Not sure if you remember, but a while back I told you that you'd get there and that it would make things a lot easier. It's no different than being a new parent, every sound your baby makes you're ready to rush them to the ER at first, and eventually you learn to relax a bit and recognize what is genuine need and what is fussing.
New Grower Hope She's Gentle. It's My First Time! - Think Different
- Thread starter ThaGreenBandit
- Start date
Not sure if you remember, but a while back I told you that you'd get there and that it would make things a lot easier. It's no different than being a new parent, every sound your baby makes you're ready to rush them to the ER at first, and eventually you learn to relax a bit and recognize what is genuine need and what is fussing.
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
You did. You did, indeed, you old soothsayer, you! At first, I enjoyed constantly fussing over the plant, and being slightly anxious about things, because I was so into all of it. Once she started loosing leaves, and turning yellow up top, I was no longer slightly anxious, I started getting real worried about an things, and it was no longer fun, it was stressful. I would say to myself, I'm gonna be cool about this, but it was hard to relaxed when I had these worst case scenarios going through my head. I was thinking I was gonna wake up and she'd be dead! I kept hearing about how resilient these plants are, blah, blah, blah, but I guess I needed to really experience something like that to really believe it. Now that I know how tough she has is, and I know she won't die at the drop of a hat, I can truly relax now. It's back to being fun all over again!
Had a few more inches to work with, so I raised then light up a bit more, and it is now Right about 21" up. I'm still not to clear on how to determine lights height. I know you start them up kind of high, then after a while, you can lower them once the plant gets a few weeks old, and then eventually raise them off the canopy again. I was scared to make then plants get too stretched out, so I made sure to keep them close, which is why she is probably so bushy
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Yo bandit, I gotta chime in here on the Mars light. I know you're running the 400 version, so you may be able to get away with the available vertical space you currently have. As far as general light height goes, I've found that it's best to start pretty far away. My first plant came out super small because of how close I kept the light. With it being far away, the plants I have now totally opened up and grew to an ideal height (no stretch either). Your light should of came with a little card from Topled giving the optimum light distances for each model and type of plant. Personally, I'd choose to ignore something like that from any LED company because they always try to make themselves sound better than they really are (I.e. overstated coverage areas, height recommendations, etc). However, I'm getting my best results by actually following their recommendations, at least in veg. Once my plants stopped their vertical growth, I decreased my light distance by just 6 inches and they're really starting to put on some weight.
I think what makes these lights a little different from many other LED's is that they contain infrared diodes. I'm sure you've noticed by holding your hand under the light, that it does cast a detectable warmth. My cat likes to sleep in the light when my tent is open! Anyways, that's partly due to the IR diodes. The ratio of IR light to red light as received by leaves and stems has an enormous effect on the structure of your plant, whether it will stretch or not. But it also means that if the light is too close, the IR:red ratio could get messed up and you'll end up with stunted or short plants.
So in short, keep it far away in veg, and once the upward growth slows or stops, lower the light. That' just from my experience and reading.
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
LOL!! Those same overstated claims that you're referring to are the very reason I chucked the card that came with the lights! LOL! Oops, my bad! Guess I should a actually kept it! You said that once your vertical growth stopped, you dropped the light by 6 inches. How high above the canopy was it before you dropped it down those 6 inches? You suggest keeping them far away in veg, then when vertical growth stops, lower them, but then again you recommend that I raise my light up and use any vertical space i may have left. Now, I'm not doubting you, so I hope you don't think that's the case, I'm just a bit confused and trying to understand how it all works, so I appreciate your understanding and patience. When you have a minute to spare, do you mind IM'ing me TOP LED's height recommendations, since I so nonchalantly trashed mine?
Yeah it does get confusing. I'll try to give a simple recap of how I've had my light in my current grow. From the start, I had my light 45" from my soil. My plants started to slow down when they got to be ~ 14" tall. I then decreased the distance by 6". So now, the main cola on my largest plant is 24" away from the panel. I hope that helps explain it more clearly.
I'll find my Topled card and message you the details.
I'll find my Topled card and message you the details.
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
:thank:
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
Day 44
Solution pH: 6.3
Soil pH: 6.3
Runoff pH: 7.0
Solution (per liter): 1ml of both Take Root and Multi Total, 2 ml of both Bloom A & B, 3 ml total of CalMag
Wzup, guys. Getting this update in late as hell tonight. Besides the fact that I switched to bloom nutes today, there is nothing too much to tell. Since I messed up on the feed schedule during veg, which seemed to cause a shitload of problems, I will be feeding her twice weekly during flowering, with a "down day" squeezed in between, where she will receive pH'd water, CalMag, and molasses. She'll also I receive CalMag on feeding days, but it will be a bit less than before since she will now be getting it 3 times a week. If it sounds like I'm setting myself and my plant up for failure, please feel free to chime in, as I'm always open to receiving advice and listening to suggestions. As for now, I'm taking my ass to bed, so I'm out. Y'all stay cool, and be eazy. Ciao
Solution pH: 6.3
Soil pH: 6.3
Runoff pH: 7.0
Solution (per liter): 1ml of both Take Root and Multi Total, 2 ml of both Bloom A & B, 3 ml total of CalMag
Wzup, guys. Getting this update in late as hell tonight. Besides the fact that I switched to bloom nutes today, there is nothing too much to tell. Since I messed up on the feed schedule during veg, which seemed to cause a shitload of problems, I will be feeding her twice weekly during flowering, with a "down day" squeezed in between, where she will receive pH'd water, CalMag, and molasses. She'll also I receive CalMag on feeding days, but it will be a bit less than before since she will now be getting it 3 times a week. If it sounds like I'm setting myself and my plant up for failure, please feel free to chime in, as I'm always open to receiving advice and listening to suggestions. As for now, I'm taking my ass to bed, so I'm out. Y'all stay cool, and be eazy. Ciao
ThaGreenBandit
Student of Herbal Alchemy
Day 45
Temp Range: 70.3° - 88.3°
Humidity Range: 35% - 64%
pH of water: 6.3
pH of soil: 6.3
pH of runoff: 7.0
Just a quick update, folks. Nothing special. Gave her her first dose of sweetness today, at 2 ml of Blackstrap per ml of pH'd water. Seemed like it would be enough, but if it's not, feel free to holla back and let me know. Decided to try a two day wet cycle, where I water (molasses included) her the day after I feed her, then let her dry up, but not completely bone dry, before repeating. I know some of you have advised me to do otherwise, and I am not disregarding your advice, or your knowledge of growing, I just decided to try something I've been thinking about, and I hope no one who gave me advice takes this as any type of disrespect. I'm just exploring a bit, that's all. I still will continue to ask for advice and assistance, and I still appreciate the help.
I noticed my RH gets a bit high when the lights go off, and it cools down, which I find odd. For some reason, I thought the hotter it is, the higher the RH would be, but, what do I know? Anyhow, after seeing it climb into the mid 60's, I decided that this isn't the time for that, being that she's flowering and all, so I decided to make a DIY dehumidifier out of 2 medium sized take home containers from Cold Stone, a bit of screen, and some Epsom salt, which I'm thinking should serve the same purpose as rock salt. I know it's small, but so is my grow space, so we'll see how it works. Other than that, nothing to report, folks. If you see any holes in my plan, got any advice or tips, you know I wanna hear what you got to say. For now, I'm out. Y'all stay cool, and be eazy.
Update:
Well, the Epsom salt is too fine, and falls through the screen, so off to the store I go, on a late night run for some rock salt!
Temp Range: 70.3° - 88.3°
Humidity Range: 35% - 64%
pH of water: 6.3
pH of soil: 6.3
pH of runoff: 7.0
Just a quick update, folks. Nothing special. Gave her her first dose of sweetness today, at 2 ml of Blackstrap per ml of pH'd water. Seemed like it would be enough, but if it's not, feel free to holla back and let me know. Decided to try a two day wet cycle, where I water (molasses included) her the day after I feed her, then let her dry up, but not completely bone dry, before repeating. I know some of you have advised me to do otherwise, and I am not disregarding your advice, or your knowledge of growing, I just decided to try something I've been thinking about, and I hope no one who gave me advice takes this as any type of disrespect. I'm just exploring a bit, that's all. I still will continue to ask for advice and assistance, and I still appreciate the help.
I noticed my RH gets a bit high when the lights go off, and it cools down, which I find odd. For some reason, I thought the hotter it is, the higher the RH would be, but, what do I know? Anyhow, after seeing it climb into the mid 60's, I decided that this isn't the time for that, being that she's flowering and all, so I decided to make a DIY dehumidifier out of 2 medium sized take home containers from Cold Stone, a bit of screen, and some Epsom salt, which I'm thinking should serve the same purpose as rock salt. I know it's small, but so is my grow space, so we'll see how it works. Other than that, nothing to report, folks. If you see any holes in my plan, got any advice or tips, you know I wanna hear what you got to say. For now, I'm out. Y'all stay cool, and be eazy.
Update:
Well, the Epsom salt is too fine, and falls through the screen, so off to the store I go, on a late night run for some rock salt!
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RH is the measure of humidity relative to the max the air is capable of holding at a given pressure and temperature. As temperature increases the air is capable of taking on more water so the percentage humidity relative to max goes down. When you turn your lights off and it gets cooler the percent of water vapor the air is capable of holding goes up. An easier way of looking at it is if you're a big burly strong guy 50 pounds may represent 20% of the total weight you can carry(high temp) and if you're a little lady it may represent 100% of the weight you can carry(lower temp).
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