CFL GROW / 440w / Very Detailed

[Rusty Trichome]

I'm starting to have a problem. I don't have any clue what my pH is because I live outside the states now, and here, a tester is an impossible thing to find.. I could try to order one, but most won't ship here. For starters..Is there any other way I could test my pH? I know about coffee grinds & organic lime, but is there a way to see when it's more acidic or not?

Go get a freshwater aquarium ph test kit. Costs under $10 US. Won't work for runoff ph, but is fine for ingoing (clear) water.

Also, I'm attaching pics.

When?

you'll be able to see the on 2 plants, the bottom leaves are sickening yellow! One of these plants' stem is very tough like a twig, however, I'm not sure if it's going to make it, or hardening because it's dying? The other has a beautiful healthy stem, strong root system, and just the bottom set of leaves is my concern. What could be causing this? Or, is it that the bottom leaves are dying as they are what produces the food for roughly the first 2 weeks of the plant's life?

Are you refering to the cotyledons, (the first leaves which are very rounded and no fingers) or the first set of true of fingered-leaves? Likely a ph issue unless you've fed them already in which case they are possibly nute burned.

By the way, I'm late to mention it. I decided to do a CFL grow. I've been enjoying reading the debate on them for at least the last year. I have a 400hps light (brought it from the states), but I'd really like to try a CFL grow to see if I can do it.

I'm using:

7-(65w) bulbs in total. 455 watts of total power w/ 18,900k.

Nothing wrong with CFL's except you just can't beat the mega-lumens provided by HID lighting.

They are:

(3) 65w Warm White 2700k
(4) 65w Daylight 2700k

Ahh...the old 2700k - 2700k dual spectrum. (they are the same color)

Temperature is 90-94 degrees during day with lights, 85 at night without (Daytime, 12Midnight-6pm/Night-time, 6pm-12Midnight). Before someone goes hostile about the temperature, keep in mind, I live in Asia. These are Asian strains as well. They are accustomed to the heat, and grow to this temperature. If you are unfamiliar, please do not talk about the heat the plants should be in. I have studied into this, A LOT!

Cool. I've lived it a lot. I live in the desert southwest where temps exceed 110 daily during the summer. But I still have to protect seedlings, as should you. Their genetics may be well-suited to the heat, but a little care goes a long way. No swamp coolers or air conditioners in Asia? :wtf:

Bathroom is covered with black tarp, then covered completely with aluminum foil. There are absolutely no light leaks, and sleep has never been interrupted except for power loss on two separate instances for 2 days due to power outage (5 & 4 days ago are when the happened).

Yes, cannabis can grow under 24 hours of light, but that doesn't mean it's better for them.

don't have a fan in there constantly,

Heat and moisture will cause mold issues in no time.

...You turn it on low, and the plants would probably fly away.

I'd be tempted to risk it. How about one of those industrial fans with a dimmer-switch? Or aiming it at the wall in the closet, not directly on the plants?

**Also, the nutient mix that I'm using for Nitrogen is derived from urine. Yes, yes, I know..But, I've used this many times for soil (tomatoes) & hydroponics, and it has worked great! I got the idea about 4 years ago from online, and it seemed uncomfortably reasonable. So, I started using it, and it's proven to be very effect time and time again. Urine is very high in N.
OF COURSE, you would stop using a month before harvest just to be on the safe side. Ironically, it flushes out without a problem!

** oh and watering...When it's dry 6mm down, I water..This is of course an estimate, but the top is crusting, etc..Please don't ask things that are newbie. Believe me, it's already been checked if that's the case.

Please no foul comments. We're all here to enjoy our successful attempts at medicine / hobbies / peace of mind.

I'll bet it smells great in your closet. :jointsmile: Good luck pissing your plants away. But I would love to see the pictures of your last successful grow. (you're trying to act like you have experience, but your comments seem to belie your knowledge base)

Also, IMHO when a newbie comes in and starts putting demands and requirements on type, quality and tone of the info we offer, he can usually go fuck himself. Not too many people like getting slapped in the face before offering aid to a newbie, especially if he/she only growing for giggles-n-grins. This is a cannabis site centered around the medicinal growing and use of cannabis, not "Homey's Growroom and Dope House".

Good luck to ya though. :thumbsup: