3rd CFL Closet Grow - single AK-47 - Waterfarm - 2x125W Envirolites

[SunnyJim]

Hi folks,

I started a thread for my 2nd grow quite some time ago, but got super lazy and did a poor job of keeping it updated.

I'll be good this time, and update with pics and comments regularly.

This is my 3rd grow - my first two were fairly problem-free. 1st grow was 2 fem'd Spoetnik 1 (pure Indica from Paradise Seeds), 2nd grow was 2 fem'd AK-47 (mostly sativa from Serious Seeds), and this time I'm doing a single AK-47.

Both my previous crops yielded a similar amount, and although I didn't weigh either crop, judging by the amount that I smoke and the time each crop lasted me, I think each yielded about 4 ounces (2 ounces per plant). Maybe a little more, maybe a little less..

This time, I'm going to see if I can yield as much from a single, well-managed plant. I think she'll benefit from the extra space she'll have without having to complete for light with another plant in a tight space. Her roots won't have to compete for space with another plant this time either, so I'm hoping for a good grow.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to ScrOG this plant, so I might increase veg time by a couple weeks to make sure she fills up a decent amount of the screen before flowering her. I haven't tried a ScrOG before, but I have had to LST all my previous plants. I'll decide later if I'll ScrOG or LST, but I'm leaning towards ScrOG.

Here are some pics, a few taken a week in, a few taken a week later (yesterday). My pH pen wasn't working, so while I waited for a replacement to arrive, my seedling was being fed tap water which wasn't balanced. The tap water here runs at around 8, 8.2, so it was a little high. New pen arrived, water is now being balanced to 5.8. I think the high pH stunted her growth, because she's still tiny for being about 2 weeks old, but at least she looks healthy, and is developing much quicker these last few days.


Peace

 

[SunnyJim]

Here are a couple of photos taken earlier today. Still patiently waiting. The beginning is always slow for me, but I'm eager to see this little lady in 3-4 weeks from now.

Peace

 

[SunnyJim]

And a few more pics on day 23. This little lady is currently only under a single 125W envirolite CFL, so I'm thinking about switching the other 125W on to speed up the growing process.

Still, slow and steady wins the race..

Enjoy, and comments welcome, although at this early stage I'm not expecting many.

 

[WhiteWidowsBf]

what K are you using ? and adding the other cfl would be a great idea

 

[SunnyJim]

I'm using 6400K at the moment - it's one big 125W CFL, but I have another exactly the same. I agree with you, I might as well switch it on now too. Thanks for stopping by.

Are you growing anything at the moment, or just lurking for information before you take the plunge?

 

[SunnyJim]

Here are a few more pics. New nodes are starting to develop, so I might dump the tank and fill it up with clean pH'd water and some 1/4 (or maybe even 1/2) strength nutes.

She's starting to look really pretty, though. Some LST in about 10 days methinks.

 

[iMorg]

Did you build the waterfarm system yourself or buy one? And did you place the rockwool cube under the hydroton before or after it germinated?

Its an awesome grow so far, im thinking about starting a similar one soon.

 

[SunnyJim]

Did you build the waterfarm system yourself or buy one? And did you place the rockwool cube under the hydroton before or after it germinated?

Its an awesome grow so far, im thinking about starting a similar one soon.

Thanks!

I bought the Waterfarm system, but having seen how it works and having had to modify it slightly anyway, I would recommend building one to suit your growing style and space.

I used the paper towel method to germinate my seed. Once the tap root appears, I put it in a small rockwool cube and place the cube ON TOP of the hydroton. I hand water the cube for a few days until the seedling breaks ground through the top of the small cube, then I place the smaller cube into a larger one and bury it under the hydroton. The seedling should be just big enough to be buried under one layer of hydroton.

Check pictures from the start of my first grow (link in signature) and you'll see what I mean.

You should totally start a grow soon. Let me know if you need any advice and I'll be happy to help if I can.

 

[SunnyJim]

Some more pics. She's making good progress, although it'll probably be a pretty long veg period.

 

[SunnyJim]

Some updated pics.

She's really starting to develop nicely now. Nodes appearing, so I might introduce her to some gently LST in the coming day or two.

Peace

 

[SunnyJim]

Hi folks,

Another quick picture update. She's really starting to grow aggressively now. I've given her some LST to try to keep her short and to encourage horizontal growth. So far, so good.

I'm not sure how much longer I'll be vegging her, but if I do decide to turn this into a ScrOG, I suspect she'll be vegging for another two to three weeks. In a week, I'll dump the reservoir and give her some more nutes. She is no longer being drip fed because her roots have grown through the basket and into the tank, so my setup is now a DWC with an airstone bubbling away 24/7.

My Magic Flight Launch Box arrived today. Win. Can't wait to taste my AK-47 through my new mini vaporiser.

Peace

 

[BMWEATER]

looks awesome! I cant believe how much she grew...in the first few photos she was so tiny

 

[Nordic division]

Beautiful pictures!

 

[SunnyJim]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, she's really starting to spread herself out. My grows always start slowly, so I need to figure out a way to get the most out of the first couple weeks.

But once they get going, they really get going. I don't think the unbalanced water helped her much at the beginning of the grow... As soon as I got a new pH pen and started balancing the water, the results were really noticeable.

Thanks for stopping by. Sunny day out, I'm going to try to be productive. Tennis then a beer garden. I might bring my Launch Box with me.

Peace

 

[Matchbox]

Looks great! They always start slow, it's just the nature of.. Well nature XD

I'm doing a roughly similar set up with the same 2, 125w lights but in red for flower and airpots.
Thinking of going back to hempy for my 3rd grow!

Keep it up!

 

[SunnyJim]

Looks great! They always start slow, it's just the nature of.. Well nature XD

I'm doing a roughly similar set up with the same 2, 125w lights but in red for flower and airpots.
Thinking of going back to hempy for my 3rd grow!

Keep it up!

Thanks Matchbox. I just checked out your grow journals - it's a shame you had to abandon your ScrOG idea. I'm considering turning this grow into a ScrOG and would've loved to see yours in action first.

 

[SunnyJim]

Just a couple pics today. A little more growth. I think I love her.

I'm really trying to keep the canopy even with some LST, but she is still really short for a sativa. I've read that a ScrOG screen for a sativa should be about 18in above the base of the plant, so she still has a way to go before she would reach it.

I'm really hoping to get at least 10 strong-looking potential bud sites, all evenly spread across the canopy. I'm still not sure if I'll even need to ScrOG her - I might just stick to LST (which is all I know how to do at this point). I'll just play it by ear.

I'm quite certain that I'll top her, though, when I start to flower her. I haven't topped a plant before, so I'll slightly nervous about the stress it might cause her, but fuck it - luck favours the brave.

I have a small nightmare about a week ago which I forgot to mention - the power source for my fans failed at some point through the night and when I checked the box in the morning (a few hours into the daylight cycle), the temperature had risen to just over 100 F. Poor girl, she was sweating in there.. I connected a new power source and got the temps down, so only a minor scare. I had to leave the box door open over night the first night because I hadn't found time to locate a new power source, but the box is in a windowless room (storage cupboard, come study) and the door to the room was closed. I hope the light leaks haven't screwed her up, but she looks ok.

Quick question for anyone who is reading: how bad is it if the roots of the plant are exposed to light? Mine were, but for no more than 10 seconds, give or take. Is that likely to cause loads of stress to my plant?

Peace

 

[Matchbox]

thanks for taking a look!

Scrog is just fancy lst just needs a bit more management.

I know it sucks I had to abandon the scrog they look amazing when they fill out.

Anyway, no 10 seconds or so probably won't do anything mostly when you transplant roots are exposed for longer than that.
And topping is really easy and a really effective way to increase yield; only do it in veg 'cause they take a while to recover and that would effect flowering. Have a look at uncle bens topping technique works every time.

 

[SunnyJim]

..And some more pics.

She is making really good progress. I dumped the tank and gave her a fresh batch of nutes. No visible nute burn whatsoever, so it's all go. Shit, I love growing this awesome plant.


Matchbox, thanks for the response. I'm glad you seem to think that a brief exposure of the roots to light won't cause any significant damage. My airstone became detached from the pump, so I had to raise the roots out of the water to reconnect the stone. Really couldn't have taken more than 30 seconds, so I agree that it shouldn't be a major issue in the long run.


If I do decide to ScrOG her, she'll need a screen put above her in no more than a week. In the meantime, I'll keep LSTing her to get her branches to grow in the direction that I want them to before I set the screen up.

And the best news I've had this week - I have a buddy who is just about to put his first box together. He's fairly opposed to CFL growing (shame, because I champion these bulbs), and is really considering buying a massively expensive LED. Can't wait to see his results, but more importantly if his grow succeeds we'll both be able to stagger our grows and have several strains on the go at once.

Super Lemon Haze and Jack Herer for my next grow, and he's getting a 5-seed feminized Indica mix from Greenhouse Seeds. The next 20 (or so) weeks can't come soon enough.


Peace

 

[Matchbox]

Sounds good! And your ladies are looking great!

And if your mates got the money let him grab some LEDs they are amazing, just make sure they do their research and get a proper one and the right one cause there's a lot of knock offs out there.

One reccomendation I would have (if your limited on height) is try to avoid the super lemon haze, it goes VERY tall when you switch to flower due to the majority sativa influence! But it sounds soo tasty XD