First time grow - three weeks in (pics)

Hello all. I am first time grower and I am using a grow box locker which has limited space. I am three weeks in from germinating and have two different plants growing. I am on a 16/8 cfl light schedule. I have co2 booster underneath everything that provides co2 for the plants. I am Using a bubble system with leca clay as a medium. I started with a rapid rooter plug and just transferred the plug into a 4" net pot and added the clay. I am using distilled water with a 1/4 spoon of nutrients. My ph level for plant one is 5.5 and for plant two it's at 5.7. I have 3 cfls up high and two cfls a few inches from the plants. The bulbs are 6500k 13 watt Cfls and I have three PC fans blowing air inside and one sucking air out into a carbon filter. The plants are self watered by the water pump that makes bubbles from the air stones but I spray the top of the pot everyday. Avoiding to spray the leaves so the lights won't burn the leaves.


My questions are how do the plants look after 3 weeks? I added two more fans this weekend because I felt like it was to hot inside and wanted more air circulated. There is a thermometer but I think it's giving a false reading due to the cfls closeness. I will add a second digital thermometer soon and place as far from lights as possible.


Also is 16/8 a good light schedule or should I adjust? For weeks one and two I had it on 24hours because I had the timer on off on accident. Should I add more nutrients or no? Should I do something different with the lights? Move them closer or further?


Should I set the water pump on a timer with the lights? How long should I wait before switching to different lights and light schedule?


What else should I be doing to secure a healthy grow? Please any help will be great.

18-6 is the standard, some do 20-4 or 24-0 for veg, 16-8 gonna keep them shorter. the air should be on all the time pretty sure

Are you planning on making them mothers, and cutting clones from them? If so, then 16/8 is an ok light schedule for a small box. You dont want the moms to grow more than they need to. But if you're planning on flipping the lights on these (which I think you are) then I'd go at least 18/6 if not 24. The more light, the more they'll grow.

These plants are a little small for 3 weeks, my guess is that is due to not enough light and probably not enough nutes. What kind are you using? Good nutrition is important. You want lots of Nitrogen during the growth phase and early on, also Phosphorus is good to help get the roots going. but you can ease off the phosphorus once the roots are thick. You'll introduce it again later on when you start flowering.

Knowing when to switch your lights will take a few rounds. I've grown many gardens in a grow box, so you want to time it just right that they dont get too tall. But if they do... you'll just figure out ways to tie them down to make it work. My guess would be that if you wait til the height of these plants is about half way to the light, then flip it, you'll be ok. After the light goes to 12/12 its going to have a growth spurt and then will stop as the buds start to thicken up.

Then just take note as to how tall they get and if they should have vegged for longer or less time then adjust on the next grow. You'll get the hang of it. Have fun and best of luck to ya! Let us know how it progresses and any improvements you come up with!!

I agree not enough light 16/8 has stunted them, nutes though i dunno now is the time you should start adding nutes in at 1/4 strength. Those 2 lights look like cfls? Get 2 Y splitters and run 2 bulbs over them about 1-2 inches away on 18/6 or longer if not they will not develop as they should. I did 12/12 from seed on one of my plants and it was about the same size at 3 weeks.

Thanks for all the replies. I used feminized seeds and don't plan on cloning since it's my first time and have more seeds for future. So these two will be my first babies. I'm not a huge toker and only smoke like 4 times a month so I'm not looking for huge yields. I was giving "moon dust nutrients" which I did some research on and read that not many people like it or use it. I was wondering what kind should I buy for future. I only added a 1/4 teapsoon per gallon as the directions said and I only added them this weekend (start of week 3) I am using 6500k cfls. I read that they should be right over top of the plants that's why I added the two that are shown in the photos but I also have 3 more on the top of the grow box. I will buy the lightbulb splitter and double up on the bulbs to place on top of the plants. I will adjust to 20/4 light schedule to help them grow. I was just afraid of the heat and the closeness of the bulbs that may cause damage to the leaves but I will adjust and see what happens.

Since the box is only 36" tall I can only make them so tall and I read when they get half the box size then I should switch to the lower cfls and light schedule. I'm just checking on them everyday, doing my research and asking for help to keep me on the right path. Any information will be helpful. I am a newbie but I am reading different forums and ebooks, but I feel the best info is by asking fellow growers who are experienced.

i plan on changing the water in week four and then every week after that to keep the nutrients and water fresh. Is that a good idea?
I will add more lights and take a pic next week. What's the typical length for veg stage? Flower stage?