Attic Attack Second grow... (organic, soil, long tubs)

[VanLoon]

Hi all

It's been a while since my last post but I've been busy. After learning the lessons of my first grow (see link at bottom) I've made the following changes:

1. I got rid of that clunky old ballast-built-in 400W HPS and got myself a nice new 600W lamp that can be suspended over the plants instead of lighting them from the side which was causing complications in bud growth.

2. Instead of three big plants in three big pots, I have used long troughs and trained three plants to grow parallel to the soil until they ran out of room, then switched to 12/12 light. Lo and behold, all the side branches grew vertically to make one big bush with loads of budsites under the light. You can't see the main stems under all that foliage but I'll try to get a better picture later.

3. I took care this time to use only organic compost and feed. (brand specifics to come later)

4. I didn't leave it too late before going to 12/12, like last time. The plants in this picture are about 3 weeks into flowering and the buds are coming along nicely (closeups to come later)

5. As a little experiment, I got two very small plants flowering to see how much bud they would produce and whether they were too small.

Anyway, sorry for not showing progress up to now but I didn't get it together to take any pictures and at the very start I burned the plants horribly by putting the light too close and wasn't sure if the 2nd grow was over already!

Here's the pics... (and for a step by step on how I built this room, check the first grow journal)

[VanLoon]

Well, happy Xmas and new year to all, and two weeks of being left largely alone and the plants are doing great. Buds a-plenty, and I reckon I switched to 12 hour light just in time before they got too big. Now there are several health colas all a safe distance from the light and it's starting to smell very nice in there. Temps have been around 60 degrees F on average, and although I've seen a couple of small black insects flying around the plants have shown no signs of parasite damage.

Anyway, here are the pics. And by the way, the organic nutrients I'm using is called Bio-Bloom. I've been having a little trouble with a dark sediment settling at the bottom of my feeder tank and have been stirring it up whenever I'm round but I'd ideally like to have some kind of tank-stirring device. Any tips on that?

Till later...

[oldgrayhair]

Pretty damn slick, quite nice looking. I've got one of the long planters like that and was brain storming the other day....thanks for more inspiration. Keep it up! - OGH

[Hashmouf]

Very nice setup , That attic space is perfect for growing. Looks like you got it all coming along nicley great job!

[VanLoon]

Hey, thanks people. I went in there last night and the smell of those buds was like nothing else... More pics soon!

[VanLoon]

Hi folks

All still going well... The biggest fan leaves are going a bit yellow but the buds are doing fine.
Here's some pics.

[Littleoldme]

looking good man, The first grow was a good pull, can't wait to see the finished results of these. Peace

[Help_Needed]

That trough full of plants looks awesome. Great job on the LST.

[VanLoon]

Okay, 8 weeks into flowering and the buds are as big as ever. A few hairs are turning brown, but generally they don't look like they're quite ready.

Should I stop with the organic nutrients now?

[Draous]

damn nice plants, you deserve more attention than you're getting. this shows lst kicks ass.

[scratch71]

Wow!! Truly an inspiration for the new growers, like myself, and probably the veterans as well.

[VanLoon]

Nearly there... I smoked a test bud which I harvested last week, and it's GOOD!
Maybe it's the organic regime, or the good light, but my hands are sticky as hell after I touch any of the colas. What's off is that once the bud has dried it's hardly sticky any more. I have also stopped the nutrients and am watering with plain water now.

So basically I could harvest any time nbow, and am going to wait another week to see if the buds get any bigger. Maybe even try that 48 hours of darkness thing before harvesting.

Another thing I've noticed is the largest buds have split into three or four smaller buds on top. Buds growing on buds... I've never seen that before. (see pics)

Wish I knew what strain this is!

Anyway, on with the pics.

[THesCientist]

Very nice setup. I wish I had an attic...

[VanLoon]

Hey thanks, Scientist. Your LED grow is wicked!

[Hashmouf]

Whats up Loon , Its been a while since I checked in. I see you have been very busy !!! Those are some Monsters you have there your set up worked out very well congrats on your grow.