So yeah, I got this super low budget grow closet in my bedroom & this is day 5, I'm pretty happy with how it's growing, I've used organic potting soil and it's been on a 24-0 light schedule. This is my first time growing a plant ever, I plan to clone it as well if everything goes as planned. I plan on setting up a 1000w light for flowering phase, as well with Big Bud nutrient. I just invested on an irrigation system today as well, with a water pump, which I'm setting up as we speak This is how my little flower is looking like Can someone give me advices / outlooks and if it's looking healthy? Appreciate it
Also, for growing phase I'm using just one fluorescent swirl bulb. Should I change to 18-6 or should I stick to 24-0 ?
I ses You're having a problem with a skinny stem. Gaving airflow is very important. I like a little little little more than air flow, enough to get the plant to baaaaaaaaarley move. That should give You a bigger stem over a period of time. Also if You are using a cfl, it can be pretty close. I say about three inchs close to the plant, unless it get's too hot. Looks good besides the stretch though. Good luck and have a great day. 24/0 is thought to make it grow faster but I would go with at lease 4 hours of darkness. Might have too much stress with 24/0.... My opinion though. Good luck and have angreat day.
Thanks for the advice, I wasn't aware of that skinny stem problem, it's probably because I didn't setup a fan until 5 days in because I thought a little seedling wouldn't need it. I set 1 little desk fan pointing at it from a distance that makes the plant just to slightly move, I hope it fixes this stem problem. Meanwhile here's an update on how it's looking / setup. I repeat, this is a extremely low budget grow and I'm pretty sure mistakes are gonna be made so bear with me
Hey bud, your deff gna need more bulbs if your only using 1. I personally started out with 2 and added as she grew. I also assume your gna transplant into a bigger pot as she grows, try to get her soil level up another 3" or so. Pretty much bury some of that stem under soil...will help in getting a larger root mass. _________________ Check out my Journal!!! http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/1307645-first-grow-organic-northern-lights-pc-grow.html
Absolutely do not go 24/0 hours of light. Do 18/6...plants do most of their growing at night in the darkness. Your plant won't reach it's full potential under 24 hours of light. I also would recommend ditching the Fox Farm Grow Big or whatever.....it's nothing more than a fancy label that will disappoint you. I would go with a General Hydroponics or Blue Plant veg nutrient. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Thanks for everyones input, I just changed the light schedule to 16-8, hopefully will see better results. Here's the current status of it, I added a handful of soil into it after I took the picture. & I plan on using the Big Bud because a friend of mine that grew as well used it, and he had great results, the only difference is that he grew hydroponics.
I didn't think so either, until I seen most laying on their side pointed towards the light. Be sure to also give them a break from the fan every now and then.
Thanks. I'm now using 18-6 light schedule and I turn the fan off during the last 2 hours of darkness then turn them on again along with the lights
I recommend that you bury your plant right up to the leaves and give it more light. I would run the lights 24/0. You should have at least 50 actual watts of light per square foot of growing space. If you're growing in soil you don't need an irrigation system. Fox Farms nutes are fine. Read, read, read.
I disagree, you need your lights out time just as we need our sleep. You have to have a lights out period. I've read about people that do modified light periods like 72/8 _________________ Check out my Journal!!! http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/1307645-first-grow-organic-northern-lights-pc-grow.html
Thanks everybody, but from now on, I'm keeping a 18/6 light schedule as I see it's responding well to it.. and guess what.. a new set of leaves formed overnight! I'm so excited that this is going awesome! heres a snap! what do you guys think? and how often should I be watering it? I've been measuring with my finger 1inch deep and sometimes it's moister than other, but it's always moist... should I still water it if it stays moist?
You're doing everything you're supposed to be doing. Your seedling looks good. As far as watering goes, continue using the finger method. I like to go 2 inches down, but right now yours has a tiny taproot so an inch is good. If it's moist, don't water. If it's dry, water. Rinse, repeat, keep the light close. At this point, I would personally keep it under 24/0 until you switch to veg, in about 2 weeks. Then you can drop it down to 18/6 to let her rest. Right now, she needs light and lots of it. We already know from the beginning of this post, and that long ass stem, that light has been an issue. It's not exactly the time to be putting her in dark hours....while she continues to search for light.
Mine are about the same age as yours, I keep my desk fan on the timer with my lights and they seem to be doing good with that.
That's what I did. Just took it out because I need the space, but she loved it while it was in there _________________ Check out my Journal!!! http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/1307645-first-grow-organic-northern-lights-pc-grow.html
And I disagree with that statement. Seedlings don't need a blackout period, especially one that's stretching like that....searching for light. There's no gain in giving a seedling any period of darkness. It doesn't need it's "rest" at this stage. You can flip out of 24/0 when you go into veg stage. Right now, the seedling needs uninterrupted 24hrs worth of light, if it stands a chance of not being supported with a popsicle stick it's entire seedling stage.
In nature, they have no choice but to get a dark period, so I would assume the same applies indoors. I did 18/6 frm the moment she popped her head out and she didn't stretch, matter of fact I moved my lights higher at times to get her to stretch a little more. His was stretching because he didn't have lights close enough...IMO. 24/0 is not gna hurt her, it's just not needed. Plus he gets to save that much more on his light bill _________________ Check out my Journal!!! http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/1307645-first-grow-organic-northern-lights-pc-grow.html
Well thankfully we aren't mimicking nature entirely. If we were, we would be misting our plants with water to mimic rain, release bugs into grow rooms for the plants to somehow naturally build up defenses and tolerances, and my dog would come and piss on the plants, to mimic the occasional animal urine. Saving 8 hours on a single 23w CFL bulb for 2 weeks in seedling phase will be negligible on an electric bill. 18/6 for seedlings is fine, unnecessary but fine. But switching into 18/6 promotes the vegetation stage. Seedlings don't need rest, they need light and growth. It's kind of the point.
Lol...ok bud Well I'm sure there's some truth to what your saying as I'm still working on my very first grow. I was simply sharing my experience w/ an 18/6 light schedule from seed. From the Growers Bible..."some growers leave lights on 24hrs a day. MJ can effectively process 16 to 18 hours of light per day after which it reaches a point of diminishing returns and electricity is wasted." While we may not be mimicking Everything frm nature indoors, we still are growing natures creation, Marijuana. And if a dark period is good enough for them outside in nature then it's good enough for my garden indoor...again my opinion. I do mist her while she was in vegg to mimic rain, and it's a fact that urine is beneficial for plants, diluted of course. _________________ Check out my Journal!!! http://forum.grasscity.com/absolute-beginners/1307645-first-grow-organic-northern-lights-pc-grow.html