My babies are getting so big!!! 12 Days into flowering though, no real buds yet =[

I really am loving this hobby like no hobby I've ever had before. I have done EVERYTHING I could for these plants on my first grow, they have 2 sources of CO2, an ok amount of light and I'm throwing in an extra 150watt bulb tommorow, they get organic nutes from their soil and miracle grow twice so far. I just wish the buds would grow faster I never realized how long it takes for them to fill in, all I can see now is like 4-6 hairs on each plant.

I do have a few questions though.
1) Do those 4 clones in the dish look healthy? I cloned them about 1 week ago and I noticed on some of them the leaves have turned completely upside down. When I try to twist them back they seem to have grown completely in the other way now permanently, why are the leaves upside down and is this something to worry about?
(they were in a sun veg for a week with some shade)

2) Everything is on flowering now, and I'm keeping the 2 big females, plus 1 clone. I've been flowering for about 12 days, after a 48 day veg, am assuming I have another 8weeks + left to go. What theoretical yeild is this set up looking at? (both were topped once although the second was topped later and the clone will NOT be topped so it will be super tiny) I understand its only an estimate, but I personally have no idea as this is my first grow. You think maybe an ounce? Cause that could last me a whole year at the rate I toke, I only have 1 bowl every night. I just have no idea really.

And how long before the hairs start looking like balls/flowers? The males flowers/seeds came in SUPERFAST and got big quick before I trashed him, it seems female flowers don't like growing like that.
I haven't gave them any bloom food either is that bad? Maybe that will help the buds come in quicker?
And on the first picture I tried to get the pistils but its near impossible to see, if you look close enough though between the branches they're slightly visible, 2 white hairs coming out of every flower between the branches (it looks somewhat smeared in the center of the branch didn't come in clear). I should also say only half the CFLs are visible, you can only see 4 but I have more lighting up a few more inches (6 - 32 watt - 2700k & 2 - 32 watt 6500k).
And the tube peaks over the tops of the foilage cause I liked the idea of CO2 falling down over the leaves all day =]

question, if your in the flower stage why are there clones there? are you flowering them all? plus your going to need more light and id suggest repotting as well a good rule of thumb is one gallon of soil for every foot of growth.

mistaphuck said:

question, if your in the flower stage why are there clones there? are you flowering them all? plus your going to need more light and id suggest repotting as well a good rule of thumb is one gallon of soil for every foot of growth.

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Well I was told the clones need at least a week in vegatative growth before the roots grow and after that point you can start flowering them (but was also told to keep the lights a min of 12" away till they get a little bigger/stronger). Was that wrong? They were just moved from the sun inside there today I prob should have mentioned that. But if I should put them back in veg for another week just let me know.

As far as the pot thing I am actually well aware of that. This may seem weird but ever since they were babies I actually tip the pots over, shake the roots out, than put them back in. I do this specifically to see how the roots are growing.
They were checked last week and believe it or not the roots are still about 4 inches from the bottom, and the width of the roots looked like half the size of the pot. So I figured they'd be good for another couple weeks. The reason I'm doing it that way is because I'm actually building a pot base, thats going to stretch around the ENTIRE bottom of the grow house. I never asked if I can do it but basically the pots are gonna be only about 2 inches deeper, but they'll have a min of 3 gallons dirt per plant at that point.
I'm building pots because typical 3 gallon pots are too high for the grow house. I figured if I built them out of wood I could get them their 3 gallons by keeping it wide and shallow.

I'm not sure if its ok to disturb the roots every week but they always fall right out of the loose dirt, if you think thats stressing the plants out please let me know? But if it was I think by now they'd be showing some signs of stress.

I really wasn't thinking I needed more lights though. If I have 8 now, how many total do you think will be good for 3 plants? I only planned on throwing in 1 extra 150watt (not actual I don't know the equivalent), should I get more?

you need at least 4800 lumens per sq foot minimum for one plant, and with cfls you always want your plants to be just outside the uncomfortable temperature zone to optimize their effect

mistaphuck said:

you need at least 4800 lumens per sq foot minimum for one plant, and with cfls you always want your plants to be just outside the uncomfortable temperature zone to optimize their effect

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Ahh woow that sounds like a lot more than I probably have. I wasn't even focused on lumens I was really just trying to see what was standard with other peoples closet grows. Thats prob also why the buds are coming so slow, I know its only 12 days but I saw the pistils first come in about a week ago, and since then they seemed like they haven't changed even a tiny bit.

I was thinking it was because I never gave them bloom feed, but its prob more due to not having enough light. But I mean right now they have basically 4 lights per plants, the clones really are just soaking up the residual light from the side. I'll do the math though and see what it works out to be, if I need more lights its not a problem at all. But I do notice just with the 8 it can get around 86 degrees in there, I took the ventilation system out once I put the CO2 in and airsealed it, but I suppose I can work something out to keep it cooler with more lights. Thank you!!

You have enough light, just get it closer to the plant. You can position your cfl's as close as 2 inches away. Use unsulphured molasses in your nute solution to fatten the buds up, & switch to a feed that is higher in N & P than PK. If you want something good & cheap I've been using schultz 10-15-10, you can get it at wal mart, $4. If you prefer something organic, go to a hydro shop & ask for organic bone meal, 4-12-0.

When cloning, it helps to trim away the ends of the fan leaves to allow the plant to concentrate on rooting. Use a rooting solution as well, like superthrive ($10 wal shart).

& don't listen to the gallon of soil per foot of growth rule. It doesn't apply due to varied genetics & other factors. However, your plants will be much happier in 3 in or 5 gallon containers.

and leave your roots alone