LSTTT: Low Stress Twisty Tie Training

[Hydroponic Cabbage]

nice looking grow Opie; I'll be keeping an eye on this one hopefully to get some ideas for my next grow. :thumbsup:

[Opie Yutts]

Everyone:
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks so much for the compliments.

Earthy Dank:
I understand not wanting to read all the posts on a thread, so here you go.

"The last photo is a jerry-rigged light, of which I put one set on each side of the grow to supplement the 600W HPS. I thought it needed some blue. They are 23 W each and 5500K daylight bulbs, for a total of 400W equivalent additional. Should help."

The genetics are pure-bred AK-47 from a clone, so I don't think that or the lighting is any problem, since there is 1000W equivalent in there, some nice red HPS and some nice blue CFL.

So you think something is slowing me down? Not sure what you mean, except perhaps for the fact that I started with seriously fucked up clones as noted previously. There is one plant that is not growing as I would like (lower left in the photos), and I am thinking of yanking it. Not even counting the fact that most plants have two main stems, they would be about 14" tall if not tied down. That's not real bad for 3 weeks into the system is it? I mean considering that they are getting LSTd and making tons more nodes than normal?

I'm by no means an expert, so please keep the suggestions coming, but I'm not seeing the lights or genetics as a problem. Please clarify if you disagree.

[Earthy Dank]

Everyone:
Thanks for stopping by, and thanks so much for the compliments.

Earthy Dank:
I understand not wanting to read all the posts on a thread, so here you go.

"The last photo is a jerry-rigged light, of which I put one set on each side of the grow to supplement the 600W HPS. I thought it needed some blue. They are 23 W each and 5500K daylight bulbs, for a total of 400W equivalent additional. Should help."

The genetics are pure-bred AK-47 from a clone, so I don't think that or the lighting is any problem, since there is 1000W equivalent in there, some nice red HPS and some nice blue CFL.

So you think something is slowing me down? Not sure what you mean, except perhaps for the fact that I started with seriously fucked up clones as noted previously. There is one plant that is not growing as I would like (lower left in the photos), and I am thinking of yanking it. Not even counting the fact that most plants have two main stems, they would be about 14" tall if not tied down. That's not real bad for 3 weeks into the system is it? I mean considering that they are getting LSTd and making tons more nodes than normal?

I'm by no means an expert, so please keep the suggestions coming, but I'm not seeing the lights or genetics as a problem. Please clarify if you disagree.

Yeah... i didnt see that post i just saw those last couple ones with the little seedlings all stretched out. It looked like just cfls at first... How far away are you keeping the hood from the plants? What kind of ventialation do you have? Can you get pictures of your whole set up?

[Opie Yutts]

Earthy, I'll try and get some more photos up for you, and some more info later this evening. Not sure though.

Thanks for the interest in helping.

[Opie Yutts]

Obviously I didn't get any photos up that evening, and I still don't have any of my whole set up, but I got a couple more.

Well it's 4 weeks now since I put them in the system. I can certainly see how I went about this wrong. Mainly I should have not started to LST until they had grown about 6 or 8 inches. Then it would have been easier to get my hands to the back. This way all I could think of was to make isles, or rows to the back.

In a few days they should be getting big enough to start pulling them to the screens that make up the walls of the rows. I already did a little, but more will come soon. I can get my hand to the back, even in the row that has the fan, and I intend to keep it that way. I'm going to start taking off the smaller shoots soon, in order to let at least a few of the ones from the weaker plants a chance to get to the top.

This kind of 2 1/2 level, 5 isle, stadium screen looks more complex than it is. It was way easier to put together than the previous one I made which was from chicken wire, and it had openings smaller than 1x2". These openings are 2x3", which I'm finding out is a huge advantage when it's time to tie things to it.

So here it is, as it's going together.

[Opie Yutts]

Since the plants showed no nute stress since last weeks bump to 1313, I upped it again to 1410.

The fan in the middle is blowing straight up at the light. It should allow me to get the light much closer than the 3 feet it needed to be before. I'll check tomorrow on the leaf temps, and see if I can't get it even closer. There's a 6" inline fan connected to vent on the wall and one above it, but it makes a darn hurricane in there. I bought a 4 position fan switch I was going to wire on it, but then I read the package better and it said it was for 10 W ceiling fans, not 75 W inlines. Can anyone recommend a speed control for that fan? So, that's going to have to wait a little longer. I might get those CFLs back in there soon too.

I want buds now! Oh well, gotta stick this out I guess.

[Hennessy1414]

Since the plants showed no nute stress since last weeks bump to 1313, I upped it again to 1410.

The fan in the middle is blowing straight up at the light. It should allow me to get the light much closer than the 3 feet it needed to be before. I'll check tomorrow on the leaf temps, and see if I can't get it even closer. There's a 6" inline fan connected to vent on the wall and one above it, but it makes a darn hurricane in there. I bought a 4 position fan switch I was going to wire on it, but then I read the package better and it said it was for 10 W ceiling fans, not 75 W inlines. Can anyone recommend a speed control for that fan? So, that's going to have to wait a little longer. I might get those CFLs back in there soon too.

I want buds now! Oh well, gotta stick this out I guess.

arnt thew crops in the middle not getting much light caus of the fan? :rastasmoke:

[MVP]

I bought a 4 position fan switch I was going to wire on it, but then I read the package better and it said it was for 10 W ceiling fans, not 75 W inlines. Can anyone recommend a speed control for that fan?

I use a rheostat that I built from HD parts:

- dimmer switch rated for 600W total lighting $5.00
- dual gang metal electrical box $2.50
- 1 foot of 14/3 copper wire $0.50
- 3 prong grounded outlet $2.00
- 25 ft. outdoor extension cord $6.00
- misc wiring connectors left over from remodel $0.00

Being able to control fans to any speed desired....Priceless

Oh yeah, I am running a 6 inch Vortex rated at 449 CFM and approx 80 W at full throttle....

[Opie Yutts]

arnt thew crops in the middle not getting much light caus of the fan? :rastasmoke:

I've done this before (kinda) with that light. It's pretty small but cools the light real well. I only need a 3" hole all the way up through any foliage or buds.

I took some temp readings of the leaves after moving the light to about 28 inches from the canopy, and they averaged about 73. Just moved the light down to 22 inches above the canopy. I'll check again in awhile. I'm just trying to keep the top leaves below 80 (due to what Weedhound says), and get the 600 watter as close as possible.

[Opie Yutts]

I use a rheostat that I built from HD parts:

- dimmer switch rated for 600W total lighting $5.00

Really cool idea. I didn't know you could get a dimmer rated that high for such a low price. I'm off to Lowes probably soon for a different chain saw, and I'll see if I can pick one up there. Don't buy a Poulan saw. Did some research and you need a Stihl or Husqvarna.

I imagine all I need is box and the dimmer, since I don't need an outlet. I just want to wire it straight to the fan. Thanks for the great idea.