First time grower, first time cfl grow

**dafoe23** · 03-18-2009, 06:07 PM

Hope this is the right place to post - total newbie so sorry if I'm cocking this up!

OK, so I have decided to grow a bit of the good stuff as I've been having real problems finding anyone that sells around where I live at the moment and always fancied turning my hand at the indoor gardening so to speak. Thought I'd provide a diray/log for anyone that is interested so all replies and tips are much appreciated! Keep in mind that I am a total beginner though and this is my very first grow

I have decided to grow "Power Africa" under a 250w CFL (mainly due to cost and being a first timer I didn’t want to shell out loads just in case it all goes tits up, although since seeing lots of others flowering under HPS and the yield they are getting I just hope I’m not seriously disappointed at the end of all this).

I've constructed a grow box from sterling board measuring 4ftHx3ftLx2ftD and have decided to use 250w CFL's all the way through both stages and see what the outcome is – (HPS users feel free to laugh and mock but as I said, first timer and limited funds). I bought 5 feminised Power Africa just to make sure I don’t end up having to cull my crop - it’s got to be heart breaking!!!!

Strain Vital Stats:
Genetics: Skunk/Haze x Durban Poison
Variety: Mostly Sativa
Type: Hybrid
Harvest Date: End of September
Flowering Period: 8-9 weeks

Location: Indoors/Outdoors/Greenhouse
No. of seeds Per Packet: 5
Characteristics: Large yielding, fast flowering sativa dominant strain.
http://www.seedsman.com/en/cannabis-seeds/seedsman-feminized-seeds/seedsman-feminised-5-seed/power-africa-5-seeds

Grow Box Vital Stats:
Lighting: 250w (Actual Wattage) CFL with reflective hood, controlled by a set of eazi rollers.
Height: 4ft
Length: 3ft
Width: 2ft
Coating: Reflective insulation foil that I had left over (Bought in Tesco’s)
Fans: 2 x 54cfm passive intake pc fans, exhaust 1 x 124cfm pc fan (exhaust fan in post but fittings already in place and have wired up one of the intake fans as the exhaust for the time being until other fan arrives just to keep the temps correct and provide good circulation and new air exchange)
Filter: Will be constructing my own due to funds lol but have found a great article on construction: http://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/101248-best-diy-ez-walmart-carbon.html

Right, I will post my pics and snips day after day unless I get no replies and find I’m boring the shite out of everyone. I’m actually at day 5 whilst writing all this but wasn’t until now I decided to post. So, wish me luck and here goes!!!!!

**Tatan** · 03-18-2009, 06:35 PM

Nice, but you need to show pics

**dafoe23** · 03-18-2009, 08:07 PM

Yeah, I know but had error message uploading them. Will sort this out tomoz if people are interetsed. Laters!

**dafoe23** · 03-18-2009, 08:23 PM

OK, pics are up and running! Have started with the project from the very start. Will post more grow pics tomorrow but for now you're going to have to admire my DIY handywork and have a quick peek at my power africa babies!!!! Happy viewings!

**dafoe23** · 03-19-2009, 04:19 AM

Day 1
My seeds germinated within 12 hours - I know!!!! So planted them in two small pots and whacked them under the 250w light on an 18/6 cycle, watering with ph stable bottled water and fans coming on every half hour for 15 mins to keep the temps correct and the stems strong. Temperature is between 24c-29c (75f-84f) in the day depending on when the fans are on and humidity is resting between 50-60%.

Day 2
Got up to check my lil babies this morning not expecting to see a lot but to my surprise they had sprouted. I'm sure this is all a bit quick but more power to the lil buggers, they obviously want to please me.

**FrOsTy666GrOw** · 03-19-2009, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by dafoe23

Day 1
My seeds germinated within 12 hours - I know!!!! So planted them in two small pots and whacked them under the 250w light on an 18/6 cycle, watering with ph stable bottled water and fans coming on every half hour for 15 mins to keep the temps correct and the stems strong. Temperature is between 24c-29c (75f-84f) in the day depending on when the fans are on and humidity is resting between 50-60%.

Day 2
Got up to check my lil babies this morning not expecting to see a lot but to my surprise they had sprouted. I'm sure this is all a bit quick but more power to the lil buggers, they obviously want to please me.

hello matey, i will be keeping track of this one and seeing how it goes =], im just flowering my first indoor lot (lemon skunk + himalayan gold) under a 125W CFL and the buds arent how everyone said they would be, they are coming on compact and are starteing to fatten up nicely=].
i have recently started some big bang (green house seeds, fem) but dropped the propogater they were in and have now narrowed down to three lol, i have just discovered that you can actually get 4ooW envirolites CFL's for £35 with standard E40 fitting, may be worth looking at mate.

good luck!

**Exo** · 03-19-2009, 09:55 AM

nice i think youre set. maybe in the long run, you might need more height but everything else is nice.

**dafoe23** · 03-19-2009, 12:32 PM

Cheers Frosty and Exo! Appreciate the replies. Am off out tonight but will up date this asap - am on day 6 today so have some writing to do. Frosty, do you have a journal as would love to see the results of CFL during flowering - well up for having a go at that! Best of luck! Will def have a look at the 400w as am sure 250w isn't going to be enough, but you never know - all trial and error at this stage. Will up date later and add more pics.

**dafoe23** · 03-20-2009, 07:06 PM

Day 3

Ok, not much to write really - will let the pics do the talking here. My babies have started to stand up tall. Worried about them straining too much for the light so have lowered the lights a bit. Is this usual devlopment for the amount of days so far (4)

Day 4
All good in the hood! Temps resting nicely between 24c-29c and these puppies are starting to look sharpish - any comments post away. Exhaust fan is in the post so should be here this week, still making do with lesser cfm pc fan but is doing the trick for now - wont hold out when I put my carbon filter on later on. Is this usual devlopment for the amount of days so far (4), the leafs are starting to take shape but not sure if the plants should be bigger on the whole????

**dafoe23** · 03-20-2009, 07:20 PM

Day 5

Not much visable progress, have grown slightly taller and the leafs are looking slightly bigger. See if I get much growth tonight!?!

Day 6 (5 days in the soil)

Some growth here, not as much as I had hoped for but you can't rush these things!!! Everything seems to be taking shape but just taking its time about it. Can't wait for second set of leafs. Any tips or advice greatly appreciated. Nice pic this one lol: