Headband and OG Kush grow (LST)

DST · #1 09-16-2009, 03:04 AM

After getting loads of tips from RIU, i decided to join in august and here is my first grow journal.

It's a DIY set up with the following:

400w HPS ballast, given to me by a friend for free (his wife had stopped him growing - the poor lad!!) so cost = bag of weed from my first grow.

Bulb - Phillips Master SonT PIA for both growth and bloom phase. - 22.50 euro. (replaced after using the last free bulb for previous 2 grows)
Various pots from the past (also bought some extra for around 15 euro)
Coco and some potting soil (80-20% mix) - each grow around 10 euro max
Hydrokorrels (already had a bag but around 4euro)
Have used Plagrond grow products previously, but this time using Bio Nova organic grow (5-2-4) 9.99 euro and a super blooomer 13-14 PK from BN as well (also free from a friend who stopped growing - baby arrived)
during veg there was basic feed pellets that were mixed with the coco. I am going to look at changing this for future grows as you don't have much control on clones being over fed.
Spray bottle (already had)- with collected rain water (also free) for spraying leafs/foliar feeding.
Canes (washed and sterilised)already had these from some Creepers I bought for my roof terrace)
Buckets for water storage _ I have been using tap water and storing for 24-36 hours before use.
PH meter - 8 euros
White/Black sheeting (the grow shop only had 30m so I had to buy it - 30 euro)
Hook and chain - 4 euro
Fan with hook - 24 euro
Standing fan - 12.99 euro
Duct tape - 2 rolls 5 euro
2 Timers - 14 euro
Ventilation ducting- around 15 euro - connected to main house ventilation that is vented out through roof.

Around 140 euro in total. 3 grows so far.
This is all I can think of just now. But will add to as I go along.

during the summer I have vegged my plants both outside on my terrace and also by the window. then moved under the light for the 12/12 bloom.

So with this grow I am actually into the 4th week of flowering so will give an account up until then.

Below some pics of the set up that are also in the 400 watt club thread (included a shot of a previous bud with a lighter from my fav coffeeshop)

DST · #2 09-16-2009, 03:27 AM

So here are some shots just as they were going into 12/12 (I done this by darkening the room each night after 12 hours of sunlight) although the natural light was reducing so they had actually started showing signs of hairs before this.

As I sad before, the OGK seemed to stretch (as you can see in the pics (they are on the left) so I decided to try LST....which I was quite nervous about but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained. I even ended up super cropping one of the OGK by mistake, which was cool as this has had no diverse effect, and you can see the bend strengthening all the time (have also added shots of that.)

Bugs!!!!

Yup, I found some bugs, the shot I have uploaded is from one of our houseplants, which you can see has bugs on it (not sure what - but they had also got onto my ladies - grrrrrr!!) My wife bought some Antibladluis (anti leaf lice spray) which I treated the leaves with, (scary foamy shit!!!) and then rinsed with rain water. It seemed to do the trick.
I have also added a shot of a wee jumpin spider that has been chillin in the cupboard (an RIU thread by XxNinjaxX told me that this should be okay - so he's still in there)

DST · #3 09-16-2009, 03:44 AM

So quickly moving forward in time, we are now at around 4 weeks of bloom. the buds are forming very nicely, the trichomes are spreading over the leaves and its slowly getting there - only 5 weeks to go........

Again, suggestions are welcome people(s)

caddyluck · #4 09-16-2009, 05:49 PM

Hey DST! man you have some nice looking plants there, nice and healthy! luv the LST too, Great work man

DST · #5 09-17-2009, 02:22 AM

Thanks for that caddyluck. Man, the end of summer is a real bummer. My previous clones had all been brought to life throughout the summer months and natural sunlight. I checked my little DIY clone cupboard this morning and some of them ain't lookin too great (I took 6 of the HB, and 1 OGK clone)....think I will go out and buy some additional fake sun for them, the one OGK clone is already "Broon bread" as we say

....and 2 of the HB are looking ropey.

luckily I still have some OGK beans left, but the clone came from one of the nice dark greenies pictured above.....that's what happens when you get lazy with ehm I guess. I also have a bag of HB seeds - quite a few to spare actually....see pic.

DST · #6 09-19-2009, 01:41 AM

Before i start, the door that leads into the outhouse (where my grow cupboard is)has a gap at the bottom of it which due to the design of the house I am unable to block. this is also used to bring fresh air which is sucked in naturally with the ventilation system that constanty runs throughout my whole house. upshot, no weed smell in house, downside, bugs can easily crawl into nice warm outhouse. Its about a 3mm gap and there is a ledge of about 3 cms leading up to the gap. I was thinking of applying grease to the ledge. suggestions welcom.

Last night i was given some free beans that were left behind by a tourist. See pic, they are Dame Blanche, and Orange Cal Orange Bud. Has anyone ever came across Dame Blanche before? So will be kicking these off shortly.

I am nearly 5 weeks into flowering - give or take a day or so - and all seems to be going to plan.

The LST's OG Kush plants have had no side effects from the late LST (2 weeks into flower)

I have attached a few pics with names. I am liking the look of the Headband that I topped, the 2 main colas are doing well, and the side branches are also doing fine. The headband girls are generally about 2 and a half to 3 feet high and I should get about 1 - 1.5 oz of each plant (fingers crossed.) You can grow them bigger, but due to space i went more compact, gets light to as much of the plant as poss.

Enjoy.

DST · #7 09-24-2009, 09:24 AM

So we are now over the 5 week mark.

Everything going to plan at the moment, although had a recurrence of leaf lice, have sprayed again being careful not to spray on buds of the effected plant. Again a continued monitoring as it will be a gutter if I have to chop them down early......

This is my first LST and it appears to be working out. I hadn't thought of LST'ing at first, but I had uneven heights as the OGK girls had stretched in veg. Will be interesting to see if this produces more bud....?

Enjoy the pics, off to roll a fatty

Laters.