Ficticious Grow Journal

[Phx]

Before anything... I must gather the implements of my destruction. My glass bong w/diffuser, filled with cold, ice water. My space case magnetic grinder, to make sure I have plenty of smoke. A drink to cover any possible cotton mouth... or coughing fits...

Ahhh...

The Journal of the First Ficticious Grow of: Fat D's Texas Red... BEGINS!!!


I have been studying, surfing the net and more for awhile now. I have seen and heard quite a bit and have come to a conclusion that I think I know enough to get me started. I also have done some outdoor gardening and some regular vegetable gardening. I have started seeds before and grown them to about 12 inch plants. Of course they were stretched, etc, but did survive until I pulled them.

MY INTENT for this grow is to grow a plant from seed to bud. Full cycle. I do not INTEND to clone off of this plant, etc... (although you never know what may happen). I also intend to attempt the chicken wire method to spread the tops out for better, more even growth.

These seeds are just bag weed seeds of a local variety. They have a decent heady high that you can still function on... I am curious as to what these plants look like NOT in brick form! They look similar to what is being sold as an Exotic around here which I believe is just closet grown weed... (I am NOT buying it). I am also hoping I can keep the smell down as I have no true vent in the apartment... Carbon of some kind WILL WORK, I believe...

Anyways, If interested, see my next post. It will contain some of the items I have (mostly for my own info) and some further info. My 3rd post SHOULD contain photos of what I am starting with. I do have a good digital camera that I download with to this computer all the time... I should have 3 or 4 posts by tomorrow afternoon or evening!

Wish me LUCK in your replies. And, please dont get too technical at this point! I am aware of many improvement I could make. Rome wasnt built in a DAY BY :rasta: !!!

[Phx]

The current equipment I have including room, lights, accessories are:

1. 430W Full Spectrum Light, Ballast and Hood
2. 2 Hydro Buckets with round rocks and pumps
3. 6 bottles of the chems that come with the set.
(I DO prefer to keep it simple)
4. Several power strips available or multiple plugs for timers and lights
without overload problems.
5. 4 ft flourescent with gro bulbs for starter plants.
6. Exhaust fan with 3.5 inch vent (to where I am not sure!)
7. 6-8FT akuminum type vent pipe
8.


Items I intend to purchase soon:
1. Ph Up and Ph Down
2. Water of some type other than tap
3. Chicken wire
4. Additional side lights?
5. Foil
6.

Items I intend to purchase eventually:
1. PPM Pen or ...? and solutions or whatever
(I havent studied this but have a friend who has a set, etc)
2. Humidity/Temp meter
3.

I will update these lists as I go.

For now I will add some thoughts so you know what I am wanting to produce with this Grow...

I am attemping to grow from seed to bud with a bagseed basically. What I have is 1 hydro bucket set up right now. When you look at the photo, you will see it has 3 small seedlings in it and a 4th that is struggling. (the 4th got too wet, etc...) Anyways, 3 was the number I wanted and I tossed one that was not germinating at all. (odd for my experience...) Anyways, if I end up with 4, I am going to leave it. It is the Baby...

I am told that seeds with the black lines are the females MOST LIKELY and that if not, no biggie in my opinion at this point (However, they will get yanked like a weed in the yard if they are males!) (gently of course as to not disturb their sisters!).

I have found by trial and error that the best way is to just heap the rocks over the bubblers to keep them from splashing on the plants (like Baby's problem). The kits I bought came with some rocks. IT IS NOT ENOUGH ROCKS! for each hexagon kit, I would say you need 1/2 as many MORE rocks. However, I am using MINIMAL other materials in the top of the hexagon. Anyways, the noise from the bubbles is diminished ( I can hear my fishtank again) and you can possibly leave it running 24/7 (I think!)

At this point, I just have them in the window in the bucket. I am waiting on #4 to turn its head up and dry out decent before I put too much more water. I definitly need a fan. Suggestions based on room dimensions below considering 430 light with exhaust fan and interior house intake...? would be appreciated... I should be able to buy one for 10 bucks at Walmart or Home Depot... Someone please inform. REMEMBER- it has to be household plug, not cigarette lighter plug!

I purchased the 4.5 x 4.5 or so cubes to transplant them to, but as I lifted the sprouts, I saw they had roots longer than the cubes and I believe with the chicken wire and ability I will have to train them, the roots will be bound fine. My only concern is that of the 4, if I get a male, or 2, or even 3, that when I sacrifice them for the cause, their roots are going to somehow strangle and kill my other roots... So I surrounded the cubes with the round rocks and although some would say not smart, I put a pretty good layer of rocks up the stems. 3/4 inch or so... I hope this helps discourage root rot. And nature has a way of taking care of itself.

Let me get my dates in order quickly while I am thinking about it.

I put the seedling (5) just poked into the rockwool cubes on 10/04 would be my guess...

A couple of them came up just 2 days later and the seeds stared moving upwards. The third was deeper in the cube. It had roots out the bottom before the top...but is up now too. The 4th was poked into the block, but somehow it got poked in further or something. It looked like a thick stem below, so I kept it. We will see if it makes it. (If I dont get a fan it will die due to too much water on the leaves)

For the same reason as mildew or fungus, I think I need to keep the water ON as much as the plants can take.

I really need a small oscillating fan. I prefer a clip on because I do NOT want my floor or shelf space used and I want to be able to put it at different angles. I should have plenty of clip on points...

I will post this now so I dont end up losing it!

[Phx]

Just a continuation of my previous post and more of the beginning of my Ficticious Journal...

As a reminder to myself:

Research WATER sources

Move plants from window to closet

Install light and ballast on chain I already have.

Mount Timer and Plug Strip or strips.

Apply Foil to Back Wall and Sidewalls
(Is this necessary??? I prefer NOT to do this)

Plan starter nute schedule. How to phase in...

Anyways, there is so much more work! Chow 4 Now!

[Phx]

Several images attached...

[Phx]

The few above posted photos might let you see plant 4 that got wet before it could get out of the skin inside the seed. The other 3 look fine and I did start the pump again this AM since the 4th is above the splash zone now.

The closet photo is the area we are going to use and all of the shelves are removable. It is also a very tall closet so I dont know how heat will be.

The last pic is the rockwool cubes I used...

[Kwali]

Hope when you say foil you don't mean aluminum foil as it causes hotspots. Get some mylar, flat white paint and theres a few other cheaper mylar type products people have used like emergency blanket.

[crazywill]

Hi PHX
GH nurts is good stuff,start at 1/4 of directions on the bottle and build up slowly.Venting hot air is going to be an isue and fresh air too.I would use distilled water,wally mart it's a 6.0 PH.Mix up the nurts in a larger container and let it sit for a few hours stir it Than check the PH.Starting with distilled water at 6 ph you know what nurts will rise or lower the ph.
Keep us posted on the grow.

[Cornelius]

if your walls are white then don't worry about the foil unless you plan to use mylar. Flat White reflects more light than aluminum foil.

p

[Phx]

I have done nothing to the plants over the last couple of days. Primarily just waiting for the Runt to come around... All 4 plants are looking decent.

The leaves look healthy and the 3 taller plants are above the splash zone from the bubbler. The 4th was still getting an occassional splash somehow and one of the leaves had some water sit on it for awhile. The leaf appeared to be wilting. I just blew the water droplet off and turned the water off to the bucket for the afternoon. When I checked it this evening, it had pretty much come back to life...

The water level is basically full. I think I will add the 1/4 of the root stimulator at first water change or so... My recollection is that I should wait until there are 3 sets of leaves.

Tomorrow should be the big day. The day I set up the closet and hang the light. I am NOT moving the bucket until I have all else in place.

I will ask a couple of questions in my next post!

[Phx]

A couple of questions to keep these infants happy...

1. I want to change over to the distilled water (or whatever I decide). My local guy, a reputable Shop owner and long time Hippie says, "Don't worry about any of that crap about the PH, just do a complete water change every week and they will be fine." He basically cost compared changing the water or buying all the PH stuff and said the water change is easiest. Especially for a first time grower and only 2 buckets max in use. His only other suggestion was to add PH Down at regular intervals possibly.

Anyways, my questions are this:

When should I start the 1/4 mix root nutes?

At what height should I start the lights? From the top of the plants?

See yall on the boards! Chow~

[Phx]

Forgot to add...

I am not going to put anything up on the walls. What I was going to use was a large single sheet LIKE an emergency blanket for campers... Foil just being a common term...

The main reason I was going to put anything up was to prevent the walls from getting water, etc on them just in case I needed to remove the plants at some time. But, I think I can keep the area clean enough and I may just lean some white poster board around the lower walls.

I will post pics when I have the area set up.

[dryst]

ya foil can create hot spots if u use the shint side and actually burn holes in the leaves...

also idf get a thermometer or soemthing to keep track of the temp...if its to hot or cold it could stress or even kill ur plants

[Phx]

Well, its 10/9 and all is well.

The runt grew about an inch in the night it appears. It has greened up ok too, so I think I am ready to move them. (Not transplant...)

I know I can control 99% of the factors that are going to affect me today, however, I am afraid of burning the plants up with the 430 light or causing lots of stretching if I put it too far away...

I am going to try to locate an inexpensive temp/humidity meter this afternoon I hope...

I will post to the thread this afternoon or evening once I get things in place. I am going to study some on the threads!

[crazywill]

Hey Phx
I got mind at Plant ligthing hydroponics,an oregon scientific temp&humidity sensor.It works great and you can get the deck top montor so you dont have too look in where the plants are.Or you can just put it next too the plants and look in to see the temp and humidity.Nice lillte sensor and the prices are good too. Plantlightinghydroponics.com
Good luck and keep us posted on the grow.