After a 20 year break, am I growing these right?

[HazyMorning]

This is my first grow in about 20 years. I have nothing good to bring this to harvest, being there is no money to spend at this time. The idea is just to get back into growing after a long break.
In the past, I grew outdoors. This is my first indoor grow, however, Iâ??ve done a lot of research on indoor growing to prepare.

I have two 23 watt (2700K) (no hoods) and one 68 watt (2700K) (has hood) CFL twisty bulbs, for a total of 114 watts. Being that the bulbs are 2700K instead of 6500K, they are not recommended for vegetative growth; however they are all I have. Miracle grow potting soil (first week), then switched to FoxFarm Ocean Forest. I'm using miracle grow as nutes.
I have a small non-oscillating fan and I'm using tin foil and white plastic as reflection. I have a Milwaukee PH Meter and an Acu>rite Thermometer/Hygrometer.

I am growing 2 Pineapple Express and 3 Sour Diesel from seed, so there could be males.

Iâ??d like to get a 150 watt HPS for flowering, the cost is around $90.00. However, I may as well, get an entire grow system, so that Iâ??m doing things right.

I don't expect a big harvest; I'm hoping that I can get enough to last until my next harvest. I'll be taken clones for the next grow.

After three weeks, the five look very small. The first week, I gave them 24/7 light and then switched to 18/6. I water them when the top of the soil is dry; I also mist them with water daily. I started giving them half dosage nutes after two weeks. Also, I added a little Vital Earthâ??s All Purpose Guano Mix and Vital Earthâ??s Mega Worm Earthworm Castings on top of the soil and then watered in.
Two weeks in, I topped two of them; they had three branches and 5 leaves. I also lollipopped the two of them early. Amazingly, the ones I topped are growing the best. One of them is dwarfed (not topped or lollipopped); it just wants to stay small and compact.
I keep the humidity between 50-60% and the temperature between 70-85 degrees. Also, my PH is sitting at around 6.9.

I think I supplied all the information that you need. Am I doing a good job with what I have or am I making mistakes?

I added a few photos to help. These were taken yesterday, at the three week mark. :cool:

[silent leprechaun]

You topped and lollypopped them when they are so small ? Not a good idea at all if you ask me. You are only stunting their growth.

Also you have a little over 100w to veg 5 plants... I'm afraid you are way off there... And you have only 1 reflector.

Just look in my signature and look through my first grow. You will find just about everything you need there.

You will need to invest some money in this grow or just put the outdoors and let nature give you some good size buds.

Take Care

S.L.

[HazyMorning]

Thank you. I understand. I know that I'm not ready for the grow right now. I don't have the right equipment. The topping and the lollipopping didn't stunt them, they took off after I did it. I would just like to know if I'll be able to to get a little harvest with what I have. My next grow will be superior to this one.

[silent leprechaun]

Personally I don't think your set-up is good enough for 5 plants... I have 4 plants under 190w of LED and 260w of CFL.

My LED is an animal and surely compares to a 400w HID. The 260w of 2700k CFL are a recent upgrade.

I don't see how you will veg 5 plants on 114w of "2700k" CFL. It just seems like a far stretch and all the plants will suffer. Even the spectrum is wrong for veg, which you know...

I would go outdoors if I were you.

[HazyMorning]

You right and I should put them outside, however I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the weather here is crazy. The sun doesn't shine much in my area and it's cool (50 degrees at night, 70 during the day), even in the summer and it's often cloudy.
Yes, I have five plants, but I won't be harvesting 5 plants. Some will be male and I know that unless I improve my lighting situation, I'll need to cut them down to two female plants, anyway.

How does the health of the plants look? I know they are small for three weeks, but all in all, (to me) they look really good, other the one that looks a little sick.

[HazyMorning]

I like your set up, by the way.

[jiggsaw]

I think since they're still small and you have so little light you should just put them all in flower right now. If they get bigger they'll need more light and start dying. But right now that light will hit them enough to do something. I'd lst, tie them down and put them on 12/12 right now if I were you. You'll get a little bud if they don't get too tall for the light.

[HazyMorning]

I don't know. Shouldn't I wait a little longer, until they're at least 12 in.? I think I should wait at least another week, maybe two, but I wait for some more advice. Thanx.

[HazyMorning]

Really? Nobody has anymore advice? Alright, this has officially became a experimental project.

Thank you for all the advice I received!

[Smokey4Mc2Pot0420]

This is my first grow in about 20 years. I have nothing good to bring this to harvest, being there is no money to spend at this time. The idea is just to get back into growing after a long break.
In the past, I grew outdoors. This is my first indoor grow, however, I’ve done a lot of research on indoor growing to prepare.

I have two 23 watt (2700K) (no hoods) and one 68 watt (2700K) (has hood) CFL twisty bulbs, for a total of 114 watts. Being that the bulbs are 2700K instead of 6500K, they are not recommended for vegetative growth; however they are all I have. Miracle grow potting soil (first week), then switched to FoxFarm Ocean Forest. I'm using miracle grow as nutes.
I have a small non-oscillating fan and I'm using tin foil and white plastic as reflection. I have a Milwaukee PH Meter and an Acu>rite Thermometer/Hygrometer.

I am growing 2 Pineapple Express and 3 Sour Diesel from seed, so there could be males.

I’d like to get a 150 watt HPS for flowering, the cost is around $90.00. However, I may as well, get an entire grow system, so that I’m doing things right.

I don't expect a big harvest; I'm hoping that I can get enough to last until my next harvest. I'll be taken clones for the next grow.

After three weeks, the five look very small. The first week, I gave them 24/7 light and then switched to 18/6. I water them when the top of the soil is dry; I also mist them with water daily. I started giving them half dosage nutes after two weeks. Also, I added a little Vital Earth’s All Purpose Guano Mix and Vital Earth’s Mega Worm Earthworm Castings on top of the soil and then watered in.
Two weeks in, I topped two of them; they had three branches and 5 leaves. I also lollipopped the two of them early. Amazingly, the ones I topped are growing the best. One of them is dwarfed (not topped or lollipopped); it just wants to stay small and compact.
I keep the humidity between 50-60% and the temperature between 70-85 degrees. Also, my PH is sitting at around 6.9.

I think I supplied all the information that you need. Am I doing a good job with what I have or am I making mistakes?

I added a few photos to help. These were taken yesterday, at the three week mark. :cool:

those are all goin to be shorty and really bushy plants. i would try to get better lighting and let them get taller and then switch them to 12/12 and see what happens from their. but ur best bet would be to put them outside, ull get bigger buds anyway, and like u said this is just an experimental grow, so y not just put them outside and get bigger buds?

[HazyMorning]

Thanx for the advice. I think I going to do both. Being that I no longer live in Florida and now live in the U.P. of Michigan, the sun is no longer my best friend. So, what I think I'm going to do is put them outside in the morning, when there is sun and bring them in when the sun goes down. Being that I live in a somewhat mountainous area, the sun goes down early, so I'd bring them in for their last few hours of light. Repeating the process daily, until I put them in 12/12. I figure I put them in that cycle in another week or two. I was able to up the watts of light by 70 more watts, but that's still weak and I don't think that I'll have an HID by the time I start flowering. I'm disabled and this is all I have, I almost forgot how much fun this is, even if it is a mess right now.
Does this sound like a good plan?

[HazyMorning]

Facebook Video Link - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=404497242920745

Just a video update of how the plants are adjusting to both sun light and CFL light. In my opinion, they look healthy and obviously very short, but I have high hopes. In a week or two, I will begin flowering. :cool:

[silent leprechaun]

If I were you I would just leave them outdoors.

The plants will be fine at 50 Fahrenheit at night.

Just put them outside and let nature do its thing. All this bringing them in and out is a waste of time. If you want good buds then I would listen to the advice you get here.

Go and buy some good potting soil, some moss peat,some compost, perlite and mix it up. Dig 2 foot deep holes for each plant and fill the hole with the good soil.

Drench the soil and the following day plant your girls in the soil. After that you will hive to go back every 2 or 3 weeks to fertilise them.

Forget the indoor 112w CFL grow for now until you can afford the indoor set-up...

This is the best piece of advice you will get. If you still insist on doing it your way them go ahead... but its a whole lot of work for nothing.

And don't force the plants to bloom, just be patient and let nature do it. The bigger the plant the bigger the yield.

And stop cutting them up with topping and lolly popping... The plant is less than 6 inches high and you are attacking them with a knife... Not good...

anyway... I hope you take this advice...

Take Care

S.L.

[Joel]

I'd have to second Silents opinion to quit topping them. Yea you run the risk of stunting them, great they didnt stunt. You're also forgeting the stress you're causing the girls, should you have a female there is a high percentage that you will now end up with hermies.

Really not enough light at all for veg, none the less for flower when they triple in size. Outside is better, if you're afraid of it being "too cold" build a tiny greenhouse for cheap. You can build one out of pvc, rebar, and poly of course. Google it, you will see some ideas. Silent is right, 50F is not too cold.

For next time, Tinfoil is NEVER a good reflective material to use. When using brighter HID lights, you can create hot spots off crinkles in tinfoil and create burns in your girl. Misting is never great either, the plant sustains everything it needs from the roots it has grown.

Instead of spending 90% on a 150w HPS, spend another 40$ and get a 400w MH/HPS switchable. 40 more bucks for what, 250 watts of lighting? DEAL.

Goodluck on your venture.