New Grower 1st Autoflower Grow - Critique

[RabbitFighter]

Hello Fellow Autoflower Growers, Peace

Very happy to have found this website the depth of knowledge displayed here is both profound and encouraging, thanks.

This is my first grow, I am an adult living in a state which is non-friendly to cannabis. The purpose of this endeavor is to both reduce my need to street purchase in a less than favorable environment, and to insure a steady available source of high grade cannabis. Hopefully your critique of my efforts to date will help me to achieve my modest goals.

Today is the end of Week 5 (35 days) from seed growing (1) LowRyder AK47, she is about 16" tall and full of buds growing in a 3-Gal bucket.

Current Equipment:
Secret Jardin DR60 2'X2'X5' Tent
DIY Light Rack consisting of (6) CFL sockets (4)-42 Watt (2) 23-Watt CFL lamps
DIY Vent consisting of (2) 4" inline duct fans ducted to attic
Soil FoxFarms - 70% Ocean Forest - 30% Light Warrior
Nutes FoxFarms Trio - Grow Big, Tiger Bloom, Big Bloom @ 1/2 suggested strength

Temperature in the tent varies between 77 - 87F
Humidity varies between 40 - 60%
PH is Just under 7

Calculated total true watts are 220 -or- 55 watts/sq-ft
Calculated lumens are 14,000 -or- 3,500 lumens/sq-ft

Questions:
How deficient is my lighting in regards to flowering?
Would like to add more lights but afraid it will raise the temperature into the 90's, could LED lighting be a better solution?
Is the venting adequate, would improved venting (greater CFM's) lower the temperature enough to add more CFL lights?

Thanks in advance - Rabbit.

 

[Trifid]

Welcome to the new grower's forum Rabbit. I like your setup :thumbs: sounds like you have some experience.. I've read your grow-room specifications and I think you'll do just fine flowering in that space.. Looking forward to seeing some photos of your project

 

[RabbitFighter]

Welcome to the new grower's forum Rabbit. I like your setup :thumbs: sounds like you have some experience.. I've read your grow-room specifications and I think you'll do just fine flowering in that space.. Looking forward to seeing some photos of your project

Thanks for the reply, no this is my 1st grow but I have been researching growing for over a year. I was worried about not having enough light to flower.



Here she is at day 35



My DYI light rig


The tent

 

[Trifid]

Your setup looks great. It's not really the quantity of light you are concerned with but rather the intensity. Is that how your lamps are normally positioned in the grow space? I would suggest lowering your system a little to bring the lamp closer to the tops. The intensity of CFL decreases exponentially with distance and most systems, if adequately ballasted, can be positioned as close as 1'' from the flowering tops.

 

[Muddy]

I think you should be good with the lights you have. You pH is a little high, between about 6.3 - 6.5 would be better. If your temps are only spiking up to 87 I wouldn't be too concerned, as long as they don't stay up there. Otherwise, it looks like you've done your homework well. It's always a pleasure to see.

Are you still feeding veg nutes or have you switched to flowering?

 

[RabbitFighter]

i would suggest lowering your system a little to bring the lamp closer to the tops.

Yes I have the lamps with 1" of the top, raised them just to take the photo. Currently on a 20/4 schedule.

Are you still feeding veg nutes or have you switched to flowering?

No, switched to flowering nutes this week... 2tsp/gal Tiger Bloom - 1tsp/gal Big Bloom @ 1/2 strength.



This is the center cola which is about 3" above the rest of the plant.

 

[Mellow Yellow]

Looking good man!

 

[RabbitFighter]

Looking good man!

Thanks for responding. Last year was kind to me, had the opportunity to smoke some Pukka (I've since renamed it Warm & Fuzzy) and this December someone shared Blue Dream. Anyway, my biggest fear is growing out this pretty plant only to find out the smoke is substandard and not knowing why.

 

[RabbitFighter]

Hello Autoflower Net,

Some advice please.



Today is day 41, one day short of completing 6 weeks, she is about 17" from base to the top of the cola. With another 4 weeks to go it appears that upward growth has stopped is this normal?

Or.. At this stage should I still be seeing some type of upward growth?

The buds to appear to have filled out a little bit but growth this week has come to a grinding halt.

Thanks - RF

 

[Noods]

Hey RabbitFighter, sounds normal. Now that she's stopped growing up, she can start concentrating on fattening up those buds. She looks great!