Well, I am with ya on the point of diminishing returns by trying to max/tweak everything til ya drive yerself nuts. I pH to 5.8, and thats it. I dont care if its week 3, week 5, wahtever. I mean if I miss out on 4 grams a plant, I am still going to sleep the same. I was going to install C02, but decided not to. I run at about 1200 ppm during peak, and I do not push further. I know my plants, and I get excellent results, another 200 ppm is going to 1) burn plants and piss me off 2) maybe give me an extra 4-6 grams a plant.....BFD

And, I am with ya on lighting. I love lights/watts per sq ft. My aero's take up 32 sq ft. Hanging above them is 3 600 watt daisy chained Cool Breeze's/digital ballast and Grolux bulbs. Still praying for the day Hortilux gets added to the compatibility list. ANd I get some real heavy fat buds. Again, I miss out on a few grams.......BFD

ANOTHER thing I am very much a firm believer in is adequate/efficent ventilation, Most you see here got a boner to get a grow going and dont have the foggiest idea about fresh air. My belief is before they ever worry about buying seeds, MH, HPS, Pots, soil, nutes, timers, etc etc etc is to worry about proper ventilation.

To be honest I am not sure I have EVER seen a new grower ask how to set up ventilation in the Basic's or Indoor Section, hell even in here for that matter. "My seeds sprouted, now what"........

I've tried to help a few with ventilation and installing properly, but they are more concerned on feeding their 3 day old plant 9 different nutes. So, I learned to keep my mouth shut about it and just keep on keepin on.

More fresh air in than stale skunky (wonderful smell) air you remove. Thats it, gets no simpler. And DO NOT create negative air pressure (suction)......thats a no-no fer sure. ANd once you get that fresh air in there, keep it moving around. I use wall mounted 16" oscillating fans. I built these neat hanger things that allow me to raise fans as plant grows to keep them blowing between plant canopy and my lights.

I have a 10" Vortex bringing in air thru a housing I built that holds 2 Hepa FIlters, then I have an 8" Vortex suckin air thru carbon filter and exhausting into attic. My plants grow so green and lush that at times they look artificial.


When I tell you this, you are going to think I am nuts, but I am lucky to smoke a d00b a week, if that. I grow the shit to give away and to kill my time. All my friends are stoners from back in our day, and I keep everyone supplied very well. Hell I got two cases of quart jars, and there aint tomato's in em sittin in the basement cured. And when I say friends, I am talking about mid to late 40's folks. Folks who know how to keep yap shut and enjoy what they get for free types.

This is a hobby for me, and thats all it is. I would NEVER sell one gram to ANYONE. I dont need to sell it either. Gave my two boys my business 2 years ago, and I hung it up at 45. I still work/consult on as needed basis. Always loved my veggie garden and gardening in general, so I started reading up on this and it sparked an interst, so here I am.

I am probably one of the few you will ever see on this board that grew for the first time in hydro. I have never grown a plant in soil. Keep mothers in Coco.

I came here and a few other sites plus googled til the wee hours of the morning for about 6-7 months before I cracked a seed. I said to self "self if others can grow in hydro, you most certainly can grow in hydro, too"............LOL

After this crop I am going to stop til fall I think. Longer days, outside garden, lawn care, BBQ's, etc commin up. And I certainly will not run out I have a 24'x36' pavilion I built in my yard (11 acres) that we party and BBQ in. Thats the home of my Southern Yankee 6' smoker. Love to meet up with some of you guys some day and throw a big ole BBQ for all of us. I got about 2 or so weeks to harvest, so I believe this is it for now.

And 'Hound, I'll share my notes with ya, but if you take generator, you gotta take old lady, too. See, its a package deal type thing............LMAO I kid about her bitchin an all, but she is a sweetheart. She thinks I'm nuts and do goofy things, but after 23 years shes used to it.

BTW, dont worry, I'll be in daily to see whats up and offer any help that I can. I am not running off and joining the circus, just going to be doing other things with my time for now. WIll keep my mothers going and then next fall I can root clones and be right back in the action.

Well, gorgeous day here, think I am going to get Harley out and take a ride to my favorite watering hole and have a few cold ones.

Keep em green guys,
b0nger