Micro femseeds GrapeFruit grow - organic, 180W CFL - Grow Diaries - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

riseup · 11-15-2006, 10:26 PM

Hello fellow growers. This is my first indoor grow and I hope I won't mess it up. In the summer I grew a few lowryders in my outdoor garden, so I'm not a total beginner, those were quite easy to grow though. I didn't have too much to spend on this, so it is on the cheap side, but still I hope to yield enough to keep me satisfied, which is not too much, since I am not a heavy smoker.

Cabinet

The cabinet is really small, It is about 12" deep, 16" wide and 30" high. Walls are painted flat white.
It is quite stealthy, aside from the fan noise. But I got it covered - I have put my computer on top of the cabinet, so that the computer's fan noise covers the noise coming from the cabinet. And my computer is on for most of the time, so that should take care of that.

Lights

I have six 30 watt 6400K CFLs which I ordered from ebay for cheap. I will replace some of the bulbs with a more red spectrum, when flowering comes, but right now I think I'll do fine with a blue spectrum. I still have to make a reflector somehow, I'll figure that out soon enough.

Ventilation

Currently I have only one fan installed and I have to drill some intake holes, but I'll take care of that soon enough. I have one 12V computer fan attached to the outtake hole and it seems like I'll have to attach one fan to cool the bulbs (they do get pretty hot for CFLs) and I'll have another fan blowing air at the plants, for stronger stems, as I have read.

Seeds
Ordered a 4 pack of feminized grapefruit from femaleseeds. I've got only 2 seeds, because we split the order with a friend. So we each got two seeds. Hopefully they will all germinate.

Soil

I looked at quite a few garden stores, but none of them carried perlite or the other stuff that you talk about here. So I bought two premade mixes and mixed them together. It said on the labels that they are organic, contain worm castings, some other stuff and nutrients from other organic sources. That looked fine, so I bought two different ones. I also bought some stuff that is said to improve drainage, It was also said on the label that it can be used as a hydroponic medium. Looks like something I've seen lurking around here in the hydro forums. And I mixed that in with the premade mixes.

Nutrients

For the first weeks, the nutrients from the soil should support them well enough, If I'll see any deficiencies, I'll make some organic teas or something. Right now I'm saving up money for biobizz nutrients, when I save enough money, I'll start using those.

The plan

So my plan goes something like this:
1. Sow the seeds in pots (done)
2. Wait for them to sprout
3. Put the lights on 18/6
4. Wait for them to grow a bit
5. Top them
6. Put a scrog net in the cabinet
7. Train the plants to fill the screen
8. Before flowering put the lights out for 36 hours
9. Put the lights on 12/12
10. Wait
11. Put the lights out for 36 hours again
12. Harvest the goods.

Does this plan sound okay ?

I'm still new to growing indoors and to growing in general, so I'll be asking many questions for sure !

riseup · 11-15-2006, 10:28 PM

November 15

I sowed the seeds in the soil, as I read it is the surest method to germinate seeds. The lights are off. I should keep the lights off now, right ?

11-15-2006, 10:37 PM

Sounds like a good plan to me. You might want to consider putting those seeds into damp paper towels for a few days. You can continue to check them and when the taproot is exposed then plant them tail down in the soil. Ive personally never had much luck when putting the seeds directly in soil.
How far can you take the lights up? Grapefruit will stretch a bit in flower so be ready for it. Good luck man.... looks like youre on the right track.

riseup · 11-15-2006, 10:49 PM

Well I already sowed the seeds, so I'll just have to wait. The book that I read said that it is the surest way to germinate seeds, I just have to keep the soil moist. Hope they're right.

How much do you think it will stretch up from the scrog net ? The total height of the cabinet is about 30", the largest pots I've got are about 7" in height and the maximum height I can rise my lights is about 25", that leaves about 18 inches for the plants. Is that enough for ScrOG or maybe I should LST them. Which results in shorter plants without sacrificing yield too much ?

NG2k · 11-15-2006, 10:51 PM

sounds like its a good plan you got there!!!
well done on starting growing and cutting out dealers. a nice personnal stash is whats best for all.... good luck.
keep lights off till one sprouts, lighting levels should be low. if u could keep the lights just down to 2 bulbs for a few days or so, that would be a little kinder on the new seedlings.... 180W is quite strong for small plants.
im impressed you started such a challenge mate, 30" for grapefruit.... gonna be pushed for space!!!! are you planning to use any training? LST could be enough... might have to scrog possibly.
30" minus the 8" pots or so and then minus 3" or so for the lights at the top i reckon u may well have to think about some sortta training methods to use.
good luck..... ill be following this thread for sure....

Peace

NG2k

EDIT... i didnt see your write all that

riseup · 11-19-2006, 01:17 PM

November 19

I can see something above the ground, the seeds have germinated and now I'll switch two of the CFLs on.

NG2k · 11-19-2006, 02:07 PM

riseup,
as slickster said, keep CFL's as close as possible as plants stretch to get closer to light.
as you only have 7" pots, 30" max height and the seeds are feminized, switch to flowering as early as possible. you could Scrog, but you may get away with just LSTing the girls. i would look into topping for definite tho, look at these pictures, the bottom plant has been topped twice leaving 4 growing tips rather than just the one.
https://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/50...ate_060040.jpg
Topping limits the height of the plant and gives you 2 growing tips rather than 1 growing tip every-time you Top..... its very simple and if your have your mind set on doing a Scrog, Topping the plants several times would be a great help as it will give you more growing tips to tie around the Screen.
i think you may have problems with the plant becoming too rootbound during flowering in 7" pots, my guess would be that the lowest to go with is 8", but i cant say for definite tho.
good luck with whatever you do and there are plenty of people on here that will help you along
Peace

NG2k

riseup · 11-19-2006, 02:28 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think I'll probably get a tub that fits the bottom of my cabinet, when the plants outgrow their current pots.

NG2k · 11-19-2006, 02:34 PM

what size pots are they at the moment? 4" ones arent they?
i wouldnt put 2 plants in the same tub or use a tub that isnt easy to remove from the grow room, incase you get a PH/nute problem and have to flush unexpectedly.
also, white walls reflect light better than foil and dont add excessive heat to the room.... keep it as it is... looks great :wink:!

riseup · 11-20-2006, 06:11 PM

I've made a few changes in the setup:

* changed the way my lights are hung, remade the whole light setup. the first one was falling apart.
* bought one of those cheap cooking pans for a reflector.
* finally made a proper intake hole, with a low voltage computer fan pulling air in
* bought a new outtake fan, a computer fan, it is pretty big and quiet - just what I needed.
* bought a proper thermometer. The temps on ground level (where the seedlings are) are keeping at 27C (80F)

I'll have some pictures when I get my battery charger for the camera fixed.

11-15-2006, 10:26 PM	#1
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	1 plant micro grapefruit grow Hello fellow growers. This is my first indoor grow and I hope I won't mess it up. In the summer I grew a few lowryders in my outdoor garden, so I'm not a total beginner, those were quite easy to grow though. I didn't have too much to spend on this, so it is on the cheap side, but still I hope to yield enough to keep me satisfied, which is not too much, since I am not a heavy smoker. Cabinet The cabinet is really small, It is about 12" deep, 16" wide and 30" high. Walls are painted flat white. It is quite stealthy, aside from the fan noise. But I got it covered - I have put my computer on top of the cabinet, so that the computer's fan noise covers the noise coming from the cabinet. And my computer is on for most of the time, so that should take care of that. Lights I have six 30 watt 6400K CFLs which I ordered from ebay for cheap. I will replace some of the bulbs with a more red spectrum, when flowering comes, but right now I think I'll do fine with a blue spectrum. I still have to make a reflector somehow, I'll figure that out soon enough. Ventilation Currently I have only one fan installed and I have to drill some intake holes, but I'll take care of that soon enough. I have one 12V computer fan attached to the outtake hole and it seems like I'll have to attach one fan to cool the bulbs (they do get pretty hot for CFLs) and I'll have another fan blowing air at the plants, for stronger stems, as I have read. Seeds Ordered a 4 pack of feminized grapefruit from femaleseeds. I've got only 2 seeds, because we split the order with a friend. So we each got two seeds. Hopefully they will all germinate. Soil I looked at quite a few garden stores, but none of them carried perlite or the other stuff that you talk about here. So I bought two premade mixes and mixed them together. It said on the labels that they are organic, contain worm castings, some other stuff and nutrients from other organic sources. That looked fine, so I bought two different ones. I also bought some stuff that is said to improve drainage, It was also said on the label that it can be used as a hydroponic medium. Looks like something I've seen lurking around here in the hydro forums. And I mixed that in with the premade mixes. Nutrients For the first weeks, the nutrients from the soil should support them well enough, If I'll see any deficiencies, I'll make some organic teas or something. Right now I'm saving up money for biobizz nutrients, when I save enough money, I'll start using those. The plan So my plan goes something like this: 1. Sow the seeds in pots (done) 2. Wait for them to sprout 3. Put the lights on 18/6 4. Wait for them to grow a bit 5. Top them 6. Put a scrog net in the cabinet 7. Train the plants to fill the screen 8. Before flowering put the lights out for 36 hours 9. Put the lights on 12/12 10. Wait 11. Put the lights out for 36 hours again 12. Harvest the goods. Does this plan sound okay ? I'm still new to growing indoors and to growing in general, so I'll be asking many questions for sure ! Last edited by riseup; 01-19-2007 at 01:02 AM..
	Quote

11-15-2006, 10:28 PM	#2
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	November 15 I sowed the seeds in the soil, as I read it is the surest method to germinate seeds. The lights are off. I should keep the lights off now, right ?
	Quote

11-15-2006, 10:37 PM	#3
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Sounds like a good plan to me. You might want to consider putting those seeds into damp paper towels for a few days. You can continue to check them and when the taproot is exposed then plant them tail down in the soil. Ive personally never had much luck when putting the seeds directly in soil. How far can you take the lights up? Grapefruit will stretch a bit in flower so be ready for it. Good luck man.... looks like youre on the right track.
	Quote

11-15-2006, 10:49 PM	#4
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	Well I already sowed the seeds, so I'll just have to wait. The book that I read said that it is the surest way to germinate seeds, I just have to keep the soil moist. Hope they're right. How much do you think it will stretch up from the scrog net ? The total height of the cabinet is about 30", the largest pots I've got are about 7" in height and the maximum height I can rise my lights is about 25", that leaves about 18 inches for the plants. Is that enough for ScrOG or maybe I should LST them. Which results in shorter plants without sacrificing yield too much ?
	Quote

11-15-2006, 10:51 PM	#5
NG2k Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 326	sounds like its a good plan you got there!!! well done on starting growing and cutting out dealers. a nice personnal stash is whats best for all.... good luck. keep lights off till one sprouts, lighting levels should be low. if u could keep the lights just down to 2 bulbs for a few days or so, that would be a little kinder on the new seedlings.... 180W is quite strong for small plants. im impressed you started such a challenge mate, 30" for grapefruit.... gonna be pushed for space!!!! are you planning to use any training? LST could be enough... might have to scrog possibly. 30" minus the 8" pots or so and then minus 3" or so for the lights at the top i reckon u may well have to think about some sortta training methods to use. good luck..... ill be following this thread for sure.... Peace NG2k EDIT... i didnt see your write all that Last edited by NG2k; 11-15-2006 at 10:53 PM..
	Quote

11-19-2006, 01:17 PM	#6
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	November 19 I can see something above the ground, the seeds have germinated and now I'll switch two of the CFLs on.
	Quote

11-19-2006, 02:07 PM	#7
NG2k Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 326	riseup, as slickster said, keep CFL's as close as possible as plants stretch to get closer to light. as you only have 7" pots, 30" max height and the seeds are feminized, switch to flowering as early as possible. you could Scrog, but you may get away with just LSTing the girls. i would look into topping for definite tho, look at these pictures, the bottom plant has been topped twice leaving 4 growing tips rather than just the one. https://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/50...ate_060040.jpg Topping limits the height of the plant and gives you 2 growing tips rather than 1 growing tip every-time you Top..... its very simple and if your have your mind set on doing a Scrog, Topping the plants several times would be a great help as it will give you more growing tips to tie around the Screen. i think you may have problems with the plant becoming too rootbound during flowering in 7" pots, my guess would be that the lowest to go with is 8", but i cant say for definite tho. good luck with whatever you do and there are plenty of people on here that will help you along Peace NG2k Last edited by NG2k; 11-19-2006 at 02:10 PM..
	Quote

11-19-2006, 02:28 PM	#8
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'll probably get a tub that fits the bottom of my cabinet, when the plants outgrow their current pots.
	Quote

11-19-2006, 02:34 PM	#9
NG2k Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 326	what size pots are they at the moment? 4" ones arent they? i wouldnt put 2 plants in the same tub or use a tub that isnt easy to remove from the grow room, incase you get a PH/nute problem and have to flush unexpectedly. also, white walls reflect light better than foil and dont add excessive heat to the room.... keep it as it is... looks great :wink:!
	Quote

11-20-2006, 06:11 PM	#10
riseup Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 119	I've made a few changes in the setup: * changed the way my lights are hung, remade the whole light setup. the first one was falling apart. * bought one of those cheap cooking pans for a reflector. * finally made a proper intake hole, with a low voltage computer fan pulling air in * bought a new outtake fan, a computer fan, it is pretty big and quiet - just what I needed. * bought a proper thermometer. The temps on ground level (where the seedlings are) are keeping at 27C (80F) I'll have some pictures when I get my battery charger for the camera fixed.
	Quote