Hello all. I've been lurking here for a bit taking in info and planning my first grow. Well actually I started my first grow exactly 6 weeks ago and have already learned a lot of what-not-to-do, and some what-to-do.
First off I started with the what not to dos I started with too many plants in too big of pots for my tent size. I have a 32" x 32" x 72" tent and I have 4 plants in 5 gallon deep pots. It's a bit much and my tent is filling fast. I actually started with 6 pots but very quickly learned that it wasn't going to work so gave 2 plants to my business partner to grow. I don't think the 2 Mars Hydros cover the area for 4 plants during flower. In my newbie experience it seems 2 of the Mars Hydro 300s would be good for 2 plants and that's it. I supplemented the lighting by adding 4 60W 2700 CFLs.
I've heard mixed reviews of the Mars Hydro 300s but if you have only 2 plants in 5 gal, or maybe 4 in 2 gal I think they're good. My plants stayed very short with close nodes until week 4. There was absolutely no stretch and they were happy and healthy. I was actually worried they were too short and the nodes were too close until I read it was a good thing.
I think that originally I thought the autos were going to be small Christmas trees 14" high. Haha... nope. Not once I started to LST them. After browsing AFN I saw some serious plants and found you can get good yield from autos.
Once my plants were about 3 weeks old I started LST'ing them and I'm glad I started when I did. Right now there are numerous bud sites and I'll have numerous colas... I'm hoping. The canopy is pretty flat and have bud sites everywhere. This shit is addicting.
My grow setup.
Next grow will just be 2 plants in the tent so it's not so crowed, room to work and as a new grower it will make it easier to stay on top of their individual needs. 4 different plants is cool for variety but I'm finding that they each have their own little needs. The Bubblegum gulps down the water where the cheeseberry doesn't need that much yet. I have to totally rely on picking up the pot to see how heavy it is to know when to water and that took a few weeks to figure out.
My tent setup
My 4 plants with a pretty flat canopy. I was amazed how well they trained with LST.
Lots of buds starting
I just dig this pic I took last week
Thank you all for your great info to help me start my grow!!!
I'll upload updates in a few days when there's some change.
Peace all!
First off I started with the what not to dos I started with too many plants in too big of pots for my tent size. I have a 32" x 32" x 72" tent and I have 4 plants in 5 gallon deep pots. It's a bit much and my tent is filling fast. I actually started with 6 pots but very quickly learned that it wasn't going to work so gave 2 plants to my business partner to grow. I don't think the 2 Mars Hydros cover the area for 4 plants during flower. In my newbie experience it seems 2 of the Mars Hydro 300s would be good for 2 plants and that's it. I supplemented the lighting by adding 4 60W 2700 CFLs.
I've heard mixed reviews of the Mars Hydro 300s but if you have only 2 plants in 5 gal, or maybe 4 in 2 gal I think they're good. My plants stayed very short with close nodes until week 4. There was absolutely no stretch and they were happy and healthy. I was actually worried they were too short and the nodes were too close until I read it was a good thing.
I think that originally I thought the autos were going to be small Christmas trees 14" high. Haha... nope. Not once I started to LST them. After browsing AFN I saw some serious plants and found you can get good yield from autos.
Once my plants were about 3 weeks old I started LST'ing them and I'm glad I started when I did. Right now there are numerous bud sites and I'll have numerous colas... I'm hoping. The canopy is pretty flat and have bud sites everywhere. This shit is addicting.
My grow setup.
- 32 x 32 x 72 tent
- 2 Mars Hydro 300s - Around 140 true watts each I've read.
- 4 - 60W 2700 CFLs (150w equivelants) for the back area where coverage isn't great during flower.
- 6" Carbon filter & fan w/ controller to dial it down
- 00 Seeds Bubblegum - Outstanding plant. Started flowering at 4 weeks and has been a vigorous grower.
- 00 Seeds Chocolate Skunk - It's looking good.
- 00 Seeds Cheeseberry - Slow starting but very healthy and kicked in at week 5.
- Pyramid Seeds White Widdow - It's kicked into overdrive at week 6
- For my soil I'm using Fox Farms Ocean with 1/3 perlite. I've heard some say that it's hot but I haven't had any real issues with it. I did notice a bit of burn 3 weeks in but I just gave it 2 heavy waterings with pH'd water and it went away.
- Fox Farms Grow Big, Big Bloom and Tiger Bloom. Half dose on feedings. Started at 3 weeks.
- General Hydroponics CaliMagic (CalMag)
- Microbe Life Plus-C
- 2 waterings using Super Thrive at week 4 & 5
- The temp in veg was 82 to 85 degrees F at 65 RH. In flower I'm keeping the temps at 75 to 79 degrees F and trying to keep the humidity around 50 RH.
- The tent is in a large closet so I can open and close the door at varying amounts keep the temp dialed in.
Next grow will just be 2 plants in the tent so it's not so crowed, room to work and as a new grower it will make it easier to stay on top of their individual needs. 4 different plants is cool for variety but I'm finding that they each have their own little needs. The Bubblegum gulps down the water where the cheeseberry doesn't need that much yet. I have to totally rely on picking up the pot to see how heavy it is to know when to water and that took a few weeks to figure out.
My tent setup
My 4 plants with a pretty flat canopy. I was amazed how well they trained with LST.
Lots of buds starting
I just dig this pic I took last week
Thank you all for your great info to help me start my grow!!!
I'll upload updates in a few days when there's some change.
Peace all!
