The Curious Cab of Cannabis - 400w CMH

[Musicianized]

Wholy moly, gotta love that CMH huh? That's a nice 2 plant harvest right there!

 

[budman678]

i want more pics....i wanna see em in jars

 

[DnKNg5]

Wholy moly, gotta love that CMH huh? That's a nice 2 plant harvest right there!

Thanks! I don't really have anything to compare the CMH to as this was my first grow but I am very satisfied with my results. I feel like with a SCRoG this next round the CMH is really going to shine. From what I have read CMH don't do well with canopy penetration, obviously a disadvantage for the style I grew last round.

i want more pics....i wanna see em in jars

Budman ask, Budman gets. Oh yeah, I ended up with 105 grams from the two plants.

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[DnKNg5]

ROUND 2 UPDATE! Yeah for Mystery SEED!

ROUND 2 UPDATE! Yeah for Mystery SEED!

Sorry for the lack of updates, I have no excuse other then summer is in full mutha fucking bloom!

The Cab is back in session with some yummy mystery seed this time around! Quality genetics guaranteed.

A little update on my medium and nutrient selection this time around. I will be using coco and the House and Garden Cocos A+B, although this might change. I am still using 24 ppm tap water. I supplement with 150 ppm of CalMag and equal parts A+B. The H&G website says this should take me all the way from seed to harvest but I'm already having my doubts. I'm also going to be adding Pro-Tekt my feedings within the next week. I currently am on a food-food-water(ph balanced to 5.8) schedule. They have been yellowing up a little despite the regular feedings so I supplemented their last feeding with a little floramicro.

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They seem like they are lagging a little behind last round but there are a variety of reasons for that, all of which are my fault. They were initially put in Keg cups too soon; coupled with the fact that the first veg chambers environmental conditions were horrible are what really set these kiddos back. They were topped 5 days ago and transplanted from keg cups to one gallons yesterday. Too much stress in too short a period of time? I am going to keep them in the 1 gallons for about 3 weeks then it's onto the 3 gallons until flower.

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Any input is always welcome and well received. Cheers! Time for some fun in the sun!!!! Don't forget to get laid in the shade!

 

[budman678]

looks awesome...waiting on the dry time and then im gonna bob some fun beans

 

[B. Self Reliant]

I currently am on a food-food-water(ph balanced to 5.8) schedule. They have been yellowing up a little despite the regular feedings so I supplemented their last feeding with a little floramicro.

They were initially put in Keg cups too soon; coupled with the fact that the first veg chambers environmental conditions were horrible are what really set these kiddos back. They were topped 5 days ago and transplanted from keg cups to one gallons yesterday. Too much stress in too short a period of time?

Any input is always welcome and well received. Cheers! Time for some fun in the sun!!!! Don't forget to get laid in the shade!

Sounds like you're beginning to get the feeding routine down. Keep in mind that if they yellow up with your standard veg mix when you feed, feed, water, then just switch to feed, feed, feed, water. Each time you feed them the nutrients build up in the medium, so the plants will get more food over time. Of course you only know the nutrient level in each container if you're making sure you have very little if any run-off.

I think your slow growth issue can be nailed down more specifically than just too much stress in too little time. I see/hear classic signs of typical coco transplant mishaps. . . your leaves are slightly curled at the edges, you just transplanted, you're using coco and yuor environment is less than ideal, so I think they've been water logged which has slowed growth. You had the same problem when you transplanted to keg cups too early, right? Did you go out of town? Classic. Don't sweat it, just minimize the effect as much as you can and keep in mind that coco has amazing growth rates, even after taking into account a couple days of slow growth after a transplant.

When your plants are small relative to their containers (hopefully because they were just transplanted), they go through the water really slowly. This slows growth significantly because they need that wet/dry/wet/dry cycle to a certain extent. When you transplant, water them with your veg mixture, but let them get pretty dry again before watering or feeding. It might take a while, especially if the temps are kind of low. I personally wouldn't water or feed hardly anything to the plants when I transplant (to avoid the whole slowing down phase that happens for the next few days) but the coco that's available locally needs to be flushed well before it can be used, so what can I do? I'm stuck saturating the new containers, dealing with slow growth for a few days and then watching them explode.

I can't wait to see how things turn out!

 

[DnKNg5]

Sounds like you're beginning to get the feeding routine down. Keep in mind that if they yellow up with your standard veg mix when you feed, feed, water, then just switch to feed, feed, feed, water. Each time you feed them the nutrients build up in the medium, so the plants will get more food over time. Of course you only know the nutrient level in each container if you're making sure you have very little if any run-off.

I think your slow growth issue can be nailed down more specifically than just too much stress in too little time. I see/hear classic signs of typical coco transplant mishaps. . . your leaves are slightly curled at the edges, you just transplanted, you're using coco and yuor environment is less than ideal, so I think they've been water logged which has slowed growth. You had the same problem when you transplanted to keg cups too early, right? Did you go out of town? Classic. Don't sweat it, just minimize the effect as much as you can and keep in mind that coco has amazing growth rates, even after taking into account a couple days of slow growth after a transplant.

When your plants are small relative to their containers (hopefully because they were just transplanted), they go through the water really slowly. This slows growth significantly because they need that wet/dry/wet/dry cycle to a certain extent. When you transplant, water them with your veg mixture, but let them get pretty dry again before watering or feeding. It might take a while, especially if the temps are kind of low. I personally wouldn't water or feed hardly anything to the plants when I transplant (to avoid the whole slowing down phase that happens for the next few days) but the coco that's available locally needs to be flushed well before it can be used, so what can I do? I'm stuck saturating the new containers, dealing with slow growth for a few days and then watching them explode.

I can't wait to see how things turn out!

I really am starting get a hold on how the plants feed and what is going on in the coco at any given time, I feel like I have much more control then my last grow. I switched to PBP Grow, supplemented with a Tbsp/gal of Silica Blast. (thanks for the heads up!) So far it looks like they are loving it. The new growth is looking even and lush. I water gradually so I usually only have an ounce or so of run-off, just because I'm still learning how much I should be watering in each container size. These kids are really branchy so I think they are going to work great under my scrog. Diggin' that vert! That AK is look dizzitydank!! I can't wait to see it in 3 more weeks!

 

[B. Self Reliant]

Your new routine sounds killer. If you used cal mag to 150, then added your dose of silica , then topped off to 1000 PPM's with the PBP, you'd be set for a long time. I love the fact that my nutes aren't even a variable for me when making changes in my grow. It simplifies things for us small scale growers.

Yeah, when the plants are really small relative to their containers, I don't even water/feed to saturation, let alone to run-off. Not that you have to do it as I do, just understand that coco is all about keeping the medium's moisture at that sweet spot. Ideally you'd water four times per day but only a little bit. Coco's good at wicking the moisture around inside the container, so if you were to do that you could keep the plants at that ideal spot most of the day. Most folks have practical limitations that prevent that kind of maintenance routine, but you get the idea. . . if you can give them just a small watering but still leave them for a day without them drying out, do it. A day with that perfect medium is literally worth 3 days of them being in a medium that's too saturated.

 

[DnKNg5]

Your new routine sounds killer. If you used cal mag to 150, then added your dose of silica , then topped off to 1000 PPM's with the PBP, you'd be set for a long time. I love the fact that my nutes aren't even a variable for me when making changes in my grow. It simplifies things for us small scale growers.

Yeah, when the plants are really small relative to their containers, I don't even water/feed to saturation, let alone to run-off. Not that you have to do it as I do, just understand that coco is all about keeping the medium's moisture at that sweet spot. Ideally you'd water four times per day but only a little bit. Coco's good at wicking the moisture around inside the container, so if you were to do that you could keep the plants at that ideal spot most of the day. Most folks have practical limitations that prevent that kind of maintenance routine, but you get the idea. . . if you can give them just a small watering but still leave them for a day without them drying out, do it. A day with that perfect medium is literally worth 3 days of them being in a medium that's too saturated.

gotcha

 

[DnKNg5]

Quick picture update.

 

[DnKNg5]

From the first day I got my cab a good buddy suggested I knock down the middle partition to widen my flowering area from 31" to 54". That seemed like a bit too much work for me at the time so I just pushed it to the back of my mind. After the results of my last grow and the lessons learned I realized how his suggestion would be worth the effort. Additionally, when I first slapped this cabinet together I had no idea what I wanted and I knew it would change quite a few times so I let it get somewhat Frankensteinish, ok for short term but really not my style. So over the weekend I decided to make this cab a true producer that can live up to it's potential. About 2 grams, a shattered oil globe and 7 hours later I ended up with this. She is going to have 1.5" thick insulation to fill in the gaps and some sort of reflective layer over that. Almost done...

The change took my 4 sqft flowering area and turned it into 7.11 sqft. I am really pushing the limits of my 400 now. In all honesty another light wouldn't hurt. Th cooltube will definitely have to be raised once the net goes in and the flowers are reaching.

 

[B. Self Reliant]

Rad! You have a legit space now. . . very wide. I like!

Plants look like they like it. . . is 4 the final female count?

 

[stonedar]

love the upgrade and the bud shots, thanks DnKNg5

 

[who dat is]

Digging the 400 cmh, nice job.

 

[DnKNg5]

Rad! You have a legit space now. . . very wide. I like!

Plants look like they like it. . . is 4 the final female count?

The count in the cab currently is (4) unsexed MS 1, they should be showing any time now... (1) Chem Dawg cut (1) Black Domina Cut

I also have 2 cuts from each of the MS that are in the process of rooting

love the upgrade and the bud shots, thanks DnKNg5

Thanks! I am loving it too. It feels much cleaner and and much much more functional. I can't wait to see what I can produce in at max capacity. Any guesses?

Digging the 400 cmh, nice job.

Thanks for the love!

 

[B. Self Reliant]

The count in the cab currently is (4) unsexed MS 1, they should be showing any time now... (1) Chem Dawg cut (1) Black Domina Cut

I also have 2 cuts from each of the MS that are in the process of rooting



Thanks! I am loving it too. It feels much cleaner and and much much more functional. I can't wait to see what I can produce in at max capacity. Any guesses?

• you've got some great genetics!
• good thinking with the clones. . . you'll be happy to have a mom if one really stands out
• My last LED grow was straight up embarrassing for a wide variety of reasons and I was growing a low-yielding strain, however because I used a SCROG net & have a healthy coco routine down, I still harvested a little more than an ounce per square foot of canopy space. If you have around 6 sq ft, I don't see why you couldn't get a half pound (1.3 oz/sqft) assuming it's lit appropriately and you veg long enough to fill the screen. This isn't rocket science. . . if you continue to keep your garden in check & make the big & obvious improvements these first few rounds you will absolutely pull real weight out of there.

 

[DnKNg5]

If you have around 6 sq ft, I don't see why you couldn't get a half pound (1.3 oz/sqft) assuming it's lit appropriately and you veg long enough to fill the screen.

Lighting for flowering is the last thing I need to dial in. I need to find out how high my tube needs to be to adequately light the whole space. I've found lumen/distance charts before but nothing specifically for a cool tube. Any suggestions?

 

[B. Self Reliant]

That's a tough one. Forget the charts. Just look at the light intensity as you move it up & down & play around with different positions. The 400 spreads most of it's light from the long axis of the bulb. To make the most of that light you'd need to hang it with the long axis going front to back, not left to right. If your cooltube fits, rad. . . but I'd guess it doesn't considering it needs duct work on at least one end. Even if it fit in that way, it would still have to cover a 3' wide space and that's work for a 600. To hang it orientated the less efficient way and then ask it to cover a 3' spread? That might be a bit much. A light mover in a cab? No head room. Just thinking out loud. . .

My honest opinion is either go buy a $200 GrowLab & use a vert 400 watt HPS or else flower the cab & use some LED's (even if just to supplement the 400). Grow-friendly local temps or not I wouldn't want to battle the heat from more than a 400 watter in any cabinet. The dead space between the bulb and the tops becomes too demanding therefor limiting plant height potential. I guess what I'm asking is considering you don't seem to have any smell control, and therefor no need for much of an investment other than the tent and maybe an oscillating fan, why not throw her in a tent & go to town? It's not like you won't make your $250 investment back, right? Is it a space issue?

 

[DnKNg5]

I guess what I'm asking is considering you don't seem to have any smell control, and therefor no need for much of an investment other than the tent and maybe an oscillating fan, why not throw her in a tent & go to town? It's not like you won't make your $250 investment back, right? Is it a space issue?

The simple reason; I want to see the Cab produce to it's full potential. I put a lot of time, effort and thought into it and I finally feel like it is getting to a point where it can be a stable producer. I'm sure you experienced that feeling with the fridge. I gave myself one grow to learn but now the system needs to sustain itself. The tent will most likely come this winter sometime, hopefully LED's soon after. I would LOVE to have a LED array in that cab, to me be that would be the final step in finishing this cab. Ditch the exhaust and expand the veg area to the whole upper portion of the of the cab, same way as I did the bottom.

I played around with raising the light and I can definitely increase the the spread to cover the corners, but at what cost to the rest of the cab... Light mover huh? Off the top of my head I already have a couple of ideas on how I could easily and frequently move the light 6-8" in either direction. Obviously not automated but since I hand water daily moving it manually, even a couple times a day wouldn't be an issue. Have you used this method before? I'll have to poke around for moving times and what not but I think that's my most viable option so far.

Photo Update Time!!!

This time we have pictures of the newest additions, cuts of ChemDawg and Black Domina. I got the CD last week and it's doing nicely but the cut of BD was much further along when I brought her home yesterday.

Black Domina

ChemDawg

Final pot time.

Time to put in the screen



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[B. Self Reliant]

Cool. Running it to potential would be a rad thing to see, Just wondering what your thought process was. . .

I would say the worst thing to do would be to physically move the light. If anything just leave it in the center and let the last 6-8" on each side get whatever it gets. If you move the light around, none of the buds will be be what you expect by harvest. There are a few documented grows where someone needed to move their main light in order to have adequate coverage over their garden. . . if I remember correctly they all said they wouldn't move their light or spread it too thin again if the same situation ever came up again, but you should check around to be sure.

Those MS are killing it! Time for the net is right. . . they're doing great. You're gonna kill it this round! Will you be sneaking in a small Black Domina or ChemDog with this round? Can't wait to see how it all goes.