WW 1st grow in Texas Heat

[john]

Make up a few jugs (or big basin) of plain water, pH it to pH5.0, let it sit for a few minutes and pH it again if needs be. If the pH needs to go up, just add more water. If it has to go down, will obviously, add a drop or 2 of pH down.
Empty out your system, rinse it out with some of the pH5.0 water. Take each net pots out of the system and hold it over your sink and give the hole rockwool and pellets a good flushing with the pH5.0 water. Pouring the water through them.
Now fill your res, 3 inches below the bottom of the net pots, pH it to pH5.8, let it sit for a while and pH it again if needs be.

Right, the reason why i asked you to do all that is, because the rockwool has a natural high pH level, and you need to lower that, or it will keep interfering with the pH level in the res. I also wash and soak the pellets in pH5.0 before adding them to the system. The low water level (3 inches), is so that the rockwool will dry out, leave it that low for a day or so. When the rockwool has dried out a bit, raise the water level to 1 inch below the bottom of the net pots, you don't want to wet the rockwool any more, the roots are in the system and will get misted by the bubbles bursting on the surface of the water in the res.
I hope that should help.

EDIT: If you didnt understand any of that, dont be afraid to ask, remember i was in your shoes once.

[77401]

Sunday Update
I have my first set of new leaves! I was thinking I'd never see them. This is Too slow for me
Starting from seeds is the getto way to go 4 sure. I want a mother for clones!

Changes I've made since last update.....
New air pump, Tetra 10 & two 4" round air stones. the first stones were rattling & the pump was just fuckin noisy.
Lowered the lights to within 2" of the tops and turned on the outside 4 lamps 3000k, (Inside 4 are 6500k)
and ....I expect/hope to catch feedback on this...but I started nutes early, @ day 10 from germination, I added 5ml of each grow bloom & micro. The plants looked hungry & I just wanted to see if it makes a difference. The girls loved it! PLUS! the end result actually was that my PH became manageable. I only see a +1 difference per day in the PH vs. +1-2 twice a day. Maybe someone can explain this?


Conclusion: Everything looks good so far. PH was out of control but its managable now. Temperatuires all appear OK. But I feel this set up is already too small for where I will go eventually. Already planning a set up with HID 2 or 3 5gal BB's w/controller for the next grow.

Next....Its been a week since all 4 were put in the H20.... So, tonight or tomorrow, I'm going to change out solution & nutes just to keep things fresh & for no other reason. Well, also to see how easy this is going to be and how long it takes.

[77401]

I'm just playing with the camera

Question? Which leaf or set is considered the first set? I think the lil leaf that comes out upon germination don't count which make the next leafe to grow is the first.

[77401]

Day 16 I think
Lookin good So Far.

Pic #1 Showing how close the lights are
Pic # 2 from above

I have already ordered new buckets & fittins to rebuild for the next grow. I'm going to use Rumpleforeskins designs.
But I may be putting these fine ladies in the new 5 gal buckets if I can get it set up before this this gets crazy.
I will stick with the T5's for this grow and switch to 400w MH/HPS for the next one.

[spooky1i]

Yes sir you sure did. Naughty naughty. Have you thought about using STG (Sure to grow) instead of rock wool cubes? They are totally inert and have a neutral PH. Come in starter blocks, 4" cubes, and loose fill. You could even use the loose fill instead of that hydroton which also has to be rinsed forever so you don't end up with that chalky dust in your res and pump. Just an idea seen some video's on youtube using that stuff looks real easy to use and the plants looked real happy in it. I am going to try it once I get or make my own areoponic system. And if any does happen to get in your pump probably will not cause any damage cause it's so soft.

[420Skunk420]

looking forward to the harvest!

[77401]

S'up?
420 Welcome, & the harvest is months away, but your invited to the harvest party!

Spook...My first grow, and its for the learning curve, that's why I went with a cheap Stealth Hydro set up, that I'm already regretting, yes I know know about the PH swings with the Rock wool, Definitely looking @ STG's next go round. I also have an idea that with a 14.2L (3.75gal) container and no controller the PH swings are just going to be an issue every day. Next one will have 2-3 five gallon buckets & a 5 gallon bucket controller. I'm trying to engineer some sort of new design to keep solution recirculating with out a lot of plumbing involved.
My current set up don't have an H20 pump to clog, only the air pump to the 2 4" round disc.

My whole desire as most of us, is to keep it simple, I have a job, and can afford to buy good herb, this is just a new hobby & something to do. The thing I don't like is, I can't talk about it to my close freinds, only y'all online.

OK update time!!! I just check my PH & its the same as 8 hours ago. The water level according to instructions is supposed to be 1" into the bottom of the netpots. But since my roots are healthy & growing, I'm now keeping the level just below the netpots. This is keeping the rockwool & hydroton out of the solution more which had to be raising the PH.
LAst night I checked PPMs for first time & was @ 212ppm. Now, last week was the first time I Intro'd any nutes and only 5ml of each G-M-B. My AN calculator has a 500ppm peek. So tonight or this weekend I'm adding more nutes and new solution. I want to change both 7-10 days.

Please view my 2nd pic and advise me... I have one leaf on 2 plants that is curled up on the sides not the tips. it is different from all others. Is this any sign of good or bad things to come that I should be watching for?

These are not even 3" tall yet & are so bushy & the stem is already so thick. I wonder if its the White Widow strain or Hydro or the T5's or am I destined to to be a farmer?

[Tmitchell]

I'm not sure what to tell ya about the leaves man.

I'll be watching your grow though from here on out to keep up to pace with things, best of luck.

[77401]

TM...Welcome my friend, Pull up a chair

I was re reading my own journal last night & forgot how its only been a few days.... really. my growth rate looks pretty good from outside the box. but watching 3 times a day make it look like this is taking forever!

Todays Update....
PH staying @ 5.8 this is rare for me so I need to check calibration before I get to excited

I swapped the lamps to every other 3000k 6500k so the girls can get a full spectrum of T5 love

Solution is so clear & clean, roots look real good, so instead of a flush, I just drained a gallon & added 8ml each Grow Micro Bloom ...ppms now @ 460 well below the target peak of 500

at this rate, there is now way, , I can finish in this container with all 4 plants. Lucky for me the new buckets & fitting will be here Wednesday, So next weekend I will try to get them in new 5gallon buckets so the roots and branches will have room.

[Este]

hey it might be the temos man. some of my plants do that to when they get to hot.

[77401]

Thanks Este, your the 2nd to tell me temps.
Please keep an eye on me, I'm a noob & need the help.

I don't have much control over the temps since this is in an central A/C spare bedroom. I have to keep the house within a manageable temperature for myself & the little girls get treated the same.

UPDATE:
PH has remained un changed for more than 24 hours for the first time! Fuckin A Finally!!
What a difference a week makes.
Look at photo # 1 July
Look at photo #2 tonight July 12

[the electrician]

hey bud, a week makes a huge difference!! lookin good lookin goood i myself am participatingi an experimental stealth indoor grow, you might know spooky1i, well i am the electrician at large...will be following your grow bro..best of luck and how about those t5's eh??? lol lot bang for the buck

[77401]

Originally Posted by the electrician

hey bud, a week makes a huge difference!! lookin good lookin goood i myself am participatingi an experimental stealth indoor grow, you might know spooky1i, well i am the electrician at large...will be following your grow bro..best of luck and how about those t5's eh??? lol lot bang for the buck

Sparky! WelcomeI like y'alls set up, it looks very professional & clean. I'll be watching...

Are you a Journeyman or Master? Work for others or have your own company?

I wish I could do a 400HPS, maybe my winter crop? depends on the final yields under T5's

Have y'all done other grows with the T5's? if so....How was the harvest & smoke report?

[Este]

Yeah honetsly your best bet will be to get the hps for the winter. T5's are good for veg and keeping mothers and clones. u can still go thru the plants entire cycle using them but try to have blue and red spectrum bulbs. but you definately wont get the plants full potential using just T5's. And on the temp thing as long as you dont gover 85f growth wont slow. I'm dealing with the same thing you are texas has been hot as shit so i know what ur dealing with. but it looks good man plants look happy. keep it up.

[Este]

yeah my bad you got the whoe spectrum thing set already nice..