DWC first grow using G13 Cheese

Hey guys. Well I decided to finally start a journal on my first grow. I have had help from a few people getting all the stuff I needed to start the grow and finally started germinating on 4/20.

Here is what I am using:

Grow Tent 22x36x63 w/flange
400 watt Digital HPS (HPS bulb and MH conversion bulb)
Maxwing reflector
Bubble Boy Single Shot DWC
6" Inline duct fan
Digital Themometer w/humidity
Small fan
Fox Farm 3 part
Small size liquid karma
PH up and down
Serenade
Bluelabs EC/PPM Meter
Bluelabs PH Meter
Neem Oil
Rockwool 1" cube
Superthrive

I am growing in a wet beasement with a little mold so that is why I have a little over kill. I setup a dehumidifier down there to help combat the moisture. Also I ended up blowing my ballast the other day because I left it on the floor outside the tent to lower the tents temp and it ended up getting a little wet. Now I am using a crappy 23watt CFL 5500k (I know wrong one) to keep temp until is sprouted. I ordered a nice 65watt 6500k CFL and it should be in today.

As of today (Day 6), I have a little sprout but I may have had the light too close trying to keep the seed warm before it sprouted. The reason I think that, is because the first two leaves are already curling. So I moved the light up to a spot where I couldn't feel the heat on my hand anymore. Hoping it bounces back to life.

Temps 65-70, Humidity 40-65 (little high until I can get my ballast back), used a very tiny amount of Superthrive in the PH'ed water, PH 5.8-5.6, PPM under 200 (At least I think so). If anyone has experience with Bluelabs EC/PPM Meter, please let me know if there is anything special I have to do to read it. It has 3 different readings but there is no setting to tell which one it is reading. Unless EC and PPM are the same? Then that would make sense.

Lookin good buddy. Just watch them babies closely. The next 3 weeks are some of the most important parts. Patience is a viture remember that. It's much better to under do it than over do it. Looks good though brotha the new growth is green. She'll hit a spurt soon. Btw superthrive was good choice. That shit helps everything. Well I'll be around buddy. I'm subbed. This will be good. When you smell the cheese in the air you'll know who that guy on the couch is watchin.

If your ballast is dead and you have some hydro grow shops near you see if they have any used equipment for sale. Some do sell like demo models that werent used for a long time. Thats where I got my 1000 watt dimmable digital ballast going on 4 years ago and it still works fine. It only gets used in the winter months when we dont grow outside.

Lookin good buddy. Just watch them babies closely. The next 3 weeks are some of the most important parts. Patience is a viture remember that. It's much better to under do it than over do it. Looks good though brotha the new growth is green. She'll hit a spurt soon. Btw superthrive was good choice. That shit helps everything. Well I'll be around buddy. I'm subbed. This will be good. When you smell the cheese in the air you'll know who that guy on the couch is watchin.

Thanks bud, glad you came by. Looking forward to this grow!

If your ballast is dead and you have some hydro grow shops near you see if they have any used equipment for sale. Some do sell like demo models that werent used for a long time. Thats where I got my 1000 watt dimmable digital ballast going on 4 years ago and it still works fine. It only gets used in the winter months when we dont grow outside.

Ballast had a 5 year warranty on it so I am hoping they will accept it. I emailed them to find out, I will keep you updated.

Also I turned the bucket 180 degrees so that the plant will start pulling the other way and straighten up. The light is a little angled due to the clamp I am using so hopfully she re-adjusts herself.

Thanks bud, glad you came by. Looking forward to this grow!



Ballast had a 5 year warranty on it so I am hoping they will accept it. I emailed them to find out, I will keep you updated.

Also I turned the bucket 180 degrees so that the plant will start pulling the other way and straighten up. The light is a little angled due to the clamp I am using so hopfully she re-adjusts herself.

Shell be fine just keep that cfl as close as you can without burning it. Is that really g13 cheese? Oh my goodness!! Thats going to be rediculous. The OG's definately need to chime in to make sure that this is a very successful grow which I already believe it will be. That sounds crazy. Where did you get that seed/s?

Shell be fine just keep that cfl as close as you can without burning it. Is that really g13 cheese? Oh my goodness!! Thats going to be rediculous. The OG's definately need to chime in to make sure that this is a very successful grow which I already believe it will be. That sounds crazy. Where did you get that seed/s?

The seeds came from attitude. I actually have two more for after this grow, possibly scrog them. The new 65watt CFL came in so I set it up about 6 inches above the sprout. Already showing signs of a little more stretch and straightened out with the turn of the bucket. Responding really well so I am excited. Still waiting on return info for the ballast.

6inches? I'd drop her down two fingers away. Only the bubl is hott. Closer the better bro.

6inches? I'd drop her down two fingers away. Only the bubl is hott. Closer the better bro.

Oh really? I thought if you could feel the heat then it was too hot. If that is the case I will drop it in the morning.

Oh really? I thought if you could feel the heat then it was too hot. If that is the case I will drop it in the morning.

If its to hot for your hand then its to hot for the plants.

If its to hot for your hand then its to hot for the plants.

Completely agree. I have used cfl's before, and I'm actually flowering with them right now. With proper air circulation, you can keep the lights an inch above the plant, but you have to be careful not to let the plant grow into the bulb. With seedlings, it doesn't hurt to have the light a little higher, at least until they strengthen up. Looking forward to watching your grow, have always wanted to try Cheese.

Morning all!

Day 7 - Moved the light as suggested this morning. The CFL is about 2-3 iches above the little guy now. I will double check it tonight though to make sure it isn't burning at all. Its only been a day but the stem looks a little thicker imo. Not much leaf growth. Watering it between once a day and once every two days depending on the rockwool. Sorry for the blurry pics, was in a rush and it is very hard to get a good one with the lighting the way it is.

New ballast shipped today and I got my replacement MH bulb today so I will be switching everything over next Tuesday when it comes in so that it has better lighting.

Oh really? I thought if you could feel the heat then it was too hot. If that is the case I will drop it in the morning.

You can purchase a cheap weather therm, and place it in your tent. It will help you understand your temps a little better. For very little money, you can remove all the guess work.

Day 9 - not too much to report yet. Checked the water's ph today. Seems to have went up a bunch to 7.6. So I adjusted it down to 6.0 for the time being. Going to start checking that everyday now.

Appears that the new growth doubled in size and stretched a couple cm's. Light is even closer now that it isn't burning it for sure. We will see what happens over the next few days.

Checked on everything today. Seems like the ph level goes up daily about .3-.4 and the temps are a bit too low between 65-70. I should have my new ballast tomorrow and be able to set it up with an MH bulb. How close should I put the MH bulb seeing how it is still just a sprout? I know usually you keep around 18" but since the plant is so small, I am thinking of keeping it almost at the top of a 63" tent. Any tips would be appreciated.

Checked on everything today. Seems like the ph level goes up daily about .3-.4 and the temps are a bit too low between 65-70. I should have my new ballast tomorrow and be able to set it up with an MH bulb. How close should I put the MH bulb seeing how it is still just a sprout? I know usually you keep around 18" but since the plant is so small, I am thinking of keeping it almost at the top of a 63" tent. Any tips would be appreciated.

For seedlings I just use a couple of CFL`s for the first week or so but if you need to use the MH to help keep the heat good I would put it a little higher then the 18" but not totaly sure on that as I never used a MH on baby seedlings. Maybe someone else who has before will chime in.

Day 11 - Seems to be doing well. Put the light even closer as you can see in the pic. It almost looks like the tips of the new growth started to yellow a little, but it could also be me being over cautious. I will be happy once I put the MH in tonight. No roots have come through the basket yet. I plan on changing the water on Friday at the two week mark. PH is 5.8 and temp is about 67-68.

Day 11 - Seems to be doing well. Put the light even closer as you can see in the pic. It almost looks like the tips of the new growth started to yellow a little, but it could also be me being over cautious. I will be happy once I put the MH in tonight. No roots have come through the basket yet. I plan on changing the water on Friday at the two week mark. PH is 5.8 and temp is about 67-68.

It looks healthy and not stretchy thats good.

It looks healthy and not stretchy thats good.

Thanks for checking in. I may continue to use the CFL above the little guy but also run the MH bulb to get the temp up. The CFL has a reflector on it, so it should block the direct MH light. Hopefully it will give me the best of both worlds. We will see though!

I am kind of worried at this point. It doesn't appear that it has grown very much in the last few days. I have had to increase watering it to once a day since the rockwool is drying out due to the extra heat from the MH light. My temps are decent though. Between 77-84 right now and humidity is perfect at 45ish %. Ph is perfect at 5.8. I am not sure why it doesn't seem to be growing very fast but at Day 13 you would think it would be a little bigger. I included some pics that show its size. Maybe 2-3" height wise. Am I just being impatient? I probably am. No roots have come through the bottom yet so I am still waiting on that. It appears as though there could be 2 new leaves coming so that is a plus. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated!

Oh and I have aleardy started thinking about a second grow. Possibly looking into a coco grow. But really want to make sure this one turns out ok first.