my first grow
- Thread starter smallop
- Start date
another weekly update, this one was exciting for me 
We will start with the White Widow still another week or more on this one.
And here is the Super Skunk. it was ready to chop down so here it is after cutting off the larger leaves with no sugar. its all trimmed up and hanging now.
We will start with the White Widow still another week or more on this one.
And here is the Super Skunk. it was ready to chop down so here it is after cutting off the larger leaves with no sugar. its all trimmed up and hanging now.
I veg'd for quite a while, 7-8 weeks if I remember correctly. From seed I guess that's the norm. The super skunk was disappointing at 24g or so but I trimmed it more than I needed to, but its not a waste I plan on making a bit of dry ice or bubble hash.
The light was ok. But that's it, just ok. I have a friend with similar lights in similar space but using 4 of them instead of just the one, that turned out much better. If I can get the means together by Christmas i will be buying a new LED with 3-5 watt diodes. I didn't notice any increase in my electric bill, but i use LED's to light most of my house also, so my bills aren't out of hand. I got the light for $250 cash no tax, no shipping.
24g isn't too bad now that I think about it. It should be about 20g after cure. and its just personal use. So at today's prices, I will break even on the equipment, and nutes, and next grow is all "free". and this was also only 2 plants, i could fit 4 decent plants or 9-16 plants in a sog grow.
The light was ok. But that's it, just ok. I have a friend with similar lights in similar space but using 4 of them instead of just the one, that turned out much better. If I can get the means together by Christmas i will be buying a new LED with 3-5 watt diodes. I didn't notice any increase in my electric bill, but i use LED's to light most of my house also, so my bills aren't out of hand. I got the light for $250 cash no tax, no shipping.
24g isn't too bad now that I think about it. It should be about 20g after cure. and its just personal use. So at today's prices, I will break even on the equipment, and nutes, and next grow is all "free". and this was also only 2 plants, i could fit 4 decent plants or 9-16 plants in a sog grow.
Richard4vt
Active Member
First I would like to start by saying you did a great job....nice grow for your first go around
Then I would like to offer some constructive criticism....I think your yield on the skunk was low for 2 reasons
1) Your light as you already mentioned. That 90 watt LED is barely enough to flower one plant and LED really doesn't do much for yield in flower.
2) You harvested too early....If I did the math right you flowered for 7 weeks? That is way too short of a flower period for most strains, particularly under LEDs which take longer to fatten the buds up. I can tell from your pictures right before the chop that she was far from ready. I know its the hardest part of growing waiting on the chop, but if you had given her 2 extra weeks you probably would have greatly increased your yield.
Here is your skunk right before the chop...
View attachment 1891352
From the picture I can see that she was still covered in white hairs and the calyxes had just begun to swell. When the plant is nearing the end of the flowering stage the hairs will begin to turn orange and recede back into the calyx, which will then fatten into the dank nugget we so crave. Your hairs had only just begun to turn orange and it appears that none of them have receded.
Here is what a fully mature bud will look likeView attachment 1891362
Notice that almost all of the hairs have turned orange and have receded back into their calyx, making them appear very short. If you haven't harvested the other plant yet I would give it at least another 2 weeks maybe 3 if you want higher yield. But overall it shouldn't negatively impact the quality at all, and some people harvest early to get more of a head high, so its really up to you.
Just thought I would throw in my two cents...hope this helps and happy growing!
-PEACE-
Then I would like to offer some constructive criticism....I think your yield on the skunk was low for 2 reasons
1) Your light as you already mentioned. That 90 watt LED is barely enough to flower one plant and LED really doesn't do much for yield in flower.
2) You harvested too early....If I did the math right you flowered for 7 weeks? That is way too short of a flower period for most strains, particularly under LEDs which take longer to fatten the buds up. I can tell from your pictures right before the chop that she was far from ready. I know its the hardest part of growing waiting on the chop, but if you had given her 2 extra weeks you probably would have greatly increased your yield.
Here is your skunk right before the chop...
View attachment 1891352
From the picture I can see that she was still covered in white hairs and the calyxes had just begun to swell. When the plant is nearing the end of the flowering stage the hairs will begin to turn orange and recede back into the calyx, which will then fatten into the dank nugget we so crave. Your hairs had only just begun to turn orange and it appears that none of them have receded.
Here is what a fully mature bud will look likeView attachment 1891362
Notice that almost all of the hairs have turned orange and have receded back into their calyx, making them appear very short. If you haven't harvested the other plant yet I would give it at least another 2 weeks maybe 3 if you want higher yield. But overall it shouldn't negatively impact the quality at all, and some people harvest early to get more of a head high, so its really up to you.
Just thought I would throw in my two cents...hope this helps and happy growing!
-PEACE-
SmeLLyTreeZ
Well-Known Member
Looks really good, +REP for a great first grow!
I agree you took the last one to soon, do yourself a favor and grab a good scope for aound 20 bucks and watch the trics turn from clear to cloudy then when you see them start to turn amber its up to you when to chop
Cloudy with slight amber should be peak potency! Wait the extra couple weeks on the WW and you will see the difference in many ways Keep em green!
I agree you took the last one to soon, do yourself a favor and grab a good scope for aound 20 bucks and watch the trics turn from clear to cloudy then when you see them start to turn amber its up to you when to chop
Cloudy with slight amber should be peak potency! Wait the extra couple weeks on the WW and you will see the difference in many ways Keep em green!
nothing to post this week as i put her into total darkness. Richard4vt might be happy to know that this will come down a little over 3 weeks after his post. looks good and also looks like a fat yield. but looks can be deceiving. will update after the chop and again after the dry. thanks to anyone that has followed along with me and given advice on my first solo grow.