Denser buds?

**captainxchronic** · 10-07-2010, 07:52 PM

on my second grow. using the WAY over priced "bloombox" but in my state privacy is top priority! also using the "advanced nutrients" + "big bud" the plants seem to grow great and flower on time but my buds have been sparse! how do i get denser buds? more/less nutes? introduce co2? ph is usualy around 5.5 but still experimenting with the ppm. please help!

**mconn333** · 10-07-2010, 07:57 PM

more light penetration.............ha penetration......but yea take a few fan leafs off or get a brighter light

**captainxchronic** · 10-07-2010, 08:14 PM

dang! im running a 400w hps right now and im not sure if the built in balast will handle anymore. I trim off the fan leaves periodicly and ive also got t-5's at the bottom for "up light". the system has a built in timer for co2 but i havent gotten a tank yet.

**CrazyBudz** · 10-07-2010, 08:16 PM

hmmm......yea id have to guess its not enuff light penetration.....how close is the light to the top of the plants..?

**captainxchronic** · 10-07-2010, 08:24 PM

starts off around 2ft above. at the end of the cycle (now) its only like 3inches away. I actualy "bend" the plants and grow horizontly to keep them from touching the glass but try to keep as close as possible.

**justfkngrowit** · 10-07-2010, 08:26 PM

What strain are you growing? TRy getting a big bud strain.

**pointswest** · 10-07-2010, 08:30 PM

The temperature in the grow box may be too high, this will cause the buds to stretch. With a 400 and a t5 you should have plenty of light but may be producing too much heat. Cutting off the fan leaves is not helping anything either. These are the food factories that are providing the food for the bud growth.

**bird mcbride** · 10-07-2010, 08:30 PM

To increase your lighting you will have to get another ballast and another lightbulb. I am just as fond of three 400w hps as one 1000w hps on its own. Three 400's have its advantages. I have used a small hitachi barbecue with charcoal to produce co2. I usually line up the charcoal so it stops smoldering about two hours before the lights go out. Another way is use a propane lantern with the glass off. You can only run co2 while the lights are on. With the barbecue I put a filter over the hitachi to keep down the soot. It's obvious that you will need ventilation.

**captainxchronic** · 10-07-2010, 08:31 PM

sort off unsure off strain. was called "god bud" but that could just be what he called it. i grew my mother from the only seed gotten from soil grown. was very nice but didnt get to see it in action. Im sure the soil grown were very large plants by the time they were harvested. now im trying to grow in smaller confines. I'am looking into getting another strain but unsure of what strain will do well in a shorter plant.

**captainxchronic** · 10-07-2010, 08:37 PM

dont think its a temp problem. but "stretch is a good word to descibe what ive got. the bloombox has loads of exhaust fans and the room temp outside the box is like 75 degree's. inside it doesnt feel much diferent maybe 80 deg. after reading around these forums im thinking i may need to get that co2 going.