Cold Weather Growing

Hey Yall. I started a winter project in my garage last month. RDWC with 400w HID lighting. Open Space Grow in a "insulated" garage. This is more of a test, considering the odds are stacked against me. Specs are down below. Ill post some pictures later.

One thing I'm noticing off the bat is the odd growth. No fully developed leaves, all have 3 pedals. Almost has a male appearance to it even though all preflowers: calyxes and pistils are clearly female. Pretty stretchy as well. Due to the temperature I'm able to keep the light at within 6 inches of the plant with no adverse effects, or at least on the surface. As of now, its about 20 inches tall, HST down to 12" with a 90 degree bend on main stem. Took about 2 hours to start bending back towards the light. Also cracked the main stem by accident over the weekend, splinting it now with a binder clip. First 6 hours it was in shock, but slowly started to become stout again, this morning it was looking great. Haven't inspected the crack yet though.

All in all its somehow fighting all the B.S. I'm putting her through. I most likely wont be doing this again next time unless I take some serious notes on insulation etc. Full heating my garage is out of the question, my energy bills are already through the roof. I'm very curious as to what it'll look like in Flower. I think she'll get there, I have zero expectations when it comes to yield. Secretly hoping Ive somehow unlocked some secret method in growing that produces the dankest, most colorful, potent buds. Kidding obviously, clearly I'm abusing this plant.

Strain - Automatic Banana Kush
Nutes: CNS17 Regime, including CalMag and Liquid Karma
Lights: 400w HID (MH/Veg - HPS/Flower) 18/6 Light Schedule
RDWC - DIY Built by yours truly
Average temperature of the garage is about 50 degrees, and usually around 79 degrees under the lamp. - Space heat occasionally when the outside temp is in the teens.
Average R.H. is around 30-40 - I run a humidifier every couple days or so, aimed directly at plant.
Water temperature in reservoirs is controlled/ heated at 69 degrees.

Thanks for the read, stay tuned for updates.

Heres a picture I took pre training. The early stretching was due to lighting being further away (14"). Typically optimal, under normal conditions.
View attachment Pre HST Bend.jpg

It is not the cold causing the problem.
Its probably stressed out from too much intense light. A small plant 6" away from 400 watts of HPS is far too close.
Raise your light to at least 12" away and see if that helps.
Looks like the area of light directly over the plant is about 1ft2 so that's 400 watts per sq ft it's getting! lol

Usually, id keep my light away about 14" or so. But when I was doing that I noticed a lot of stretching. So as the days passed I incrementally shifting the light closer. Ill shift the light up when I get home from work and see how she does.
Over the years I've tried a plethora of different things, but his is my first grow where almost all of the odds are stacked against me.
Considering how I'm attempting to grow this I was assuming that the issues I'm having would be bitter temps, R.H. etc related. thus most typical issues wouldn't apply 100%.
Thank you Moflow, Ill definitely be reporting back.

DirtyJerzey said:

Usually, id keep my light away about 14" or so. But when I was doing that I noticed a lot of stretching. So as the days passed I incrementally shifting the light closer. Ill shift the light up when I get home from work and see how she does.
Over the years I've tried a plethora of different things, but his is my first grow where almost all of the odds are stacked against me.
Considering how I'm attempting to grow this I was assuming that the issues I'm having would be bitter temps, R.H. etc related. thus most typical issues wouldn't apply 100%.
Thank you Moflow, Ill definitely be reporting back.

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Your temps are cool-ish.
This is cold

Lol

Moflow said:

Your temps are cool-ish.
This is cold
View attachment 5078118
Lol

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Woah, is that 7 Celsius!? Damn. 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Yours? Is that a consistent temp, or just in the off hours?

That's with the tent door opened temperature.
Ìts usually around 14°C with door closed.
Up in my attic I'd say plants are around 10°C.

And that's your typical temperatures, or seasonal?

I'm gathering your my new best friend. You however, definitely have a superior setup though. I should get a tent, but I'm stubborn, and cheap!

That's seasonal.
Obviously cannabis has an optimal growing temperature and many would baulk at the idea of growing in my conditions but I like the challenge with leds.

Moflow said:

That's seasonal.
Obviously cannabis has an optimal growing temperature and many would baulk at the idea of growing in my conditions but I like the challenge with leds.

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Haha, yea we like a challenge. Also just like seeing what happens if I do (insert something wrong).
So I'm assuming this is something you've done many times over? Just trying to manage my expectations, which have risen slightly since talking with you.

Your plants will be fine. I am admittedly new to growing, and this is my second "crop." In my tent I am growing auto duck (Dutch Passion), blue cheese auto (Barneys), and auto blue amnesia (Amsterdam Genetics). My tent stays around 60 to 63 degrees F. Outside of the tent I am growing 1 LSD photo (Barneys), 1 Icefield Kush photo, and 1 unknown photo (likely sativa, but looks like a Charlie Brown Xmas tree) that was given to me in poor condition by my GF's father. The temperature outside of my tent was mid 40s until I placed a heater in garage, and now it is hovering around mid 50s (assuming that I do not open the door frequently). All of the plants outside of the tent are doing fine, but they picked up considerably after placing the heater. I also was growing glacier cookies (a sativa) outdoors in Northern VA until around the first week in November (right before the first frost), and the plants were fine. At night the lowest temp was probably 40 degrees F, but it would warm up to the 50s or 60s during the daytime. I then moved them into my garage.

I have broken branches, mistakenly dehydrated branches (too close to heater), accidentally snipped major portions of a root ball (when transplanting), and done about everything else possible (except add too much fertilizer) and I haven't lost a plant yet. I think that the only impact will be the pace of growth.

DirtyJerzey said:

Haha, yea we like a challenge. Also just like seeing what happens if I do (insert something wrong).
So I'm assuming this is something you've done many times over? Just trying to manage my expectations, which have risen slightly since talking with you.

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Many years.

Moflow said:

That's seasonal.
Obviously cannabis has an optimal growing temperature and many would baulk at the idea of growing in my conditions but I like the challenge with leds.

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Why don't you add a few CFLs or something just to produce some extra heat with not much cost?

Heating a whole garage is pricey. Have you thought about insulation foam board to cut to needs. Normally one side has reflective material. Holes can be cut out for exhaust. The floor must be insulated. I grow in a unheated 12x16ft shed that is insulated. I made a room within the shed to grow. When the lights go out, it becomes cold. A honeywell my buddy heater (150/250w) connected to an inkbird 308 maintains heater and exhaust fan. If you are running autos, i guess you could keep light on 24/7.

If you are not into making a separate room, get a not working fridge and gut it. Most likely good for 1.5x1.5 ft.

Good luck.

Shaded420 said:

Why don't you add a few CFLs or something just to produce some extra heat with not much cost?

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Already have another amazon special 300w LED on some house plants, as well as a DIY CFL hood I made years ago, which runs about 350 watts on succulents and cacti. So already generating some heat there. Its a 1.5 car garage and for most of the year its fine and I don't have any projects going. This season I figured Id give it a go.

Nrk.cdn said:

Heating a whole garage is pricey. Have you thought about insulation foam board to cut to needs. Normally one side has reflective material. Holes can be cut out for exhaust. The floor must be insulated. I grow in a unheated 12x16ft shed that is insulated. I made a room within the shed to grow. When the lights go out, it becomes cold. A honeywell my buddy heater (150/250w) connected to an inkbird 308 maintains heater and exhaust fan. If you are running autos, i guess you could keep light on 24/7.

If you are not into making a separate room, get a not working fridge and gut it. Most likely good for 1.5x1.5 ft.

Good luck.

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Considered that as well. But I backed out on the build because I figured Id eventually buy a tent. Wanted to test the waters with this grow and the conditions I'm putting her through. The house I just sold I made a false room in the basement, and the new one I don't have that luxury. For years Ive done mainly open space and outdoor hydroponics.

A little update: She's doing pretty well.

Moved the light up, and have been weight training the branches, coercing them further away from the main. Figured Id have a little fun with her.

Also, just switched the light as well to MH and couple days ago.

View attachment 20220204_172313.jpg
View attachment 20220204_172410.jpg

Update: RIP. I always had a feeling she wouldn't make it.

However, her demise wasn't her fault, drunk me killed her. Moseyed out to the space one night, lifted the lid to check the roots. Somehow snapped her clean in half, .

First time that's ever happened, definitely could have been an underlying issue. It is what it is, only about 1.5 months of wasted time, effort, and watts.

Lesson learned....... Hopefully.