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inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
:bigjoint:Hey rollitup crew
I've been following this site for a couple years, and although I've grown before, I'm using CFLs this time around. I've decided to post a thread of my own, and hopefully get some constructive criticism as well as glean more info and suggestions from others who love, and are successful growing their own medicine.

I'm always seeing that people have issues with space. I don't think I do. I'm using a 7'x 9' area for stage 1 (veg). Actually, I'm not even using all that space. Right now, I've got 6 plants under 14 23 watt 6500k Cfls that I've rigged onto an adjustable platform...I'd say I'm using a quarter of the room. To keep the light from being wasted in the unused area I've stapled panda plastic to the top of my platform so that it can be lifted out of the way when I'm tending my plants.

To circulate the air and hopefully toughen up the plants I've got an oscillating fan that's always on low. I've installed two vents and an exhaust fan that is connected to this cool remote that allows me to turn the exhaust on and off every once in a while without having to visit my grow. An outdoor thermometer and humidity sensor allows me to keep another display in my room so that I always know what's going on in there at a glance.

In Stage 2 (flowering) is about 8'x12 but I'm not using the entire area yet. I've got a 1000w HPS and a 400w HPS up top, and am supplementing those with 3 2700 CFLs that light up the lower parts of the 3 plants I've got in there. I've also got another exhaust and temp sensor in this area. I use an air conditioner to bring in fresh air. And just so you know...Gonzo rocks work wonders for odor control. I'm happy so far, as long as my buds still smell in the end.

:wall: ok I've got an attention problem, so I'm going to hurry up and post this. Haha.
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
BTW, I'm using Fox Farm Ocean Blend soil. 3.5 gallon pots.
For nutrients, I'm using Botanicare's Pure Blend Pro Soil, Pure Blend Pro Bloom, and Hydroplex.

I'm still gonna go buy FF open sesame, beastie blooms, and cha ching I just haven't gotten around to it. I loved that stuff in the past.

Is there anything else I should add? Let me know :)
 
Flaming Pie

Flaming Pie

Well-Known Member
I had one plant under 180 actual watts of cfl and yielded 2.5 oz dry. I used a moveable wire shelf to attach my lights to and draped white panda over it to reflect light downwards. Had a bath fan on top of my unit, and a small fan blowing between the lights and canopy.
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
Hey Flamingbongsmilie thanks for responding :)

I'm interested in flowering with CFLs...I'm just afraid that I won't bring in yield. You flowered using a CFL? This is motivating :)
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
Flaming Pie said:
just make sure not to go low on nitrogen during flowering, that f'd up my second grow.
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I like to stick with the suggested schedule from Botanicare. I don't use full nutes when I supplement with other things like FF Beastie blooms and stuff. And I like to flush my lil ladies for two weeks with water before I harvest :hump:
 
Flaming Pie

Flaming Pie

Well-Known Member
I feel I would of gotten more yield with some side lighting.. But I was stubborn and ignored people's advice. lol
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
Flaming Pie said:
I used gonzo rocks too =)

What strain are you running and do you have any pics?
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Right on :) I'm browsing through all my old grows as we speak...I haven't taken pics of this new grow yet. I think they'll have there photos taken tomorrow :)

The main strain I am running this time is Warlock...and I've got three feminized WWF (White Widow Free?) that I've grown from seeds that a friend bought from a dutch seed company.
 
RetiredMatthebrute

RetiredMatthebrute

Well-Known Member
hey, seems like you have everything going well. decent lighting for your veg and good lighting for your flower. im subscribed and will give my opinion/advice along the way. feel free to post pics here in the thread as im not much of a journal person so i dont visit them often.

have you considered a T5HO fixture for veg? if money isnt a huge issue they are much nicer than CFL's and cooler. they also produce more lumens per watt. CFL's can get hot because they are self balasted. when running multiple CFL lights they will increase the temps significantly.

I am using a DIY CFL rig i made a couple years ago untill i can afford a new 600w ballast then will be going MH.
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
RetiredMatthebrute said:
hey, seems like you have everything going well. decent lighting for your veg and good lighting for your flower. im subscribed and will give my opinion/advice along the way. feel free to post pics here in the thread as im not much of a journal person so i dont visit them often.

have you considered a T5HO fixture for veg? if money isnt a huge issue they are much nicer than CFL's and cooler. they also produce more lumens per watt. CFL's can get hot because they are self balasted. when running multiple CFL lights they will increase the temps significantly.

I am using a DIY CFL rig i made a couple years ago untill i can afford a new 600w ballast then will be going MH.
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Thanks for stopping by RetiredMat :) From now on I'll go ahead and post here too.

As for the T5HO for veg...you're a little late :( I went and bought two sets of two 4' T12 6500k the other day. I'll have to update in here so you can see what I did without having to retype everything. I've heard alot of good stuff about the T5HO since I picked up the other lights LOL live and learn.

Alright yall...prepare for me to majorly update this thread:leaf:
 
inspiredgardener

inspiredgardener

Active Member
inspiredgardener said:
we bought two sets of 40 wt T12 6500k bulbs and set them up in Stage 1 on the 20th. I will post pictures later today, I hope the extra light increases their growth!

We also bought different misters for the cloner. The other ones weren't working correctly. Cloning this way is a new process for me. I hope it works like all the rest I've read about.
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inspiredgardener said:
Here is an updated video of my setup in Stage 1. What do you think?

[video=youtube_share;_ZMKz33HFeI]http://youtu.be/_ZMKz33HFeI[/video]
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Originally posted in my journal on the 21st
 
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