First Time Flowerer

warmboe

Well-Known Member
flowering my first crop is one of the most exciting things happening right now. I have never seen a plant through its entire life, and this part is so amazing, especialy now that I have the right equipment, (lighting, and ferts).
My plants were topped at a little over a foot tall, and they were vegged with 26w cfls. They did look a bit scrawny in veg, for stretching for the light. Even for cfls, I used a shitty choice of veg lights.
Now that they are in flowering, and I got my foxfarm ferts, and my mh/hps ballast, they have filled out so much, and there is just leaves and buds everywhere now! they have been flowering since dec. 22, however long that is. I realy love this sight and all you wonderful people out there that had the answers when I had the questions. I realy believe that my girls wouldn't have even made it this far without you guys! THANX!:peace:
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
We have aquired a rootbound cola plant from my inlaws. we are just providing light since they had room for 4 and had 5 girls. We tried repotting it, but still, can't even get my finger up to the very first knuckle in the dirt. VERY COMPACT!
There is a picture of my topped plants, and the cola plant in my gallery. I couldn't get them here, sorry.:blsmoke:
 

nongreenthumb

Well-Known Member
Your girls woudnt have got anywhere without you either, so give yourself a pat on the back too warmboe, growing isnt that easy until enough experience has been gained. Glad your girls are coming good for you.
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
thanks ngt!
Things with this grow stuff can change so much in just a few days. I have noticed slowed growth with our 2 best ones. I noticed that the root system is getting pretty crowded. I have been throwing around different ideas for re-potting, but there are alot of factors! So far I haven't been able to find exactly how big the roots will get, as i don't feel like potting again, a third time. my fist choice would be a planter box, but thats just not realistic, as we will be moving again in about 2 weeks. so now i am stuck with not knowing what size will be sufficient for the rest of the grow. i would say 5 gallon, but like i said, i would hate to have to do it again. just waiting for advice from indoor growing.:?
 

mogie

Well-Known Member
Repotting is a big hassle and its is more so when you are dealing with big plants. This is the best I could come up with hope is answers some of your questions.

Root-bound is where the roots of your plant outgrow the container they are contained in.

The following symptoms may be observed if you allow your plants to become root-bound:
    1. Stunted Growth.
    2. Stretching.
    3. Smaller and slower bud production.
    4. Needs watering too often.
    5. Easy to burn with low % nutrient solution mixtures.
    6. Wilting.
    Here are two ways to remove your plant:
    Before you start, always run a transplanting trowel or a long, flexible knife (dedicated for gardening only) between the old pot and your plant's root-ball.

    For a root-bound plant with a strong, woody stem: hold the stem firmly and lift up so the pot is off the ground. Tap down around the pot rim with a rubber hammer or piece of wood until the pot lets go.

    Another way is to turn the plant and pot upside down, holding the plant so it won't crash on the ground when it comes free of the pot. Make sure there's enough clearance to the ground, or you'll smash your plant. (One way to do this: cut a cardboard disk the size of the pot opening, cut a slit to accommodate the plant stem and slip the disk over the top of the pot before turning the pot upside down). Have your friend or family member pull upward on the pot. If you're working alone, tap the rim down on the edge of a table or bench. You may have to do this all around the rim before the roots let go of the pot. (The plant may come free from the pot all at once, so hold on!)

    Once you've freed the plant from its old pot, inspect its roots, if the roots run in a tight circle around the outside of the root ball, you got there just in time. Dig your fingers into the outside 1/2" of these circular roots, loosen the ends up and pull them gently outward. If the roots are very tight, cut two or three 1/2" incisions from top to bottom on the outside of the root-ball. (Space the cuts around the root-ball.) This process may seem cruel, but it gives the roots an opportunity to stop their circular growth habit and begin to grow outward.

    If the roots are extremely tight, slice a thin layer off the outside of the entire root-ball. Set the root-ball into its new pot, hold the foliage out of the way and add soil. Do not forcefully pack this new soil as you want the soil to be settled (with no air pockets) but loose enough to allow root penetration. One way to achieve this is to water the new soil in layers as you add it and this is also a great time to add SUPERTHRIVE.

    Do not cover the top of the root-ball with a thick layer of new soil; IMO the surface of the old root-ball should also be the surface in the new pot. Once your plant is settled into its new pot, clean the foliage as dust keeps light from reaching the leaves and makes the plant more susceptible to mites and other pests. Make sure all H.I.D lights are switched off and give your indoor plant a shower in lukewarm water or dust the leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

    Outdoor plants can be sprayed with a garden hose or spray bottle. If the potting soil you used doesn't contain fertilizer and you didn't add a root stimulator/fertilizer solution, give the plant a light feeding of diluted fertilizer. It is important that your newly re-potted plant receives the right level of light, newly re-potted plants will suffer if placed directly under your H.I.D lights or in direct sunlight. It may take a up to 2 weeks for your plant to become accustomed to its new accommodations so until you begin to see signs of new growth use reduced levels of light.
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
so mogie, do you know what size container will get me through the entire grow? they are in 3 gallon pots now.
 

Kool

Active Member
Its usually best to just start them off in a big enough pot in the first place so they dont go threw any shock
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
Its usually best to just start them off in a big enough pot in the first place so they dont go threw any shock
alright, but they are past that point, a little late.
anyway, what size do you mean by "big enough"?
 

babygro

Well-Known Member
so mogie, do you know what size container will get me through the entire grow? they are in 3 gallon pots now.
3 Gallon pots should be fine for the remaining time you're flowering them, you've only got another 4-6 weeks of flowering to go before you chop them, so it doesn't matter if they become rootbound in that time.

For future reference here's a guide for pot sizes -

0-3 weeks root cube
2-6 weeks 4 inch pot
6-8 weeks 2/3 gallon pot
2-3 months 3 gallon pot
3-8 months 5 gallon pot
6-18 months 10 gallon pot
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
Wow! This is sooo fun! I can't express the excitement I feel when I look at these plants every morning and they look different every day. I just took a bunch of new pics today and I thought they were blurry, but then I realized that the pics were fine. The fuzzy sticky dew looking stuff is just soooo fuzzy and sooooo sticky!
I am going to attempt to get the pics here.
 

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FallenHero

Guest
i see the minor nute burn on your tips, that means you nuted just barley over, so you should have a good idea how much they can take right now. looks good though warmboe :D
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
I like what you wrote earlier at another thread russ0r, about letting the leaves yellow ever so slightly, but not anything noticable from a littl distance, just like listening to her say she's hungry, or that she's had enough. when I notice any color change, I back off, and just use pure water.

p.s.(that's not what you said, it's just what I got out of it)
 
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FallenHero

Guest
thats pretty much exactly the point i was trying to get across :D
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
I have decided to repot the one that is choking on it's roots. I have been warned by many not to do this during flowering, but I have also heard that roots grow alot still in flowering, (under 12 hours of light).

Writen by Garden Knowm
What is better 18 hours or 24 hours of light..
Cuttings will root better with a 6 hours to 8 hourdark period because this is the main time when leaves and the stems transfer energy down to the root zone for storage and growth."

The chart has hours of light per day on the bottom, and length of roots in millimeters.
-@ 4hours of light the roots after ten days were only 22mm long
-@ 8 hours of light after 10 days the roots were 25 mm long
-@12 hours of light we shoot up to 40mm long
-@16 hours it peaks at 50mm
-@20 hours it drops down to 37mm
-@ 24 hours it drops down to 29mm

There is also info regarding root to yeild ratio vs veg to yield ratio, and draws the conclusion that at the end of the experiments the root to yield ratio was higher
__________________
__________________
SeeMoreBuds
HOW TO GROW MARIJUANA -
15LBS IN 80 DAYS
http://www.seemorebuds.com
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
I have to wait till I have help so that I won't hurt the plant taking it out of the pot. I already know that the roots are so wrapped tight that the whole thing just slides out when turned upside down.
 

GrapefruitGrower

Active Member
hey warmboe, hope everything works out well for you, i had a friend who had to repot while the plant was flowering and everthing worked out well. keep me posted
 

warmboe

Well-Known Member
Ok, I re-potted the one I was worried about. It's been two days in its new pot, and it's never looked happier. The little skinny pitiful trichomes are starting to juice up and stand straight up. It was the right move, I'm sure of it!

Do you see the one in the center in the clay colored pot? She's real happy and much more comfortable now.
 

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warmboe

Well-Known Member
Haven't been here in a while. Moving is such a bitch! But we are mostly moved and the second day here one of my plants gave us her buds for a house warming gift. We woke up and noticed for the first time just how dead she was; 50% red hairs, a layer all the way around of yellowed dead leaves, so I rinsed her and then decided that I didn't want the bud to start going back down in quality past peak, so I let her sit all day, then I yanked her and hung her. I then spotted the next one on the way out, and flushed her so I don't miss flushing for anymore.
camera is still at old house
pics later
 
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