First time, comments appreciated

[Deadly Fear]

Ok here is the ghetto rigged setup:

Here is how I have it set up. The lights are CFL 42/150w and 2600 lumens apiece. I plan on moving the plants down to the bottom and hanging the lights when they get bigger.

Pic of whole setup


It's hard to see the plants so I took another picture:

Just the plants

Finally, I bought some nutrients for my babies but I'm not sure how to go about using them. It's Ironine Plus (12-10-10) and it's little pellets. Approximately how many should I give to each plant and should I work them into the soil or place them on the top? Any other tips and comments much appreciated, no idea what I'm doing! Thanks!

 

[sahima]

WELCOME!!!

WELCOME!!!

Hi, first don't feed your plants too early or you may burn them(usally they don't need it in such early stages). I am starting to feed my plants at the third week, not earlier before they develop the 4th-6th pair of leaves(i can't help you with the nutricients you have as i haven't use something like this ).
Also i think it is better to put your lights over the top of the plants, near the growing tip. Your plants stretching, because they don't receive enought light. Maybe you should add one more clf, one over each plant. You won't be able to go very far with what you have now. If you can afford it buy a 150watt hps so that you will be able to grow 3-4 plants and flower 1-2. It is great for beginners and must not be that expensive.
And i think is better to keep into your grow space only the plants and the equipment. Good luck!!!

 

[Guest]

its to early to tell i think..come back and ask again on a couple of weeks when they have grown a little.

 

[Reverend Willis]

Welcome Deadlyfear. Jump right in there with your grow. You'll figure out the best methods to raise your babies. Read as much as you can here at IC. Everyone has slightly different slants on the best way to grow doobage. I hate to sound like a teacher (I am) but reading is your best bet right now. Whatever problems you encounter, chances are someone else has already been there and figured how to remedy the problem.

My advice has to do with your lighting. I also grow with CFLs. You really have to cram the lights down on top of the plants -- being careful not to burn them. I keep my CFLs no more than 2 inches above the plants. Here is a pic of a week old plant. It is short and bushy because it hasn't had to stretch for the light. I only have 27 inches of vertical grow space so I need to keep mine short.


Have fun with your grow and be safe.

 

[Guest]

I would put the light above the tops of the plants. Right now they don't know where they are going. Put the bulbs fairly close to, since flouro's don't produce much heat.

 

[Deadly Fear]

The stretching is not from the CFLs as I just installed those yesterday. It's most likely due to the miracle-gro soil I used. Had them on a windowsill until yesterday. But you guys are right, the lights should be on top. I will buy another one tomorrow and rig it so that the lights are on top.

Will have pix asap

 

[Guest]

well its not the mg soil. If you had them sitting in a windowsil thats why they are so stretched.

And like everyone else said , Id get those CFLs on top of them plants and as close as you can get w/o hurting the plants. Youll have to adjust the lights daily but its worth it. I veg with CFLs and my last grow was all CFLs. The closer you got that light to the plant , the better it will do.

As little as they are now, you could get a clamp and just clamp the light on the side of the pot while positioning the CFL horizontily.

 

[Deadly Fear]

The clamp is a great idea! Here's how I repositioned them, will buy another bulb tomorrow.

Lights are on top now

Any other suggestions?

 

[sahima]

Add soil at the pots and bury that long stem.

 

[Guest]

yea, and you also need a fan or that stem will be very thin..maybe you need to tie them to something so they dont brake


edit: and also if you lack something you cant replace it with something else(!)..
i mean there is no point to add co2 if you dont have the rigth setup or adding nutz if you dont have enoug ligths...its what that adds up that makes a good grow

 

[ogrefugee]

kinda scrawny/droopy, what are you doing in terms watering?

 

[Deadly Fear]

As of now I've just been filling up a glass and watering them approximately every 2 days.

Going to get the other CFL in a few minutes.

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't suggest to bury that long stem. My mother even knows better than that with any plant. That were the plant produces bark to protect itself. I would suggest some LST, or pinching the tops when they get a little bigger.

 

[Guest]

well if you buried the stem they would just grow roots.

 

[Reverend Willis]

I agree with Jay on this one. Bury the stem. New roots will develop from the sides of the stem. I've done this for years without problems.
How's the grow going? Do you have any new pix for us?
Rev

 

[Deadly Fear]

Sure here's some updated pics. I can't seem to figure out if the plants are overwatered or underwatered. It's very confusing. One stays droopy no matter what, but it seems like they'll droop for some time, and then watering doesn't affect the drooping.

Organic nutes are coming in tomorrow, will be mixing them into some new soil and transplanting them, this time with most of the plant covered

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3 (perma-droopy)

 

[Deadly Fear]

I will do the HID lights when I move in about 6 months. In the meantime I've got these fluoros and there's nothing wrong with CFL's. Thanks for telling me I'm growing a garbage plant! I'll let you know how garbage tastes.

 

[Reverend Willis]

Overwatering / Underwatering

Overwatering / Underwatering

Judge by the weight of the pot when you lift it. Does it feel heavy from moisture or is it lightweight because the plant has used the water?
I have to water my mature plants approximately every 4-5 days. Young plants 1-2 weeks old might go a bit longer between waterings. I don't use a moisture meter, only a quick lifting of the container tells me what I need to know.
Here's a pic of a thirsty plant. This one sprang back about an hour after watering. It is in a 1-gal pot.

 

[Germankreuz]

Looks like its curling down due to fert burn... hard to really see from the pics. Give them less nutes until they get a but bigger, but hey they are looking a lot better. Great job for a first timer I say!
Grow On!

 

[Forest20]

The age old question has appeared with the look of it. It can be a slu of question like it might be rootbound or under fert or to much fert or enough water or to little just keep a close eye on the girls and ask as many question you need people around would love to help you and bring you years of experince to you