organicbynature's Learning as He [Medical] Grows [LED, HID, T5]

Well, I'm taking the plunge and starting my own grow journal. I have a recent addition to my life that keeps me quite busy, but I will do my best to update often and will try to keep to a minimum of one picture update per week - but no promises!

I'm a medical grower and my partner is also a patient. She suffers from bipolar and epilepsy and cannabis is by far our favorite medication that she takes! It's the only one without side effects. She also sometimes suffers from cyclic vomiting, where she just can't stop retching for hours, long after she's voided her stomach. When this cycle occurs, the only things that have been able to help pull her out of it are cannabis or a trip to urgent care for an anti-nausea drug administered to her through an IV. We are so thankful for this medicine!

This thread is picking up towards the end of my first grow. My cycle is not yet fully established, but I currently have plants in late flower, veg, and have just taken some clones today as well. While this is my first time growing cannabis, I do have other horticultural experience and am an avid (outdoor) gardener. My first successful gardening experience was growing radishes and swiss chard to maturity under T12s, some years ago now.

This first grow has been a bit hap-hazard. I've been finding my way a bit and also getting my grow area set up while going through some other life events, though I expect things to begin settling down...eventually? Regardless, I will be refining my system significantly as I go.

These first plants have been grown with a mix of soils and nutrients. They've been fighting cal/mag deficiencies (almost certainly because I screwed up their PH beyond my understanding of how to fix) much of the way, but I'm very happy with where they're at. Also worth mentioning is they spent a long time in veg while I was getting my grow room ready. They've been extensively LST'd.

For this grow I have two 4x4 tents with two different lighting set-ups. The HPS tent has a 400w Philips HPS bulb (I initially thought it was a CMH) and ~400 watts of fancy T5 side-lighting. The LED tent has a Magnum Plus panel, two Blackstar 240 panels, and ~200 watts of T5 side-lighting. The HPS tent is drawing around 800 watts while the LED tent is drawing around 760.

The T5s I'm using are a mix of Flora Sun and Coral Wave aquarium bulbs that were specially chosen for enhanced PAR output. Each tent has a White Widow, Orange Crush, Northern Lights x Haze, and a Pineapple Express - all clones. Now, without further ado...

HPS Tent - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787806&stc=1&d=1325570457

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787807&stc=1&d=1325570457

LED Tent - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787808&stc=1&d=1325570457

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787809&stc=1&d=1325570457

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787810&stc=1&d=1325570457

I'll be back in a flash with some pictures of the White Widow and Orange Crush plants, which I brought out for a feeding today.

OK! Here comes some more pictures.

Starting off with the Orange Crush. The one in the HPS tent is one of my favorite plants right now - I think it might have the top four biggest buds of the lot.

I got this clone from a friend who told me she's a heavy feeder. I've poured quite a bit of extra N into her but she does seem to keep wanting more.

HPS Tent Orange Crush - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787825&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787826&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787827&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787828&stc=1&d=1325571394

LED Tent Orange Crush - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787829&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787830&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787831&stc=1&d=1325571394

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787832&stc=1&d=1325571394

White Widow is next!

These White Widows are some great smoke. The plant in the LED tent is another of my favorites. If the buds get as big as the ones on the HPS Orange Crush then this girl will have the most weight in the end. She's a monster!

These ones went into 12/12 without any pre-flowers and were the last to show them of the four strains I have going.

HPS Tent White Widow - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787843&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787844&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787845&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787846&stc=1&d=1325571730

LED Tent White Widow - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787847&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787848&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787849&stc=1&d=1325571730

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787850&stc=1&d=1325571730

One more post coming!

I saved the best for last!

I've got a USB microscope on the way, but these pictures taken through a jeweler's loop came out pretty nice.

HPS Orange Crush
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787851&stc=1&d=1325572137

LED Orange Crush
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787852&stc=1&d=1325572137

HPS White Widow
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787853&stc=1&d=1325572137

LED White Widow
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787854&stc=1&d=1325572137

And there we go. I hope you (?) enjoy!

Edited by organicbynature, 03 January 2012 - 09:14 AM.

Wow OBN! Way to start a thread man! It looks like you've done an excellent job up to this point. I'd say a strong finish is pretty much inevitable!

I love that you're running an HPS setup and an LED setup of roughly equal wattage. You should try to always provide your thoughts on comparisons between them in your updates. That way I won't have to keep asking.

So, got any comparisons to offer up on them yet?

Wow OBN! Way to start a thread man! It looks like you've done an excellent job up to this point. I'd say a strong finish is pretty much inevitable!

I love that you're running an HPS setup and an LED setup of roughly equal wattage. You should try to always provide your thoughts on comparisons between them in your updates. That way I won't have to keep asking.

So, got any comparisons to offer up on them yet?

Haha, thanks for stopping by so quickly!

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to do an update like that, but I'll do my best to keep it interesting.

I'm really interested myself to see how these compare. It's hard for me to say so far, though. As you can see by my first few posts I find myself with favorites from each tent. To my eye it's pretty close right now. Of course the true test will be weight and potency.

I can comment on the heat, which is one of the things people look to LEDs for. Both tents are running warmer than I'd like, around 90 degrees during the day last I checked. They're pretty even with each other heat-wise, but I've got a somewhat stronger fan going in the HPS tent. The HPS tent has a 4" vortex fan pulling out into a 4"x18" carbon filter. The LED tent has a 4" can fan pulling out into a 4"x12" carbon filter. Both have passive intake through a 4" duct.

Another comment I would make at this point is that I like looking in the HPS tent better because its so much clearer to my eye. The LEDs really show off deficiencies though, for better or for worse.

When I was shopping for LED panels I found a comparison thread on another site between a 300w (draw) Spectra panel and a 400w HPS. The most interesting thing to me about the comparison was that the LED yielded a lot more scissor hash (1.2g vs 0.7g if I recall correctly). This is something I'll try to look at when I harvest as I think this should be a quantitative way to measure potency. The fancy T5s should help the HPS with this though, I would imagine.

A couple more shots I forgot to post:

HPS Tent - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787934&stc=1&d=1325578008
Orange Crush on left, White Widow on right

LED Tent - Day 43 of 12/12
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787935&stc=1&d=1325578008
Orange Crush on left, White Widow on right

I'll throw this up for you too, MX:

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=787963&stc=1&d=1325581718

I do love this spreadsheet. I only wish I could define the number of plants per harvest.

Thanks, MX!

Flower days are guesses right now. None of these plants started 12/12 with pre-flowers (the Pineapple Express did, though).

Beautiful organicbynature! just beautiful... I'll be watching, thanks for sharing!

Damn OBN like MX said you been holding out on us. Looks nice and dank in here. Brought my jar of buds and vape, think I'll pull up a couch and chill for a bit.

Haha, thanks for stopping by Sticky! Please stay as long as you like.

This is my first grow so I haven't been holding out for too long (I grew some plants in veg for awhile some years ago but this is my first time knowing what I'm doing - more or less).

Honestly, I'm really thrilled with how they're doing right now. I have no idea what I'm going to end up with but I'm getting excited.

Feel free to ask questions or offer advice. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I hope I can keep fooling the plants into believing otherwise.

What kind of vape do you have and how do you feel about it? We used to have a volcano but don't anymore. I'd like to get something new. Too much smoking. Didn't really love the volcano though.

You are "fooling" those girls along just fine not sure if that makes sense, I'm pretty baked right now. Had a canna cap about three hours ago and it's making every bowl I vape or cone I take to the dome just blast me. But yeah I have the extreme EQ vaporizer by arizer. I like using the whip as the bags are cool but taste like shit after a couple of uses. It's on par with the volcano as far as quality but half the price (or less on amazon, got mine for like 160 I think). I still like blunts, joints, and bong hits to the dome but I am primarily using the vape and I am coughing so much less and I'm not coughing io that nasty black shit. Just another tool in my journey through this the land of cannabis.
Peace. SB.

Looking awesome! Sub'd for sure. I second MX's request for side by side, or at least commentary on your thoughts between the two lighting techs

Only one of the ladies, a girl in veg, needed my attention today, so I was able to spend some time working on my grow room, which was really nice.

I also added a second 4" passive intake to each of the two flowering tents. They're still showing a lot of negative pressure, but maybe this will help bring the temps down a little? I'm not really worried about it, but it would be nice.

The cuttings I took yesterday are looking really sad, but I'm hoping they'll pick up by tomorrow. They're the first cuttings I've taken myself (besides for house plants), so I guess we'll see. I believe they should be fine.

I think my other flowering girls will come out for some attention tomorrow. I'll try to get some pictures.

You are "fooling" those girls along just fine not sure if that makes sense, I'm pretty baked right now. Had a canna cap about three hours ago and it's making every bowl I vape or cone I take to the dome just blast me. But yeah I have the extreme EQ vaporizer by arizer. I like using the whip as the bags are cool but taste like shit after a couple of uses. It's on par with the volcano as far as quality but half the price (or less on amazon, got mine for like 160 I think). I still like blunts, joints, and bong hits to the dome but I am primarily using the vape and I am coughing so much less and I'm not coughing io that nasty black shit. Just another tool in my journey through this the land of cannabis.
Peace. SB.

I'm glad they're fooled so far. Mostly I just tell them I love them and try not to step on their toes.

I didn't much care for the Volcano. I'd like to try another model, though. Something with a whip would be good, as I didn't enjoy the bag at all. I've heard good things about the one you have.

I haven't had a lot of time to look through your thread's back posts yet, but I'm watching you now sticky!

Looking awesome! Sub'd for sure. I second MX's request for side by side, or at least commentary on your thoughts between the two lighting techs

Thanks for stopping by, Doc! Your thread was an early favorite of mine and my introduction to the organic community here as well. I really like everything that you're doing! And like in your thread, you should start seeing some veg and herb plants in my updates soon.

I'm also hoping to get my fancy worm hotel set up soon. It's been sitting in a closet for like two years, but now is the time!

I'll definitely give my comparative impressions of the two grows, but I'd also love to know how they look to others, comparatively.

I didn't design this to be a perfect test, but I definitely set it up with the intention of testing the value of LEDs for myself. So far either set up looks like a great option to me, but I don't have a lot to compare it to. We'll see how they finish - that's the real test, right?

I also think the T5s are a nice benefit for both tents. With the HPS they offer some general PAR-friendly lighting, but I think the blues are most helpful in this situation and are probably helping with resin production. With the LEDs I actually think the extra white light they add is probably beneficial. That's all just theory, though.

OK, I squeezed in some picture time today. My other two strains, Pineapple Express and Northern Lights x Haze got some attention today.

I'm curious about the NLxHz. The person I got it from told me it was Silver Haze that it was crossed with. I believe NL#5xHz is not with Silver Haze, and the only cross I see that has these two strains is Super Silver Haze. But I was told it was NLxHz. Also, it's my most indica-dominant plant, at least in its growth habits, which is not what I'm reading about basically any Haze cross.

Whatever. I really like these plants. Hopefully the bud is good. They sure are frosty.

The Pineapple Express have been showing some increasingly intense calcium (and maybe magnesium?) deficiency. They're kind of funky looking, but the buds are looking pretty good to me, and I'm not growing them for the leaves.

http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789401&stc=1&d=1325741546

Northern Lights x Haze - Day 45 of 12/12 - LED plant on left, HPS plant on right
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789396&stc=1&d=1325741175
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789397&stc=1&d=1325741175

Pineapple Express - Day 45 of 12/12 - LED plant on left, HPS plant on right
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789398&stc=1&d=1325741175
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789399&stc=1&d=1325741175

Let me know if these are the kind of comparison shots people want to see, or if I should do it differently.

More pictures on the way. Next up, Northern Lights x Haze!

LED Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789403&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789404&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789405&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789406&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789407&stc=1&d=1325741814

HPS Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789408&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789409&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789410&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789411&stc=1&d=1325741814
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789412&stc=1&d=1325741814

Pineapple Express is coming!

LED Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789413&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789414&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789415&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789416&stc=1&d=1325742028

HPS Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789417&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789418&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789419&stc=1&d=1325742028
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789420&stc=1&d=1325742028

More pictures on the way...

If you missed it, this update actually began on the previous page.

Here are some underneath shots of the Northern Lights x Haze to show the LST.

LED Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789421&stc=1&d=1325742192

HPS Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789422&stc=1&d=1325742192

And here's the good stuff:

Northern Lights x Haze - Day 45 of 12/12 - LED Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789423&stc=1&d=1325742296

Northern Lights x Haze - Day 45 of 12/12 - HPS Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789424&stc=1&d=1325742296

Pineapple Express - Day 45 of 12/12 - LED Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789425&stc=1&d=1325742296

Pineapple Express - Day 45 of 12/12 - HPS Tent
http://forum.grasscity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=789426&stc=1&d=1325742296

I'd love to hear any feedback people may have on any of this.

Cheers!

Great job on the updates OBN! Yep. You've got some dank coming soon!

Love the trike shots too. They're so revealing. You know, you've got white hair in couple of those. White cat?

Take care!

Great job on the updates OBN! Yep. You've got some dank coming soon!

Love the trike shots too. They're so revealing. You know, you've got white hair in couple of those. White cat?

Take care!

My cat has spent the last 8 years ensuring that everything in my life has at least a little white fur on it. Sigh.

What are the trike shots revealing to you?

Do the two tents look as evenly matched to you as they do to me?

Thanks for stopping by!

Lol. That you've got a white cat!

Yes. The two rooms seem to be surprisingly alike. I guess it makes some sense, since the wattage usage is so close too.