help me make my setup better. please

[stickyn1nja]

this is my first try at hydroponics. id like to stay organic(if possible).
does ph down count?

so i have one 5 gal bubble bucket w/topfeed. ph high 6s. using humboldt grow natural(as an experiment) at half strength.

the clone was taken during flower and is going slow(if at all). not my idea, but it was a freebee with a strain trade.

ive included a picture. since this was shot i have light-proofed the system. the top drip runs slow +/-1 drip/sec. at first i was having an issue with foam. turns out my air pump is suited for a 55 gallon tank. turning it down(a lot) solved that.

my girls have a great home temp and hum. perfect veggin under t5, gonna flower under 430 hps.

is this slow growth typical of cloned flowers? if all goes well how soon should i see some/any growth?

id like to move twards all hydro but am so far not convinced.
please try to convince me why i shouldnt pull her and kick my bucket.

 

[stickyn1nja]

ok maybe the bucket might be a bit too far from the light, but shouldn't that encourage stretching?

 

[danimarie193]

in that pic the bucket is not getting any light

 

[stickyn1nja]

yeah i know. ive been introducing my hps for like an hour a day. this pis was shot just after i turned it off. before readjusting the t5.

 

[danimarie193]

that does not look like a t5. looks like an old shop light.

 

[cannagirl]

Your Ph is to high, for hydro you want to stay between 5.8-6.3 and yah why isnt that plant under a light? Thats probably why it is not growing...

 

[stickyn1nja]

im looking for advice not doubters. but i assure you it is. i made it. four bulbs 2 6500k blues and 2 warm daylight.
see:

 

[stickyn1nja]

Your Ph is to high, for hydro you want to stay between 5.8-6.3 and yah why isnt that plant under a light? Thats probably why it is not growing...

so if i lower the ph(more) i should see faster growth? or is it still gonna lag because its from a flower?

 

[cannagirl]

Im not doubting you, just wondering why the plant is not under light? was that for the picture or is that where the plant is living?

 

[stickyn1nja]

someone else canna, not you. i had just shut off the hps. ive been introducing them to it a little at a time, this pic was shot before i re adjusted everything under the t5

 

[danimarie193]

listen dude if the plant was in bloom then it is going to take time to reveg that clone and i think you need more light then that to reveg.

 

[stickyn1nja]

thats exactly the kind of reply im looking for. thanks dani! im working on adding more light. another t5 "bank" like this one. just for veg. will be flowering under my 430 hps. would it be advantageous for mr to purchase a mh conversion bulb? will i see more growth? enough to offset the cost increase?

this is all head stash so i wont be seeing any return on my investments(other than a fine little pull)

 

[danimarie193]

18/6 light cycle under 430mh. i think this would get you some nice new growth.

 

[stickyn1nja]

the bucket is already a week behind the others and id hate to waste the space. so do you think it will be ready to flower with the rest in 3 weeks?(5 total veg) or should i kick my bucket and try again with a "happier" girl next go around?

 

[danimarie193]

if you want to flip them in three weeks i would lose the bucket. i dont think that is enough time for it to catch up and then it will just take up space were you could have one of the others right under your light.

 

[stickyn1nja]

thats about what i was thinking too. oh well ill try again in 3 months. anyone ever try using humboldt grow natural in hydro?

 

[cannagirl]

Sorry OP I didnt read that it was a clone taken in bloom, I would have told you right away thats whats taking the new growth so long. IME 18/6 to reveg a clone taken in bloom will actually slow down the growth, it will get you pre-flowers faster but overall veg growth slows down with 18/6. Flip that girl on 24/0 for a couple of weeks and really push new growth. Also as long as you are not running a strain that is prone to hermie, you can add super thrive or other growth hormone and also add 1-2 tablets of non coated aspirin to your water. The aspirin encourages the plant to focus on growth and overall plant health.

 

[stickyn1nja]

she's a romulan. i dont know if it is prone to herming or not. i only have the one room, so vegging it under 24 would be out of the question. since i dont want the others to have to wait on her, im gonna find a nice place by a creek and bury her. perhaps a bit o guerilla'll do the trick. lots of places around here for such things, so good bye to hydro this go-around. thanks for the advice. im still rocking an organic soil grow so now i can just focus on that.