dresser stealth grow

[buthidae]

Did a bunch of experimenting on my water. I'll be using tap water, aged 24 hrs. Knowing the tap around here is fairly high, I picked up some lemon juice. After a lot of testing, I determined that 200:1 water:lemon juice ratio gave me a pH of 6.4. I wanted it a little lower than this, but my pH kit only goes down to 6.0. Since I'll be using a bottle that's 1.36 L, I added 7 mL of lemon juice to the water in the bottle. This gave me a pH of 6.2, I'm going to run with this.

Got two seeds germing tonight, I really hope they both sprout, cause I don't want to start another if one will have a large head start. If that's the case, I'll just hope it's a female, and if not, try again.

Also painted the panel that covers the back of the dresser (You may be able to tell from this side by side comparrison why I've got hopes for the metallic silver). As that was drying, I put the weatherstripping on the dresser. This created some problems in that the barrel locks, though loose, are not loose enough to fit over the foam. Had to cut six more small peices to lift the receivers for the locks. Hopefully this is the last I'll have to do for a while, it works perfectly now.

Only thing left is the lights to be hung, which will happen as soon as I'm ready to get out to the hardware store tomorrow for a new light adapter. Water is in the bucket aging.

[buthidae]

Nothing showing yet. Going to run to the hardware store in about an hour for that adapter. Then I'll be ready when they do finally pop.

[buthidae]

Lights are together, the hood is on, and I've got them hung. Pictures below show how they're being suspended. Not sure I like the dowel idea to hold them. I know it's sturdy enough, but it's a pain in the ass to adjust the height. Also, it's much brighter in the dresser than the pics really show. My camera adjusts for light maybe a little too well, as can be seen by the last photo of the light arrangement, lol.


New problem though: It looks like I'll only have 1.5 - 2 feet of growing room for the plants. Any advice? Would scrog work in this little amount of height? I need some help from you experienced growers here, lol.

I really don't want to do soil, and I'm not sure how much that would lower the plant anyway. Maybe I'll have to work on a new light sooner than later. I'll try and think up something that'll be a lower profile, I think I can gain six inches there easily if it's done properly. All depends on the budget...

[myles117]

Use Low stress training simply top the plant after about 5 leaf sets and as the side branches grow up, use string secured onto the rubbermaid lid to pull the branches horizontal. Thisll give ya a shorter plant with alotta budsites

[LD100]

I'll deff be following this! I'm on a tight budget as well, and may be upgrading to a dresser/wardrobe next grow. Can't wait to see how things progress!

[pomangro]

Myles tells no malarky, LST is great. I have a limited amount of height as well and i love practicing some bondage on my ladies. The sticky on it is awesome, i think.
Takes it easy

[buthidae]

Thanks much guys, was going to top anyway, and then try to figure out what other method I could use to keep her low and bushy. Either a scrog, or lst.

My LST idea is to screw some holes in the lip of the pot, and to zip tie some metal wire fencing to it. I may expand the coverage of the fencing to cover the entire lid of the bucket. This will give me more tie down sites than I could possibly use.

This way I can also fashion double sided hooks (like the ones on christmas ornaments) out of paper clips and hook them to the screen on one side, and guide a single stem per hook through the other side. String could also be used. In either case, I'll have TONS of options for LST.

Some bad news, a little light pokes through at the corners. I was afraid of this happening. Once my seeds germ, they'll be placed inside, and a blanket or sheet will be draped over the top of it to conceal this until I can get four more locks for the corners.

Another question: Using LST or SCROG, is it possible to create a flat bush, maybe six inches high, that spans the width of my dresser?
I realize this is pretty extreme, but I really only want one plant, and I'd like to maximize yeild. I'm willing to veg longer to accomplish this if need be.

[buthidae]

Attachment to visualize above described screen for scrog. Was busy with a bowl and forgot to attach it, lol.

(pic was bitmap, wouldn't come up as a thumbnail)

[myles117]

its def possible... ya just gott top early (by the 5th node) and once the branches grow out a bit pull em completely sideways. then as soon as the horizontal space is full.... slaap 12/12 on em and after they stretch it should be near ur 6 inch goal... maybe a lil higher but not alot. plus you caan keep pullin em dowwn if u rly need to

[pomangro]

I have never experimented with a scrog, but the concept seems awesome. I would think you could do an incredibly short one, but still am unsure, sorry.

What kind of lights were you thinking of upgrading too in the future? I use CFL's as well, and also would like to upgrade. the biggest thing for me is that i don't want to underestimate the heat issues, as i did with the cfls. Before i added more space and a box fan, my 250 watts would turn my cab into an easy bake oven! As long as you are trying to remain stealth, i think CFL's are the way to go. .02

[buthidae]

Originally Posted by myles117

its def possible... ya just gott top early (by the 5th node) and once the branches grow out a bit pull em completely sideways. then as soon as the horizontal space is full.... slaap 12/12 on em and after they stretch it should be near ur 6 inch goal... maybe a lil higher but not alot. plus you caan keep pullin em dowwn if u rly need to

Sounds good to me, thanks again. I've read a lot about topping, and seen a lot of debate about when and where to top. I've heard 5th or 6th node is best, I'll plan on topping once the fifth is grown for height restrictions and from recommendations.

I've also heard many opinions about which node to cut above. I'm leaning towards something closer to the bottom than the top, just to help keep it low, especially since it'll stretch more during flower.

I realize I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I'd rather be as prepared as possible once I get that far. Much thanks to all who've contributed this far, hopefully soon I'll have something a little more interesting to show everyone!

[myles117]

t5 flouros are a step up from CFLs but once ya haave the CFLs purchased its hard to justify droppin money for a dif type of flouro. I love my t5s tho

[myles117]

Originally Posted by buthidae

I've also heard many opinions about which node to cut above. I'm leaning towards something closer to the bottom than the top, just to help keep it low, especially since it'll stretch more during flower.

the less nodes you leave on the plant, the less axillary buds there are to grow branches for you to train in the screen. Thaats why I never cut off more the above the 5th. leaves a good amount of points for branches to fill in


No worries on the pics.... the time will come where we shall all enjoy the bud porn in here Till then... lets make sure it happens

[buthidae]

Originally Posted by pomangro

What kind of lights were you thinking of upgrading too in the future? I use CFL's as well, and also would like to upgrade. the biggest thing for me is that i don't want to underestimate the heat issues, as i did with the cfls. Before i added more space and a box fan, my 250 watts would turn my cab into an easy bake oven! As long as you are trying to remain stealth, i think CFL's are the way to go. .02

I'm only planning on ever doing one plant at a time in this dresser, it's much too small for anything more than that. Maybe once I own a place instead of just renting, this will become a clone box or veg box of some sort, lol.

That being said, I don't think I would go too overboard on the lights. I plan on sticking with cfl's, and as posted earlier, I'll have at least one exhaust fan, two if needed (based on smell/heat). Thinking that the upgrade would be to 42w bulbs (actual wattage, incandescent equivalent of 150w). Still stick with six bulbs (4 2700k, 2 6500k), but would rearrange them so that I could get them closer to the plants and keep a lower profile for more usable space. Also would try to build a better, more reflective hood.

[buthidae]

Originally Posted by myles117

the less nodes you leave on the plant, the less axillary buds there are to grow branches for you to train in the screen. Thaats why I never cut off more the above the 5th. leaves a good amount of points for branches to fill in

Thanks again, I guess now I all I have to do is wait for those root tips to pop out, and get my screen set up on the bucket. That'll have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday when I get paid.