First Time Grow/Poor Man's

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

This is a plant that I found happily growing in my front yard where I like to sit in my porch swing and smoke, didnt notice it until it was this high. Would have left it be if I didn't have so many nosey neighbors watching everything I do. I transplanted it out, let it continue to grow a bit further Au-Natural, then after a slew of bad weather decided to take it indoors for the duration of the grow. Started flowering about a week ago also started nutes, 1/4 strength of Miracle Grow watering can singles, 24-8-16. Right now I can't afford an HPS sys tem, so currently running on 3 30wt CFLs and 6 mini LED lights ( not sure if they're truly helping, 3 AAA batt each. but it makes me feel like they are)
Also this isn't the actual placment of CFL's, i have a crappy digital camera and it was messing with the photos so had to move them for a minute. the actual placement is 3 or 4 inches away. Any advice on how I can improve this grow would be spectacular. Next grow I plan on using the shelving behind the current location, and use the SoG method with some T8 flor shop lights, in a hydro system. Think that would be suffice?

 

[messn'n'gommin']

As best I can tell, they look healthy and happy. I would think of adding a few more cfl's though. Good luck man!

 

[SkyBound]

yeah i agree, honestly the best thing i can think of is to get some more wattage.

 

[Stoner Chick]

I'd rather a "Poor man's grow" than no grow and I hope yours goes well!

 

[Iron Lungs]

hope everything works out for you man!

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

thanks everyone. I've actually begun to update my grow a little bit (preparing for the next round.) I bought a rubbermaid tub and plan on experimenting with hydroponics. I have 2 criss-crossing air-curtains in place of an air stone simply because I had it lying around. I bought emergency blankets and using them to line my grow cab. I also constructed my own grow light from a plan I got from you tube using 2 40wt CFL's 150w equiv. I'll get some pics going as soon as I wake up in the morning. Does anyone know about growing in straight perlite in the rubbermaid hydro? it's extremely hard to find any hydroponic supplies around my area.

 

[moonie]

Cool but all I can say is the fertilizer you're using has way to much nitrogen, you want those number reversed like 8-24-16 not 24-8-16

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

update

update

Been trying to find a more suitable space due to unforeseen circumstances, and decided on my old storage building that has ample amount of space for the type of grow I nee d. I tried to set the lights back just a little bit because some of the leaves were getting burned. I noticed little buds beginning to form which makes me pretty happy. I keep daydreaming a bout the day in which I get to smoke these beauties, haha, but then I realize since this is just my first grow they're probably going to taste pretttttyyyy shitty. oh well, trial and error
.

 

[HempAlchemist]

I would focus on more/better lights before i work on hydro. the plant will only grow as fast as the weakest link, and right now thats your lights. I would look into converting an old security light into a grow light. 150w hps can be had for under $100 new and much less if you look around. there are are tons of DIY threads that will show you how to set that up and lots of examples of what a small 150w hps can produce. the 150w club thread comes to mind. just remember that all plants need to grow is good light, air, water, nutes, and then good medium (soil/soilless or hydro) in that order. the difference in hydro is only seen after you have everything else optimized, otherwise hydro is a lot less forgiving and you may see your plant doing worse than if u where in soil/soilless
hopes this helps good luck
H.A.

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

I would focus on more/better lights before i work on hydro. the plant will only grow as fast as the weakest link, and right now thats your lights. I would look into converting an old security light into a grow light. 150w hps can be had for under $100 new and much less if you look around. there are are tons of DIY threads that will show you how to set that up and lots of examples of what a small 150w hps can produce. the 150w club thread comes to mind. just remember that all plants need to grow is good light, air, water, nutes, and then good medium (soil/soilless or hydro) in that order. the difference in hydro is only seen after you have everything else optimized, otherwise hydro is a lot less forgiving and you may see your plant doing worse than if u where in soil/soilless
hopes this helps good luck
H.A.

Thanks for the advice and I plan on actually applying that advice next grow round. There is a 400w HPS right around my price range that I've been keeping m y eye on. For the remainder of this grow though I must remain with the CFLs which have demonstrated sufficient enough for this single plant. Here are some pictures of the notable growth.

 

[HempAlchemist]

your plant looks really healthy, but in the 3rd pic, it looks like u have male pre-flowers. kindda hard to tell in that pic but looks really close to male, hope i'm wrong. you wont be upset w/ a 400w HPS. since u got some time, you can really plan everything out and get set for that 400w show. Controlling air flow, temps, and RH% are gunna be big so plan for that. I dont mean to scare u off of hydro, just dont want u to overlook the big picture

again hope i'm wrong about the plant good luck
H.A.

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

your plant looks really healthy, but in the 3rd pic, it looks like u have male pre-flowers. kindda hard to tell in that pic but looks really close to male, hope i'm wrong. you wont be upset w/ a 400w HPS. since u got some time, you can really plan everything out and get set for that 400w show. Controlling air flow, temps, and RH% are gunna be big so plan for that. I dont mean to scare u off of hydro, just dont want u to overlook the big picture

again hope i'm wrong about the plant good luck
H.A.

I do too and I fear I've wasted my time with this one. If so I guess I just chaulk it up to a l esson learned. But here are some more pics I took tonight to help see if someone could tell more clearly if I should just save face or if it is possibly still something to look forward to.

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

my worst fears were realized today. when I went in to check on my babies the older plant is in fact a male. balls. literally. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dissappointed by the discovery but what can ya do? I guess the bright side is I still have 2 seedlings and some germinating. I will just have to wait and see what comes of it.

 

[HempAlchemist]

Sorry to hear about the male. Save some of your seeds for the 400w show, Good luck with the rest of the seedlings

H.A.

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

Sorry to hear about the male. Save some of your seeds for the 400w show, Good luck with the rest of the seedlings

H.A.

well both of my experiments are from bagseed so I'm not losing much. When I get the 400w I will fork out extra for a good strain so that it's not a lottery and I have a better chance at getting smoke I'll enjoy. I've been thinking about Mandala, I'm looking for something with a great "Up" buzz and that flowers early, and that works with the SOG method. People keep telling me try NL which is another Ive been considering. There are just so many strains, F1's and F2's it gets really overwhelming, especially since the strain I envision is one that grows well in humidity, and is a fast flowerer. High yield would be great, but it's not a necessity. I suffer from acute manic depression/ panic disorder and i'm looking for a personal stash that lifts me up and unlocks those creative juices that are barred and diluted by LEGAL anti-depressants which make people a zombies.

 

[HempAlchemist]

sorry to hear about your medical condition, but good for you on taking control of your meds. I cant complain enough about how the pharma. companies push pills on people for everything under the sun. and most of these meds have side effects that are as bad if not worse then what they are "fixing".
If I was you, I would spend as much time, energy, money as possible into setting up your 400w show. Get it built and tested before you ever put a plant in there. I see so many people get there seeds going, then build there show around it. Then wonder why they didnt get what they wanted. Measure twice, cut once I say. You will get all your money back in a bumper harvest. Also think about a vegging area as well when you get the 400w setup. that will reduce the time between harvest by 1-2 months.
as far as strains, I have had my best luck with Nirvana strains. For the money, you get a great deal of genetics. I really like Ice, but that is on the other end of the scale, more indica-couchlock stone. NL is a good choice for new growers. very easy to grow, low smell if thats a problem, and a more balanced high. I'm just now finishing up there Fem. Black Jack (Black Domina x Jock Horror). From my tester nugs this is gunna be a well balanced high with great flovors but still have 1-2 weeks to go so wont really know till then. If you do go with Nirvana seeds, make sure u buy 2-3 packs of a strain because there is a little bit of variation within a pack, but dont worry you should find a few keepers.
hope this helps
H.A.

 

[SUBJECT2MURDER]

sorry to hear about your medical condition, but good for you on taking control of your meds. I cant complain enough about how the pharma. companies push pills on people for everything under the sun. and most of these meds have side effects that are as bad if not worse then what they are "fixing".

Yet we’re criminals because we don’t buy into the bullshit, and that’s perfectly fine with me. I know what’s right from wrong, I know I’m a hardworking person, that wouldn’t steal or hurt anyone except in defense. I also know that smoking marijuana isn’t wrong. It’s a gift that is looked upon as some horrible disease.
People to often forget that the right to be governed has to given BY US. This prohibition has lasted as long as it has because we’ve let it. All the closet smoker’s too afraid (with good reason mind you) of the Gestapo kicking in their door’s in the middle of the night waiving guns around and shooting their pets. Cannabis enthusiasts all over must unite as ONE collective instead a lot of minor groups scattered here and there if we ever hope to see our cause through. I realize I sound really preachy right now, and I apologize for that, but just the thought of all the hypocrisy that surrounds our national drug policy is infuriating, and absurd.

 

[SkyBound]

Well said my man