Experiments in light levels.
To start off with I had a tent with four 90/180 lights. They would burn cannabis at anything less than 18 in.
So I started a single light at 90 at way far away and lowered it as necessary, adding lights as things started to spread out.
Then I decided this was way too much of a pain in the ass to try to maintain the correct light distance for a given set of plants at a given set of growth. Screw that.
So I built small plastic shelves and wrap them with mylar space blankets and bought cheapo 4x7 watt lights that claimed a cumulative of 80 and lied as expected.
But they make decent lettuce growing lights and great seedling lights. So now I have two shelves dedicated to seedlings and soon to be clones.
It was enough to prove I wanted to have shelves with light closer to me than the tent. So I rebuilt using steel wire bakers rack and picked up another pair of lights that claimed to be 40 watts a piece and actually are 37 which makes me very happy.
And put one of those 90/180s on the top to see who I can fry and thrive in that condition versus who will fade away and be unhappy.
Which then gave me a bunch of shelves to juggle plants for a while to figure out who likes what level of light and water.
Based on that design I created the grow cave for mid-size plants so they would not waste my space in the tent since that will be filled with the tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers and zucchinis and any other climbers. I don't want to be juggling plants in front of the climbers, and the climbers don't move. That also means I can use the space for the climbers dirt to give them a lot more root space.
Speaking of zucchinis, I have three very nice ones that are currently thriving so I found my happy medium for light and water for them. And yes, I know I should be picking those cucumber flowers. Those are the extra plants that I am growing just for the flowers. I typically have a cucumber flower breakfast. They are yummy. I have isolated the ones that I will be transplanting and keep a close eye on those.
The grow cave currently has seven by 37 watt lights hanging as close as the plants need and/or want. I will put one or two of the 90/180 lights above. I can have a bunch of tall plants in the open space and I can simply stack a bunch more plants at the top level. I will simply buy individual bars to screw in the tops around the whole thing and wrap it with mylar. The lower plants will get the single bars and the open center and second level will get everything from the ceiling lights.
Note on watering. I use 32 oz ketchup bottles to squirt at the base of each plant. I found that's the best balance of volume and control. I will have to come up with an automated watering solution in a bit.
To start off with I had a tent with four 90/180 lights. They would burn cannabis at anything less than 18 in.
So I started a single light at 90 at way far away and lowered it as necessary, adding lights as things started to spread out.
Then I decided this was way too much of a pain in the ass to try to maintain the correct light distance for a given set of plants at a given set of growth. Screw that.
So I built small plastic shelves and wrap them with mylar space blankets and bought cheapo 4x7 watt lights that claimed a cumulative of 80 and lied as expected.
But they make decent lettuce growing lights and great seedling lights. So now I have two shelves dedicated to seedlings and soon to be clones.
It was enough to prove I wanted to have shelves with light closer to me than the tent. So I rebuilt using steel wire bakers rack and picked up another pair of lights that claimed to be 40 watts a piece and actually are 37 which makes me very happy.
And put one of those 90/180s on the top to see who I can fry and thrive in that condition versus who will fade away and be unhappy.
Which then gave me a bunch of shelves to juggle plants for a while to figure out who likes what level of light and water.
Based on that design I created the grow cave for mid-size plants so they would not waste my space in the tent since that will be filled with the tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers and zucchinis and any other climbers. I don't want to be juggling plants in front of the climbers, and the climbers don't move. That also means I can use the space for the climbers dirt to give them a lot more root space.
Speaking of zucchinis, I have three very nice ones that are currently thriving so I found my happy medium for light and water for them. And yes, I know I should be picking those cucumber flowers. Those are the extra plants that I am growing just for the flowers. I typically have a cucumber flower breakfast. They are yummy. I have isolated the ones that I will be transplanting and keep a close eye on those.
The grow cave currently has seven by 37 watt lights hanging as close as the plants need and/or want. I will put one or two of the 90/180 lights above. I can have a bunch of tall plants in the open space and I can simply stack a bunch more plants at the top level. I will simply buy individual bars to screw in the tops around the whole thing and wrap it with mylar. The lower plants will get the single bars and the open center and second level will get everything from the ceiling lights.
Note on watering. I use 32 oz ketchup bottles to squirt at the base of each plant. I found that's the best balance of volume and control. I will have to come up with an automated watering solution in a bit.
