188w CFL Day-by-Day First Grow

[Sassafrass]

Hi guys! Been browsing this forum alot, and got the itch to grow something green I'm tired of the random green you can buy in my area; you're lucky if the dealer even knows if its a sativa or indica, let alone anything specific about strains. So, with some cheap bagseed for my first run (don't want to order expensive seeds and kill 'em outright), I decided to make a day-by-day picture journal of my grow.

Gonna try to stick with this schedule, but pictures might be a day or two late depending on my work schedule (I work nights and try to take the pictures later in the day).

Plants are in a box approx 2'(W)x1'(D)x3'(H).
Lights are currently 4x 26w 6500k CFL, and will add 2x 42w 6500k CFL on my next payday.
Temps max out in daytime at 84F, considering putting the box in a cooler room, just don't want them to then get too cold at night when the lights go off.

I'm counting the days from when the plants first broke soil.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4 (Sorry for weird blur and stuff, the pictures I took for this day didn't fit very well in a box)

Day 5

Today, Jan. 7th, is Day 6. I'll have pictures up tomorrow, gotta work tonight.

Thanks for looking!

Oh, and plant #1's first leaves are turning yellow, does this mean a nitrogen deficiency already? I just have them on straight water so far.

 

[phr0st]

cant wait to see how the grow turns out!

What kind of soil are you using?

 

[Sassafrass]

The soil is just some stuff I had laying around from WalMart; I didn't actually even realize until you asked that it has some nutrients in it I guess, bag says 0.08-0.12-0.08. Says the soil is made of peat moss, perlite, compost, and lime. I added some sand for extra drainage.

Just took today's pictures, I'll edit and upload in a few minutes.

 

[delic]

Hi Sass, welcome to ICmag and congratulations on a great start to the new year.
I'm a pretty much a noob myself, but have been doing reasonably thanks to the knowledge from the folks here. I would ask how much you are watering your babies. Over watering can cause yellowing leaves in small plants. Also you didnt mention any fan/filter for vetilation and odur control (its not such an issue now but you'll need then soon)
Keep the pictures coming and I'm sure you'll get plenty more help where needed.

-delic

 

[delic]

Sass, just looked back at you pics, only the baby leaves (coly-somethings) show any yellow. Don't think you have anything to worry about mate
cheers

-delic

 

[Sassafrass]

I would ask how much you are watering your babies. Over watering can cause yellowing leaves in small plants. Also you didnt mention any fan/filter for vetilation and odur control

I'll admit, I'm probably overwatering them. The day I planted them with taproots, I watered the pots until water just started to come out the drain holes. Then I've been watering a bit every day; although I use a measuring cup, and they've only been getting 1/4 to 1/2 cup a day per plant. Is this too much?

There's an 80mm computer fan exhausting out the top of the box, with 2 intake holes each about the same size as the fan's exhaust hole. I bought the fan because it was cheap, in retrospect I should have bought the bigger fan. I may go back on payday and upgrade. Actually, I probably will upgrade, since then I can use the 80mm fan for my in-box fan to blow over the plants. For some reason, no store I've checked has had plug-in desk fans.

I haven't made a carbon filter yet. There was a plan on another forum for one that uses two wire pencil holders of slightly different sizes, a stocking, and activated carbon (which I already have from keeping fish). Apparently, wire pencil holders only come in one size everywhere I've checked as well. I'll probably have better luck on these supplies when I head to the city in a week or so.

Sass, just looked back at you pics, only the baby leaves (coly-somethings) show any yellow. Don't think you have anything to worry about mate

Thanks for this! I've been worrying about that little plant

Aaaaand here's today's pictures!

Day 6

 

[phr0st]

I found that the typical rule of thumb is to only water when the soil is almost to completely dry, this promotes greater root growth. I dont think over watering them would cause the starter leafs to turn green though, unless it caused the seedling to absorb too many nutrients. The first set of leafs look good. I think you'll be fine!

I worried about everything on my first grow.

 

[Sassafrass]

Day 7

Just for your viewing pleasure, I've added the best close-ups I could get as an insert on the regular photos.

If anyone wants full resolution copies of any of my photos, just ask My full size images are like, 3800 pixels wide XD

 

[budman678]

I'll have a seat too. I'm poppin seeds as well and it looks like we are on the exact same schedule. This is ginna be fun

 

[Sassafrass]

Day 8

Bought another PC fan, its 120mm in size but blows slower than the 80mm exhaust. So instead of changing out the exhaust, I used the 120mm as an intake fan rather than having passive intake. Bonus, the breeze is blowing over the plants, and the temps in the box have dropped by ~2-3 degrees.

 

[budman678]

Beautiful pics. What type of camera??

 

[Sassafrass]

Beautiful pics. What type of camera??

Thank you! I love photography, wish I could afford an amazing camera, but I work with the manual mode on what I've got.

Up to and including day 7, were all taken with a 10MP Canon Powershot SX120IS, I've had this camera for a few years and I still love it

The photos from today (Day 8) were taken with my Samsung Galaxy phone, the batteries died for my other camera. The Samsung doesn't have a very good macro focus so I can't get reaaally close up like I can with the Canon.

Plant related: I should mention I fed the plants a little today. Picked up some dry 20-20-20 stuff and mixed it at half strength, only gave each of them about 1/4 cup and I'll observe. I don't want to overnute my first go!

 

[Sassafrass]

Re: 188w CFL Day-by-Day First Grow

Day 9 pictures will be up in the morning!

 

[Sassafrass]

Day 9

You can tell by the varying distances of the pictures from the pots the differences in size. #2 and 3 are almost identical, while 1 is still way behind. 1 is making lots of new leaves, but they're all tiny compared to the other plants. Anyone have an idea why? Or is this normal?

 

[Sassafrass]

Day 9
1 is making lots of new leaves, but they're all tiny compared to the other plants. Anyone have an idea why? Or is this normal?

Quoting because I still don't know why and I don't want this to get missed

Day 10

Plant 3's leaves have reached the edge of the pot! :3

 

[Sassafrass]

Day 11

Nice growth spurt from #2 today, #1 gaining some size...

 

[el bee]

Ahh, their just so darn cute when their little.

Good luck with the grow. Love the documentation.

 

[Guest 263194]

put your clfs 15cm above the pot. i go with 200w cfl my pot is 15 cm away from it you don't need to put it under 1 or 2inch that's gonna stress you plant. I like the way you post picture everyday good luck ill be watching hehe

 

[Sassafrass]

Re: 188w CFL Day-by-Day First Grow

put your clfs 15cm above the pot. i go with 200w cfl my pot is 15 cm away from it you don't need to put it under 1 or 2inch that's gonna stress you plant.

Thanks for the suggestion; just wondering what your reasoning is? Not trying to be rude, it's just that the plants seem to be doing well and everything I've read says with CFLs to get them as close as possible without burning the leaves? I'm certainly open to constructive criticism.

 

[gia100]

Good luck!