New Grower BIG Devil and Autosativa - First time grower

[psybudy]

So it was your thread I was reading . I want to try your method and switch to flowering nutes later..

 

[Muddy]

Along with Joe Dirt, I moderate this forum, so we'll be here to help if needed. Once they get bigger you'll start to notice the changes they go through. We'll help guide you along.

 

[psybudy]

thanks guys

 

[psybudy]

Maybe you have some advice about the 3rd main light that I should buy. Should I go with another same CFL or something else with other spectrum, like colored bulbs?? I cant find any HPS or MH bulbs here.

 

[La Buena Hierba]

T5 Grow Lights meabey?
never use it (i always use HPS) but i hear it can be good too if you use the T5

here what i can find


Medical Marijuana Growing ¨C T5 Grow Light


August 20, 2010 ¨C Some people who grow medical marijuana don¡¯t even realize that you can use fluorescent T5 grow lights during your grow to help save energy and still get great results. Fluorescent lights, as everyone knows, run on a very low amount of energy, especially compared to HID grow lights such as Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium grow light systems. These T5 fluorescent also operate much cooler than HID lights to help keep your growing climate at a favorable temperature for your flourishing medical marijuana plants.
Most medical marijuana growers that use T5 lighting systems, use them during the cloning and/or vegetative stage of growth. This is because the plant needs much less light energy during these phases of growth. A fluorescent T5 grow light system can offer the amount of light needed to these plants while using much lower energy. It is a little hard to compare a fluorescent light fixture to an HID because they are such different lighting systems, however it is easy to compare the output you get from using either one and the energy used to get there. Most 4¡ä T5 light bulbs are rated at 54 watts. The most popular T5 grow light system is the 4¡ä, 4 light ballast. So using 4 lights, you are looking at using approximately 220 watts to give light to a 2¡äx4¡ä area. If you were to use an HID light for the same area, most growers would decide to use a 400W MH light. This system would obviously use at least 400 watts, if not more and will produce much more heat. This increased energy use adds up on the energy bill!
To help you understand why the vegetative or cloning phases are the best times to use a fluorescent light I have included the maximum light requirements for medical marijuana plants in these different phases (via Jorge Cervantes):
Growth Stage Foot-Candles Lux Hrs. of Light
Clone 375 4000 16-24
Vegetative 2500 27000 18
Flowering 10000 107500 12
You can see by the illustration that flowering plants need a drastically increased amount of light to flourish. The much lower amount of light needed for the vegetative phase can most of the time be met with a T5 grow light system. Start saving energy today and switch to T5 fluorescent lighting ASAP. Source

http://hempnews.tv/2010/08/20/medical-marijuana-growing-t5-grow-lights/



i plan too buy T5 grow lights for my paludarium

(not mine but exemple!)
[video=youtube;Wh3AL6mFK8E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh3AL6mFK8E&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[psybudy]

Ok I understand. But arent CFLs and T5 almost same? I also havent seen any T5 here maybe some T3 or T4, i mean where i live.

 

[Muddy]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to replace some of those regular bulbs with more CFLs, then get a small space heater with a thermostat for heat. Even if you could get a HPS light you would probably find that it would generate too much heat for your small area. I think you would be fine with just using some more CFLs.

I also saw that you are watering every 2-3 days. That might be too much. Learn to judge the weight of your pots when they are dry and only give them water then. Too much water can suffocate the roots and stunt the plants.

 

[psybudy]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to replace some of those regular bulbs with more CFLs, then get a small space heater with a thermostat for heat. Even if you could get a HPS light you would probably find that it would generate too much heat for your small area. I think you would be fine with just using some more CFLs.

I also saw that you are watering every 2-3 days. That might be too much. Learn to judge the weight of your pots when they are dry and only give them water then. Too much water can suffocate the roots and stunt the plants.

If i could find that small space heater i would definitely go for it. When i water the plants i put around 1/2 liter, sometimes doesnt even leak from the bottom so I think my watering schedule is OK.I maybe try watering every 3-4 days. When watering should i use only the water with nutes all the time till last weeks and flush, or should i combine with plain water ???
Thanks Muddy you are good help.

 

[Muddy]

You should be able to find a small electric space heater. They are pretty common throughout the whole world. They usually aren't very expensive either. I found a 2 speed, 1,500 watt at WalMart for $18 US. I have an outdoor grow box that I built, full insulated, but I'm drawing in cold air from outdoors. It has a thermostat on it and works very well at maintaining a good temperature in my box.

Whenever you water give them enough so that some runs out the bottom of the pots. As the nutrients are broken down by the plant they produce salts as a by product. The extra water will help to wash out those salts and preventing them from building up in your soil. Too many salts can cause problems for the plants. Some people like to feed nutrients one time, then plain water the next. I prefer to use a lower dose of nutrients and feed them with every watering. What size are your pots?

Also, do you have a pH meter or some test strips? If not, I would recommend getting one. The majority of problems we see with new growers are related to the pH being incorrect. If you do run into a problem, the first we'll need to know is what your pH is.

 

[psybudy]

Hey Muddy

Sorry I didnt write for a while, my net at home is killing me..

I will try to find that heater, if I find something I will post some pics or links to see it. Maybe i try some pet shop and look for heater that is used in a terrarium
I think the pots are aprox. 4-5 gallons or less. I will use a lower dose of nutrients and feed them with every watering as you do.
I dont have Ph meter, but my friend does and occasionally brings it, i hope he will bring it this week. I will buy those strips coz i dont have money for the digital Ph meter.