Organic CFL Closet Grow

Well, since I decided not to grow until I live in California and have a medical license, I decided to help my friend grow, as I love Cannabis.. To avoid confusion, in this and future posts I'll be referring to this as if it were my own grow. Oh by the way, I don't feel this belongs in the organic section, because even though I plan on using organic nutrients, it's more a closet grow, as there is a possibility that I'll switch to non-organic nutes, and this is a log/report, and I noticed in the organic lounge it's more for brief organic questions, not reports.

To start off, I'll tell you about the set-up. Soil is Miracle Grow Organic Choice Potting Mix. The NPK is .10 - .05 - .05. For the final mix, it was mixed with Schultz Perlite. So, 70% of the soil, and 30% perlite, mixed together, for the final soil. I know the plants won't need to be fed for a while, but when it's time, I have a selection of Fish Emulsion, Bone Meal, and Blood Meal. If it's recommended that organic is not the way to go, for a basic grow, I also have Peter's All Purpose Plant Food 20-20-20.

For the lights, I currently have 4 26-watt Daylight CFLs equivalent to 100 watts each. I also have 2 warm CFLs equivalent to 150 watts each. I have two "clamp light" reflectors, each with a "socket splitter" so it can hold two CFLs at a time. I took the clamps off, and the power cord is hanging them. The other two daylight CFLs don't have a reflector (yet), they are just hanging from an extension cord (with a socket splitter, so it holds both).

A thing to mention is, in each reflector, I have one 150watt equivalent warm CFL, and one 100watt equivalent daylight CFL, for a broader spectrum. Like I said earlier, I have two of these combinations, and one combination of two daylight CFLs without a reflector.

I'm not sure though, if durring seedling stage if I need to have the warm lights on? Should I just buy more 100 watt equivalent daylight CFLs, and then introduce the warm lights for flowering? Or is it best to have a fuller spectrum for seedling/veg and then for flowering, add more warm CFLs?

As for the plants: The ones germinating in the paper towel method are seeds from a well balanced and potent hybrid. Ten seeds are germinating in the paper towel method.

But, today a "mini greenhouse peat pellet" set was obtained. It is a tray with 72 spots for 72 peat pellets, and then a clear dome that covers it, until it sprouts. I've heard negative things about them, such as the roots don't grow out of them right during transplanting, but, I've also heard claims to the contrary, so I'll have to see for myself.

The benefit that I see, is that I'll be able to germinate and grow many seedlings at a time, to see the best ones, to actually transplant and continue growing, rather than germinating a lot of seeds for hopes of a good germination rate, and then not having enough huge pots to plant them in, and then risk them not turning into seedlings.

I watered 18 of the peat pellets until they turned into "pots", and then planted 18 seeds. The majority were hybrid seeds, from a strain with a good sativa high, but indica type buds. Some, were from a pure sativa strain. I do not think these ones will make it, especially indoors under CFLs, but I ran out of good hybrid seeds, so that's all I had, as I don't want to germinate my Nirvana White Widow seeds, until I know I can successfully grow.

Anyway, the seeds were planted in them earlier this evening, and are now underneath the two non-reflector daylight CFLs each equivalent to 100 watts. I'd like to turn on the other two daylight CFLs and the warm CFLs once they sprout, but I want to make sure it's okay. When they were on, it was warm in the grow room, but I didn't know if the seedlings would be harmed by the warm CFLs once they sprout. I also didn't know if 4 of my 100 watt equivalent CFLs would be too strong on their own for the seedling once it sprouts, since it will be very close, but I plan on turning on the daylight ones for a total of 4, until I hear it's okay to use the other 2 150 watt equivalent warm CFLs as well.

The seeds germinating in the towel have been germinating for approximately 24 hours, but I plan to germinate them for a few more days, and then I will plant them in the soil/perlite mix, under neath a 150 watt warm CFL and a 100 watt daylight CFL (watts equivalent) if that will be okay for the plants.

Oh yeah, there is also a small desk fan to move the air around. This is all inside a small bedroom closet. The lights are being hung by their cords on the clothes-hanger rack, and can be moved to the desired height and kept that way via weights being placed on the cord. The walls are white, so that's the reflective material.

When I notice that the peat pots are getting dry (like when all the lights were on), I sprayed them with water, to keep them moist.

So, I'm sorry this was so long, but I wanted to be thorough. All future posts won't be as long, this was just an introduction. Please reply and tell me how it sounds so far, as the seeds are germinating as this is being written. Pictures will be posted when signs of life appear (and if they do, as I've never used peat pellets before, and I don't know if a seed will continue germinating once sprouted inside miracle grow organic soil with perlite (please tell me if that's alright).

Thanks in advance!
Peace! :rasta:

On a side note, I was just shocked, by my light socket. I just smoked a bowl of white rhino kief (actually about 45 minutes ago). Anyway, I was messing with my lights and I guess didn't think to remember it was plugged in (the socket was plugged into a wall, it's constantly "on" you just have to screw in a lightbulb. Anyway, here's where it gets weird, either because I almost died, or because I was high.

I was screwing in a socket splitter into a socket, that was plugged directly into the wall via a cord. I didn't notice doing anything out of the ordinary, but all of a sudden, I felt really strange. In my mind, that is. All of a sudden I was extremely "lost" I didn't really know what was going on, I don't know how long this lasted, until I finally realized that my thumb was being shocked severely, I felt it all through my whole body. I really don't know how long this happened, but that mental "premonition" that something was wrong. I don't know. I didn't feel like I was getting shocked at first, I didn't know what was going on, but all of a sudden, I was like just waking up after passing out. This wasn't due to the kief that I smoked, because I'm stlil high now, and I know what that high is like. Anyway, that's my first close call, and a reminder not to mess with things that are plugged in.

Anyway, I just wanted to add that.

Turn on your other cfl's the extra light/mixed spectrum will do them well (as long as the closet can handle the temp. Make sure your seeds are being germ'ed in a warm moist dark place ( you got 2 out the three with the peat pellets;moist and dark) Im just wondering how warm your keeping them ?

Sucks that you got shocked. Keep us updated.

Well, I plan on getting a digital thermometer soon, but until then, I think i'm doing well as far as temps go. With all the CFLs on, it's warm and humid. I heard that's good, for germinating in peat pellets, underneath their dome. As soon as they sprout, I plan on turning on the fan, to get the air moving around, and to strengthen the stems.

They haven't sprouted yet from the pellets. How long does it usually take when done in pellets? I didn't germinate them first, I just planted them in the peat pellets.

When the paper towel seeds sprout (which have been germinating for almost 2 days), I plan on planting one directly in soil, and the rest in the peat pellets, to select the best seedlings.

A change of plans. I plan on vegging longer than I expected, because I plan on flowering with a 250 watt HPS, and I assume I'll get a larger yield off of flowering with that ,instead of just CFLs. Because of being able to grow a larger plant, and get better yields, I'll be vegging them under the CFLs until they are bushy, and have alternating nodes.

How many plants can be flowered under a 250 watt HPS with the best results?

I just ordered a 250 watt HPS with a MH conversion bulb. Will using the MH be better than using CFLs or should I continue just using CFLs for the growth stage?

Seeds from the paper towel germinated. Planted them. Hopefully they will sprout soon. Same with the ones germinating in the peat pellets... hopefully they will work. So now, I have 12 germinating in peat pellets, and 1 that will hopefully sprout from soil soon in a 5" pot.

For those wondering, it's a regular closet. With a doorknob. No sliding doors. It's about 3 feet deep, 12' or 10' tall (I'm just guessing, just a regular sized closet), and about 4 feet wide.

How much yield per plant (about two flowering plants at a time, as I'll eventually have a clone/seedling room) will a 250 watt HPS produce? I'll also use my CFLs for side light.

So, can some one please tell me if I'm doing things right so far?

Two seeds popped from the peat pellets. They haven't opened their cotyledons yet, and are still white/pale green but have pushed through the soil, and the shell has broken off. This all happened in 4 hours. So, hopefully tonight, they will actually look like baby plants.

So, how does everything sound so far, please give me your advice.

sounds like your getting to the good part, good luck with your grow ill keep reading...

can you get any pics by the way, you can tell alot more with a pic then you can wrighting it;)

Nice grow log~~~ I'll keep watching..
I also use peat pellets on seeding and cloning and it works for me..
Don't put your seedlings too close to CFL. Since you use the peat pellets to germinate your seeds, some seedlings might be weaker so get your seedlings used to CFL gradually. I don't use fan on seedlings/cuttings before I transplant them in 1 gallon pot.
Everything sounds really good so far. I think you will get as much yield as possible. I will get 250w HPS too.. I am only using CFLs at this moment.
Good Luck!

Thanks, I personally don't have a camera, but my friend has a digital camera that I'm sure he'll let me borrow, in order to take pictures.

I checked the plants again, 2 hours after they popped the soil. The seeds are more off of the shell, and they are starting to turn green. The cotyledons still haven't opened yet though. Perhaps later tonight.

Oh by the way, I forgot to mention, all of them are now at that stage now, some further along than others, but still, that's good. I've noticed germination is a lot faster in peat pellets.... In the past, I'd use the paper towel method, and it would take around 3 days before they'd crack and develope a short taproot. With peat pellets, it only took 2 days before they came out of the peat! Maybe the clear plastic tray over it, is keeping it at a good germination temperature and humidity.

When should I transplant them into 5" pots?

Yeah, 9 plants are now sprouted and alive. the rest, i checked, and the seeds weren't even sprouting, so half sprouted.

You can see there first set of real leaves although they are small still.

Well? How does everything sound so far? I planted the seeds ungerminated two days ago, and already there first set of true leaves are developing. One of the plants, the taproot is starting to come out the bottom of the peat pellet? WHEN SHOULD I TRANSPLANT? And into what size pot? I was planning on putting them in 5" pots, and then transplanting again into 1 gallon pots, but I was wondering if I could just plant them in 1 gallon pots now? So I wouldn't have to transplant again.

Please tell me what to do.
Thanks,

horror business :rasta:

I've shocked myself soo many times playing with my lights, but mainly because I have exposed wire on one of my main Y sockets with two bulbs in it... nasty!

Keep safe!

Is there a reason, that a lot have people have viewed this thread, but not many are replying to my questions?

So, since no one was there to tell me if it was okay, I decided to transplant them into 6" pots since the roots were growing out of the peat pellets.. In the future, they will be transplanted into large permanent pots. They are in soil consisting of 70% soil and 30% perlite. I covered the top layer with peat, because it reflects the light better, and looks nice, and the plants are looking great. They aren't stretched at all. Dark green. As of now, only the first set of true leaves have emerged. They are getting bigger quickly.

too much text; try short, simple questions; i have the same problem :)

and 2nd, you seem to be doing well, and we don't have pics

Your friend....right....:rastasmoke:

two flowering plants under a 250 hps with cfls on the side. depending on if ur going to scrog and lst, or if u jus going to grw x-mas trees. with a scrog easy 2-3oz per plant. with an x-mas tree well 1 fat donkey and side buds u will prob get the same maybe littel less bcause of light competition. as for organic ferts bat guano, fish emulsion, chicken shit bone/blood meal.

like they said ^ shortin ur q's and u will get more answers.

ill be watchin.

TraY

oh and dnt stress about how many replies u get cause people look to c if they can help and if they can they will. and give it som time people hav to look at the other hundreds of threads they will come u jus started.

TraY

Yeah I'm just a lurker trying to educate myself on the misfortunes and success of others. :)
Hope yours is a success!

Hey no updates in a few days everything doing okay?

Hows your plants doing ? I posted some updated pics in my thread by your request lol. About the yield for the 250watt hps aim for around .5 grams (dry) a watt so if you get 125 grams you will be doing great. That number can go down or up depending on how long the plants veg is, what type of grow your doing (soil,hydro ect) also when in soil the container size will also factor into yield. Also what fertilizers you use will factor into the yeild , as will growing method (fim,lst,scrog,ect ect) lol well just use .5 grams a watt as a rule of thumb and try and hit that mark.