n0tmycupoftea's 104w Diffuser Grow

Hey everyone!!


I'm back with another micro grow. Since it seems that there a lot of people doing a ton of GREAT grows in a PC cab (LED, DWC, etc.) I figured I'd do a little experimental grow in my PC cab since it got very lonely after my first newbie grow. Since then I have also read a lot on greenhouses, light, growth, and yield and came across a couple of interesting articles (http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/greenhouse-light and http://www.robertmarvel.com/PDF/light diffusion.pdf).


Now I've seen it brought up in a couple of forums, but no real hard data on the subject matter... LIGHT DIFFUSERS!! Do they work?!?!!


Well... I'm going to do an experimental grow to find out. Hoping that, in my best efforts, I attempt to keep all variables relatively similar (light output, temp, rh, feeding, etc.) I'm going to grow one strain two times; one with a light diffuser and one without. Since I have only one available cab at this point the plants won't be grown side by side, but rather one after another. Now I know this poses variable differences with the grow and makes what I'm trying to prove difficult, but whatever lol.


Anyways... the specs!


PC Cab Dimensions: 16" x 16" x 7" (L x H x W)
Lights: 104w of light on both the cool and the warm side of things
Light Diffuser: DIY diffuser using parchment paper
Fans: 2 80mm exhaust fans @ 34CFM ea and 1 120mm intake fan @ 74CFM
Nutrients: GH FloraNova Series
Strain: G13 Labs Pineapple Express


Should be a fun grow and I just picked up my first DSLR, so bigger and better quality pics this grow also!!

I'm here for the ride (obviously)

Loved your last grow, GL my nigga

newb here , gonna be checking up and learning , make sure to keep us updated .

Good luck with both grows, it will be interesting to see how they do.

interesting article on light. can,t wait to see the results.

Thanks everyone!! So far all i have to report is that having the parchment paper border in between the lights and the plant has actually further reduced temps from a steady 84 down to 78 which i have never been able to reach with my current fan setup with the lights running. So maybe thats something to consider for people with heat issues.

The plant itself is doing fabulous!! Tight internodes, shes had her second feeding so far and shes going strong on day 11. Ill have pics up this weekend after i pick up an sd card for my camera; i also need to transplant her into her new home.

Update!!!


So here's the new girl's debut @ day 15



Pic of the new girl and my current setup w/ the parchment paper diffuser. I'm currently working on an actual housing for the parchment paper instead of just taping it to the outside of my computer case, but I rather test something temporarily rather than invest a shit load of money on something that may/may not help.

Also.... I know it's not fair to compare between strains and all, however I've noticed that my Critical + AUTO strain has already blown this plants new growth rate by a shit ton. So we'll see if this diffused light nonsense actually works.


Remember my Critical + AUTO grow? Well I still have my first ever trimmed cola from my first grow ever and thought I'd share a better pic of her. Still have her curing with a humidipak @ 62. I will probably try smoking her after she's aged a bit... maybe 1 year




Anyways, thanks for stopping by and stay high!

Day 16



So it's been only one day since my last update but I decided to throw up more pics since I'm still learning how to use the camera. I had to disturb her sleep to steal a few quick shots, don't think she minded. She also started to show pistils today!!! The internodes remain fairly tight and I'm hoping to throw in my lst screen some time late this week.






ENJOI

It's already flowering? Jesus lol.

That's the one thing that bugs me about auto flowering strains, they switch so fucking early sometimes.

chibzilla said:

It's already flowering? Jesus lol.

That's the one thing that bugs me about auto flowering strains, they switch so fucking early sometimes.

Click to expand...

So very true!! I've just been experimenting with my freebies, which the pineapple express is the last of. If all goes well after this two part grow I'll find out whether or not diffused light is better for micro grows and step up to my regular feminized Reserva Privada OG Kush seeds

Oh ya... chibzilla, totally left you hanging in my last grow. I kept forgetting that in my first grow you had asked about a close up trich shot of the dried bud. I couldn't do it back then but now I can


So here ya go...



Dinafem Critical + Auto

Tea, nice looking shots what make and model or DSRL did you get?

reku said:

Tea, nice looking shots what make and model or DSRL did you get?

Click to expand...

Thanks reku. I got a pretty old Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 w/ the 14-42mm lens I believe.

Thanks brother, I was patiently waiting


Nah just jokes I totally forgot I asked, thanks though It looks like some real nice smoke.
It almost looks like the jack herer or krypto we get here in BC

pretty old

Click to expand...

Even so the quality is A+ way better than my canon power shot LOL.

Interesting thread cool idea on light diffusion as well I can see how that could help high temps too

Day 21



Fed her today with some BioRoot and Grow, she seems to be just moving right along. I found a thread on grasscity that I've been comparing my plant with since they also grew a G13 Labs Pineapple Express Auto and my plant is just a tiny thing compared to his, however that is just in terms of leafiness. My plant actually started flowering earlier than his and actually has more bud sites this early; or so I would like to believe lol.

What I've noticed is that I definitely need more light output since I am reducing a lot of the light with the diffuser; growth should not be this slow. If I was using a high end diffuser or had more of a legit diffuser setup with material that is actually scientifically made to diffuse light and at the same time allow as much possible light in as possible than I strongly believe that this grow would look a whole lot different, but I'm using parchment paper, so... fail!!

The good news is that I really do believe that the parchment paper is definitely diffusing the light because my lower growth seems to be on point with the new top growth in terms of size and pistils, but that's just my observation. Hoping for other folks input on whether or not I'm just straight loco or not. Comparing this grow to my Dinafem Critical+ Auto grow, I've noticed that the Critical+ was super bushy by this time, however just the top canopy was beginning to flower and form bud sites and after lsting her the bottom part of the plant began to flower and produce bud sites. With this grow every part of the plant is equally growing pistils and equally growing at the same rate, or so I am led to believe (I could just be biased). And if so... then I would take equal bud sites over bushy leafiness any day!

Something I would like to do after this thread is over is definitely redo the parchment paper as a diffuser with perhaps an upgraded light system such as going HPS or just more CFLs to see if I can bump up the light output due to the light reduction that the diffuser is causing. Or maybe someone else on the forum who already has a crazy light setup that's pushing over 100w would like to try it out Only bad thing is that parchment paper starts to burn at 400 degrees F so I dunno... something to look into.


Anyways here are the shots!! LST rack will go in later this week and the training will shortly follow.






ENJOI!!

Looking good brother, I'd totally try out this diffuser shit if I wasn't using led

The BLaKsmith said:

Looking good brother, I'd totally try out this diffuser shit if I wasn't using led

Click to expand...

LEDs are so efficient alrdy, im actually a bit saddened that i didnt start my LED grow and decided to do this instead but hey its a topic i havent seen covered and i think the more info the better.

FOUND IT!!

http://www.solexx.com/why-solexx.html

^ Just placed an order for this stuff and can't wait to get it in. Really don't know if I should use it for the second grow instead of a grow w/o a diffuser or just wait until my little experiment is over. Switching out the parchment paper for the Solexx panel for this current grow is another option also but I really would hate to switch things mid grow.

Maybe a 3 part grow?!?!?!! Parchment paper diffuser > Solexx diffuser > no diffuser... but I only have 1 more Pineapple Express Auto seed left. I guess I could always order some more...

Anyways just thought I would share my little find with ya guys; I'm pretty stoked!

I don't see a problem switching to the Solexx it's still a diffuser.