My First Closet Grow (CFL / AutoFlowering Strains)...

[RickyNewman]

Hello All,

So this is my first indoor closet grow and I plan to keep track of it using this grow log. The idea behind the grow log is for me to keep a diary and can reference at a later date with other grows, to collate information as I learn during the grow, to share my experiences and to get opinions, advice from other growers and just give back to the community what it has given so much to me.

The grow setup is a tent in a closet, the size of the tent is 60cm x 60cm x 140cm. I have one 300watt 9U CFL (Blue Spectrum 6500k) currently on them, I plan to swap that with a 300watt 9U CFL (Red Spectrum 2700k) when they start flowering.

I am only growing autoflowering strains mainly because of my curiosity in them. I have 3 x Afghan Kush Ryders and 5 x G13 Labs Pineapple Express.

I have an exhaust system which has a carbon filter attached and exhausts out of the top of the tent, into the ceiling and out into the cupboard above. The intake is from the bottom of the tent and pulls cold air from under the floorboards of the cupboard the tent resides in.

I am currently awaiting two 6" oscillating clip on fans, which i plan to attach to the sides of the tent to help with airflow and breeze directly on the plants (when they sprout).

I planted the germinated seeds in 3 litre pots using biobizz organic soil mix. I have ordered some Biobizz bloom ferts for when they start to flower. I am not going to bother with VEG nutes as I believe the organic soil will be enough for the plants for the first 5 weeks and they will be into flower then because they are autoflowering strains therefore straight onto bloom food.

I am going to take some pics of the tent and space now so you can see what I am describing, I will then post pictures and updates as and when something happens.. so when they sprout i guess will be the next post :-)

If you have any questions, or I've not mentioned something important then please ask! :-) I would like this to be an interactive grow log that stays on the topic of my grow so I welcome all opinions and advice and comments :-)























OK so that's it for now. The temperature is high as we're getting hot weather here now and having the foam door there brings the temperature off, if i take the foam door off (which i have now) it drops to around 82-85 degrees, which is a little more acceptable.. however these plants are on 18/6 or will be when they sprout, lights are on 24/7 now until they sprout just to help with temperature etc in the tent and i guess they like a lot of light when they start out.. i know i should have a dome over them but i've not got the money to afford one now so will have to make do as they are.

I just looked at them closely and the one in the top left hand corner has sprouted so tomorrow i guess we will see the very first seedling popping through the soil!

Please let me know what you think so far.. look forward to hearing your comments :-)

RickyNewman Reviewed by RickyNewman on 09-27-2011. My First Closet Grow (CFL / AutoFlowering Strains)... Hello All, So this is my first indoor closet grow and I plan to keep track of it using this grow log. The idea behind the grow log is for me to keep a diary and can reference at a later date with other grows, to collate information as I learn during the grow, to share my experiences and to get opinions, advice from other growers and just give back to the community what it has given so much to me. The grow setup is a tent in a closet, the size of the tent is 60cm x 60cm x 140cm. I have one Rating: 5

[dr.kush3]

this is a nice setup you have going on. if you have the money go for led's i think it can reduce the heat by 10 degrees cuz i have to get one of my own.

[RickyNewman]

Hey dr kush, thanks :-)

I looked into LED lights but it seems they're pretty expensive (well, too much for me at the moment). However I think they can be made pretty cheaply, if you can find the right type of LED's then the electronics behind it isn't much to put together. This is something I am looking into already. For now I think I might look into the lower watt CFL range such as 65 - 105 watt Red/Blue spectrum, as I can scatter those around the room, in the canopy, etc.. as the lower wattage don't give off any heat (or so I've read). Will buy one of each and see then just fill the room with them - this is more for getting to those areas that the main light will not hit because hopefully I'll have a dense canopy :-)

I have about 4 sprouted now, will take some pics tomorrow :-)

[dr.kush3]

how are you moving the air?

[RickyNewman]

At the moment relying on the intake/exhaust fan to move the air... however I ordered two 6" clip on oscillating fans.. which should arrive today. I plan to clip them onto the tent pole in side and direct them at the canopy and just above to move air around in the tent.

Update: 4 have sprouted. Just waiting on the other four to sprout now, of which there seems no signs of. I hope they pop through soon

[hemptations]

do you plan on leaving them in those pots the entire grow? if so please share technique

[RickyNewman]

Hey,

So the strains I have in there are auto-flowers (60-70 days from seed to bud). So, the short life span, I did a bit of research and it seems a 3 litre pot is enough for the life span of these plants. So I decided against transplanting halfway through, and opted for the bigger pots to start with.

This can cause issues.. its best to keep a plant in a pot just enough for the roots and transplant as it needs a bigger pot - however I overlooked this when I started the grow, and they're in the biggest pots they can be now anyway.

Another issue with my way is that it will be easy to drown them in such big pots.. which is why i am VERY careful when watering... i water only when soil is dry and not soggy all the way through. This is only my first run so I guess there are lots of lessons to be learned.. lets just see how they pan out in the pots they're in now.. if half way through I encounter problems I'll act on them fast and try to resolve them. Hopefully though I won't have any issues with the pots they're in.

Any thoughts, opinions, advice?

[RickyNewman]

Also another sprouted today, so I have five currently sprouted, 4 x pineapple express and 1 x afghan kush ryder.

I recieved the two 6" fans today so placed them strategically in the tent ;-) I also have the door partially open with a huge ass 18" fan blowing in on them as its like 28/29 degrees here outside and very warm inside the house/cupboard/tent .. but I got it under control so far.

Will post pictures later today :-)

[RickyNewman]

Hey,

So I lifted the light up to take some pictures for ya`all ;-)

I have had the clip on fans in there all day and intend to keep them running 24/7 along with the intake/exhaust this should suffice :-)

Anyway, onto the pics...















I will update with pics when there is some nice changes

[PhatJay]

Nice looking setup you have there, but I think you are going to need more light for the flowering stage. I grow 4 plants in a 75x75cm tent under 2x250w 2700k CFL's, they are not autoflowers, but I try to keep them under 2ft tall because of the poor light penetration of CFL's. I veg my 4 plants under 1x125w 6500k CFL so you should be ok with the light you are using for the veg stage.

I am going off high watt CFL's for flowering, once you get to the 250w and 300w versions one of the main advantages of CFL's (low heat output) is greatly diminished and you have to have extraction similar to that required by other types of lighting.