Hi CCIE .... thanks for the suggestions. I took your advice and dragged my lazy butt to the shop to get my light replaced. It turned out to be the bulb. I was very careful with it, and hadn't even tried it until I needed it for flowering. I was told that particular bulb was sensitive. I wasn't sure if he meant that I hurt its feelings. So, he was really decent and gave me a replacement bulb, under warranty. The replacement bulb was just a standard 600w HPS. Made the trip worth it. I picked up some GH Kool Bloom while there. I debated about the mylar, but I'd already shelled out about the same cost for the Reflectix, so I left it for next time.

Lesson learned - have your cabinet ready to go, and all your hardware tested before you need it. This is especially important, if you haven't a shop close by, or you're going through mail order. I didn't think it would be a big deal to hold off on some items until needed, but I'm regretting it now.

I installed the light, and relocated the T5 lamp to the side of the cabinet. I didn't install the screen, as suggested, yet. For one, I'm a bit nervous to try it. For another, I'm not sure I have the skill to install it without doing more damage than good. Tonight I managed to break off a pretty healthy and large fan leaf. I'm not sure if I should trim the whole branch. For now, I just left it.

I also cleaned up the cabinet a bit, securing the Reflectix better. With the addition of the 600w HPS, it is really bright in there now. At first it doesn't come on very bright, but after a minute or so, wow! Hopefully that will give my poor ailing plants what they need to start production of some bud. To help things along, I added about half strength of the Kool Bloom. I should know better - change one thing at a time, and wait for results. Ok, so I'm human, and a little anxious.

After all this stress, I hope they all don't turn out males. That's the one downer - not only do I have to work very hard on this, and wait a while for results, but it may turn out to be for nothing. In any event, I'm amazed I've gotten this far. This attempt was mostly to learn. It's certainly been a lesson in patience.

No pictures today. It's not too pretty in there right now. I want to clean things up a little. I tried tying the plants to spread them apart, but the garden I'm using isn't cooperating. The mesh buckets are coming up, when I try to bend the plant too much. I had to place a bottle on one of them to weigh the thing down. I'll try to get some photos up before the end of the weekend.

Oh, CCIE, I knew what Faithless meant - LST, right? I've read about it around here. I'd love to try it - everyone that does, seems to love the production. I didn't prep enough to do that, both for the cabinet or with learning. I hope to try that for my second grow. What you're talking about is scrogging, right (with the screen)? I've heard that's pretty good too. I think someone you either linked me too, or someone that posted to your thread had mentioned doing that. I'm tired, and forgetting a lot right now. It's been a long day. If only I had something to toke to wrap it up right. Soon.
joe-grow Reviewed by joe-grow on . joe-grow's first grow Long time reader, first time poster. Long time smoker, first time grower. So, I've finally decided to take the plunge into growing. I spent the last month just reading up on the postings here, as well as some magazines I picked up at a local hydro store. This board was the most helpful, and I hope to repay that help with a grow report which I hope helps at least one other person out. During this time, I'm sure I will ask for assistance from some of you out there, and I hope that I am Rating: 5