First Time Grower - overcoming mistakes

[TomDaDon90]

They already started to flower, so I switched them to 12/12hr.
And total darkness when off. So I hope they double in size.
One is Sativa 17" Tall other Indica is 16" Tall. And I didn't top them or LST them, so they both have a bunch of small buds on the middle and lower branches and one big one on top.
I hope to get at least maybe 2 ozs from each flower...
I don't know this is my first time, next time I will LST and top them.
I'm going all from nothing so this is all new to me.
But in doing good so far.
Just learning a lot as I go along with this.

So the small buds will be like popcorn nugs I guess?

[Bluey]

The best buds are popcorn nugs. When you grow huge buds, especially the main cola, with a near perfect grow, you'll find as you break up the cola to remove stems for jarring, that they are exactly that, popcorn sized rock hard little nugs. You won't get them like that with a pure sativa but the more indica in the plant the tighter they will be. Sativas tend to be more airy to help deal with the hotter climates.

The ones down low on the plant are more airy and fluffy. Mostly because of less light and just the way the plant has evolved.

[Rootsruler]

The lime green coloring in your leaves tells me that they need a higher strength nutrient solution. Do you have a way to measure PPM's?

Regardless of what the bottle says, I try and feed at or a bit above what the manufacturer says in veg. In flower I go the opposite and go lighter than the manufacturer suggests. My PPM's in Veg when the plants are beyond their 6th node is anywhere from 1000 to 1200 ppm depending on what the plant is telling me.

The plant has vigorous growth so the lime color is telling me that it is growing faster than what you are providing it. I would increase the grow base beyond what you have been feeding it currently and see what the plant tells you.

[Sperocles]

Thanks, Rootsruler. I do not have a way to measure PPM's. I'll have to do a web search to understand what is needed to measure PPM's and how to do it. In your last sentence you say "increase the grow base"; what exactly does that mean? Is that referring to one of the nutrients? I'm currently following the Fox Farms Soil Feeding Schedule (but only at half strength), which means I am giving them Big Bloom (1.5tsp/gal), Grow Big (1 tsp/gal) and Tiger Bloom (0.5 tsp/gal) nutrients every other watering.

[Rootsruler]

Grow base is whatever fertilizer you are using for the vegetative stage of your grow. I use a grow base called FloraNova from General Hydroponics. They also have a flower phase base. I call them bases because I add my supplements around the bases I use.

To measure PPM you will need a dedicated meter. I've been growing for awhile now so I use a more pro type PPM and pH meter from a company called BlueLab. Please DO NOT use they cheap Amazon pens they sell although with these tariffs they may not be so cheap anymore. Another meter recommendation would be from a company called Apera. Apera has an all in one meaning they combine both the PPM and pH functions in one pen. The sensor tips can also be replaced unlike the BlueLab meters but with proper care your meters should last for years.

[Bluey]

Post some pics please

[TomDaDon90]

I did not top or trim them.
And I'm using bottle water
I turned them on 12/12hr 4 days ago.

[Bluey]

Give them more light if you can Tom. They look a bit light on for that.

I'm guessing they are autos?

[TomDaDon90]

How far away can I keep my Vivosun 100Watt led away from them?
Because this is all the light I can use Now.
They are about 18" away from them now.
But yeah I'm pretty much stuck with this light for now...

[TomDaDon90]

Yes they are both autos

[TomDaDon90]

Actually they are both photo.
I bought them as baby clones.

[TomDaDon90]

So I probably will maybe get about a ounce or two, too expect?
From each

[Bluey]

Well you thought they started to flower on a veg cycle? Were you giving them 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark?

They look like clones. Not sure why they would flower unless there is something wrong with your light svhefule ie., a dodgy timer. Are they now getting 12 hours of continued darkness?

[Bluey]

You'll probably get within 12 inches of the top of the plant as it matures. Make small adjustments thete and watch the top leaves closely fir signs of light stress.

[Bluey]

Next grow grow from seed. They are easier to manage when it comes to training them

[TomDaDon90]

All right Cool.
That's what I needed to know. Is as it matures I can keep it 12" from the light. But yeah that's good because I have the flower stand they are on now on two 3" bricks. So it makes it 6" taller. And I can probably do about 3 more bricks.
Yes next time I will buy some auto seeds, they have a seed store here.
Thanks for answering my question. "Bluey"

[Bluey]

Get some ratchet straps so you can easily adjust the height of your light. Your plants are still growing taller and with minimal light they tend to grow taller than ideal.

[TomDaDon90]

Yeah I have something setup now where I can raise the light if needed.
But darn I didn't know they grow taller with minimal light.
If I would knew all this is have bigger light or flipped them a lot earlier and bee LST training and top them. But I didn't know any of this when I first started, like a month and half ago.
And I have them on shoe box and a book for extra height I can always take away whichll give me about 8" .
But yeah thanks for all the information everyone has given me here.
I learned a lot and know what to read now to know more.

[TomDaDon90]

On Left Cinderella 99 and right indica Hollywood.
But I can always raise the flower stand a good foot or two if needed, and the plants are on shoe boxes and books right now. So I can adjust a lot when time comes....Other then that how much do y'all think I'll get? And how much bigger will they both become?

[TomDaDon90]

Just raised them both up a little....