First grow: Kali Mist single bag seed (55 W 2700K CFL - small cabinet)

Hello All,

I have never grown before but when I found a fully developed seed inside a Kali Mist bud acquired from a local dispensary my curiosity resulted in a experimental grow. Since this is a very limited budget project and since space is limited, I am using a 50 W CFL (2700 K) light source. I know that the 6400 K CFLs are better suited for vegetative growth but since I already had the mentioned 2700 K CFL I decided to use it rather than investing in a new lighting system. Below is a timeline of the last 2.5 weeks. I am interested in hearing some comments/suggestions/advice from experienced growers. Let me know what you think.

Timeline:

Jan 12 2012: Started the germination process. The seed was submersed in 100 mL canning jar filled with tap water. The floating seed was relocated to a dark location for 48 hours.

Jan 14 2012: The seed absorbed considerable H2O indicated by the seed sinking to the bottom of the jar. The seed cracked open showing first signs of seedling growth. The seedling was relocated to a small 50 mL plastic cup filled with some houseplant soil and planted 2-3 cm below the surface. The seedling was then put under a 20 W xenon desk lamp with a 20hr/4hr on/off light cycle.

Jan 15 2012: The seedling has started showing first signs of growth.

Jan 15-Jan 20 2012: The seedling continued to grow and remained in a healthy state. Approximately 5-10 mL of tap H2O was added every 24-48 hours.

Jan 21 2012: The seedling was relocated to a small cabinet equipped with computer fan for exhaust and a 55 W CFL (2700 K) light source. The CFL was positioned 1.5-2 inches away from the seedlings top leaves. The cabinet was equipped with a small jar of water to maintain humidity and a kitchen thermometer showing a temperature range at the top of the plant at 24-28 C. The light schedule was set to a ~18-24 hr on ~0-6 off cycle.

Jan 22 2012: The measured temperature showed 33 C at the top of the seedling. The leaves on the seeding showed small signs of overheating indicated by the folding of the fan leaves (taco shell appearance). The cabinet was modified to allow for more outside airflow. The modification resulted in the lowering of the top-of-seedling-temp to 26.5 C. The watering cycle was continued with 5-10 mL H2O every 24-48 hours.

Jan 23-26 2012: The growing parameters were kept constant. The seedling continued to show signs of healthy growth.

Jan 27 2012: Transplantation day. The seedling was transplanted to a 1-2 gallon pot equipped with fully hydrated All Treat Farms Premium Potting Soil (N: 0.08%, P2O5: 0.24%, K2O: 0.08%) with ~2 cups additional vermiculite and was relocated back to the cabinet.

Jan 28 2012: The seedling looks to be adjusting well to transplantation indicated by the development of new leaves.

Jan 29 2012: Significant growth occured over the last 24 hours. The seedling's roots must be happy in their spacious new pot and soil. Project cost: All Treat Farms Premium Potting Soil: ~5.00, 1-2 gallon pot: ~5.00, H2O meter: ~6.00. Total cost to date: 16 dollars

Nice start. They are looking very nice and healthy. As far as it goes, your cfl is fine. I would recommend adding in some as your plants grow. That gives you time to get what you need over a few weeks.

Nice start! I'm on my first grow as well, one of my hopefuls is a Critical Kali Mist. I hope you have some room to let her grow once in flower.

hmmmm Kali Mist in a PC growbox? Better top her and LST the shoots.
You will definately need more light than that
I wouldnt exactly call 1 cfl light a "lighting system"

Thats a hell of a strain you got there, but you'll have to change your approach if you want to realize her true potential

Exactly what I was thiking. He said she's in a small cabinet but I'm willing to bet it's nowhere near big enough for that plant.

Thanks for the input! Maybe more like a "house light" than a "lighting system". I know I am WAY under-powered in terms of lighting but I originally just wanted to germinate the seed just for fun. Now that it is looking as good as it is, I may in the future need to get a couple more CFLs. It is currently inside of a cabinet that is 24 inches in height. If is continues to stay healthy and get larger, I could move it to a bedroom closet to obtain greater vertical length. I still don't know if it is a male, female, or a hermie but whatever it is it's doing better than I thought it would given my current setup. Regarding my "lighting system" what would be a good budget CLF lighting addition to add (assuming it turns up female)? I was thinking maybe a couple more 6400 K CFLs.

Also, since this seed was found inside of a nice Kali Mist bud, this mean that it's more prone to develop hermie characteristics right? It also may not be full Kali Mist correct? It could be a cross?

its most likely it came from a hermie kali mist, but it could also be from a male of a totally different strain.
If the former then yes it will be more prone to hermie
I think the easiest cheapest way you could go with CFL's is to buy the Y connections that allow you to screw two bulbs onto one socket. You can double those up to screw 4 bulbs into one socket, but you have to be carefull with the wattage. You should be buying the 23watt variety, which means 4 bulbs is just under 100watts. Make sure your lamp can handle 100watts. I would rig up 2 of those 4 bulb units and have placed to the sides of the plant. Side lighting helps reduce stretch.

If you want to flower her in the 24 inch space you should top her when she reaches about 8 inches in height, leave 3 nodes. let the top 4 grow out and remove the bottom node(I found with Kali mist the first node didnt really grow very well). I would then wait about a week just enough time to let her recover from the topping stress and then put her into 12/12.

SHe's still going to stretch though, so now youll have to try and wind her around in a circle level with the rim of the pot, use some metal wires or something to ancher her down. Now her side branches will form into the main shoots and will likely not reach the top of your space. After a few weeks in 12/12 the stretch will end and youll be smooth sailing.

Good luck

Yeah but hey even if it is a hermie if it actually buds and he keeps it growing decent up until harvest he would atleast have some smoke and get some experience from it and want to try even harder the next go round.
But yeah man if I where you I would deff move them to the closet and maybe build it its own little tent or some sort of box,just something medium in size just so it contains everything good and put some good reflective material on the interior to make it more intense. I use 42W compacts for my clones and small vegging plants,I also keep them hanging around the sides of my bigger veg just as extra side lighting.But there pretty damn intense though for a compact,I payed about 10bucks a piece for them and bought a whole box lol.There also red spectrum but they put in work enough where I dont ever have problems with auto'ing or stretching.
Also if your really serious about this and you maybe plan to start more plants in the future I would highly recommend going to lowes/home depot/walmart... anywhere that sales yard lights,but you can get like 75-150 metal halides and high pressure sodium lights with ballast/bulb,everything you need for around $50-75.....off the top of my head.I flowered under a 150mh and 4-42w compacts for a little while in a medium cab setup and it did a damn good job,yielded great for there size and had hella resin content. But thats just my 2cents man if you bought one you wouldnt regret it,also they dont get to crazy hot and DONT run your power bill through the roof.So consider it man.Is there a reason your trying to be "super stealthy" or just being safe? But goodluck man keep us posted!

It's going to start to smell nice at your place soon enough... Everytime I open to the door to the basement.... whoaaa

I keep hearing about this odor neutralizer called Ona Gel, might be getting some of that.

Hey btw you have a unique seedling there, notice it has 3 leaves per node? that's pretty cool, its not extremely uncommon, but it is still unusual. If you top her you youll get 3 colas instead of 2

Kinda like getting a double yoked egg

Thanks for the input. I may give what you mentioned a try. Regarding my plant, It has grown quite a lot lately. do you think it looks like Kali Mist? I am not so sure. It also looks like it has preflowers? Whatever it is it looks pretty cool.

Well it doesnt look like my Kali Mist, the leaves are too broad, but it may still be. One thing is if you give a plant too little light the leaves will grow fatter. Thin leaves are needed to keep the plant cool in the hot equitorial sun, but when there isnt that intense light the plant will grow fatter leaves.
Actually I'm really surprized to see that the plant isnt stretching at all! thats a good thing, and surprizing too, you must have your light really close to the plant(which is good). I would suggest waiting for a while before deciding whether you think its Kali Mist, really its a bagseed either way so you can't be too picky.
You said you got the seed from a bud that was supposed to be Kali Mist, do you suspect that the bud was in fact not Kali Mist?
It looks pretty indica dominant so far anyways.

So get more light, thats about all the advice I can give so far. And don't overwater, let the top inch get dry before you water again

Thedillestpickle said:

Well it doesnt look like my Kali Mist, the leaves are too broad, but it may still be. One thing is if you give a plant too little light the leaves will grow fatter. Thin leaves are needed to keep the plant cool in the hot equitorial sun, but when there isnt that intense light the plant will grow fatter leaves.
Actually I'm really surprized to see that the plant isnt stretching at all! thats a good thing, and surprizing too, you must have your light really close to the plant(which is good). I would suggest waiting for a while before deciding whether you think its Kali Mist, really its a bagseed either way so you can't be too picky.
You said you got the seed from a bud that was supposed to be Kali Mist, do you suspect that the bud was in fact not Kali Mist?
It looks pretty indica dominant so far anyways.

So get more light, thats about all the advice I can give so far. And don't overwater, let the top inch get dry before you water again

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I am fairly certain it was from a bud of Kali Mist. I got it from a dispensary and have had Kali Mist multiple times and the bud that I got this seed from felt just like Kali Mist. But I do agree with you that it looks indica dominate. It is so short!

Well if your certain the Bud was KaliMist it doesnt meen the seed couldnt lean towards something else, If it got hit with just a little pollin from anything you have the chance of getting that pheno. But I have grown sativas that look like indicas till they get some size to them and indicas that kinda looked like sativas,plants can be tricky at times, but either way you have a plant so nothing to do but sit back and watch it do its thing! And smoke the buds and make your call. Your gonna need some stronger lights soon,Id start workin on that.

Subd... nice plant my dude, doesnt really resemble kali mist plants ive seen

PrivateEye6 said:

Subd... nice plant my dude, doesnt really resemble kali mist plants ive seen

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Kinda what should be expected from a bag seed though, If its a fem and you take care of it, I am sure it will smoke pretty strait, it "shouldnt" be a waste of your time lol.I have grown many diffrent strains and I have had a BUNCH I just flat out didnt like or care for,but I can honestly say I have never grown one that I considered just a flat out waste of time, even if it was only to learn something from it. Knowledge is power!

Updated my light setup today by adding 5 23-watt 6500K CFLs.

Hell yeah man staying stacked nicely.You should seriously see about going to walmart or something and getting a smaller hps or mh.I use a 150mh for alot of things and it puts in work for such a small bulb! Best cheap light I have had so far. I have a friend who made a small budget cabinent grow and he used I think 75hps and a 150mh and hes pulling some pretty tastey buds from it. Yielding decent for what it is. I also had a friend grow a jackherer undr a 42w cfl and t was dripping in resin and smoked awsome,kinda made me jelous that he dd that under such lighting haha. It yielded literaly like 3grams though...he smoked in in a few days and was going easy on it. I dunno but I like my bud to go a little ways. But the plants looking happy as fuck so far dude keep it up.Ill be waiting for more pics!

I love the three way symetry, very cool

can you really get 75MH at walmart? sounds like the perfect light for cloning under, do they have hoods/ballasts/sockets all that too?

Yeah I am pretty happy with how it is turning out. It is very stocky and has strong stems. It is only 2.5 inches tall right now but it is getting wider and wider everyday. I am debating on whether or not to change the light cycle over to 12/12 soon or let it vegetate a few more weeks.

Don't flip it yet, why would you do that? ever day you wait is going to make so much difference in the yield

How much height do you have exactly? Wait as long as you can, and get to know what the plant likes and get confident with it so you know when you flip you will be able to keep it healthy. Don't rush into flower until you have a bit of experience growing the plant. Maybe top it repeatedly if you think it's going to outgrow the space, each time you top the plant youll be buying time and learning more about it. You can clone those cuttings too, keep a mother clone and you'll be setup for the next round. I am in my first grow, but the 8 weeks of vegging Ive done has given me alot of time to learn. I feel pretty confident now that I can handle flowering the plant. Vegging is a good time to experiment with the plant and get a good feel for it. Once you hit flower you want to be totally stress free on the plant and you want it to grow as fast as possible. vegging time is indefinate, so you can always fix mistakes. flowering has a time limit so you want to make the very most of that time and no mistakes