Ok here is a list of the BASIC stuff I have learned. Please comment on anything wrong or go into detail. Remember Im getting the superlocker 2.0
- Soak rockwoll in ph'd water for atleast 1 day.
- Keep tap water out for a couple of days. Is it necessary to keep water left out if it already has
good ph, ppm, etc ?
- Getting screen covers to put in vents to keep out dust and bugs. Where can I get this and
what style ?
- Wash grow rocks off.
- Start off using only about 50 percent nutes then gradually up to 75 percent. Maybe even less,
I heard the 8 ball kush don't like them as much.
- Keep plants in upper seedling/veg chamber until plant have developed 3-4 leaf sets.
- Gonna use 3% hydrogen peroxide for root rot. Not sure on amount though?
- Don't open door when light is off. Do plant upkeep when light is on.
- Start trimming lower branches first for better light. How do u know which brances to trim ?
- Am I suppose to trim roots too ??
- Going 18/6 seedling veg top chamber then 12/12 flowering lower chamber.
- Heard SOG method was the best. But what does this actually do?
- Lights off last 2-3 days before harvest. Fan, water, etc too ??
- Don't know when to harvest ?
wow... a lot of info there... and you got the majority of it right on, just remember that the plants never read books. They do whatever they want. you can't be rigid on the timelines and stuff, let your plants tell you when they need a trim, or they're ready to transfer... don't just say 3 weeks no matter what. get what i'm saying?
I'm just gonna go down the list one by one... but like I said, my superlocker isn't your superlocker, adjust for YOUR situation.
I'd soak the rockwool a little longer, maybe 2-3 days. I didn't soak enough and my pH was haywire for the first 2 weeks.
Tap water is left out to let the chlorine dissipate. 24 hrs is fine. that has NOTHING to do with ppm or pH. still check ppm and pH AFTER you add nutes and again about an hour after you add any new liquid to your res. This will help you to notice pH swings and accommodate them in the future.
Screen covers... GREAT IDEA! why didn't i think of that? I just keep a pretty tidy operation and thats never been a problem in my neck of the woods.
Wash hydroton (grow rocks) very well... the sediment WILL clog your water pump if they ain't washed really really good. And I soak em with the rockwool, but maybe I'm going overboard?
Nutes at 50%, you may never need to go higher than that... you're plant will let you know. Maybe even less.
Plants in upper chamber don't really go pass seedling stage, maybe, maybe very very early veg stage, but mainly seedling. And transfer based on root size AND leaf development. Like I said, those roots get too long and inter-tangled, you'll never get them out of the 2" net cups and into the 3" 's... not without ripping half your roots out. *Upper chamber is mainly for seedlings, I've told Rory over at supercloset they should change the product description on that. There is NOT even close to enough room up top to veg properly, you'll see. But when you're plants are 4 weeks or so from harvest, you start more seed or clones and throw 'em up top and you're a month ahead of yourself.
Hydrogen Peroxide, never heard of this, but again cleanliness is king. change your res ATLEAST once a week. change it fully. drain it with the water pump per instructions, and then I use an old hand-held siphon pump and get out the last half inch of old water. It was $8 and worth every penny, check ebay or even auto parts stores for a hand-held siphon pump. Also, maintaining an ACCURATE and correct pH (5.8/5.9) will also prevent rot root and fungus and algae build up... Again I recommend buying a digital pH meter.
ALLWAYS keep light locked in ( or out ), this prevents " light confusion " and stress on your plants. Yes, all upkeep with lights on. Door closed tight with lights off. I'll go a step further: to prevent even more stress on your ladies, if you do anything to the plants (transplant, etc. ) do it right before the light goes out. Then the plants have their " night time " to heal from stress, and don't have to photosynthesize or do much else but recover in the dark.
Trimming: NEVER trim roots, some say you can, but I don't. Thats how the plants get the majority of all its nutes, the roots. Why cut them, stress the plant, limit their intake and anything else negative that could result. Trim roots only if you truly believe you need to and there is no other way. Trimming leaves and what-not, again, your plant will let you know. See a dead leaf, pull it. See a bunch of " sucker " leaves towards the base, trim em off. This is where you gotta listen to your plants and act according to your situation. Sorry, not too helpful, I know.
I used the T5 light in the seedling chamber 24hrs ON. transferred down to veg/flower chamber, so they could grow right. Veg was 18/6, until they were between 1/3 and 1/2 of their available space. Then, switch to 12/12 to flower. You gotta make sure you leave enough space for growth and nug production when you go from veg to flower, 18/6 to 12/12.
SOG method means " Sea of Green "... Any garden with closely bunched plants, usually grown smaller than larger for rapid harvests qualifies as a "sea of green". Get it, it looks like a sea of green if you got a large garden. Use your net trellis, per instructions. You will then technically be using a SOG method, assuming you got 4-5 ladies ( or more ).
Fans ALLWAYS stay on, ALLWAYS!!! unless you're using CO2. Yes, lights off for the last 2-3 days, this cranks up resin production. I would stop the nutes maybe 2 weeks before harvest. the plants use up the nutes available in the res and then within themselves, that way when you smoke after curing and drying, your nugs don't taste like fert. I would stop watering maybe 3-5 days before I'm totally finished, so the plant can use up available moisture and almost begin to pre-dry itself... All this is definitely NOT a substitute for proper drying and curing. That must be done as well.
Harvest, again, your plants will tell you. Usually I chop 'em when the trichomes are mostly milky white. Some will be further along than others, but I use an "acceptable average" theory.
I'd suggest buying a book or two if you really want some solid knowledge. Start with a " Basics " book, you don't really need in-depth plant science, not yet. Jorge Cervantes has a great "basics" book that I've read. And I'm sure you've heard talk of "the bible" by Cervantes, not bad either, but maybe a little to in-depth at times. Rosenthal is another good author.
I hope I've helped. I wish I had someone to ask these questions to when I had just got my superlocker. If there is anything else, don't hesitate. Above all, remember, I don't know everything, this is just what I did, what worked for me. Your situation may be different.
Let me know how it all goes... Let me know if you have any set-up questions. I had my wife help me set it up and it took an extra couple of hours, but we did it. And I figure it's good she know the system just in case she ever has to step up and take care of it.
PEACE and GOOD KARMA
