RPsmoke420
Active Member
I like that glass idea. Pretty smart, and anything that lets you get the lights closer is always worth checking out. Nice work. And yes, SUPER stealthy !Hi RPsmoke
I understand friend, must be the NL !!!!
The heat shield is just 2 piece of thin glass (I'll grab a pic later). Many of the CFL's are now resting on the glass and the plant tops are within 3" of the glass. I could let them touch the glass almost I think without burning. Main reason was to bring the temps down a touch by 'channeling' the heat along to the exhaust fan at top right of the box, its worked better than expected, dropped by 7 to 8 degrees
Heres the pics I took yesterday at day 21 of 12/12.
Watered fed again today, still using the 'bio bizz GROW so far, will use bloom nutes next time maybe. I also have Canna PK13/14 in reserve for around week 5/6 ish but I'm not pushing it this grow at all
On the subject of grow/bloom nutes, I have been following this thread by Uncle Ben here (LINK):
The never ending abuse of Phosphorous to enhance flowering I tend to agree with this guy, so many of the problem that we see here with burnt/yellowing plants is directly a result of overfeeding and trying to push the plant along too early. Whats your take on this RPsmoke?
Also a pic of the cabinet closed up (left), pretty stealthy ?
The 2 cuttings(from Aggie) are now at day 6 from the cut.
I partly agree with Uncle Ben, and have read his posts many times. I "abuse" the plant with tons of phospherous, but I also provide plenty of grow nutes.
I personally use Fox Farm, Fox Farm solubles and Aquashield and SugarPeak.
If you look at Foxfarm's feeding schedule, they suggest using some Grow Big during flowering along with the appropriate soluble and some aquashield. I replace the Grow Big formula with SugarPeak veg formula (only during flower, I use Grow big during veg). I mix this in to the nute soup, slightly on the heavier side, depending how the plant takes to nutes overall. I keep a heavy feeding mix of Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom, and Sugar Peak, along with Beastie Bloom or Cha Ching and some aquashield. In the last weeks leading up to harvest, I switch to only Sugar Peak veg formula, a heavy feeding of Cha Cing, and some aquashield. Last couple days I run heavy Florakleen mix to flush. Then 1-2 days of just water in hydro. Soil, I water with plain PH'd water for the last week or two. In soil, generally feed every 3rd watering. Plain PH'd water in between.
Doing this has kept my plants super healthy and green (unless I over do it and give em nute burn). I don't have leaves that die off like others. Maybe a couple throughout the grow, but mostly due to lack of light, and nothing else.
So, I do think some extra N during flower helps, but there is a fine line. Too much can give you some oddball growth.
I also keep my plants on veg nutes for one to two weeks into 12/12. This is to help with the "fill out" period directly after switching to 12/12. Plants seem to stretch and grow fast during this time. Extra N seems to help. I start feeding very light, and only up the feeding as the plant can take it. If I over do it, I quickly back off.
I do like how he talks about rotating the blends. That is what i try and stick to. I try and "read" the plant to see what it needs, and feed accordingly. I don't have an X amount of any food I use at certain times. I feed as I see fit for the most part, and it has worked out great for me. Spent a few years going by different formulas, and have finally found one that works for me. It is based off the FF feeding schedule, but has quite a few tweaks for my extra additives, and just from personal experience. It's ever changing, and always flexible ! Just gotta listen to the plants. I do mix in heavy veg formulas during flower, but I also use formulas very high in P. I mix them up and try and stay well balanced. I do not have sick looking plants near harvest, nor do I lose many leaves.
Hope that makes some sense for ya.