New Grower my very first medical grow with 250watt dual spectrum CFL, growbox, 9 plants

[dfx12]

hello,

after introducing me

(https://www.autoflower.org/f35/yeah-i-succeed-signin-up-d-^^-b-me-50-50-user-22908.html)

i got the very friendly advice, that i should post my own grow-thread, so that is easier for all helpers to see all informations concerning my grow at one place, and then giving answers.

i'll grow 3x automazar, 3x skunk#1 auto, 3x mega bud, auto (all are feminized).

well, first, this is my equipment:

- growbox (75x75x185cm)
- white plan for the inner side of the box for reflecting
- CFL dual spectrum, 250 watt, with boosts at 2600k und 6500k
- "hammerschlag" reflector
- chains and hooks for positioning the lamp easiliy
- 9 pots (7 liter and 22x22cm)
- ventilator with clip for position wherever it's needed
- time switch for light and ventilator
- 50liter bio bizz all mix

i think, this is all.

in my introducing thread i was told, that 9 plants might be a little too much for my medium growbox and the light - what do you say - what is supposed to be the right amount? do you think, growing 6 plants and then in the end having better and bigger plants/buds?

the other question i have is, how i shoul do seeding. my plan is simple:

i dig it 1-2cm in the "fluffy"ground, not making the bio bizz erde too strong/hard, so the plant gets enough o2 and giving water so much, that the first drops get out at the bottom?

i also have jiffy's - would you prefer them?

how much water am i supposed to give the plants?
how wet should the potting soil be? how often do i have to do that?
when the seed comes out withits helmet still on their heads how close should be the cfl light? should i start lighting 14/10 hours?

could you give me some advices?

sincerely yours,

dfx12

 

[blue]

Hi DFX12

Welcome to the forums ^_^

I'll do my best to help out answering some of your questions.

We have a similar cab, you've got 15cm more width and depth. It's my opinion that you'll fit a maximum of 3 automazar in there in 11 litre pots. even that will be tight if they grow to some of their potential.

I've done jiffy and direct to soil. I prefer direct to soil. Fill the pot with soil, dechlorinate and PH my water to around 6.2. Water the pot without the seed in it.
Leave if tor a couple of hours, then poke a pen hole in the top about 2-3mm, drop your seed in the hole - sprinkle some soil over the top and give the soil a light spray... then put it under your lights. (you can use the top third of a coke bottle for a humidity dome if you like)

You can keep the lights on 24 hours if you like - a comfortable germming temp should be around 80f

I'd start a 250w cfl about 12-16 inches from the seedling to start and have a fan blowing between the light and top of soil (this is where a humidty dome comes in a little handy - stops the seedling getting to blown about when it pops its head)

It'll take about 5 days to pop up from the soil.

I Leave the dome on for the best part of 2 weeks until at least 4 true leaves

With a pre soaked pot You shouldn't need to water it for at least 5 days - you can lift the humidity dome and give it a light misting and just around the base of the stalk - no need to water the whole pot)

I keep my lighting on 20 hours (off for 4)

When the seeds come out with their helmets on (lol) your light should be about 12 - 16 inches. you can start to lower it after a few weeks to get it closer to the plant - as close as 2 inches with a fan blowing accross it

I hope this answers some of your questions

Happy growing
Blue ^_^

Edit: as far has how often to water, canna likes dry cycles and you want to encourage your roots to go searching. When the plant is more established you can tell by the wieght of the pot - water when the pot is polystyrine light. you can also tell by the leaves, when they start to droop and wilt (eg not reach out flat or reach up to the light) it's time to water.

Double edit: many people (including myself) have had good results with biobizz allmix soil - but more people have less problems with biobizz light mix! - just a heads up, if you can change it, i'd consider it - if not, no bother really, it's just a slightly hot mix and has been known to burn seedlings a little

 

[dfx12]

thank you very much for helping me, giving me answers i need. everything was understood but the part with the dome, the cola bottle i didn't understand. could you explain it in other words?

 

[blue]

Sure

Glad you understood most of what i wrote ^_^

If you get 1.5 or 2 litre coke bottle (drink or empty the contents)
Measure from the lid about 5 inches down and cut all the way round.

then you have a dome that you can put on top of where you sowed the (now covered) seed

This will help keep humidity high where the seed is and offer some protection in it's early life

All the best
Blue ^_^

 

[dfx12]

ah - ok - i heard that for the first time, but it sounds quite logically. i think there will be many things i ask here about in the future, but i like learning about growing, it got me in fever right now and i didn't even seed...where will that end? perhaps i'm growing and growing and giving all i can't smoke alone to people, who don't have money, just like robin hood, or should i say robin weed?! ...hehe


...that's just my kind of humor, don't take it serious.

 

[dfx12]

hello,

could someone please tell me, at what age of the seedling it is nessesary to give them a fan? i don't want to blow this little lady away, but also want, that she gets strong in an early age.

further, because of users telling me, 9 plants in a 75x75x185cm growbox are a little too much, i decided to seed only 6. i think this could be right that way, even though one told me, i should only have 3 plants and then try to get the best result out of them -
but i want to get sure to have a harvest which is helping me for a lobng time and i am not good enough yet, to get the best out of them, i have zero experience, only basic knowledge, so i bet on 6 plants

by the way - i started reading the sticky threads in this forum and it is so much knowledge concentrated here with many users with a really high and long experience growing their own. i think it will take a long time to adapt all this knowledge - but i'm looking forward to!

i just want to thank all these users, who invest a big amount of time for helping others here at AFN for "nothin" but only wanting to help.

i think this is a really, non-selfish, great attitude !!! makes me feel nice being here! THANX!!!

sincerely yours

dfx12

 

[reikoblue]

Hey Dfx, welcome dude. For most of the watering and seedling parts, theres some good posts on the forum here which will explain a bit better an from the size of your box and pots, i really would only start with 3 buddy. I have a similar sized DIY grow box i shoved in 5 plants, down to 4 after an accident but im still tight on space an light. Dont shoot yourself in the foot like i did

Oh and I've just started my first grow, with literally only the knowledge ive picked up off AFN so if you want gimme a message mate

 

[dfx12]

oh - ok - and you really do think, that the harvest from 3 plants in that box would be bigger than the harvest from 6 plants in the end?
or did you mean, the harvest is proportional bigger, that the plants have more and bigger buds comparing to 6 in one place??
could you please tell me, with which kind of light you work? for my growbox itis a cfl dual spectrum,250watt with boost on 2600k and 6500k.

 

[blue]

oh - ok - and you really do think, that the harvest from 3 plants in that box would be bigger than the harvest from 6 plants in the end?
or did you mean, the harvest is proportional bigger, that the plants have more and bigger buds comparing to 6 in one place??
could you please tell me, with which kind of light you work? for my growbox itis a cfl dual spectrum,250watt with boost on 2600k and 6500k.

I've used 250w CFL in the past and now i'm using 250w HPS.

The thing is, ideally you'll be sowing your seed in the pot that you will finish in - some people would say the bigger the better. You want a nice lot of soil so you get a good root system.
So for me, 11 litre pots are the way forward. i can fit 3 in my cab plus a movement fan.

Don't forget your plants are sharing the light - the more they can take each, the better they will do.
I've seen people recommending about 100w light per plant - makes sense to me.

If you put in lots and they grow too dense, none of them will get the optimum light that they need.

Then there's the hassle of pulling them out to water them - and how much water and nutes you'll be mixing.

Ultimately it's your choice, you could always try the number you want and if space gets tight, start removing some of them (seems a shame to me, but on my next run i'll be starting three and if i run out of space, i'll pick my best looking 2 and kill the other one)

Automazars are pretty consistent, even for new growers! - With some good growing advice from AFN, i see no reason why you couldn't do great with three plants.

Just my again! ^_^

Good luck with the grow!

 

[dfx12]

hey,

that's me again

what would yousay - if i would grow with only 3 plants in my growbox in a seperated room WITHOUT air conditioning? i live in the top of the house and it is a building with 3 stocks , so the next neighbours are living beyond my home.

the heat won't be a problem, because i am growing with a 250watt dual lamp.

could this work? what is with the circualiting co2 is it enough, if i give the plants fresh air 3 times a day?

- is there as much in it, as it is needed by the plant, because of its photosynthesis?

and how big would the problem with the smells of three plants?

would you say, if i stay in this little dimensions, it is ok? would a good roomsprays do their job in this case?

- and how big would be the danger of noun? how do you say in english is it "nouning"?

greetings, and a big thank you for helping me so much in this forum.

after these last questions, i know enough for getting it all started within this week! i am looking forward to!

dfx12