Indoor First Time CFL Grower

[nastrada]

Hey there everyone, nastrada here 29 yr old male living in France 6yrs now.

So I'm starting this thread to learn as much as I possibly can about indoor autoflower CFL growing. Please remember I am a complete noob hence I'm here looking for advice and constructive criticism only. Not looking for any fights or arguements.

Ok here we go. I am going to give a list of items I have purchased to begin my grow.

• 1 x Phytolite (name of brand) 125w 6400k - 220/240 volt 50/60 Hz CFL light for vegetative growth. Please see details of light below.

Power (w)​

Lumens​

Tube diam. (mm)​

Lenght (mm)​

Life (hrs)​

125​

6875​

17​

307​

10000​

• 2 electric extraction fans (in and out)
• ph tester (I will be using tap water, I have been told that if you leave the water outside overnight the chlorine evaporates)
• My nutrients will be organic, I have purchased Bio Vega by Biocanna. See details below for what is written on the back of the bottle. Please note I am translating from french to english, there may be errors.

1. 3.5 - 1.0 - 5.5
2. total nitrogen 3.5
3. phosphate 1.0
4. Solubles 5.5
5. contains more magnesium, sulfur and trace elements (B,Cu,Mn,Mo,Zn,Fe)

• I have purchased mylar for the interior of my grow area.
• I have ordered AF feminized seeds that should be arriving soon ( see details of the seeds I have purchased below). I have read alot of the info may not be correct.

Auto Flowering Delicious La Diva Autoflowering Feminised Cannabis Seeds Genotype: Blue Berry / Diavolo. THC: 15% Production indoor: 300 gr/m² doubt this very much though. Harvest: Automatic ( 45 days ).

• I have also bought soil, unfortunately I lost the written list with the composites of this soil, the guy in the shop said it was excellent. I'll post a list of 'ingredients' as soon as I can.

The Plan Of Attack !!!

I will be using two seperate boxes one for the vegetative cycle and the second for the flowering cycle. In doing this I hope to achieve the SOG system whereby I will be harvesting a plant every two to three weeks. Therefore I hope to seed plant 1 and two weeks later seed plant 2, two weeks later I will move plant1 to the 2nd box and continue to rotate like this.

I have decided I will be using an 18/6 lighting regime from start to finish ( as this is autoflower I realise there is no need to play God with the seasons).

I will be buying the second growbox in the coming week with 2 fans, a cfl flowering light etc etc ( basically the same as what I already have but with a 200W 2700K CFL light for flowering)

So, if anybody has any info, ideas or general advice please comment.
I will be posting pics and info on my first grow as I go along.

Hope to make some friends on here.

Later and peace, Nastrada.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Welcome, nastrada! I just started using cfl's for my seedlings and I really like the results I'm getting. Look around at some of the grow logs. There are members who are using cfl's very successfully in all stages of their grow.

This is a nice place. Most of the info you seek is pretty easy to find just nosing around. If you do get in a jam, lot's of folks willing to help.

 

[nastrada]

Thanks Joe Dirt, I'll follow your progress and others also, hope to learn alot here.

Talk soon, Nastrada

 

[nastrada]

Cheers Thai Buddha Man, I expect problems but as you have said it's a learning experience. Can't wait. What do you think of the light set up I have mentioned?

Peace

 

[gearbear]

Awesome Nastrada. Like the double box idea. On your lighting is it 18/6 or 20/4?

 

[nastrada]

Hey there Gearbear, just noticed the error now, I'm thinking of going with an 18/6 light plan. What would you do 18/6 or 20/4? Remembering I am using CFL of course.

 

[nastrada]

Just a little update...

So, I recieved my 3 Delicious La Diva feminized autoflower seeds WOOP WOOP! Can't wait, this will not only be my girst indoor grow it will also be my first autoflower grow!!! Let the good times role.

Going to use a 5 litre pot per plant for my first grow but I may use a 7 or 10 litre pot for the third seed. Just to see if it makes a big difference, if any at all. I have begun germinating two of the seeds, I am going to germinate from soil. Fingers crossed. I bought 2 thermometers today, they also measure the humidity.

I have 2 question, what is the recommended temperature of a/your grow area? How humid should it be in your grow are?

Will post some pics soon of the growboxes. I actually have some plants in there, not autos though ( friend gave me some seeds, using these to test the very noob grow setup I have). They are only a couple of weeks growing but they will have to find new homes very very soon. The autos are moving in!!!

Well that's all for the moment guys, would be great to get an answer on the 2 q's, will post pics soon.


Cool for cats

 

[DQ]

Nastrada..... I use cfl's and I would do 24/0 for the first 2weeks then 20/4.... how big r your boxes??? And how close r you keeping the light to them????? You can keep them almost a inch or 2 from the plants with no harm done. If u need any help hit me up I'll help u out the best I can...... good luck m8

 

[nastrada]

Hey DQ... I will try the 24/0 for the first 2 weeks as you have said and then move to 20/4 after. I have two boxes the first one is very small measuring 39cm x 51cm x 66cm, this will be for vegetative and the second 60cm x 60cm x 120cm will be for the flowering stage. I am keeping the cfl's about 2 inches above the above the plants. I will post some pictures of the first box ( a very build it yourself piece it is) which has the non autos that I will be moving as soon as my two La Divas sprout up. Thank you for your help, I'll get back to you with any questions I have.

Cheers Buddy.

 

[nastrada]

Hello again TBMan

Cheers for the info, currently the temperature is varying from 74 to 77 so thats all good. The humidity is ranging from 60 to 65 which I guess is ok since the grow boxes are on a balcony (dont worry they are well concealed) and it has been quite hot outside app 83F although it will be getting hotter as I am in the south of France. Winter is going to be a problem though, I was thinking of heat mats but I'll climb that hill later. Any hints or advice on how to keep humidity at a safe/recommended level would be great. I'll be posting some pics very very soon.

Stay well.