Hello fellow Grasscity commuters! I am currently working on getting my first time grow started (within the next day or two) so figured I would start a topic so I can chart my progress and ask for any tips as I go! (If I am in the wrong place please let me know and move to the appropriate forum) This is my first grow ever and I will be growing indoor (in my closet) using CFLs. I have been researching growing indoor with CFLs for a while now and wanted to give it a try. I have been looking at guides on the forums here as well as other sites which has given me a general knowledge of how to get started and how to keep my plants healthy and strong. I will only be growing one or two plants simply to get my feet wet and do something I can manage in my spare time. Below I have posted everything I will be using/specifics. Seeds: Bagseeds (Strains unknown) Growing Medium: Cocotek Coco Coir with around 30% Perlite mixed in Nutrients: Canna Coco A & B with Botanicare Nutrients Cal-Mag Pots: One 2 gallon SmartPot and one 3 gallon plastic pot from local hardware store Lights: For seedling and vegetative stages, using two 42w (150w equivalent) 6500k CFLs. Closet Area: 2.5' x 2.5' x 6' pH Control Kit Humidity/temperature monitor 6 inch oscillating fan blowing on the plant(s) to keep the roots strong and the area cool. My house temperature is usually set around 70-72 degrees I plan on starting my lights with the 18/6 cycle just to be on the safe side before I move into the flowering stage. I will be watering my plants with distilled water and testing the pH before I do so. I plant on not watering my plants with nutrients until out of the seedling stage (let me know if I am wrong here). I feel like I have a pretty general grasp of how to do this but would appreciate any tips/suggestions as I get started and keep going! Below is a picture of my grow area (waiting on soil to get started tomorrow or tuesday)
You will get better results with 4 of those lights. You also might want to consider ventilation. Just one 6" fan is enough to blow air around, but it will not keep things cool. You would be better off to have something sucking hot air out at the top of the closet, as well as a spot for new air to come in at the bottom. This will help things cool, as well as continue to bring new air (with more CO2) into the grow.
4 lights to start? I read it is recommended to have around 2-3 lights to start then add more once it is time for the flowering stage. Currently I have those two 42w CFLs but can add a 12w CFL for now until I get more lights. As far as ventilation I really just planned on opening up the closet door sometimes to get some free flowing air in as I can not put in exhaust ventilation in my closet. Any suggestions how I could increase ventilation without having to drill holes in my closet to put in an exhuast type fan?
As for lights, you want around 5000 lumens per plant. The lights you have are somewhere around 2600 lumens each, right? The size of the lights determine the lumens they will put out. Your 12 W CFL will not likely be worth using at all. You could probably start seedlings no problem with the two 42W lights you have right now, but you will want at least one or two more if you want to a good yield. As for flowering, you do understand that you need different bulbs for that, right? You want to start with the cool light, or "daytime" light as it might say on the box. These should be around 6500K for the spectrum. You want the warm light bulbs for flowering, and these ones should be around 2700K. These numbers are the optimal for spectrum when you are buying your bulbs. As for ventilation, I do not have any other ideas or suggestions at this point, but I don't know your space like you do. Is there attic space or something above you could maybe use for exhaust? Maybe some photos of the space would help. There are always options, but sometimes they involve more expenses.
I am currently at work but I can check the Lumens when I get off and get home. Are you suggesting having 3-4 42w 6500k lights just for the vegetative stage or what? But yep, the 42w lights that I currently have are both 6500k "daylight" lights as I am supposed to use for the seedling/vegetative stage. I plan on getting 2700k lights once it is time for the flowering stage. My closet space has no attic space, it is simple just a regular closer with a bar for hanging clothes and one shelf above that for extra storage. I feel like my only problem will really be ventilation and controlling the temperature/humidity.
Alright so the lights are both 2800 lumens each. I am about to plant seeds today or tomorrow but need some help. I read that I need to flush the pot with water first before I plant the seed, is this right? Any tips on getting started will help!
Yes, I am suggesting 3-4 of those lights for vegging. 2 might work, but 3 would work better. Heat and ventilation might be a problem. I don't think you need to flush it before planting. If you use any used pots or equipment, make sure it is clean before using.
Okay I can pick up another light or two for vegging. I will see how the heat and such is once I start tomorrow. Seeds are currently germinating in a glass of water, waiting until tomorrow to get one planted in my SmartPot. The heat in my closet is 70-72 degrees with around 40% humidity right now.
Update on my grow. I planted one seed in my smartpot at the start of the week after germinating it for a couple days. I planted two others in tiny plastic cups a day after i planted the first one. Still no sprouts on anything yet. I watered the smartpot before i planted the seed to get the coco coir moist for planting and have watered it slightly since around the seed to give it some more water. All of the seeds were planted about a knuckle deep but I feel like it may have been too deep. Can anyone tell me how long it usually takes to sprout? I have them under 18/6 lighting right now. Humidity ranges from 30%-40% and temperature is 70-80 degrees.
LOL, when I get impatient I'll scrape away layers of soil hoping to see a sprout making it's way to the top. I had one seed that almost got thrown away, germinated very late, like 10 days after I planted it. It was actually sitting next to my trashcan for almost a week when I noticed a sprout sticking up. Turns out it was a strawberry cough freebie that blew my mind come harvest time. ...but I wouldn't wait on bagseed, just plant more.
It could take anywhere from 2 days to possibly longer than a week. How deep is a knuckle in actual measurements? Half an inch is probably all you want. Just be patient.
I probably planted it a half inch to an inch deep so that might ny problem. I scraped some soil away to see since I'm impatient and I could see some sprouting up so I'll continue to wait and see Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Ill be around for this grow any questions you need answering ill be here or there. Subbed. everythings but an illusion
Thanks! I got back today from class and the little guy has sprouted! About the top inch of the coir is dry, should I water now or wait a little bit more until more of the soil is dry? Do you recommend watering with nutrients now or waiting? I have heard that some people don't give their plants nutrients until about the 3rd week or so. Not sure if you can see in the picture but one of the leaves is shorter than it's opposite side, not sure if that's a problem or not? Thanks for all of your help! Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Here's a picture of the new setup. Moved the lights to hang over the plant so give me more access to the plant. Getting a new tray that is longer to put the plant in on Monday. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Dont feed nutes yet!! You will burn your seedlings wait until its 3 weeks old before adding any nutes. Really dont stress the little things the leaf thing dosnt mater and i would water a little bit not alot though! everythings but an illusion
That's what I thought with the nutes because I read not to feed with nutes until 3-4 weeks old. I ended up feeding it with a quarter strength nutes (only about 5ml of canna coco and A & B and only 2ml of botanicare) last night so I hope it doesn't affect it much. I watered last night with a little bit of water, enough for some runoff. I had planted two others in tiny plastic cups and those have sprouted also. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
That is such a tiny seedling in such a big pot. Now that you have watered it again, let it dry out as much as you can without letting the plant be affected. Then, give it a bit of water just around the outside of the pot... that way, the roots will grow out and fill the pot faster, because they will try to get to the water. If they constantly have all the water they need, they won't grow as fast to search it out. Looking good though. I do hope you don't encounter problems from adding the nutrients. It really is too early for that.
Haha i know, i started my main plant in the bigger 2 gallon SmartPot but planted two others in small plastic cups. These two others have sprouted as hell and are looking good. I sure hope the nutes dont hurt the little seedling this early as I only put in a small amount when I watered. The water was pH around 6.0-6.5, maybe less according to the pH control kit I bought. I work at a chemistry store so I plan on getting a better pH control kit so I can test the pH of the water and roots more accurately. Question regarding light set up: I have the lights about an inch or so away from the main pot, is this okay or what do you recommend for now? I will keep you updated with pictures and such as the week goes on. Thank you for all of your help!
Tuesday update. Little girl is looking good right now, started to grow another set of leaves. Had to move everything into a little dresser for a smaller space but everything is still good. Had a question regarding the leaves again. The leaves are a tiny bit droopy it seems and one of the leaves looks a little curled inwards, not sure if this is a problem or not. I can put up a picture later tonight when I get back home to check on them. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum