First Time Home Grower, with questions?

Humboldt · #1 08-25-2007, 02:25 AM

Hello fellow HOME GROWERS!

Like a lot of you this is my first grow, unlike some of you I have medical consent and proof, otherwise I wouldn't be caught dead using forums such as these. (no offense to the forum holder)

I ran into some old seeds (have know idea of what kind, or how high) I figured they would do for my first attempt (experiment) however I foolishly started my adventure immaturely, and without much knowledge, I was informed that I could start using regular house lights until I could scrape up enough money to get some fluorescent fixtures and bulbs, well it appears that I was misformed and the sprouts started stretching then started to limp, in other words they looked sick.

So I rushed and recycled a bunch of cans in hopes to save them. I bought some fixtures and bulbs but I'm afraid I may have purchased the wrong equipment. Lately I have been doing a bit of research and I found here and there that compact fluorescents are much better, however the sprouts are looking a lot better since I installed the fluorescents.

I am going to show pictures and ask questions, in hopes to receive some good advice, however I took these pictures with an old webcam so they aren't perfect. "Heck I can't afford to grow POT the right way, how am I going to afford a decent camera.lams" but they should be good enough for the expert.

First here are my specs,

Grow Space - Closet - Aprox. six feet by two feet wide.

Lighting Fixture - One standard shop light fixture with wide reflector (doesn't look very wide), 5inch plug in cord set, hanging chain kit - operates T8 & T12 4inch lamps.

Fluorescent Tubes - Residential light, count 2, light output 3150, 40 watts, life 15000, color temp 4100, will this lighting do until I can afford better? if so appox. how long do I have before more damage to the plants or death.

Fan - Small thermal controlled fan with heating element but I don't dare use the heat, right now I am keeping the lights and fan on 24/7 the temperature goes from just below eighty to just above ninety . will this be ok or is there something I should do different?

Ok here are the pictures and some more questions,

Is the lighting to close or not close enough? the light is aprox. 5inches from tops.

Is the lighting here to close or not close enough to the starts? the light is aprox. 3inches from the containers.

Is the fan that I'm using adequate, is it positioned in a decent place and should I continue to leave it on 24/7? I do occasionally open the door and leave it open in the day hours.

That's all the questions I have for now, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

215 Medical Marijuana Documentation.

Peace Out!

biggflintmi · #2 08-25-2007, 02:35 AM

You can repair the limp ones by repotting it and bury it up to the leaves. I am using a 4 foot shop light with 2 40 watt flo's. You can grow all the way through with flo's but a hid is better. You can stick with what you got until you get more money. I am currently flowering with the flo;s too but i just bought a hps 150 watt. As soon as it gets here im gonna use it for flowering. I myself dont have much cash but i got it for 37.00 u.s.. The good ones 400 watts are like 300.00. Just make sure the flo's are within an inch away from the top. As close as you can get without them getting hot. Good luck

biggflintmi · #3 08-25-2007, 02:38 AM

Heres a pic of my plants grown with flo's.

Humboldt · #4 08-25-2007, 03:00 AM

Bigg,

Wow thanks for the speedy response, nice looking plants you have there not bad for Fluorescents, are you serious I am able to bury the stretched plants, I've always thought if you covered the stem at this stage that it would die.

Again thanks!

biggflintmi · #5 08-25-2007, 03:29 AM

No its cool bury them up to the bottom leaves.

Humboldt · #6 08-25-2007, 04:03 AM

I didn't plan on transplanting them for awhile or should I? got any suggestions on when a good time to transplant would be?

Thanks!

biggflintmi · #7 08-25-2007, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humboldt

I didn't plan on transplanting them for awhile or should I? got any suggestions on when a good time to transplant would be?

Thanks!

Normally you would transplant when they start drinking a lot of water. In your case you just need to repot them in the same pot. You need to get the lights as close as possible too. Just put your hand between the light and plant. If your hand gets hot move it up a little. They stretch because they are trying to reach the light.

Humboldt · #8 08-26-2007, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the help so far, I lowered the lights and transplanted the three strecthed ones in one big pot, they appear to be doing well.

Here are a few pictures, again taken with old webcam, sure wish I had a better camera.

Again thanks for the help, if anybody else has any good tips for me I would be greatly appreciative.

Dr High · #9 08-26-2007, 05:44 PM

that looks more like it. id plan on buying either cfls of MH and maybe an HPS system soonish.

donnieosmond · #10 08-27-2007, 01:20 AM

NO! Take the plants out of the 1 pot and transplant them to 16oz plastic cups with holes at the bottom for draining or something. The roots will get tangled as they grow and it will die and you will have wasted all of your time and money. Change them out.