New Grower 2 failed grow attempts & what I learned.

[Northern Grower]

The one I got is 2'x4'x60"... It's a little too high. I should be able to adjust the 60" down to a shorter distancs.

The tent i have uses metal poles. If your's does too, you could probably hacksaw the height down. Damn near make a custom tent size if you needed.

Ok. Also I got my carbon filter and fan out today! Damn the thing is huge... I am gonna have to figure out how to mount it on the outside of my growbox. If I put it inside, I won't have room for my LED & oscallating fan & heater!

Will this be ok? I will have a vent for fresh air intake, but I'll have to use the carbon filter for the exhaust!

I am pretty sure the filter will work if you blow your air through it.

And I should go with 24/7 for the first couple of weeks and then 18/6?

That light schedule will work for them. I like to drop the hours of light near the end of the grow. They seem to ripen up faster.

 

[AndyBotwin]

I have my carbon filter outside by box and it works fine that way. From what I understand, pushing air through instead of pulling it is a bit more inefficient, so you may get around 10% less airflow doing it that way. I already had plenty of CFM for my grow space, so that wasn't an issue for me.

If you cut down your poles to shorten your tent, I'd try to pull the excess material to the top so that the mylar is flat in the lower area where the plants are. It won't really matter if it's wrinkled at the top above where the lights are mounted.

Regarding light height, seymour-buds (who has some awesome LED grows) posted a schedule in this thread: http://www.autoflower.org/f43/leds-nutrients-2679.html. You'll have to fine tune for your light, but it gives you an idea of the progression:

seedling/veg - light distance 32"

fast veg - light distance 20"-22"

early flower - light distance 17"-20"

full flower light distance 16"

 

[cannabusiness]

I am with the Guy Above's comment on "Don't ask, Don't tell" Policy. Stick to fewer plants and grow indoors. My Wife is not MJ Friendly at all but she sees the budget has lightened up with my medicals spending habits.

I actually had to just start doing it and she had no choice. I started one plant indoors and went to 4 now a year later.. She just acts like its not there. She just does not want a collage of plants in my man cave. Keep the Quantity Lower with more success indoors.

---------- Post added 08-22-2011 at 01:10 PM ----------

I am with the Guy Above's comment on "Don't ask, Don't tell" Policy. Stick to fewer plants and grow indoors. My Wife is not MJ Friendly at all but she sees the budget has lightened up with my medicals spending habits.

I actually had to just start doing it and she had no choice. I started one plant indoors and went to 4 now a year later.. She just acts like its not there. She just does not want a collage of plants in my man cave. Keep the Quantity Lower with more success indoors.

SHE WILL GIVE IN

 

[Mellow Yellow]

Thanks to all for your advice. I can't wait to get started!

 

[Muddy]

This is something I just recently started. 1/4 teaspoon was my starting point and so far, so good. I may up it a little, depending on what happens with my current batch of seedlings. Last batch I started feeding 1/4 strength veg nutes at week 2 and that helped also.

I've only heard one other person say this (adds nutes to seedling mix)... and, like Muddy, that person is an accomplished grower. I have recently come to the same conclusion, but I wasn't sure how much N to add, so the 1/4 tsp measurement of blood meal helps.

Right now, I have seedlings started in at least a half dozen mix combinations. The ones with absolutely no nutes have performed very poorly for me. I have been reluctant to say anything because the conventional wisdom seems to be "no nutes for at least two weeks".

Thanks, Muddy.



My vote: Muddy's Pro-mix recipe for seedlings. Since you're brand new, OF after sex. JMO.

 

[Muddy]

Like many others, I had my light too low the first grow and my node spacing was much too tight. The manufacturer of my light recommends 18 - 24" during veg and 12 - 16" during flower. I've been running right around 18" in veg and am getting node spacing of 1 to 1 1/4".

Like Andy said, try and keep the mylar stretched flat below the light. That will help to reflect the light more evenly back at the plants.

 

[fraggle]

Hi there M.Y., I'm a grower from the uk, so outdoors is a big no no for me. I live in a one bedroom flat, in an area of the country where thermal imaging is used by the police, and I've still managed to have a successful grow for three years now. I've found the key to be to use air cooled lights with carbon filters used in line with the light fitting. This will deal with both tue smell, and the excess heat given off by your lights. Judging by your posts you've got a fair sized space to use, so you should.be able to do great things. Happy growing.

 

[Mellow Yellow]

Guys,

I put my MYLAR tent up and the damn thing is just too big for my crawl space. I don't wanna cut the poles down any smaller.

I went back to plan #1. I built a grow box that is 33" High and 24" wide. I have lined it with the styro foam insulation with the silver backing.

I will cut my air intake and exhaust holes and I'll run some dryer vent pipe for the air intake and I will have to put my exhaust fan and carbon filter on the outside.

I am going to try and find a small fan to get air flow inside the box and I'll attach my little portable heater in there somehow so my "girls" don't get chilly.

I am planning to put my air intake on the bottom of my box and my exhaust on the upper side or top of the box. It'll be easier to run my air intake on the bottom so the joists hide the dryer vent pipe. That'll help with the stealth part.

Now my grow space is pretty small, but I did get some 3 gallon smart pots. From what I've read I need to keep the bottom of these up off the floor to assist with air flow and root growth.

If I can get one, two or even three females going I'll be happy.

What do you guys think? I wanna get my seeds under light and germinating within the next couple of days.

Like I said before, I have 2 RRF, 5 Mi5's & 5 Snow Ryders, all regular seeds.

I figured I try and germinate 2 or 3 of each. That will hopefully get me atleast 1 or 2 females. I hope!

You know also, It would be very helpful if you guys posted some info on how to grow plants that are gently bent so the height doesn't get to high. Is it called LST?

I've heard about this, but have no idea how to do it.

Ok, let me know what you all think so far of my setup.
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