First Grow in new Climate

Hi all, so here I am in sunny South Florida to enjoy my golden years (crock of shit). What do I find out when I get here, first it’s way to fucking hot plus I don’t know anyone so I’m up shit’s creek. My buddy up north took care of me and made sure I got decent shit. Now it’s over and I’m up against the wall it’s REG or nothing so I decided to do it myself. Notice my grow box it’s located in an air conditioned garage. The box is just big enough to hold an 8 10” Autopot smartvalve system. The box is 30 “ deep, 48” long and 72” high. I have a vented 600W MH/HPS lighting system and I’m using a 20 gallon Rubbermaid tub to hold the nutrients and a Prime water cooler. I’m using a 4 inch duct fan to expel the heat from the lights, I have a big bathroom exhaust fan mounted up top and Mylar on the walls. I have Perlite and Coco coir as a grow medium. Anyone that can give me any advice I can use it, this is my first grow in this climate and my last grow was 20 years ago (it worked to some extent). Check out the pics, please be critical

Equipment = 600w MH/HPS 8 Autopot Smart valve system, 5000 BTU A/C grow area 9 Sq feet height 72 inches. Prime 1/15 HP water Cooler, 2 air rocks on one pump, and 2 small CFL grow lamps. The whole thing is lined with mylar.

Tuesday August 5 2008 started germinating 10 Big Buds in distilled water PH 6.0 . I’m using Liquid Earth nutrients which consists of a base and grow or bloom solution.
Friday August 15 I transplanted seeds to my Grow Medium 80% Coco and 20 Perlite. I’m feeding ¼ normal amount PH 5.5 PPM 150.Aug 11 nothing has popped Temp 70F
Aug 12 at Morning feeding I see green in two of the 10 cups, temp 70 Relative humidity around 80%[/font]
Aug 14 Basically I’m not happy maybe one plant PH 5.5 225 PPM, I have 10 Bubble Gum germinating this is a do over. I could have fucked up with the PH my Hanna Phep 4 is giving nutty readings and won’t calibrate. I’m switching to my backup Milwaukee.
Aug 16 – 9 bubble gum germinated within 48 hours, I planted seedlings into small plastic cups with holes in the bottom filled with Perlite & Coco. Plants reside in grow box using florescent grow lights temp 73. [/font]
Aug 17 turned on the 600W MH, temp went up to 90 lights are about 2 feet above seedlings, I move them up a bit hand watering 4 or 5 times a day.
Aug 18 my temp in the box came down to 80F and I have a few nice seedlings.
]Aug 23 transplanted to 10 Autopots, started water cooler and air pumps. I now have 6 Bubblegum and 1 Big Bud. I’m concerned about the amount of water in the pots, it seems like I have to much.
Aug 26 PH 6.5 PPM 300 solution at 72F, I lost my Milwaukee PH meter I dropped it in the water. Man is it hot with that A/C working I I’m seeing temps go to 95 almost every day, forgetaboutit if the car has just been used.
Aug 29 – I’ve increased the solution up to 300 PPM and try to keep the ph at 6.5. I have 7 guys plus one maybe, it’s trying hard.
Aug 31 – PH 6.0 PPM 325 I swapped out my Nutrients I’m having a hell of a time trying to keep the PH right. This is what I’ve noticed, the Nutrients are 60 degrees F in the tank, in the pots it could go to 85 F. Due to evaporation the PH and PPM in the pots goes up also.
Sept 1 – PH 6.0 PPM 325 I put mylar on the top of each pot, It looks like I have a Midget plant, everything else looks OK.
Sept 2 – PH 5.8 PPM 345 I got some solution on one of the plants and a few leafs are burnt. My Midget bubblegum is getting bigger, I’m hoping it’s a Bonzi Fem so I can use it as Mom. Considering that I’m using 15 amps 24/7 I’ve put the lights on a timer and I shutting them down for 4 hours a night. This will also allow the A/C to bring the Temp down considerably ( 70 F).
Sept 3 PH 5.5 PPM 350, I have one plant that the leaves are curling all others except for the Midget look file.
Sept 4 PH 6.0 PPM 350 all is fine except for my one sick plant. I made a 150 PPM solution and poured ½ gallon thru 10” Pot and let it drain. I replaced into it’s place.
Sept 5 – PH 6.0 PPM 400 same as yesterday, plants are getting 20 hours of light and I’ll be leaching my sick plant

ANY ADVICE IS APPREACIATED - I NEED ALL THJE HELP I CAN GET.

 

I've got 7 Bubblegum and One Bigbud, I'm using the water from my A/C it measures below 20 PPM so I figured it's cool. If anone knows why I shouldn't please let me kinow. If anyone notices a problem please let me know.

Thanks
CD

 

Ugh... my 3rd time typing this as Im an idiot and keep clicking on pictures...

Your plants look great bro... seems like you have a great handle on things... :cheers2:

Personally, I use my tap water (after it has been bubbled to evaporate the chlorine) as it contains some trace minerals and nutes that the plants like... but this varies depending on your tap... some water isn't good to use... My tap is between .1-.2 EC, about 100ppm (eutech)...

The only problems Ive noticed are some small magnesium and calcium deficiencies, but all the new growth looks primo! I recently had this same problems when I tried out coco without using coco specific nutes... I'm used to soilless...

mag def: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=39213&d=1220628618
Ca def? (one to the right...): http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=39291&d=1221061777

Either way, they still looks awesome... just trying to help resolve any problems you may encounter in the future...

Anyway, coco is very good at absorbing K, but not so great at absorbing Ca (and calcium and magnesium defs go hand in hand). Just keep this in mind... maybe add a little calmag to the mix throughout the grow... but first ask someone with more experience in the medium, as I don't want to give bunk advice... the peeps on the coco board on icmag.com would know better than I...

Look forward to seeing more... take care cd :sifone:

 

Thanks for the kudos my friend, I've been here before only to lose an entire harvest, I hope I can see this one to completion. I'll be back in a while with some new pics. Have a great day. The nutrients trade named Liquid Earth are designed to work with the Autopot SmartValve system, it was sold as a turn key/plug type of system including Coco and Perlite.


Peace
CD

 

GROW UPDATE


Sept 6 – PH 5.5 PPM 475 I’ve changed the mixture of my nutrients according to the directions for vegetative growth, I’m feeding 3 parts Grow to each part of BASE. I’ve also added a small amount of supplements.
Sept 8 – PH 5.8 PPM 480 – sick guy is looking better, midget is growing and Mr. Big bud is getting BIG. I had an accident which caused me to lose most of my Nutrients, I refilled the tank Ph 5.7 PPM 550, I need more grow or I’m in deep shit.
Sept 9 PH 5.5 PPM 550 – Used about 1 1/2 gallons of solution which I replaced. I’m only have a small amount of “GROW” I have an order in for more, it’s due on the 11th. The plants look OK but I think I’m over feeding, the leaves on some look like they are curling under.
Sept 10 – PH 5.9 PPM 550 – I removed some dead leaves, it’s using a gallon of water each night. The plants are looking OK. I’m thinking about Trimming and or training.
Sept 11 – PH 7.0 PPM 505, I adjusted the PH. I uped the Florish Nuits to increase the calcium. I understand Coco makes it harder to take in calcium.
Sept 12 – PH 6.0 PPM 545 at morning reading. I just noticed that my filter got clogged up, 3 of the 4 pots are dry as a bone. I replaced the filter, the pots filled. Disaster avoided (I hope). Maybe it should have went down, Marcela is acting up and I’m really scared she will do something stupid.
Sept 13 PH 5.5 PPM 625 – I was low 2 gallons so I added and pumped up the food to 625 a full dose. I’m noticing yellowing around the leaf.



ANY ADVICE IS APPREACIATED - I NEED ALL THJE HELP I CAN GET.

 

Help I have a jungle, my plants are almost 4 weeks in Vegitation and they are getting real big. I'm concerned about space and want to flower so I can pull out the boys, them using the SCROG method get those buds. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
CD

 

Hi all, my garden is now 35 days under the lights, I've got plants from 3 to 4 feet tall and except for the fact that I need room the plants are happy. I've decided that I'm going to start flowering them and eventually SCROG them. Here are some of my last pics. Thanks to all.

CD

 

I'd defiantly tell you those are ready to flower, lookin good though. Keep us posted

 

My Gals, 4 of them have been flowering for almost 5 weeks.

CD