400w/Closet - Jock Horror - First grow.

[Random99]

This is my first grow, but I've read multiple guides so I sortra know what I'm doing. Sorta...
I could really use some experienced people to follow this and help me out with any advice. :smile:

• I'm starting from Jock Horror seeds from Nirvana.
• I am using Fox Farm - Ocean Forest Organic potting soil.
• I have also bought Grow Big from Fox Farm.
• For lighting I have one 400w HPS and one T5 high output.

I understand a 400w can grow more than 2 plants but I only want to do 2 this grow. If I am able to add a couple more within the next couple of days, I will.

I germinated inside a humidity dome using the paper towel method.

Here's the closet with the 'wall' closed:

And then open:

 

[Random99]

Plant #1: Planted 6/11/07
Plant #2: Planted 6/12/07

On June 13th they popped out of the soil.

Plant #1:

Plant #2:

 

[Random99]

I need experienced people's opinions about my lighting.

Would it be best, for the growth of the plant, to use the HPS the entire time? If not, what would you do?

I'll post more questions as they come to me. I appreciate any help.

 

[mrgrowmez]

you can use the hps the whole time

 

[420-Grower07]

Hey Bud Yes you can use your HPS the whole time...

What size cab do you have them in?

 

[Dr Dog]

Welcome to Icmag. I have used a HID for the entire grow, with no issues at all, I use cfl now for early growth and switch to HID once the plants are hardened a bit.

Good luck with your grow

 

[Random99]

Hey Bud Yes you can use your HPS the whole time...

What size cab do you have them in?

Cool, I will set it up soon then.

Sorry if this is stupid, but what is a cab? A cabinet? If yeah, then it's not a cabinet I have them in. I have them in a walk-in closet.

Welcome to Icmag. I have used a HID for the entire grow, with no issues at all, I use cfl now for early growth and switch to HID once the plants are hardened a bit.

Good luck with your grow

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Best of luck Random99. It seems you're on the right track.
I would use the t5 for veg and switch to the hps for bud.
I'll be keeping an eye out to see how things turn out.

 

[Climbinghigh]

Looks like your'e off to a good start Random99. While you can use your HPS for the whole grow, its a lot easier to fry your tender seedlings if you put the light too close(especially without adequate ventilation). And for only two tiny plants it might be overkill. I'd use the T5 for a couple weeks at least- saves on electricity and the chances of cooking your sprouts, plus I think the T5 will give you tighter nodes than an HPS for veg. I split my closet in half with floros on one side and a HPS on the other so I can veg and flower at the same time- something you might want to consider down the road, it leaves more options open IMO.
Grow on!

 

[Black Ra1n]

Hey Random99, you can use an HPS from seed but they seem to grow better when the stalk hardens like Dr. Dog said. I find greater veg growth with my HPS than the 6500K cfl's I have in my veg cab. Good luck, Jock is another Nirvana strain I want to try so I'll be watching for sure.

B/R

 

[Random99]

CRAP!

I woke up this morning to find Plant #2 was bent over Plant #1 is fine and standing up.

Last night my room was kinda warm so I left the fan on overnight. I don't know if that is why, or if it is because I waited until the morning to water them.

What do I do? I watered it and turned the fan off...

DON'T DIE ON ME LITTLE GIRL (optomistic)!

But seriously, what should I do?

edit:
I touched it softly and the stem seems pretty weak

 

[Climbinghigh]

I doubt its the fan unless it was blasting directly at it, air circulation is always a good thing- looks like it might of just got a little too hot and dry. Are you using the HPS? Cause it will dry out your soil faster than the T5. But those are big pots for those seedlings so if you water them in well they should be good for a week at least.

I think that with those big pots you should be careful not to drown them. I lost a plant to root rot once, and now I'm ultra paranoid about giving them too much water. don't lose hope yet, I think it'll raise itself back up. Did the other plant's soil have more moisture in it? Kinda strange that it just affected one and not the other.
Peace, and good luck

 

[Random99]

I doubt its the fan unless it was blasting directly at it, air circulation is always a good thing- looks like it might of just got a little too hot and dry. Are you using the HPS? Cause it will dry out your soil faster than the T5. But those are big pots for those seedlings so if you water them in well they should be good for a week at least.

I think that with those big pots you should be careful not to drown them. I lost a plant to root rot once, and now I'm ultra paranoid about giving them too much water. don't lose hope yet, I think it'll raise itself back up. Did the other plant's soil have more moisture in it? Kinda strange that it just affected one and not the other.
Peace, and good luck

Thank you for the quick reply! Okay, so I'm going to calm down a little about it. I think it might be alright...I just got scared that I might not be able to recover it.

I am thinking it is most likely because plant #2 is one day behind the other, and I was mainly watering according to the first plant. I guess I learned my lesson. I watered them both but gave plant #2 a little more (made sure not to soak it, but enough).

I am not using the HPS yet, but since I am germinating two more seeds currently, I will be using it from next week on. I'll just have to keep in mind that it's a lot hotter under there for them and they're going to be working extra hard.

I will take pictures Monday once I switch the light and plant the next two.

 

[x10fast]

light cycles

light cycles

Random99

are you going use hps 12/12 or what?

wish you good luck




keep growing
x10fast

 

[zoolander]

use the t5 in veg about 2 inches above with the fan blowing the little bit of heat off the light also with fox farm dont feed in the start as that soil is a bit hot or mix it with light warrior 50 50 add your big light at flower also add extra perilte to soil for drainage and air to roots

 

[Anima]

Hi R99!
The reason your plant fell over is because it is stretching twards the light. Do like zoolander suggests and get that flouro within 2 inches of the plants. I might prop that droopy one up (it will start to rot if you leave it down on the soggy ground). and get that fan blowing on them so it just barely shakes them, it will strengthen em up.
I'd wait at least another week to get that 400W up, it's overkill for seedlings. (it will work though.)
And yes I believe that "cab" is short for cabinet, but I think the term has broadened a bit to include most spaces that that do not qualify as a "grow room".
Keep an eye on you moisture lvls in the pot by picking them up and judging the weight, you will get to know how much a "wet" pot weighs and how much an "approaching dry" one does. When it gets "approaching dry" water until you have runnoff to ensure you don't have dry spots in your soil.
Also...When you transplant or prepare soil make sure you wet it all down while you are mixing it up, it will make it much easier to water properly.
Good luck...I'll be watching

 

[Random99]

---------------------------------------------------
Hey!
Now this is the type of reply I love. Thanks for addressing everything.

Okay, you're right about it getting weaker since it's been laying there. I've moved the light down, but at this point, I don't know if it'll make it. I already have 2 more germinating, going in the soil tomorrow, so it isn't a HUGE loss if she dies. I'll just be sad.
----------------------------------------------------
I made a new friend at the indoor grow shop today! They have a freaking VIP room. What the fuck?! Yeah, that's what I said. It's an attic that they made into a lounge...big screen tv, hookahs, sexy women giving massages, everything you'd need for your trip the hydroponics store.(?)

He said "Next time you have a big order and don't want to be in the croud, or anytime you bring a friend in, you're always welcome to come up here and do business. We'll go downstairs and get everything for you while you sit back and get a massage or watch tv."

Not only that but they gave me free drinks, candy, and lighters with their company name on it lol. They know how to keep business.

I am buying slightly different things so that I can learn a lot from this grow. These grow containers are a smaller than my first two. I want to see what the difference is with pot size/watering/etc. I also bought a light hanger that works like shades do. Just pull the strings and it goes up and down, really easy.

I bought Big Bloom and Tiger Bloom, so now I have all 3 Fox Farms. He also gave me a sample of "Omri - Topmax" and "Omri - Root Juice" for free because he said it works well too. I'm going to try using it on one plant, and fox farm on the others. We'll see later, it isn't even time to start using them yet.
----------------------------------------------------

But I've moved the light down like you suggested, here's a picture update of everything.

This is the table thingy. Got my ipod doc, fan, and all the nutrients.

Closeup on the nutrients

my new light hanger

Different angle so you can see the angle of the light better.

Plant #2 As you can see, the stem is pretty skinny.

Another angle.

And one more.

Plant #1, doing great, I think

Tall!

----------------------------------------------------

Plant #2 is still down as you can see I've been nurturing it, even playing it music. I don't know if it'll come out of this, the stem is starting to get REALLY skinny on some parts as you can see. What do you think? Does it still have a chance or should I take it out and put one of my seeds in that pot tomorrow?

Plant #1 is doing GREAT. getting so big! Since I'm adding 2 more, I am going to use the HPS starting next week like you suggested. How far away should the light be from it? Does anyone have a link to that graph?

----------------------------------------------------

For the two that are germinating and about to go into pots, I am buying slightly different things so that I can learn a lot from this grow. The grow containers are a smaller than my first two. I want to see what the difference is with pot size/watering/etc.


Thanks to everyone who is following this! Everyone's advice is helping me make my decisions, so please keep them coming.

peace

 

[Random99]

Oh yeah, and I just bought 10 seeds of each of these strains:

AK48
Blue Mystic
Haze
Master Kush
Northern Lights
Papaya
Snow White
Super Skunk
White Rhino
White Widow

Only $12.50 USD each, can you fucking believe that? I'm very happy. Later on, someone's gonna have to explain cloning to me when I get to that point. I'd MUCH MUCH MUCH rather start from clones, since they would definitely be female.

I'm excited to turn this into a hobby, hehe. Any ideas on which I should start with next? I'll probably do like 10 next time so that I end up with a few more females. By the way, how long until I will be able to tell? I REALLY hope this Plant #1 is a girl! She's growing so well! Lol. But like, at what week can you usually tell? beginning flowering?

I have a question. If I stick to 4-10 plants at a time, will I have to have a carbon scrubber to make it not stink? Since it's inside, would it be bad enough to leak outside? Or just stay in the house? I'll probably just wait until it starts to smell until I build it, but I'm just curious if that many will cause a lot of odor.

 

[Anima]

...well I think its a goner...probably won't be getting up after that...looks like it sustained some damage..
but the other one seems do be doing fine...don't feel too bad...not every seed you sprout will grow to be a magnificent queen.
Most of your questions can be answered with the search function.

And...YES! you will need adequite ventilation. (preferrably with an exaust out of the grow area.) and carbon filtration if that exaust is going anywhere even remotely where anybody could catch a whiff of it.
If you just open a window and rely on glade plugins Even the dominoes pizza guy will know you are growing...let alone any relatives...or leo...
if you don't fry them first.
as soon as you switch on that 400W you will probably have temp issues, that should be your main concern...go ahead and fire it up and run some tests to see what you are up against. Monitor temp closely. anything over 85 F is the death zone. I'd keep your babies off to the side for now.
Now is a good time to mention...Fire safety (you should have a smoke detector and appropriate fire extinguisher) don't skip this step it just might save your ass /life / lives of people you care about, etc...
=stay safe

 

[Random99]

I'm going to make this carbon scrubber
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51843

But I don't completely understand how it works.

Once I get to ^^ that step ^^ and am all finished...do I just have a fan blowing "into" that open part? Or does it have to have a "sucking" fan to bring the air into it? That seems like it'd work better, but I have no visual idea of how I'd connect a 'sucking fan' to it. I don't have a wall or window I could hook it up to that is inside my closet, so I'd just have to filter it, and then ventilate the room with the A/C + fans. Am I on the right track?

----------------------------------------------------

"Most of your questions can be answered with the search function."
Lol, I know I'm talking a lot. It's because I like this a LOT already, and I'm keeping it private...so I've gotta ramble to someone! But I agree, and I will do most of the research on my own. Just looking for opinions.

----------------------------------------------------

I've been watching the temp, but I didn't think about a fire. I appreciate the concern, and I'll get an extinguisher in there immediately.

----------------------------------------------------

Plant #2 didn't have a chance. This morning I checked and there was 0 improvment, and it looked worse. Oh well though! Gotta keep positive. I took it out and mixed up the soil for the next seed.

----------------------------------------------------

The two that are germinating will be going into pots tomorrow. I could have done it today, but I wanted more root growth before I planted them. I'll set up my HPS tomorrow or Tuesday and take pictures.

----------------------------------------------------