Noneed4me2's first medical/cabinet grow with cfl's

**noneed4me2** · 04-06-2012, 12:48 AM

Here's my setup. Bought a pre-maid box, thinking it would cut back on start-up time, now I spent my wad wished I had gone with a grow, diy hydro DWC system, tent and a 250w hps/cfl combo custom setup. Will be slowly upgrading equipment as I can afford it. Added another air pump and the drip system plus the hanging lights. Also added a net a 1/2 way up the box which 2 of the 4 are growing into now.

Been vegging 22 on 2 off since March 20th clones doubling in size. Using mostly 7000k spectrum cfl's with a few 2700k for better spectrum mix. Will reverse lights when I flower. Using FoxFarm Hydro trio and Aquashield. Water in reservoir is changed weekly from 5 gallon slightly nuted sparklett's water pre-ph'ed to 5.5 to 6.3 range sitting in grow area to maintain equal temps. Box stays in 35% to 50% humidity and 70's to 80f (at 80 I do something) with box always slightly open with small high cfm fan blowing in. No heavy breezing on plants though.

Started clones on 1/4 strength nute regimen (based on bottle measurements). Now I have been adding about 1/4 teaspoon every 2 days of Big Grow and Tiger bloom to reservoir with only a very light indication of nutrient burn so I keep it there. Aquashield a little less than directed. Going to move into an A/C room soon as it gets real hot here early on in summer.

Starting with 4 clones in a dwc/bubbleponics type setup. Its supposed to be an indica dominent hybrid called Grape/Ice I got from my wife's old uncle who works at a collective around me. Never heard of it but it looks good growing so far. Very nutrient tolerant. Recommended by a few people at the dispensery and so I figured its quicker than starting from seed and less male worries. I like the color and it is showing it's sex nicely with no signs of hermy'ing. Their clones, I know, but still.

Going to flower soon but my question to folks is how soon should I to avoid overgrowing my box? Got some bagseed seedlings growing outdoors one is from Humbolt O.G. xxx/crossed with what (got 2 seeds from this topshelp 1/8th I got a week ago and germinated 1). When these are done may move the one plant into the hydro setup, for now it's in soil with other's but labeled as half known genetics. Keep it in the box at night but move it outdoor for as long as there is direct sunlight.

Let me know what you think. I have read through several journal's and even gp420's fork strain thread and if that Humbolt OG/cross turns out female and good I am going to name it after his funny as half-assed of an incomplete grow. It showed me what I could do if I didn't listen to anyone and tried it on my own; therefor I sought out further knowledge on my own.

**noneed4me2** · 04-06-2012, 02:04 AM

Here is the most recent pics.

**noneed4me2** · 04-06-2012, 07:15 PM

Bump. Any thoughts on when I should switch to 12/12? The strain is called Grape/Ice and is local strain I believe to my area but I have no knowledge either growing or smoking it. Here are a couple of pages with pics from the dispensaries that sell this strain but detailed info is limited http://weedphotos.com/nugs/item/grape-ice , http://budgenius.com/Grape-Ice-CWCC-BG0010001EB20.html . Hopefully by the time this grow is finished I can flower my bagseed plants in the box.

**noneed4me2** · 04-09-2012, 06:03 PM

Arghh, got some more nutrient burn. Mainly isolated to the older foliage, all newer growth looks clean. Changed out a couple of the hanging cfl's from 13w to 26w. Now all hanging match with 26w, 2000 lumen, 6500k spectrum. Changing out my water tommorow already prepping new water batch. Going to go no nutes for the first couple days to see how it does. Reservoir and roots are still cool. PH has been dropping a little had to up it to 5.8; seems stable now. All other signs look good. Add pics later.

Here's some seedlings mostly outdoors; trying some lst'ing.

**Mr Skunky Haze** · 04-09-2012, 07:37 PM

Hey man you might wanna get your lights closer to your plants unless you like that bit of stretch. I'd wait until your net is about half way filled then flip to 12/12 but thats just me. The longer you veg the better

**noneed4me2** · 04-09-2012, 07:58 PM

I know it looks it but they really haven't stretched that much. The stalks have gotten alot thicker and the net was haphazard and thrown in at the last minute. The lights are two inches above the uppermost foliage and I do get some heat stress up there. I am vegging another week from tomorrow for sure then playing it by ear from there (an exact month but I am adding a week for the plants to adjust to my setup). The net is acting more as the limit I want the side foliage to grow to which I have been lst'ing a few branches to fill in the unused spaces and adjusting the hangers to fill in some of the lower branches better and its working. Side branches pulled down are now twisting up towards the light in the unused space.

I am still tweaking my nute regimen but I noticed my ph was dropping so my growth slowed and probably had some nutrient lockout. But all is still good. I have been pinching the stalks and they have hardened and fattened where I have pinched. I don't snap them all the way but damn close.

Also I move the lights around for the photos and perspective isn't done very well. It's all done from my wife's ipad 2.

**noneed4me2** · 04-13-2012, 12:04 AM

Update. Well things are bouncing back on my 4 girls. Got past the nutrient lock. Made some light adjustments and doing more lst'ing to get the lower branches some more light to better grow out the foliage. Roots are still awesome and I am getting some fresh growth from the netty basket not just in the reservoir. Got a new water source where the water ph is a perfect 6.0. I trimmed down some of the more heavily burnt/damaged foliage and am extending my veg time. I am now being alot more religious about ph control as the fox farm nutes seem to cause alot of ph fluctuations. Fine tuning is coming along. My main focus now is to limit upwards growth and wait for denser foliage till I flower (two weeks from, now fingers crossed).

My seedlings are doing well; pics included but I am not sure what will be culled do to sex/health whatever. Ones a keeper for sure which I successfully topped for the first time (thanx Rod), if its a male i will be so disappointed as it's got alot of vigor. All these seedlings were planted at the same time. Three have been culled so far and the 2 growing with Biggy are now companion plants to draw away predators till Biggy needs the space. I might grow him to term in soil but move him to my cab once this grow is done. The others in the pot by themselves seem nearly equals. My precious Humboldt xxx cross is being kept apart from the other random bagseeds. If all grow/goes well I will move both biggy and precious to my cab eventually for my first seedlings grow.

My brother is maybe going to try to get me a 150w or 250w hps to mount on top my box to enhance flowering. He was a grow master till he became domesticated but thankfully he and has been right by my side whenever I need some tips or info confirmation. I would love to open up a collective with him and my old ass hippy dad someday. Comments are welcome and yes I need better light just making do with what I have as best as I can for now.

**noneed4me2** · 04-16-2012, 11:51 PM

Well tommorow another reservior change. After a week of semi stress they seem to really be bouncing back. They seem to like the upper ph range. 6.5 being their ideal. once it starts to drop below that growth slows and leaves start to yellow. My outdoor seedlings and my Precious and Biggie are doing fine. The one I topped (Biggie) is still growing, well, like a weed. The cheapo potting soil (well its some name brand) that I got from the 99 cents store works great. I thought of changing, but hey it works. I added a half teaspoon of my Fox farm big grow for my outdoor/indoor grow-water and will have to see how they take it. I know it's early for nutes but this is diluted light dose to ph'ed water and they're in 1 gallon planter pots. I didn't nute precious as she/he is a couple weeks behind the others. I think I will keep updates weekly from now on unless I got some major news/changes.

**noneed4me2** · 04-22-2012, 07:28 PM

Well just ordered a 150w hps light by Sun Systems for about 90 bucks (thanx bro). Now a week from now I should be able to flower under better light. I got everything except a piece of tempered glass for the hole I plan to cut into the top of the box. Will post pics once I get everything together. I plan on pulling one of the clones (the weakest one) and transplant it to soil and stick it outside to flower. The other three are to strong and healthy and I know I am going to need more room in the box to maximize yield.