First Indoor Grow

Well heres a journal started kind of late of my indoor grow sofar. The plants are some kind of purple strain that my nephew got the seeds free, their probably guessing about 2.5-3 months old. Just using CFL`s for now till about middle of next month when I will be upgrading to a 1000 watt HPS/MH light set up, the grow table is about 5X5 inside a grow room thats about 8L X 5W and 6-7H it has a slanted ceiling. Got a 450cfm fan to cool the light and draw fresh air in and if neccessary also be hooked upto a Phresh carbon filter at a later date. Using Technaflora nutes (see link below for info) The plants range in height of about 18-20 inches, when they get taller gonna take the grow table out and sit them on the floor with plant trays underneath to collect run off for disposal of outside and for routine PH testing. Soil I am using Sta Green plant and vegetable soil, it has time release nutes in it but when I read it the amount seemed very small ranging in 0.01-0.02% for what few time release nutes that are in it. Watering cycyle is feed one day then couple days off then water and so on. I only need to water them every couple of days right now.

http://www.technaflora.com/sharedfiles/Canadian2009RFS_3.pdf

Shop Sta-Green 2 Cu. Ft. Flower & Vegetable Planting Mix at Lowes.com green&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=sta green

 

We got 12 23 or 26 watt CFL`s and 4 40 watt daylight flourescent lights, 2 flourescent lights at each end of the home made light rack we made with the CFL`s running down the middle in pairs. Its not pretty but its been working nicely till I get a new HPS/MH light set up going. As for the plants my nephew is comming down today and said he is gonna look and see if their good to be topped so it grows multiple cola`s instead of one single one. Basicly copying what my nephew did at his place with the exception that he had 3 really small grow areas and were using one larger grow room area. When they get taller were gonna take the home made grow table out and sit them on the floor. The rope is used to raise the light as needed and one side can be easily raised more then the other if needed.

 

CFL`s dont really use alot of electricity but the intake fan, the 4 40 watt flourescents and having to run the old patio air conditioner have raised the electric bill about $25-30 a month. Sta Green does have some time release nutes in it but they are very minimal in the amounts. On my next grow gonna try some soil that has no time release nutes in them to see what difference there is.

 

From what I read for light per plant is 100 watts for the first plant and 50 watts for each additional plant, we had some extra flourescnet lights just needed the daylight bulbs so figured throw those in there for some extra light untill we get a 1000 watt HPS/MH light set up around the middle of the month. So if your using CFL`s that are equivalent to a 100 watt bulb times the number of CFL`s till you get to or over 100 watts for first plant and same for the 50 watts for each additional plant, I think. Example, 1 23 watt CFL bulb is equivalent to a 100 watt bulb so 5X23 watts= 115 watts. I think thats how you add it up for watts for the first plant. I think they way it was described is 100 watts for first plant not what the CFL bulb is equivalent to but total watts itself.

 

Not bad, still dealing with what I believe is a PH problem and my PH tester wont be here untill the 13th, ordered one onlince because all the hydro shops around here are about $75-100 for a decent water proof PH meter and I get one online for about half that. Will be adding some updated pics in a little bit here.

 

I got one of those soil PH testers and its ok, I think it gives you a general idea of the soil`s PH but not a more accurate reading then using a digital one and testing the water run off. Should be getting my digital one delivered on the 13th.

 

Dont think its nute burn but more of a PH prob but will see when I get my PH tester delivered on the 13th. Since using filtered water from a Brita water pitcher that sits over night in clean plastic 1 gallon Arizona tea jugs it doesnt doesnt appear to have gotten worse or spreading. As for PPM/EC I know nothing about that but was curoius about it. Just started an outdoor grow journal with a couple of pics up just need to remember to update the journals on a regular basis.

http://forum.grasscity.com/outdoor-grow-journals/632781-first-outdoor-grow.html

 

Not doing any PH balancing untill I get my tester, what very little damage there is it hasnt spread since I started using a Brita water pitcher with a carbon filter for water and nute mix. As for my outdoor plants we got Bill Dog for security, when he growls and breaths in at the same time he sounds psychotic. He`s an American Bulldog and weighs around 110lbs. When we have him outfront with us we have him on a tie out, zip line or whatever you call it and its rated for a 150lb dog and he`s already broke two of them where they connect to the latch thingy that that goes on the ring on his collar, he`s very protective and teritorial.

 

Actualy the most expensive parts were the CFL bulbs at Home Depot, the wood we had as for the flourescent light fixtures we got at Habitat For Humanity`s Restore where you can find new and used stuff from home remodels really cheap. I upgraded the light set up today to a 1000 watt dimable digital ballast and a 6" radiant hood. Was thinking of going with a 600 watt set up and add another when we do more plants on the next run but that would almost double what it would cost for light so just decided to go with a 1000 wat set up.

 

Got a digital PH trster a few days ago and going to get some PH down tommorow, played around with it some learning how to use it properly.