Hawk36's First Grow Log/1st one with good outlook

Hey all,

First before i get going i would like to thank all of the people here on the board. Without all the reading Ive done of your fantastic posts the setup i am running would have been hurting for certain. In fact i feel like i owe you people a lot cause this first grow i am really happy about. Not just for finally getting a time to grow the herb, but also because it looks like a good possibility i will get some bud. Without all of you trust me this wouldn't have been possible. So thanks, and (**passes bowl**):rastasmoke:

Ok, now lets go for some fun as i describe the setup i have built. Keep in mind this has been done on minimal $$ by choice, not by requirement. I couldn't see myself spending huge money for my 1st grow. Maybe later will come the real stuff but for now here is what i got::thumbsup:

1 nice big bag of plain soil (think fox farm).(~7$) No nutes cause i know it can fuck things up.

1 decent sized bag of perlite (<8$) (so pissed this stuff has nutes in it. But i am gonna try and flush them out or dramatically reduce there level before the grow.)(if anyone has some ideas on how to do this let me know, i am open to anything i was thinking just flushing it with water several times over) (***so many plants/supplies at home depot but one thing i have always noticed is there complete lack of soil drain products like perlite. Every time i have bought some they have to get up on a ladder to get it/search.**)

4 14â?� diameter growing buckets (one for each plant, doubt i will transplant) (<2$ each)

1 Spray bottle for watering (3$)

1 really cool spray bottle with a pump on top (this thing is pimp:pimp: 6$ at home depot)

Ok now for lighting here is where i get iffy. After reading a bunch and considering my options i went with this. Please do not laugh but your opinions on this are welcome. Do you think it will be enough?

1 Big light fixture **** This came with a bulb. I didn't realize it when i bought it. Its a 150 MV light. Are these any good for growing?????????????????????****($25)
1 70 watt hps bulb **** The fixture can fit this, so thats what i got. I wanted to do a 150 but that would require me spending some serious green to get a fixture to go with it. I thought about making my own, i am fairly good at building stuff, but i lacked the material list when i was at the store. This could still be an option depending on how much feedback i get.****($14)

I also have 2 lights that i plan on using. One is an average shop light which i wanna put a 150 CFL in it. All i gotta do is buy the bulb. I also have another light that i could do the same with.


Seeds are already germed and awaiting to be planted. There are from some superb bag seed. Also my roomie is giving me a nice female clone. He is also hooking me up with a timer and some really sweet mylar (the good stuff he grows hydro) bought it from the net, and is giving me some off the roll.
;)
Thanks,

Hawk.

Main questions i need help with.

Do you think my lights will be enough? I am feeling a bit on the low side about this. I think i can make up what the HPS lacks with the CFLs. Plus would this at least get me going?

Any suggestions on how to flush the nutes out of the perlite? All suggestions taken.

Can that 150 MV light which came with the fixture be rigged to grow. Are MV suitable to grow with??

I still need to grab some fans and set them up. I am thinking of attaching them to an old power supply i have and running all computer fans. Problem is without a motherboard, how can i do this?


Thanks all for reading. Pics will come soon (possible tonight) as soon as i get it set up.:jointsmile:

Hawk.

I too want to know about the fans and I shouldn't worry about flushing the nutes out of your perlite as you will only be using 25% and if you just don't nute for a few weeks they will be fine.

Your lights will do for now but you may want to consider a HPS upgrade for flowering and maybe some CFL's for veg.

Hey could you answer the MV light question. Its a 150 that i didnt notice came with the fixture. Could i use this for growing?

Hawk.

Hey, Hawk. Welcome to the boards. Sounds like you are well on your way to starting your grow. :) That's exciting.

To answer your ? about the MV lamp (Mercury Vapor), that is not a very suitable light for growing. The spectrum that it produces is not efficiently used by Mary Jane. For vegetative growth, CFLs should be enough if you get enough of them and keep them close. Then for flowering, you would ideally want an HPS or a proper spectrum of CFL to flower properly.

Another thing, that would be a dangerous endeavor for you to attempt to put the 70w HPS bulb you have in the 150w MV fixture. You're just asking for a display of Myth Busters proportions. :eek: (translated: don't do that unless you are a licensed electrician...and then you'd probably advise yourself the same). Long & short of it...spring for a good light. It'll be worth it. If your grow is small a 150w/250w HPS will do WONDERS!

You say you are attempting to do this on a small budget, but there are certain things that you really can't scrimp on (IMO) if you want good quality herb in the end with a minimal amount of problems along the way.

GOOD LIGHTS + GOOD FANS + all the rest = a successful grow.

Do a little reading up in the growing forums as there is a LOT of info out there on all the right stuff to use. It's well worth the time and frustration if you find out about these things ahead of time. Check out some of the grow logs for some good info as well. I have a couple in my sig. Good luck, Hawk.


The Fog :rastasmoke:

Hey greenfog,

Yes it is very exciting to start my first grow. I have been wanting do to this for so long and finally got the chance, outlook looks good.

Thanks for addressing the question about the MV light. I didnt really depend on that so thats cool. But here is another question for you.

On the box of the fixture it said i could attach a 70watt HPS bulb to it. Thats kind the reason i bought the fixture in the 1st place. I have wired it to the best of my ability(i am ok at that kind of stuff) but i havent plugged it in. I was thinking of putting the light in a bucket for the 1st turn on in case it explodes :( .

But if they put it on the box i would assume it is ok to use. The documentation said only to use the MV light but why would they put that as a option.

Could you reccomend and HPS lights that i can buy at like homedepot/walmart/lowes. I can build it myself, as i said before i am ok at that.

I only saw one fixture to support a HPS 150 watt bulb at lowes, and at the current time 145$ is a bit much to spend on JUST THE FIXTURE.

Thanks for all your help,

Hawk.

BTW pics to come tomarrow as i am doing most of the work tonight/tomarrow.

Have my floor with black trash bags, and have a couple of lights mounted for the CFLs.

Will be adding mylar, the pots with soil/perlite, and mounting the final "Big boy" light.

Thanks,

Hawk.

Hey all,

Kinda sad to see no action on my grow log over the weekend. Whats up with that guys. Proboly put the blame on the pics. But i WILL have some posted tonight i promise.

Anyways back to my situation.

Heres the deal:

I let the seeds germ for too long. Some of them actually fully germed and put out there 1st set of small leaves. I was worried about mold or rot but honestly the little babies looked fine. I had 2 nice and strong ones so i carefully planted them in moist soil. Another bucket i had i put 2 prospects that didnt have leaves but look well on their way.

If the 3rd bucket fails then i am gonna ask my roomie for a clone of his mother. That way i will be garenteed bud, (if i dont fuck it up) while still growing some of my others from bagseed and hopeing for the best.

Sorry again about no pics, but once i get home today (early from work) i will get some posted on the net.

Thanks all,

Hawk:thumbsup:

P.S. Pretty much spent all of sat getting it going. So happy to have it all set up. My roomie is hooking me up with some dope mylar (not shitty kind) which i should be putting up today. Dont worry the walls are flat white as is.

i dont know about that 70watter man id plug it in outside before i would be willing to try it indoors, its what i did to my 150's as i didnt fully trust my wire job, they both fired up just fine and work great till this day.

Looking forward to the picks hawk and i've bookmarked this thread so keep posting :)!

Hey guys all is going good. Sorry for the delay in posting, but i just didnt have internet when i moved to my new place. I am getting a camera this weekend to take some better pics of the plants and i will post them today using my roommates camera.

Again i appreciate all advice, my plants are doing well. So far i my tallest is about 5" and my lowest is just popping out his first set of leaves. Its so cool to watch :rasta:

Will post pics this weekend,

Hawk.

Here are some pics.http://gallery.cannabis.com/showphot...5/ppuser/47096

http://gallery.cannabis.com/showphot...3/ppuser/47096

http://gallery.cannabis.com/showphot...4/ppuser/47096

1

This is of my two seedlings, i have yet to decide which is more fit to live so i am letting them chill for now.




http://gallery.cannabis.com/data/500/IMGP0435.jpg

2

This is of my second biggest: The beast

http://gallery.cannabis.com/data/500/IMGP0433.jpg

3

This is of my biggest plant Treebeard

http://gallery.cannabis.com/data/500/IMGP0434.jpg

Here is a pic of my setup :rastasmoke:

http://gallery.cannabis.com/data/500/IMGP0436.jpg

My supplies :)

http://gallery.cannabis.com/data/500/IMGP0438.jpg

I have a nice bottle of fert now too that a my roommate hooked me up with. Its like 6-2-2 but i havent used any yet. I am too paranoid at the levels of ferts in the perlite i used and i wanna wait a while on it until they grow a bit more.

Any thoughts i think this is a good call.

Hawk36

why have you only half filled to pots? everything else looks good best of luck mate

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rottenfork

why have you only half filled to pots? everything else looks good best of luck mate

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Yes this bothers me too. You could have made much more use of the pots space with more soil. Nice otherwise mate good luck. Keep us posted.

Thanks for the input guys,

The level of soil is only about 3" on the largest one. I suppose you are right that i should have done it a bit diffrently. Something to learn for next time.

Any thoughts about ferts?


Hawk.

bump

Neptune or Mermaid brand fish and kelp emusion is very good.

For vegging (4-8 weeks) You could use a flourescent shop lights with Daylight lamps. Two or four 4 foot lamps would do pretty good. Meanwhile, save for a HPS setup. You can still use the flourescents with Bath and Kitchen lamps (warm white) for extra side lighting.

Good luck, Bub.

Shovelhandle

I have neptunes harvest fish and its soooooooooooooooo good :D