First Grow, 400W Closet Setup

Jtoth3ustin said:

ladies are lookin nice... i was thinking about doing a 400W closet grow. what r your dimensions of your closet. and like how far do u hang the light from the plants????

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Thanks man

The space I am using in my closet is 4' x 2.25', although the area occupied by my plants is only 3' x 2.25'. I have been keeping the light 10-12" from the plants, with a fan blowing across the space between the light and the plants. It seems to be working quite well so far, I haven't had any major problems.

Day 6 of flowering.

Feeding time, and I did some pruning today. They are taking almost a half gallon each now, every 2 days or so. The bottom end of all the plants got the chop, as well as a fan leaf here and there.

While I was pruning, I did some checking around and it turns out I'm the proud father of 5 girls!! I tried to take pictures of the pistils but I couldn't get the focus right... I think it is time for a new camera. Anyway, I'm happy as hell. The runty plant wasn't showing anything, but with the other 5 being healthy girls I made the decision that it was time to kill off the weakling. It was quickly falling behind the rest of the plants and was taking up precious space, so I ended it. Oh well.

Anyhow... I can now stop worrying about that. 5 healthy girls, I couldn't ask for much more!

One thing I'm not sure about: I have seen some tiny little moth/butterfly things hanging out on my plants. I don't know what they are, but I have been killing them as fast as I find them. Anyone know what they are or if they could be a problem? I'm going to have to check out the "Plant Problems" section tomorrow, looks like.

Thanks for stopping by, my next update I hope to have some pictures of just-beginning buds...

DoobyDoo said:

I'll be picking up a dispensary clone or some seeds in the next couple weeks here

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If your in California may I suggest, Marijuana Strain Library - Purple Kush
A California special that I have been growing for awhile now and its GOOD!!!

You invested a lot in your grow stuff and clearly leaned what to do, but had no confidence to buy seeds, like you thought you really might kill them or what?

Nobody elses first grow sounds nor looks this proper... I just don't see the self doubt or what that kept you from spending just something on seeds. Oh well, clearly it's time to ORDER some seeds cause I don't see you on the path to screwing up.

Buy some now, so they're ready to start when these are done.
if you have to wait on shipping especially...

yes real good im surprised i did not see this thread im watching

OregonMeds said:

You invested a lot in your grow stuff and clearly leaned what to do, but had no confidence to buy seeds, like you thought you really might kill them or what?

Nobody elses first grow sounds nor looks this proper... I just don't see the self doubt or what that kept you from spending just something on seeds. Oh well, clearly it's time to ORDER some seeds cause I don't see you on the path to screwing up.

Buy some now, so they're ready to start when these are done.
if you have to wait on shipping especially...

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Hah... thanks for the compliment, and slap of reality. You're right, I should have invested in some quality genetics, but here I am. The one thing I actually did skimp on, damn! It wasn't so much I thought I'd kill them as I wanted a bit of practice so I could make the good stuff live up to its potential but really, there is no good reason. I messed up on that point, I really don't know why I didn't buy some good seeds or clones. It will be remedied shortly. In the meantime, these are lookin' purty.

Now, I think I have other problems. There are some whiteflies in with the plants, and when I checked the temp/humidity this morning there were a bunch of little mites on my thermo... I think I have the beginnings of a spider mite infestation! Going to pick up a little sprayer and use a 1:1 solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. I'm thinking that the alcohol will kill both the mites and the flies (too much alcohol will kill anything) and then evaporate quickly, leaving the plants bug-free. I'll post results... those little fuckers are going to die!!!!

good stuff and good luck gettin rid of those fuckers

So... I got home and misted my girls with a 1:1 solution of 91% isopropyl alcohol and water. I inspected each plant thoroughly, and I found more whiteflies (only 5 or 6) than mites. I did find a few mites crawling around on the edges of my pots, but did not see anything on any leaves. The ones I saw on the pots I sprayed and took great pleasure in watching their tiny little selves squirm and die. Goddamn bugs, infesting my plants will be the last thing they do! Hopefully I was overreacting and they weren't spider mites, who knows. I'm still going to be on high alert for the next couple weeks.

keep an eye out for them suckers

Ladybugs!!!

Cheap and they will keep down ALL the small bugs.

and some good organic insecticide you should be able to get rid of the bugs

-=4:20=-Guy said:

Ladybugs!!!

Cheap and they will keep down ALL the small bugs.

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Good call! I can't believe I didn't think of that... I've known for years and years that ladybugs are the good bugs that seek and destroy the bad bugs.

I called around, will be picking some up tomorrow.

Upon further review, these things might be aphids and not spider mites. Slightly better, but they are still bugs on my plants. They are too tiny to get pictures of, they don't focus and just show up as... well, nothing. One lady at a nursery suggested sprinkling pure worm castings on top of the soil and then watering, which will make the plant undesirable to aphids and whiteflies.... I thought Fox Farms soil already had worm castings in them?

whats a good spray to get rid on spider mites/bugs in general?

look for oganic insecticides bang,foxfarms dont bug me,einstein oil,neem oil etc

DoobyDoo said:

Good call! I can't believe I didn't think of that... I've known for years and years that ladybugs are the good bugs that seek and destroy the bad bugs.

I called around, will be picking some up tomorrow.

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Very cool. Ya the one you see in that pic is off a batch of 200 that was put in over 4 months ago! They will find nooks to nest in and just stick around. I think most of them have died by getting on or in the lights and baking.

wow those are nice and healthy

Anc777 said:

wow those are nice and healthy

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Thanks

Operation Kill 'Em All has commenced, I have sent the first wave of troops in. I misted the plants to make sure the ladybugs had enough moisture, then released... um... part of a container of 1500. I handle bugs pretty well but it is definitely a bit creepy when your arm is covered from the elbow down in a hundred or so beetles. I have noticed fewer aphids/spider mites (whatever they are) and whiteflies in the last couple days, so I think the alcohol misting could have done the trick. In the meantime I think the attack bugs will do their job, as well as creeping me the hell out by crawling on me randomly.

Despite what I read on here about plants shooting up when they begin to flower, I neglected to keep my light far enough away. I checked last night before going to bed and found some heat damage. A bit of curling at the end of some of the fan leaves, no browning or anything. Nothing bad, but they aren't as quite as purdy now. Oh well, still coming along nicely.

On a somewhat related note, I found a seed in a bag I got from the dispensary. It is from a strain called GAK, which the guy said is G13 crossed with Afghan Kush. Anyone heard of this or know anything about it? I checked around a bit and can't find anything on it.

WHat kindof temperature are you getting in the closet during the daytime period? I have a similar grow op and it gets toasty in the closet. 85-88 by the end of the light on period. Also, what kind of reflector?

DoobyDoo said:

In the meantime I think the attack bugs will do their job, as well as creeping me the hell out by crawling on me randomly.

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ROFLOL ya it will be creepy for awhile, but eventually when they land on you, you will just pick it off and put it back to work, or sometimes put it by some water. =)

I don't know if they said anything about maintaining them where you got them but a few sponges make good watering holes for them.

With the light on and my ventilation, I'm hovering right around 85F. That is the best I can do with the light on, minus a cooltube (which I will be picking up once these are done... no cash for that right now). I know that is at the upper end of the range, but they seem to be doing OK with it, so I'm not going to worry too much. The reflector is some Chinese cheapo the guy at the hydro shop recommended. It is nothing special, but it has a larger version of the orange-rind finish and gets the job done.