My First Grow Log - Northern Lights

[bubadutep75]

Hello Everyone;

This is my first grow log and I am on my first grow, I have 3 hash spice that are 3 weeks old and are doing nicely but I want to start this log from start to finish so I can learn as much as I can from all of you and get great advise for the future. I am a disabled veteran and I use cannibus for pain relief and just because I love it.

Eguipment

Seeds:
1. 5 x Northern Lights seeds from "Nirvana"

Lights:
1. 1 x 400 w HPS light w/air cooled hood and 2 yoyos
2. 2 x 4ft Grow Florence lights (for the seedlings)

Soil:
1. Fox Farm Ocean Forest ( I have heard great things about it)
2. Jiffy Seedling starter soil

Nutes:
1. F.F. Grow Big & Big Bloom

Supplies:
1. 5 x Jiffy Pot degradable peat pots for seedlings
2. Temp. / Humidity digital gauge
3. Small Fan
4. PH, Nitro, Phos. & pottasium testers
5. Distilled water
6. Cardboard box painted white on one side for reflection
7. 5 Small pots for first transplant with 5 drain trays

Seedling Supplies
1. 1 x Moisture dome that I made from 2 strawberry containers
2. Spray bottle for seedlings
3. 1 x Papertowel & 2 plates for germinating seeds

[bubadutep75]

These seeds germed for 2 days in distilled water, papertowels, and i used to lids and put plastic wrap between them to keep in moisture:
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/dsci0118f.jpg/


Here is the seeds in the lids with plastic:
http://img413.imageshack.us/i/dsci0116c.jpg/

Here's the jiffy pots, starter soil and my cheap homeade dome, they didn't have any at the lawn and garden store and the grow shop wanted $25. i'm too poor for that:
http://img176.imageshack.us/i/dsci0115.jpg/

Here they are all planted with the sprout facing down and seeds about 2 cm. from the top, I presoaked the soil and cups and then gave them a good spray after planting the seeds:
http://img180.imageshack.us/i/dsci0119v.jpg/

Lastly, here they are under the 2 lights:
http://img517.imageshack.us/i/dsci0120v.jpg/

[bubadutep75]

The pics didn't show up let's try this again.

[PhatJay]

Looks like you have done your homework, good luck with your 1st grow. :thumbsup:

*subscribed*

Do you have some calmag to add to your distilled water?

[COOLWHIP]

I love Northern Lights!! Nice setup
Subscribed

[bubadutep75]

Picture update, here they are 3 days into it, the roots took off like crazy, I had to keep adding soil because the roots pushed the seed out of the soil 1/4" every 6 hours. they all seem healthy and happy so far.

[LouisianaKing]

I would defiently have to agree with you.. Happy plants are the best plants

[bubadutep75]

Hey Phat, thanks. You mentioned calmag I'll have to research that but why do you suggest it?

[bubadutep75]

From what i understand you are wanting me to add calcium and magnesium to the distilled water since distilling takes out allot is that right. I got the fox farm grow big which has secondary nutrients in it I don't know if this replaces all of it or not.

I am keeping a journal of all info i gather. I am thinking of just using tap water and adjusting PH what do you think? Also do you think i should add small amounts of epsom salt and hydrogen peroxide for oxygen?

P.S. I love growing I just started and I am obsessed and not just with cannibus, I want to learn and grow everything now and I check on my babies 6 -7 times a day.

[bubadutep75]

Well it's been a few days so it's time for a few new pics, There hasn't been allot of foliage growth but the roots are growing nicely, they are already coming out the bottom of one of the pots.

[bubadutep75]

At the start of this thread I mentioned that I had 3 hash plants that I started just before these and thought I'd just throw in some pics, I pinched the tops 2 days ago and they are exploding, there is y growth on every nodes node now, topping is definitely the way to go for bushy plants.

[bubadutep75]

I am thinking about getting a rubbermaid tub with a lid and dumping all my water in it and testing the PH and just using that to fill up my water jugs then add the nutes to the water jug, this way the water has no chlorine in it and the ph is the same. I also have a fish tank bubbler I thought of sticking that in there to airorate the water. What are your opinions or ideas on this?

[PhatJay]

Sorry for the belated reply, dunno how you managed to make so many posts without me noticing. Are you a ninja?


From what i understand you are wanting me to add calcium and magnesium to the distilled water since distilling takes out allot is that right. I got the fox farm grow big which has secondary nutrients in it I don't know if this replaces all of it or not.

I am keeping a journal of all info i gather. I am thinking of just using tap water and adjusting PH what do you think?

You are correct, distilling removes impurities, it also removes Calcium and Magnesium and your plants need them. If you are using distilled water throughout your grow you have to add Calmag or you will run into problems. There is a sticky in this forum that mentions this.

All the nutrients I know of are formulated to be used with tap water (some companies make hardwater and softwater versions of their nutes), they do not contain enough Calcium and Magnesium to cater for all your plants needs if you use them in conjunction with DI or RO water.

I use tap water and adjust it's PH. If you can, it is best to leave the water out overnight so that the chlorine can vent off. Some people use distilled or RO water and add calmag. I don't see why I should spend money on distilled water and calmag when my tapwater works just fine.


I am thinking about getting a rubbermaid tub with a lid and dumping all my water in it and testing the PH and just using that to fill up my water jugs then add the nutes to the water jug, this way the water has no chlorine in it and the ph is the same.

Answering this question is going to reveal one of my dirty little secrets, as what you wrote, is what I do. I adjust the PH on a large batch of water and then make up small batches of nutes as I need them. The proper way to do it, is to add nutes, and then adjust PH. Nutrients effect the PH and correct PH is an important factor in plant health.


I also have a fish tank bubbler I thought of sticking that in there to airorate the water. What are your opinions or ideas on this?

This is a well established technique, it is a good idea to do this. Buying a fish tank bubbler is on my todo list.


Also do you think i should add small amounts of epsom salt and hydrogen peroxide for oxygen?

I don't know anything about Epsom Salts and very little about hydrogen peroxide. So I am not going to comment on this bit.

[bubadutep75]

Thanks for the tips Phat, no I am not a ninja just obsessed with my plants and growing. :weedpoke:

I am with you, not going to waste anymore money or time on distilled, i got ph test strips 100 pack for $3.00 and this weekend im getting some ph up and down add bubbler to tub and i'll be set. People have been using tap water for centuries after well water, think this is a new age thing.

I am ready to transfer these to their pots but they are not root bound yet, should i wait or just put them in their pots now, will it hurt or is it just personal preference?

[bubadutep75]

It's official, my plants love classical music, I setup speakers in my grow room last night and my northern lights doubled in size and my hash spice leaves exploded. I'll add a little blues tonight, it was my wifes idea said they like being talked to, but since I am not going to set upstairs and talk to my plants all day :eek: Ill let technology do it for me, I may record myself telling them how great they are lol and play that also.

[bubadutep75]

Here is a picture update, these are 5 days old. It is a little early but these jiffy pots are tiny and the roots were coming out of the bottoms and its too hot in my grow room to expose them so i planted them. the 3 in the back are my hash plants sorry i didnt want to move them i just got this set up.

one of the pics shows yellow tips on the start leaf tips, thats just seed skin left on it, they look healthy so far.

[bubadutep75]

Well its Sunday and a little new growth, I made a self contained grow room for my northern lights since I am going to start flowering my hash plants within the next week.

I used computer fans on both ends going in on one end at out the other which moves a ton of air through it, the florescent tubes work great and i have one compact flo on the side i may get some more.

[bubadutep75]

Here is my new clone and veg room pics. I still need to get velcro strips to fasten either end closed. This is just a quick cheap version, i am going to make this same thing with wood and inline fans, and make it look like a short dresser with handles, why not make it secret even though i own my own house.

[PhatJay]

Looking good bubadutep, just a couple of points..

It is best to have your soil level near the top of the pots, I think it's to help airflow around the base of the plant (or sommat like that).

It is better to have your intake fan low and your outtake fan high.

:hippy:

[bubadutep75]

Thanks for the tip Phat, i ran out of soil but im getting some today so ill add it once they are grown a little bit.

[bubadutep75]

Well its day 8 and picture time, it looks like they are finally taking to their new pots and started to show some signs of growth. They all look healthy and happy, I am using the fox farm trio and feeding schedule and I just started them on big bloom, in a week from now i will add grow big to the mix also.

[bubadutep75]

Here they are in their new mock home, as i said i am eventually going to build this same thing out of wood. one one side i have the florescent tubes and on the other is a compact florescent, I am going to add compact flos all on the one side maybe tommorow so they get plenty of light. what i really like about this air flow box is there are no heat problems, i can adjust the air to whatever temp i like and adjust the humidity. on the intake end i can also create some c02 to fill up the chamber every once in a while.

[bubadutep75]

New day more pics, I know these are boring but i am doing this log from start to finish, there is a little growth and any growth is good with me.

Just a question about cloning, should you take clones from the bottom, middle, or towards the tops of the plants? Also, I figure you want a stem with about 3 nodes or branches on it, do you trim all but the tip or what.

[PhatJay]

Just a question about cloning, should you take clones from the bottom, middle, or towards the tops of the plants? Also, I figure you want a stem with about 3 nodes or branches on it, do you trim all but the tip or what.

Dailymotion - Jorge Cervantes - Ultimate Grow Pt. 8 - um video do canal Filmes & TV (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ss3w_jorge-cervantes-ultimate-grow-pt-8_shortfilms)

This is a great DVD that covers all the essentials. The part I have linked to covers taking clones, but it is worth watching all the parts (unfortunately the later parts covering harvesting are missing).

[bubadutep75]

Hello everyone, it's a new day and time for new pics, not allot of growth but what do you expect. I am going to name these so i can log each ones growth instead of guessing by looking at the pics since i switch them around, numbering is too boring. Any ideas?

[THContent]

Just a question, your grow room, looks kinda small in height... What are you going to do when they get too big?

[bubadutep75]

thats not my real grow room, that is just a temporary home for them since my 3 hash spice plants "the seeds came free" are flowering, I have endless space for them but for now they seem to love this box, I am going to build the same thing out of wood in a few weeks and make it allot bigger since it works so good and just use it as my veg room permanently. I have about a foot of room to work with in this temp setup, if i have to i'll just put them in an empty bedroom until i build the permanent box if they get too big before then "wishfull thinking". :yeahright:

[bubadutep75]

Well I named them so I can keep track of each ones progress, I decided to start with the A's since I plan on having many harvests in the years to come.

[PhatJay]

I give my ladies names as well. Plants E and D are actually Emily and Delia. I hope your Amanda fairs better than mine, she got damaged on route to me and died in my arms.

:sadcrying

[bubadutep75]

"she got damaged on route to me and died in my arms" - lol my Amanda is looking very strong and healthy, it's Angela that is looking more frail than the others

[bubadutep75]

Well it's picture time, they love their home and are growing every day what do you guys/girls think.

[bubadutep75]

Here are the tops of 2 of the ladies. allison then amanda

[PhatJay]

Was that video on taking cuttings any help to you?

[bubadutep75]

I watched jorges cervantes movies over and over and it helped thanks, I also watched tons of clips on youtube and made a humidity dome out of 2 taco bell taco salad containers, put it on heating pad and its under full spectrum lights and they seem to be doing really good, I also trimmed the big leaves in half. thanks for the tip.

[bubadutep75]

Well its picture time.

[bubadutep75]

Well folks not much new happening here just posting some updated pics, same sh$# different day. I am really bummed today i just found out that there is a 99% change that my 3 hash spice plants are all males which sucks because they are my first grow. I just started germing the other 5 northern light seeds so i can start flowering around week 4-5.

[bubadutep75]

Sorry I haven't posted in a week, I've been busy with other things. My plants have grown quite a bit I think, is this growth allot for a week? I am happy but I am new to this so the growth may actually suck for a week can anyone tell me. The last plant is on the following post. According to FoxFarm schedule you should veg. for about a month then begin flow cycle, is this about right or is it best to go with your instincts depending on how much meds you want?

[bubadutep75]

I can only post 5 pics but the following post is my last plant Angela, she has some purple coloring on her stem sections from the main stem to the leaf tips but the others don't, is this normal?

[COOLWHIP]

As far as I know the veg time is really up to you and how much space you have for your plants because you have to realize after the kick the lights to flower the plants will double in size withing a few weeks, so if you have no height restrictions you could veg for as long as you want but you will end up with a montser of a plant if you go to long they can get over 12ft easly.
COOLWHIP

[bubadutep75]

Thanks for the heads up Coolwhip, a 12 ft plant would be great if I grew outside, I could't imagine those buds.

[bubadutep75]

I haven't posted in a week, I have been busy but there has been some new growth and I have moved these over to the flowering room to make room for my second set of northern lights, my new clones, and my white widow clone.

As you can see I pinched the tops of each of these about a few centimeters above the last y section, I did this twice with my white widow and I have 4 main colas which is awesome.

[bubadutep75]

Here are the cloning pics with the materials i used also, I cleaned the small scissors each time I changed plants to make sure no diseases spread if there where any.

I am using olivias cloning gel, it is about $7 at the grow shop. For soil I am using seed starting jiffy mix, it works ok but it hold very little water, but until i make it to the grow shop again I will just use whats left of it.

I have the clones in a homemade humidity dome that I made.

[bubadutep75]

more pics, I am going by the FoxFarm schedule to veg 4 weeks then flower, and I am going for the sea of green style so I can get my schedule worked out and have my mother plants and new clones in one area, my vegging next to it and then flowing all setup to rotate in sequence with each other.

I am going to let my next vegging cycle go longer depending on how long the flowing is on these.

[rainman92]

updates...?

[bubadutep75]

I was upset because 4 out of the 5 plants were mail but i do have my mother plant now and the 1 female is doing nicely, I cut the tip and got 2 main colas that are 2ft. 2in. each. The hairs are yellow and a few brown spots so i hope it will be about a week until i cut it down, enjoy the pics.

[camoxnhx]

wow! those HASH SPICE female are looking DANK! what do you have growing in your veg room at the moment? keep up the green thumb!

[bubadutep75]

Thanks camox, this is northern lights, my hash spice were all males and i threw them out, i have white widow, northern lights and supersilverhaze in my veg room and flowering room growing on a cycle. I just ordered g13 haze seeds and critical mass seeds from demonseeds.com, should start them soon i heard g13 is some potent medicine. :S5:

[PhatJay]

Well done bubadutep, shame about the males but that female looks real nice.

:thumbsup:

[rocklobster4040]

Great post loved the photos


thanks

RockLobster4040

[energyefficient]

so thats what a successful topping job will do for you? (that is a question im a total newb!)

[LetsSeeYa]

Thanks for the heads up Coolwhip, a 12 ft plant would be great if I grew outside, I could't imagine those buds.

Mine was at least 12', but it got some kinda fungus and spread to my others so i killed it. But took a clone before it went bad. Its NL #5 and i just luv the taste of NL. Mine was a re vegged plant from last winter and got huge before i killed it. You will enjoy the strain, if you haven't tasted it already:)



:rasta:

[K3MP3R420]

gorgeous nuggiture you have there my friend!!! :thumbsup:

[canniwhatsis]

Nice Colas! :thumbsup:


How long in flower? Any Amber trichomes yet? I have some NL seeds a buddy gave me,... they're a cross with "Kind" but mostly NL according to him.