Outdoor Season 2008

I finally did the finishing touches on all the lighting tonight, after about 2 months of taking my time with doing a little work every few days.

I've been building it with the thought that I just may some day use it for a serious completely indoor grow. For now it'll serve me as a early veg and clone room; a spot where I can start my seedlings indoors for 1 month before placing them outdoors. I can however say that light and space wise, it is the largest indoor grow I have ever done.

Here's some specifics, for those who like numbers:

- 20-Amp circuit (dedicated, armored cable to panel)
- 190 Watts total of flourescent fixtures and CFLs
- 52.5" x 28.5" x 35" space with walls painted flat white

Right now I'm short 20 Watts from the missing bulb in the front right fixture. I'll pick it up tomorrow. No plants started yet, not even seeds. Seeds will be germinated ASAP this week, with hopes to get them all outside by May 21.

I plan to pick up one of those electric soft heat pads, and germinate with the paper towel and plate method (different, I usually just pop them in distilled water). Some definite strains:

- Double Gum
- AK-48
- Northern Lights
- Original Haze x Skunk #1 (freebies, might as well see how they do)

There will likely be a few interesting others, everything being grown 100% organically. I'll keep this thread updated with frequent pics through germ to chop.

Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. :jointsmile:

Can I not post the images as attachments?

I'll use IMG tags for now.

More pics to come later in the week.

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Okay, things have been a little delayed lately, but I'm trying to get things back on track now.

Last week I picked up the bulb I needed, so now my space is truly lit with 190 Watts. I also picked up my soil. Now all I need to complete my soil mix is some manure, which I'll probably get tonight.

Included are pics of the germinating seeds. I decided on my traditional distilled water method simply because I was pressed on time and it seemed easier to process alot of seeds this way.

I also washed the floor in my space with a strong mix of bleach and hot water, and even though it still looks filthy, it's really clean (the paint is peeling).

Strains (hopefully I'm not forgetting any, count the cups :P ):

- Double Gum
- AK-48
- Original Haze x Skunk #1
- Northern Lights #5
- Malawi Gold
- Blueberry
- Hex (Afghan x Durban)
- Jack Herer x Hash Plant (feminized)

I wasn't concerned with numbers, possibly because I was baked out of my tree when I did it all last night. It's safe to say that there are enough :thumbsup: .

Also snapped some pictures of a 1/4 of some dank bone dries I picked up a few days ago, what I've been smoking the last few days.

Update to come later on in the week. Until then, stay safe :rastasmoke:

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all the seeds are now in the process that I dread, sprouting. I seem to have the worst of luck when it comes to this stage, with usually about a 10% sprout rate (seriously). something always seems to happen to the seeds, they get damp off or whatever, and they never seem to sprout. if I could only get rooted clones, I'd be laughing.

temperatures now seem to be staying around 25-26 degrees celcius. I'm using an electric space heater and heating pad to bring the temperatures up, otherwise they'd be stable at around 17 degrees celcius (which seems way too cool for this stage). my thermometer does not measure humidity, so I'm in the dark there.

all that I know is that whenever I seem to feel the soil it seems dry, and I'm watering it more than once a day, so I don't know exactly what that means. I would assume that it would mean the humidity is not very high (I'd think the soil would be staying wet longer if it was high). maybe the temps are too high, and the water in the soil is evaporating too fast? I dunno, but I'm hoping for the best here.

So please, everyone, cheer on my little girls through this high risk time. :clap:

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EDIT: I should note my germ rates: 7 out of 10 for the DoubleGum, 9 out of 10 for the AK-48, 4 out of 5 for the Haze x Skunk, but unfortunately the other seeds didn't do so well (they were a few years old).

okay, I just finished watering them all, and have some good news.

my sprouting rate was a little better than 10% this time; I found 6 sprouts breaking the surface. a few AK48 and a few DoubleGum. I took some pics but they're so small there's no point in posting them. I'll give them a few days, and take more pics when you'll actually be able to see them.

the bad news is that I think my fear of damping off due to overwatering has actually caused me to underwater the seedlings, as just now when I was watering them I noticed many of them were bone dry. so it's very possible that's why I'm not seeing as many sprouts as I should be, the little taproots might have dried out. they all got a good drink of water tonight, so hopefully there's still enough life in them to break the surface.

there will be another order headed off to GN tomorrow, although I haven't decided on what yet. I'll probably just go for the AK-48 again, and maybe try Bubblicious (Nirvana's bubblegum, which I think is just an F2 of DoubleGum, as it was actually called DoubleGum at one point), and try to mirror this grow, minus the screw ups. this time I think I'll start a few seeds at a time, that way I have better focus on caring for each plant individually.

So today, I removed the heat pad, and plugged in the lights. Another update to come in a few days. Until then, stay safe. :rastasmoke:

alright I took some pics just after watering. can't really see much yet, but the first leaves are on their way. things a little slow from an insufficient light cycle (a long story, but it's fixed for 24/0 now), which also probably explains a little stretching.

surprisingly a very good sprout rate, I must have been doing something right this time. temps are varying, but suprisingly it usually seems to average around 25.5 celsius (78 fahrenheit), with the help of the heater fan on nearly full tilt.

sent my order for more seeds yesterday. I ordered more AK-48, and White Skunk. those will obviously be a little delayed, but I should still get them outside early enough.

another update to come later in the week, until then, stay safe. :pimp:

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alright here's a quick update. the second set of leaves is starting on all of them now.

I got out and started preparing some plots on the weekend, but I've still got lots more to do. I got the email update from GN this morning letting me know my seeds are on their way. :smokin:

I'll probably check the local hydroponics shop for some organic nutes. I'd like to get them fed for their first time some time in the early weeks after the transplant outdoors.

not the greatest pics, but I'll post a better update later in the week.

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update. ? days of veg (look at the post dates). seems slow, of course I hope to get them outside soon.

the seedling in the second pic is experiencing some weird growth. almost looks like ducks foot. it's a Double Gum. I have to mention the fact that I idiotically spilled nasty bong water on the pack of these seeds, which I tried my best to save (the next day when I found out :( ). the bong water also soaked the pack of AK48's, but luckily they were sealed in a plastic zip loc inside (dime bag bag). I'm surprised the Double Gum did so well as it is.

as always, updates later in the week. :rastasmoke:

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they are looking healthy. nice variety of kinds too. good luck

Looks good. I like the way you have everything set up. It looks like your going to have a killer grow. Good luck!

Man, I really like your cabinet setup. I'm guessing you're going to continue upgrading it for indoor grows during the winter months? Heck, you could have a bit of an experiment and place some of your different strains outdoors, while keeping some indoors to see which do better.

I do look forward to following your grow, and I can't wait to see some outdoors. As you stated, it appears our plants are about the same age. I am envious of the quantity and different strains you have. I should have more coming in the next couple of weeks, but wish I could start more now.

Good luck with your grow. I will be keeping an eye on your progress.

Aloha, my friend.

it's funny that you've said that, jakezking. I'm jonesin' to buy this 400 watt metal halide ballast kit.

Auctiva Image Hosting

I already have this 400 Watt M-59 MH bulb.

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I had alot of strains that I had purchased 4 or 5 years ago that I guess were improperly stored. their germination rate has greatly declined, which is why I'm having to order new seeds.

here's a quick update. it seems they're starting to grow a little faster now. another one fell over today, this time an AK-48. I fixed it by putting more soil around the stem and compacting it (without using the copper wire this time). I hope to get them all outside in the next few weeks.

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my White Skunk seeds will probably arrive Tuesday. I might get more Original Haze x Skunk #1 freebies as it has not been too long since I've last ordered, but who knows. they're looking pretty fine though (they're the 2 in the clay pots). can't guarantee they'll finish outdoors around here, but they were free, so what the heck.

as for ferts, I'm leaning towards trying the new General Hydroponics BioBizz line, specifically Fish-Mix, Bio-Grow, and Bio-Bloom.

another update to come later in the week. :rastasmoke:

Those ladies, all of them hopefully, are lookin' mighty fine! Good luck in your quest for a ballast for the bulb. I don't know much about pricing of ballasts, but it seems like the bulbs are pretty expensive, so hopefully you're at least 1/2 way there, my friend!

Thanks for the update and the pretty pics. I need to take some pics of the Freeze. I think I burned her a bit with some nutrients, since she's already in Miracle Grow soil. But, trial and error is normally the way I learn.

Good luck, and I will continue to follow your log!

tasty strains you got growing. looking forward to seeing the outdoor stuff when it happens. I was wondering how old the MH bulb is and what is that a dark spot on the glass??


stay irie

Nice start dude. Nice variety as well. Very well thought out and planned. You should see GREAT success with this grow.:thumbsup: I'll be peeking in.

the plants are too far away from the lights it looks like... you should try keeping them 4-8 inches above the plants

thanks to everyone for the feedback. :thumbsup:

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tasty strains you got growing. looking forward to seeing the outdoor stuff when it happens. I was wondering how old the MH bulb is and what is that a dark spot on the glass??


stay irie

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I'll hopefully be starting to get them out this weekend, and I'm hoping to get them all out by June 1st. the bulb is a few years old, I happily acquired it from a downed parking lot lamp. no idea if it works, and I'd guess the dark spot is from heat, since it's on the inside of the glass.

they're getting pretty big, and they're already starting to get a little fragrant. I'll have to get them outside ASAP.

I also plan to top and FIM, which I've never done before, so I'll have to do some reading (I see there is a post about it in the grow FAQs).

update ? days of veg. :stoned:

well they R looking great.bro.

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Originally Posted by hydrocannabis

well they R looking great.bro.

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I second that! ::subscribed::

a quick update before bed.

I was out preparing a plot today and something aggravating happened. on the other hand, my seeds arrived today. :jointsmile:

also took a pick of a random nug out of the bag I'm currently smoking. :smokin:

they're really starting to perspire now, literately half of the basement is smelling of a sour skunk odor.

today I noticed some slight problems with the leaves. the first attached picture is of a Double Gum. what do you think, heat stress? if I recall this plant sat pretty close to the heater, which is now shut off. I also noticed something that may be different on an AK-48, which I captured in the second attached picture.

some laundry detergent powder fell through the cracks in the boards when my cat walked in the cabinet above. this happened a week or two ago, and I tried my best to get most of the powder off the plants (you can probably still see some of it). I'm thinking this could possibly explain for the AK-48, as it almost looks like burns.

I have not fed these plants any fertilizer yet, but they are looking mighty hungry.

next update in a few days. :pimp:

ctulhu! Your plants are really starting to fill out, my friend! I am glad to see these ladies putting on some weight to begin to match their height! I don't have an answer to your qeustion as to the leaf issues. It doesn't appear to be a big issue at this point, being limited to the single leaf on each respective plant, so my guess is that it's exactly as you stated, the leaves were simply burned a bit by your cat's mishap.

too bad you didn't see them in the last few days, man, were they doing well.

well that's all over. R.I.P to at least 12 plants, dumped to their deaths in my backyard. I brought 8 to their plot today, come back, my sister tells me I'm lucky she didn't call the cops, I walk downstairs, all the plants are all knocked over (stems bent) and there is all sorts of chemicals dumped into the soil (so much my hands started to burn when I had to clean them up).

at this point, I hope she did call the cops, perhaps it's best that I'm locked up as long as she's still living here. at least $500 down the drain, just bought a bunch of organic ferts today too.

oh well, at least 8 of them got out in their (hopefully) safe plot, so this thread isn't a total waste of bandwidth, I'll get out and take pics and update it again when I feel better. right now I feel like shit, mixed feelings, mainly anger and depression, and I don't think I should speak of my feelings against for what I can now consider my ex-sibling anymore (my choice of words might get me into trouble). it's like she can't stand to see me reach success, she's been jealous of me for as long as I've known.

anyways, sorry for the bad news, and I apologize to those who have been following this thread. keep checking back, I'll get an update up of the 8 in their new home sometime on the weekend. there were some seeds of my new seeds in germination that she didn't find, but since I've lost the use of my cabinet, I don't know how well those will do. but I'll hope for the best.

I'm going out to get wrecked, peace out. :(

If that had happend to me I would have broken something of hers.
but thats just me.

but I guess I am lucky I live alone. and that my sister moved out a long time ago.

well I hope UR other plants do well.

awwwwwwww man so sorry to hear the bad news. sisters can be a pain sometimes, but if my sis did that, ooooooh buddy would she get it. I wouldnt get physical or anything more like sibling rivalry at its finest. at least you werent in full bloom about to harvest when she attacked the garden.

best of luck with the surviving 8. make sure your sis dont follow you there and get those too.


stay irie

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. This won't kill you. Keep trying to reach harmony with your sister, that's likely to be the most important thing in the long run.

Sorry, man.

cthulhu, man, I am really sorry to hear your bad news. I know this is a tough time for you, but hopefully the 8 you transplanted outside will thrive and help you keep your chin up, my friend. I have an older sister that used to rat me out to my parents, but now she smokes more than I do, so just chalk her actions up to a closed mind. Hopefully, she will learn the err of her ways, and y'all will have some smoke time together in the future. My sister that used to rat me out is now a serious competitor of mine in some seriously high challenges on Guitar Hero 4.

thanks to everyone for the kind words. I really appreciate it. :jointsmile:

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If that had happend to me I would have broken something of hers.
but thats just me.

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I tore books and binders full of her (university) work to shreds and dumped it all in a pile in the middle of her room's doorway.

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awwwwwwww man so sorry to hear the bad news. sisters can be a pain sometimes, but if my sis did that, ooooooh buddy would she get it. I wouldnt get physical or anything more like sibling rivalry at its finest. at least you werent in full bloom about to harvest when she attacked the garden.

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no, but I was less than 2 days from getting them completely off of the property (if she had of talked to me about it like a mature adult, I would have had all the plants off the property that night without contest). I had planned on getting them all out this weekend.

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Hopefully, she will learn the err of her ways, and y'all will have some smoke time together in the future. My sister that used to rat me out is now a serious competitor of mine in some seriously high challenges on Guitar Hero 4.

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she's not like that, she doesn't even drink alcohol. she's one of those health nuts, who's afraid to eat an entire portion in fear she'll get fat.

anyways, here's the update I promised. the good news is, the seeds I germed just before the tragedy happened seem to be coming to the surface (at least one White Skunk and one AK-4 has already fully broke the surface, it's on the plot in the pictures). hopefully they'll survive out there from the start, there seems to be alot of bugs on and around the plants (they don't appear to be eating the plants however).

the wind seemed to have knocked a few over, which I had to support with small twigs, which I'll bet hasn't helped much. they're not planted yet, because I haven't nearly finished preparing the soil. today I mixed in a box of Blood & Bone Meal, and I still have to add Perlite, Vermiculite, and a bag of Miracle Grow Organic Choice Multi-Purpose Organic Plant Food. I'll hopefully get that all done in my next visit in a few days.

wow nice plot you got. I wish mine were as clean as yours. looing forward to your progress

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wow nice plot you got. I wish mine were as clean as yours. looing forward to your progress

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thanks, I'm surprised that you would say clean. the brush around the plot still needs to be cleared alot better, as at times it can shade spots of the plot.

I went out to visit them again today, and finished the soil preparation with a bag of perlite and a bag of vermiculite. the soil is now heavily enriched and has a noticeably lighter texture. these were the second bags of each the perlite and the vermiculite, and I've worked everything in to roughly 12 inches in depth. a list of everything that has been added to the soil:

- Blood & Bone Meal (2 boxes)
- Miracle Grow Organic Choice All Purpose Organic Plant Food (2 bags)
- Perlite (2 bags)
- Vermiculite (2 bags)

some White Skunk and more of the AK-48 are popping up in the little straggler pots you see there. hopefully they don't get eaten alive by bugs.

the next time I visit them I'll plant the 8, I couldn't plant any today because the soil was just too wet (and I still covered my shoes in mud). it's been raining off and on the last few days, and it's stayed pretty overcast.

the plants are pretty wet in the pics. next time you see them they won't be in pots. :hippy:

cthulhu, my sister sounds similar. My issues with her occurred about 15 years ago, and she has come a long way once she realized how much MJ helped her ease back. I hope yours will settle down a bit for both of y'all's sakes.

Your plot shows you spent some time with it. I am sure your plants will appreciate it. I can't wait to see how fast they will grow. Man, time flies, don't it?

Be good out there!

HEY, I just read this whole thread, and watched your little babies grow up to little toddlers. I am learning just from your thread here. I am planning to start my own. I don't know where to get any good seeds from. I don't wanna waste my time with some dirt seeds.
I live in the states, and where I live, it's prolly the driest place in NJ, so I need to grow my own just for my own smoking purposes. I would love it if you could direct me to where u learned how to, and where I can get some seeds worth planting, and all the supplies I need. Just for 2 or 3 plants. Nothing big, cause it's just for me, and ONLY ME.
THANX, nice plants.:stoned:

thanks to everyone for the feedback. :rastasmoke:

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cthulhu, my sister sounds similar. My issues with her occurred about 15 years ago, and she has come a long way once she realized how much MJ helped her ease back. I hope yours will settle down a bit for both of y'all's sakes.

Your plot shows you spent some time with it. I am sure your plants will appreciate it. I can't wait to see how fast they will grow. Man, time flies, don't it?

Be good out there!

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I wish she would loosen up a bit about it, but unfortunately for some reason I just don't see that happening soon. if they ever do legalize cannabis I personally plan to laugh in her face.

for some reason I'm getting the feeling that they're getting cramped in the small pots, which is slowing growth a bit. that and unfortunately I haven't been out to water them lately, today they were looking rather droopy when I visited.

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HEY, I just read this whole thread, and watched your little babies grow up to little toddlers. I am learning just from your thread here. I am planning to start my own. I don't know where to get any good seeds from. I don't wanna waste my time with some dirt seeds.
I live in the states, and where I live, it's prolly the driest place in NJ, so I need to grow my own just for my own smoking purposes. I would love it if you could direct me to where u learned how to, and where I can get some seeds worth planting, and all the supplies I need. Just for 2 or 3 plants. Nothing big, cause it's just for me, and ONLY ME.
THANX, nice plants.

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I ordered all of the seeds for the plants you see here from the Seed Boutique. I've ordered from them numerous times over the past 4-5 years, and recieved outstanding service every time.

update, still not in pots, as you can see in pics it was getting dark so I didn't have time today. I'll do it tomorrow. White Skunk are sprouting up well. some insect seems to be chewing on my Haze x Skunk. I found a slug on a pot, which had appeared to had slithered across the soil of one of the plants, luckily it didn't find the stem.

any input on what kind of insect the bug bites appear to be? in the process of getting eaten alive, I've noticed mosquitos sit on my plants, and fly to sting me when I move or water them. you might even be able to see some in some of the pics.

Looking good....but why don't you plant them in the soil?? i mean the bigger ones....The sooner, the better and the bigger they gonna get at the end...

thanks zebulon, I got the oldest 8 in the ground today. just in time, as we are expected to get a nasty thunder storm with high winds again tonight.

last night it stormed with very high winds (tornadoes were reported in the area), which I knew would blow over at least 1 of the elder plants. to no surprise, today when I arrived at the plot I found 3 had tipped over, and were exhibiting some shifty growth as a result (that explains any awkwardly bent plants you see in the pics).

this will be the plants first taste of nutrients, in the highly enriched soil. so I expect them to take off with growth any time soon. the oldest plants are now well over 1 month old, and from a brief look today none of them appear to be showing their sex yet.

since I haven't been very good at labelling each plant in all the pics I've posted (and you can no longer tell from the labelled pots), I've thrown together a little layout diagram to label each plant in the ground. the diagram was drawn from the view of the first 2 pictures (DSCF0556.JPG and DSCF0557.JPG, which were taken from the entrance of the plot).

I think I spaced the plants out good enough, they should have plenty of room to bush out. I wasn't too fussy with keeping everything perfectly spaced apart, but I don't think that I did that bad of a job.

next update in a few days. :smokin:

I just wanted to make sure I'm talking bout the same thing. UUMMMM...? These are real(THC) plants, rite?. This isn't that crap they sell on monster smoke shop? I made the mistake of buying that that stuff thinking it would help with my anxiety, and relax me. It didn't do ne thing. It was totally FAKE. So i just wanted to make sure I am gonna be getting REAL(THC) seeds.

alright a quick update before comatose.

when I was trimming the trees around the plot today (more like impaling myself on them) the better half noticed small white pistils close in the nodes of the 2 AK48 plants in the top left corner. so those are both confirmed females, and the rest aren't showing sex yet.

seedlings are shooting up despite being bitten by some pests. snapped a shot of some white daisy-looking flowers growing wild everywhere around the plot. dunno what they are but they sure look purdy.

cthulhu, that is a really incredible looking plot of pot! I wish you continued good luck in poppin' females, and those are some incredible lookin' wildflowers whatever their precise name may be. I always enjoy the scenery of an outdoor grow!

I will ensure to continue visiting your thread/log, as I can't wait to see how these ladies progress!

WOW, that last PIC is really nice. That is a REALLY NICE setup you got there. Keep it up.:thumbsup:

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