2nd Auto Run - let’s do this

[Arthur]

Lighting is a rough one, good lighting for a 4x4 isn't cheap up front, but quality will offset that cost very rapidly with energy savings, and increased yield and flower quality. If you have minor assembly skills DIY cobs is an option that will get you more for less. Otherwise you might look at single cob options, like cobshop,( @BigSm0 suggestions? ) you can get a couple, and add as you can, and not get something that I'm afraid you'll be replacing in a couple rounds.

I've got 2 systems I've built running together. 9 cobs total, 5 on one and 4 on the other. Allows me to run just a portion or all of the tent depending on needs. I built the 4- 200w unit first and ran a corner of the tent, and added the 250 when the $ became available.

 

[Rufus.Gray]

Lighting is a rough one, good lighting for a 4x4 isn't cheap up front, but quality will offset that cost very rapidly with energy savings, and increased yield and flower quality. If you have minor assembly skills DIY cobs is an option that will get you more for less. Otherwise you might look at single cob options, like cobshop,( @BigSm0 suggestions? ) you can get a couple, and add as you can, and not get something that I'm afraid you'll be replacing in a couple rounds.

I've got 2 systems I've built running together. 9 cobs total, 5 on one and 4 on the other. Allows me to run just a portion or all of the tent depending on needs. I built the 4- 200w unit first and ran a corner of the tent, and added the 250 when the $ became available.

If I add 2 cobs: https://cobshop.net/shop?olsPage=products/autocob-2-pack...what spectrum would you recommend?

Also, what would the appropriate light height be with my Amazon LED + 2 cobs?

 

[Arthur]

A good balanced spectrum is 3500k, it'll cover both veg and flower well. My 9 are all 3500 and have been pleased, am able to produce quality and quantity on par with my old hps/mh setup.
When I have the $ I'll add some far red, but have several runs under just the 3500 and it works well.
The owner of cobshop is very helpful and knowledgeable, and a member here.
Give him a shout, his recommendations would weigh heavy if it were my decision.

 

[Arthur]

Light height will vary some, some genetics will let me get within 18", while others complain it's too much at 24". Seedlings run just the epiled set and start high, maybe 36" for seedlings, you can reduce the distance as long as your not showing stress in the ladies.

 

[Rufus.Gray]

The plant ended up having a mutation that affected growth from like day 14 on, i ended up with 18 grams off a white widow.
I think the grow itself was stupid easy, but the experience was sh!tty going thru lol.
Um some quick tips, with lil to no context...

Ya probs need at least 3-4 gallons of kindsoil per pot to get thru a 70-90 day grow and even then youre probs gonna need to add in something extra like calmag and bennies.

I wholeheartedly recommend bennies, i like recharge and roots organic has one called oregonism xl thats pretty good imo.

I prefer calmag that has no additional Nitrogen in it so i like roots organic and True organics calmag.

Coco loco is luv and perfect for the seedlings.

Molasses is a nice add in and keeps to the organic theme.

Be ready for bugs, gnats and such.

Be ready for this bit, when the seedlings finally hit the kindsoil in the pot, it is real common for the plant to show signs of N toxicity. This can be compounded by the preflower stage when your plant doesnt need as much Nitrogen. It happens, dont stress it the plant should get over it fairly quick.

Lastly, and this part sorta disappointed me, a successful "water only" grow often times is nowehere near water only. To increase the chances of a good grow and harvest ya need to help the soil and the plant along. So for example, in my kindsoil, water only grow, i actually used 3 extra products.

I luv'ed the grow tho cause it was really easy all things considered. With some knowhow its pretty easy to setup an automated/semi-automated type grow using kindsoil or kis biochar or any of the other hotsoils

What was your watering schedule and how much did you use per plant? I’m using 3 gallon pots.

 

[Arthur]

3 gallon pots with soil here, I can get by with every third day. When in coco in 3 gallon once a day till flower starts, twice a day till cut.

Amount once again is strain dependent, a tiny 12 inch girl won't drink near as much as a tent monster. Currently with 6 plants, 3 flowering and 3 just hitting flower, in coco, I go thru 6 gallons of feed a day. But the first half of their life a couple gallons would easily cover 24hrs.
Soil will be much less, and further apart.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Which spectrum would you recommend? https://cobshop.net/shop?olsPage=products/autocob-2-pack

For Kind Soil, I didn’t think that I would need to add nutes, but it would like to know what would be helpful.

Thanks!

What is your advice for raising the temperature?

If you get the Autocobs 3500K they will bring the heat up a bit in the tent If that is not enough try turning the exhaust fan down a bit (less volume) and if that is still not enough you will need a space heater in the room where the tent is. I like the oil filled ones as they seem more consistent and safer.

With either mix the nutrients will only last for about the first 4 weeks. I use GreenLeaf Nutrients - MegaCrop, Cal-mag pro, Sweet Candy and Bud Explosion.

Did I ask? Do you have a good EC and PH meters if not get them. Don't go cheap because nothing is worse than loosing a 6 week old plant because of a faulty meter! I use Blue Lab instruments; I maintain and replace them on schedule.

Now lets talk about your water:

I think you could spend your life studying water - seriously. But lets just keep it simple. First we need good tools. Three things we are concerned with PH, Salinity and Chloramines? A EC meter will tell you the salts (dissolved solids). Most nutrients you can get made for cannabis can work with starting water <200 PPM, Advanced Nutrients wants <10 PPM. Some nutrient vendors make a high PPM base fertilizer up to 300PPM. Generally speaking <200 PPM and you are good for tap water. If you are over this you need to blend in RO or DI water to get it under 200 PPM. If you are less than 50 PPM you may need to add some Cal-Mag to bring it up to 50 PPM. Ok a $10 TDS meter can tell you this but It is not good for testing nutrient levels for that you need an EC meter and good ones cost more. An EC meter will also measure TDS.

Next is Chloramines. Chloramines are formed when municipal water is treated with chlorine AND ammonia to sanitize the water. Check your local water report and look for ammonia in the sanitizer portion. Chloramines do not dissipate in the air and they are not good for your grow environment. It is very easy to treat for it. Just use ascorbic acid.

Chloramines Removal

You are looking for ascorbic acid - vitamin C. The store brand is usually the cheapest without other stuff added in. 50mg per gallon will treat water with 3.8 PPM of chloramines.

Finally is PH I saved the hardest for last. I have had more problems in grows caused by PH than any other factor and it has been costly. So spend money on good tools and take care of them. In soil, coco and mixes you need to know the PH in the root zone. Run-off is too unreliable. A good probe is the Accurate 8 (the knock off works ok) or a Blue Lab Probe (they have different styles for soil, coco and rock wool). Then you need a probe designed for testing the PH of the nutrients. I don't know how to emphasize how important this part is to successful growing. Learn from my mistakes.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Would you use Royal Gold Mendo Mix as a base with Kind or just by itself?

Just the Royal Gold Mendo Mix as it is already a soil/coco mix.

 

[Rufus.Gray]

Just the Royal Gold Mendo Mix as it is already a soil/coco mix.

Shoot, I ordered the Kind Soil a few days ago and it was just delivered to my house. Would Royal Gold + Kind be too hot?

 

[Pepperjack420]

Would you use Royal Gold Mendo Mix as a base with Kind or just by itself?

Royal gold mendo is great! I’m currently using it with no issues