planted 3 weeks ago, looking for advice

[clayboy]

This is my first hydro attempt.

I have a 2-gallon active drip system, lighted by two 30w compact fluorescents, 1800 lumens per. They're looking awfully skinny so far, but that's probably due to me keeping the lights too high initially. I lowered them just last week to just a few inches above them. I also had some ph issues early last week but it seems to have stabilized now. Some of the leaves look a bit yellow too. I flushed the system today and added fresh nutes.

Tomorrow will be the 3-week mark from the time I planted the seeds.

Just looking for any help/advice you can offer. Thanks

[LOC NAR on probation]

Looks like no cal mag plus from the red stem. PH might of held you back but not much. Seedlings do not need nutes for two week and then 1/4 nutes. If you don't have cal mag you can use a little epson salt to help.

[greenboy]

Hi mate,,, cant see ya light get it down, as long as its not too hot uno on your hand,,, get it down!!! They will thank you...
Im a first time grower as well & I made the same mistake light too high,,, then you start falling behind on times and dates...
Looking good thought, wouldnt worry too much at this stage,, as as the last man said no nuts at all for a least 2/3 weeks!!!

These ak47 are 11 days on the flush now,,,, first grow f**k me.....hehehehehehehe.

hope this helps man.
Green boy over and out
:jointsmile:
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[greenboy]

shit ya didn't see that 30w x2 get um down down down hehehehe

[greenboy]

s**t.....

[LOC NAR on probation]

Way to go greenboy. awsome for a first time. I got some of those bean ,can't wait till I'm free to grow again.
How do they smell ? , Wish I could.

[clayboy]

I dropped my lights to about 1 inch above the lovely ladies and they are really responding! I'll post more pics soon.

[clayboy]

Update:

After dropping the lights I had a good response at first, but throughout the week they started wilting again and some of the leaves have yellowed. I'm wondering if this could have happened when I ran out of ph down and used white vinegar instead.

I flushed today and used fresh nutes, also plucked out the weakest plant of the bunch. I have the lights about 2 inches above right now, hoping that perhaps the vinegar threw them off or something.

Any thoughts?

[greenboy]

Surpose ph can couse yellow, but as for vinaga I havent a clue???
What sort of PH leavels are you keeping, and how mant times a day are you flooding now??
What sort of flowing light have you got ready for when they go on 12/12??:hippy:
Cut my babys down thursday last week,, Fair bit there i think prob 3/4 oz i recon,, but been drying now for 3/4 days and they are all ready srunk big time,
Photos on the table was stright from the plants,,,
enjoy and keep me infored on your little babys,,,,
:rastasmoke: over and out green boy
:rastasmoke:
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[clayboy]

I've been keeping the ph around 6.

Just upgrade the lights today from two 30w CFL's to two 42w CFL's, not sure if that will make a difference but I figured it couldn't hurt.

[clayboy]

I have an active drip system running 24/7.

Today I reduced the pump to it's lowest setting. I also went with 1/2 strength nutes this time around along with the upgraded lights.

Today one of my plants looks better, the other two not so good. One of them is getting brown spots on the yellow leaves.

[clayboy]

I've got some cal mag on order from my local hydro shop, but in the meantime I picked up some epson salt. How much should I use in a 2 gallon bucket? I added 2 tsp tonight, is that good?

[TheKidThatLovesMary]

Hey what are those orange balls called? Also how do u transplant a plant in whatever that is?

-kid-

[greenboy]

about 6oz of home grown skunk just for me (if i could share i would) lol
Thanks for help,,
Them lights you have put in should help any extra light is welcome!!
Have you got a big light for them for flowing!!! Post some pics if ya can intrested to see how there doing,, might grow the same as you next time,,mmmm or soil havent made my mined up....

Green boy

[clayboy]

I added cal mag yesterday, already seeing some nice improvement. One plant is really doing well, the other two are so-so, I'm hoping they'll recover with the cal mag. The lowest leaves are really yellow on those two.

[greenboy]

pics buddy.......nice to see how there doing..

[clayboy]

Here's the latest, I'm down to 1 plant. I decided the other two were just too far behind to bother with. This one is really doing well though, she looks like a keeper. Cal mag is a god-send. :thumbsup:

I also got a ph pen, it's so much easier than those damn strips and the guessing game with the color chart.

I'm really looking at this first grow as a learning experience. I'm already looking forward to grow #2 so I can take what I learned and really have a killer crop.

How much longer should I veg this baby?

[greenboy]

Hi mate,,, so u binned the other 2 did ya,, still could have been ok,, if you had the space of corse! Or where they looking a bit under the wether. Keep all ladys!!! i was temped to cut a few down but couldnt bring my self to the chop!!!
Looking better that before any way, really picked up..
How old is this little lady then from when she pop her head up???
Cus dependes on how big you want them in the end (flowering),,, I was told let them get to about half the size you want them before flowering,, I would say another 2 weeks and u will be at a foot high.. Do a little reading up, there are some real good books out there, which is good for refrence,, u know.. save your head spining with shit,, what will i do next:mad:
Post some pics of your set up intrested too see how you have set up!! (flood and drain anit it)...
Them pens are a god sent,,,, much much better,, i discorved one about 2 bottles of PH tester later,,, well pissed me off,,,
Keep me informed..greenboy over and out!!

[clayboy]

Yeah I've got a 2 gallon drip system going, with two 42w CFL's and a batwing reflector.

I'm going to give this one at least 2 more weeks. In the last day or so her stem has really gotten thicker, she's looking pretty strong now!

[greenboy]

Hi clayboy,,,
Are you looking at topping the lady before she goes in too flower,, Do some reading up on toping and stuff, I had six plants as u can see above (photos) I wanted to expreament i little!!! I did some read and found that topping can, not will,, give u two or three main colas,,instead of just 1.. So i cut the tops of three of the plants and thats what come of it,, the three that i cut had prob more that double the one that i hadent,,,, just a thought,, some think for ya too look in too..
Not sure if i have all ready asked but have u got a bigger light for flowering...

Over and out green boy...


Im no expert but shit am i going to top all of my plants next time the rooms up and running..

[greenboy]

The hole center of them pics,, when in room, was over grow to fuck with extra shoots off the choosen 3......

[clayboy]

Hi clayboy,,,
Are you looking at topping the lady before she goes in too flower,, Do some reading up on toping and stuff, I had six plants as u can see above (photos) I wanted to expreament i little!!! I did some read and found that topping can, not will,, give u two or three main colas,,instead of just 1.. So i cut the tops of three of the plants and thats what come of it,, the three that i cut had prob more that double the one that i hadent,,,, just a thought,, some think for ya too look in too..
Not sure if i have all ready asked but have u got a bigger light for flowering...

Over and out green boy...


Im no expert but shit am i going to top all of my plants next time the rooms up and running..

I'm going to look to top it very soon.

No I don't have a bigger light for flowering, you think I'd need more than just two 42w cfls?

[clayboy]

The hole center of them pics,, when in room, was over grow to fuck with extra shoots off the choosen 3......

come again?

[greenboy]

Hi clayboy,,
Would be better if you could try and get your hands on a 250w a least,, HPS.. I brought mine brand new of some think like £70 ish,,
Just make sure on temps in your room sit at 75 80 still when the lights running,, well you know that anyway,, I think 2 of the 42w bulbs would be ok still grow but no way near as good as with HPS,, Mine done give of that much heat,, but after a few hours of running it builds heat big time,, so needed fan...for a few extra $,,,, and few more qwid on the electric,, and there you go.... well worth it...
Green boy:hippy:

[clayboy]

Some pic updates, seems to be wilting quite a bit. I flushed yesterday and added 1/2 strength nutes today, with cal mag as well. Any ideas for why it's wilting? Some of the lower leaves are yellowing too. I moved the lights back a bit today too, I have them about 3 inches away from the top of the plant.

[greenboy]

hi bud,, how often is your drip ring on for, could be under watering,, overwatering,, 1/2 nutes, may be to power full for wwweee plant, drop it down to 1/4 for week let them recover,,

I used to leave my drip ring on day and night 24/7. some say you can some say leave on for day light only,, them pebbles need too be wet throught all the time,,,,,

How many weeks now????:jointsmile:
Keep me informed, but they will pick up again, dont you worry about that,, will post some pics of what my first babys looked like at your sort of stage, well poorly..

tar green boy

[sharingscaring]

Looks like no cal mag plus from the red stem. PH might of held you back but not much. Seedlings do not need nutes for two week and then 1/4 nutes. If you don't have cal mag you can use a little epson salt to help.



Loc Nar, was talking bout 2 weeks from your first post when to add nutes( seems like your just over two weeks and 1/2 strenght might be to much). Flush with water only and make sure you have plenty of light. Im no expert but what ive learned is start with the proven feeding schedules(when all variables permit) Good Luck, post more pics if you get time

[clayboy]

My drip runs 24/7. My ppm is currently around 690.

Tonight I took the pump out and flushed out all the tubes, they seemed to be a little backed up. I also moved the fan closer.

It's been about 6 weeks now since I first planted the seeds. I just bought a new light last night that I should have by the end of the week, I bought a 150W CFL that says it has 9200 lumens (http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/13-41-compact-fluorescent/maxlite-highmax-bulb-134718.aspx).

[clayboy]

I'm going to try cutting back on the watering, at this point what do I have to lose?

[elway07]

looks like you gave it too many nutes too quickly as was mentioned above. I have been told and keep to the fact not to give any nutes at all just superthrive until it has six sets of leaves. you are burning em I think. I would flush and enter no nutes at all to let them revive. I may be wrong as I grow in soil but I would assume the rules would be the same. My brother while I was away added nutes too soon and it did just that. I was able to save mine with a good flush with 1/4 tsp of superthrive per gallon of water. See what others say but that would be what I would do if I were you. good luck

[clayboy]

Ok I flushed tonight and I'm going with plain water.

I'll check with my local hydro store for the superthrive.

[clayboy]

I'm seeing some slight improvement, but not any growth. The very bottom leaves have un-wilted (for lack of a better term). Would it be ok to just add some cal-mag? How long should I go with just water?

[greenboy]

post some pics buddy,,,, lets have a look!!

green boy

[clayboy]

Here we go, again some slight improvement but not much

[greenboy]

id say 4 weeks around there, too start adding nutes,, 1/4 only, as too what it says on the bottle!!!!!,, should be ok,, put your drip on 24/7 now and get that big light on them,

Have the roots started too come out the bottom of the pot yet,,,
green boy

[clayboy]

Yes the roots grew out of the bottom weeks ago

[greenboy]

ya get the nuts on the go then, thats when i started mine,, will realy start to pick up speed then!!

[sharingscaring]

Stick with it, shes a weed sell rebound

good luck

[greenboy]

Pull them dead, dieing, yellow leaves off, she will be wasting energy trying too fix the dieing leaves, Have you added the nuts yet?

Green boy

[clayboy]

yep added the nutes yesterday, 1/4 strength, I'll pull the yellow leaves off today too

[elway07]

just keep an eye on em. did you ever get Super thrive? that would be a must for me with my plants looking like that.. If they start getting worse... flush again and keep it on ST only 1/4 tsp per gallon until they seem to be almost 100%better. I still think they are too young for nutes. good luck.

[home.grower]

Congratulations on your 1st of many hydro attempts.

I hope all goes well for you clayboy.

At first I thought you were over watering. My plants looked similar when I did an NFT system some time ago. I think the yellowing was closely related to the roots being starved of oxygen in my case. I was over watering and drowning the roots.

I'm not sure what the problems are with your plant. Glad people are on board giving you a helping hand. I'm going to read this thread again and probably ask a few questions.

[home.grower]

Did you plant your seedlings in any other medium beside clay i.e a rockwool cube?

Did you steralise/wash your clay before use?

I see your system drips from the top. Is there an air supply in the bucket?

Your pics for june 3rd look like over fert of some kind and over water, but that is my guess.

Is there an air stone in your reservoir that holds your nute solution? if your solution is left still for too long then you could have a build up of nutes getting dumped onto your roots.

I recommend flushing with pH balance water pH 5.8 for 3 days and cleaning out your reservoir before hand. Then I'd commence 1/3rd strength nutes..

I'd want to see some sign of recovery before piling on more plant food. But that is just what I'd do and isn't a textbook suggestion.

I wouldn't drip constantly without prior practice. I was planning on flooding my current grow 24/7, but I'll leave that till I've had practice. Hydro is quite unforgiving and doesn't allow for many mistakes. I'd maybe drip on max 10 times per day giving the roots oxygen inbetween. My current grow is similar in so far as I'm also using clay media. My top inch of balls aren't low enough to get wet, so keeping the balls mosit is not that relevant. Feeding the roots/plant is whats required, the balls can dry up, its the plant that needs attention.

Very best of luck Clayboy, and I hope you can answer a few of my queries!!

[clayboy]

just keep an eye on em. did you ever get Super thrive? that would be a must for me with my plants looking like that.. If they start getting worse... flush again and keep it on ST only 1/4 tsp per gallon until they seem to be almost 100%better. I still think they are too young for nutes. good luck.

I ordered some superthrive this weekend, I'll try that and I ordered some clearex to flush with

[clayboy]

Did you plant your seedlings in any other medium beside clay i.e a rockwool cube?

Did you steralise/wash your clay before use?

I see your system drips from the top. Is there an air supply in the bucket?

Your pics for june 3rd look like over fert of some kind and over water, but that is my guess.

Is there an air stone in your reservoir that holds your nute solution? if your solution is left still for too long then you could have a build up of nutes getting dumped onto your roots.

I recommend flushing with pH balance water pH 5.8 for 3 days and cleaning out your reservoir before hand. Then I'd commence 1/3rd strength nutes..

I'd want to see some sign of recovery before piling on more plant food. But that is just what I'd do and isn't a textbook suggestion.

I wouldn't drip constantly without prior practice. I was planning on flooding my current grow 24/7, but I'll leave that till I've had practice. Hydro is quite unforgiving and doesn't allow for many mistakes. I'd maybe drip on max 10 times per day giving the roots oxygen inbetween. My current grow is similar in so far as I'm also using clay media. My top inch of balls aren't low enough to get wet, so keeping the balls mosit is not that relevant. Feeding the roots/plant is whats required, the balls can dry up, its the plant that needs attention.

Very best of luck Clayboy, and I hope you can answer a few of my queries!!

-Yes, I planted in rockwool

-there's a pump in the bucket

-Yes I washed the clay rocks thoroughly before using them

-My next plan of action is a flush with clearex, then plain water with superthrive only to see how it recovers. Thanks for the help!

[alwayssleepdeprived]

they don't look like they are doin all that bad to me...do you have a meter? mine looked like that but seemed to perk up a bit when I upped the nutes

if I'm right they should be kinda stiff only other thing it could be is over nuting but if yer between 250 and 400ppm you should be fine

I'd say you can get your ph atleast down to 5.5 without any trouble and I keep mine even lower at times

how much food are ya adding?

[home.grower]

Good luck mate, I think you are already taking appropriate steps in relation to the answers u provided...

[clayboy]

alright, I gave her a really good flush tonight with clearex, added fresh water only with 1/4 tsp. superthrive per gallon. Let's see how she does.

[sharingscaring]

alright, I gave her a really good flush tonight with clearex, added fresh water only with 1/4 tsp. superthrive per gallon. Let's see how she does.

you go boy, hit the regement and she'll love you, pics?

[sharingscaring]

how long r u flushing?

[unlockit]

you should start over cus it looks like they could be overfertilized {leaves curled under} this causes stress witch causes males. germinate new seeds, give less light 16 hours first week 17 the next and so on till you hit 24/7 use only a 1/4 streangh nitrogen based nute with a drop of superthrive per gallon of water for the first 3 weeks after they sprout this will help you get more females becuse of no stress also keep your humidity high at 65% thoses 3 weeks and only blue light no hps

[clayboy]

you should start over cus it looks like they could be overfertilized {leaves curled under} this causes stress witch causes males. germinate new seeds, give less light 16 hours first week 17 the next and so on till you hit 24/7 use only a 1/4 streangh nitrogen based nute with a drop of superthrive per gallon of water for the first 3 weeks after they sprout this will help you get more females becuse of no stress also keep your humidity high at 65% thoses 3 weeks and only blue light no hps

I'm thinking you may be right. I think I've tried just about everything at this point and the plant just isn't coming back very well. I'm going to scrap this first grow and start over with some quality northern lights seeds, get a bigger light, and use top notch nutes like GH flora series. I think I've learned some valuable lessons from this first grow.

[home.grower]

Yepp!

[greenboy]

Good luck with next grow buddy,, post us some updates on your northern lights grow,, freind is grow some at the moment, looking realy good, about 6 weeks in too flower,,,, will keep ya updated.....

green boy