Can i improve on this before i flip???

[KiwiDom]

Hey everyone.

I've worked hard to buy my "ideal" grow set up over the past few months. I'm probably in it about $2500.00 nzd($1600 usd), but I dont care, i just enjoy growing and am hopeful that I'll be able to crack some solid nuggets out of it.

This is only my second grow, my first plants hermied and were riddled with seeds due to excessive heat (34.5°c at times using hps).

I've since upgraded all my lights and have far improved my ventilation, increased my tent size, added 4 fans for epic air flow etc... I've bought a bluelab ph pen and ppm meter...

My question is: is there anything I've missed that can improve my chances of making it work this time? I'm about to flip to flower in the next 10 ish days, and I'm gonna be severely disappointed if it goes wrong again. My plants look healthy to me (og gelato seedsman) but I'm a new grower and I'm getting paranoid... I've added pics... would just love some reassurance or constructive criticism really... I feel I have severely over done it on the technology and maybe havent put so much effort into some other stuff like how often to water, how to train them using lst etc...

(Btw my uv light is not usually on. It's there to be used in short increments in the final 3 weeks of flower, and the far red light is only on for 30 mins to aid in sleep speed and how quickly my plants get to that state.

Plants are under 1x 450watt + 1x 100watt full spectrum led lights, in a 1.2 x 2.2 x 2.0meter tent, 10 galon fabric bags, feeding a + b, calmag, small amount of molases.

Thanks in advance

 

[hotrodharley]

Are you up for doing a SCROG? If so I see weight. If not you’re going to give up bud.

 

[hotrodharley]

Sitting here vaping some Gelato OG. Chopped two a couple months ago. Very nice buds. They were from cuttings given to me. Fun to grow and produce well.

 

[KiwiDom]

Are you up for doing a SCROG? If so I see weight. If not you’re going to give up bud.

I dont have a scrog net that fits my new tent, so I've focused on lst and topping. I can get one if its going to make a beneficial difference though?

 

[MICHI-CAN]

Highly agree with SCROG. Would suggest less fans on lights. 2-4 rotating at canopy level until you get a 6" inline and filter. High CFM top exhaust keeps LED's stable. And good below canopy movement cools even better.

 

[hotrodharley]

I dont have a scrog net that fits my new tent, so I've focused on lst and topping. I can get one if its going to make a beneficial difference though?

It would make a huge difference. Those Gelato will fill a scrog. Just my two cents worth looking at them.

 

[MICHI-CAN]

I dont have a scrog net that fits my new tent, so I've focused on lst and topping. I can get one if its going to make a beneficial difference though?

Annoying accent. Excellent lesson. LOL.

 

[hotrodharley]

By the way I did SCROG these. Side buds really produced in the screen. Get the screen together and squash those suckers. Start weaving. Veg another 7-10 days and flip.

First feed should be full veg after flipping. They’ll need it for stretch and stem development. Keep weaving as they stretch. Don’t be afraid to reweave. If one gets way too tall early pull it down and move it.

 

[OldMedUser]

Looks like a pretty good setup so if nothing hermies you should do pretty well with that m8.

I use sheep fencing for my ScroG nets and just cut them to size. Made a 4x4' one in about 30 min using bamboo plant stakes for the frame and when I cut the fence wire I made sure to have some of the wire sticking out to bend around the stakes. It's so light you could put a stake in the pots at each corner and suspend the net with baling wire from them so it 'floats' as the plants grow. Ben the grow tops over and tie them to the wire with twist ties and Bob's your uncle.

This plant got way too tall with a few long branches so I made that net above then laid it over in a 7gal pot to ScroG it for a while before flipping. This is right after setting it up and shows the frame best. I suspended it from the ceiling. Only one 600W HPS above it so easy to hang it.



The start of a DWC ScroG. No frame used. Was a mother plant in a 2L pot that I converted to DWC. Just used baling wire to hold the screen up.



A screen is really handy so you don't end up with something like this.



Lots of ways to skin these cats.

 

[KiwiDom]

Looks like a pretty good setup so if nothing hermies you should do pretty well with that m8.

I use sheep fencing for my ScroG nets and just cut them to size. Made a 4x4' one in about 30 min using bamboo plant stakes for the frame and when I cut the fence wire I made sure to have some of the wire sticking out to bend around the stakes. It's so light you could put a stake in the pots at each corner and suspend the net with baling wire from them so it 'floats' as the plants grow. Ben the grow tops over and tie them to the wire with twist ties and Bob's your uncle.

This plant got way too tall with a few long branches so I made that net above then laid it over in a 7gal pot to ScroG it for a while before flipping. This is right after setting it up and shows the frame best. I suspended it from the ceiling. Only one 600W HPS above it so easy to hang it.

View attachment 4841396

The start of a DWC ScroG. No frame used. Was a mother plant in a 2L pot that I converted to DWC. Just used baling wire to hold the screen up.

View attachment 4841393

A screen is really handy so you don't end up with something like this.

View attachment 4841394

Lots of ways to skin these cats.

Ok I hear you guys... I was of the belief that because I had used lst as best I could to make a very level canopy, i wouldnt need a scrog net at all... and just assumed i could use some bamboo steaks to hold up colas if they start leaning.

Anyway the advice to scrog is pretty unanimous and I shall take that on board. I'll sort something tomorrow or in the coming days when I have time off work. I scrogged my last grow but that turned into an epic fail (see pics haha)

I like how you've put your plants on trolley wheels. Clever. Might try that next grow!!!

 

[OldMedUser]

Start weaving. Veg another 7-10 days and flip.

I prefer tying to the top of the net so if I decide the branch would work better moved over I just undo 2 or 3 little twist ties then tie it back down in it's new position. With that wire having such large spaces I'll tie a bridge across the gaps with any wire but have twist tie wire on a roll and that's handy. Then just tie the grow tip to that as it grows along until it crosses the divide. Not everybody has a roll of sheep wire lying around tho.

Sitting here vaping some Gelato OG. Chopped two a couple months ago. Very nice buds. They were from cuttings given to me. Fun to grow and produce well.

Small world eh. I'm smoking a little Gelato tonight I got just over a week ago from a guy I bought some used grow gear off of. Nice stuff. Some Mauie Wowie and Zskittlez too. Almost a whole oz altogether. Nice dude. I only brought an 8th each of Hindu Kush and AK47.

 

[OldMedUser]

Ok I hear you guys... I was of the belief that because I had used lst as best I could to make a very level canopy, i wouldnt need a scrog net at all... and just assumed i could use some bamboo steaks to hold up colas if they start leaning.

Anyway the advice to scrog is pretty unanimous and I shall take that on board. I'll sort something tomorrow or in the coming days when I have time off work. I scrogged my last grow but that turned into an epic fail (see pics haha)

I like how you've put your plants on trolley wheels. Clever. Might try that next grow!!!

If you have good LST going the poles would work too but you might need quite a few with the colas all spread out. Sharpen the end you're going to push in so they barely damage the roots. I stick them in late in flowering too but usually have a tall plant so just one pole then wires off that to the branches that need support.

Most people that do what they call a ScroG is just screen supported colas as they don't veg longer to train the branches to grow horizontally along the screen like a proper ScroG. Total canopy control!

I have a tall Monkey Banana Kush plant that I've been training the branches out with wire tied back to the main stem and will be setting it up like that other one above in the 7gal pot. The little plants in the pic are going upstairs into the 2x4x5'h near new Vivosun tent I bought along with that little LED light they are under. 1500W my ass! No name cob light and even the drivers inside just say LED Driver. Pulls 207W from the wall according to my little energy meter. Does about 3ft square which is good enough for half the tent. Those 9 pots will fit just right set up as they are.

 

[MICHI-CAN]

 

[jondamon]

What I’ve used to build mine.

3 way 20mm PVC connectors
9x1mx20mm PVC conduit
4x20mm PVC end caps
3”x3” scrog net that is 1mX1m

total cost around £25/$33usd

my active growing area is almost 1m x 1m so I’ve cut my scrog frame to fit over my area allowing me to 10” of clearance between top of the pots and the scrog netting.

Legs are not the finalised legs on the pics as I need the room empty to make sure the legs are the right size before being cut etc.

not used this yet but I will be after this run is finished.

and guess what I’ll be running? BLUE GELATO 41 lol along with a couple of others

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

@KiwiDom things I'd suggest. Adjust your carbon filter/fan/exhaust duct setup. All those bends are severely impairing it's efficiency and output. Move the whole setup as is towards the front of the tent if possible to get a straight exhaust out and up.

Take pictures with natural light. They seem a bit pale, but could just be the lights.

 

[KiwiDom]

@KiwiDom things I'd suggest. Adjust your carbon filter/fan/exhaust duct setup. All those bends are severely impairing it's efficiency and output. Move the whole setup as is towards the front of the tent if possible to get a straight exhaust out and up.

Take pictures with natural light. They seem a bit pale, but could just be the lights.

I would have to agree that they do look a bit pale with or without the led lights on. What might be causing that?? I'm fairly confident they are getting the right amount of nitrogen because I'm feeding using quality nutes and a ppm meter...

The space I have doesnt allow me to move the whole set up to minimize bends in the ducting. My tent takes up over half of the bedroom its in, but I can definately improve it and get rid of the worst bend atleast...

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

I would have to agree that they do look a bit pale with or without the led lights on. What might be causing that?? I'm fairly confident they are getting the right amount of nitrogen because I'm feeding using quality nutes and a ppm meter...

The space I have doesnt allow me to move the whole set up to minimize bends in the ducting. My tent takes up over half of the bedroom its in, but I can definately improve it and get rid of the worst bend atleast...

They do look like slightly nitrogen deficient. You didn't state what medium you are growing in, what you pH to, what ppm/EC you are feeding at, how often you are feeding or watering, what nutrient brand/line, what light you are using and at what height.

Those all matter when trying to diagnose any issues. If you are 100% certain you are feeding properly then the next thing I would examine is the light situation. Too much light (too close or at too high a power) can cause plants to look pale as well (light stress).

 

[lusidghost]

What I’ve used to build mine.

3 way 20mm PVC connectors
9x1mx20mm PVC conduit
4x20mm PVC end caps
3”x3” scrog net that is 1mX1m

total cost around £25/$33usd

my active growing area is almost 1m x 1m so I’ve cut my scrog frame to fit over my area allowing me to 10” of clearance between top of the pots and the scrog netting.

Legs are not the finalised legs on the pics as I need the room empty to make sure the legs are the right size before being cut etc.

not used this yet but I will be after this run is finished.

and guess what I’ll be running? BLUE GELATO 41 lol along with a couple of others
View attachment 4841452View attachment 4841453View attachment 4841454View attachment 4841455View attachment 4841459

Same setup, but I hung mine. The one benefit of hanging them is you can easily adjust the height. The down side is that it's obviously putting more weight on the tent, and if you're not using a tent it becomes a whole other construction project.

 

[Rurumo]

OP, it's true, you can definitely have a nice even canopy without a scrog, but you will have to micro-manage it more. With a scrog, you separate out the colas and tie them in place, but with LST only, the plants can move those colas around several inches every day. I'm 3 weeks into flower now without a scrog net because I'm growing 4 very different strains, but it's a lot more work to keep up than a scrog. A scrog is lovely when growing the same plant, or better yet, clones.

 

[Star Dog]

Omg I can't get a net to fit lol (humour)
Listen to the guys above about using a net you won't regret it.