24hr/light Veg Attempt News. Okay, "!H!E!L!P!"

24hr veg Question.

First, thanks out to all who helped me here on my first grow over 2 yrs ago. Got 4oz outta one plant in a cab. Going for 4 more oz's again, plus hopefully the clones will survive this time.

Due to new house move, a computer with last grow log/info/pics crashing, and not being online for 6mos, well - as a still newb I didn't have my grow shit together. My Timer was in storage. And wanted to get er done before adventurous grandkids vacation, yaddayadda.

Cervantes Indoorgrow-book said "some growers" do 24hr veg period. So I decided to go with that. Thought I was safe until pistils showed. (That's when I planned to do final transplant - and continue veg period for desired flowering height --er--.. "length" for final bend in 48" horiztl cab - -Note: this radical bend technique worked like a charm last time - required a stabilizer ("trainer") rack made by mounting 3 1" dowels into glued up 2x10 face plate, all of it weighted. Cab uses 6 100-150w CFL's) -

Turns out the Cervantes book has no further growth calander guidance for the 24hr vegging method, and now I am 68 days in, and the 8 nodes on each of these plants are tight - ave. 2" apart - and the plants are way shorter - I guess cause of no "night", duh.

8 (so far unsexed) plants
5 @ 13" tall
1 @ 17" (the contender til I tore tap root at transplant into 8" temp pot)
2 @ 8" (the 5 other plants look good cept for slight NPK imbalance showing on bottom leaves)
age: 68 days
current containers: 8"x8" clear plastic juice jugs (too flexible I learned, need to watch wall moisture)
Soil: Hi-qual commercial bag as base. Amended w/ castings, greensand, bonemeal and pulverized Dolotmite.
Grown under 24hr light (until tonight - found timer yesterday).

Concerns. Best I recall from last grow, I thought I got female pistils when plants were over 2ft tall. But with this crop on 24hr light all the nodes (a tight 2" apart) and nodes are already filling in(out) with tiny secondary branch foliage.

Will I ever see node pistils there - if I now go into 18/6?

Has anybody, Does anybody know if - having used 24/0 out to day 68 - whether it will take the normal 2 weeks of 18/6 (or other ratio) to see what I got for females? With a week in these 8" (inadequate) intermediate containers, roots have already reached the wall. 2 weeks will be a long wait before transplant into final 5 gallon.

Other notes.

Also, beyond sexing questions, am hoping also to take clone cuttings from final female and need to ask best stage/time for that plus best on/off light ratio (if not 18/6) - keeping in mind the mother-to-be will have been on 24/0 until tonight.

Anyway, that's the immediate problem if anyone's got any thoughts.

Later maybe.

Rez

It sounds like you should switch to Flower mode ASAP. To a 12/12 light scheduel. For the last two rounds I've done a three day total dark period (as recomended by Stinky) and I believe it has helped for the girls to bud faster.

As for clones: The basic advice is to reduce the nitrogen (which you should do to switch to Flower phase anyhow), take clones, and then to let them recover before changing to 12/12 for 10-14 days.

I have had fine success taking the clones/ pruning and going almost directly to flowering/ dark phase. I have also had sucess taking clones after the plants are into Flowering. I guess it depends on how big the plant is and what your goals. For example if you were topping or doing FLIM in order to get more growth areas to increase bud sights, you'd want to let things veg longer. Also, do not cut more than 1/3 of the plant....and when I've had sucess, and I say pruning...most of what I've cut and turned to clones are from the lower "sucker" like branches that will not produce much bud or thinnning of the thick growth in the middle ect. Not huge mainstem chunks...

Welcome back to the growroom. :thumbsup:

Since the roots grow at night when there is no photosynthesis going on...I have found better success keeping them on an 18/6 light schedule. Once roots are well-established...switching to 24/0 is fine. (but it's much easier with my set-up, if I keep all my schedules at 18/6)

Keep the CFL's as close as possible without burning. The usable light only extends a few inches. Beyond that, it can/will make the plants stretch too much to get the light. What color is the light coming from the CFL's? Yellowish, or bluish...or are you going with both for a mixed-spectrum?

Sounds like a complicated torture-rack you've made for training. Have you tried a more versatile method, like bamboo stakes and twist-tie wire? (available in spools at most gardening centers)

I'd ditch the clear grow-jugs. The light coming through them kills roots, and promotes mold and algae growth inside the jug. (good for beneficials, but bad for roots)

Ammending a "high quality commercial mix"...? Likely you are 'doubling-up' on ingredients, which may already be present in the commercial mix. Mind if I ask what brand and type of soil?

I've gone from 24/0 to 18/6 vegging with CFL's, and had them start showing preflowers with the change. But preflowers are just a sign of sexual maturity....not a sign that changes must be made immediatelly. You can keep them in veg forever, or, use their appearance as an indicator that they are ready to go into flower, any time you are ready.

As far as using the Cervante's growguide (or Mel Franks, or Ed Rosenthall's) check the date of printing the original copy. Likely it's a twenty to thirty year old publication. Although most of the info is basically correct, some of the techniques and details have changed, as our understanding of the cannabis plant increases. Best source of grow info...Cannabis.com, of course.

What worked pretty well last time for this 1 plant cabinet SCROG method was to get the chosen mother settled into the 5 gal perlited plus worm castings, give it one good flushing after 10 or so days after full transplant recovery, then start bending it over to height of trelis. 5 gal stays on floor underneath shelf box sits on. A front side post of box frame temp detaches to let stalk slide into box end-panel hole.

My new box (under construction) will accommodate cloning area. Main compartment will have 48â?� over which I can prolong veg (trelis out) another 8 wks if I need to before 12/12. Cervantes or somewhere said older plants store better energy for sensimilla finale. Question is when best to take clones. Older info used to say Before 12/12.

Tallest plant is only now sprouting alternating branch #5. Still seeking ETA info on pistils. Only 7 nights of 18/6 so far. Temporarily under a 2-bulb 8ft Flo fixture. (cooler) CFLs will be 6 to 9 lg - a mix of cool and warm. New deeper 23â?� box may also get some LEDs if good idea. Next grow, will amp up the wattage. For this box w/ external 5 gal method I think I almost want some stretching until 12/12.

Ventilation is priority over next few days. Friendly rural local LE dispatcher walks his off-duty pooch unleashed. Have gallon of carbon on order to rebuild scrubber to be vented into basement rafters only. New box also gets 1â?� Styro for soundproofing. Wanted exhaust fan inside that soundproofing but new info says pulling air is way to go. Growbox is 30 cubic feet. Ambient basement (intake) air will dip to 65F at night for another month yet. Will a pair of good heating pads offset 12 hrs of that? Or is there a known good thermostatically controlled small heater for under $80. Gotta go try to find that CFM guide I saw on here.

Please keep the finer insights cominâ??, people.

Rusty: Found bag my base soil came in. Says all-purpose potting soil. Had a lot of Perlite in it. Added more myself, plus greensand, castings, bone meal and pulverized dolomite. Good dark stuff and not too peat mossy nor too sticky/dense. Please take no offense and pardon my newbie-ish reluctance (caution) to mention brand. Reason? It was a better lookin quality than typical Home Depot / Walmart / big box offerings and might indicate smaller locale than I know, distributor, etc. Been goin on conservative side with nutes generally. Alternating feeds with mostly Peters 20-20-20 (5 times), Schultz's 3-7-7 (twice), and Neptune Harvest Fishn'Seaweed 2-3-1 (twice). and Vigaro Root Stim 2-5-2 (thrice). Plan to do soil test when goin into 5 gal.