5 inches tall after 35 days? Help please!

[chadsvb]

I am currently growing 1 plant in my closet using CFL's. I have six 100watt-equivalent CFL's. I started with 24/0 lighting, but after reading that 16/8 promotes better root growth I switched it to 18/6 (I didn't want to go all the way to 16/8). Now for my question: After 35 days, my plant is only about 5 inchest tall. It is a short, thick plant. Should I raise the lights up? They are currently about 3in from the top of the plant. Is this why it's staying so short?

Also, I am having problems with the older leaves getting a yellowish color in them. I have read and it seems that I have a N deficiency. Is this correct? I wish I could upload some pictures, but I can't find a damn computer with bluetooth!

Anyways, all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[keeko]

can you give me a lil more info on your setup. temps? soil?...feeding yet?.......5 inches is pretty small for 35 days

[chadsvb]

The temp stays between 75F and 80F. I keep a fan blowing on the CFL's and it keeps the leaves moving a little.

The soil I'm using is MiracleGrow. What would you suggest for my next grow?

And I'm feeding with Peter's 20-20-20 (1 tsp / gal of water).

Thanks

[ToKAlot]

Dont ever use MiracleGrow again use a mix with no nutes in it and no slow feeding in it!!!!

[keeko]

Foxfarm soil is the easiest thing but expensive

[good ol daze]

It is a short, thick plant.



I'm afraid pics are needed, because what you describe there sounds healthy.

[amstron]

ye, the yellowing leaves are most likely N defficiency. You should use a fert with higher N than P and probably K. Don't use too much in an attempt to speed up growth. If the plants aren't in too big pots then transfer to different soil and bigger pots as generally miracle grow is shit. The fact that it is short and thick is not a bad thing but 5 inches seems pretty tiny for that age, don't raise the lights, that wouldn't be the problem

[postmandave]

it could be the strain i have just had similar stuff with a nothern light after 26 days it was on its 6th node but only 7 iche but it sure made up for that as soon as i went 12/12 it shot up to 18 inches the first 18 days 12/12 so some strains like nl can stay very short if you get the short pheno type ,aurora indica is the same its father is nl their is also other short strain in veg but they grow bigger in 12/12 or later in veg. which node are you on at 5 inches and are the side shoot overtaking the main stem?.the postman. and pics would be a great help as someone says above

[chadsvb]

I've been using Peter's 20-20-20, trying to get her back to beautiful. Since this is my first ever time to grow, I decided to go ahead and set her to 12/12. Today is the second day of 12/12.

Why jump the gun and go with 12/12 when you could have just stayed in veg a little longer? Answer: This was a bagseed grow and my first grow. I learned a lot so far and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more when she starts really flowering! That's all this is, a learning project.

Things I did wrong and learned from during this grow (so far):

-Overwatering : This is most likely the reason for the stunted growth (In my noob opinion).

-Light at Night : My closet has a gap at the top and bottom of the door. Light shines through. I didn't know how important it was to have complete darkness in the night cycle. No more turning on the lights when they're sleeping.

-MiracleGro : Stay away from this brand. Stay away from "slow feeding" soils.

Even with all these odds against me, I am successfully growing a female. She may not be the best, but she's mine. By the way, her name is Betsy.

Thanks for all the help. I will be asking more questions soon. Also, I will find a digi camera and take some pics so all of you can see.

Peace

[postmandave]

well done man thats the right attitude (its all a learning proses) im sure you will do well and she will take off in flower.try ur hardest to prevent light leaks while in 12/12 this is when it does the most damge and overwatering can surely lead to stunt growth, just enjoy whay ur doing and you will enjoy it even more when you light up that first self created bud:jointsmile: enjoy the postman. ps i will be watching with intrest:thumbsup:

[chadsvb]

Six Nodes and the side shoots are bushing out nicely. You must be correct on the 12/12 because even after just one day in 12/12 she is reaching out! I'm almost tempted to go home and check on her.

Question:
I want sensors! I want sensors that will give me all the information I need (ie: Temp, Moisture level, Humidity, pH, etc...). These sensors would be connected to a computer, so an automated log could be created. Also, monitoring these will give me the ability to automate things such as the fans, etc... Anybody know where I would look to get started?

Thanks again for all the help.

Peace

[postmandave]

ill get back to you mate i got some links floating around on computer contoled systems.the postman

[postmandave]

is this the type of thing you are meaning this system we were looking at it texts you and loads other shit. this is an intresting subject for me so if you explane what you are after i can search around for some ideas and also it would make a great thread. the postman.
Harvest Master Pro Plus Climate Controller with Powerpack: Basement Lighting Hydroponics and Plant Grow Lights (http://www.basementlighting.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?page=1/PROD/HMC3)

[chadsvb]

That's exactly what I'm looking for, just not the price! Ok, imagine this: A temperature sensor hanging down into your plant(s). This sensor get's information that will be sent to a computer (via USB, COM, something...). The computer software (that I can create) will take this information and process it. If the temperature is too high, turn on the fans (or speed up fans). If too low, turn off fans (or slow fans down). Simple stuff, just hard finding the things to fabricate such a contraption.

And it doesn't have to stop with temp. I just want to be able to control the climate in my grow area better. When I'm not there, I want a controlled solution taking care of her :)

[amstron]

sounds interesting, I don't know anything about any of that kind of stuff but if you can manage that you can create the perfect growing environment. I'd be interested to see this high tec grow room if you can do it but I can't imagine it being cheap

[Tokudai]

Automated Aquarium Systems Home Page (http://www.automatedaquariums.com/)

They have a great setup using a computer to log and control fishtanks - with a little tweaking it could be adapted to monitor and adjust PH, nutes, temp, fans, Co2 - everything

[RonnieRay]

Despite what you hear, you can grow good in MG soil or just about any other similar soil. It may not be the very best, but you can grow very good in it. That's got nothing to do with why the plant was stunted. Make sure your mix has good drainage. Are you using the MG right straight out of the bag? Without a pic, it sounds like two problems caused the stunted growth. First overwatering. Make sure the soil in the pot dries out almost completely between waterings and then drench it fully until it drains. Two, no I would not raise the lights higher than 3 inches above on the next round. In fact, I would put them lower and closer. I would put FLs like 2-3 cm above for better growth.

[Bree1978]

Despite what you hear, you can grow good in MG soil or just about any other similar soil. It may not be the very best, but you can grow very good in it. That's got nothing to do with why the plant was stunted. Make sure your mix has good drainage. Are you using the MG right straight out of the bag? Without a pic, it sounds like two problems caused the stunted growth. First overwatering. Make sure the soil in the pot dries out almost completely between waterings and then drench it fully until it drains. Two, no I would not raise the lights higher than 3 inches above on the next round. In fact, I would put them lower and closer. I would put FLs like 2-3 cm above for better growth.

that maybe a tad too close. They'll be growing into them everyday and singing the tips. But yes, closer than three inches if you can.

:jointsmile: Bree

[chadsvb]

I came home yesterday, to find that I forgot to set the thermostat. It was 85 degrees inside my home, not to count the temp of the light above the plant. Well, I was quick to cool the place off, then I went to check on Betsy.

She was hit by a falling CFL!!! Two Lights straddled her and there was no hope from there. My setup was a bit half-ass'ed, so I will not make that mistake again.

Either way, it was a great learning experience. Thanks to all of you for your help!

I'll start germinating again within a week or so. Gotta get all the right stuff for a good setup. Might start a grow log like everybody else :) Anyways, I'll be around here on the Forum.

Peace

[RonnieRay]

"that maybe a tad too close. They'll be growing into them everyday and singing the tips. But yes, closer than three inches if you can."

- Depends on the size and heat of the FL.

[Bree1978]

"that maybe a tad too close. They'll be growing into them everyday and singing the tips. But yes, closer than three inches if you can."

- Depends on the size and heat of the FL.

NO it doesn't. I used 23w floros and if I got them too close they'd grow up into them and singe the tops. And I ck my plants every few hours too.


Thanks, :jointsmile: Bree