Jane and Mary, NL CFL 2nd Grow

Hey everyone, I havent poked my face around here in a little while, But I got 4 Northern Lights (supposedly) seeds from my friend who used to grow. I planted 2 (Jane and Mary). Theyre roughly A month and a half old, and so far havent been on anything insane, but I plan to change that. I have 2 42w 2700k bulbs, and 2 26w 6500k bulbs, for the whole grow up until last night when I moved them, I had an extra 2 26w bulbs
Until last night the plants were in a Rubbermaid container without a top, and a window fan on top facing upwards, I know this is kinda starving them of oxygen, but it was the best way to regulate temperatures with the materials I had. Oh yeah, materials, This whole thing was ghetto as **** haha, Using CFLs plugged into extension cords, duct taped to the sides, as well as 3 CFLs in an surge protector... But hey, it got the job done!
With my new setup (sorta similar to my first grow before I moved it) I feel I'm going to have much less issues, and much more room for more lights, which is always a good thing
I'm considering going maybe tomorrow to the hydro store (an unfortunate 18 mile drive) to get some good nutrients, Any suggestions? I'm guessing alot of people are going to say Fox Farms, which of the Three would be good for Vegging? And how much should I expect to pay? Can anyone help diagnose the nutrient problem in the picture posted? I Know I have to pH test my water, really bad, considering its tap that hasnt been left out >_<
Unfortunately I just realized I dont have any pictures of them growing up, they were on my old droid I just sent back,


First picture is Jane before recent LST
Second picture is my unfortunate burns
Third picture is Both plants after being transplanted last night (Jane in the black container, and mary in janes old container, the clear one)
Fourth picture is the new set up, from the outside, since the lights are on 24/0 Im not too worried bout light proofing just yet
Fifth picture is my ghetto light fixture for now I plan to put y splitters in each socket, and hopefully upgrade to all 42watts (keeping mixed spectrum though)
Sixth picture is Jane above after LST
Seventh picture is Mary above after LST

Edited by JNorris, 20 October 2011 - 04:25 PM.

So mary, the smaller of the two plants hasn't really grown at all since I transplanted her, it went completely fine, but 2 waterings later she's just not doing anything :/how's however, jane is showing crazy vigor and has about 3 altering mature nodes (where the leaves don't grow right across from one another, im considering ditching mary and making a new. Or should I utileze all of the spce for jane and veg for another two or so months and grow a monster? Side note, my brother told me something about sealing one end of a paper towel roll, and sliding it over one branch for 12 hours a day, causing that one branch to flower to show sex. I've never heard of this personally, and it sounds like it would stress the plant quite massivly, anyone hear of such a thing?

Although this grow doesnt seem to be interesting anyone just yet, I wont let it stop me from updating it incase anyone is curious. Heres a few pictures of the babies. Jane (being in a clear container) has roots pressed up against all 4 walls, not a thick heaping of roots, but roots none the less. Is she possibly root bound and therefore not growing? Ive seen people grow much bigger plants in containers of this size. She is showing a great deal of maturity on every branch, but isnt really striving like the other plant is, All of her leaves that are coming in are very small, 11 blades, but abnormally small? I reallllly dont want to toss her out and cut my final yield in half, so any suggestions?

Edited by JNorris, 26 October 2011 - 05:10 PM.

Hi J

subbed. I'll fully read through when I get a sec...came here from your other thread.

I'd raise the plant on the left so it's into the screen, instead of waiting for it to grow into it...

sorry I don't have more time right now ;v/

keep updating

Hah thats fine, any feedback is better than reading my own posts over and over
Thanks for the advice though, I had originally wanted to veg them for another month or so to get nice bushy ass plants ready for some mega buds, but Im afraid of making a complete mess under the screen and defeating the purpose lol. Also, I have some roots exposed above the top of the soil, It wouldnt be a problem to cover them, but Im just curious if its hurting it any with them being exposed, from what I understand roots dont take kindly to light?

it should be fine to cover the exposed roots with soil. Light isn't good for roots cuz it will eventually cause them to die off or not grow into light in the first place.

on nutes, I used to use the FF trio..and they work good, but I prefer to just use purebloompro for soil..it's more balanced and I get better results.

on the rootbound issue...ppl are able to grow large plants in small containers by giving the plant exactly what it needs, which is very hard to do with soil. Once a plant becomes rootbound in soil it's used up all the majority of the nutes and at that point is receiving all it's food from waterings rather then the soil. It almost becomes a hydro plant since it's sitting in an inert medium and receiving all food via waterings....much like coco

To help the plant out, try to fit more soil underneath if you can do so safely...or transplant into more soil.

Second picture is my unfortunate burns

I don't see burns I see deficiencies. When it's burn the tips of the leaves will point down..and the blades will claw. The leaves are like a map...they'll tell you what deficiencies are there by the color and location of the 'spots' or 'burns'
The deficiencies look like magnesium..lightening around the edges..and the growth tips are all twisted and pointing up...I'd hit her with a light cal mag supplement...expect calcium and iron deficiencies to show up soon to if it isn't corrected.

Thanks bongsauce Is the magnesium deficiency an immediate problem, or can I put it off for a week or two? I just ordered my pH pen (cheapest I could find haha 17 after shipping, better than nothing) I figured I would test my tap water, if Its high, find a solution that lowers it, if I put too much in and drop it too much, add more tap water to balance right? I also ordered
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices (Big Bloom)
Will 4 oz be enough for these two plants to flower fully? And will I need other nutrients during flowering? I planned on getting some TB a little later on. I think I might flip the lights tonight and hope for the best >_<

Edit: Im not sure if I can fit bigger containers tall wise, but I might look into transplanting into wider buckets before it gets tangled in the screen lol

mag isn't a huge issue but the other problems that come with it such as Ca and Fe def. will show up soon too if you don't correct it. You could do a light foliar with some epsoms if you have it...I never do foliar feedings but it will hold you over a few days.

Keep in mind that once leaves are damaged, they won't repair themselves.

* I think that bigbloom will hold you over, but it will be close. I'd pick up some calmag supplement if ya can afford it...such as calmag+.

Is the calmag+ going to give me a more fruitful bloom? If so I might as well. This is going to sound noobish, but my last grow I hardly used nutrients, Would I add to the water both the BB and CalMag+ at their recommended dosages posted on both bottles? What would you say is *I know this is a matter of opinion* but THE best nutrient for flowering, I've heard: open sesame, beastly bloom, and cha ching were very productive, but I like getting everyone opinion

I've never really used any additives..I do pretty good with just standard nutes. I don't have much of an opinion on any bloomboosters and stuff, I simply don't use em

I don't always grow in soil, but when I do I use purebloompro for soil.

When adding nutes don't always follow what they say on the bottle (at least I don't) ..some of the recommended doses are pretty strong and not exactly designed for MJ. I prefer to read other ppl's journals and follow their recipes.

The calmag+ has N, Ca, Fe and Mg...which are all some of the most common deficiencies to show up. For your sized plant I'd add like 5ml calmag and 5ml pbp per gallon for the first dose and see how she does....keeping a close eye on the leaves with the Mg def...and seeing if it stops. Then after that continue with a few ml of calmag every few tiems you water to keep those def. from popping back up. Due to the higher N in the calmag I try to start cutting it out in the first weeks of flower.

I prefer to give light nutes every watering rather then feed, water, water or w/e..I think the plants like a more steady balanced feeding schedule instead of getting a bunch of food at once, then nothing but water fer a few days.

Lady hairs in 24/0 lighting? (well 12/12 as of last night )
So on the smaller of the two plants, Im seeing what look like some lady fingers reaching out behind a few branches. Ive read this is a normal reaction to a longer veg, and if they didnt show preflowers it was a concern, but I always thought preflowers in veg meant it was autoflowering? Also, do these two plants look like they have the same pheno to you guys?

I have a few photo strains that show under 20/4 lighting...it's seems like a bout 1 in 5 or so always have the pistils showing. Autos will show much more hairs, earlier. One auto strain I run (S60) sometimes shows sex in 10 days.


Kinda hard to tell on the phenos...probably gonna have to wait till a few weeks into flower to compare bud structures.

Thanks dude, Woo one female, 1 to go! Now I know I should really transplant that girl since shes worth keeping

Just read ur whole 1st gro nice job man... ... And this one ain't lookin to shabby either... You still usin the Miracle gro soil on this grow? Also did you get all the way to Harvest on your first gro with out PHing the water? Lookin forward to watchin this one till the end... If you havn't got your mind set on a nute plan then you might consider this...[ame]http://www.amazon.co...20154727&sr=8-1[/ame]

It has everything you need from start to finish suppliments, nutes and inhancers it's a pretty good deal and plenty for 2 plants.

Edited by 420patient, 01 November 2011 - 01:41 PM.

Just read ur whole 1st gro nice job man... ... And this one ain't lookin to shabby either... You still usin the Miracle gro soil on this grow? Also did you get all the way to Harvest on your first gro with out PHing the water? Lookin forward to watchin this one till the end... If you havn't got your mind set on a nute plan then you might consider this...http://www.amazon.co...20154727&sr=8-1

It has everything you need from start to finish suppliments, nutes and inhancers it's a pretty good deal and plenty for 2 plants.

Hey thanks dude I appreciate the comment and read through the first. I have NO idea what kind of pH my whole first grow was running lol, just tap water that was left out for over a day. I know that will cause the plants to not get as much or too much of different elements.
I am using the same soil, since I saw nothing wrong with it the first time through, EFF THE HATERS! I dont have a plan for veg nutes, but since im done with the phase, Im in no rush to get the veg nutes, anytime from now til the next grow ill have some though! Thanks for the link!

Yeah no problem man... looks great... You were usin the Moisture control with perlite right?

Edited by 420patient, 02 November 2011 - 01:55 AM.

Right, this time around I mixed perlite and vermiculite at a 1:1 ratio, and mixed THAT in with the soil at about 3:1, 3 cups of soil, 1 cup of the perlite/verm untill the buckets were full. Im not sure I like using vermiculite, for it seems to get cold and stay a little moist, which makes it hard to determine when to water, but I havent seen many problems so far. Im considering transplanting these two into 5 or 10 gallon buckets, unforunately I would have to remount my screen higher, but I think it would probably be worth it, agreed? (3rd transplant :/)

3 days into 12/12
Hey everyone/anyone who might be keeping up with the grow. So I transplanted Jane and Mary into 5 gallon buckets, And im expecting to see them LOVE it considering how extremely root bound both were (indicated in a picture lol) While transplanting Mary (the smaller of the two that was in the clear square container) I accidentally took a nice chunk out of the corner of the rootball/soil. Ive heard of people taking kitchen knives to their root balls, so im assuming its nothing to worry about really, just want to make sure. I SO wish I had another closet to grow one plant in here, considering how much these things are begging to be LST'd, but theres simply not enough room to spread em out :/
I have a few questions about the screen. Firstly, Should I even use it, I feel im not going to use it properly and its going to end up hurting my yield somehow >_< And if I DO use it, can I lay it ontop of the plants, or should I fix it to the wall. I know ive seen screens resting directly on the plant before, but more times then none they are fixed above the plants. Whatcha guys think so far?

I think yer kinda beyond a screen at this point...there's too much veg growth that you'd have to train in to the screen...I think you'd be better off just doing some LST with string. What I do is put a few holes in hte rim of the bucket and lasso a few of the taller branches and pull them down..opening the plant up like a flower.

Personally I'd remove a ton of the larger upper fan leaves...this will reduce some of the stretch and promote much better air flow and get some more light to the underbranches. Alot of people will argue not to pull leaves off the plant..but I do it all the time with no ill effects...I consider airflow and light to be much more important than a few top leaves...especially when the plant is healthy and has plenty of leaves to spare...just my 2 cents

Good call on the 5 gallon pots that seems to be the general census as to the best size for indoor... Theyr'e lookin good man nice root growth... It's amazin how big they are usin cfl's bout to get a grow goin soon and it will be very simular to your setup... How's the cured bud off the first grow smoke after being cured awhile?

Edited by 420patient, 03 November 2011 - 02:32 AM.