My 1st Grow - Constructive Criticism Accepted

Hi guys, I'm exactly 2 weeks into my 1st grow (from 1st sprout). I have 5 autoflower plants which I'm growing, also have 1 Photo Blue Rhino germinating. My plants look to be pointing up and some of them are growing really slow (please see below). Any advice you could give me regarding this, would be amazing. Not sure if I posted this in the right spot, but I will be logging my grow via this thread.

Growing Conditions:

Housing: Secret Jardin DR 90 II Tent 3x3x6, 5 Smart Pots with Handles (cut off the handles), 1 Large Oscillating Fan, 1 Clip on Fan, 1 Humidifier (humidity at 25-30 percent), temperature at 75-77 ambient, 90-95-100 radiant, depending. As of now I have no exhaust fan, my Soler Palau TD150-s is scheduled to arrive today. I keep my tent open for lower heat and air circulation.

Lighting: I have a Tek Four PL-L 55w 4 tube 220 total W T5 and Tek 2 55 w 2 tube 110 total W all in all emitting 30k Lumens. I keep them about 2 inches away from the tops. I have 2 85 w (300 w equiv) CFLs waiting for flowering to use as side lighting. I may add another Tek 2 for side lighting as well. So I should be flowering at about 50-55k CFL lumens.

Soil: Using all Roots Organic Potting Soil

Watering: They may have initially been overwatered. Days 1-5, but I have since been doing the finger test and watering ~200 ml of distilled/tap water PH'd to 6.8 into the 3 gal pots every 3-4 days now.

Nutes: Also no nutes have been given besides the 1 drop of superthrive on germination. I have Buddha Grow, Buddha Bloom, and Trinity waiting. I plan on starting Buddha Grow and Trinity at 3 ml per gallon each on their first feeding, which I plan on doing at the 2.5 week mark. I'm going to water with straight PH'd water today and then in 4 days start the nutes.

My 5 plants:

G13 Diesel Auto
I have a G13 Diesel Auto which sprouted exactly 2 weeks ago, he looks the healthiest of the 5:


Blimburn AK Auto
This is a Blimburn AK Auto exactly 2 weeks old, this guy's leaves are pointed straight up, I have no idea why. I googled it and some people will say because it's healthy and some others are saying MG deficiency and reaching for the light.



Dinafem White Widow Auto
I've had the most trouble with this one, I think he was heat and overwater stunted. I had the T5s about an inch away in the far back corner of my tent with no exhaust fan on the first 3 days. Any idea if plants that are stunted like this will pick up and produce? He just seems so small for 2 weeks


World of Seeds Kush Ryder x 2
I have 2 WoS Kush Ryders as well which are at 12 days a piece. I'm not sure if this is normal for an indica, but its smallish as well.


Any advice, tips, criticism, would be appreciated.

I like the way you laid out the description of your grow. They look pretty healthy to me.

BarnBuster said:

I like the way you laid out the description of your grow. They look pretty healthy to me.

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Thanks!!

Even the last 3? Kush Ryders and White Widow? They are like 1/3 the size of the first two and on the same timeline I was really looking forward to pulling a nice yield on the WW, as I heard good things about it.

This is my first photo, it's a Positronics Blue Rhino. I also had a Delicious Seeds Critical SSH that never germinated. Oh well. I plan on growing this guy out while the autos grow on 20/4 and when she's healthy enough, will take clones.

The Blue Rhino only germinated with 1 cotyledon Hope it'll be OK.

dictate said:

Thanks!!

Even the last 3? Kush Ryders and White Widow? They are like 1/3 the size of the first two and on the same timeline I was really looking forward to pulling a nice yield on the WW, as I heard good things about it.

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Different genetics of the plant and you said you didn't treat them all the same so there may be some recovery time needed. But they look healthy, that's the important part. WW is a grand old lady of a strain. For a first grow at 2 weeks they look pretty damn good. Remember to keep it all simple and don't overthink. Send us some more pictures in a couple of weeks. GOOD JOB!! (Looks like you did your reading homework as well, continue that and keep learning)

I'm excited! Thanks again for the reassurance. I know it's all about the journey and not the destination, but i'm ready to smoke the hell outta this stuff now

They look fine to me, you have an army of nutes waiting there to zap them with, be careful in your initial enthusiasm not to overdo it with nutes when they are still so small, remember to not overwater them and let them dry out a little between waterings, your plans look great so far, it would be a shame to kill them with good intentions. Be patient, autos are notorious for stopping and starting, let them grow at their own pace, try and get your temps up a little to closer to 80, also as others have said, nicely laid out post with plenty of info, Good Luck.

My grow tent is FINALLY complete in its entirety. Got my Vantech Carbon Filter and TD150-S Exhaust Fan a few days ago.

After some tinkering at home depot for the fan, I finally got it working. The tent is now sealed with the exception of the exhaust (up top) and two open vents below. I see the tent caving in (which is good - negative air pressure) and the temperatures are holding steady 79-80 ambient. I don't any experience with the other exhaust fans, but this one is RELATIVELY quiet. I have it on low and I think that's roughly 200 CFM. It sounds like a louder desktop computer. It's not crazy loud, but it is definitely noticeable. Hopefully I get use to it and am able to sleep. May have to start wearing headphones to bed.... on the flip side, I'm able to zip up my tent now and the lights won't keep me up, but now the sound will The things we endure for the hobby we love

The plants are now roughly 2 weeks 2 days old. Will be posting pictures at the 3 week mark. I also decided to hold back on nutes and gave it one more water feeding. Will be introducing nutes this week. 3 ml of Buddha Grow and Trinity from Roots Organic.

I get paranoid when I'm at work, so I installed a web cam and using the iPhone app Jumicam I can see what's going on. Think that's a good idea? I can see my plants, temps from anywhere.

At 2 weeks my Dinafem WW auto was bigger than your diesel so I would say yes it is stunted for sure! But if it straightens out it will probably still get nice and fat! Mine is at day 73 at 45inch tall and looks like 1.5oz dried. Will let you know when I chop in a couple weeks! Good luck! Oh and they all look healthy

I have femmed WW seeds, two that I started on the 1st of this month, and I have been just as concerned as you have been. I'm growing in a 2x4 tent with 135w LED (going to add some CFL today), 50% RH and 80-81F. I keep reading that there's nothing to worry about being this small at this point if they look very healthy. So I'm going to add in my new additional lights today, and just let things work out. Like someone said above, no need to kill them with good intentions

Will be nice to follow your progress along. I'll be creating a journal of my grow today or tomorrow.

-spek

Yeah, if that's the case, I think all 5 of my plants are stunted Oh well... the show must go on!

I got my 2nd order from Attitude, got 2 Original Grand Daddy Purples and Positronics Black Widow (white widow). I will probably germinate 1 of the black widows as a mother plant after my autos are done. Will clone 3 of em.

Autos? CFL/LED? flowering... bad, bad, bad. Regular seeds and HID's ONLY!!!

MediheaLed said:

Autos? CFL/LED? flowering... bad, bad, bad. Regular seeds and HID's ONLY!!!

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Yes yes yes, I see this comment in almost every CFL grow journal. Most of us CFL growers know that HIDs and HPSs are going to produce more yield. I'm fine with 1 oz a plant. I don't need pounders or anything like that. I'm not cash croppin. I grow for myself and a 1-2 friends. If I net 4oz from these plants that will last us a few 2-3 months. Just enough time for another batch.

I don't want to have to deal with the HPS heat issues or dialing any of that in. We know the pros/cons.

Watered with straight PH water again this time. I'm slowly increasing the water used. For 5 autos in 3 gallon pots roughly 2.5 weeks old, I used an entire gallon of water (in total, not each pot), completely saturated the entire top of the soil till run off for each pot.

Decided to hold off on nutes still. Will hit the nutes this Thursday when I water again. Pictures to follow.

Big pot little plants mean more work to light. I keep my plants in smaller pots so I can bunch them together under a smaller light when they are little.
JMO

MediheaLed said:

Autos? CFL/LED? flowering... bad, bad, bad. Regular seeds and HID's ONLY!!!

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I am flowering just fine with my LEDs kid. Check the sig if you don't believe it. I would have said shut the hell up but everybody thinks I'm "cranky" when I do. Not to thread jack; OP, the plants are super small, I think you already know that. Sounds like you have enough light, and they don't really seem to be stretching, so I would say work on getting the RH up. Good luck!

Since I went straight to 3 gallon pot, could that be the reason for slow growth? Roots still filling out the pot before explosive vegetative growth?

I'm banking on this.

I'm not here for a pissing contest or an ageist argument. He asked for ANY advice/criticisms. Those were mine.
Cfl's all day for Veg. Anywho, Good luck on your grow, Never seen a grow like this before. Good mention on the pots Kervork, Never be afraid to upsize more slowly, think, small yogurt cup, big yogurt cup (solo Cup), one gallon, then final. (Well not final for some but you get the picture)

Whenever I use too much soil too soon, those poor roots never use it all.

First grow is Very hard. Relax and enjoy the ride. Plants look great. my plants didn't do anything impressive for the first month.

1st grow + not dead = Good Job

Thanks guys, posting pics when i get home from work this evening