Sunroom Grow

[StoneMeadow]

I'm on day 6 of my very first grow, which I'm doing in a south-facing sunroom that's 8' wide and 20' long. The windows are single-pane, untreated glass 6 1/2 feet tall, and I have been using this sunroom to grow winter veggies (tomatoes, peppers, okra, herbs, eggplant, etc.) very successfully.

My setup is very simple. I got a dozen or so 4-gal kitty litter buckets off Freecycle, which I filled with 10" of Miracle-Grow pre-fertilized potting mix. Yeah, I know that's not recommended, but I've had good luck with it and had it on hand, so went with it. For watering I add 1 tbsp of Alaska Fish Fertilizer and 1 tbsp Alaska Bloom to a gallon of RO water at 6.5 pH, which lowers it a full point to 5.5 pH. I water as needed, which turns out to be two days on so far, then skip a day. Again, this is based on a proven technique that has produced lots of really good fruits and veggies from my sunroom, so I went with it for this first grow. Keep it simple... :thumbsup:

I finally went to a mmj doc and got my recommendation, then bought four Sensai Early Skunk clones from a local coop. They were 2"-3" tall with several roots poking out of the rockwool, and really healthy looking. I took them home and immediately transplanted them, watered them, and put each under a 27w cfl with a reflective hood, with the lights on 24 hours.

The sun comes up a bit after 7, and by 8:15 - 8:45 the temp hits 70 in the sunroom, so I move the clones into the sunroom where they get direct sunlight until about 4:45, when the sun drops behind the western hills. At that time I move them back into the closet under their lights. Daytime soil temps are 83-86 F, and I use a small fan to make sure each plant gets some exercise.

Here are a few pics...enjoy!

StoneMeadow Reviewed by StoneMeadow on 03-12-2011. Sunroom Grow I'm on day 6 of my very first grow, which I'm doing in a south-facing sunroom that's 8' wide and 20' long. The windows are single-pane, untreated glass 6 1/2 feet tall, and I have been using this sunroom to grow winter veggies (tomatoes, peppers, okra, herbs, eggplant, etc.) very successfully. My setup is very simple. I got a dozen or so 4-gal kitty litter buckets off Freecycle, which I filled with 10" of Miracle-Grow pre-fertilized potting mix. Yeah, I know that's not recommended, but I've Rating: 5

[StoneMeadow]

The plants have each nearly doubled in height in the 6 days I've had them. They are also developing lots of new leaves at the lower nodes, as you can see in these photos.

[StoneMeadow]

Since my plans all have at least 4 nodes I FIM'd them this afternoon. Following the instructions in the sticky in this section of the forum made it a piece of cake. The only hard part was getting the camera to focus on the right spot afterwards, but I did get one decent photo.

[emilya]

Excellent FIM shot! Looking good so far... what kind of lights do you have on them inside? It sounds like with all the moving about, the plants aren't the only ones getting exercise here. Good luck with the grow... I'm watching to see how you do with that Miracle Grow along with the added nutes.

Remember that these are weeds, not veggies. The nutritional needs are a bit different, but I am thinking you will be able to adjust just fine. As a brand new grower, I also started out with the Miracle Grow and it really made things more difficult for me along with all the other things I was doing wrong. I have grown a little veggie garden outside for years and thought that I had it all figured out... until I met the weed and tried to grow it indoors. I am curious to see what you conclude about this as your grow continues.

What I have realized in my time here is that there is a science to be learned behind all this growing too. Its one thing to grow a successful plant. Its quite another to optimize that growing situation so that the plant produces the biggest, tastiest and most powerful harvest that it is genetically capable of. This requires going a bit beyond the simple and dialing in the proper PH vs nutrient load currently being supplied, optimal temperatures and even light periods, humidity and trace minerals in the water. There are so very many things to consider, and so many ideas being tried all the time to make things even better. Some are experimenting with electrifying the soil to increase yields. Hydroponic systems are being used by some to supercharge growing conditions. Its crazy sometimes just how much information is out there about these particular plants.

My point is, I am sure that from the sounds of your growing experience that you will have no trouble growing this finicky little weed. But now I challenge you to read about some of the amazing things being discussed here on the board regarding the advanced growing techniques. Find here, an extension to your gardening hobby as I have, a desire to learn what it is that these strains available today need in order to develop into what they deserve to be, prize winning samples of genetic science. Anyone can grow a tomato, but what if someone gave you a clone of THE very tastiest tomato ever grown? I bet you would do whatever it took to give this beauty everything it wanted. This is what your coop sold you. Top of the line genetics. Now its up to you to bring it to its potential. Good luck and have fun with it! :thumbsup:

Emmie

[StoneMeadow]

Thank you for the comments, Emmie. Your points are well taken and you're correct...my setup is far from optimized. That said, my plants are healthy, with compact internodal spacing, lush growth and a deep green color with no signs of nutrient deficiency (see photo below from today). They're sprouting right up and bushing out nicely, too, with all but one doubled in height in 8 days (and it got transplanted twice...my fault).

My objective is an easy grow with low capitol outlay that produces a solid crop. I'm not trying to maximize my yield for sale to a coop, so if I'm not quite producing to the genetics' fullest potential I won't consider it a failure. In any event, I plan to document this grow through to curing and weighing, so its success or lack thereof will be right out there for all to see.

[TANKJR]

Ah, I use MG all the time, all the products, too...have for years...I dilute it or cut it in half most of the time, add some perlite and vermiculite, some dolomite lime....very scientifically too I might add....a handful of this and three of that...etc...LOL! Until it "looks right"...Just so I don't burn up young clones and such with it...Just be very careful adding ANYTHING to it, I very rarely do, and watch the girls carefully for signs of excess nutes and you'll be fine...it's actually the absolute cheapest way to grow excellent stuff, next to throwing a seed out the window...just takes practice...$20 bucks worth of stuff last me years...The only other thing I add is Molasses. High dollar stuff too$!! $4 a bottle and it only last two grows!!! It's the one other thing actually worth the money...

Girls are lookin good so far!

[StoneMeadow]

Thanks TANKJR! I check my girls several times a day, and knock on wood...no signs of nute burning. I did buy some molasses yesterday, and will add a tablespoon to the water for its micronutrients.

[rudy2010]

Besides growing veggies and such a sun room can help heat your house. My uncle had one in NV and heated his house with it nicely in winter.

Your girls are looking good.

[StoneMeadow]

Yes, my girls are looking good...thank you! They especially look good compared to some of the stretched out plants I see in a lot of indoor grow photos. I'm two weeks into the veg stage, so I guess about another 2 weeks until I flip them into 12/12. Here's my photo of the day... :thumbsup:

[emilya]

Yes, my girls are looking good...thank you! They especially look good compared to some of the stretched out plants I see in a lot of indoor grow photos. I'm two weeks into the veg stage, so I guess about another 2 weeks until I flip them into 12/12. Here's my photo of the day... :thumbsup:

Looking very good! I just knew you were a good gardener and a dedicated one too, after hearing about all your vegie experience and how you move things back and forth from the sun room to lights. I am smiling here watching you have fun with this and doing quite well with it. It is going to be fun watching over the next several months as you continue to acquaint yourself with your little girl there. Enjoying the ride!

Emmie