150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......

[Shred42O]

that same situation happend to me on my last run
what i did was i pinched the stems pretty hard till you hear it crunch (kinda like celery) and bend the whole long branches over dont worry if you see the sides split a little when you bend it heals back stronger then before in a few days

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

...what options do I have this late into the grow to manage this monster? Can I break the thick and wooden stems to pull them back away from the light without killing her? Should I get more aggressive with the tiebacks, pulling stems to opposite sides to keep them low?

I get the same problem from time to time. You may have to reposition and re tie branches periodically. Branches usually bend or even flex w/o problems. Be careful bending the stalk, it can break and you'll have to hold your mouth right to avoid disaster. Thirsty plants are easier to train than hydrated ones.

For the next grow from clones, what would you folks suggest for dealing with such monstrous growth? I was thinking 4 three inch net posts in the bucket lid, with an SOG. Is such a branchy and explosive plant suitable for a micro SOG?

Depends on how long you veg and whether it'll ever stop growing in flower. Have you considered SCROG?

Here is the cabinet's utility chamber. Ballast remoted. Pulling air out of the grow chamber is an old air filter device I found in the garage. It pulls more than enough air for the 150, but alas it's so old I can't seem to find the round carbon filters for it.

I've seen carbon fabric on ebay. You can cut it with scissors and maybe even layer if needed.

 

[MueXX]

I get the same problem from time to time. You may have to reposition and re tie branches periodically. Branches usually bend or even flex w/o problems. Be careful bending the stalk, it can break and you'll have to hold your mouth right to avoid disaster. Thirsty plants are easier to train than hydrated ones.

I'm using twine and paperclips to tie down on the lid. It's hard to see in the picture but there are numerous tie downs. It just seems as though the plant ignores the tie down and grows quickly back towards the light.

It's a very branchy plant, though after all the tie back earlier in it's life most of the branches are looking like stalks now! Other than a few odd tips, most of the plant is a pencil to a sharpie in width, likely hollow tubes.

I could probably as I suggested earlier, tie the branches to the opposite side of the bucket giving myself a few inches. But I have the uneasy feeling that a couple days later it will have grown into the light again and I'll have weaved the plant into a basket, limiting my options.

But I need to figure out something quick, or within a day or two all my tips will be burnt.

I'm also not sure there's any such thing as a thirsty plant in a DWC!

Depends on how long you veg and whether it'll ever stop growing in flower. Have you considered SCROG?

I would probably veg just long enough for the roots to reach the water in the bucket. Probably no more than a week. As far as it stopping it's growing in flower for a SOG, well I somehow doubt it would considering that's my current problem.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I attempted a SCROG with a 1sq foot screen attached to the bucket lid. I had to abort it, as the monster plant laughed at the screen and overwhelmed it. When it was full of growth tips around 10" high that was fine. But by the time the plant was large enough I need 2sq ft of screen and the growth tips were around 16" past the screen and no end in sight, I had to abort and start tying everything back.

I've seen carbon fabric on ebay. You can cut it with scissors and maybe even layer if needed.

I was going to head to home depot to look for the carbon fabric for air conditioners. But tbh, the smell isn't overwhelming with only one plant and I rather enjoy it.

Edit: I just had a thought, that possibly the plant has such monstrous growth because of the 5 gallon bucket? The root mass is huge and it's eating and drinking everything I give it at an amazing rate. It's requiring a res refresh on the old Lucas method every 4-5 days. The water I'm emptying is almost crystal clear, as though the plant has drank up all the nutes.

Maybe next time switch down to 2 gallon containers? I see pipedream was using 1 gallon buckets, but that seems a bit small to me.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

... I'm also not sure there's any such thing as a thirsty plant in a DWC!

I guess you're right.

I would probably veg just long enough for the roots to reach the water in the bucket. Probably no more than a week. As far as it stopping it's growing in flower for a SOG, well I somehow doubt it would considering that's my current problem.

Have you reduced nitrogen?

As I mentioned in my previous post, I attempted a SCROG with a 1sq foot screen attached to the bucket lid. I had to abort it, as the monster plant laughed at the screen and overwhelmed it. When it was full of growth tips around 10" high that was fine. But by the time the plant was large enough I need 2sq ft of screen and the growth tips were around 16" past the screen and no end in sight, I had to abort and start tying everything back.

Sorry, missed that part. You have a very green thumb, lol.

I was going to head to home depot to look for the carbon fabric for air conditioners. But tbh, the smell isn't overwhelming with only one plant and I rather enjoy it.

Might be a good idea to test the fabric for effectiveness. You never know when an unexpected visitors might approach.

Edit: I just had a thought, that possibly the plant has such monstrous growth because of the 5 gallon bucket? The root mass is huge and it's eating and drinking everything I give it at an amazing rate. It's requiring a res refresh on the old Lucas method every 4-5 days. The water I'm emptying is almost crystal clear, as though the plant has drank up all the nutes.

I guess you have your setup dialed in perfect. That sucker wants to GROW! Keep up the good work and make the necessary observations with known strains. A first run is always a mystery of sorts but it sounds like you have a real thoroughbred. Good luck with the training.

Maybe next time switch down to 2 gallon containers? I see pipedream was using 1 gallon buckets, but that seems a bit small to me.

Yup, a 5 gallon is pretty big. I still think you can manage this grow with a little effort and ingenuity. Look on the bright side, sometimes plants don't grow as big as anticipated. Yield suffers.

 

[MueXX]

Have you reduced nitrogen?

I can't quite do that unless I move away from the Lucas formula. Lucas certainly works wonders! I'm the type of person who would measure 10x and put too much thought into the nutes if I were to switch to 3-part. I'd end up doing much harm I fear.

I guess you have your setup dialed in perfect. That sucker wants to GROW! Keep up the good work and make the necessary observations with known strains. A first run is always a mystery of sorts but it sounds like you have a real thoroughbred. Good luck with the training.

Well thanks. I can't quite say it's skill as this is only my third grow. DWC + Lucas formula > my thumb.

To prove that fact I built a bubble cloner out of a plastic shoebox, first two runs all the clones died as the stems turned to mush around the 5th day. I switched to rockwool, they're still going strong now on the 8th day or so.

Yup, a 5 gallon is pretty big. I still think you can manage this grow with a little effort and ingenuity. Look on the bright side, sometimes plants don't grow as big as anticipated. Yield suffers.

You're right, though I'm not complaining just concerned! It's better to have jack's beanstalk genetics. I just need to figure out how to beat it into submission.

I think I'm going to try a SOG next time around. 4 plants sharing that 5 gallon bucket might be what I need.

 

[Shred42O]

dam haha i feel like my tank is huge now in my dwc i have a 10 gal for 2 and it seems to work great
but now i wonder if it would be more worth it to put 4 in

 

[vintner]

MueXX: Not doggin your photography skillz Bro, but it's hard to tell from your first pic...after a month of 12/12, I don't see much in the way of bud formation. Have you checked for light leaks? Some stains can't tolerate even the tiniest leak. Easy to fix though w/a roll of foil duct tape. Also, I see we use the same style of timer. Mine is notorious for not keeping very accurate time. After a week, the timer can be nearly 20 minutes off
Keep us posted. Stay safe n high

 

[MueXX]

MueXX: Not doggin your photography skillz Bro, but it's hard to tell from your first pic...after a month of 12/12, I don't see much in the way of bud formation. Have you checked for light leaks? Some stains can't tolerate even the tiniest leak. Easy to fix though w/a roll of foil duct tape. Also, I see we use the same style of timer. Mine is notorious for not keeping very accurate time. After a week, the timer can be nearly 20 minutes off
Keep us posted. Stay safe n high

I apologize for that. My digital camera is broken, so only option was the camera built into my MacBook Pro. The light inside tends to wash out the image. You can't tell, but there's two blue CFL's off to one side I added to try and keep the plant compact.

I can assure you that the plant is chock full of floral clusters and pistils, exploding all over the plant. No frost yet though.

 

[vintner]

Cool. Well then, I'm w/DB. I'm sure you're adapting as best you can, and I think you're doing pretty good. On a more posative note, as bushy as it is, she should slow down and crown off soon, so you have that to look forward to.
Stay safe, and keep it green

 

[bengie187]

Hello i dont know why it took so long to post on here but here i am............fellow 150 watter check my thread

 

[Pipedream]

it looks like a street light....guess its a 1500 watt incandescent bulb...

Whoa Cowboy, doesn't sound like a winner to me. I'd think you'd do better with a cheap home-made set-up built from scratch than trying to modify what you have. If bucks are a serious concern, read, learn, plan and save. It will be well worth the short wait.

 

[I2KanGrow]

Whoa Cowboy, doesn't sound like a winner to me. I'd think you'd do better with a cheap home-made set-up built from scratch than trying to modify what you have. If bucks are a serious concern, read, learn, plan and save. It will be well worth the short wait.

Yeah, I'm thinkin' it may perhaps be one of those large venue lights, like what you find in a gym or similar room - and that probably wouldn't work. Listen to Pipedream, Cowboy, Pipedream is wise - Pipedream is knowledgeable - Pipedream is sagely!

 

[cosmiccowboy]

Whoa Cowboy, doesn't sound like a winner to me. I'd think you'd do better with a cheap home-made set-up built from scratch than trying to modify what you have. If bucks are a serious concern, read, learn, plan and save. It will be well worth the short wait.

hehehe,thats what i figured. what do you think asbout led's?.i'm askin this because a friend is gonna buy one.

 

[cosmiccowboy]

Yeah, I'm thinkin' it may perhaps be one of those large venue lights, like what you find in a gym or similar room - and that probably wouldn't work. Listen to Pipedream, Cowboy, Pipedream is wise - Pipedream is knowledgeable - Pipedream is sagely!

this is one hot mfer,and has that orange hue of an incandescent..

 

[bengie187]

I was kinda looking for a replacement bulb and stumbled upon a clear phillips 150 mogol base at peavy mart............My current 150 watt light uses this size so thats not the issue.....my question.....Is this bulb any good for growing purposes??....

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

bengie, typical price on a 150 security bulb is $6.00 or less. Home Of Pot sells em for ~$10 and ripoff joints sell em for more. IMO, they work fine for growing. The only thing you might want to check is operational orientation. I've only used universals but I read there are also vertical and horizontal specific. I get mine from e-conolight.com for $5.25 a pop.

I just read one of pontiac's posts. He bought a GE Lomalox that is supposed to have an enhanced color spectrum for growing. It's ~$20 but he says it keeps 90% of it's efficiency for the life of the bulb. If the thing will last a couple of years it might be worth a shot.

 

[BIOJenn]

 

[bengie187]

My plant is like 2" or less away and doesnt seem to be suffering too much....partially due to my lack of exp and choice of strain......but when this plant is grown out im gonna change the ventilation setup and make a cool tube out of the sun system i currently have

Disco- I have one of those luclux ones but its medium base and doesnt fit my lamp

 

[BIOJenn]

thanx

 

[vintner]

what distance is your 150w from the tops of your plants?
i know cooltubed you can get 2" from the bulb but with an open bulb/reflector how far away is optimal.? i always did real good at or around 10"-12"
anybody?

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=128613

Scroll down to second post. Stay safe n high