6X Black Water Og - 400W Mh @ Veg - 1000W Hps @ Flower - Vertical - Scrog - Lst Combo - 500 Gram Yeild Goal

Discussion in 'Indoor Grow Journals' started by greaterthings123, Aug 2, 2014.

  1. WHATS UP GRASS CITY!?  SUBSCRIBE! I WILL BE UPDATING 2-3 TIMES A WEEK.  BUDGET GROW!  FAILURES, NEWBIES, MEDIOCRES, PROS, AND GODS ALIKE ARE WELCOME HERE!  I WANT ADVICE FROM EVERY ONE!  3RD INDOOR GROW!
    WIN_20140731_222311.JPG WIN_20140801_161718.JPG WIN_20140801_161632.JPG WIN_20140730_232324.JPG WIN_20140801_161618.JPG
     
    This is my 3rd indoor grow.
     
    1st grow - 8 x 26 watt CFL grow in Miracle Grow soil/nutes/molasses, no ventilation, 2 bag seed plants in one Rubbermaid container, 6 week veg, forced harvest @ 6 weeks of flowering, 55 gram yield.
     
    2nd grow - 250w HPS only grow in compost, perlite, topsoil mix, miracle grow nutes, 4 "good" bag seed plants in 3 gallon pots, 6 week veg, 9 week flower, 150 gram yield.
    _________________________________________________________________
     
    It's been 3 years since last grow and I have a little space to work with this time.   4.5'D x 8'L x 7'H space.
     
    I am starting with 6 Black Water OG rooted clones.  They were cloned and rooted with hydro methods and transferred into COCO. 
     
    I just fed them with my 1st bottle of Soul Synthetics Grow (3 - 1.25 - 1.25 - 5ml to 1 gallon tap water). I topped 4 of them where it seemed beneficial.  In a week I will be transplanting them into 5 gallon planters filled with Fox Farms Ocean Forest. 
     
    They are under a 400w MH 24/0.  This light is an old school one with the ballast on top of the bulb.  I DIY a reflector by opening a 24" long 3"x10" piece of rectangular ducting, cutting a hole in the center, and mounting it over the bulb/under ballast.  It seems to be a good budget reflector, but I'm not sure about the reflection value.   
     
    When my girls get bigger, I will remove the reflector, add a vertical hexagon shaped screen around the light, place the plants in a circle around the out side of the screen with the bulb in the middle.  There will be a box fan blowing up at the bulb 24/0.  When I 12/12, I will have a 1000w HPS vertically set, ventilated by an inline fan pulling through a carbon filter at the middle of the jungle.
     
    I have never tried a vertical method before.  I am trying it this time because it seemed a practical use of the light I obtained.  I am concerned about weak shoots and such.  Any advice is much appreciated. 
     
    PLEASE FOLLOW MY GROW!  I want advice from everyone!  Newbies, pros, and GODs alike I encourage to follow!  My goal is to reach a 500 gram harvest.
     
    READY, SET, GROW! WIN_20140730_232324.JPG

     
  2. Welcome back Im subbed in with you always great to see some one come back in. I love a big shade scrog but have never really paid attention to a vertical scrog so this should be cool. 
     
  3. Big shade scrog, eh? I'm unfamiliar with the term.  Are you referring to big screen for a single plant?  I am not utterly committed to a vertical grow, but I want to be the guy who is successful doing something only a few have tried on a budget. 
     
    I miss quoted my space, it is actually 50"D x 71"W x 84"H.  Basically 6 ft x 4 ft.  I am currently designing the screen and I will post the blueprint when I've finalized it.  I'm worried I won't have enough depth to pull off the separate screen idea.  Or even a circle screen... I may have to change planter size, or my layout.  We will see. Thanks for subbing!
     
  4. SO! Grass City!  Here is my vertical floorplan.  Any thoughts or questions? 
    Vertical_LST_ScrOG_Floorplan.jpg
     
     
     
     
    Can you visualize it?  6' x 4' space.  The 4 screens on the left have 7 sq. ft. of screen surface each and the 2 on the right have 11 sq. ft. each.  This will give me a total screen size of 50 sq. ft.   
     
    IN THEORY BENEFITS
     
    - doubled my canopy size by choosing to do a vertical LST ScrOG over a traditional Scrog (6x4=24 sq. ft.)
    - Separate screens allow me to maintain each plant separately w/out entanglement.
    - Stacked/floor comparison will benefit future choices in set-up.
           
    QUESTIONS FOR GRASS CITY
     
    - Can anyone else think of more benefits?
    - Can anybody think of any concerns I should think over and plan against?
     
    I have 6 screens with an average canopy of 8.33 feet.  Very close to 6 - 3x3 ScrOGs. 
     
    - What should a low, average, and high 3 x 3 ScrOG yield? 
     
  5. what brought you back? why did you stop for a while?
     
  6. Grass City!  I thought it would be a good idea to log down everyone of my expenses for this budget grow.  I will list other expenses as they are put into use, as this is a "step it up" budget grow. 
     
    - 6 rooted Black Water OG clones -------------------------------------- $60.00
    - 2 38.6 Qt. bags of FFOF (friends extra) ----------------------------- $10.00
    - 400w MH + 2 used bulbs on Craigslist -------------------------------$40.00
    - DIY ducting into reflector ------------------------------------------------ $ 8.00
    - Soul Synthetics Grow (1 qt.) --------------------------------------------$16.00
    - 6 5gal planters -------------------------------------------------------------- free
    _____________________________________________________________
     
    TOTAL INVESTMENT (8/3/14) ----------------------------------------- $134.00
     
  7. #1 - This is the largest clone.  She's shown less growth than #2 since I got her.
    WIN_20140804_000910.JPG
    #2 - 2nd in size, but catching up fast.
    WIN_20140804_001040.JPG
    #3 - 3rd in size.
    WIN_20140804_001157.JPG
    #4 - 4th in size.
    WIN_20140804_001257.JPG
    #5 - 5th in size. Not showing much growth yet.
    WIN_20140804_001410.JPG
    #6 - Smallest clone of the bunch.  Looking fairly sickly, but I won't take any action yet. 
    WIN_20140804_001536.JPG
    #6 - Closer up shot shows all leaves curled downward.  Any suggestions?
    WIN_20140804_001603.JPG
     
    - They are in COCO, waiting for roots to ball up in cup before transfer into 5gal FFOF.
    - All 6 were fed Soul Synthetics Grow three days ago.  (5ml/gal till runoff)
    - They will be thirsty tomorrow.  Should I feed?  Or just water?
     
  8. #8 greaterthings123, Aug 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 7, 2014
    I'm making progress and planning for the future.  I got my cool tube today at cost from my most local grow shop.  I am going to be a loyal customer to them from now on.  Every question I had was answered well and if they didn't have an answer they were honest about that to!  This cool tube was new in box with some fixable factory defects.  Got it for $72 out the door. 
    WIN_20140806_160217.JPG
     
    So,  that brings me up substantially in price and I still need a 1000 watt dimmable ballast and both MH/HPS bulbs.  Slowly but surely getting ready for yield! 
     
    - 6 rooted Black Water OG clones -------------------------------------- $60.00
    - 2 38.6 Qt. bags of FFOF (friends extra) ----------------------------- $10.00
    - 400w MH + 2 used bulbs on Craigslist -------------------------------$40.00
    - DIY ducting into reflector ------------------------------------------------ $ 8.00
    - Soul Synthetics Grow (1 qt.) --------------------------------------------$16.00
    - 6 5gal planters -------------------------------------------------------------- free
    - Saturn 6 Cool Tube (from growshop @ cost)-----------------------$72.00
    _____________________________________________________________
     
    TOTAL INVESTMENT (8/6/14) ----------------------------------------- $206.00
     
  9. Subbed to this, I love a budget grow and have only seen 1 other person doing a vertical silo here on GC.
     
    At least its a COCO grow. To make it rock it would have to be coco or hydro it catch interest.
     
    I have A 1,000w MH set for vertical configuration. I may give vertcal a shot when I move to my new building.
     
  10. Actually, the plan as of yet will not be coco.  The clones are in coco now but the plan is a transfer into FFOF. 
     
    BUT!  I am open to suggestions.  I just don't know much about hydro and I am definitely not ready to do it on this grow.  If I were to keep it COCO, would I just transfer into pure coco?  I'm planning 5 gal containers, so this wouldn't be affordable for me (I hear coco is pricy - but I haven't priced it myself).  Is there a soil/coco mixture I could do, or would this even benefit me seeing as coco has no nutrients.  It could possibly help root growth.... I donno, help me out.  Do a little thinking with me if you have the time.    
     
    Eventually this will be a perpetual grow with at least 2 areas, and possibly 3 to keep clones and mothers.  If the vert thing proves itself, I would be able to drag the screen/pot out of veg 1 by 1 into the bud room that will eventually have 1 vertically set HPS in one area and another area that will have 2 600 waters in a single tube (maybe MH/HPS combo for comparison purposes).  I am tired of hearing/listening to how I have to keep my plant numbers down if I want big yield with dense buds.  Who knows, with help from all ya all, I may be able to beat 1 gram a watt. 
     
  11.  
    Rather than reinvent the wheel read the links here to get some good ideas.
     
    One guy here does coco in 15 gallon pots and realy gets it on.
    Look at what this guy does with coco, he kicks ass bigtime.
     
    http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-grow-journals/1297178-8000w-built-shed-now-what.html?hl=you%20built%20shed%20now%20what
    http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-grow-journals/1316215-9200w-built-shed-now-what-shedarama-rd3.html
     
    This guy does hydro and vertical silo training method, a real smart guy too.
     
    http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-medical-marijuana-growing/1285786-super-silo-vertical-2kw-100-ft%C2%B2-rdwc-trees-water-cooled-dry-nutrients.html
     
    Plant numbers..... UM yea.  hard to keep them down doing sea of green Like I do. :laughing:
     
    1 gm/per watt easy stuff... its 2 grams per watt you need to shoot for.
     
    I have yet to run coco but might try it in a greenhouse. It just so damn good if you have skills to make it happen.
     
    I can bounce ideas around with you and I hope to pick up more tricks too. :)
     
  12. Speaking of dimmable ballasts, Someone I trust assumed you needed a special bulb in order to use them - or change out different sizes of bulbs.  Is this untrue?  Or will any bulb at the ballasts limit use the dimmable option?  You don't have to change bulbs out right? 
     
    To make sure you understand my question, here is an example:
     
    1000 watt dimmable ballast, ANY 1000 watt bulb, any setting (50%, 75%, 100%, 400w, 600w, 750w, 1000w MH/HPS), can be used without changing the bulb.  The only difference is the 50% setting would give 1/2 the light and use 1/2 the electricity.  I want a complete understanding of tis before I buy my 1000 w ballast.    
     
  13.  
    Yes the better ballast will run the smaller bulbs. some only dim down to 500 watts so it will tax the shit out of a 400w bulb.
     
    Some have wattage settings and others have a percentage.
     
    A 1,000w bulb will dim down with no problems. You are still putting hours on the bulb but they are easy hours.
     
    Good 1,000w ballast will have a super lumen or 1,115 watt overdrive. My Thunder ballast does.
     
    I find I never use the dimmer at all. I run bulbs compatible with digital or magnetic so no issues with bulb being interchangeable.
     
  14. Ordered my dimmable ballast.  I know I shoulda done 2 x 600s but Im doing a single thousee like planned.  Maybe I'll drop some cfls up high and down low to help spread.
     
    - 6 rooted Black Water OG clones -------------------------------------- $60.00
    - 2 38.6 Qt. bags of FFOF (friends extra) ----------------------------- $10.00
    - 400w MH + 2 used bulbs on Craigslist -------------------------------$40.00
    - DIY ducting into reflector ------------------------------------------------ $ 8.00
    - Soul Synthetics Grow (1 qt.) --------------------------------------------$16.00
    - 6 5gal planters -------------------------------------------------------------- free
    - Saturn 6 Cool Tube (from growshop @ cost)-----------------------$72.00
    - Apollo Horticulture 1000 watt dimmable ballast -------------------$110.00
    _____________________________________________________________
     
    TOTAL INVESTMENT (8/8/14) ----------------------------------------- $316.00

    $ is getting up there. I wish I had enough up front to go the package direction.
     
  15.  
    Your investment will pay off 10-20+ times first harvest.
     
    People buy weed for $400+ an ounce so you will be sitting pretty. :)
     
  16. So! The Saturn 6 XXXL Cool Tube with factory defects had no defects at all. 
     
    WIN_20140809_003324.JPG
     
    I was told by my growshop guy the reflector material was 3/8" to wide and it needed trimmed and holes added to fit.  After loosening some factory tightened screws to use the slots properly, it took a hole 20 minutes to finish the assembly.  SCORE!  Universal Garden Supply @ UGSM.com lists the price at $179.99 to $199.99. 
     
     
     
    I am tempted to think the salesperson wanted to do me a favor without just saying it.  If not, he definitely shouldn't be in charge of assembly.  It was really that easy. 
     
    Until I am able to rewire my MH ballast to this reflector, here it is reflecting light from my inefficient 400w MH....... --------->   WIN_20140809_003358.JPG
     
     
     
     
  17. QUESTIONS FOR GRASSCITY!!!!!!!!!!
     
    Is a cheap ($30) 6" inline booster fan enough to keep a 1000w bulb in a cool tube cool? As long as it has no filter attached?   
     
    Why 24/0 for veg?  Why 18/6?  Why somewhere in between?  What is YOUR reasoning? 
     
  18. Interesting step man.  My only concern is how much light is being lost, ie... light hitting the floor.  Might just be an early stage of your grow.  Throw up some more pictures of the room completed. I haven't explored much into vertical grows, but it's a game of numbers.  More or less a vertical setup of a Swedish style garden
     
    1g/w is pretty doable, just lollipop your stuff so energy isn't being wasted on popcorn buds.  Not sure if that's doable in a vertical setup though.
     
    If I had that space I'd just drop 2 plants in there in 5-10g pots.  1# would be easy to hit, and I am always a fan of less mouths to feed.  I'm dropping my count from 14 to 10 my next round.  1LB + plants : )
     
    Good luck, I'll keep an eye on this.
     
  19. I do have a lot of light being wasted right now. I've put some reflective wrapping paper on the floor since the initial pics.  It is hard to take pics in the room now so the single seedling pics were pulled outside the room.  This is a total budget grow that I am slowly stepping up as spendable money comes through.  The basic idea is to increase my canopy in the same footprint.  I think having higher plant #s will allow me to fill the screens faster and reduce veg time.
     
  20. Here are a couple pics of where I'm at now.  Humble beginnings, but I plan to update every time I make a slightly significant improvement. 
     
     
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page