How long do i veg from seed?

Hello all im a new user that needs a bit of help. This is my second grow under lights (hopeing to do better this time round). Im using a 400w hps bulb and the plants are in clay balls with a watering system that waters for half an hour every two hours, ive got the light on for 22 hours and off for 2. ive started from seed and they are a week in (since sprouting up from cube) and they are looking good. im just wandering how long i should veg for since they are starting from seed? is 5 weeks long enough and then how long would i flower for. also one more thing im vegging under a hps bulb and ive heard that a mh bulb is better for vegging, would it be worth me changeing my bulb for the veg period and if so can a mh bulb fit into the socket of my hps bulb and run off the 400w ballast?
Any help on these matters would be greatly appreciated, i will take some photos of my setup so you all can have a look.
Kind regards Aaron.:rastasmoke:

You can veg as long as you want (usually from 3-8 weeks) the more you veg the bigger the plant, it double sometimes triples its size in flower. Mh is better for vegging but it can be done under a hps, just kinda stong, the mh provide a red spectrum for veg and the hps is has the red used for flower. You can use it if you hood is switchable, some are just for hps and other just for mh. One more thing, ive heard of 24/0 and 18/6, but 22/2 were did you get that from? Cant wait to see pics!!

Good growing!!!

Ive heard of 24/0 and 18/6 as well but to be honest i just made up 22/2 because i believe that a plant has to have time to rest but i think that 6 hours is more than enough so i decided to just leave it off off two hours to give them a rest but they still have a lot of light to grow i don't no if it will work any better I'm not really sure what I'm doing its just a lot of guess work for me its. Anyway here are some photos they are 10 days old from sprouting from the cube don't no if you can make it out but I've just noticed the leaves are curling a bit is that from to much heat?, the ones in the dirt are only there because I'm waiting for more supplies (cubes, clay balls) but i will put them in as soon as i get them. Is watering them for 30 min every 2 hours enough for them do you think?
Kind regards Aaron.:smokin:

Could be heat, how close you got the light to the plants?

I'm going to follow this thread whole-heartedly because I am a new grower myself. I just ordered some sugar blossom from joey weed and I will be using hydro myself. I plan on germinating 5 seeds in grow plugs and then transplant them into my rig. From my understanding MH is better to veg in and HPS for flower. I will be getting a digital ballast that will accept both 400W bulbs for this task. As for the hydro rig I going to build this:

Grow Marijuana FAQ, Cannabis cultivation - marijuana growing tips & photos

I just ordered the tubs from a restaurant supply store. Everything should be in within a week or so and I will go from there.

I'd like to see a picture of your hydro rig.

Thanks and good luck!!

here are a couple more photos to give you a better idea of my setup. its just a tub with some pots put into it and a watering system that waters for 30 min ever 2 hours. The leaves are still curling and look like its getting worse the light is probly about 40cm away is this too close? other than that i think ill stick with the hps bulb for now. next time round im going to try the sea of green meathod been reading a bit about that, but if anyone has any better ideas for a big yeild your input will be appreciated.
will update photos weekly to show you how they are going. Still worried about the leaves curling though!!:smokin:

The first thing you need to do is get your PH under control. It needs to be about 5.5, and not fluctuate much. Wrong PH can cause many problems that you do not want to deal with.

Your watering schedule sounds fine.

And yeah, you can veg however long you want. Some people don't veg at all and harvest more often and yield less per harvest. Others grow a tree and get several pounds from each plant. Just depends on what's good for your situation. Normal is about 6-9 weeks.

Also you should be feeding at about 1/4 strength only after the first two weeks. Only a little bit of B1 like SuperThrive before then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1puff2puff3puff

the mh provide a red spectrum for veg

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huh? MH is for veg, but it's bluish, not reddish.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1puff2puff3puff

You can use it if you hood is switchable,

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huh? Are you talking about a switchable ballast?

Aaron,

Looks like yo're doing what I plan on doing in a few weeks. I'm still waiting on my seeds and some other stuff. I'm curious about the leaves turing up myself. I have no clue if I'm on the right track here but from what I have read the best method to use is:

1) Veg 6-8 weeks with MH
2)Flower same with HPS.

Also from what I read most people use the "hand" method for lighting, meaning hold your hand above top of the plants and feel the intensity of the lights. If it's not uncomfortable on your hand but still warm then I think you'll be fine.

I haven't gotten around to the PH portion of my reading but I would definitley listen to Opie as he seems quite knowledgable on the subject......read many posts of his and mostly I'll be following his advice.

I'm still watching so please post your results as I'll be right behind you.

Good luck!!

thank you so much for reply im going to put fresh water in tub and get the ph under controll ill post more pics in a few days to show you all progress.
thanks again.

ok here are the latest pics (18 days swince sprouting) ive managed to get the ph under controll and ive made a whole in the wall with a fan blowing fresh air into the room and the other fan for circulation. three of the plants have seem to come good but i think the others have had it. Anyway ive noticed these little white growths on the bottom of the stems, i dont think they a new roots i think it is some sort of fungus, if anyone has had thisproble befor or no what is is could you please help me.
Aaron

I'm not positive, but I don't think those white bumps are anything to worry about. It looks like it started to form roots there and decided not to because it is above ground. What worries me more is the spot above those bumps where it looks like a miniature beaver went to work on the stalk. What the heck is that from?

minature beaver..lol

don't worry about the 'white bumps' ... but, that seems like a bit of root-rot got to work there for awhile, in that narrowed section of stem ... probably had too much overspray, stayed too wet ... should be OK, but get a good oscillating fan on them 24/7, will strengthen the stem and branches ... :smokin:

i think you can get conversion bulbs so that a mh will run off a hps ballast
ill have a look for some now :thumbsup:

400 MH Conversion Bulb - 36,000 lumens |
there you go
you should be able to fnd cheaper ones tho
:rastasmoke:

My first grow I vegged 4.5 weeks from the time the seeds sprouted. I grew under 24 hr light though too. You usually want the plant to have at least 5 nodes or so before you flower.

thnx guys for input, sorry havnt udating much been haveing problems. ive change my whole setup to these buckets and ive got them in straight perlite. my last setup the ph was up the shit and it was just an inconvenience so i decided to do this i just hope they will survive all the shock because they arnt looking to good. they are 25 days since sprouting and in my last attemp they were a lot bigger but i think its just all the crap they have had to put up with. anyway i think the big one is a male because on the 4th or 5th node down there is a little ball thing, its the only one on the plant but still i think its male can anyone help me with this? ive got 12 clones of these other two plants ive got in constant veg just in case these ones die or something. anyway anymore input will be appreciated.:jointsmile:

I'm not good at pre sexing, but it doesn't look like any hairs are coming out of that ball so I'm guessing male. Don't destroy it just yet get another opinion or two. What worries me more right now is the curl and the burn on the leaf edges. Perhaps too many PPM. I'd back off a bit, or probably at least by half, preceded by a nice refreshing flush.

thank you will do.:thumbsup: