Howdy Folks... 1st. grow questions on moisture and fans. I appreciate the help!

SuperSativa · Mar 30, 2016

Howdy Folks... 1st. grow questions on moisture and fans. I appreciate the help!
Just transplanted from Solo cups to 3 gallon pots (I was debating between 2 - 3 gallon?). A few of the plants look okay and a couple not so good. None are great but for the 1st go at it I'm happy they're still alive. I'll attach some pics and I'm open to all critique.

I have a few very basic questions that I'm sure have different answers and opinions that work for each grower. I'm looking to find WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

1. SOIL MOISTURE - I just ordered a simple analog moisture meter that read "1,2,3=Dry 4,5,6,7=Moist and 8,9,10=Wet". Can anyone please help me with how moist the soil should be and at what depths should I be reading in a 3 gallon pot?

2. LIGHT DISTANCE FROM PLANTS - I have them under a 1000K HPS light with a dimming ballast - 60% (or 600W), 75% (or 750W) 100% (or 1,000W) and "Super" I'm not sure what super is if it's already running at 100% lol... Can I please get some advice on how much distance from the plants I should keep the light? I'm currently running at 75% and I'm about 2feet from the light.

3. VENTILATION DURING OFF HOURS - When the lights go out during my 18/6 cycle, should the intake, exhaust and oscillating fan remain on or should they go off when the light goes out?

I hope the pics are viewable
These pics were taken immediately after transplant. They're looking a lot better now (2 days later)

Thank You All!
This is a GREAT FORUM!
SUPERSATIVA - I'M A BELIEVER!
Mass Medical Compliant

SuperSativa · Mar 30, 2016

Updated pics

Updated pics

I'll try to add pics of their progress today

Picarus · Mar 30, 2016

you should be under a less intense light at the is point. Hps is for flowering and not as good for promoting leafy green growth. I would start with a simple fluorescent light about 10" away. until they get bigger.
-Water and let almost dry out before watering again. check the pots weight to determine dryness. Lets the plant tell you. Leaves are a good sign of the need for water.
-keep the fans on.

SuperSativa · Mar 30, 2016

Thank you very much for your help Picarus!!

They were under T5F for the 1st 2 weeks. I agree, we moved them under the HPS way to early. I think we got too excited when we got the new light. Do you think it's okay (or even better) to put them back under Florescent for a while at this point or am I better off leaving them since they're accustomed to HPS now?

I think we are getting better at watering but we're not sure how much water we need to add during waterings. Should we water just until it starts to runoff and then go til dry or should we not even get to runoff?

Should all 3 fans remain on? It sounds like a yes since you pluralized fan(s) but I just want to make sure. This has been a large debate here.

Thank you very much for your help Picarus!!

Rolling Stoner · Mar 30, 2016

Agree with Picaus.

Put some basic florescent lights in there for veg. Or buy a MH bulb if its a switchable ballast.

Pick up the pots to determine dryness. Moisture meters can give different readings in the same pot. You need to start learning by feel and look of the plant.

Leave your fans on.

Keep up the good work! Looks like your temps are good in there.

Rolling Stoner · Mar 30, 2016

Airflow is your best friend.

rykus · Mar 30, 2016

Hate to be a dick, but the above post is misleading... There is no way a flouro will properly light enough to cover plants in 3 gallons.

Your sodium will produce a more proper spectrum at full output and should be raised up instead of dimmed down, then lowered as growth increased.

As for the watering, roots won't grow into dry soil, but soil without roots that sits wet will go toxic.... I use a container about the sie of the green matter on the plant and every day or 2 add about that amount slowly in circles around the plant getting fatter out as it grows. I keep doing these smaller more frequent waters till the plant is about the size of the container its in then start watering till run out at least once every ten days - two weeks....

Air movement should be steady in room but not directly on leaves as it will wick moisture and stunt growth at the fragile early phase...

Good luck, high humidity and foiliar feeding kelp or fish will help too get them going!

SuperSativa · Mar 30, 2016

Update - 2 days after transplant

Update - 2 days after transplant

Thank you Picarus, Rolling Stoner and rykus....

I wouldn't say you're being a dick. Everyone has different styles and I take all information seriously, try as many as methods as I can and form my own opinion. With that said, thanks for the help!

My ballast is MH compatible so I may switch to MH until they are ready to flower (hopefully they get to that point). I'm hoping my post in this forum helps me determine whether or not MH is the best way to go at this stage.

I'm trying to attach more pics of their progress 2 days after being transplanted along with of my setup and equipment. I'm not sure it's working though. Anyway, it's a simple setup at this point in time. All thought, opinions and ideas are welcome! Thanks again!

Grow Green!
SuperSativa

1kBushes · Mar 30, 2016

I'll go against the grain and say that the 1000w HPS is fine for veg. 2ft is fine, bump it up to full power. You don't NEED a 1000w to veg, but the plants will grow faster using it against a T5... You can hang it as high as 4ft+ in veg..

SuperSativa · Apr 2, 2016

Is my soil packed too tight????

Is my soil packed too tight????

Here are some pics of day 4 after transplanting. They seem to be doing well but the soil is still pretty wet and doesn't seem to be drying as quick as I thought it would. I'm wondering if I may have packed the soil too tight. I hand pressed it and tried not to pack it too hard. Should I be very concerned with this? Is there a good method to determine how tight it should be packed (maybe lbs/ounces per gallon)?

Rolling Stoner · Apr 3, 2016

You don't need to "pack" the soil. Watering will do that for you. They are not going through water very fast since you just transplanted and the roots haven't stretched out and filled the pot yet. No worries man. They look good. Keep up the good work.

SuperSativa · Apr 6, 2016

Pruning

Pruning

Thanks 1kBushes and Rolling Stoner and everyone else! Please see the latest pics from today.

The kids still seem to be doing great. I'm having a heard time keeping up with the work involved and the research at the rate they're growing.

At this point, I'm not sure if I should be pruning more of the bottoms or leaving the bottom leaves. I topped 3 of the 5 (I was a bit afraid to cut the tops off all 5) and I've pruned the bottom leaves on 3 of them. Any advice on this would be great!

Also, I have them in 3 gallon pots now. Will I probably need to transplant again to 5 gallon pots and at what point will that need to be done (how big or how many weeks)?

Thanks all!!
SuperSativa

FishmanK · Apr 6, 2016

most people r sayin bout humidifying
but we have extra high humidity, so we need to DEhumidify......
knowing where things are at is helpful
not just your soil but atmosphere...
and when knowing only costs $1.38, its worth buying, and several...

corky1968 · Apr 6, 2016

Whenever, I transplant into a much larger pot. I water until the water comes out
the bottom to make sure the air bubbles are gone and the soil settles to where it's
going to be. The other thing is, if you do this right away. You won't have to worry
about it being too dry. The small plant won't be able to take in all the water and
the humidity will naturally go up. Dry atmospheres are bad for transplanting the
same way as when you take clones. Dry soil around roots on newly transplanted
plants is a big no-no in my book. Flood that root zone the 1st time around.

SuperSativa · Apr 6, 2016

Thanks Fishmark and Corky1968! Fishmark, what is the make and model of that thermometer? I'll see if I can find it on amazon...

Grower112 · Apr 6, 2016

Hi please help how can't i know a Ph in a soil of my trees than YOU

Grower112 · Apr 6, 2016

Hi can you say me about Ph in the Soil how can't i know how much is it if someone know just help thank you

vikinglace · Apr 6, 2016

What do you want to know? The ph of your soil? If so generally there's no need to as the soil will naturally buffer the ph values. No need to ph your inputs.

SuperSativa · Apr 6, 2016

PH - For Grower112

PH - For Grower112

You want to test the PH of your water before watering. I test mine both before and after I add my nutes. The RO water I'm using tests at 7 PH. After adding nutes, the PH lowers to approximately 6.5... From what I've read, I believe I'm where I should be but all other opinions are welcome!!! Good luck!!!

FishmanK · Apr 7, 2016

Hi Grower112
maybe go to the page for this thread section and "start new thread" for a question like this about other things

too many questions at one time makes confusion for all

~~~

Hi Supersativa
I use ebay and buy the best price on specific items so have no store or favorites or anything

I do searches for an item and then sort it to show from cheapest up
then look at all the "buy it now"
if there are many items not the one I want then I limit to specific category to eliminate alot of results
but in the end I spend much time scrolling and scanning with my eyes whcih are not happy w all this

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...umidity&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

this is the page I see today but this same search will change daily of course

Howdy Folks... 1st. grow questions on moisture and fans. I appreciate the help!

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