NewbieGrowMan's First Grow (Micro PC Grow Journal)

[NewbieGrowMan]

What's up guys! I tried to update an old thread I created and make it into a journal but that is a no go. So I am starting a new one. I love the community here and want every ones help with my first grow. So here is some quick info on my set up. Both plants are just random bag seeds and are the same age. One is smaller because I damaged the roots and stunted its growth in a transplant. Now on to the set up. I have a computer case grow box with about 80w of CFL light on 2 plants. I plan to upgrade the wattage to 92w for the full flowering. I know I need more lights but this is my first grow and I don't have a lot of money to spend. They are currently on a 20-4 light cycle. I read so many things about my plants needing darkness and some people said do 24/7 light so i compromised and gave them some dark but still more light than the usual 18-6 schedule. The case has an intake and exhaust fan and the temperature seems to stay anywhere from the high 70s to the mid 80s. I think the temps are a little high and my humidity is probably low. Check out the pics and tell me what you guys think. I am working on a carbon filter that will restrict the exhaust and probably cause temps to go even higher. I might have to add another exhaust fan and a fan inside just to circulate air .I originally started my seeds in a cheap soil from a dollar store that contained aged bark and sand. I found out that isn't the best mixture. It didn't drain well at all and seemed to be very dense. I found some organic violet potting soil at my local garden shop. The name of the soil Is Espoma Organic African Violet Potting Mix. It has limestone in it and lots of peat moss and some perlite. Seems like a much better soil. I am using my faucet water which has a pH around 7.2 and the run off is 6.2 so the limestone must be working. I starting giving them 1/4 strength MG all-purpose at the 2 week mark. I have also done a quick 3D model of my computer case setup. I thought it might help other people in making there own, so I will add a picture of that too! I feel like I am forgetting something. I am just going to link you guys to the other thread for the seedling photos. The photos were taken when they were 15 days old, they are actually 17 days old today.

http://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/growing-community/6664-help-first-time-grower-and-plants-look-weird-6-days-since-germ/page1

I have since covered the clear pots because i started to see algae grow, will that get rid of it or do I need to take further action? Also I am surprised at the bushiness of these plants, did i just get lucky with my bag seeds? Thanks for any input guys and gals of the community!!! I look forward to sharing my progress with everyone!

[NewbieGrowMan]

I totally forgot to mention that today I topped the larger ones 6th node and fimmed the smaller ones 5th node ...Okay they need some names... any suggestions? I will upload some new photos of them tomorrow. The leaves seem to be very droopy to me. Is that normal? Also when should I start some defoliation/LST? Is it too late for LST?

[Jibblerjoe]

Plants look good. LST them they will love it

[Green75]

Looking very good indeed...Good job....time for some training now huh...

[NewbieGrowMan]

Big update I suppose. Kind of confused here. I started 12/12 light almost a couple of weeks ago and still no signs of pistils or anything in the nodes. For some reason they look like they are starting to bud lol. Am i just crazy? I did let them get some light when they were in the dark the other day and haven't been super careful about that. I don't think i have any light leaks, not anything major at least. Would I see signs of sex in the nodes before the colas begin to form? First grow so I have no clue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Charlie]

Looks to me there baby flowers starting to form.

[Wattze]

I hope other people jump on this, but from what I understand, you gotta have absolute darkness during that 12/12, or else she could potentially never flower, or even worse, hermie on ya.. my baby has been in flower for about 10 days now, and I saw signs of pistils after about 6 days.. granted every strain and setup is different! They look like Bette getting on the right track lol

[NewbieGrowMan]

Thanks for the replies guys. Like Charlie said, they look to me like baby flowers starting but there are like no pistils on the plant. It looks like there might be some in the little flower but it could be something else white and stringy. Zoom into the best lit picture and tell me what you think. I haven't disturbed there darkness for at least 3-4 days now, so if they still don't show sex or the "baby flowers" don't develop in the next few days then i know i have a light leak. I will try to keep everyone updated.

[NewbieGrowMan]

I don't wont the back track here or confuse anyone but here are some photos between my last two post. I didn't get around to uploading these when i took them. A pic with the carbon filter and just some I took a few days after starting the journal.

[insomniaczzz]

You can get rid of the yellow leaves. Your plants have grown nicely since your original pictures of sprouts a month ago. But I have some concerns for you. Where is this runoff happening. Onto the yellow tray? Do you remove the excess water after runoff? Part of me thinks maybe a second topping is in order instead of just the LST, unless they are already in flower. I see you have them raised up for now, but even after you lower, you may have a problem with them growing into the lights Just keep LSTing new growth. Don't know why you had algae growing on top of soil, that seems odd, unless the soil was constantly wet. Also, how big are pots? Hope they do not outgrow them.

Anyway, I think you can baby them along and hopefully both are female. It does look like preflower. I'm not saying anything is wrong, but your plants do seem to be having an add growth pattern. Just my humble opinion.

[NewbieGrowMan]

I pinched off the deadest leaves. I left the others that hadn't fully died on them, i figured they could use them until the shrivel. Yes I know they have grown so much. I take them out when I water them and the run off is in a bowl under them and is poured off a few times during watering. The plants drain and drip for about 30 seconds and then they go back on the tray. Its just there to catch any excess water. You think i should top the larger one again? I topped it once and it split into 2 main colas, and I FIMed the small one. It split into 4 main colas. Its too late to do anymore topping as they have started to flower. I am almost certain it is. Although there are no pistils anywhere else on the plants but they are still making some on the bud sites. Maybe it's because they are so immature sexually and its only focusing on the main bud sites. Algae was growing on the inside of the pot because they were clear. My pots are the bottoms of 2.5 liter bottles. So I just guess they are about 1 liter pots. I have since covered them and no more algae. I have seen people use the bottom of 20 oz bottles and grow them bigger than mine. I think they will be just fine in the pots i have. Its basically the largest I can use anyways. Here are some pics I just took. I am pretty sure those are baby buds!!! Also I have a sheet of plexi glass between the plants and the lights, so they can get really close and also i can always pull them down more with LST. I will have to start tying down the small one once it really starts to stretch. I want a pretty even little canopy. I am super excited guys. Also my carbon filter is working and no smell, although this is just mid bag seed so not too danky!

[rockman]

First grows are so exciting, right! But then again, the thrill hasn't diminished much on my subsequent ones!😊 Very nice.Newbie! 🌱

[NewbieGrowMan]

Thanks rockman! Can you or anyone with experience guesstimate my end yield from the current photos? I am hoping for at least half an oz. Is that possible with my space and plant size? I topped and fimed the plants for more main colas.

[rockman]

I'm not too much of an expert on final weights, since I have not yet had that concern (don't use a whole lot of weed in my relatively low daily doses), and have never weighed my bounty. It also depends on your remaining grow time and how large the colas get with your particular strains. Think positive and maybe you'll get enough to fill 2 quart jars full, which when dried could be approximately 2 ounces. I'm routing for you..great luck on the very exciting conclusion to this grow...keep us updated! 😊🌻🌿

[NewbieGrowMan]

Thanks! I would be happy with just one full quart jar ! I will take some more pictures when the buds start to develop more.

[NewbieGrowMan]

I'm not saying anything is wrong, but your plants do seem to be having an add growth pattern. Just my humble opinion.

May I ask what makes them seem to be growing in an odd pattern? Is it the shape or node development? I am just curious since I am a new grower, I don't really know what its growth pattern should look like.

[NewbieGrowMan]

Now we're getting somewhere I finally got my pH test paper! Ph for both water with and without nutes is around 6.4-6.8, so i think its all good. Sadly I do not have any bloom nutes, so I will continue to use the MG all-purpose at either 3/4 or full strength. They have been getting 3/4 strength every other watering for a little over a week and seem to be loving it. These nutes have an NPK of 24-8-16. Will this be okay for flowering? I know it's not the best with all of that nitrogen. The larger one is a nice green, while its sister is a little lighter and less developed. It has been behind the entire grow, but its keeping up with big sister. I have removed a few old fan leaves to expose some bud sites. It looks like I am going to get a pretty even canopy. I wanted to ask this a few days ago but I decided to research some and I am still confused. Can I still defoliate or is it too late now? They are trying to grow so bushy and there are so many small nodes starting that aren't getting bigger because they don't get any light. I want my plants to focus on the main colas. Any advice would be appreciated. I read about extreme defoliation, and know Green75 is a huge believer in it. I saw the three plant experiment idea and I would love to see the real difference defoliation can make in final yields. I have popped off 2 seed looking things in some upper nodes of big sister. Maybe I should have waited for them to develop more but I didn't want to take the chance. I think it might be trying to hermie on me but I don't know. These plants have had some heat stress and i think some pH issues, and some light in their dark period, plus its bag seed from some mid grade. So i will not be surprised if it is a herm but fingers crossed. What do you guys think? The photos were taken last night when lights came on at midnight, and I included one of little sister tied down before she turned back up towards the lights.

[OzBud]

I wouldn't suggest using that for flowering, the Nitrogen is way too high.

[NewbieGrowMan]

I have toyed with the idea of doubling the nute strength but putting the pH to where the plant cant absorb the Nitrogen and it still gets the higher amount of P and K. Has anyone thought about this. Is it possible? I will check the nutrient to pH absorption ranges and get back with everyone. Nevermind, I just checked and seems like if you block N you block P and K as well.

[kingfish]

I suggest you give them nothing but PHd water for a while. Notice how dark green your leaves are ? Too much N. The next thing you know, they will all look like the first picture.