First grow help/Grow Journal

So I'm starting my firs grow and I'm looking to share my experience as well get some help along the way. I'm using this setup....
HTG Supply - HTG 1000w Big Boy Grow Tent Kit

I upgraded to the Easy Cool 6 light, 1000 watt dimmable digital ballast, and Grow Bright fan and carbon filter. I'm also using hydroton for my medium and tree bark starter plugs. I'm growing Royal Queens seeds, Royal AK Automatic(autoflowering). I'm including some pics of the setup. Right now I'm wondering what kind of water schedule to setup... I'll be running 18/6 schedule the whole time. I've heard 2 times a day, 4 times a day, 15 mins and 20 mins, I'm not sure where to go on this. Any help on this would be great. I'll be posting more pics as I go along!!

Thanks:smoke:

Edited by x3RASERx, 09 June 2012 - 03:23 PM.

Just moving this to the top.... Still need info on a watering schedule.


Thanks

im curious as well please keep us updated cause im a newbie to growing also and iwas looking into their closets also.

Sure will

it would help if you told us the size of your buckets/tray and what way your growing as you can use starter plugs and hydroton in many set ups,
http://forum.grassci...lood-times.html
i am running a rdwc set up & have never used a f&d rig so i'm out on times sorry.
hth middy

My bad.... I'm using 3.5 gallon buckets with 10" net pots. HTG Supply - Big Boy Hydroponic System

It's a hydro ebb and flo set up.

Thanks Midlife, just looking for any help I can get....

Well I guess since no one wants to help a brother out... I started watering 4 times a day for 20 mins at a time. I'm running a 18/6 light schedule. If anyone can let me know if this is too much that be awesome...
Here are some more pics, I'm kinda worried looks like a couple plants leafs are curling... I appreciate any help.

I think you are over watering your plants, i would only water them every few days. Just make sure they don't dry out too much. They are way too small to be watered like you have been doing.

I am a new grower, but I've done a ton of research. I over watered a couple of my plants at that size, they had problems with the leaves drooping, and one of them didn't make it.

I'm growing with dwc and 5 gallon buckets, I didn't even put them in the buckets until the roots went through the rockwool.

I just transferred the plants into the buckets today because the root was coming through the strater plug, I think I'll cut back for sure on the water.. but these are auto flowering seeds and their suppose to start getting big fast anytime now so I need a good watering schedule for this ebb and flow setup... The pic above is 6 days after germination. I figured I'b be starting a nute regime soon... Again any help would be appreciated.

They will get big after a few weeks, I didn't use any nutes until about 2 and a half weeks, then I used 1/8 strength to start.

Most growers don't start nutes until 3-4 weeks, they usually don't need them until then.

You might burn your plants if you use nutes too soon or too strong. You can always add more but its harder to take them away.

I move my clones to an ebb and flow table after roots look strong and healthy. I insert the 1" rockwool cubes I start the clones in into 4" rockwool cubes and sit them on top of an inch or so of hydroton pellets on the table. I lightly flood the table every 4 hours (2 minutes of flood just covers the pellets and slightly wets the bottom of the cubes. The roots grow out of the bottom of the cubes and grow into the damp hydroton pellets. I end up with a 6 to 8 inch root mass in the pellets when I transfer them to their final pots roughly 2 weeks later.

I start with large clones but still dont add nutes for the first couple of days. Just a B vitamin and Thrive Alive which is a stress reducer. Then I add veg nutes at low levels (300 to 400 PPM) for a couple of days. Once I see new top growth I increase nutes to 800-1000 PPM but suggest you keep your PPS lower than that till you see if your strain can handle it.
Your seedlings are way too young for any real feeding yet IMO. Let them get their 3rd set of leaves then start low and build up gradually

That's great info... thanks Willard and deman. It seems like its gonna have to be trial and error on the watering, I'll have to just manually watch and water them. I'll keep posting pics as I go along. Always looking for tips and help!!! Thanks

i would keep watering as u were since ur not using nutes only thing that too much water will do is rot the roots but when u drain ur pots there is plenty of oxygen for the roots

also those are auto seeds which will flower after so long no matter what so the bigger the better

i would start nutes after third set of leaves

You sir are a fuc*ing boss

I thought the watering was ok, because the medium drys every 4 or 5 hours... Thanks

Edited by x3RASERx, 13 June 2012 - 05:51 AM.

I switched to 15 min water cycles instead of 20 min, 4 times a day.... still running 18/6 on the lights.

In my opinion 2 times a day, 4 times a day, 15 minutes and 20 minutes will give you the best results. son you do not need to change any more. That is not quite a big deal. You can make any changes as per your need tan experience and the resources available.

Actually I've heard watering is a very big deal and being a new grower I'm only asking whats been working for everyone else so I can figure out somethin that works for me. This is a grow journal/Help post, 15 mins is working better, so that's why I posted. But thanks for your help.

looking very good! from my experience, you've just got to learn your plant every strain is different and every plant is different because if its genetics. of course follow the general guidelines but dont be worried to change something if you think its not working as well as it should. afterall it isn't called 'weed' for nothing it'll grow just about anywhere!
only thing i could suggest is 'topping' it a week before putting it into flowering, you will get more yeild i promise! haha
also it might be worth switching to a simple hydroponic system when you swap to nutes they aren't really that expensive, and it means the plants will need checking much less (once every 2 days) becuase there is no need to water it yourself.

but overal its a really good start i'll be watching to see the outcome so good luck!

Thanks Jarrad!! Much appreciated... I'll be posting more pics soon.

I bought the same system and I am about as far along as you. I started my seeds in rockwool. I am very nervous and excited Good luck with your grow I will be watching.