I'm a beginner, and I'd like some help :)

[Zen City]

I am a beginner and throughly love everything I'm learning about cannabis. I'm fascinated with watching them grow and am in awe at the whole process. I never grew anything until I grew cannabis and it has changed my life.

To get to the point, my first harvest was such a success. I managed to grow 1.5lbs from 5 plants using a 600 watt HPS. I don't want to sound boastful, but I smoke a lot of weed and this stuff I grew was by far the best weed I've smoked in a REALLY long time. So now I currently on my second harvest, and I want to be honest, I really have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm a fast learner, I pick things up very quickly and I've had some killer friends tell me what to do along the way.

However, I'm to the point that I don't really know why I'm doing what I'm doing .. I'm only following the advice of my friends, which worked last time.

But now I'd like to break down my process, and begin refining the process, to produce amazing bud.

Here is a list of the equipment that I'm using:

GARDEN
(1) Sour Diesel
(2) AK-47
(5) Gorilla Glue #4
(8) 7 Gallon Pots
(8) 18" Runoff Reservoir

TENT
(1) Growlab 145 - 4'9"x4'9"x6'7"
(2) SunSystem Magnium XXXL Gen 3 - 6"
(1) UNI filter Dust Shrom
(1) Vortex 6" 449 CFM Powerfan
(2) 1000W Solis Tek Premium Digital Ballast
(2) 1000W HiLUX Gro SUPER Metal Halide (BLUE Spectrum)
(2) 1000W HiLUX Gro SUPER HPS
(1) Vortex 4" 172 CFM Powerfan
(1) 4" CAN Activated Carbon Air Filter - 200 CFM
(2) AirKing 6" 2-Speed Clip-on Fan
(1) Titan Controlls Analog Timer - 2 Outlets
(1) MONSTER - 6 Outlet Surge Protector

WATER
(1) HydroLogic stealthRO100
(1) 55 Gallon Water Drum
(2) ECO633 Submersible Pump
(1) ECO Air 1 Adjustable Air Pump
(1) BlueLab pH pen
(1) BlueLab ppm pen
(1) 5 Gallon Bucket
(1) Telescoping Garden Water Wand

I've attached a Top View and Bottom View of my tent, to show you have I have everything setup.

I'ave also attached a copy of the nutrients I'm using, along with my nutrient schedule that I've been following:

I'm currently Day 1 - Week 2 of Bloom. I allowed these plants to veg for 3 months, and every 3 weeks I've been defoliating EVERYTHING until the plants are ugly and they look bad. 2 weeks later the canopy is health and lush.

Can I please get some people who throughly understand nutrients, and who can explain what Im doing right, what I'm doing wrong, things I should probably adjust .. but most importantly, why.

Thanks

 

[Zen City]

Also, this is how my nutrients looked yesterday, as well as runoff levels:

5Gal RO Water: 74 degrees, 0ppm, pH 6.6

General Hydroponics: pH DOWN (8 drops to get down to pH 6.0)

MOAB - 1tsb (5ml): 75 degrees, 110ppm, pH 5.3

Botanicare CAL-MAG (15ml): 75 degrees, 270ppm, pH 5.4

Rock Fusion BLOOM (40ml): 76 degrees, 760ppm, 5.4pH

Advanced Nutrients - BUD CANDY (35ml): 76 degrees, 840ppm, 5.4pH

HYGROZYME (40ml): 76 degrees, 840ppm, 5.4pH

TERPINATOR (100ml): 76 degrees, 1090ppm, 5.3pH

General Hydroponics: pH UP
2.0ml, 5.5pH
2.0ml, 5.7pH
0.5ml, 5.8pH

10:05am Finished and let pump cycle water with Aerator line in water

12:35pm: remeasured levels
79 Degrees
pH 6.0
1090ppm

Plant 1: GG#4
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: < 10% full
77 degrees, pH 6.2, (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 2: Sour Diesel
9c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 25% full
72 degrees, pH 6.2, (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 3: GG#4
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 90%
72 degrees, pH 6.4, (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 4: AK-47
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: Empty

Plant 5: AK-47
9c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 95%
72 degrees, pH 6.1, (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 6: GG#4
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 90%
72 degrees, pH 6.4, (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 7: GG#4
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 50%
73 degrees, pH 6.3 (Or Reading)ppm

Plant 8: GG#4
10c Nute - Runoff Saucer: 100% (Overflowing)
71 degrees, pH 6.6, (Or Reading)ppm

 

[Think Green]

What was the runoff pH & ec/ppm of the plants?

 

[Think Green]

Pictures of plants and foliage may help to diagnose. Also.

 

[Think Green]

So all the runoff ph'd in the mid 6's? What was the ppm of the runoff? What kind of numbers?

 

[Zen City]

So all the runoff ph'd in the mid 6's? What was the ppm of the runoff? What kind of numbers?

My runoff is crazy high .. over 7500ppm

However, that may or may not be due to not cutting my nutes by 1/2 while using the M.O.A.B Bloom Ignitor.

 

[Zen City]

Pictures of plants and foliage may help to diagnose. Also.

Think Green, Here are some pictures that I just now took:

My Tent Location with Venting (Its also important to know that I keep the left and right air vents open so draw in air from the outside, circulate, filter thru the CAN Carbon Filter and push it all outside the house.)

My Canopy

My Lighting

My Stems

My Branches

If you would like a more detailed or specific photo, please let me know.

 

[truck]

what i suggest is get better at growing each strain individually. Research the strains you grow here on the boards and see what other people are doing and why instead of expecting someone to tell you why. The why's are good to know, but that is a part of the whole process i'm not to sure many people can explain or want to. Part of the whole fun is deconstructing your whole grow and understand why each and every element works and where the point of diminishing returns begin to set in on max and min values, whether is environmental max mins, nutrient max mins, watering feeding volume max min, ph max min, PPM max min, light intensity max min, lights on and off max mins. The list goes on and you have to discover why you do what you do. All the answers are out there its just time you keep asking good questions, but you are most likely going to have to connect all the dots. I started with following schedules then eventually now i have the way i do things, but always trying to learn something new all the time. 12 years of growing under my own belt which isn't much compared to the O.G.'s out there. But the experience of each set up and harvest will keep bringing you more knowledge and experience. A lot of the why's mimic the natural process of the change in seasons and how the plant likes different things at different times. Each strain will be different, so you can spend a lot of time doing a lot of different things in the end. Have fun and enjoy the journey. I started in DWC buckets now all do is organic soil TLO style. I've tried a lot different methods, and just stuck with what worked best for me over time. Which is a big part of growing, is finding out what works for you and stick with a winning plan and just slightly change one thing each time around you grow a strain to see how it will react.

 

[Zen City]

what i suggest is get better at growing each strain individually. Research the strains you grow here on the boards and see what other people are doing and why instead of expecting someone to tell you why. The why's are good to know, but that is a part of the whole process i'm not to sure many people can explain or want to. Part of the whole fun is deconstructing your whole grow and understand why each and every element works and where the point of diminishing returns begin to set in on max and min values, whether is environmental max mins, nutrient max mins, watering feeding volume max min, ph max min, PPM max min, light intensity max min, lights on and off max mins. The list goes on and you have to discover why you do what you do. All the answers are out there its just time you keep asking good questions, but you are most likely going to have to connect all the dots. I started with following schedules then eventually now i have the way i do things, but always trying to learn something new all the time. 12 years of growing under my own belt which isn't much compared to the O.G.'s out there. But the experience of each set up and harvest will keep bringing you more knowledge and experience. A lot of the why's mimic the natural process of the change in seasons and how the plant likes different things at different times. Each strain will be different, so you can spend a lot of time doing a lot of different things in the end. Have fun and enjoy the journey. I started in DWC buckets now all do is organic soil TLO style. I've tried a lot different methods, and just stuck with what worked best for me over time. Which is a big part of growing, is finding out what works for you and stick with a winning plan and just slightly change one thing each time around you grow a strain to see how it will react.

Truck, thanks for the insight. And you're absolutely right. I want to learn every aspect of growing in order to grow the absolute best cannabis I'm able to. This is why I've posted my whole process, my tent setup, my lighting schedule, my watering schedule, my nutrient schedule.

What I really want to get into the most is my Nutrient schedule. I'd like for someone, or many people, to take a look at what I'm doing, and tell me what I'm doing right, and what I could be doing better, and why. This way I can begin refining my process

I really appreciate all the help I can get

Thanks

 

[Think Green]

I advised a good thorough soaking \ feeding followed by a drying out period rather than 10 cups in the morning for feed following 10 cups of only water in the evening. It seems like 20 cups of water period wouldn't be near enough for a good soak in 7 gallon pots...jmho

 

[Think Green]

Bump

 

[justanotherbozo]

yeah, for me what made things work in the beginning was to simplify my approach as much as possible, the more complicated your system is the more learning curves you must climb, simultaneously.

...so for me that meant running coco hempy buckets, a PASSIVE form of hydroponics that is brain-dead easy, and feeding KISS style so i could feed ALL my plants the same formula.

...heres a couple shots of my 4 x 4 tent with it's single 600HPS where i run 8 plants in 6liter coco hempys, 2 to a side, and where i pull between 12 and 16 ounces every cycle like clockwork and have done for close to 5 years now, easy peasy.

...and here are a couple of examples of my early hempys as i learned the tech and you'll note that these are all grown in 2liter Coke bottles made into hempy buckets. ...and all grown under a 400CMH.

...anyway, i'm not trying to criticize you or your work in any way, i'm just saying that, for me at least, my first few years were very stressful until i simplified, ...now i can practically nap through my grow while it gives me a reliable crop i can count on, ...so that means 5 crops per year, easy peasy.

peace, bozo

 

[Zen City]

One thing I hadn't taken into consideration was that I am using Happy Frog. I began nutrients the same day I transplanted from 1gal buckets into the 7gal buckets they are in now, and have been in all during their 3mo veg cycle.

I think on my next round, I'm going to try coco so that I can be sure that what I'm feeding the plants are exactly what they are getting.

Would it be possible for someone to look at my Nutrient Schedule and critique it?

 

[justanotherbozo]

yeah, i'm not really qualified to advise you because i haven't grown in soil in many years with the caveat that i know from experience that when you have no experience AND you use several additives in your feeding regimen and something goes wrong it's a real bitch trying to figure out what's causing the problem.

...like i said, i grow in coco hempy buckets and a hempy bucket is any watertight container that you then put a single drainage hole a couple three inchs up the side of the container, then you fill the bucket, up to that drainage hole with hydroton, grorocks, lava rock, hell, even 3/4 inch gravel will do the trick.

...anyway, then you just fill the bucket the rest of the way with coco and pot your plants into the coco just like soil.

...heres a shot of a couple of freshly rooted clones just potted up into 6liter trashcans i picked up at the local Dollar store for a buck each, note the single drainage hole i made to convert a trashcan into a hempy bucket.

...now here is a shot showing the hydroton at the bottom.

...and now with some coco.

...essentially, what this does is it creates a mini reservoir at the bottom of every pot and once a plant establishes itself into a hempy bucket, say a week to 10 days, it becomes almost impossible to overwater.

...something else worth noting is that the hempy bucket technology is actually based and adapted from ancient Roman technology.

...as for feeding, here is a link to the KISS method which, because it is simple and near impossible to screw up, i always recommend to new growers. (not that i'm implying that YOU would screw anything up, i'm just saying that in the beginning, simple and easy is a good thing)

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=191645

...and another link that explains it in more depth.

http://www.lucasformula.com

...anyway, i'm not suggesting that you should drop what you're doing and change everything up but rather what i am saying is, if you run into trouble or you feel a mite overwhelmed then coco hempys KISS style in the future might help by simplifying everything giving you the time to learn to read your plants.

peace, bozo

...

 

[Tri_Cho_Me]

I think you are fine using the Happy Frog. Just take into account that what makes up that soil, contains enough nutrients to sustain your plant for a while. With that being said, sure, you can maintain a nutrient/feeding schedule. But, as JAB pointed out, use the KISS method and don't overdo it. I use 1/4 and 1/2 strength MaxiBloom solutions in veg and plan on using 1/2 to normal strength during flower. I also have some Fox Farms nutes I might supplement with or alternate use of with the MB...

I'm not an expert in nutrients, effects, etc. so I cannot critique your specific schedule. But remember, these are weeds. They WANT to grow. They don't need a whole lot of nutrients to begin with probably. Don't let creative marketing cloud your judgement. It's not as hard as they make it seem.

Hope this helps! Good Luck

Tri_Cho_Me

 

[Tri_Cho_Me]

yeah, i'm not really qualified to advise you because i haven't grown in soil in many years with the caveat that i know from experience that when you have no experience AND you use several additives in your feeding regimen and something goes wrong it's a real bitch trying to figure out what's causing the problem.

...like i said, i grow in coco hempy buckets and a hempy bucket is any watertight container that you then put a single drainage hole a couple three inchs up the side of the container, then you fill the bucket, up to that drainage hole with hydroton, grorocks, lava rock, hell, even 3/4 inch gravel will do the trick.

...anyway, then you just fill the bucket the rest of the way with coco and pot your plants into the coco just like soil.

...heres a shot of a couple of freshly rooted clones just potted up into 6liter trashcans i picked up at the local Dollar store for a buck each, note the single drainage hole i made to convert a trashcan into a hempy bucket.

View Image

...now here is a shot showing the hydroton at the bottom.

View Image

...and now with some coco.

View Image

...essentially, what this does is it creates a mini reservoir at the bottom of every pot and once a plant establishes itself into a hempy bucket, say a week to 10 days, it becomes almost impossible to overwater.

...something else worth noting is that the hempy bucket technology is actually based and adapted from ancient Roman technology.

...as for feeding, here is a link to the KISS method which, because it is simple and near impossible to screw up, i always recommend to new growers. (not that i'm implying that YOU would screw anything up, i'm just saying that in the beginning, simple and easy is a good thing)

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=191645

...and another link that explains it in more depth.

http://www.lucasformula.com

...anyway, i'm not suggesting that you should drop what you're doing and change everything up but rather what i am saying is, if you run into trouble or you feel a mite overwhelmed then coco hempys KISS style in the future might help by simplifying everything giving you the time to learn to read your plants.

peace, bozo

...

Great minds think alike!

 

[Vanilla Phoenix]

I've been growing in Happy Frog for years. Also using PBP with supplements. Whatcha wanna ask?

 

[Kushman201]

I may have to try this method on my next grow