HiPro's first grow log!

[HiProGlow]

Well guys I've finally decided to start my first grow log. I have two strains, one seed from a good bag I had and some seeds from Dr. Chronic which are Afghan. I chose Afghan because Stinky Attic recommended it as a good strain for first time growers. Let me say that Dr. Chronic is the bomb! Seeds came in a business envelope 7 days after I ordered them.
I started the bagseed 15days ago. For the bagseed I decided to use "Martha Stewarts Potting Soil" and an old Halloween candy bucket for the pot (2 gallons) I drilled holes in the bottom of it for drainage. I've been using CFL's (6 23Watts and one 24" fluro tube). Somehow I managed to rig the lights so they are all within 2" of the top of my plant. The closet space is 5' x 3'.
I made the mistake of starting the seed in a small see through tupperware container and after a while the roots were visible through the sides of the container. I also made the mistake of not using a fan in the beginning and as a result of my two errors, the bottom "real" leaves yellowed as well as three other leaves. I quickly decided to transplant "Crystal" into the 2 gallon "pot" and added a new fan for circulation. What happened next was amazing. Crystal trippled in size and at day 15 she is already starting her seventh node. The yellow leaves are at the very bottom of the plant (closest to the cotyledons) and there is no trace of yellowing on any of the new growth. Should I prune the dead leaves or just leave them?
Knowing that I would soon be using good seeds as well, I decided to change my grow room. Luckily, space is not an issue and now I'm in another spare closet that is square 5' long 5' wide and 15' high.
I've also upgraded my lighting system. I'm now using a 400watt metal halide in conjunction with a 400watt hps as well as all 6 cfl's and the fluro tube I used to start Crystal. That's well over 50,000lumens +++. I now have two fans for circulation as well.
I germinated 4 of the 10 Afghan seeds I received from Dr. Chronic last night using the paper towel method. All four of them have already cracked and as soon as I see 1/4" of the root I'll start them in the Martha Stewart potting soil, each in their own 2 gallon pot. (I don't like to transplant and I've read that the more room the seeds have for growth, the better their chances of being female.)
I bought a ph meter and a water gauge from Home Depot. The water gauge shows me how much water the plants have so that I'll know when to water them and to help prevent overwatering them. A much needed investment seeing that I tend to over "love" my plants.
I'll post pictures of Crystal and my grow room as soon as possible. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Any input or suggestons you might have is greatly appreciated!

HiProGlow Reviewed by HiProGlow on 12-05-2006. HiPro's first grow log! Well guys I've finally decided to start my first grow log. I have two strains, one seed from a good bag I had and some seeds from Dr. Chronic which are Afghan. I chose Afghan because Stinky Attic recommended it as a good strain for first time growers. Let me say that Dr. Chronic is the bomb! Seeds came in a business envelope 7 days after I ordered them. I started the bagseed 15days ago. For the bagseed I decided to use "Martha Stewarts Potting Soil" and an old Halloween candy bucket Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

I chose Afghan because Stinky Attic recommended it as a good strain for first time growers.

Cool. It's a lovely plant.

I started the bagseed 15days ago.

What sort of bagseed? Nice smoke?

Somehow I managed to rig the lights so they are all within 2" of the top of my plant.

Good, good....

I made the mistake of starting the seed in a small see through tupperware container and after a while the roots were visible through the sides of the container........ I quickly decided to transplant "Crystal" into the 2 gallon "pot" and added a new fan for circulation. What happened next was amazing. Crystal trippled in size

Yeah that will happen! Transplanting seems to actually be BENEFICIAL! People talk about transplant shock but every time I give my babies a new home in a pot of nice fresh soil they take right off again.
BTW I am also growing chrystal and it's coming along nicely.

The yellow leaves are at the very bottom of the plant (closest to the cotyledons) and there is no trace of yellowing on any of the new growth. Should I prune the dead leaves or just leave them?

That's pretty normal. Leave them on for now and when they drop just from shaking the pot, remove and destry them. Dead leaves are not a good thing to have laying around.

I germinated 4 of the 10 Afghan seeds...... All four of them have already cracked and as soon as I see 1/4" of the root I'll start them ....., each in their own 2 gallon pot. (I don't like to transplant and I've read that the more room the seeds have for growth, the better their chances of being female.)

Okay this is not such a great idea. You should start them in pots about the size of one of those dixie cups that people used to have in their bathrooms in those little cup dispensers. Giving them too much root space initially is not as beneficial as you would expect. The best thing to do that will increase the chances of the plants turning out female is to keep all the light in the blue end, so like a MH or cool white flouros. Ditch the HPS entirely until they flower; or, if you are intent upon using it early, until they start showing signs of side shoots and are DEFINITELY past the seedling stage.

Oh also you don't need to wait for 1/4'' of taproot... it's so easy to break a long root during the planting that I never let it get more than 1-2mm outside the shell.

I bought a ph meter and a water gauge from Home Depot.

Start out with balanced soil and many of your potential problems can be avoided. When you can get a chance to order liquid pH indicator, it's cheap and a bit more reliable. As for the water meter, just pick up the pots and if they feel too light, give them some juice.

Good luck! Happy growin'!

[Bree1978]

You said you bought a ph meter at HD....what section did you find it in? Thanks S

[HiProGlow]

The bagseed looks to be indica, short, fat leaves, though I'm not sure what the exact strain is. Thanks soooo much Stinky for your advice. I am going to ditch the HPS for now, until the flowering stage. I'm also going to take your advice about the smaller dixie cups for starters instead of the bigger pots. Geeze, what you said about the tap root makes total sense, so I'll go for the small size 1mm. Wow Stinky Attic, I'm truly honored to have your feedback. I've been inspired by your log and all your good advice, not to mention that you're a fellow New Englander....lol....thank you so much.
Bree....I found the meter in the gardening section of my Home Depot.

[stinkyattic]

Well then if it's indica... you will be okay!

Some people really DO like to wait until the taproot is longer. Just my styleee.

Good to see us NE-ers rocking the homegrown... there's so much crap kicking around on one hand, and on the other hand the Canadian mids that are EVERYWHERE are on like their 3rd or 4th dealer and have been abused and -dare I say- SPRAYED somewhere between the border and here!? A friend of mine just picked up a BIG bag- like a pound or so- of Canadian mids- "nooks"- that had been sprayed so badly that they were starting to mold. REally unfortunate and brings me back to one of the reasons I grow to begin with- cutting out the middleman!
So whereabouts in NE are you?

[HiProGlow]

I was running to Canada for northern lights and some really super, duper weed called "billy" bud. (Billy has since dried out.) I just got tired of all the travelling and sneaking over the border. I also love indica strains and have gotten bored with northern lights. I'm in Maine and the weed has gotten sub-par through the years. The cool thing about our northern neighbors is that it's so easy to get good weed if you're willing to go the distance. Of course now that the ski season is underway, some good weed comes up to Sugarloaf via tourists so my luck might change. Anyhow, I love to garden, tomatoes/peppers/basic veggies so I thought, what the heck I have plenty of space and time, why not grow my own and with the A'dam seeds being as good as they are, i.e. selection, there is no excuse not to grow. The law in Maine seems to turn a blind eye to anything cultivated, until it's stored in baggies anyhow...of course, I've taken every measure to be discreet regardless. This grow has proved to be exciting so far and dare I say, my latest obsession.

P.S. Sad news about your friend's botched pound! That sucks.

[HiProGlow]

Here are some crappy cell phone pictures of Crystal at 15days old. (Note the yellow leaves at the very bottom from newbie neglect!) Keep in mind as well that the pot she's in is huge so she looks rather small!

[Arklenao2]

that plant is abnormally small

[Abattoir Dream]

looking good, seems you got the lights nice n close good luck man

[HiProGlow]

I agree Arkle, Crystal is short but she's bushy and she is filling up with nodes. Last night was her first night under the 400w MH so maybe that will help her grow up a bit, though I'm not complaining about her being short and bushy. Anyhow, I planted my 4 germinated Afghan seeds into small paper cups last night. Their tap roots were somewhere around 1mm, so I don't expect them to pop up for a couple of days. I planted three of them in the basic Martha Stewart soil and as an experiment I planted the fourth one in miracle grow potting soil. (Probably not a good idea but it is just an experiment.) Can anyone tell me about the odour of Afghan plants? Do they reek or not? Anyway, I'm going to try to post some better pictures of Crystal today. Oh yeah, and one thing I was not prepared for with the MH lighting was the heat! WOW! My closet has no ventilation so I've had to add another fan for the nighttime (when the door is closed) and during the daylight hours I've decided to keep the door 1/2 way open. Good thing I haven't a need to be too stealthy, or else I'd have to abort.