Northern Light Auto T5HO/600W HPS Closet Grow - Advice/Criticism Welcomed!

Hi!

It took me a while to gain the confidence to start a grow log but here I am! I'm growing 2 Northern Light Autoflowers from Nirvana. So far the great people of this site have been of immense help to me and I look forward to further learning.

My current setup is a 2' 4 Blue Spectrum Bulb GrowBright T5 High Output fixture that I'm using for veg under a 20/4 light schedule. Big shoutouts to HTGSupply for the great service. I actually ordered one of their cheaper fixtures but they were out of stock so they upgraded me ($50+ value) to this one free of charge.

Very soon I will be upgrading to a 600W Quantum Ballast + Digilux Bulb + 6' EasyCool Reflector and adding proper exhaust/intake fans in my closet.

I'm using Fox Farm Ocean Forest by itself in 2 gallon nursery pots. Will most likely be transplanting to 3.5 gallon smart pots when the time arises.

My nutrient lineup is pictured below; Fox Farm Big Bloom, Botanicare Pureblend Pro Bloom, and Botanicare Cal-Mag+

I'm currently on Day 31 of veg and they are looking mostly healthy. One of them is bending over a bit though it seems to be reasonably stable.

I'm always open to suggestions and criticism. If you have anything you'd like to share it would be greatly appreciated.

Also sorry for the abundance of pictures. I got really caught up into it and had trouble picking favorites.

lookin good man! i just started growing these as well, mine are only a few weeks old though. Can't wait to watch your's bud
Good luck sir

HankDank said:

lookin good man! i just started growing these as well, mine are only a few weeks old though. Can't wait to watch your's bud
Good luck sir

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Thanks man! If you start your own log I'll be sure to follow it to see how it compares to mine.

Looks good, some seem to be drooping a bit. Are you waiting for them to be dry before watering? I got over anxious on my first grow(I'm on my 1st grow in a long time) and over watered at first and it stunts the root growth. Yours seem to be better looking than mine were but just want to pass on some knowledge.

Jonnychron said:

Looks good, some seem to be drooping a bit. Are you waiting for them to be dry before watering? I got over anxious on my first grow(I'm on my 1st grow in a long time) and over watered at first and it stunts the root growth. Yours seem to be better looking than mine were but just want to pass on some knowledge.

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Thanks for the tip. My watering schedule is currently every 3-4 days depending on how light the pot feels. During my last watering I may have flooded the left one a bit too much since 30% of the water leaked from the bottom.

Update.

They've made some substantial growth dispite being mistreated a bit. I decided to bump up to 1/3rd of recommended dosage of Big Bloom and the one on the right got some NASTY nuteburn. One on the left doesn't show much nuteburn but I'm just going to wait another watering and then put them back on Cal-Mag only for a while to be safe.

I also saw 3 small flies around my closet and proceeded to kill them all immediately and then inspected the room for more but didn't find any. Hopefully I don't get more.

if you do get flies go get some gardening sand and put it as a top layer on your soil it'll keep anymore from coming up.

So your on day 38 of veg...im starting to think your NL isnt an auto..they usually show sex and start flowering around the 20 day mark give or take a few days. 38 is stretching it for an auto...Im wondering if mine will do the same thing..who did you order yours from? Nirvana site or Attitude?

HankDank said:

if you do get flies go get some gardening sand and put it as a top layer on your soil it'll keep anymore from coming up.

So your on day 38 of veg...im starting to think your NL isnt an auto..they usually show sex and start flowering around the 20 day mark give or take a few days. 38 is stretching it for an auto...Im wondering if mine will do the same thing..who did you order yours from? Nirvana site or Attitude?

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Will do. I've checked my grow room regularly today and have seen no signs of any flies or larva, but who knows. Worst case scenario they could even be in the soil mix.

I've seen quite a number claims of Nirvana's Autos for various strains not being true Auto's, Northern Lights being one of them. However, they were taken off the market for a long period so maybe they've fixed the problem. Only time will tell. If mine turns out to not be a true auto I probably won't be too disappointed.

I ordered from The Attitude. I tried contacting Nirvana about some previous seeds failing to germinate but they wouldn't give me any help since I ordered from The Attitude instead of straight from Nirvana so I doubt they would help me with the Autos either.

Yeah i ordered mine from nirvana, i going to bet since you ordered them from The Attitude, they are probably still seeds left over from that bad batch they had. But like you said i would'nt be too disappointed..grow yourself a big bush and get some weight out of her

HankDank said:

Yeah i ordered mine from nirvana, i going to bet since you ordered them from The Attitude, they are probably still seeds left over from that bad batch they had. But like you said i would'nt be too disappointed..grow yourself a big bush and get some weight out of her

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You may be able to get some free seeds or at least a nice discount on future orders if yours don't turn out to be real Autos either. I've heard good stories about Nirvana doing good to those who order directly from their site. Worth a try if the situation arises.

I may take you up on your suggestion and veg them an extra few weeks. I'm in no rush so I'll take it nice and slow and see how it goes.

yeah if your in no real hurry id veg that baby on out a while so you get a really good harvest for your efforts

HankDank said:

yeah if your in no real hurry id veg that baby on out a while so you get a really good harvest for your efforts

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Well it looks like I may not be able to do that after all. Little white pistils popping up everywhere on #2. She's significantly outgrown #1 despite starting out much smaller and being nuteburned badly.

I've also started 2 fresh seeds for a friends outdoor grow. 1 Northern Lights Auto and 1 New York 47 (New York Diesel x Ak47 Cross). I won't be able to follow his grow all the way through but I'll be sure to get some nice pictures of them during the end of flowering and harvest.

Everything is coming along nicely, white hairs on nearly every node now. One of my seeds has sprouted tremendously and the other just poked the surface so good sign. As for bad news I found this little bastard in my grow room. Any idea what it is?

i dunno but squish that fucker!!

Plants are looking good man, just rockin along arn't they...keep up the good work sir

HankDank said:

i dunno but squish that fucker!!

Plants are looking good man, just rockin along arn't they...keep up the good work sir

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Thanks man. Can't wait until my 600W HPS gets here, then we'll really see some growth.

looks like a carpet beetle...? i doubt it'll damage your plants but yeah. flamethrower.

looking good so far!

mellokitty said:

looks like a carpet beetle...? i doubt it'll damage your plants but yeah. flamethrower.

looking good so far!

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Appreciate the info. It was the only one I saw at the time in the closet so hopefully more don't come.

I'm subb'd up aswell, leaves are lookin nice and green and fat!

I'm growing a regular northern lights plant its a pretty good yielder.
i'm jealous of your NYCSD and 47 mix ! sour anything is my weakness.

steeZz said:

I'm subb'd up aswell, leaves are lookin nice and green and fat!

I'm growing a regular northern lights plant its a pretty good yielder.
i'm jealous of your NYCSD and 47 mix ! sour anything is my weakness.

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Hey thanks man, I'm going to be following yours as well. It's really inspiring seeing results as good as yours under only a 400w.

As for the NYC Diesel x Ak 47 cross that I'm starting off for my buddy, I made a friendly deal that if I helped him out he would swap half an oz of his crop for half an oz of my crop when the time comes. Variety is nice.

Update

I'm really satisfied with the recent growth of #1, she has caught up to #2 in height and getting her own little budsites. PH/nuteburn problems seem to be fading for the most part. They look happy