First indoor CFl Grow

[Manyk Myke]

I really need some help. These are maybe 8 weeks old in 1 gal pots under the cfl arrays 24 hrs/day on for 3-4 weeks. Maybe I went over the top 8-9000 lumens/sq ft. 65 % 2.6K, 35 5K, have them in miracle grow and given nothing. Have huge stalks and just waiting to take off I hope. Leaves brittle and browning from heat? SAVE ME

Manyk Myke Reviewed by Manyk Myke on 12-20-2013. First indoor CFl Grow I really need some help. These are maybe 8 weeks old in 1 gal pots under the cfl arrays 24 hrs/day on for 3-4 weeks. Maybe I went over the top 8-9000 lumens/sq ft. 65 % 2.6K, 35 5K, have them in miracle grow and given nothing. Have huge stalks and just waiting to take off I hope. Leaves brittle and browning from heat? SAVE ME Rating: 5

[malkinfan]

Whats the PH of your growing medium? Also, you mentioned they are 8 weeks old. Have you repotted them? It looks like it could be a possible nute deficiency. I'm not sure if your able to do so, but try and check the PPM of your runoff water coming out the drain holes of the pots, that will give you an idea of how much nutes or salts are in the growing medium. Once you get the PPM, you will be able to determine if there is a salt buildup or deficiency. Hope this helps you. Happy growing

[Manyk Myke]

My growing medium was measured with an electronic ph tester (probe with two dissimilar metal prongs stuck in the wet potting soil overnight it tested slightly acidic at ~ ph 6.7-6.8. I took them straight from the 1" seedling array into one gallon pots. I thought maybe since they are on 24/7 they were dying to produce some chlorophyll which , I gather, happens during the night? Also I should mention that I have been until now using (Shudder) Tap water of the same ph. should I start the bud cycle? don't want to cut myself short in yield. Do youthink I overdid it with the lighting? at firsty i had them very close <1" but have moved them away to 6-8" and the new growth seems happier. What kind of fertilizer? High nitrate for veg growth or mixed all around type? Need a way to water them for a week while I'm gone for the holidays. Ideas? And Thank you for your reply very much.

[d00g]

Hey Manyk Myke, congrats on your grow and nice job so far. I don't know if you are over-lighting, I don't know if that's possible with CFL's as long as they are not close enough to be burning your plants. However, I do know that you could be using more effective light. You have mentioned that you use 65% 2500K and 35% 5000K bulbs in your array. Plants will grow better and healthier in the mid-6000K range at Vegetative stage and better and healthier in the low-mid 2000K range during the Flowering stage. Your lights are obviously working, but you may want to at least switch the ratio while you are Veg'ing them.

I also have read that using your chlorinated tapwater will kill any nutrients that are remaining in your soil, of which there may not be much because you have not repotted since they were small. This could be part of the browning of the leaves, as could nutrient deficiencies. I would do some research into nute deficiencies and see if you can match-up any pictures to your symptoms, as that is the easiest and quickest way to try to diagnose the problem.

What are you using for/in your soil?

[GATXBUCK]

Nice job...cant wait to see em flowering under those cfl's.I just transplanted a clone that had been in a 6.5" pot (about .7 gallon) about 40 days and it was slap full of roots,you might need a transplant.You could probably ease one out of the pot far enough to get a good look,wait till your soil is just slightly damp.As far as nutrients,I started off buying 3 qaurts of the fox farm grow big,big bloom and tiger bloom for rough;ly $20 each which will take a long time to use and will probably start losing its potency long before I can use it up.I have since found a few a few guys on e bay that break the fox farm nutes as well,as a few other popular brands,into 2/4/8 ounce sizes that are really affordable.You can get 4 oz of the f farm trio I mentioned for around $13.Hope this helps...

[Manyk Myke]

thanks for the info. I need to find a way to water them as I'm leaving in a couple days for a week. Quick, simple one time solution. Ideas? silica gels? inverted glass stem globe thing?

[GATXBUCK]

Not sure this would work but a few weeks ago I was thinking about going home for xmas and thought about trying to attach a piece of pvc w/holes drilled in it to the opening of a milk jug (1/2 or 1 gallon),cut the bottom out of the jug,stick the pvc into the soil and fill the jug w/water.I saw something like this on a much smaller scale @ a thrift store awhile back...I think it held maybe a pint of fluid.Early planning stage was as far as I got when I realized I would be too close to my first harvest around xmas.

[growdemon]

yea there is a case called too much light, and I would say this would be it.

your plants are burning dude, just look at the edges of your leaves
they also look like they are over watered, which is probably because you clogged up the drain holes on your buckets
this will lead to root disaster & rot, as the roots need air to breathe and grow, perlite mixed in the soil is good for air circulation.

however, these look like male plants which 75% of the time droop like this if your not over watering

raise your lights about 12 inches above your tops or more, this will also make them stretch out some. you need to be creating more space in between your branches which is where the buds will form

I run my lights all at 24/7 usually 4,6,8-15 lights (at various stages), at the stage your plants are in I would only be using about 4 to 6 24w cfl lights
also miracle grow as soil isn't great because it has time release crystals, which will be bursting Nitrogen thru your whole grow cycle even during the flower cycle
I start my seeds in Miracle Grow Seed starter soil, then when they are about 8 inches, I transplant them into 1-3 gallon pots with a nice organic soil with no additives or time release nutrients

here is a pic of male droop,, the one in the far back right side corner, is a male. good example for early indication.

[Manyk Myke]

After transplanting into 3 gal pots. 1/4 sandy soil,1/4 redwood compost, 1/4 topsoil and 1/4 composted chicken manure. Tried to kill them but they have survived my attemps. The stalks are thicker than a pencil. I hope they don't turn out to be males, ag you have suggested.

[growdemon]

ah yes... much better.. those are some bushy sucker. yea its really hard to tell male/female unless they pre-flower.

nice job!
are these clones?
I usually clear out some of the thick stuff deep inside that doesn't get much light & dead leaves, helps air flow on these super bushes.