New Grower First Timer

[jackmc]

Hello,

I am growing SS Fast Bud under 300W Marse II (with Cree 5W diodes they call it 700W.) I've got a meter square grow tent that is ventilated with a carbon filter. I purchased SuperCloset's Superponic 8 hydro system and TechnaFlora's Recipie for Success nute system. I started 6 seeds in Grodon rockwool cubes and placed the cubes into the hydro unit surrounding them with clay grow rocks on April 18th. 5 of the 6 look like they may survive although only 2 of the plants is flourishing. I've been monitoring air & water temperature, RH and PH.

Two products that I have been using that I have not read much about on AFN are Grodon's free app GroLog and the LaCrosse Alerts Wireless Remote Temp/RH Monitors. The LaCrosse device sends data to their web site every 5 minutes so you can monitor your grow over the internet. I bought the model that monitors air temp, RH and water temp.

My first challenge in growing with this equipment is my light. I believe it's too powerful for the size tent I've chosen. I say this because at first it appeared to be bleaching the plants. I've ordered a photography diffuser but until it arrives I am using a sheet of copier paper to block some of the light. I may however be mistaken about the light as even with the light partially blocked the lower leaves on the larger of my plants have recently shown some sign of a deficiency.

The Guru's here at AFN have suggested that I have a Cal/Mag deficiency so I flushed the system and have apparently saved the plants. I'll post some pics later

 

[Eekman]

Hello Jackmc,

Nice to have you here at afn,

Hope things go smoothly for here on out for you.

I will be checking in to see how things are goin from time to time.

:Sharing One:

Peace

Eek

 

[az2000]

300W Mars II (with Cree 5W diodes they call it 700W.) I believe it's too powerful for the size tent I've chosen. I say this because at first it appeared to be bleaching the plants. ... suggested that I have a Cal/Mag deficiency so I flushed the system and have apparently saved the plants.

The Mars 900w is the correct size for 1 meter sq. tent. (Some people use the 1200w for that size area.). How what is the distance of the light from the plant?

I didn't think flushing would help a calmag deficiency unless something else was happening, like a ph problem with nutrient lockout. Are you using a calmag supplement? Epsom salt is a source of mag and is fast-acting. I've done 1 tsp per gallon during a deficiency.

You can also foliar feed with a spray bottle. That's handy if something else is happening like a ph problem inhibiting feeding through roots. (Foliar feed away from the light and let the droplets on the leaves dry before putting it under the light. The water can concentrate light on the leaf and cause a burn. If it's in bud, be careful of your humidity. Weigh the need to foliar feed versus the risk of contributing to mold, use a fan to dry quicker, etc.).

Do you have a grow journal where you document all your paramaters (light, soil, feed, ph, everything you do)?

 

[jackmc]

I appreciate it.

 

[jackmc]

The grow tent is a almost a meter cube - AgroMax Window Grow Tent - Original Short Stack (39.25x39.25x30.50 tall.) I'm growing in a 46" tall space. I've elevated the floor of the tent to the top edge of the hydro unit. 24" is the most I'll have for space for the light above the floor of the tent where the plants sit.

The plants were cranking when they developed a yellowish, almost fuzzy, look in the meat of the leaves between the veins. The lower leaves are now half dry and crumbeling off at the ends. There's a little damage to the 2nd set of leaves but the rest of the plants look healthy. It's affected the smallest plants the least. I flushed the system because when I noticed the problem I increased the strength of the nutrient solution and then decided to start from scratch.

I added TechnaFlora MagiCal at the recommended strength. I'm running all of other nutes at 25% of the recommended level. I'd love a simpler nute system. Any advice? Has anyone tried Advanced Nutrients buffered nutrients?

Thanks for the advice to foliar feed I was worried that that would be the final nail but I'll try it now. I have this SM-90 that I am using in the reservoir. Anyone have any experience with SM-90?

 

[az2000]

I'm growing in a 46" tall space. I've elevated the floor of the tent to the top edge of the hydro unit. 24" is the most I'll have for space for the light above the floor of the tent where the plants sit.

That's not a lot of vertical space for a light that strong. Now I understand why you said that light may be too strong for your space. You could pm the user eyes on fire.<<link She(?) uses Mars and would have a better idea about the distance.

Do you have a photo of the condition/deficiency?

I recently switched to LED and had the same kind of problem 2-3 weeks into flower. I'm only running a 180w (120w actual) or 130w (85w actual) in a tent with similar height restrictions. I'm not sure if it's the LED. I had a serious ph problem too. That's when I found foliar feeding helped.

Mine seems to have bounced back. You should see improvement too. The only question is if that light is too much at that distance.

Edit: I used AN Flora Series for my first grow. I had good experience. And, I wonder if its buffered nature helped prevent the acidity problem I'm having now with a plant grown using Grow More Sea Grow. I like the Grow More. I think the soil acidity problem was my fault. But, I think the AN Flora Series buffered nature helped to stabilize that soil problem.

 

[jackmc]

I ordered a piece of photography diffusion plastic to tone down the LED. I'd like a dimmer but have been to buzy to build one. I'm going to try the foliar feeding later tonight. Sorry about the quality of the pics. The first picture uploads upside down every time I try. I have a CFL light coming to snap pics better and try to get a little different light spectrum. I appreciate the advice.

 

[jackmc]

Back on Track

Well the plants have recovered and they are growing like mad. I am almost at the end of 4 weeks. How large should my plants be?

 

[jackmc]

I may be jumping the gun as I am only at week 4 but when should I place my screen over the plants? I only have about 24" of vertical grow space and the taller plants are about 4" high. I am planning on training them aggressively and will need enough space to work under the screen. I am concerned that my LED will bleach the plants. Any opinions or sage advice?

 

[jackmc]

What a Difference a Week Makes

Here are two pics of the plants taken 8 days apart from one another. Has anyone has grown Sweet Seeds Fast Bud? When should I place my screen over these plants and how close to the plants can I get. If you blow up the picture taken under LED light you can see I've started LST. I've pretty agressivly bent the plants out toward the perimeter of the tent. Any thoughts?

Sorry about the orientation on the first pic. It keeps happening to me when I upload