New Grower Little Cheese Auto (Small) CFL Grow

[GreenKnight]

Hey all,

This will soon turn into a grow journal, but for now I'm going to post what I'm working with, and am very appreciative of tips as I am still in the planning stages.

I've got:
-2x 42Watt 6500k CFL light bulbs
-a Y extender for the above
-a hood/reflector type thing to house the Y extender and lights
-5x Little Cheese Auto seeds (planning to germinate and plant two or 3)
-mylar to coat walls of my mini growbox
-finished 'box' will be approx. 2x2x2.5'(high) without a top to accommodate for light's adjustment.
-6 inch fan for air movement (I'm assuming I should have enough 'new' air getting in what with the box not having a top?)
-3x One gallon pots
-Organic potting soil with perlite
-watering nutrients (purchased from seedbank) for everyday feeding, vegging stage, and flowering
***I'll post the exact brands/product information once I actually get started and get to taking some pics ***

I haven't decided if I will leave one or two in the box indoors, where I'll have a limited height of 3ft to grow with, or whether I will move all or some outside after they start to form up. Any suggestions with this?

I realized I'm working with less than optimal light, but my consumption isn't very high (using about a quarter oz per month), so I'm looking to simply get a small, personal yield. An ounce per plant would be absolutely wonderful, but even half that would be more than sufficient for me.

Because these are autoflowering plants, should I still switch from 6500k lights to 2700k? And should I do this at around the 3 week mark? (I'm assuming that's about when they'll start flowering, since they are designed to grow and flower quickly, correct?

Thanks for reading!

 

[GreenKnight]

Okay folks -- here's the first update:

Made my little grow box today -- the dimensions aren't as big as I'd originally anticipated -- it's about 15in wide by 15in long, and maybe 2.5ft high. I don't think the height will be much of an issue since there won't be a roof on 'er.

Attached is a pic of what I've got. I basically took a small wooden filing cabinet, took the drawers off, and flipped it so that it has its own floor. I coated the inside with cut off pieces of an emergency blanket I got from Canadian Tire, and attached hinges to a cut out piece of bulletin board to create a makeshift door for it (hopefully making watering a bit easier).

I also left a small gap on the bottom of the rear wall so that I can run my mini fan into the box (or I might run it from my opened door if I find I don't have enough room).

Right now I'm starting up with two 6500k (42W) CFLs and would like to add a couple more lights, but am unsure what to add since these seeds are autoflowering. Should I mix it up and throw in two 3200k bulbs or 2700k bulbs in there?

My seeds are germinating now (I hope) in a moist paper towel inside a tupperware container. Unfortunately I'm on the move this evening and had to put them in a dark bag in the car -- I hope they're OK as I'd like to plant them ASAP.

Does anyone have any suggestions with what sort of lights I should add? Or would I be OK vegging two or three plants under my two 42w bulbs? Or should I put two more lights in, either 6500k or 3200k? Should I take out my 6500k bulbs once they start to flower?

Thanks for the advice ladies and gentlemen! Let me know what you think of my simple little growbox! More pics to come....

Peace!

 

[GreenKnight]

Pics Update

Finished product:

It's a small box, but I hope it works in a pinch! It might just do for the first little while, then I might put my ladies outside.

I added two 23watt 2700k CFLs to my cheap little ballast tonight; I think I'll try and sprout three plants in there, and then get one outside as soon as its stem is strong enough -- that'll give the other two some breathing space -- it's pretty crowded in there!...

So I'm working with 2x 42watt 6500k (daylight) bulbs, and two 23w 2700k (soft white) bulbs that are going to run 20/4 through the entire cycle; I hope it's sufficient for two or three plants. I don't want them to get very big either! If they outgrow the box -- they're goin' outside!

Attached are the pics of my setup -- it's rugged, and I am grateful for tips!

I might leave the door open most of the time, and might move the clip-on fan if I find that it doesn't touch the stems so well from that spot.

Suggestions?!

 

[GreenKnight]

Two of three seeds sprouted roots today, and so I got 'em planted straight away with a sprinkle of water.

The other one went back in the closet -- I'll check on it around midnight.

How much water should I be giving it at this point?

 

[GreenKnight]

Pic Update -- May 4th -- Healty Start?

Been in the ground three days, one has been really reaching for that light, and the other has just poked her head up.

Hopefully they are looking healthy and I'm not overwatering/underwatering!!

 

[algreen]

Looking good my friend!
Ive got a little girl myself that got two 23w spirals and going to grow small and nice

 

[Dieselnoi]

Good Luck Dude...

 

[Duck Commander]

GreenKnight Welcome to AFN seems to be a great little setup you got there and the strains are cool as you carnt beat a bit of cheese... With it having no top heat build up shouldnt be bad but you could still use a fan to circulate the air in the grow.. Any questions just post them up and we will help you best we can.. :group:

 

[GreenKnight]

Day 10 Update

Hello everybody,

Here they are at day 10. My beginner self would say they look pretty healthy so far, and the one seems to be turning into a mini-mutant with a bunch of short bushy leaves starting. I'm really enjoying the hobby, it's nice to watch their progress.

I introduced "Liquid Karma" by Botanicare, which advertises that it's good for the whole cycle of the plant's life -- just about a half-cap full in my 1.5L (52oz) watering can, which I kill in around two waterings (one a day). Am I overwatering? I have been just waiting til the soil turns dry and then I give 'em another douse of it.

I am going to be introducing "Pure Blend Pro" vegetative formula at day 14 and see how they take to it, and I'll keep up with the Liquid Karma too as the Seedbank lady said it was the equivalent to "our glass of orange juice in the morning" -- so we'll see how it goes, ha ha.

Thanks for following, and for further advice :smoke:

 

[GreenKnight]

Hey guys,

I'm interested in the LST method of growing -- would it work for the dimensions of the space I'm using, and can anyone direct me to the best guide for my purposes? (As I understand there's a few different ways of doing it). If not, should I start topping these gals once they start outgrowing my box?

Thanks!