My First CFL Grow!!! Goin well so far but need some advice!!

yo whats up guys???

This is my first grow with cfl lighting.

Ive grown once before with a 400w hps but had terrible heating issues, so ive decided to go with cfl lights this time around!

The two on the left are white rhino clones and the other is just bag seed. I'm not to sure of the ages of the two rhinos im guessing around 4 weeks? the bagsed was planted on the 20th so its 26 days old.

At the moment i have 3 45w 6700k cfls and one 23w 2400k bulb (all lights are the actual wattage, not the incandescent equivalent)

For ventelation i have 1 80mm computer fan sucking air out, and a 15cm desk fan to help with circulation. temps are range from 76-80f. i plan to add another fan to suck fresh air in
.

all 3 are around 30cm, the hight of the closet im growing in is 48inchs tall (119cm). From what ive read plants can grow to double or sometimes triple there vegging stage?? so is now the right time to start flowering?

I still need to get some reflective material for the closet, i plan to get this in the next week. I havent got so far due to a lack of funds, im a student haha.

For the flowering stage i'm planning to have 6 or 7 x 45 or 55w 2400k cfl bulbs. Will these supply enough light for a decent yeild? im hoping to atleast pull a ounce of each plant.

Im thinking ill get 7 of these http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/36676/FC42-801042.html

sorry the pics aren't to good, i used a webcam. Ill try get hold of a digi and get some better pics up.




Any advice/tips would be good!

oh i've also fought off mites from one succefully and did have nats for awhile but they seemed to have gapped the scene after i added the fans.

Keep it up, 48 inches is a pretty tall box, a general note would be the longer you veg, the better yield you'll get as the plants are more established.

However it's entirely up to you when you want to flower, I did my last lot when they were only about 5 inches tall but then a previous grow I flowered after topping when they were a foot tall, it seems they grow to however high they want to be depending on how much space the roots have so if you flower short with a massive pot I found that they grow a fair bit taller than if they're flowered short with a smaller pot (maybe because the roots developed better in veg in the bigger pot) but anyway that's all beside the point.

If you flower now there are sooo many ways to control height its actually ridiculous from LST and ScrOG to Topping and Fimming (dont do the latter if they're that tall) Presonally I would suggest a bit of LST when the lights are switched, just keep tying new growth down (read up on it I'm not going to go into specifics you can even wait and then implement some of these techniques. All down to personal preference my friend.

As for the lights, whenever possible go for the higher wattage or whatever heat your cab can effectively handle (for instance 10, 55w's will more than likely make more heat than probably 15, 45w's) personally I just use 2 large 125w bulbs with some efficient reflection (white matt Paint XD)

Just keep in mind the 'sticky' thread in the CFL growing forum "proximity of CFL's to leaves" or summin like that, the closer the bulbs to the leaves the better (try not to be touching though)

anyways other than that, they're looking alright as far as I can see.

And tidy up that wiring on the fan with some insulation tape lol I can imagine misting the leaves and you've fucked your fan XD


Stay Frosty!

Matchbox said:

Keep it up, 48 inches is a pretty tall box, a general note would be the longer you veg, the better yield you'll get as the plants are more established.

However it's entirely up to you when you want to flower, I did my last lot when they were only about 5 inches tall but then a previous grow I flowered after topping when they were a foot tall, it seems they grow to however high they want to be depending on how much space the roots have so if you flower short with a massive pot I found that they grow a fair bit taller than if they're flowered short with a smaller pot (maybe because the roots developed better in veg in the bigger pot) but anyway that's all beside the point.

If you flower now there are sooo many ways to control height its actually ridiculous from LST and ScrOG to Topping and Fimming (dont do the latter if they're that tall) Presonally I would suggest a bit of LST when the lights are switched, just keep tying new growth down (read up on it I'm not going to go into specifics you can even wait and then implement some of these techniques. All down to personal preference my friend.

As for the lights, whenever possible go for the higher wattage or whatever heat your cab can effectively handle (for instance 10, 55w's will more than likely make more heat than probably 15, 45w's) personally I just use 2 large 125w bulbs with some efficient reflection (white matt Paint XD)

Just keep in mind the 'sticky' thread in the CFL growing forum "proximity of CFL's to leaves" or summin like that, the closer the bulbs to the leaves the better (try not to be touching though)

anyways other than that, they're looking alright as far as I can see.

And tidy up that wiring on the fan with some insulation tape lol I can imagine misting the leaves and you've fucked your fan XD


Stay Frosty!

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yea need to most definitley i only just set it up moments b4 the photos. thanks for the advice! ill keep updating as they progress

at the moment im using lamps to hold the bulbs, i was wondering whether to attempt to buy some light fittings and y splitters and hook it all up to a plug for the mains i was thinking 3 fittings with y splitters so i will have 6 lights all together.

does anyone know where to find a good toutorial? or can just tell me? any advice would be appreciated

to save on costs i was thinking of doing a mixed spectrum grow??? is this fine? planning to have 4 42w 2700k bulbs and 3 6200k bulbs.

p.s gonna repot in the next few days will take more pics and upload

yo watsup

While i wait for my 5 42w bulbs to come iv decided to put them into flower.. there getting to big, all 3 are around 45cm now. I'v got 1 45w 6500k, 2 23w 2700k and 2 23w 4100k bulbs. Its quite a mixed spectrum but it will have to do for now!

There lighting schedule for veggin was 24/0 so im gonna give them 20/4 and then straight to 12/12 starting tonight.

I also repotted all 3 into there last pots and there looking good.

ill upload pics later tonight, goin out for a blazeee with the boys!

laterzz

Much Respect

.asasdassaas

Cheap Grow light How to There are a ton of these on youtube.

As for the 4 2700k's and the 3 6500k would work great. 6500k promotes stem growth and the 2700k's promote flower growth. Its Good to keep a mixed spectrum.

Plants are looking nice. keep updating

i like mixed spectrum with cfl others might tell u is a waste .......but..........have u seen the how to with the piece of heater pipe stuff? ????

HighLife4Me said:

Cheap Grow light How to There are a ton of these on youtube.

As for the 4 2700k's and the 3 6500k would work great. 6500k promotes stem growth and the 2700k's promote flower growth. Its Good to keep a mixed spectrum.

Plants are looking nice. keep updating

Click to expand...

Those bulbs are only temporary for the moment, i plan to have 5 42w 2700ks, with 3 45 6100k bulbs and possibly 2 or 3 23w 2700ks round the base. Thanks for your advice

Ill try get some pics up tommorrow, i repotted today and there looking healthy, loving there new homes haha.

Much Respect

wayno30 said:

i like mixed spectrum with cfl others might tell u is a waste .......but..........have u seen the how to with the piece of heater pipe stuff? ????

Click to expand...

Nah i haven't could you elaborate a bit more sounds interesting

Much Respect

For my light bar I purchased a used 4 socket film rig for a film camera set-up. Got this at Value Village for $5.00. I used 4 5000K CFL's for 2 months of veg, then switched over two weeks ago to 4 2700K's (those big ass mother spirals) for flowering. During this stage my 4 plants were at 22" in height, now after those two weeks of 12/12 they are up to 30" in height. Quite a significant change. Good thing my retro-fitted armoire has a shelf I can adjust. Flowering began after 4 days. Lots of nice hairs too. Since had to discard one male plant. But I expect a nice little harvest in about 6 weeks time.

This is my third grow, first time using CFL's, and they work great. My electric bill hasn't changed and the temps inside the grow chamber, although fluctuate due to time of day, remains a constant 85*.

If you're on a budget for reflective material, Home Depot or Lowe's sells reflective duct tape for $6.00 a roll. Easy to apply.

Farfenugen said:

For my light bar I purchased a used 4 socket film rig for a film camera set-up. Got this at Value Village for $5.00. I used 4 5000K CFL's for 2 months of veg, then switched over two weeks ago to 4 2700K's (those big ass mother spirals) for flowering. During this stage my 4 plants were at 22" in height, now after those two weeks of 12/12 they are up to 30" in height. Quite a significant change. Good thing my retro-fitted armoire has a shelf I can adjust. Flowering began after 4 days. Lots of nice hairs too. Since had to discard one male plant. But I expect a nice little harvest in about 6 weeks time.

This is my third grow, first time using CFL's, and they work great. My electric bill hasn't changed and the temps inside the grow chamber, although fluctuate due to time of day, remains a constant 85*.

If you're on a budget for reflective material, Home Depot or Lowe's sells reflective duct tape for $6.00 a roll. Easy to apply.

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would you be able to link me 4 socket film rig for a film camera set-up. Got this at Value Village for $5.00? have yougot any pics of your setup?

Much Respect

Whats up lads and ladets,

heres some pics of the current lighting setup and the successful repot!



I have a few light leaks and am wondering whats the easiest way to stop them? does anyone have any quick and simple fixes?

Much Respect

do you mean your grow box is leaking light? if so try filling the gaps up with white silicone.

hope this helps.

pots are to small for a final home !!!I think

zoffee said:

do you mean your grow box is leaking light? if so try filling the gaps up with white silicone.

hope this helps.

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ya at night when iv got the light on you see it peeking through the gaps, so i assume during the day light will be getting in, this quite bad for flowering plants ive herd.

I cant use silicone as the light leakage is in the areas where the cupboard doors open and close. i was thinking some sort of soft foam?

Much Respect

wildcajun said:

pots are to small for a final home !!!I think

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ahh true hmm will this effect the grow much? as i am limited by height (119cm) and depth (47cm) so the plants can't get to large. Im not to sure how big the pots are, but they are fairly big. The photos dont seem to quite do them justice. Ill try get some better pics with a reference to how big they are, my hand perhaps.

Much Respect

What I'd give for over a metre of height lol

Lookin good though, comparing with the size of the lights the pots look ok, I've grown in smallerand if your that worried about height they should be fine. As for the light leaks check out "grow #2" in my sig, you'll see in the first set if pics how I used duct tape (I think anyway) light still comes out of the edges a bit but light doesn't get in, to the extent it can cause any problems.

Stay frosty man!

Matchbox said:

What I'd give for over a metre of height lol

Lookin good though, comparing with the size of the lights the pots look ok, I've grown in smallerand if your that worried about height they should be fine. As for the light leaks check out "grow #2" in my sig, you'll see in the first set if pics how I used duct tape (I think anyway) light still comes out of the edges a bit but light doesn't get in, to the extent it can cause any problems.

Stay frosty man!

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Oh ya sweet, ill give it a go. I cee in your grow you got some seeds online, what site did you get them from? i bought some off everyonedoesit.com but they never arrived. Can you legit grow in your country?

Much Respect

I ALWAYS! Use attitude seeds, they're based in my country lol UK and no we can't grow legit, if only. But the amount of shit and sometimes dangerous weed you get here and the shit ur funding by picking up off dealers, makes it kind of nescasary to grow your own.

Edit: And Attitude deliver pretty much anywhere in the world, definitely worth giving them a try.