My First Grow, Questions

Hey guys, this is my first DWC hydroponic grow. Im using 4 100W CFL bulbs 2700k (switched them from 6400k) and 1 150 Watt CFL grow bulb and 4 air stones in an 8 gallon reservoir with 2 plants and fox farm trio nutes. I vegged them for 6 weeks, and then entered 12/12 to force flower them. It has been 3 weeks into the 12/12 flower stage, since this is my first grow I am just using bag seed. With that being said I believe I have my first pre-flower of a female the other plant is right next to it and I kind of think it is a male due to the late ability of it to show signs and because the signs it does show are very similar to balls. Anyways I want to confirm my one female that way I dont feel as bad chopping the one suspect down.

The preflower I see is the top right node, also it hasnt done much the last 3 or so days it has stayed the same and not seeing any others. I am just a little concerned after 3 weeks of 12/12 this is all Im seeing. Thanks guys for the information, any posts or criticism is much welcomed.

Looks likeca hair coming out of there. Its a bagseed do u kno what strain it was? Looks sativa, have heard of heavy sativas taking along time to start the flowering. Got a pic of while plant?

I have no idea what strain it is, the leaves look somewhat of a indica sativa hybrid. I will definitely upload a full picture tomorrow the lights are off dont want to interrupt! And yes I have heard the same! Thanks

Hey Now said:

Im using 4 100W CFL bulbs 2700k (switched them from 6400k) and 1 150 Watt CFL grow bulb

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Are these bulbs really using that much wattage or are they "Equivalent" to that wattage? A 150 watt CFL bulb is about the size of a 2 liter coke bottle, the 100 watt CFL are about the size of 1 Liter coke bottles.

do they look like this :


or do they look like this:



Your plant is a female BTW

I have one like the two liter and four little guys like the first one! I think they are equivalent to those watts which Im a little confused about.

This is my 100% test run, eventually Id like to invest in a grow tent or set up mylar in my closet. Question though, I have some droopy leaves at the bottom of the plant its like they are receiving enough light. I will probably grab more lights this week because I think it will benefit it, however what is everyone's call on trimming the bottom so the energy is focused on the canopy Ive heard so many mixed opinions on this. Thanks guys.

With a 6 week veg you should see well-formed buds instead of your (barely) female pre-flowers at 3 weeks in. Your lighting set-up is weak but not that weak. Try jamming your plants up as close to the light you can without making them a crispy critter.

Good luck, BigSteve.

bigsteve said:

With a 6 week veg you should see well-formed buds instead of your (barely) female pre-flowers at 3 weeks in. Your lighting set-up is weak but not that weak. Try jamming your plants up as close to the light you can without making them a crispy critter.

Good luck, BigSteve.

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Personally, I use the smaller CFLs but more of them, I use 18 100wEquiv "23w" CFLs mixed between 2700k / 5500k / 6500k and drape them all around the plant, Personally I would suggest 1 of 2 things, A: Adding more lights to the other side of the plant, or B. Building a box that will reflect the light into the under belly of the plant. CFL Lumens don't penetrate the foliage as well as HPS / MH in my experiences. So that is why you have to bring the light around the plant.

Would a 36hr Reset be to far of a stretch ? I normally give them 36 hours of pure darkness before 12/12, and mine will be at this stage within 2-3 days to a week.

Hey Now said:

I have one like the two liter and four little guys like the first one! I think they are equivalent to those watts which Im a little confused about. View attachment 3311992View attachment 3311993 View attachment 3311994

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Yep, OK the wattage we go by when we say you need a minimum 100 watts per plant is the ACTUAL wattage used, not the equivalent. Those little ones are really 23 watts each, so you have maybe 250 watts total.

Just bought 4 additional bulbs 23W 2700k, I did do a 24hr pure darkness prior to 12/12. Some more preflowers are popping up everywhere actually, they like the additional light I believe that was a huge factor.

And thank you NoDrama for clearing that up.

Hey Now said:

Just bought 4 additional bulbs 23W 2700k, I did do a 24hr pure darkness prior to 12/12. Some more preflowers are popping up everywhere actually, they like the additional light I believe that was a huge factor.

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Are you just doing one plant ? Here are a few tips when using CFLs:

A. LST / Train so that buds have easier access to the light.
B. Keep your lights within 3"-4" inches of bud formations
C. If you see ANY SHADOW area, Place a light so that the shadow is gone


Then there is also this to figure out how many CFLs you will need:

1. Multiple width x length of your grow space to determine the sq feet.
   Let’s say your grow space is 2’ x 2’ = 4 sq feet
   
   
2. Multiple the sq feet of your space by 4,000 lumens to determine the total lumens needed for this space.
   So 4 sq feet x 4,000 lumens/sq feet = 16,000 total lumens for that space
   
   
3. Divide this number by the lumens produced by each bulb
   If you’re getting 42W CFLs which are rated at 2,650 lumens apiece, that would be 16,000/2,650 = ~6
   
   
4. This number is the minimum number of CFLs needed for your space
   That means in this case you’d start with 6 (or more) 42W CFLs

My space for instance:

2' x 2' = 4' Sq
So 4 x 4,000 = 16,000
But my bulbs put out 1,800 Lumens, so 16,000 / 1,800 = 8.9 Bulbs, so 9 Bulbs
Currently, I am using 18 Bulbs, Double what I need

"Personally, I use the smaller CFLs but more of them, I use 18 100wEquiv "23w" CFLs mixed between 2700k / 5500k / 6500k and drape them all around the plant, Personally I would suggest 1 of 2 things, A: Adding more lights to the other side of the plant, or B. Building a box that will reflect the light into the under belly of the plant. CFL Lumens don't penetrate the foliage as well as HPS / MH in my experiences. So that is why you have to bring the light around the plant."

Good advice from a new guy. Welcome to the forum talon!

BigSteve.

bigsteve said:

"Personally, I use the smaller CFLs but more of them, I use 18 100wEquiv "23w" CFLs mixed between 2700k / 5500k / 6500k and drape them all around the plant, Personally I would suggest 1 of 2 things, A: Adding more lights to the other side of the plant, or B. Building a box that will reflect the light into the under belly of the plant. CFL Lumens don't penetrate the foliage as well as HPS / MH in my experiences. So that is why you have to bring the light around the plant."

Good advice from a new guy. Welcome to the forum talon!

BigSteve.

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I read these forums probably front to back twice before I started, as well as alot of other resources, didn't want to jump in the water without knowing how to swim first so to speak , Really once you do enough research, its pretty self explanatory, its just choosing which method best suites your needs. I haven't used an HPS / MH before, but I have seen them used, and they do penetrate quite well, but with my CFLs positioned around the plant, I can't really tell the difference minus the multiple bulbs haha. ::: Best tip I ever read: IF you see shade, either plan on trimming it, training it, or add another light bulb

Another tip from a fellow beginner CFL user:



You can make your own light hoods from Aluminum foil, or you can get the round cheap foil cake pans, they work just as well, very cheap simple solution to adding more bulbs without losing lumens.

Another picture, this one is with one of the aluminum foil cake pans, Notice though, you see NO light above the fixtures ?