Starting AutoFlower with 400w HPS From Seed 20/4

**lAutoFlowerl** · 12-30-2011, 11:57 PM

Hello,

I am totally new at growing and i have chosen to grow Auto Flowers.

I am currently growing Bubba Big Buds, AK-47 and Auto White Widow now my question is.. is it safe to start with 400w HPS? the plants are really still babies and im afraid the strong beam and heat of 400w HPS can burn my baby plants?

My grow box is 5 feet tall and 5 feet in width too, i have 3x T8 fluorescent on the roof of my box and a 400w HPS on side of my grow box. I made this box myself and i hope i did it right :S

Im living in Philippines so i dont know if the humidity here will affect also? its humid in my country everyday of the year!

Here are the pics:

So yeah my question is it safe to grow baby auto flower with 400w HPS specially with 20/4 light cycle?? or i should use the 3x T8 fluorescent first then switch to HPS when it starts to flower?

Also ide appreciate some watering tips from experts here

Wish me luck

Thanks!

**TheChodesman** · 12-31-2011, 12:19 AM

I think you have it backwards mate. If your box is five feet tall, that fluorescent light at that the top is virtually useless. Refer to the inverse square law, lumens and all that, lux, foot candles. I like my 400 in a cool tube 12'' from the top of my plants. I run my garden at 24/0 with a 400 in a 3 x 3. Use the 400 on the top, fluorescent as side lighting.

Water when pot is light. Keep surface of soil moist for seedlings with a sprayer. Not too much or you can have damping off and such. All else fails try youtube. I watch at least a half hour of grow vids a day while I pack up bowls and such.

Not hating, those pots are small and dreadful. You'll need at least a 1 gallon and most people say that is too small even.

**lAutoFlowerl** · 12-31-2011, 12:24 AM

Hello,

Thanks for reply, i thought its okay to put it on top since i have covered the box with reflector insulator but i can move it on side i think.. now about my question sir is it safe to use 400w HPS on my baby plants? that seed just started to sprout 2 days ago now it is very small plant and im afraid the strong beam and heat of 400w HPS will burn them :S

about the pot i plan to move then to 2 - 3 gallon of pot when they get bit bigger coz im afraid to touch them since they are really really small right now..

what do you think?

**TheChodesman** · 12-31-2011, 12:54 AM

The intensity of light decreases substantially with any light after a few inches. If you're concerned about too much light put the HPS at 2', but I just always throw new seedlings in with the others in the tent. It should be fine.

Wait a few weeks for your plants to become rootbound and transplant. Refer to the forum for further information. Every answer you can ask me has been asked before.

Ready set grow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECnYjf5ABQ

**lAutoFlowerl** · 12-31-2011, 01:02 AM

great! thank you very much sir! i will update this thread with my progress

Happy New Year!

**sixteenounces** · 12-31-2011, 09:07 AM

Transplanting autos is not suggested. But since your pots are so small when you transplant do it into a permanant home

**lAutoFlowerl** · 01-01-2012, 01:12 AM

i just did the transplant, it was all smooth but i hope the transplant wont make her weak...

lol im still worried on this 400w HPS its really strong light and hot i hope it wont burn my baby seedlings :S

**lAutoFlowerl** · 01-01-2012, 02:39 AM

another question... my seeds are feminized autoflowers now question is do i need to plant a male and make them sex stuff like that so i get the flowers with thc? damn im so noob on this :S

if thats the case then im in trouble since i dont have any male seeds here and if i order it will take a month before it arrives to my country

Thanks!

**stink palm** · 01-03-2012, 07:28 AM

you'll probably kill the seedlings with 400hps. I did a trial with my 150w hps with 6 seedlings. 4 burned up and 2 got mutated to hell but survived by switching back to cfls.

good luck