slabhead's 2010

[slabhead]

Sleestack? Did you say? chorizo tacos? Cause if you did man that is fucked up because I'm really fucking hungry right now.

ha that's some crazy shit there. Yeah, I've been hearing good things about the sleestack. I hope the skunk only improves it. Vigorous suckers for sure.

That is a nice little meter Salb. Make sure you keep the pH in 7.0 for storage, Never pour the solutions back in the source bottle. They arent that expensive. I always get a 4, and 7. You want to calibrate inbetwewen what you will be testing so if you will need 6.5 for your soil grow then get 4 and 7 calib solns.

What was the TDS of your water? Mine is 370 and pH of 7.5. The TDS is the bad one since the salts present in the tap water will make it so you have to add less nutes so you dont burn the plants. Just think of it as 370 ppm less nutes because the salts are already in the water but they arewnt the salts that make the plants grow or flower. Its stuff like calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Now dont get me wrong, you need Ca and Mg but I would rather have N P K instead wouldnt you? You are also right about the nutes taking the pH down. When I was at full strength I had to add pH up. Get a big bottle (quart) of that too.

Anyway, you really want to know the quality of the stream water so go get a sample. Check it at the begining of spring and as the drought gets worse see if the water quality does too.

Read those instructions first before you do anything. After awhile you wont need to test because you will know the quality of the water and end TDS readings after adding the nutes. I use a syringe to add the pH up so I can measure it easily. Let me know if ya have any questions.

yeah man I'll be just lightly nuting with the distilled water for now and go up to half strenght on the nutes. I hope this ph correction straightens out that distorted growth. I'm gonna have to raise the lights the way they're growing.
What I need to do is send you a sample of my creek water and see what it is. yeah yeah I'll prolly get a tds meter later for that. $$$$$ lol

What I need to do right now is get my cloning shit together. The lower branches are 3" to 4" already on a bunch of them. I'm leaning towards a bubbler box but thinking I need to get a smaller tote than the one I got. It's an 18 gallon that's about 18" tall. I'd sure have to have a lot of water in that sucker to get the level up high enough, it seems. And I need some net pots and hydroton too I'm thinking. My last clones I did in a humidity tent in potting mix and they all rooted. But I've been watching cph grow amazing roots in his bubble thread. I'm not sure just which direction I'm gonna go yet. And I guess I'd better get that sexing chamber ready for business too. damn this indoor growing sure is a lot of work, ha...

 

[NickNasty]

Instead of net pots and hydroton I would just get some neoprene collars to put your cuttings in, just make sure you cut your hole a little smaller than the collar else it will just fall right through .< I made that mistake the first time I made a bubble cloner. How many clones are you planning on doing at a time? Here is Bob Smith's cloner it is basically like mine but I use a wider and shorter plastic tote

DWC cloner - 5 gallon bucket with neoprene inserts holding up the plants - works every time.
Cost about $15 ($10 pump, $1 airline, $3 for bucket and lid, $1 for airstone).

You can make them all kinds of ways tho, I have seen everything from a kitty litter box with a piece of styrofoam floating on top w/slits in it for the clones to smaller ones made out of tupperware.

 

[Xan2]

Here's a little peek at my Sleestack x Skunk freebies.

scorched of course... don't ever let anyone tell you the T5's won't burn.

The T5 and T5 HO are the only tube that get hot enough to burn the plants.
T12's, T10's and T8's are only getting hot on each extremity. A Mature plant could touch the tube without getting burnt.

I use 10x 40w t12's for my moms and they actualy toutch the tubes.

 

[slabhead]

Instead of net pots and hydroton I would just get some neoprene collars to put your cuttings in, just make sure you cut your hole a little smaller than the collar else it will just fall right through .< I made that mistake the first time I made a bubble cloner. How many clones are you planning on doing at a time? Here is Bob Smith's cloner it is basically like mine but I use a wider and shorter plastic tote

DWC cloner - 5 gallon bucket with neoprene inserts holding up the plants - works every time.
Cost about $15 ($10 pump, $1 airline, $3 for bucket and lid, $1 for airstone).



You can make them all kinds of ways tho, I have seen everything from a kitty litter box with a piece of styrofoam floating on top w/slits in it for the clones to smaller ones made out of tupperware.

hey thanks nick, Yeah you got me thinking and I'll make one with the humidity dome I have and the 1.5" inserts. That does sound like a simpler way of handling them. I'll be taking enough to sex them first and more later. 5 to 20 to 50 depending, ha.

The T5 and T5 HO are the only tube that get hot enough to burn the plants.
T12's, T10's and T8's are only getting hot on each extremity. A Mature plant could touch the tube without getting burnt.

I use 10x 40w t12's for my moms and they actualy toutch the tubes.

I don't think none of them put out light like the T5's. The plants love them.

blondie this morning.

the Violator Kush is just dank looking.

blondie(Bubblelicious) and anoither Violator Kush.

I really think this VK is gonna be good.

yeah they really like those t5's.

thanks for visiting, have a nice jay

 

[Bumby]

Man your plants are lookin good already slabhead, As soon as my granddaddy is done flowering Im ganna get some seeds started and maybe get some clones from the club. Im subd and along for the ride.

 

[slabhead]

Man your plants are lookin good already slabhead, As soon as my granddaddy is done flowering Im ganna get some seeds started and maybe get some clones from the club. Im subd and along for the ride.

Thanks man. Yeah plenty of room on this train. You're welcome to ride along just hang on. ha

 

[NickNasty]

I don't think none of them put out light like the T5's. The plants love them.

here is a journal where a guy is using his t5's for budding he gets pretty good yields too, in case you decide to a little something extra this summer.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/33421-my-current-set-up-journal.html

 

[volcomrider157]

wow what an awesome picture...i love it when they are all the same size, it makes for a very beautiful canopy.. keep it up man!!

 

[cph]

Some happy girls (hopefully) you've got there!

 

[slabhead]

Thanks guys. It means a lot to have your hard work grow and thrive.

Today I gave everyone 16 ounces of a 50% nute mix in the distilled water. The ph was still too high but I haven't got any ph down yet and they needed watering. I'll probably be heading into the big shitty later this week to pick up some more supplies. I rotated everyone around the tray and cleaned up the floor and around in the grow room. I also installed a ceiling exhaust vent fan to help keep the humidity down and pull fresh air through. They are still pretty young but already starting to smell. The Bubblelicious and the Dairy Queen and the Jack the Ripper are already skunky smelling.

Well anyway I know y'all just want to see some freakin' pictures. hahaha

Papaya

group shot

blondie the Bubblelicious

Papaya

Violator Kush

The x Hijack cross babies are getting bigger.

So that's pretty much it today. I think I'm gonna go pack a pinch of stinky skunk and look for the couch...

 

[slabhead]

Today I have some pictures of my 3 Sleestack x Skunk freebies. They are about ready to give some clones for sexing.

the 3 amigos

 

[Iron, Lion, Zion]

Lookin puuurtty slabhead.

 

[slabhead]

Lookin puuurtty slabhead.

Thank you kindly sir.

Ya know, I've been growing this weed for about 35 yrs now and I'm so stoked to see the growth I'm seeing now.
Yeah barring any major setbacks or hurricanes this year ought to be a dandy.

 

[cph]

Growing like weeds!! Nice to see them so happy!!

 

[slabhead]

Growing like weeds!! Nice to see them so happy!!

Man they are thriving!!! They seemed to love that transplant into the Roots Organic 707. So much I'll be picking up another tray and another light. T5 4' four bulb and another Botanicare 2x4 tray. That should give everything enough room until I get them sexed and thinned out. Gonna be pulling clones this weekend. Thanks for the help bro, I'll probably be needing more. hehehe

gotta go...

 

[slabhead]

High everyone?


The garden is looking a little crowded today but I should have them halved up by tomorrow or saturday. Then I'll have 14 in each tray.

So, Here's a look around the room.

I'm loving those T5's. damn

Keeping everything clean and happy.

Keeping it simple, my oscillating fan and heavy duty timer are plugged into the apc and the T5's and cfl's are plugged into the timer. The timer is rated for 15 amps but those t5's only pull a few amps. amazing!

nutes at the present

Today I took the magnifying glass to look for any preflowers.

Hot Damn! I found 5 females already. 2 Bubblelicious (not Blondie) and 3 Papaya with flowers.

bubblelicious

papaya

and the little ones... chemo cindy x hijack and jack's surprise x hijack. I might start calling them my cinjack & double jack

Sadly, I've got one poor little Chemo Cindy x Hijack that is really strange. I'm gonna keep nursing it along to see what happens. Maybe it will grow out of it. Looks like it struggled as a sprout and then got nuked with my tap water. Whatever, I'm always on for a challenge, ha.

So pretty exciting day finding 5 girls already. Hellyeah.

Have a nice jay

 

[cph]

Great news, girls already!!! You'll be fine with the clones, it's pretty easy the way I've been doing it.

Seems like your starting to like this indoor thing.

 

[greenthumb111]

Great news, girls already!!! You'll be fine with the clones, it's pretty easy the way I've been doing it.

Seems like your starting to like this indoor thing.

Damn Slab you got the nursery pumpin bro. Looks great. Those T5s are doing some growing for you. Congrats on the girl power you got going on.

I had a couple of seeds fall off the plant when mine were still in flower in AUg and Sept. One grew to be a male but the other got eaten by a slug or snail.

Those ones under the T5s look like you should have transplanted already. Dont do like I did and let them get rootbound.

Cindy Jack, Jacks HI lookin good. They grow up so quickly dont they?

 

[Iron, Lion, Zion]

H

Just remember, this little guy could be one of these...

 

[slabhead]

Just remember, this little guy could be one of these...

lol, I've had worse lookin' ones make it.

Damn Slab you got the nursery pumpin bro. Looks great. Those T5s are doing some growing for you. Congrats on the girl power you got going on.

I had a couple of seeds fall off the plant when mine were still in flower in AUg and Sept. One grew to be a male but the other got eaten by a slug or snail.

Those ones under the T5s look like you should have transplanted already. Dont do like I did and let them get rootbound.

Cindy Jack, Jacks HI lookin good. They grow up so quickly dont they?

So that's what ya calling them huh? I know those magnum pots make them look small but they've only been in those 1+gallon pots for a couple weeks. I have some 2 gallon perfect pots to put 15 mothers in once they make the cut. Then some 30 gallon pots if I decide to go that big. They are doing rain duty right now. Caught quite a bit overnight. about 10+ gal each... woo hoo free water!!!!

Great news, girls already!!! You'll be fine with the clones, it's pretty easy the way I've been doing it.

Seems like your starting to like this indoor thing.

If it wasn't for the smell and the numbers I need I think I could get used to it. ha Yeah pretty excited to find some girls. And I think one Dairy Queen male but the balls are still pretty small so not gonna declare him just yet.


Today I'll be making some pH down for pennies. I was researching the net (god I love the internet) and found out how to make my own with sulfuric acid.

Whoa there!!! Now I'm a big boy with quite a bit of comman sense and years of lab experience so don't freak out and start giving me chemistry lessons. otay?
It's pretty simple really. The biggest thing is to mix it correctly with the acid you buy. Cause it comes in different strengths. What I got is not the pure sulfuric acid but what they sell as battery fluid. Some call it battery acid but it is a 33% diluted sulfuric acid. You can find the 97% so if you are gonna make your own pH down be sure of what you are using. AND the acid goes into the distilled water. NOT water into acid cause that can react in a not so friendly way.

So, here's the formula for those interested AND with enough sense to make their own pH down. I stole it from another site...

http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-37804.html

Automotive and motorcycle parts houses also carry a product called "battery acid," or "battery fluid," which is a premixed - and sometimes buffered - solution of 33% (4.2 molar) sulpfuric acid in solution with distilled water. Also, it has been my experience that a parts store will carry either one (97%) or the other (33%), but not both. NOTE: 99% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THESE STORES DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE AND IT ISN'T USUALLY REFERENCED ON THE PACKAGING!!!

Both the concentrated and premixed come in boxes with the big scary NFA panel and huge warnings with pictograms showing acid burns to human flesh and reactive metals. Neither typically indicate the concentration anywhere on the packaging. Figures 1-5 are examples of both concentrated 97% sulfuric and premixed 33% solution. Can you tell the difference?

The reason this is important is because the 1st post in this thread is calling out specific ratios (50ml H2SO4/950ml distilled water) that assume a concentrated sulfuric acid component of 97% purity. *((THESE NUMBERS ARE WRONG! READ ADDENDUM ABOVE!!)) Obviously it will not produce the same final product if what you're calling concentrated acid is, in fact, only 33% pure. Conversely, if you bought 33% solution one time, mixed it until it worked, then got some "battery" acid at another store and it turned out to be 97% and you mix it to the same ratios you're gonna totally zap your 'nutes and/or roots, and just might fry your hands in the process.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE SINCE RETAIL CONTAINERS RARELY SPECIFY CONCENTRATION: First, don't ask the counter help; often people will answer questions that they are not qualified to answer in an effort to be helpful. This is especially true of retail clerks whose job it is to "help" the customer. It's well-meant but not very reliable.

So here's the deal: Concentrated sulfuric will have instructions in the box on how to create a solution by mixing with distilled water. Premixed "battery acid/fluid" will instruct the customer to add it as-is to the battery cells.

So...
One is "battery" acid, meaning: "Acid that is to be mixed with water and then added to a lead/acid battery,"
The other is "battery acid/fluid," meaning: "The already mixed stuff that is ready to go into your battery right out of the bottle/pouch/bag."

Again, I only mention any of this 'cuz I want everyone to have success and safety in all their growing endeavors, and that's what MP is all about, right?

Here's the simple version:
Mix 50ml of 33% sulfuric solution (read this post to learn how to determine what you bought) to 950ml of distilled water for 1 liter of a 1.65% pH down solution (50x0.33=16.5=1000x0.0165=1.65%)

or,

Mix 70ml of 33% solution to 890ml of distilled water for 1 U.S. quart of 2.4% solution (70x0.33=23.1=960x0.024=2.4%).

To use the 1.65% solution is approx. 5ml(1tsp)/liter for a drop of 1 pH point, and to use the 2.4% is approx. 15ml(1Tbs)/gal. for a drop of 1 pH point. THIS IS APPROXIMATE and to a greater extent than commercial pH down will depend on the TDS/EC and degree to which your water source/nutrient solution is naturally buffered (remember, everything is a bit touchier with a sufuric pH down) You'll have to experiment to find the perfect ratio for you, and though sufuric acid solutions are a little more sensitive, it's totally worth it for how much $$$ you cn save.

So I'll be using this formula...

Mix 70ml of 33% solution to 890ml of distilled water for 1 U.S. quart of 2.4% solution (70x0.33=23.1=960x0.024=2.4%).

To use the 2.4% is approx. 15ml(1Tbs)/gal. for a drop of 1 pH point.


Starting to see the cupboards are clearing out...

Down to my last couple lbs...grrr

so that's it for this morning, gotta go......