Grow 4 .. First Auto Grow

[newbutoldgrower75]

Hello everyone.

I started my first Auto grow on the 19/07 by starting 11 seeds using the paper towel method, 3 x Skywalker Kush 4 x Chimp Glue from Synergy Automatic Genetics, and 4 x Gelato #41( inhouse genetics) from the Australian seedbank I ordered all my seeds from for grow 3/4. As you might know, if you have seen the post, I was a little impatient when only 3 seeds had germinated within 48hrs lol. I now have 4 x G#41 2 x Chimp Glue broken ground and 2 x Skywalker Kush just breaking ground. All seeds were put into Eazy Plugs using pH'd water once they popped, and the other 3 seeds that hadn't popped were put into plugs to germinate as well on the 24/07. When seeds were put into plugs they were moved to a small tent under a T5 light.
25/07 Transplanted 5 x seedlings( 3 x G#41 2 x CG) into final pots(3gallon fabric), watered seedlings in with pH'd water. Pots have been put into a 4x4 tent under a 400w HPS light at 30" from pot rim for the moment.

The setup I will be using is a 4x4x6.5 Budbox Pro white tent, ISO-MAX 150mm exhaust fan with Can-Lite GT 600s filter and insulated/uninsulated ducting, plus 2 x oscillating fans. I will be using one of the 600w HID dimmable digital ballasts and white batwing reflectors from my first grow. The globes I have are a Phillips 400w SON-T AGRO(currently using) for the first 3-4 weeks of veg, and a Crown Lighting 600w HPS for the rest of the grow. I will be using a flood tray for the pots to go in, more on that shortly.

I have a couple of questions about my setup if any of you good people have the time to offer some advice/help.

Q.1 is a lighting question. From the research I have done I have decided (not really decided haha) to start with a 400w globe, seems like the going thing to do. Do you think the SON-T AGRO 400w HPS, which is suppose to have a 30% increase in the blue content of the spectrum (added xenon) which ensures more leafy, vegetative growth is achieved, will efficient for the first 3 to weeks of vegetation? Or would this globe in either 400w or 620w be better? Pro Grow 6K SE Metal Halide Cool White Globe,620W, 6K, SE, MH Cool White Lamp - Just Hydroponics - Pro Grow Lamps which is suppose to be great for seedlings and right up to week 3 of veg. After researching I am thinking that the MH will be great for the first 3 to 4 weeks of the grow, but would like the opinion from you good people before I spend more money. Also would the 600w MH 6K be more efficient than the 400w MH 6K in the 4x4 tent?

Q.2 is about my setup. I asked a friend to grab some things for me from the hydro shop. One of the things was just trays and pot raisers to put under the fabric pots, so they weren't sitting in any run off at any time. He came back with a flood tray to fit the whole bottom of the tent, Which ended up being cheaper than getting the trays and raisers, bonus:big-smile:. The flood tray has a slight lean in it so the run off goes to one side. It also has built in raisers and channels for the pots, so plants wont be sitting in any run off. I also have the tray sitting on pieces of framing wood underneath to keep the tray off the cold floor, its winter here.
My problem is trying to place the lower oscillating fan properly because of the sides of the flood tray, refer to pics. Would one fan above the pots be sufficient for the moment if there is air circulation still happening between pots? Should I use both fans above pots, one higher than the other? Or maybe cut the side down on the tray some so I can lower fan more towards the floor?

Thank you everyone for your time, and look forward to any advice I can get on the two questions, well really multiple questions lol. First 4x4 tent. Cheers

 

[SoOrbudgal]

It's 12:17 here in Oregon i'm hungry so i'll make it quick LOL gonna take on #2 question. Love the setup, i would not let it blow on the little sprouts unless it's real easy breeze otherwise to me the placements will work fine. I'd keep that lower one right about where it is for mature plants. And that flood floor i've wondered about those? Unless you really flood the pots which you don't need to I think it will do fine. A little run off won't hurt being suckup/wick through cloth pot will be ok my one concern would be airflow under pot. But you'll just have to see. Then you may want to put 2x2 sticks under pots. I like the set up but don't know nothin much about those lights.

 

[UndergroundFarmer]

An "elevator" (as they call them in the grow shops here) under each pot will help keep them from reabsorbing waste water. They resemble round plastic trivets. I'd keep that lower fan turned off or directed along the tent wall until your plants are big enough to do some defoliation. Just avoid windburn and they should do fine.

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thank you once again for your help, I'm posting improvements that I have made to the tent in the last couple of days .. thanks to yours and UndergroundFarmer advice. It would be great to get your opinion on it, have used your 2x2 idea🙂. Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thanks buddy for the advice, really appreciate it. I know the plant raisers/elevators that you are talking about, they are great. Problem is the ones I can get locally are expensive, need 9 of them, especially the fancy ones that direct the run off where you want it. Can get cheaper ones online but then have to wait a couple of weeks, the fun of living in Australis haha. I have Improvised using 2x2 bits of wood as suggested by SoOrbudgal, and has turned out great so far.
Thanks for the fan idea as well mate, used it to improve the tent in the last couple of days, check pictures below shortly if you have the time. Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Hey everyone.

After receiving some advice from SoOrbudgal and UndergroundFarmer I have changed a couple of things in my 4x4 tent. First I cut 6 2'x2' bits of wood into 40' lengths, then wrapped and stapled left over panda film from my first grow around them, thought that might make them easier to keep clean. I now have all pots sitting on the lengths of wood across the top of flood tray. I have a wet vac for run off extraction when needed. I have also moved the bottom fan lower and turned it on, running along the wall only at the moment. Also changed the globe to a old school 600w MH, it was the only MH globe they had in stock. I started the light 40' from pot rim for 24hrs and have now lowered it to 36'. All seedlings seem to have responded well to the new light so far.

By the time I woke up on the 26/07 all 3 Skywalker Kush had broken ground:smile:. I took the cups off them and let them adjust to the environment for 24hrs and planted them in their final pots the next morning. As the other 2 Chimp Glue seeds haven't popped, I have planted the 4th Gelato#41 seedling in the 9th pot. So the grow will start with 4 x Gelato#41, 3 x Skywalker Kush and 2 x Chimp Glue. I'm just glad that I got to start the grow with 9 seedlings like I wanted.

I have been alternating feedings with pH'd water then one with light nutrients. The nutrients/additives (Professors Nutrients) I have been using are Go Roots 0.25ml/L Go Green 2ml/L and A+B 0.7ml/L. This gives me a EC of 0.6. I am only giving around 100ml when feeding/watering around each seedling with a spoon, and slightly misting the medium closer to the rim of the pot when it dries out. I plan on doing this for around 7 to 10 days, does that sound right to you .. the good people of this forum?

Thank you for your time, and look forward to any advice or feedback on the grow. Cheers.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I have no knowledge of those ferts/nutes but your set up looks good. I also don't have experience with MH lamps but love the raised area.

 

[UndergroundFarmer]

Nice job! DiY done right makes me smile.

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thanks buddy. First real DIY since I built the tent from the first grow. Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thank you SoOrbudgal .. your idea saved me some money that I can put towards a new light for this tent🙂. After another 40+ hours researching, maybe a slight exaggeration there lol, I think I'm back on the right path with my nutes and light height. Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Hey everyone.

Just a quick update on Grow 4. The Gelato#41 and Chimp Glue seedlings broke ground 1 week 1 day ago (1/08 here today) and the Skywalker Kush are 6 days since breaking ground. All plants seem to have responded well to the nutrients and the MH light, Skywalker Kush seedlings stretched a bit. The nutrients are still being mixed to EC 0.6, and will slowly raise it to 0.8 over the next week, will only use pH'd water every second watering until they adjust to a stronger feeding. From yesterday(31/07) all plants will have a feeding/watering every second day to runoff, approximately 1L per plant. The height of the light is now at 33" from tops of seedlings, and will lower to 30" over the next few days watching for a reaction from seedlings. Temps have been ok sitting at around 23°C during lights on, humidity has been a little low sitting between 48% and 52%. But weather is slowly improving here.

I got a new watering device today to make life easier for me and my plants(in pic below). As I have had a couple of operations/procedures done in the last 12+ months on my back/neck, I thought this will help take some strain off my back watering the seedlings/autos in this tent while I heal. As I have access to all three openings of the tent, I can sit down on a chair and just lean over slightly and water. Love the cup thing on the end as well, can direct the nutrients and not get any on the leaves.
Had my first casualty in the tent today as well, my temp/humidity monitor decided to go for a swim in the runoff while watering this morning:nah: lol, check picture. Currently in rice trying to dry it out, otherwise its another trip to the hydro shop tomorrow.

I have uploaded some pics taken today of the seedlings, and the new toy I got today. Any help/advice on how these seedlings are progressing, and the grow in general, would greatly appreciated. Cheers.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

You are freakin rocking the start of the grow, well done great use of figuring out ways to do your grow that works best for you. Anything in my book that follows the basic ways of keeping a plant healthy, then a new grower like you comes along and shows others simple easy ways of using less cost materials but still using the right methods. Folks like yourself just keep figuring it out " what will work best for them" and do it.

 

[Farmbuck]

I dig your set-up my dear grower friend

 

[Smoklahoma]

I think it looks outstanding! No advise for your babies they look better than mine did. I put 2 of those trays in my room when I first built it for soil. All we grew was bugs. Took out the tables, left the trays when I switched to hydo. Seems easier to keep everything sanitized.

 

[Puglover1]

I dropped my Caliber IV hygrometer in a basin of water, did the rice/baggie thing overnight. I did the salt test a few days later, it was spot on. Nice idea, the cup on the watering spout. Tent looks great.

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thank you for your comment SoOrbudgal .. it has made my otherwise average week .. and put a smile on my face. To get a compliment like that from a grower like you means a lot to me, more than you probably realise. With the help of you and others on here, and the GWE website, Im starting to understand more about what a plant needs and when it needs it. But growing Autos for the first time is still quite daunting to me .. no matter how much help/advice I get and research I do lol. Thanks again for your encouraging words..cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thanks buddy .. appreciate the compliment. Still jealous of your grow room though mate .. 10ft ceiling(drooling emoji). Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thank you Puglover1. The cup is working great on the sprayer, definitely getting less nutrients on the leaves when feeding haha😉. The tent is getting there, hoping to update the light by next grow, maybe sooner hopefully. Just used the lights from first grow and updated the globes.
My Hygrometer survived, the rice worked a treat. Would like to know more about the salt test when you have the time, never heard of it and very interested. Cheers

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Thank you mate .. appreciate those kind words. I think the trays are a great idea and less work when it comes to extracting the run off. I agree, does seem easier when it comes to Cleaning/sanitizing the tent. How's your grow going, get on top of the DWC problem?

 

[newbutoldgrower75]

Hey everyone.

I first want to point out that I have made a mistake in the above post about feeding frequency, it should be every second day not everyday. I apologise for the mistake and will edit it once I finish this post, its been a hectic couple of weeks.

I don't have too much say about the last few days as I have been away for tests/scans, rehabilitation etc. My roommate has been looking after my grows while I have been away, and he has done pretty well in this tent as far as I can see. The plants have grown and don't seem to have any deficiencies etc .. not like my other grow tent (refer to grow 3). My roommate has been feeding them nutrients at an EC 0.8 every second day .. I hope haha. They are looking healthy and I think are growing well, Gelato#41 and Chimp glue are 14 days since breaking ground + Skywalker Kush are 12 days old. The plants are starting to look a little pale but healthy, so will start upping the nutes to EC 1.0 from tomorrow. The light is at 30" from canopy and will lower it another 2 inches over the next few days watching for any signs of light stress. The Skywalker Kush seemed to have stretched a bit more than other strains but seem to be settling down a bit. I have also noticed something strange on two of the plants, thinking its genetics. Can you see what I'm talking about(check out pics below)? Humidity and temps having been too bad .. HIGH temp 24.7°C humidity 63% LOW temp 17.3° humidity 45%.

Any advice/feedback would be appreciated as always. Cheers.