First Grow! : CFL/HPS 8 Plants

Anyone? Nobody has ever used this stuff? I guess that's not a good sign lol. Don't see how it could hurt though. I haven't looked into CO2 that much if anyone could enlighten me, when to use it, how much, etc...

DK. This is gonna be a long post, and I hope you and the other subscribers to this thread don't mind. I have the book MARIJUANA Horticulture The Indoor/Outdoor MEDICAL Grower's Bible by Jorge Cervantes and I wanted to quote some it for yous guys... "Adding more CO2 to grow room air stimulates growth. Indoor cannabis cultivation is similar to conditions in greenhouse, and indoor growers apply the same principles. Cannabis can use more CO2 the 0.03-0.04 percent (300-400ppm) that naturally occurs in the air. By increasing the amount of CO2 to 0.12-0.15 percent (1200-1500 ppm)-the optimum amount widely agreed upon by professional growers-plants can grow up to 30 percent faster, providing that light, water, and nutrients are not limiting. Carbon dioxide enrichment has little or no affect on plants grown flourescent lights. Flourescent tubes do not supply enough light for the plant to process the extra available CO2.

Carbon doxide enrichment does not make plants produce more potent THC; it causes more foliage to grow in less time. The larger the volume of THC-potent cannabis, the larger the voume of THC-produced.

Carbon dioxide-enriched cannabis demands a higher level of maintenance than normal plants. Carbon dioxide-enriched plants use nutrients, water, and space faster than non-enriched plants. A higher temperature, from 75-80zf (24 to 26C) will help stimulate more rapid metabolism within the super-enriched plants. When temperatures climb beyond 85F (29C), CO2 enrichment becomes ineffective, and at 90F (32C) growth stops.

Carbon dioxide-enriched plants use more water. Water rises from plant roots and is released into the air by the stomata the plant uses to absorb the CO2 during transpiration. Carbon dioxide enrichment affects transpiration by causing the plants' stomata to partially close. This slows down the loss of water vapor into the air. Foliage on CO2 plants is measurably thicker, more turgid, and slower to wilt than leaves on non-enriched plants.

Carbon dioxide affects plant morphology. In an enriched growing environment, stems and branches grow faster, and the cells of these plant parts are more densely packed. Flower stems carry more weight without bending. Because of the increased rate of branching, cannabis has more flower initiation sites. Plants that sometimes do not bear from the first flower set are more likely to set flowers early if CO2 enrichment is used.

With CO2-enriched air, plants that do not have the support of the other critical elements for life will not benefit at all, and the CO2 is wasted. The plant can be limited by just one of the critical factors. For example, the plants use water and nutrients a lot faster, and if they are not supplied, the plants will not grow. They might even be stunted.

I honestly don't even know why I wrote that, but I hope it helps somebody out there.

Thanks chunky. I actually have that same book. Now at least I don't have to take the time to find all that lol. I also read that it should only be used during vegging? But if this doesn't work under fluorescent lights then how can it be used? Do you have to use a MH bulb? Or can it still be used under HPS for the first few weeks of flowering? Anyways, thanks for the response, and no I don't mind, post whatever the hell you want lol.

I think he meant just the tubes, but I'm not sure. I have my air conditioner running and I think it brings in pretty much a normal amout of CO2 and I think my CFL's handle it OK. I didn't see anything about when to use it....but I've been kind of skipping around in the book so I ain't sayin' it ain't in there I'm sayin...HA. Does the package of those tablets say about how much they raise the levels? If it's not too much, or if you constantly have fresh air coming into the room I don't think that you'll have to worry.

"Excellofizz will react slowly, emitting the proper amount of CO2 gas well into the photoperiod. It will then continue to increase CO2 levels after the reaction has completely subsided by absorbing oxygen from the air." Then it also says it will increase the CO2 in a 12x12 area by 1600 ppm lol. For a total of 2000-2300 ppm for optimum growth. Alright so my closet it about half that size, and I believe 1600 is a bit much from what you have said. So maybe I could use like 1/3 of a tablet? I don't really have a lot of fresh air coming in. Especially at night when the door has to be closed. I'm still have a hard time keeping the temp down at night. I don't think I'll worry about these too much, seemed like a good idea at the time lol.

I don't think it would hurt to try them. I wouldn't assume you would get the maximum results anyway, unless your room is completely sealed. Do you ever have any windows open at your place? If so, your getting some fresh air in there. It's hard to create a natural environment indoors without a ton of epuipment to measure eveything in the air, the water, the amount of light, but I would think that trying it wouldn't hurt. Just pay attention to the growth of the plant height and foliage and if you notice it going good then persist, and if you notice it slowing the growth then stop. I'm sure you're already thinking all of this but I know it's good to hear what others think. At least that's how I feel.

It is definetly. I appreciate your input. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it. Just seems like it makes it harder to control other factors in the room, which I haven't completley nailed down yet anyway. I have no way of providing fresh air in there at night, but yes my window is open from time to time, unless it's too hot out. I've been able to keep the temp right around 78. My only problem is at night, when it jumps up around 86. Do you think this is going to cause any problems? Or is that not hot enough to be concerned with? Anyways, really appreciate the help thanks!

Considering my climate is EXACTLY like yours I have to deal with the same issues. Did you try the ice bottle thing? Works for me. If you do do it just make sure to use a think plastic bottle like an Arizona Ice tea 42 ounce one! After heating and cooling it the plastic on a thin one breaks down and will crack.

As far as the temps at 86 I would think it would depend of the strain of plant but mine seems to be doing fine at this temp and unfortunately 86 is what mine typically is at anyway. I put ice in my set up to keep it below 90's well at least during that hot spell we had.

Most people say that's too hot for optimum growth, but I think it's very hard to control things like that sometimes. On my first grow, I had some LR2's going and they did OK and the temps were as high as 92F for periods of time. I will admit that now, since I have the temps between 65-78F on this grow, they have grown alot better than the first ones. I dont' remember, but I think that I read somewhere that growth comes to a standstill at 90F. I would try to get it below that if you can, but I wouldn't kill myself over the temps being 86. What is your light schedule? What time of day are they on and off?

I did try the ice bottles thing, it didn't really seem to help. The temp was at 90 a minute ago when I opened up the closet. It's already down to 80 now. Right now I have the lights on from noon to midnight and off midnight to noon. I'm thinking I will probably change it so I can keep it closed from 8 to 8 or something like that, where the temp is probably coolest outside. I've tried everything to keep the temp down in there, but without any fresh air coming in for 12 hours, I'm basically just circulating the hot air. I can't even keep my humidifier on since it will be at 90% by morning (yes I tried this lol).

DKskater75 said:

Anyways, I just got another package in the mail. I wanted to use some CO2 for this grow, but didn't feel like getting anything too elaborate. These are just tablets that you just drop in water and they give off CO2. Hopefully they will work well. Anyone ever used them before?

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excello yea they work good .
costly tho but they work

Nice. Glad to see someone has actually used them. Will they be effective in my closet though? It's only like 5x5.

yea you need to divide it tho and use less water also.

Gotcha. Thanks. What about when to use them? Is it only during veg? With the lights on right?

lights onyes.
I use in flower, i feel its kinda a waste in veg for me

Really? I've read that it only stimulates grow in the stems and leaves while vegging and becomes pointless a few weeks into flowering lol.

yea I heard that but seen no proof.
Plants use CO2 all their life tho
but i like to do it in the first 2-3weeks in.
i mean is great in veg just not for me i guess.

those pucks are thick as fuck too how many u get?

That's cool thanks. I guess I will try it out. Another thing though, I'm having trouble keeping the temp down with my closet closed. You think something like this might help? Fan, Humidifier & Air Conditioner Unit Or is anything usless without venting air outside somehow.

it should work but venting out is better.
so how are you getting fresh air in?