New Grower Vegasbear's Noob Growing Adventures

[Vegasbear87]

And all four are up!!!

Off to the races we go!

Also, the camera on my new phone is incredible compared to my older one. WOW!

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 2

Happy babies.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Res PH crashed again. Tomorrow I will be flushing the system completely with fresh RO water and running for a couple of hours then draining twice. I'll then feed with reduced nutrients.

First three grows went with pretty much zero difficulty and fantastic results. Figured it was time for Murphy to have his say. I can't figure out what's causing the PH to drop like this. Using the same feed as last two grows in this same system - AN Connoisseur Bloom Ph Perfect A&B, CalMag, Hydroguard, and Great White. Water at 66-67F.

Last two grows I think I checked the PH once a week with newly zero drift. Rock steady.

Roots look ok, don't smell, don't feel slimy.

Part of the reason I'm switching to DTW. Addressing this issue has become a huge PITA and waste of water.

Pretty sure the little stunted one isn't gonna make it.

I don't think this one will be a success. I'll fight it all the way into the ground, though because I'm stubborn.

Kinda bummed though.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 9

Relocated the veg tent and set up the feed system. Two major mistakes:
-The floraflex yellow insert is 2 GPM, not 2 GPH. Thank goodness I waswatching and tested it. All plants got around a half gallon soaking so no more feed today.
-The plants were lower than the water level, so even though the pump shut off, it turned into a siphon. I have elevated them above the top of the res and hopefully that fixes it.

Will go to the hardware store Monday and grab some 1gph pressure compensating drippers to install at the hose ends. Hand feed until then.

Current feed:

5ml/gal CalMag
4ml/gal AN Connoisseur A&B
0.4 ml/gal DripClean

PH 5.75

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 11

Got the feed schedule figured out, and have a second pump in the res set to circulate for 15 min every two hours to keep it mixed up.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 13

First set of leaves showing some yuck, but appears to be clearing up on the new growth. I'm not sure if maybe this occurred because I refrained from any watering in the first nine days or what but I will be keeping an eye on it. New growth looks OK and started coming in after feed began.

@Mañ'O'Green any input ?

Currently feeding approximately 0.6gal per plant per day using 1gph drippers across multiple feedings. I plan to work this up slowly as I go along.

Overall very pleased so far.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 21

Bumped A&B up to 6ml/gal
CalMag 5ml/gal
Drip Clean 0.4ml/gal
3ppm HTH Shock

Bumped up my watering times - following @Mañ'O'Green advice and coming out pretty close to the same schedule with a few tweaks.

I'm thinking of piping the drip system from the res to the manifold with 1/2" pvc rather than the 1/2" flexible tubing.

I'm acquiring a second 4x4 from friends in trade for my 2x4 this week. I will run the two Spider Farmer SF-2000s that I have in there while I save up for six more Autocobs (I want to run five in each tent). I have a second Floraflex setup on hand already, as well and a second table, I just need to build another stand.

I plan to build a pair of plenum boxes, so that I can run one of my ACInfinity 6" fans as an active intake for both tents, and the other ACInfinity 6" fan for exhaust from both tents.

Here's what I mean:

Now I just gotta get my hands on four more autos and I can get them going!

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 22

Look at the difference a day makes. I don't think I'll top these. I've never done an untopped grow.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 24

Topped them.

Looking healthy.

 

[Vegasbear87]

Day 26

Boom! Shamelessly stolen from @Mañ'O'Green after realizing I have like twenty of these tomato cages juat sitting around in the garage taking up space.