New Dude + 1st Time Grow Log

[Zoidberg]

Hey there, been doing my research and a lot of reading on here! I'm gonna start growing some bud and thought I'd post my set-up and see what kind of advice you guys could offer.

I planted my germinated seeds (pics below) today so this is day 1. They're easy buds from femaleseeds.nl and they seem good for a first grow because of the shorter yield time. I got a 400 watt HPS and, as you can see. it's in a spare wardrobe. The soil is good stuff too, lots of worm casings and perlite, has the right PH etc :thumbsup:

So, I've just planted the seeds and I have them in under the HPS now for a few hours. It really dries out that soil and it's quite a few feet above it. Should I turn off the lamp and wait for the seedlings to come through before resuming the lamp?

In another picture, you can see my nutes. They're organic and as you can, they're for growing, flowering and the fish mix is an all-rounder. I'm just curious when to start using them and how much?

On the to-do list is:

Get a fan
Get some blackout blinds (or something similar)
Get a PH tester, thermometer and timer!

Phew, lots of effort but it'll be worth it. As its my first grow, I'm not expecting miracles. I just want to learn first. Plus I'm going on vacation in 8 weeks so I'll probably be rushing it a bit (flowering and harvesting a tad early I'd say).

Anyway, what do you guys think? Am I missing anything glaringly obvious?

Cheers,

Dr. Z :rasta:

Zoidberg Reviewed by Zoidberg on 09-11-2006. New Dude + 1st Time Grow Log Hey there, been doing my research and a lot of reading on here! I'm gonna start growing some bud and thought I'd post my set-up and see what kind of advice you guys could offer. I planted my germinated seeds (pics below) today so this is day 1. They're easy buds from femaleseeds.nl and they seem good for a first grow because of the shorter yield time. I got a 400 watt HPS and, as you can see. it's in a spare wardrobe. The soil is good stuff too, lots of worm casings and perlite, has the Rating: 5

[phytokind]

Well you definitely don't need to be running that light for germination, and from what I've read here you would be better off with some CFLs or MH instead of the HPS until you start flowering.

[Zoidberg]

Hmm, kinda thought as much although I was told otherwise by my friendly growshop owner. I was just kinda giving the light a trial run. I left the wardrobe doors shut (otherwise there's an orange glow coming from my window, bit suspicious) and it got very hot. It would seem no HPS anymore until I can blackout the room and keep the doors open with a fan blowing. I don't expect the seedlings to be fully out until the weekend (probably) so I could pick up some CFLs then. Will the CFL cause the plants to grow at the same rate. Cheers for your advice.

[Zoidberg]

Actually, after further research....CFLs vs MH. What should I go for the veg stage? I'm not restricted by budget at the moment and would prefer to use the best method & lights rather than just go for the cheap one.

Also, I dunno if anyone read above but I've got 8 weeks til I go on vacation for 2 and a half weeks. Keep in mind that this is my experimental grow and I want to get things cleared up before I go (I suspect my mother will be checking up on my house while I'm away y'see). Is it possible for me to veg for 4 weeks and flower for 4? I know, I know, I'll get a crap yield and crap bud but this is my trial run so I don't mind.

Also, what do you think of my nutes? Any good?

[budzy malone]

The first few weeks are the hardest kind of thing..... two leaves, four leaves and then crucial... tender loving care.

[Dutch Pimp]

You need to read Bob Bong's post, in the Grow Lounge.

[hudson88]

You're really gonna be pushing it to get anything worth smoking in 8 weeks, but if you gotta i'd say veg for 2 weeks and flower for 6. I'd try reducing light for flowering from the recommended 12 to 11 at the third week of flowering then 10 and 9 each week after, this way the plant will react to the shortening of day and should finish a little earlier. I'd go get some lowryder seeds if i was in your position, start to finish 10 weeks, you should get a decent smoke after 8 weeks but i'm afraid any other seeds it's just not gonna be long enough. Hope i'm wrong. Good luck dude
Oh and get a fan as soon as you can, and look into getting a heat shield or cool tube as well. HPS lights are a nighmare for heat!

[Zoidberg]

Cheers for the advice guys. Dutch Pimp, had a look at Bob Bong's post in the grow lounge....the one about growing in your parent's house? This is my house, I'm many years from living at home. I just said my mother would probably come and check my house every now and again while I'm on holiday. Sorry if you're talking about a different thread though.

Hudson, cheers. That's some sound advice. I know I'll probably not get anything too worthy from this grow but it's all about learning for me right now.

So, 3 of 4 seedlings have sprouted today. I'm very proud haha. I turned on the HPS because they could use some light. However, how far away from the lamp should they be? I don't want them stretching but I know that heat is a factor. Currently, they're about 4 and half feet from the lamp. I've not heard of a heat shield before, care to explain?

I've also been listening to the dope fiend podcast (dopefiend.co.uk) and there was a guy called Mr. Bud who has done segments about growing your own. It seems he uses a HPS from start to finish, any thoughts? Check out the podcast by the way, it's pretty good.

Also, I've attached a few pics of the lil babies. I have to say, it'll be nice to get some bud eventually but right now, I'm finding it very interesting as a hobby.

[Zoidberg]

Forgot the pics! Dur!

[jamstigator]

I think you'd do better getting a couple or four cool white CFLs and just use those for the first week, let the little ones get a strong root system going and a few leaves before you beam them too hard with the HPS light. Probably denser node placement that way too. Then after a week, leave the CFLs there, and turn on the HPS light too.

Getting anything decent in 8 weeks seems nigh impossible. I mean, they need that long in flowering alone, or longer, before the trichomes are mature. You'll have plants you can cut down after eight weeks, and if you smoke enough, you'll still get high. But if it sucks (and it probably will) don't think that it's bad weed or anything, it'll suck because you won't get a big yield and what you do get won't be ripe, just because they'll be immature plants. Still worth doing though, as a learning thing.

That wardrobe looks quite similar to my own (before I put stuff in it). I have the same size light too. I'll post a pic or two here for ya (from last grow), and you can see how I made stuff work pretty well with a wardrobe. I'm not saying this is the best possible cabinet or anything, but maybe it'll give you a few ideas for the future. Oh, and those bushy suckers are the result when you veg too long. Yield was about 15 ounces, and took me 10 painful and sticky hours to manicure.