150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......

[southpaw]

why dont any of you guys run your 150s vertical? i cant understand this, sure theres a few but most of u guys i guess dont want to maximize your yeilds?

I was just coming in here to ask if anybody has taken the plunge.

I don't have the space or DIY skills to go for a full on stadium set up, but I'm thinking I might try going vert anyhow next time around. My current reflector is a POS. I'm thinking I could fit four decent sized ladies into my space, and probably a couple of beer cups also.

Does a 150 have enough light penetration depth to make this worth it? I'm not sure if budsites on the "outside" aren't going to be much better off than the usual popcorn sites you get growing horizontally.

 

[Trying2learn]

AK-48 closet grow

AK-48 closet grow

Hi guys

I'm posting in this thread to get your opinion on something that is an important matter to me.

I live with one other guy and we have a little closet-grow going on.
In one closet we have a 150W HPS with a yellow/red spectrum (yellow glow) and under it are two AK-48 plants in soil grown from seed under that same lamp.
These two ladies are now about 2 weeks into flowering. They are both about 1 meter tall (3.3 feet). They have already taken up almost all of what space they had available to them to begin with.

Ok. In another we have 3 clones that we took just before we put their mother into flowering. They are also under a 150 HPS, but a different kind, with a blue spectrum (white glow).
They are now about 2 weeks old.

My flatmate desperately wants to move one of the mother plants into the closet where the clones are now and continue flowering there and move the clones somewhere else, maybe to a guy we know that has experience with growing. (oh yeah, I forgot to mention it, this is kind of my first grow).
He thinks that the plants don't have nearly enough space for them to be able to grow during flowering and produce decent amount of buds.

Now, I'm not really sure this is what I want to do. Putting the clones into foster care with this guy my flatmate mentioned just seems too risky for me, so I told him no.

After arguing quite a lot about this, he now wants to just make another grow-closet in our flat for the clones and move one of the mothers to the old clone-closet.

Now, I like this plan a whole lot better than the first one. The problem is, in convincing me, is that we both are new to this and my plan was to finish these first two plants and see how well it turns out. I want to see how much weed we get from doing it the way we are now and test the quality of it, if we are unsatisfied after trying it this way, we could change the plan.
I just want to experience this first hand and build on my own knowledge so that I can become a better grower in the future. By changing everything in the middle of this process I think it will be harder to learn from it. That is why I told my flatmate I didn't like to change anything for now.
He's now really mad at me for not wanting to do it his way.

I just wanted to let you hear my problem and hope you can give my some advice on what to do.

My major concerns are:
How well will a plant 2 weeks into flowering adjust to being put under another kind of light (from a red/yellow spectrum to a blue spectrum) with same light schedule 12/12?
Now the clones did look like shit for about one week after we put them under the new lamp. Is it ok to put them under a new lamp just 1 week after they have recovered the shock of the very same experience?

Thank you for reading all this and sorry if it's too much drama.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Blue light is better in veg. Red light is better in flower. Both would give you increased lumens and color spectrum.

It's okay to put a 1 week old clone under hid, just don't get the light too close. Once your plants are healthy, you can get the bulb as close as a couple of inches from the plant tips. A fan blowing between the canopy and bulb really helps keep temps in check.

A 150 is good for about 3 square feet. It will penetrate about a foot so your lower buds won't develop well unless you tie the plants down and move the bulb closer in. Some folks trim the lower growth in an effort to get plant sugars closer to the canopy.

I don't blame you for wanting to keep your clones. I wouldn't trust mine with anybody else w/o extenuating circumstances.

 

[StonedRob]

Trying2learn:
HPS = high pressure sodium = yellow/orange light = good for flowering
MH = metal halide = white/blue light = good for vegging

Both of these types of lamps fall under the category of HID (high intensity discharge) lamps. And they both require a ballast (like a driver/engine). BUT some ballasts can only take one type of lamp....either HPS or MH. So its a good idea to check the specs before interchanging the lamps

For clones and seedlings, rather use a CFL (those low energy replacement lights for the 'old skewl' incandescents) or a florescent lamp as the light emitted from these aren't as harsh as a HID lamp. The also easier and cheaper to setup

And yea....the less people who know what you guys are up to the better. to be honest (and im being very paranoid right now it sound like there are ulterior motives behind your friends suggestion to keep it at another guys place. You prob wont get them back....hey...im just being paranoid Or if the sh1t hits the fan....your name will probably be on a list somewhere

You have the right idea about using this grow as a 'benchmark' to base your other grows on. if you change it too much now...you'll never know what actually worked. remember it takes a while for your plants to react to any changes you make to your grow environment....esp with micro grows with novice growers.

if you are worried about yield in your small grow space....the easiest thing you can do is to re-pot before flowering. the larger pot will help the plant to sustain more plant mass above the soil, by growing more roots

 

[Pipedream]

Hey I just got a 150 and I'm wondering if I have to worry about the sudden power usage at the same time in the same room every day?

The simple answer is NO. When running, your 150 HPS uses little more power, if any, than a standard kitchen fluorescent fixture or a 150 watt incandescent reading light. And you don't even think about it when you turn them on, do you?

 

[mriko]

Well, I've decided to leave the CFL club & join the 150w HPS one ! Passing some order and i'm wondering about the heat shield/super spreader.
Is it worth using on a 150w hps ? My growing surface is 0.36 square meter ? Anyone here using it ?

Irie !

 

[Trying2learn]

StonedRob: I'm sorry, I don't know why I said the other lamp was HPS, it is in fact a MH lamp with blue spectrum.

DiscoBiscuit: about the lower buds not being able to delevope fully, couldn't I wait till the top buds are ready and then just cut off that half and keep the lower parts still running so that the lower buds can then get their turn to develope? or does it not work that way at all?

 

[Pipedream]

couldn't I wait till the top buds are ready and then just cut off that half and keep the lower parts still running so that the lower buds can then get their turn to develope?

It would be nice if we could do that, but sadly its not in the books. Once a plant starts its final stages of life, namely: buds ripening, the entire plant goes thru the change at the same time. What you're asking would be akin to an oak tree having its top leaves turn bright orange in the fall but its lower branches retaining their lush green summer glow.

The only alternative would be to have the plant return to a vegatative state by putting it back under 24/0 lighting for a couple of weeks, and then going thru the flowering process all over. A well cared for plant can be carefully re-vegged several times before stresses put it over the edge.

 

[grumblez]

All,

Here is a link to a revegging thread here on ICMAG:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=26290>

I thought since the thread went there I would ask a question.

Is it necessary to cut at the roots as described or can one simply cut her down and put into 24/0 lighting without too much water?

I have one stand-out in my bag seed grow (maybe 2) and I would like to reveg both to clone them and take mothers until I get up the nutz to order some decent genetic material. I would have to deliver them to my house since I am 1 hour away from friends and family, and well...dunno about all that. Although there is an MMJ bill up for passing in my neck of the woods, so soon it may be a moot point.

I am at week 5 of flowering and have a 6 inch cola on an indica pheno and two (since I topped her) 3 inch colas on a sativa pheno. I am hoping the sativa takes off since it is a longer finishing gene pool...I believe she has lots of potential if she fills out (kinda like my wife - VAVOOM).

lol.

Also, is there any guide ala "what to expect when expecting" for growers? I do not know what to expect in development from week to week and would love to have a crystal ball...when does "the stretch" during flowering happen, which weeks typically see the end of bud swelling, how many weeks from full buds with white trichs to 75% amber trichs?, why are my eyes red?, why does my ass hurt?

lol

MERRY F'N DECEMBER FOLKS!

 

[Noobian]

Growing with other people is not a good idea imo. You should just do it yourself and save yourself the troubles and headaches that growing with other people inevitably brings. You guys are already fighting and there aren't even any buds yet! Something to think about for the next time...

 

[komrade komura]

Yeah...gotta agree....grow alone, then share.

I insist on making all of my own mistakes....hahaha.

Also, no witnesses means no plastic, rope, or shovel to deal with....hahaha.

 

[jorgeblen]

Hello all,

Quick question.
I have bought a DR60 (60x60x140cm) and was wondering what is the best wattage for that.
I was thinking if the Sylvania SHP-TS 150W (dual spectrum) would do the job. What do you guys think?

Thanks a lot

 

[2fast4u2]

i would go with a 250w light hung vertical and chicken wire about 8" around it so you can literally double whatever yield you "were" going to get prior to your post.

Even the 150w vertical would produce nice numbers. which ever you think will be easiest to control the environment, with the 250, you would obviously need a little bit more ventilation.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Pipedream, I know it goes against the grain, but I have grown a few plants that I harvested the top ripe buds, while letting the lower buds mature and ripen. Tough to do outdoors unless it is an early indica, but I have done it with several indoors.
I have a big feeling that the amount of light can actually effect the ripening period.

 

[jorgeblen]

i would go with a 250w light hung vertical and chicken wire about 8" around it so you can literally double whatever yield you "were" going to get prior to your post.

Even the 150w vertical would produce nice numbers. which ever you think will be easiest to control the environment, with the 250, you would obviously need a little bit more ventilation.

hmmm sounds nice... but do u mean placing the chicken wire in a V shape, 2 pots each side ?

cheers

 

[sito007]

Hi guys

I'm posting in this thread to get your opinion on something that is an important matter to me.

I live with one other guy and we have a little closet-grow going on.
In one closet we have a 150W HPS with a yellow/red spectrum (yellow glow) and under it are two AK-48 plants in soil grown from seed under that same lamp.
These two ladies are now about 2 weeks into flowering. They are both about 1 meter tall (3.3 feet). They have already taken up almost all of what space they had available to them to begin with.

Ok. In another we have 3 clones that we took just before we put their mother into flowering. They are also under a 150 HPS, but a different kind, with a blue spectrum (white glow).
They are now about 2 weeks old.

My flatmate desperately wants to move one of the mother plants into the closet where the clones are now and continue flowering there and move the clones somewhere else, maybe to a guy we know that has experience with growing. (oh yeah, I forgot to mention it, this is kind of my first grow).
He thinks that the plants don't have nearly enough space for them to be able to grow during flowering and produce decent amount of buds.

Now, I'm not really sure this is what I want to do. Putting the clones into foster care with this guy my flatmate mentioned just seems too risky for me, so I told him no.

After arguing quite a lot about this, he now wants to just make another grow-closet in our flat for the clones and move one of the mothers to the old clone-closet.

Now, I like this plan a whole lot better than the first one. The problem is, in convincing me, is that we both are new to this and my plan was to finish these first two plants and see how well it turns out. I want to see how much weed we get from doing it the way we are now and test the quality of it, if we are unsatisfied after trying it this way, we could change the plan.
I just want to experience this first hand and build on my own knowledge so that I can become a better grower in the future. By changing everything in the middle of this process I think it will be harder to learn from it. That is why I told my flatmate I didn't like to change anything for now.
He's now really mad at me for not wanting to do it his way.

I just wanted to let you hear my problem and hope you can give my some advice on what to do.

My major concerns are:
How well will a plant 2 weeks into flowering adjust to being put under another kind of light (from a red/yellow spectrum to a blue spectrum) with same light schedule 12/12?
Now the clones did look like shit for about one week after we put them under the new lamp. Is it ok to put them under a new lamp just 1 week after they have recovered the shock of the very same experience?

Thank you for reading all this and sorry if it's too much drama.

I would go to a storage center and buy one big box with bar in the middle to hang your cloths when moving. put your clones in that and maybe two 45wt floros hanging from the bar and make that your mother box , if it just for two ppl to smoke it is more then enough space for one mother and a dome for your cuts

It sounds to me like your friend is trying to pull a fast one on you son, feels to me like he has plans that don't involve you if he takes the clones to his friend "the caretaker"

 

[sito007]

ok had a question for the 150w hps club.

I have one 150w hps and a 50w hps , want to know if i get a 250w hps and put all of them together to get a total of 450w of hps would that be better or the same as just having a 400w hps. would it penetrate as a 400 hps? plans to run a grow cycle in a area size of 4ft long x 3ft wide and about 6-1/2ft tall

 

[bengie187]

i have often thought about that but doubleing up on lights to increase lumens but upon thinking about this right here and now a 150 only has a penitration of x and 50 has y and 250 z so theoretically your pentration level wont be increased because the lights not more intence than a 250.....but im just thinking with common sence and prehaps could all wrong.....

 

[grumblez]

I think that a second light would only help. A lot of folks supplement with 6400k spectrum lights to try to simulate the sun better than an HPS light alone. Others use multiple lower wattage lights to cultivate spectacular plants, 1 - 6 at a time based on rotation/perpetual setups vs "all at once" cropping.

A key element is shading/blockout and it's effect on yield.

By eliminating shade/hitting the girls from all angles (heh) you will most likely see benefits.

With plants vegged for a month in 4 gallons of soil, I could not see getting two females ready to pop at the same time with only one 150 light if I were looking for optimal flowering unless I was treating my plants with bushmaster, scrogging, SOG etc. I did LST with bamboo stakes and these things can be an interesting puzzle to put together in the same small space. Take this for what it is worth - I am a n00b and kinda simple in approach. I put them in dirt in buckets under the stairs and see how it goes. No mesh screens, hydro/bubbleponics, etc. I let them do their thing ala no fuss no muss and I did 10 from bean (5 females live on). Different low-class bagseed genetics are in motion. Needless to say multiple lights help in that scenario and I can see how having a couple of angled bulbs hitting a single girl from a couple of sides would really be of advantage for efficiency/yield per plant. Google up PHOTOTRON and you will see an ideal lighting vector concept. (Phototrons surrounded a single plant with flouros on all sides in a cylinder).

You can engineer your lighting around the canopy penetration rule with some thought.

Here is a link to a study done on two species of tomatoes (along with an excerpt for the lazy). It goes into production relative to shade and nute concentations.

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/Foliage/Resrpts/rh_96_1.htm

"Results

Interaction of shade level and fertilizer rate influenced weight of tomatoes harvested (yield) from 'Micro Tom' plants (Table 1). Yield increased when fertilizer rate increased for plants growing in full sun or 30% shade, but decreased when fertilizer rates were increased for plants growing in 50% shade. Plants in full sun fertilized at the highest rate produced the highest yields, but 'Micro Tom' plants in full sun, fertilized at any rate tested, had higher yields compared to plants getting less light and/or fertilizer.

Growth of all three cultivars was compact and sturdy when plants were grown in full sun (Tables 2, 3 and 4). Effects of shade level on height were greater for the two larger cultivars. As shade level increased, the two larger cultivars produced more leggy, elongated growth.

Shade level significantly influenced number and weight of tomatoes produced on 'Micro Tom' (Table 2). Both fruit production and tomato weight increased as shade level decreased. Weight of tomatoes produced in full sun was significantly greater compared to weight of tomatoes produced on plants growing in 50% shade. Shade level did not affect number or weight of fruit produced on 'Patio', but Pixie Hybrid II plants grown in full sun produced heavier tomatoes compared to weight of tomatoes produced on plants grown in 50% shade (Tables 3 and 4).

Fertilizer rate influenced number and weight of tomatoes harvested from the two larger cultivars (Tables 3 and 4). For 'Patio', number and weight of tomatoes increased steadily as fertilizer rate increased. Increases in both number and weight of tomatoes produced on Pixie Hybrid II were greater when fertilizer rate was increased from 3.3 to 5.35 g/6-inch pot compared to the increases seen when comparing weight and number of tomatoes harvested from plants getting 5.35 to plants getting 7.4 g/6-inch pot. At every fertilizer rate tested, Pixie Hybrid II produced more tomatoes "

 

[Pipedream]

So basically, we should feed them and keep them under light, is that the concept?