First Grow: Hempy bucket under CFLs from bagseed

This is the first legitimate grow that I have done, so there is a lot of learning as this progress. This was done on a pretty tight budget, and I'm constantly making improvements as the money comes in. I germinated 7 seeds from various chronic bags I've had through the past year and 6 are growing now. I'm on day 15 of 12/12 light cycle plus two weeks of veg before that. I know that's not much. I just wanted to get a harvest at all before focusing on yield. I'm using 5-gal buckets with drain holes at the bottom. My nutrient solution is in a separate bucket and gets cleaned and changed about once a week. I started with all 6 plants in one bucket with perlite (on top of perlite with vermiculite) but quickly realized it was overcrowded. I moved 3 to a new bucket, but used hydroton which I am regretting--doesn't hold any water and the roots haven't reached the bottom of the bucket. As you can see, the perlite ones are doing much better. more on individual plants and all the questions I have...

I started this grow with 2 120 w plant lights and have added 4 23w 2700k cfls and backed the plant lights off. I'll be adding more cfls as I get the money. As I said, the 3 in perlite are doing pretty well. The biggest one has been growing strong all along, and I think the roots might have reached the resovoir. I tied the leaves back, and I think this promoted the growth from the nodes. The other bigger one is tied down so it will be in the most light, and the smaller one is even coming along. I would really appreciate any constructive input on these plants as this is my first grow. I've been looking for sexes because they have been flowering for 2 weeks, but I really have no idea for any of these. If you can see anything in the pictures let me know. There will be more soon

if anyone knows why the bottom leaves on the smallest plant in the previous post are morphing into that shape, i'd really appreciate knowing

here are the ones that got put into the hydroton. they didn't really grow much at all when i first put them in there, but they have recovered and i think they are actually starting to show their sex. I can't really figure out what they are showing though. Maybe someone can tell from these pics. One is also doing that same thing with the bottom leaves and the middle petal did not come out of the most recent fan leaf. It looks good besides that. What causes this? I thought the plant in the first pic was a male, but im not so sure now. I might have sent it hermie. anyone know? more pics of these as the nodes develop.

well, no input yet, but here come some more pics so maybe i can get some people to have a look at my grow...

here are the pics of my 4 plants that are doing the best (and still have to possibility of being healthy females) and some of the setup too. lemme know how they look or improvements that should be made

I know they are stretching, and some aren't too bushy at the moment, but this is a budget and learning grow, so improvements are constantly being made. I know this one isn't too far along, but if anyone can tell if it is a female or not, I would really appreciate it. more pics as it progresses...

The first 3 and last 2 are different plants, my two smallest ones, but they are quickly growing

here are the disgusting males that will be chopped down soon. what does everyone like to do with the males so not to waste all that plant matter?

Grow looks good. The first plant looks like a male - sorry Might give it alil more time though just to be sure. The other plant doesn't seem to be showing yet which prolly means it'll be a female (they tend to show later). How far are your lights from your plants? If you are using all flourescents keep them about an inch or two from the leaves of the plant - should help with stretching.

HydroClosetGrower said:

here are the disgusting males that will be chopped down soon. what does everyone like to do with the males so not to waste all that plant matter?

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I feed em to my rabbit or plant them outside as a joke. I have a group of teenagers that worship one I planted behind my appartment building. Don't think they know it's a male.

Gastanker said:

Grow looks good. The first plant looks like a male - sorry Might give it alil more time though just to be sure. The other plant doesn't seem to be showing yet which prolly means it'll be a female (they tend to show later). How far are your lights from your plants? If you are using all flourescents keep them about an inch or two from the leaves of the plant - should help with stretching.

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thanks for the input man. i hang the cfls about an inch away from them. like i said, i need to get more, so the plants don't always get all the light they should. I was afraid that one was a male. ive got three that aren't showing yet so hopefully they are all female

great start, it looks like you did a bit of homework before the seeds went in.

now you can find me if you have question, but i've got a boat load of dope and typeing is not my stronge point but try i may answer, free time and i my grow in the park

I haven't posted in a while, but i wanted to make sure i had some good plants before i went on. I killed three males that came up leaving me with three good looking females. The two bigger ones are in the perlite and the smaller one is in the hydroton. Thats why that one is so small i think. straight hydroton is not good for hempy buckets if the roots aren't long enough to reach the resovoir. they finally did though so its flowering strong, just a small plant. as always, im waiting on more money to get more lights. heres some pics...

The small one is first. Like i said, it didn't get to veg too big, but the buds on it are looking nice. I think they are developing faster than the bigger plants too. I hope i can pull this one down while im waiting for the big ones to finish. I eventually cut off the bottom yellow leaves, and i think it gave the plant a little boost in growth. I more recent pics a little later

Here is the biggest one. I bought a 150w to put right over it, and i know it could use more, but its growing well right now. the offshoots look really good on this one and the other one in the perlite. it also had some dead leaves i clipped off. This is more of an indica, im not sure about the little one, and the other big one looks pretty sativa.

this is the sativa plant. i leaned it over a bit when it was veggin so its growing a little outwards to get better light. the bud on the top of this one is really coming along nicely, though its still not as developed as the small one.

Here are the newest pics taken yesterday. everything appears to be coming along nicely. It is almost the third week of flowering in these pics. im hoping the little one will be ready at about 10 or 11 and the big ones 12-14. ive been adding molasses since about the second week of flower. I know it is sometimes frowned upon in hydroponics, but i don't use too much and i always clean my equipment. I would appreciate any comments or advice. Lemme know how the bud looks

Looking good! Nice and healthy. That tall one really shot up huh? Might wanna stick a light near its lower branches. Keep it up!

Gastanker said:

Looking good! Nice and healthy. That tall one really shot up huh? Might wanna stick a light near its lower branches. Keep it up!

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Thanks man. It exploded up, way bigger than i thought it would get. somehow its roots must have reached the reservoir really quick. i know i need more lights, but i do move my cfls around every day so that different parts of the plants (especially the big one) get light. whenever i get some more cash ill get atleast 2-3 more 100+ watt cfls.

i agree the first plant looks to be male bummer. but let it grow lil bit longer if i gets more balls kill it. the other cant tell yet. keep ur flouros close. i havent seen that root stuff here yet but it cant b to bad i maily just deal with the hydro sore here closer to my house. plus carry my soil and nutes