Please help after several failed attempts

[420kidder]

Ok so me and my girlfriend bought a hydro system about 3 months ago and have failed to yield, I think primarily because we don't have a timer for our hydro system so the water continues to feed to the rocks without stopping. I'm not sure where to get a affordable timer that will allow water to be transferred only ever so often. In addition the nutrients we have are what came with the system, and may not be ideal.

So we've decided to move soil. We also had a failed attempt at soil which is why we bought hydro. For some reason the first time with soil the plants got to be around 6 inches tall and were still so skinny that they couldn't hold themselves up, and then they flopped over and pretty much died. It was probably because at that time we didn't have a real light, and we were using $0.60 Walmart soil which I found hair in and it looked like they made it by sweeping their parking lots. :S2:

Right now we are trying to grow using soil that I bought from Home Depot. The Home Depot selection was crappy, but I did manage to avoid the Miracle Gro soils. I bought Scotts soil, and it says it has added phosporous for the root system.

We use a San Agro 430 lamp which I read on here isn't favorable. ;(
I have the setup in my closet, the light about 15 inches above the plants that are growing slowly, and about 24 inches above the newly planted plant that is doing great (although the 2 sprouts next to it aren't growing fast).

I usually water about once per day, as needed. Sometimes I have to wait longer if it's not needed. Some of the leaves have turned yellow and I've taken them off. They're crumbly by that point. Other more healthier leaves look light green, as if they will eventually be yellow. The newly planted that is doing so great is more of a darker green than the rest.

The temperature remains around 80 degrees, however the humidity is only around 20% I grow this in my closet and don't want to add humidity because we have things like sleeping bags and board games in the same closet. I I feel the nature of the leaves (even the green ones) is that they aren't really soft and flimsy, more stiff than anything.

We are not using any type of fertilizer, could this be one of the problems?

Also I have not tested the PH of our water previously. I just used a ph test strip and it looks like it falls between 6.5 - 6.75 although it's hard to tell if it falls in the range lower than this one.

Is my light too close? Are my plants getting too warm?

The stalks on my two older plants that are about 5 - 6 weeks old and only 12 inches tall are very thick and hard. Comparable with a #2 pencil.

The flower pots that I chose are 6" pots I believe.

Is there something that I am doing wrong?

I have no problem purchasing new soil or fertilizer or even trying to find a timer for my hydro system and nutriets for the hydro system.

I just want to be able to say wow look they're doing good and they look good and stuff. After 5 or 6 weeks, shouldn't my 2 oldest plants be ready for flowering soon?

If anyone has any suggestions please respond.

420kidder Reviewed by 420kidder on 02-02-2007. Please help after several failed attempts Ok so me and my girlfriend bought a hydro system about 3 months ago and have failed to yield, I think primarily because we don't have a timer for our hydro system so the water continues to feed to the rocks without stopping. I'm not sure where to get a affordable timer that will allow water to be transferred only ever so often. In addition the nutrients we have are what came with the system, and may not be ideal. So we've decided to move soil. We also had a failed attempt at soil which is Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

Okey dokey bear with me as I go through and answer 1001 questions!

we don't have a timer for our hydro system so the water continues to feed to the rocks without stopping. I'm not sure where to get a affordable timer that will allow water to be transferred only ever so often..

Oh come ON timers cost $8 at wal-mart.

In addition the nutrients we have are what came with the system, and may not be ideal..

That probably wasn't your problem... those nutes are cheap but solid, fine for nOObs.

For some reason the first time with soil the plants got to be around 6 inches tall and were still so skinny that they couldn't hold themselves up, and then they flopped over and pretty much died. It was probably because at that time we didn't have a real light, .

Well yes that's true... they stretched... no light.

and we were using $0.60 Walmart soil ....... I bought Scotts soil, and it says it has added phosporous for the root system..

Good upgrade.

We use a San Agro 430 lamp ......the light about 15 inches above the plants that are growing slowly, and about 24 inches above the newly planted plant .

Go back to walmart and get a bunch of cheap work lights and a bunch of cool white cfls... get them RIGHT UP CLOSE to the plants

I usually water about once per day, as needed. Sometimes I have to wait longer if it's not needed..

water by if the soil feels dry when you stick your finger in it, not by the timing

Some of the leaves have turned yellow and I've taken them off. .... Other more healthier leaves look light green, as if they will eventually be yellow. .

that's classic nitrogen deficiency. Don't even need to see a pic. You can't grow cannabis indoors without fertilizer. That fish stuff at walmart is good to quickly correct N def but you NEED real nutes.

The newly planted that is doing so great is more of a darker green than the rest..

that's because really young plants don't need nutes until they are at 4-5 nodes.

The temperature remains around 80 degrees, however the humidity is only around 20% .

that is not your main problem. 20% rh prevents mold. I'd up it to 30 by putting a tray of water in there. 30 won't mold things and your plants will be better off.

I grow this in my closet and don't want to add humidity because we have things like sleeping bags and board games in the same closet. .

if you get a pest problem you're screwed with all that other stuff in there

We are not using any type of fertilizer, could this be one of the problems?.

yes... it is a HUGE problem

Also I have not tested the PH of our water previously. I just used a ph test strip and it looks like it falls between 6.5 - 6.75 although it's hard to tell if it falls in the range lower than this one. .

use tap water because city water is usually adjusted to be neutral and is fine for a noobie dirt grow... I still use it in my grows too.

The stalks on my two older plants that are about 5 - 6 weeks old and only 12 inches tall are very thick and hard. Comparable with a #2 pencil..

good

The flower pots that I chose are 6" pots I believe..

pots a bit big for young plants result in more root growth below ground and less leafy growth up top, making it seem that your plants are not doing anything. better to start in small cups and transplant.

After 5 or 6 weeks, shouldn't my 2 oldest plants be ready for flowering soon?
.

they should but your light sucks.

You should REALLY get going on your reading... check out everyones grow logs in the log section and in indoor... see what people are doing, what works, what doesn't, go get REAL lights and ferts.

[Weedhound]

I completely have to agree with Stinky.....read up. After 3 or so failed attempts you should be following the directions to the letter. I can't speak for soil......although Stinky certainly can.....but I can tell you that if you do things EXACTLY as you are told in hydro you will get a good grow if you have viable seeds to begin with. Don't improvise or "get by with" Otherwise, stick to buying because it will save you heartbreak later.

[keeko]

i actually use the scotts seedling starter with added phos.......i think its good stuff, my plants seeem to like it, good luck

[Abattoir Dream]

hmm.. yeh get nutrients... those things need Nitrogen!

(this is in-case you didnt know)
Nutrients are measured in N-P-K values, N stands for nitrogen, P stands for phospherous and K stands for Potassium, these are the three major elements in nutrients.

Nitrogen promotes healthy green leaves and good vegetative growth,

Phospherous promotes good root systems and strong plants

and Potassium promotes fruit/flower production, and stops plants drying out quickly.

There are many more minerals and micro-nutrients that can help a plant grow, and in order to keep a healthy plant indoors, you must learn to understand these as best you can, in addition to nutrients micro-organisms play a big part in healthy growth, micro-organisms are basically friendly bacteria, they help a plant take in what it needs, and are pretty important, the best thing to do is read, read, read, and then apply everything you learn to your grow.

your luck so far has been off, but like the old saying goes, 'youve gotta crack a few eggs to make an omlette', so good luck for your grow...

[420kidder]

Thanks everyone for your help.

In regards to the timer:
Stinky when you mentioned the $8 timer at Walmart, I don't think that will be sufficient will it? I just posted another post about timers in a different forum, but the problem I believe was the constant water to the net pots. The roots couldn't handle the constant wet. The cheap timers at Walmart seem to only go on and off a few times per day. Will that be enough?

In regards to getting a REAL light:
At one time I thought that I read on several occasions that the 430Watt San Agro was good, which is why I bought it. After coming here I read on several occasions that the light isn't any good. I'll try to research why it's not good and what I should replace it with. Perhaps since I have the ballast I can buy a bulb?

About the fertilizers:
I'll research this too thank you. Right now I wonder if I should go get some miracle grow for the ones growing in soil, but I had better do some reading.

Thanks everyone, you've helped.

[stinkyattic]

The cheap timers at Walmart seem to only go on and off a few times per day. Will that be enough?
.

Yes, and those little plastic pin things are interchangeable so you can get a couple timers and scavenge all the pins from one if you want it to go on/off more times.

[Dutch Pimp]

...I don't understand ..the light problem?..a Agro Sun 430 HPS or MH..should kick ass....(is this what you have?)...

..I use a GE timer..made for swiming pools...can be set in increments of 15 minutes (on/off)..over a whole 24 hours...very heavy-duty too....18 dollars at walmart..

[420kidder]

Yes the light is a San Agro or however it's called 430. I'm thinking it's better made for flowering than growth???? I'm about to go to do Home Depot to get some lights for my setup. I transplanted my 4 plants into the hydro system that I've failed so many times with because now I have the timer!! Already since 3am when I finished and went to sleep, and now at 12:30pm, the plants all seem to have stopped leaning over and are standing up straight. I think I can do this.

I noticed each of the other times I've used the hydro system, that a white residue appears on the bin and lid and smells like mildew. I cleaned it off this time before using, but also all my tubing was almost clogged up with stuff, so I spent more than an hour cleaning the tubing.

Thanks for the help everyone. Hopefully these will be fine now.

Chris

[Duke420]

the 430 is a flowering light.
the white residue is the salts from the nutes, happens all the time. The problem you will have with a timer on a drip system, is the salt buildup will be in ur tube or like and dry out when it shuts down. then, when the system kicks on, it will add concentrated salts right away till it dillutes and remixes with your solution.

Run your system all the time. When you do a solution change, be sure to rinse out ur ring/drip tube to avoid buildup.

I use fls for veg and 1000hps for flowering and have great luck.