First Time Grower - overcoming mistakes

[Sperocles]

5/15 UPDATE: new photos added, see page 4, comment 54
UPDATE: see comment #5 below for update and new topic of concern.

I thought I was growing autos and now learning that they are photo-period strains. They've gotten a little too tall for my indoor grow to start the flowering stage. I was thinking I might top them, wait a week or two so they're not stressed, and then change my light schedule. I have a 2x4 Vivosun setup with VS2000 LED, inline exhaust fan, and 1 circulating fan. Any thoughts on my idea or other suggestions?

[1toke]

Got a photo? Maybe you could tie them down AND top them.

[Allenpro]

What is the strain and how tall are they? Your idea will work but I prefer the tie down idea or throwing a net over them if you have the foot print. If you top them do you have room to clone the cuttings?

[golfnrl]

Hello Sperocles Welcome aboard. What others have already asked? How far along are your plants in Veg? Give us some of your grow details. Strain? Grow medium? etc. Is this your first grow? Generally speaking your plan sounds solid. If your plants are healthy and growing well you may only need to wait a few days after you top the plants, instead of the two weeks. If you haven't already, go over to the GWE web site and look up how to top an MJ plant. I don't want to insult you with the details if you have experience.

[Sperocles]

Thanks everyone. Despite my tardy reply I do appreciate your help. Spent some time on photos this morning to document my progress in hopes this helps. Based on your replies I topped my plants and performed a lot more LST followed by changing to 12/12 light schedule two days later. I think the grow height issue is not much concern any longer. Now my concern/issue is the leaf yellowing. The guidance I'm seeing has so many possible causes for yellowing, it's hard to figure out which is the culprit. My guess is heat as I'm having a very tough time getting the temperature down, but my inconsistency/uncertainty with nutrients may also be contributing. I think the flowers are looking really good now but I worry about the coming weeks if the heat stays so high. I've been using VivoSun GrowHub for last week and temp is averaging 79.4 (high with 100% light intensity is around 85 and low during dark hours is about 73.5). I have a 2x4x5 VivoSun tent, VS2000 LED, 4-inch duct fan, and two 6" circulating fans. Plants are in Fox Farm Ocean Forest/Happy Frog mix and 5-gallon pots. I'm using Fox Farm liquid nutrients (Big Bloom, Grow Big and Tiger Bloom). Not sure what else to do about the heat other than lower the light intensity. Thanks in advance for your thoughts or suggestions.

[Allenpro]

Looks like you got it going on, can I ask why water only for 2 weeks before flower? Also I dont advise moving plants from inside to out and back again. The one time I did that the war I had with Spider Mites was like the opening scene to Saving Private Ryan and I put them in the shower before I put them in the tent. That was my first and only hermi in 13 years of growing inside?

[Sperocles]

Thanks Allenpro. Only water for those 2 weeks because I thought I may have been providing too much nutrients. I was giving full strength per bottle directions and came upon numerous postings saying to only give half strength. Plants were starting to yellow as you can see in the photos on April 1. So, thought I would/should give them a break from nutrients. Moving one plant out was throwing in the towel on a plant not doing well and running out of room. Once it started flowering I got greedy and wanted to save it so moved it back in. Days are only getting longer so figured it needed to be in tent for 12 hours darkness or it might revert to veg stage. What are your thoughts on my temperatures? Will running that high reduce or jeopardize my harvest? Should I be concerned about how yellow the leaves are now? A pH meter I stick in the soil reads real high also (above 7) but both water and nutrient mixes are adjusted to 6.5 each time. Not sure how else I can lower pH at the roots if the meter is reading accurately.

[Allenpro]

Ok, that makes sense, it was sort of a flush. I grow in Hydro, Water or Coco coir but I know a soil grow needs a longer flush, the cool thing about Hydro is the flush at any point is almost immediate after a res change. 79.4 ° is kind of high but not devistating at all, I have had grows finish at 85° and they were fine just keep an eye on it and think about adding a portable AC unit if you need it. I try to make all my inside grows end no later that mid june and I will be pushing that a bit this grow

[Bluey]

Your little bit of yellowing looks a bit like a mag deficiency. It's not bad and the top looks pretty healthy.

Mag def are typical of coco grows but do pop up in soil from time to time.

so I wouldnt change much. The damage looks old. Its typically too low pH.

Looking good. You look like youre on track for a good grow

[Sperocles]

Thanks, Bluey. Appreciate your feedback.

[Allenpro]

I agree completly but what you have to figure out is it lack Mag or is something blocking it. That is why started checking the Sap PH to kmow for sure. Not that I am recommending that but I have a brown thumb and I am an engineer so I need to collect good data

[Bluey]

It could have been pH issues. It normally is. If it was too many nutes you'd see some pretty bad nute burn. Typically.

When using liquid nutes your ratios are fixed, so that's a tough one to work out re a blockage.

[TomDaDon90]

Okay so I have a question. I just raised my plant stand so I can grow up to 48" which my Cinderella 99 flowers will get to tops. I'm wondering how long would I have to keep her in veg stage until she's big enough to switch. Like should I switch when she's 24" . Because now I put some bricks underneath her flower stand and made it much taller/bigger. So and I'm moving them downstairs in my parents house with in a timer they lights. And I'm putting like a clothes dresser like cage thing in front of my flower stand so the cats will not get them. But the sativa flower I'm wanting to grow should I switch her at 12/12hr when she's about 24" or bigger is my main ? Thanks

[TomDaDon90]

[Bluey]

My sativas go about 3 times the size.

Work on spreading them out and flattening them. Once your area is just about covered flip them and let them go upward once your floor space is filled. Use the tutorials for LST & mainlining for highest yields for photoperiod.

[TomDaDon90]

So my Cinderella 99 flower can get up to 3x the size of it now, and that's 17" she is Now. So possibly 3x the size of the 17" she is Now?
Just wondering when I should flip her? That is all so maybe when she's about 34" ? Or 30" ?
Or maybe 25"?
I really do not know.? Yeah so Im read the lst and all I can to find out.

[TomDaDon90]

I was thinking about it she's 17" Now. So 3x that will be exactly 48" her biggest she can get. So should I grow her to 35" then switch so she'll get to 48" tall. ? I don't know., or when should I switch her to 12/12hr?

[TomDaDon90]

And how long will it take for her to double her size she is now?

[Bluey]

Two to three weeks from flipping it will stop stretching. You'll be double by then.

[TomDaDon90]

Okay so I can wait 3 weeks until like June 1st, then flip her so she'll be done by like 2 months. Think I should do that.

[Bluey]

They look a good size to flip now, so I'd be stretching them out using LST and then flip.

[TomDaDon90]

Okay so I'm a dedicate this whole next 7 to 10 days in Lst training.
I have string to bend them. And I will do that for 7 to 10 days then flip them. I guess. Right?

[Bluey]

Maybe wont need that long as you haven't topped them.

[TomDaDon90]

Maybe 2 weeks...?

[Bluey]

Up to you. But don't need more than a few days. Flip once spread out.