Hi! A few weeks ago I started my first proper grow (I grew some bagseed last summer - threw them in a pot and left them - they were all Hermie ) I've converted a small set of drawers into a grow box. The idea was to throw some lights in, add some fans and grow some fem-autos. It's all basically a test to see how if I can grow my own. I know a lot of people aren't into autos, but I thought it's worth a bash for the sake of a few quid! As this run is basically a test, I've tried to only spend on things I really needed, and use what I had lying around the house (I have a lot of stuff lying around the house - I only needed to buy the seeds, soil, pots and bulbs). I've added a PC fan for exhaust, and a PC fan inside to circulate the air. I've added a white hardboard panel on the ceiling to act as a reflector (still got to do the sides with some more I have lying around). I haven't painted or anything as I don't have any knocking around! I'm using 225W of CFL bulbs for 2 plants: 4 x 45W 2700K CFL 1 x 45W 6400K CFL I chose the Berry Ryder, and Afghan Kush Ryder. As height is limited, I've done some LST, training the plant around the edge of the 12" pots. I have no idea how big they will get, so I did it this way just to be safe and adjust height with a stack of books under the pots. I've used standard B&Q multi-purpose compost (I've just looked at the bag and it says it's not suitable for acid loving plants ) and standard tap water. No nutrients or additives. It's been around 4 weeks since germinating, and they are coming along nicely, but it looks like I'm going to have to start doing something other than just giving them water, as they are starting to brown and crisp up! I've just ordered a thermometer, humidity sensor and PH tester so I can track the conditions in the box. I've just checked the temp with my multimeter, and it's reading around 28C at the top of the plants, but not sure how accurate that is. I thought I'd at best end up with a couple of stumps, so didn't want to spend more than £50 on it. That's why I've not done anything more than some light and water. They are looking nice now so I want to treat my crop properly! Pics to follow...
They don't look bad, what soil you using? and how often are you watering? The crispyness looks like the CFL could be too close to the plants.
Cheers. I'm quite happy with them, to say they've been pretty much left to it. The soil is just standard multi-purpose compost and I'm watering when the top layer of soil gets dry. I moved the plant down as soon as I noticed the crispiness, and it hasn't returned
I had a bit of a worry a couple of weeks back. I went away for a couple of days, and when I came back a load of the fan leaves had gone yellow! It seemed a bit quick and many for it to be just flowering. I spread the soil apart in the middle, spread some spent coffee grounds in the new pit to give it an N boost, and pushed the soil back over it to sandwich the coffee in there before a water. Done it a few times since and seems to have dramatically reduced the loss of leaves. Probably need to find a home-made P and K solution now. Next grow I'm going to use some organic nutrients properly rather than just let them grow 'natural' as it were. The Afghan Kush's main cola is about 6 inches long, and the Berry Ryder is about 4 inches. There's a few other 2"-3" buds on both. My missus has taken our DSLR away with her for a week, so I've had to upload with a crappy point and shoot. I've been looking at the triches with a loupe, and they all look milky to me. Could be clear, I've never done this before, but don't look swollen enough like pics I've seen on the web. There are a couple of amber ones on a couple of bud sites. I'll keep an eye on it. Worked out theres 2-3 weeks left-ish from what the seed bank said (damn, should of made a note of the day I planted), but they're so close now. Gotta resist snipping off a smaller bud and quick drying it....