First Time Indoor CFL Grow

Let's start with some facts: there are many talented, knowledgable growers here who know what they are doing. There are right and wrong ways to grow but the most important part is finding what works for you, the individual grower. CFLs are an option if you are interested in the bigger, more expensive, energy draining grow lights you see in most grow stores....and finally, we are all here for one reason and one reason only: we all love this flower.


This is my first time growing indoors. I germinated 12 "regular" flower seeds in some room temp water (said water had sat out in the open for 24 hours). Out of the 12, I was lucky enough to get some really solid sprouts (about 5 healthy sprouts). These sprouts were kept in rock wool that had soaked for 24 hours in a simple nutrient solution with a pH of 6.2. Not too long after the sprouts showed up (maybe 3-4 days), I threw everything in some Sunshine Advanced Mix #4. The soil got a quick watering before the sprouts went in, that watering contained no nutrients at all. After the sprouts went in, I watered again with a very low nutrient solution.

Nutrients & Additives I'm using: Dyna-Gro's Grow, Bloom, Pro-Tekt, and KLN (which I will use for clones later). I also got a sample of "White Widow" by Humboldt Nutrients. The "White Widow" was used when sprouts were put into rock wool (I sprayed the rock wool cubes with a solution that contained the "White Widow" and some room temp water that had evaporated for 24 hours.) I also have General Hydro's Ca mg+.

Lights: This is where the shit gets sad...for now. 2 26w and 2 13w cfl bulbs. Before you start with the nasty or holier-than-thou comments, I just started and the only real way to help someone like me is make suggestions. If you don't, I have a silver tongue and I'm not afraid to use it.

I have taken pictures and notes to show my work. I plan on sharing some of this stuff after my first month of the grow. Oh yeah, I'm on Day 14.
 
For reasons that they are, I had to start with what I found. In a way, I guess it just shows you can in fact start plants with random items found in any home. Buying a couple of 300w cfl bulbs soon.

I forgot to mention that I have a speaker pointed in the closet and I have been playing some Bob Marley to my seedlings (they love music - not the first time I've played music for plants I've grown). I have two box fans (one blowing in and one blowing out of my room). I also had 3 homemade co2 dispensers in the closet with the plants. They help but then again I could have made them a bit better. It's worth a shot, if you're looking for an cheap boost to your lo-fi grow operation.
 

Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
For reasons that they are, I had to start with what I found. In a way, I guess it just shows you can in fact start plants with random items found in any home. Buying a couple of 300w cfl bulbs soon.

I forgot to mention that I have a speaker pointed in the closet and I have been playing some Bob Marley to my seedlings (they love music - not the first time I've played music for plants I've grown). I have two box fans (one blowing in and one blowing out of my room). I also had 3 homemade co2 dispensers in the closet with the plants. They help but then again I could have made them a bit better. It's worth a shot, if you're looking for an cheap boost to your lo-fi grow operation.

Interesting....music makes plants grow. Do you think mine will show favorable results, if I play Dr. Dre's The Chronic for them? :-)
 

imchucky666

Well-Known Member
Interesting....music makes plants grow. Do you think mine will show favorable results, if I play Dr. Dre's The Chronic for them? :-)
LOL
I used to tell the new guys to make sure and play classic rock, then one day another guy and I had a laughing conversation over which was better, classical, rock, or Reggae.
 

tnelz

Member
I think u are on your way. wish u the best. However u need more light. My first light was a bathroom fixture with 4 bulb outlets. I bought 4 y splitters so that turned it into 8. All were 6500k 23 watt 1500 lumens. All together it cost about 25 bucks and I had an awesome veg. By the time I was ready to flower I stepped my lights up but I would have been ok either way. I would certianly suggest hid lighting however if yeild isnt your primary concern you can do fine with the cfl's. If u are going to forgo the hid invest in a sunleaves comet. Awesome for veg and if u buy the 2700k bulb u can get a decent yeild as well. 5 plants is way to much for that light though. In any case u are on your way. Dont over water or nute and u can end up with some pretty awesome bud. Good luck and I would be more than happy to correspond and help u as much as possible!
 
I was in your exact position when I started almost. As time went on I added some more 26 & 42 watters. Days 14-20 (on day 20 now) they growth has been huge. When you get the lights you'll realize why everyone's response is MORE LIGHT! Haha. I plan on begging for 1 more week and then buying more lights for flower. I'll be running around 4 42watt & 4-6 26watt for 2 girls. Post those pics. You can't get much help if we can't see your work! You can see 1 of my girls on my avatar picture
 
Thank you for the suggestions and, as I figured, my only issue now is LIGHTS.

May not be that serious but can I use different nutes made by different companies, such as I have with GenHydro and Dyna-Gro? The store I went to didn't have the Dyna-Gro Camg+ and I just wanted to buy everything in one shot.


I've played Django Reinhardt earlier and now I'm playing Aphex Twin's 'Selected Ambient Works (discs 1 & 2). Music gives a lot of living things a reason to live; a reason to thrive. Thanks again! Pics in a little bit.
 
Yeah I'm excited to see day 14. These were the days mine really took off. I had mine in plain ground soil from my backyard for 13 days and they actually were doing quite well just a lil saggy. Transplanted to new potting soil mixed with bonemeal (very little to just see how my girls responded) and ey really took off. Going to add some more when I water tonight and see how that goes. I'll link my thread below. People are helping me as well so maybe you can pick some stuff up.

https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/593115-first-grow-comments-appreciated.html
 

drizzlej

Active Member
Wow looks great man, i'm a little behind than you on day 8 of my first grow and pretty excited about it. Have 3 going so far 1 has taken off since each has a different grow medium and trying to see what works (after multiple tries of failing for different reasons). Good luck man!

Also was wondering if your giving it nutes yet? Heard most give it around 2-3weeks in 1/4th strength quantities i'm hoping a couple more days i can but i don't want to risk it.
 
I've read that a lot too. Frankly, I got excited and I give me flowers a little bit of Dyna-Gro's Pro Tekt to help prevent shock on any struggling they might have to do because I lack enough lights at the moment, some Grow by Dyna-Gro, and a few drops of Calmg+ (GenHydro) every third watering and so far I have seen anything bad. It's weird that you said this cause I was just thinking for the next 2 weeks, I was gonna feed it water and a bit of guano and that's it.

If you have a dropper of sorts, I'd say get your water together and maybe add a couple of drops of whatever you are using wouldn't hurt. Anyone wanna weigh in on this?
 
I should also mention that my last crop...I was giving my girls some regular plant food all through the grow cycle and the end result was pretty cool.
 

tnelz

Member
you can use whatever u want. However do not mix synthetics with organic. u have to pick one for your base and stick with it. You can use a certian set of nutes and a different kind of cal mag supplement. my partner and I are using flora duo in our 1 dwc white widow and using general organics cal mag and everything is awesome. Just remember go easy with ur nutes. ease the plants into them like u were getting into a steaming hot bathtub a little at a time! lol! Here are some pics of my current crop. 1 big bomb and 1 big bang 2.095.jpg091.jpg094.jpg022.jpgthe 4th pic is of my very first grow with cfls only. not the best pic but u can see the plants are pretty big and totally healthy. Yeiled about 1.75 oz per plant. so with the righ amount of cfls you can do just fine. dont let anyone hate or pursuade u otherwise. as u go u will upgrade not due to neccesity but because u will want to!
 

imchucky666

Well-Known Member
Wow looks great man, i'm a little behind than you on day 8 of my first grow and pretty excited about it. Have 3 going so far 1 has taken off since each has a different grow medium and trying to see what works (after multiple tries of failing for different reasons). Good luck man!

Also was wondering if your giving it nutes yet? Heard most give it around 2-3weeks in 1/4th strength quantities i'm hoping a couple more days i can but i don't want to risk it.
Don't be skeered man.
It's only a plant, not a child.
I started feeding mine at 18 days.Pic4nov26_zpsba4db43f.jpgroots21daysold_zps6f50d9a3.jpg
First pic was 17 days from sprout, and pic of roots was at 21 days.14dec10_zpsa2f99863.jpg
Last pic is from this morning, 31 days old.
 
Just wanted to let everyone know I went out and got a light bulb (2700k) and 2 two-way splitters for my sockets. Stronger bulbs on Sunday. New pictures in a week.
 
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