Hello everyone! Im posting here with a new grow i started a couple weeks ago. Im a very amateur grower who is just having some fun so i dont have exacts or anything like that. I will get numbers for soil when i get them. The lights are 1 75w led 5000k daylight bulb. 2 65 w led 5000k daylight bulbs and 2 45 w led 5000k daylight bulbs. I have a small fan to circulate air in the small closet im currently using which is like 4x3ft or something around there. I am using organic soil for 2 plants (the back 2 in pics) miracle grow standard potting soil for 2 (the front 2 in pics) and a mix of two (the center in pics). ***full disclaimer this is how i tried to do it with regards to the positioning of the plants and the soil. Im really not 100% positive that the organic vs. Miracle pots are where i said they are. I was in a pinch and had to get the different soil when i ran out. Im amateur.**** I started the back left one ( the big one) about a week and a half earlier than the others. I know that will very soon be a problem but we'll see. Anyhow im just sharing my little fun project and hoping for thoughts or suggestions or critiques. They have lights on 24hrs right now. When do i start turning lights off? I see some curling on leaves( i way overwatered the soil when i transplanted from their starting homes which is a whole story of stress to these guys which, if relevant, ill further explain. Suffice to say they were transplanted twice before the second set of fan leaves started) what could be causing that? Or do you think this is doomed to fail? Throw out your thoughts! Ill keep this updated if it strikes anyones interest! Pics attached!
New grow. Shed your light!!!
- Thread starter magicc17
- Start date
Hydrowannabe
Well-Known Member
You are doomed to fail with this setup, yes. You need a different light to hang above the plants so you can raise as the plants grow. How are you going to provide light when the plants get taller than the lamps? Save up for some kind of grow light preferably, but any hanging lights will do better than that
Hydrowannabe
Well-Known Member
Btw I wasnt trying to sound overly critical or anything. A good source to read is growweedeasy.com
No worries. The setup will evolve as the plants grow. The 2 45 w led lights are hanging from the ceiling already but i figured id use the lamps first before i go heavy on hanging multiple lights. I appreciate your input there! Any thoughts on the plants themselves? Thanks again!
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
For the little thing you got going, they aren't too bad. In flower, don't expect much but it'll flower. You can start them on a light cycle right now. Many people use 20-4 or 18/6. the 18/6 is most common used for veg then 12/12 for when you are ready to flower. You can get super cheap LED boards on ebay and amazon for like $20. They aren't great or even good but they are better and will help with what you have no ( if budget is a problem ).
Hey thanks man! I dont even know if they are male or female yet. I was thinking of waiting until pre flower to start a cycle. Not sure if that will take too long or not. The amount i get is no concern i just like growing haha
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
You will need to switch to 12/12 to start preflower....unless they were autos. More then likely photos though.
They were bagseed so yeah almost guaranteed photos. So i have to go 12/12 before they will pre- flower at all? I knew 12/12 was for flower in general. They wont show anything prior? Super amateur here
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
Once you flip to 12/12, They will show their sex, start to stretch and then produce flower.
Yeah im wondering if i should start flower soon as i have a bit of a space restriction and they will double in size when i do. However i want to get them decent sized to some extent. Though it is sort of a see what happens style grow
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
I had a plant grow over 5x it size in flower, rare but it happens.
Tiflis
Well-Known Member
There's a good chance they will if you veg them long enough. I have 2 plants in flower and they both showed around 6 weeks I think.
What you can do after you flip them is, once you find out what's what, pick the best one(s) and put them back in veg.
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
You can even tie a dark bag of some type on one branch for a few days and leave the rest go.
I think that's what i did on my first grow. In that case though i imagine the smaller ones would still take longer than the larger to show sex. Not sure though. So i can put them on 12/12 long enough for them to show sex and still be able to put them back in veg?
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
Yes just slows down the plant transitioning to each stage...but at least you'll know
TheSadVeryBadMadGrower
Well-Known Member
Like I said above, people have even tied dark bags on one stem for a few days and leave the plant where it's at. The branch will show sex while the rest of the plant stays in veg.
BudgetMessiah
Well-Known Member
Suggestions and a question!
I'm going to echo the others in suggesting you start by putting your strongest lights above the plants so they know which way is up. I think you should save your smaller lights for bloom and trade them out for 2700k-3000k white bulbs. Also, FWIW, I think 6000k-6300k is supposed to be better as a veg white temp. But those will work fine.
I think you have an interesting idea to mount them on the sides. I'm going to be playing around with that myself soon. I think it's a good idea to angle the side lights downwards as well, just slightly. You don't want to light the bottoms of leaves. I don't think they like that.
I plan on sliding those lights down once the plant in the middle is harvested and I can move the smaller two in.
You should not be giving photo plants 24 hours of light. Strongly recommend you begin giving them 4 hours of night immediately, then step them down gradually to 16/8 or 18/6.
I wouldn't worry about the plant that's a week older. You're going to be able to craft those plants to suit your grow, you can easily even that out.
Anyway, my question: could you please give more details on the lights and fixtures?
I'm going to echo the others in suggesting you start by putting your strongest lights above the plants so they know which way is up. I think you should save your smaller lights for bloom and trade them out for 2700k-3000k white bulbs. Also, FWIW, I think 6000k-6300k is supposed to be better as a veg white temp. But those will work fine.
I think you have an interesting idea to mount them on the sides. I'm going to be playing around with that myself soon. I think it's a good idea to angle the side lights downwards as well, just slightly. You don't want to light the bottoms of leaves. I don't think they like that.
I plan on sliding those lights down once the plant in the middle is harvested and I can move the smaller two in.
You should not be giving photo plants 24 hours of light. Strongly recommend you begin giving them 4 hours of night immediately, then step them down gradually to 16/8 or 18/6.
I wouldn't worry about the plant that's a week older. You're going to be able to craft those plants to suit your grow, you can easily even that out.
Anyway, my question: could you please give more details on the lights and fixtures?
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I love the feedback! I think im going to turn the lights off at peak times tomorrow for at least 4 hrs. I think that'll be a good start i just worry about space but ill have to deal with that. With regards to light fixtures i have essentially broken down desk lamps i purchased from my local thrift stores and deconstructed them (or not at all for 2) to make a good flood light style. I broke 1 lamp down to the split hanging above. Pics attached!
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Father Ramirez
Well-Known Member
That’s pure genius