plant - late bloomer
and finally a 2 month old bud that is starting to veg again with new 3 spear leaf growth that I will top and clone.
Here's the thing. The four foot fluorescents just aren't cutting it now. With the tops touching the bulb the bottom growth is a long way away. Thus stretchiness and sparseness are beginning to prevail.
Additionally, the 2 gallon pots are starting to show signs of wimpnessitude. I'd like to upsize but can't in my current set-up.
But fear not! Drybiedog has a few tricks up his sleeve still! In the other half of my divided grow room is a bloom room rigged up with a balast that supports either a 600 watt HPS or a 600 watt Metal Halide....and I have both bulbs raring to go.
Ahhhh, the rub. The temps right now run perfectly if not a tad high - and that is with my ventilation exhaust running. So what am I to do? I'll tell you. Wait. You see in my parts it gets quite cold in the winter and once the temps outside drop the room will definately cool down since the passive vent sucks in cold winter air. We've been experiencing a bit of an indian summer so it's too warm out to run the 600watter. THings will change this weekend. Here is where I am looking for advice.
I think I'll take clones, maybe 2, from each plant, and then put them under the MH 18/6 in the flowering room. THis serves 3 major purposes. 1. - a wicked light boost to give my ladies some much needed relief from the lightweight fluoros, 2. gives me a week to sort out the temps with the hot light on, and 3, I will now have space in the veg room now to grow the clones.
One more task is at hand. repotting. not sure when to do it. once the flowering plants show their sex 100% I suppose.
So far so good. Not sure about cutting the clones though. I've heard some threads here saying clones from a flowering plant take root much fast (then going immediately 24/7). Also the plants are sparse as is and I feel taking clones will make them look a bit naked. Take them near the bottom of the plant I guess?
Once the clones look like they have rooted and I feel confident that I've figured out the temperature control I will go 12/12. I want to get them going already because I'm worried about the stretching.
The last concern I have is that the room might get too cold with HPS off for 12 hours if there is a cold snap but some concerns you just have to shelve for another day.
Drybie out.
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