My very first grow! Clones straight to 12/12 ... Suggestions welcome!

[TerpeneDream]

Hey all...

So here is my first little setup.

I liken this project to more of a Bonzai hobby grow, here goes...


I have 8 weeks in my current rental, so I grabbed some clones (Thanks!) and decided to throw them straight to 12/12. They are 8 weeks strains, so I'm told.

Strains:So I started with 3 Temple Flo cuts and 3 Grimm Reaper Strawberry Ice cream phono. (If any one knows more about this one, I'd love to know!)

Transplanted them last night into these. I assume, 1 gallon clay pots.

Soil:I used the Royal Gold "Mendo Mix" with about 30% Maxfields organic potting mix. Why, Idk really know, balance I suppose...


Lights: Cheap is my goal. I picked up what lights I could late last night at Home Depot. I only found those Phillips 120w "Plant Light" with the blue dome. I bought 2 of those with the silver clamp bulb receptacle things. I also got 2 little 65w plant lights at Walmart that were $15, go them for $5 so I figured they couldn't hurt. I'm sure they're not the best but that's all they had. I'm still looking for 300w cfl's. I'll keep these 4 as supplemental, though for the cost I may return the 125's and clamps ($30+)

4 lights. 2 x 125w, and 2x 65w = 380 watts.

Though I'm sure these aren't the 'right' watts, or whatever.



Watering: Well today I collected pine needles and sappy bark and mixed it with my 2 soil types. Boiled it for 20. This is what I'll be using for my room temperature waterings. I'm going to go collect wild flowers and buy some organic compost brew and mix it all in. Holistic is my aim....







Is that a pistil? Does that mean it's already started to flower?

When I was at the grow store, the employee said to go 16/8 for a few days to ease the plants in. Does the pistil mean it's too late to veg any longer and I should go straight to 12/12 now?

I'm thinking I'll run them all night again, then cut to a 12/12 tomorrow. You know, give them time to 'bounce back' in the light after being transported. Just not sure about the pistil and if I should veg for a bit.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

 

[mikeymike1902]

You can leave it in.veg or flower it u have yo remember all clones are as old as the mother is pistils just show it is mature and a female......

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

80 posts an this is what you have learned? No no no no, .........no. you coulda got a cheap light off gregslist instead of the money you wasted. Wild flowers for nutrients? If your tryin to get a crop quick an cheap thats not gonna cut it.

1 bag of foxfarm 15 bucks, 1 bottle of floranova bloom(dont know dont use it but about 20 bucks)
Ph test strips from the pool supply section an 6 to 10 cfl bulbs atleast 23 watts or higher but not higher than 65 watts cause they get too hot.

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

Done.......goodluck.

 

[bovice]

The lanky nature of your plants indicates they are not getting enough light. Cheap spiral CFL's + foil reflector > CFL floodlights. Also CFL light does not carry over a long distance, your bulbs need to be less than 3 inches from your plant in order for them to be effective. Arthritis_suck's comment is also true, There is nothing wrong with building a setup on a budget, but you have to be willing to invest a little more than you have to get a significant results.

More info on lighting:

http://www.reddit.com/r/HandsOnComplexity/comments/17nxzz/part_1_of_original_lighting_essay/

http://www.reddit.com/r/HandsOnComplexity/comments/17nyph/small_light_reflector_comparison/

 

[fatigues]

Perhaps the comments here are a little harsh, but we want new ICMag members to do well -- and to do it right, too.

While there is a VERY large ambit of choice in how you properly pursue a grow to "do it right" -- there are some ways to "do it wrong." This would be one of them.

I hope it works out for you as well as can be expected and that you not only learn from successes -- but failures, too. (Our failures usually teach us much more than our successes). Most of all, I hope that you are inspired to continue and be inspired by other members here on ICM.

 

[bovice]

Perhaps the comments here are a little harsh, but we want new ICMag members to do well -- and to do it right, too.

Didn't mean to sound harsh.

Here is a pic from my first setup. It cost me about $100. 3 x 42w and 6 x 24w CFLs.

 

[hush]

So, my 2 initial thoughts: I've never used those CFL spotlights, so I can't vouch for them. Also if your whole reason for buying 8 week clones was because you are leaving your place in 8 weeks, you need to flip to 12/12 and never mind what the sales guy at the grow shop said. Plants don't need transitioning like that, anyway.

Other than that, it seems okay. Your plants look healthy! I have to echo others' comments about the lighting, though... I'm not too sure about those spotlights, but no matter what, get them real close to the plants. Fluorescent lights are only good in close proximity.

If you do see further problems with stretching, and the lights are already as close as you can get them, you might consider swapping them out with the spiral CFL's that everyone uses. At least those are proven to work.

I'll keep an eye on this one. Any suggestions I can come up with I'll mention to you.

 

[hush]

By the way, yes, that is a pistil. It's a female pre flower. Shows that your plant is sexually mature and, well, confirms she is a female.

 

[Gelado`]

Those lights are supposed to be pretty hot, so you want to get them close but not too close--put your hand right over your plants and if you think it's too hot, back the lights off. I would buy a 250W digital ballast and a 250W halide and 250W HPS bulb and call it a day. You are going to need some fertilizer; I recommend worm castings, rock phosphate, rice charcoal and seaweed. Molasses would help too!