[Carl333]

1st post. Someone gave me 3 tiny clones 3 weeks ago, a 400w MH, a gal of premixed nutrients and said your on your own. I'm 15 hours into reading about care etc...

Plants are 14-16 inches. what do you think? Jack H. I fimmed a few days ago.

I can take criticism so please no need to be nice. Besides feeding, would you physically do anything to this plant?

[cravin morehead]

without knowing any of your grow details, let's see
the new growth looks a little stretched out on the first pic, I suggest moving your light closer to the plants. make it a close as possible without overheating and burning them. you can stick your hand between the plant tops and the light. if you can keep your hand there without getting hot, its good.
get control of your environment. keep temps with lights on between say 70*f-85*f max. get lots of air exchange going on. control light leeks during their night time. need complete darkness. switch to flower sooner than later. plants could stretch 2-3 times their size when flipped to flower.
I'm sure more people will be along to give you some more pointers too.
good luck,

cm

[troutman]

I also agree that you should flower them soon.

Do know they'll probably double in height. So plan wisely.

[cravin morehead]

oh ya, read, read, read,and then read some more. after that keep on reading. nobody ever knows all there is to know about these amazing plants. I bet you thought you'd be growing not reading all the time, haha!
here's some good basic growing in for to get you on your way:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=112662

cm

[Carl333]

Originally Posted by cravin morehead

without knowing any of your grow details, let's see
the new growth looks a little stretched out on the first pic, I suggest moving your light closer to the plants. make it a close as possible without overheating and burning them. you can stick your hand between the plant tops and the light. if you can keep your hand there without getting hot, its good.
get control of your environment. keep temps with lights on between say 70*f-85*f max. get lots of air exchange going on. control light leeks during their night time. need complete darkness. switch to flower sooner than later. plants could stretch 2-3 times their size when flipped to flower.
I'm sure more people will be along to give you some more pointers too.
good luck,

cm

Tks for your comment. I need all the help I can get. Light source was 6" this morn. I raised it to 10. I believe I've been keeping the lights really low. Temp is within your suggested range. I have them in a fair sized room with no real ventilation. I do have a small fan on creating little movement of the leaves. Hum. is about 40%. The room smells like pot a bit. I just hung some al foil from the light shroud earlier today hoping I get some reflective light to help them along. The door is closed to the room but could be opened but the temp of the basement is 64F and I don't want to chill the plants. I could option to open.

When the light is out, there may be some little light entering from the bottom opening of the door. I thought is was very important not to allow any light to the plants during flowering but not so much during veg. Are we looking for 100% total darkness during veg?

[Carl333]

Originally Posted by troutman

I also agree that you should flower them soon.

Do know they'll probably double in height. So plan wisely.

For no particular reason besides getting some more growth vert and horiz overall, I didn't intend to flower until another 2-3 weeks. I'm in no hurry and I have the height.

But I will to to flower if you suggest. Should I wait under my circumstances?

[cravin morehead]

Light leaks are not as big an issue in veg, correct. But in flower, light leaks can cause loose airy buds, slow development, and the dreaded hermies. You are going to need to invest in a carbon filter and a real fan to go with it. In flower those girls could stink all the way to the street. While you're buying a carbon filter and fan, might as well throw in a 4'x4' tent. The more you control the environment, the better your buds will be and the better chance you'll have at keeping bugs and problems away. And you'd be able to use that room even when it's night inside the tent. We've all been on the road you are on now. If you want to keep going with this hobby, it's addictive as all hell, take our advice sooner than later. It'll save you money, frustration, and you'll have the best buds around. Oh ya get back to reading.

Cm

[resin_lung]

Having the extra height is a good thing if you have the light penetration to make using all that extra height worth it. With 400w the point of diminished returns will come faster than if you had 600w. Same goes for 600w compared to 1000w. Your prob still ok, I just wanted to point out that 400w is what your using and I believe it's best to grow in a way that makes the best use of your light source.

Your doing ok though! I wish I had ICMag when I started! Read as much as you can and ask questions when you have them.

Be polite but not shy and you'll be fine.

Good luck.

[cravin morehead]

You need a soil grower to stop by. I grow mostly hydro, but do outdoor soil runs during the season too. Post your soil type and pot size and how long they've been in those pots, so you can get advice as to possibly needing to be up potted before switching to flower and such

Cm

[Carl333]

Originally Posted by cravin morehead

Light leaks are not as big an issue in veg, correct. But in flower, light leaks can cause loose airy buds, slow development, and the dreaded hermies. You are going to need to invest in a carbon filter and a real fan to go with it. In flower those girls could stink all the way to the street. While you're buying a carbon filter and fan, might as well throw in a 4'x4' tent. The more you control the environment, the better your buds will be and the better chance you'll have at keeping bugs and problems away. And you'd be able to use that room even when it's night inside the tent. We've all been on the road you are on now. If you want to keep going with this hobby, it's addictive as all hell, take our advice sooner than later. It'll save you money, frustration, and you'll have the best buds around. Oh ya get back to reading.

Cm

So even with 3 puny plants, your suggesting a carbon filter? I can't vent to outside, I'd have to drill a hole through the foundation...Will it stink up the whole house? So the idea is to recirculate the air in the room with a carbon filter set up, correct? To make it effective and to work, the door would have to be closed, correct? I have 1 2" crack on the bottom of the door to permit fresh house air in the room. Would that be ok?