a few newbie ?s

so ive germinated my seeds and have them planted and my plants are currently about 3-5 inches tall, ive got 2 gow lights hooked up, 1 is 60w but didnt say how many lumins and the other is 65 with 750 lumens on 3 small plants, ive been leaving the lights on for about 14-16 hours each day and watering lightly twice daily, the plants seem to be growing well, but ive noticed that evey1 elses seem to grow faster, the room si well venilated and i keep the lights about 10-12 inches from the plants, any idea when i should start the flowering process, any tips on if i should give more or less light, any tips would be very appriciated

You must be using normal house bulbs to be getting those kinds crappy lumens. First off, put the lights closer to the plants like 1 or 2 inches away, 2nd make a reflector for the lights. Quit watering so much u want the roots to grow (search) for water.

yea powerfuller lights, moove them closer.
u simply switch the light to 12/12 to start flower.
start flower when its reached maturity,
white hairs coming off the pistols!!

yeah man just move them closer to the plants of get a light reflecter

tater7808 said:

so ive germinated my seeds and have them planted and my plants are currently about 3-5 inches tall, ive got 2 gow lights hooked up, 1 is 60w but didnt say how many lumins and the other is 65 with 750 lumens on 3 small plants, ive been leaving the lights on for about 14-16 hours each day and watering lightly twice daily, the plants seem to be growing well, but ive noticed that evey1 elses seem to grow faster, the room si well venilated and i keep the lights about 10-12 inches from the plants, any idea when i should start the flowering process, any tips on if i should give more or less light, any tips would be very appriciated

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You don't want to try and grow with incandescent lightbulbs. At the very least, go to Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, anyplace like that - and get some CFL's, you'll want them in the 6500K for vegging, and the 2700K for flowering. A minimum of 3000 lumens per square foot is what you need, with 5000 lumens per square foot recommended. Three to four 27w CFL's will work for a single plant, with more or less added depending on the wattage. Keep them about 2 inches from the plants.

im not usuin just regular houshold lightbulbs, they are both grow lights from lowes, i didnt know much about it at the time so i just asked the dude at lowe what would be good for growing weed, and he pointed me in that direction, as for reflectors ive got the plants in a small box right now in a closet, and everything in the closet is covered with aluminum foil

tater7808 said:

im not usuin just regular houshold lightbulbs, they are both grow lights from lowes, i didnt know much about it at the time so i just asked the dude at lowe what would be good for growing weed, and he pointed me in that direction, as for reflectors ive got the plants in a small box right now in a closet, and everything in the closet is covered with aluminum foil

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I'm thinking you still need more light - that will be your biggest reason for slower growth. Also - get the aluminum foil out, it can cause hot spots that can burn your plants. A better option on a budget, would be the emergency blanket - $2.88 at Wal-Mart in the camping section - basically just thin mylar, works well.

damn, i didnt know that, every1s always told me aluminum foil helps

tater7808 said:

damn, i didnt know that, every1s always told me aluminum foil helps

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Yep, it's not a thing you wanna use. Personally, I'd rather spend the three bucks and get something I know is safe, than take the risk of harming my plants. (I use the emergency blankets too). They are 5'x8', so one would probably do ya, if you have a small grow area.

yea my grow areas pretty small, quck questoin, how long does it usually take for the plants to mature?

tater7808 said:

yea my grow areas pretty small, quck questoin, how long does it usually take for the plants to mature?

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In veg you mean, or flower? Depending on the strain, they will be sexually mature anywhere from 3 - 8 weeks+. Basically once you see alternating nodes instead of paired, it's mature. Flowering an indica takes on average 6-9 weeks, and a sativa 9-12 weeks.

well that helps alot, also would it be better for me to leave my lights on 24 hours a day, i thought this may over light the plants or sumthing, but every1 tells me it would be good for the veg process

tater7808 said:

well that helps alot, also would it be better for me to leave my lights on 24 hours a day, i thought this may over light the plants or sumthing, but every1 tells me it would be good for the veg process

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It's kind of a personal choice - everyone has their own opinion. Mine, is that the plants need a bit of rest each day, like anything else. I used to do 18/6, but I read a thread that talked about an experiment with different light cycles - and according to that, 20/4 was found to be the best for both the overall yield, as well as root development. I use that one - but you could also do 24/0, or 18/6.

ive been leaving them on about 16 hours a day, but i can tell it needs more light, i guess im just use to going by my sleep schedual, waking up at noon and turnin the light on, and turning it off before i go to bed about 4am

tater7808 said:

ive been leaving them on about 16 hours a day, but i can tell it needs more light, i guess im just use to going by my sleep schedual, waking up at noon and turnin the light on, and turning it off before i go to bed about 4am

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I would invest in a timer - you can get one for about ten bucks for the low wattage of lights you are using, saves a lot of headaches! Well that and the risk of forgetting, or not being home, and dropping the hours of light too low and triggering flowering before you're ready.

DoeEyed said:

I would invest in a timer - you can get one for about ten bucks for the low wattage of lights you are using, saves a lot of headaches! Well that and the risk of forgetting, or not being home, and dropping the hours of light too low and triggering flowering before you're ready.

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that would be a good idea, where would be a good place to get one, i have a lowes and walmart to choose from where i live lol, and ive read about ppl puttin humidfiers in with there plants and that helping the growing and venilation, but ive also heard puttin one in the grow room during the veg process makes the plants be prodominatnly male?

tater7808 said:

that would be a good idea, where would be a good place to get one, i have a lowes and walmart to choose from where i live lol, and ive read about ppl puttin humidfiers in with there plants and that helping the growing and venilation, but ive also heard puttin one in the grow room during the veg process makes the plants be prodominatnly male?

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Nah, that last part is just another bs story. However - unless you have a hygrometer in there (measures your humidity) I wouldn't put a humidifier in there, too much will give you mold. You want around 60% humidity in veg, and around 30% in flowering. If you don't have one, that's something else you can get cheap. Wal-Mart has a cheap digital temp/hygrometer for about five bucks. Wal-Mart also has some cheap timers, as does Lowes (Home Depot as well, if you have one). Usually near the lights.

sorry if im bothering you btw, im just tryin to learn a lil bit and its a subject ive kinda always been interested in, and since im growing for personal usei, id like to produce the best budd possible lol, im just on a low budget is the hard thing, but im gainin alot of usful information

also, how much should i expect each plant to yeild, i know its different for different strands, just kinda would like to know a average

tater7808 said:

sorry if im bothering you btw, im just tryin to learn a lil bit and its a subject ive kinda always been interested in, and since im growing for personal usei, id like to produce the best budd possible lol, im just on a low budget is the hard thing, but im gainin alot of usful information

also, how much should i expect each plant to yeild, i know its different for different strands, just kinda would like to know a average

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Nah you're not bothering me, happy to help a fellow grower if I can. Feel free to PM me too, if you have a question and I'm not here. Or post away - lots of others here who will help a body out.
I feel you on the budget issue - it's been tight for us too - we've had to piece together our equipment from week to week. I found it helpful, to make a list of all the stuff you need to have, and the stuff you want, too - and try and cross an item off once a week, or every other.
As for yield - there is no set answer, no "you'll get X amount from Y plants". There are so many variables - from your lighting, to your nutes, to your selected strain. Everything matters. Done badly, even a good strain might yield only a few grams, and then a lousy bagseed could yield you half a pound or more done right. I wish I had a better answer for you. It's one of the things frustrating for me - there are very few absolutes in this hobby, mostly a lot of personal choice and opinion. But say - if you get decent lights, take good care of her, don't stress her too much - you could probably count on an oz or 2 per plant.

yea yeild isnt a big thing to me, i know when i finnally get to smoke my girls, there gonna kill me, just knowing the fact that i grew them, and i also just enjoy the fact that im growing sumthing, its like having a pet or sumin lol, but accually as youve been telling me what i need ive been writing down a list and a budget lol, i plan to get better lights and things a maybe eventually even a hydro grower, but for now im sticking with cheap lights and the tools i already have,

i also meant to ask, whats a good fertilizer to use, i heard during my current process i should be usuing sumin like 25-5-5

also doesnt puttin egg shells on the soil during the vegging of a plant supose to help a lil