First Time In-Door Grower

[jakal369]

Everyone, this is my second attempt growing indoors. Since the first time I ran into many problems, I've taken my time researching and learning day by day and I recently started my second attempt. Though I still feel like I'm in the dark here. My current set up is a 24 inch CFL up top as the main source of light, an 18 inch CFL I raise or lower to be within a few inches of the plant top, a medium sized box enclosing the two plants I have growing and the box is lined with tin foil to reflect even more light, I have a large fan and three small ones to keep air flow continuous and the lights are on for 20 hours, off 4, for the veg stage and I'll switch that to 12 on 12 off for flower. I'm also changing lights to a 400 watt HPS when they enter the flowering stage. It's only two plants, but such a nice strain of cannabis. I got 5 seeds and planted two. Both are looking great, given it's only been 5 days, about to start the 6th day. I also planted the seeds in the highest grade of Miracle Grow they make, plus nutrients are fed to them every now and then. I guess my question would be, I'm not looking for someone to hold my hand or walk me through this, I'd just like to know how I'm doing? Is this correct, will it work or am I wasting time and hope? Any input or suggestions would be much appreciated and I'll happily fix any problems you guys may notice. LOOOONG post, I know, but thank you for reading and I'll look forward to reading all the responses. Not to mention this is my first post! New member! haha nice to meet everyone and happy token!

[irydyum]

I also planted the seeds in the highest grade of Miracle Grow they make, plus nutrients are fed to them every now and then.

Use extreme caution combining seedlings and Miracle Grow. Miracle grow has tons of nutes in it, and seedlings require next to no nutes for the first few weeks. Also, most MG soil has enough in the nutrient department to sustain your avg tomato plant through harvest.

Number one tool to have is some way to measure PH. You can add all the nutes and such you like to the soil, but if the PH is off kilter, it's all in vein. Cannabis requires a very specific PH range for each type of growing medium.

Any questions fire away, but be careful, people around here will eat you for breakfast if you don't do your homework. Research, research, research....

[headshake]

18" and 24" CFLs? do you mean fluorescent tubes? and ditch the tin foil as it can cause hot spots. use flat white paint instead.

get a thermometer and hygrometer. temp is very important. especially when you start running the 400W HPS. expect to get some more fans.

i might just be blazed, but i didn't see the strain that you are growing.

definitely be careful with the MG. it has nutes in it. and you are nuting extra on top of that? you shouldn't be giving nutes until the plant hits the fourth or fifth node.

like irydyum said, get some way to measure your pH. a freshwater aquarium kit at the least, or better yet a digital pen.

also like irydyum said, do your research

sorry to sound like a parrot.


-shake

[jakal369]

Thank you both for the response. I'm using miracle grow moisture control. I've read up and the Ph level is neutral. Though I WILL monitor the levels as the growing continues. I know I'll probably have to flush all of the slow release nutes before I harvest, but that's fine. I just want to make sure the plant will grow healthy and what set up I have will do a nice job. I'm not sure how much a single plant grows, but if it's a little under that I'm fine haha. It's all a learning process, just don't want to never get off the ground with this thing. I've removed the tin foil also.

[jakal369]

The soil has an NPK ratio of 21-7-14. I think I'll need more P added for veg stages though.

[irydyum]

You may add more P during flowering, but outside of cutting and seedling stage, I would bet your miracle grow is plenty sufficient in P for veg. Provided the soil isn't over 2 months old. Has it ever been transplanted or anything?

This is the primary reason I mention PH. Nutes can be present but the roots require about 6.5ph in soil for them to be accessible to the plant. Many growers misdiagnose PH imbalance as nutrient deficiency. The fact is, it's there, just can't be used.

Proper PH is essential to diagnose ANY deficiencies. It's like troubleshooting anything else, if the first link in the chain is broken, nothing down the road matters until you fix the first link. In this endeavor, PH is the first link.

[jakal369]

Thank you both for such great responses and for not bashing me too hard for being a noob still. I feel great and confident now, I have a general understanding of all the work that goes into it and it's more than just plant and leave it alone. The soil is brand new and the pots have been quarentined, everything is clean and tidy. I'm not having a problem now because the air flow is forming stronger stems, but I usually go away on the weekends and it's at a stage where last time, I would have to brace the small plants up against a small wooden toothpick to keep standing straight up, I hope that doesnt happen this time. They look MUCH healthier, VERY green and the little amount of leave the two plants have are fuzzy like a khoala bear haha. The last question I can think of is has anyone else had to prop small plants up and softly tie them to make them grow up straight, or is that a sign of an unhealthy plant thats stem can not support itself? Like i said, no problem yet. Just the last wonder in my mind. Thank you all very much again and I'll begin to take some photos when they get interesting. I believe i'll let them remain in the veg stage untill week 8 or so, depending on how large they are. I'm not worried about quantity that is produced, I'm no king pin trying to push a profit, this is all for independent use and for self full fillment.

[jakal369]

Hey guys, it's week two into the grow and here are two, crappy quality pics of the plants. Both are high quality seeds I recently found in some unknown strain of cannabis, but it was extremely potent. I removed the foil, i know about hot spots now. I'm re doing the space also so in a few days I'll come back with better pics and a new space.

[submast3r]

You should really try to keep a bulb right up next to the seedlings during the beginning to reduce stretching or spindly stems like yours is exhibiting right now. Having a light a few feet up, even if it is very powerful, still might cause stretching. Just make sure that you aren't burning the plant up by putting the bulb TOO close but especially because you're using CFL's you should be able to get them might cozy with one another.

[jakal369]

Here are the two females at week 3!

[soosmookedoout]

Those plants you posted look good. i currently have a aero garden grow just started. i germinated and over night had 5 of 20 pop. i modified the garden in to sections with dirt top layer with a rock base a filter and a pump to where its dirt/aer/hydro/odd. lol its my own little grow invention. they are all lowrider ak47. with a couple alaskan ice seeds i came across. I will post pics of my "sea of green" trial. i have a 400 watt hps for flower in which ill take the cfl ballast away. but i am expecting to flower 15 8 inch females in the aerogarden/ homemade modification garden.

[irydyum]

Lookin healthy:thumbsup: