So I guess i will go ahead and post my first real grow(did a bag seed grow in a cfl box, but they herm'd on me) as a journal, so that if i make mistakes, you don't have to repeat them. I am growing in a 4' x 4' x 6.5' grow tent (122x122x198 for my euro friends) under a 400 watt switchable MH/HPS. I have decide to go with dutch passion Think Different autos. I will be using FF OF, as it is the best thing i can get locally, in 5 gallon buckets. Any advice and guidance to feeding will be WELL heeded.
I am in a space that is about 45 degrees F outside of the tent, and with the light going and everything sealed up except the stack at the top and a small intake at the bottom of the tent, i am running at about 73 F constantly at about 2.5 feet from the light without an exhaust fan running(i have one ready to go if needed). the temp difference between the inside and outside seems to create a natural draft in the tent that i can feel blowing out at the top, and sucking in at the bottom vent. i am going to use a tiny little space heater for the dark 4 hrs, if needed. Is 73 F going to cut it? i can always lower the light, if needed. what is optimal temp?
I pre-watered my soil yesterday and cranked up the heat in the tent a little with a very small space heater to get my medium up to temp. I watered it with distilled water that was at a Ph of 6.9(tested it before using) and left them under the light for 24 hrs(again, to warm the wet soil up a little). My seeds arrived today, and I planted them about 3/8" directly into my 5 gallon containers(drilled with plenty of holes) and covered them with cling wrap to trap in a little humidity until they pop. My temp under the light is actually around 75 F, and not 71. It dropped a little when I opened the tent(cold here).
Day three after planting directly from breeders pack into soil, breakthrough. Germination took place under 400 watt MH 24/0 at about 77-80 degrees F.
Day 4. The smaller of the two seems to be about a half day behind. it doesn't seem to be growing at a slower rate, it just took longer to pop. cruising at 78 F the the plants. They are really starting to drink, as i can feel a noticeable difference in the weight of the 5 gallon buckets. I may wait a couple more days to give them their first water though, because the soil is still fairly moist a few inches deep. *each bucket got 18 liters of FFOF, and then watered with 2/3 of a gallon of distilled water 24 hrs before i planted my seeds for germination.
day 20, and after a little burn, http://forum.grasscity.com/sick-plants-problems/1346176-overwatered-burned-both.html , they recovered and are going at it. I switched to HPS yesterday after they started flowering the day before. as you can see, the Phenotypes are completely different between the two, even though both are Think Different. one is really bushy, with lots of side branching, the other, not so much.
