This is my first time trying to take the growing process beyond the seedling stage all the way to harvest, and I'm pretty excited. Constructive input is both welcome and appreciated. This first post is a bit wordy, but I just wanted to let everyone know the details of the set up right off the bat, so they can see if it will be helpful for them.

Alright, so today was the day I've anxiously been awaiting. I ordered 5 feminized Short Rider seeds from Nirvana on the 4th and they arrived today. I am germinating 4 of them using the water method and saving the fifth for next summer. I am hoping to use it for clones.

Here is my set up for the grow:
I have a smaller sub-closet hidden well out of view in my normal closet that I have converted into a grow spot. I scrubbed the room thoroughly, covered all the walls, ceiling floor and shelf with the plastic used by painters, and covered the floor and halfway up the walls with Mylar. Initially, I coated the whole room with Mylar but it was impossible to control the temperature and had to make an adjustment. I have a small but adequate small, movable shelf for the room, which I'm using to set the seedlings on while they are still in solo cups, so they don't spill while they are light and vulnerable. I have an exhaust fan at the top of the closet on the shelf in there and a cheap Lil' Blizzard oscillating fan at level with my light to keep it cool. I have a UV ionizer on the way for the odor and mold control.

I naively bought a T-5 fluorescent that I paid far too much for before realizing that 5,000 lumens just wouldn't cut it. I wanted serious buds, so I drove to HTGSupply on the 14th and picked up a 400 Watt HPS light that makes it look like the sun is in my closet. I will use the CFL when I have guests in my room during the lighting period.

Doing Miracle Grow soil, I know... I have read up on this and think all will go well as long as I am conservative with adding nutrients and wait a while to do so.

I chose to go with an 18/6 lighting cycle to let my equipment cool and since the strain is supposed to autoflower, I will keep this for the entire grow period. I am aiming for 4 weeks of veg, 8 of flowering, and then a bountiful harvest for me and my housemates.

I'll post a few pics, although they won't be the best b/c the light is on and I couldn't get too close. The plant pictured is from bagseed of an unknown, potent strain. I have been growing it as practice for my valuable Short Rider seeds, and it has flourished so far with no blemishes. It is about 2 weeks old, but has doubled in size (at least) since I put her under the HPS bulb.
P.S. won't let me post pics right now, I'll try later

I just needed to resize the photos.. duh

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I germinated my first two seeds successfully,potted them and put them under the lights to keep them warm. I'll put up the fluorescent light tomorrow so they aren't overwhelmed by the HPS. The other two are starting to split their shells, but not enough for me to take them out yet.

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Looking good.
You can use Miracle Grow soil, Garden Knowm did when he wrote his book, marijuana Buds For Less. He did not add any nutrients, just watered them properly, harvested a little more than 8 oz from three female plants. VV

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I am a little concerned about the height of my trial plant, she is already growing her 5 point leaves but is probably a little less than an inch and a half tall. Should I worry about this?

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http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/195585-chemindeuceds-short-rider-closet-grow.html

If anyone can answer the previous question,... +rep, I think I need to know this or I'll be concerned for my high quality genetics. I had to pay big bucks for those and I'd hate to lose one. I potted another seed today. The first two haven't sprouted yet. The last seed in germination has started to progress regularly after I scored it carefully with a knife.

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Check out my Short Rider Journal
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If the plant looks healthy then having a short plant is a good thing, it is not stretching for light. Usually the ones that are three inches tall stretched to get to more light and need to be propped up. VV
PS. getting answers in less than an hour is not always going to happen, its a forum not a chat room?

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I have been pretty good about not babying my plants, I'm just anxious for them to sprout b/c I'm on a tight time schedule to finish by mid-August

__________________
Check out my Short Rider Journal
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/195585-chemindeuceds-short-rider-closet-grow.html

Two of my SR's have sprouted and are starting to staighten up, the other two pots are in cling wrap to humidify. I heard that circulating air during germination is a no no, so I took the oscillating fan out. I am just keeping my fingeres crossed on the other two and lighting one up.

The bagseed looks great and seems to be liking a dose of the CFL and growing quickly, but it reacted the same when I first put in the HPS, I wonder if anyone has done any experimenting with rotating lamps?

__________________
Check out my Short Rider Journal
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/195585-chemindeuceds-short-rider-closet-grow.html

Light just came on again so I checked them, and a third sprouted. The first one that split and I planted is the only one that hasn't reached the soil yet.

__________________
Check out my Short Rider Journal
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/195585-chemindeuceds-short-rider-closet-grow.html