Flourescent Sunrise: A CFL / HPS Adventure

**dertmagert** · 02-11-2008, 04:59 PM

2/03/08
day 34

alls lookin well... i have topped/cloned a second plant.. this came about as an accident.. i was LSTing my babies and one of them snapped... so i made an emergency incision at 45 degrees, scarred the stem, soaked in water, coated in rooting powder, then placed it in a starter cup... the clone i cut last weekend is losing a bit of its dark green color.. ive read that this is normal as the plant is focusing its energy on developing roots// we'll see.... after these first two clones im going to see how they come out.. if they dont root im going to try a different method...

2/03/08

So today i started ripping out the interior of my future flowering chamber (previously my vocal recording booth) .. I am going to installing all the hardware that i have picked up for it but i need a little help with the reflector..
i was given this 430 watt hps for free .. but the reflector it comes with has no ventilation system.. how would i modify this so that i could pull air from a filter, to the light, then to the fan and out...
i would imagine i would have to seal the light with glass somehow.. and then cut holes in either end to hook duct adapters to.. but im a major pot head and when i start thinking about it my mind just gets all fizzy and starts to cramp and then i get a weird craving for hot dogs and chocolate chip cookies.. oh yeah i was saying, if anybody has done something like this or has come across a DIY post it would be greatly appreciated if u could lend a hand..
pics -

---- "the booth"

as you can see i removed all of the sound proofing paneling but theres still some insulation to rip out.. this booth is constructed out of 2 x 4 frame and drywall.. it stands freely with its own four walls ( not connected to any structural walls ) .it is also on a 6" base raising it off of the cold cement floor... interior dimensions are about 7' high.. 4.5' deep.. 3' wide.. (havent measured but will)..
i plan on putting 2 10 gallon rubbermaid containers that have 2 fabricated dividers in them to create 3 - 3.33 gal sections to house one plant each giving a total of 6 plants under a 430watt hps

------- the lamp

heres the lamp.. any help with venting this would be great

**dertmagert** · 02-11-2008, 05:00 PM

2/07/08

ok... its been a little over a month.. the yellowing has gotten a whole lot better.. all i did was feed them more often.. twice a week got them fillin out nicely.. got some pics for yall.. let me know how they're doin...

Oh yeah.. i found out today by accident how well my cloninig method worked.... while i was adjusting something in the veg chamber i knocked over the first clone i took.. i took it a little over a week ago.. it was in one of them blue cups.. well the soil was pretty dry and when it fell upside down it was all over the floor.. i thought i'd definately lost that plant.. but to my amazement when i turned it upright, just about an inch of dry soil on the top poured out and the rest of it was held tightly together by a huge root mass... the whole cup was filled with roots in about ten days.. i immediately transplanted it and in 8 hours after a thorough watering it looks to be liking its new home.. theres pics below..

heres the next one,. should be ready in about 5 more days

here's how they are doin at 38? days...
(check out the lst

)

uhh.. lil blurry.. sorry

look at that S in the stem... bbbbbeautiful..

man.. i think they're ready to hit the flowering room.. a couple more clones and ill choose a mother..

**blonddie07** · 02-11-2008, 05:12 PM

plants look nice

keep us posted ... you should make a journal!

**dertmagert** · 02-11-2008, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by blonddie07

plants look nice

keep us posted ... you should make a journal!

uhh.. i thought thats what this is!
Marijuana Growing > The Grow Room > Grow Journals> Flourescent Sunrise: A CFL / HPS Adventure

no wonder why your name is BLONDIE
lol!! jk

thank you! i will be updating tomorrow.. my first close is looking VERY healthy and is TAKING off.. stay tuned

**dertmagert** · 02-13-2008, 02:53 PM

ok.. today i finally went and got a PH tester.. I checked the PH of my tap water that i let sit for a little over 48 hours.. it is 7.0.. Im thinking i need to lower this slightly. But i have a question before i adjust anything. Does the addition of nutes ( General Hydroponics Flora Micro, Flora Bloom ) raise or lower the PH?

-----

I will be flushing the plants tomorrow. The much dreaded yellowing of the leaves has seemed to slow up on its recovery. I think i actually see a couple leaves yellowing that were fine before.

heres some pics.. .

-----

group photo

43 days old
(sorry pics are a little blurry. i was in a hurry.. wait a minute that rhymed, hey sweet... the next batch will be in freakin HD )

My first ever clone... its been about 10 days since i repotted it and it has shot up to be as tall as its mother! wowwww... thank you SuperThrive!

another shot of the clone

ok thats it for todays update.. not much happening today.. tomorrow i will be back with better photos and details on my flush. I will also be taking clones in a couple days (to fill up my new diy clone chamber ) as i am nearing the flowering stage.

I might take a video of my cloning process to post as well.. it might not be the most professional approach but what can i say.. it works..

until next time

**raeman1990** · 02-13-2008, 04:04 PM

NICE!!! 85 is little on the high side, it might help to lower the temps a little

**dertmagert** · 02-13-2008, 04:07 PM

Note: As Per RIU's Journal Contest Entry rules, i will be making changes to the format of my updates starting now.
I will also be updating with only quality pics and detailed descriptions.

Todays Overview

A. NUTRIENTS USED - None today
B. PH - 7.0
C. MEDIUM - Soilless mix
D. TEMPERATURE - 82
E. LIGHT CYCLE - VEG (24/7)
F. WATERING - Still Moist... will check tommorrow.
G. GROWTH NOTES - my first clone has grown incredibly. i am now without a doubt sure that growing from clones is the way to go. I am happy with the results of my LST.. These short bushes have many tops that im sure will produce fat nugs.

Pictures ( these are same day as the pics in previous post today. Just better quality )

My First Clone. Reaching For The Stars

i just pulled down one of the tops ( it was outgrowing its peers ) notice it is facing toward the bottom right

Ok.. now a view from above

**dertmagert** · 02-13-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by raeman1990

NICE!!! 85 is little on the high side, it might help to lower the temps a little

thank you.. i know its a bit high but this is the best ive done so far without bringing in an air conditioner.. The room that the enclosure is in is at 80 degrees.. so im only really getting 5 degrees hotter.. the plants dont seem to mind it much.. i will try to get it down some but ive yet to figure a way other than AC

**Your Grandfather** · 02-13-2008, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by dertmagert

came across an article i found to be interesting.. maybe helpful in solving this heat issue.. im sure this can somehow be adapted to fit my needs.. Homemade air conditioner - Instructables - DIY, How To, home

ill just keep tossing up ideas until i sort this thing out.. anyone got suggestions?

Dude, great reference, made my mind spin with ideas

**Your Grandfather** · 02-13-2008, 05:42 PM

I've found that a measured 1/4 teaspoon of white vinegar moves the ph of water right around .5 points. If you want, try 1/4 teaspoon and see if you don't get to 6.5

Also, the purple on the stems might be the signal of a lack of 'P'. 1/8 teaspoon of 0-12-1 guano mixed into the soil would help.