1st time closet grow questions

[greenmajik]

Hey everyone! Just had a couple of quick questions... 5 weeks into growing, that's including germination time too, starting from bag seed just to see if I could do it, and plants are looking decent. Big, healthy leaves and stems. Tons of node growth!! As of last week there's anywhere between .5"-1.5" of growth, my 2 biggest are 7". Currently using 8 48" fluorescent daylight 6500k tubes, will switch to 2700k during flowering. Temp is pretty much always 76 degrees, humidity fluctuates between 55%-65%. Does this sound about the right size for time frame or should they be bigger?? Can't wait to clone and get rid of the deadbeat dads! Any advice would be very much appreciated.. please don't tell me to switch lights, I would love to if I could, but that's not really an option at the moment. But if the lights ARE an issue on growth, what can I expect?

Thanks much!!

greenmajik Reviewed by greenmajik on 04-04-2009. 1st time closet grow questions Hey everyone! Just had a couple of quick questions... 5 weeks into growing, that's including germination time too, starting from bag seed just to see if I could do it, and plants are looking decent. Big, healthy leaves and stems. Tons of node growth!! As of last week there's anywhere between .5"-1.5" of growth, my 2 biggest are 7". Currently using 8 48" fluorescent daylight 6500k tubes, will switch to 2700k during flowering. Temp is pretty much always 76 degrees, humidity fluctuates between Rating: 5

[irydyum]

All anyone can tell you for sure here is that if you are growing from random bag seed, you will have random results. No one can tell you how big they should be or what they should look like. We don't know what the hell ur growing any more than you do. Sorry if that's harsh, but what are you really looking for here?

Your plants look nice, should see some preflowers at around 2 months I believe, keep your eyes peeled.

Do you have any direct procedural questions, or did you just want to know how your bammer slammer was doing?

[bigtopsfinn]

5 weeks from seed with fluorescent tubes... looks pretty normal to me. Pre-flowers should start showing in the next few weeks. 8 weeks veg time is normal with those kinds of lights. Just keep doing what you're doing, all is good :jointsmile:

From the pics they look indica dominant mostly, so that's good. They shouldn't grow up too tall and will flower fairly quickly... so you got that going for ya too :thumbsup:

[greenmajik]

About the only thing I'm really wondering about is that I've read that the plants should be about 18" before cloning. I really just want to have 2 mama's out of the bunch. But if my 2 biggest are at 7" now, am I even going to be able to make it to 18" before cloning to detrmine sex? Will they pre-flower even during the 18/6 light schedule?!? I appreciate all the input!!

[MdmPele]

About the only thing I'm really wondering about is that I've read that the plants should be about 18" before cloning. I really just want to have 2 mama's out of the bunch. But if my 2 biggest are at 7" now, am I even going to be able to make it to 18" before cloning to detrmine sex? Will they pre-flower even during the 18/6 light schedule?!? I appreciate all the input!!

May I ask why you want to keep two mama's out of the bunch when you don't know what strains of plants you have? I wouldn't bother until you have a strain or three that you want to keep going.

How big is your closet (sorry if I didn't see it in the orig post)??

I used an 8-tube t5 in both flower (with 4 tubes on, later bought a 4 tube) and 6-8 tubes on in flower (combined with UVB cfl bulbs--not necessary).

For best results I did single-plant scrog with an 18x18 plastic grid I found at a thrift store, supported initially with bamboo stakes. I just harvested a girl with 27 colas (?) !!!

in contrast my WW which was only fimmed (I fim all plants) had 6 colas. and was stuffed into flower 5 weeks after repotting from clone.

[greenmajik]

Just really want to keep 2 so that I don't have to worry about the continuous droughts, not get ripped off, etc. I plan on getting some seeds someday, but since I've seen a lot of people say not to expect much from a 1st grow I really didn't want to put down a chunk of cash on seeds just to have them die. Plus I'm not really the best gardener in the world to begin with.. last year I had 8 tomato plants die on me! LOL! Closet is 2.5'w x 6'l x 8'h. I planned on doing a SOG, that way I always have a little bit around. I have another closet I plan on using as well for mamas and clones that is 2'w x 3'l x 8'h.

[MdmPele]

Just really want to keep 2 so that I don't have to worry about the continuous droughts, not get ripped off, etc. I plan on getting some seeds someday, but since I've seen a lot of people say not to expect much from a 1st grow I really didn't want to put down a chunk of cash on seeds just to have them die. Plus I'm not really the best gardener in the world to begin with.. last year I had 8 tomato plants die on me! LOL! Closet is 2.5'w x 6'l x 8'h. I planned on doing a SOG, that way I always have a little bit around. I have another closet I plan on using as well for mamas and clones that is 2'w x 3'l x 8'h.

I think you're lighting is more than adequate for the closet size. good.

Ok, I completely understand..... most important is you being happy with your grow.

Instead of keeping mothers, you can take cuts just before putting in flower. (or just after up to 2 weeks). cuts should have at least 5 nodes. this keeps a perpetual cloning process going, never relying on a mother. that's what I usually do -- until I kill my garden -- which happens about once a year. :S

I might create a franken-mother and graft a couple of similar strains to one stalk. been thinking about it. i know someone who did, so I know it's possible.


good luck and enjoy the process! It's a shitload of fun.

[greenmajik]

Just did my weekly measuring.. had adjusted lights and now have growth 2"-3.5" since last week! My 7" is now at 10.5"! YEA!!!

[budsmoker120]

how far should i have the lights from my plants

[greenmajik]

how far should i have the lights from my plants

I'm finding that if the lights are closer they get pretty bushy... which ain't all that bad, I guess! I think I was just babying them too much. But from my measurement friday, I had a few that I was wondering about and found there's now been 2" MORE of growth, in just 2 days!! :thumbsup: The lights are approx. 5" from the tops.