my first grow any advice is usefull :)

looks good! Dont be afraid to set the plants closer to the lights if they appear to be stretching for the light, CFL's will remain relatively cool and probably wont burn your plant unless they're closer than 2"

The temp is about right.. you want at least 20C and no more than 28C

 

Now we're getting there looking good ya plants will be up around ya ears in no time. Growing addictive so if you intend to do more then 1 grow keep track of how old your bulbs and tubes are. No light last forever even though they look bright so with cfl and tubes change them every 6 months or so and ya wont go far wrong on the light scene. Also worth pointing out that ya wont be able to grow overly tall plants with cfl's coz they dont have the effective range of other types of lights so 2-3 foot tall would be around the limit. Now a nice little fan in with ya plants is a must have too.

 

how much time should i turn lights off? 20/4?

 

I do 16/8.

 

In the vegetative state you can run them 24 hours a day since they dont grow in the dark, some people will use 18/6 if they find its getting too hot for the plants and they need to cool off, or to conserve power

the only time the plants will -absolutely need- darkness is when they are ready to flower (or you are sexing the plants), the 12/12... during the "night" they create sugars and such that assist with the creation of nice big buds

 

The only time plants need 24 hr light is during cloning process. Otherwise let them sleep at least 6 hours out of 24. Just like humans, tired plants are more difficult to deal with!>P

 

Hey dubtrice you sure plants dont grow in the night time??. Coz i think they do. If ya under powered on ya lights a 24 hours cycle will grow tall spindlely plants that look knackered.

 

its an ongoing debate lol

I did a google search on "18/6 or 24/7" and found that people say 24/7 lighting produces more foliage, leaf growth. Some people say 18/6 produce more females and better root structure but I think sex and roots would be pretty hard to associate with a light cycle.

I also read another comment that says 24/7 will grow more compact plants, more foliage, while 18/6 will create more internodal spacing or taller plants.

The reason for taller 18/6 plants is because they are stretching for the light, just like if you had place the light too far away. Of course, on 24/7 you can always move the light a llittle bit higher if you want a taller plant.

Some say its more natural to use 18/6, well, I just want the fattest plant as fast as I can get it so I stick to 24/7

Even though the darkness isn't required in the vegetative state, you can grow perfectly healthy plants on 18/6 or 24/7 lighting'

24/7 lighting is also nice if you have an unpredictable schedule

So heres the argument

18/6:
- costs less $$$ (if using high wattage bulbs)
- taller plants
- more "natural"
- lower temps

24/7:
- more foliage
- no schedule conflicts
- height control
- faster flowering

 

Hmmmm, food for thought!

 

i personally like 24/0 for cloning, 18/6 for veg and 12/12 for flower......keep it simple.....

 

Thanks dubtrice for doing the leg work so us lazy buggers dont have too.
If ya think about it 24 hours of light gotta be stressfull coz there not getting any rest to recharge and in my book a stressed plant equals a male plant.
If there gonna stretch on 18 of light then surely there gonna stretch more under 24 coz you have extend the growing time.
It would be more natural to start on 12 and move up to 18 and then slowly back down to 12 thats how the seasons in a year would be.
Not trying to pick holes its just that ya can cut it slice it and dice it to argue anyway ya want but at end of the day ya take it all with a pinch of salt and find what works best for you.

 

here are my plants im doing 20/4

 

you need to build you one of these..



This is a 3 socket wall fixture you can modify it with splitters making it alone 900Weqv with CFLs. 4x3.. but Im only currently using this one 2x3...
Center socket receptacle (outlet) makes good extensions if you stack them, or you can hang the fixture on the side vertically to light up sides..
See 4 footers in the background sometimes these are used for full coverage and reVegs of MOM..s

 

you guys need HID's

 

a Ode to ye' who pays little attentions around here..

 

Pay attention at the back we're be asking question later.
Actually posters plants were looking like they were starting to come back after a bad start.

 

BRIGHT LIGHT....

 

here are my little plants now how can i tell what is male what is female?

 

Should be plenty of pictures on the web of what they look like.
Keep checking your plants heads and node points males will grow little balls that drop on stalks or just open up to cast pollen whiles female grow little balls that are more oval shaped (they dont drop) and have a tiny hair coming from them ( a pisil ) also sometimes all ya see would be a pisil coming out of the growing head. Most mj will start to show sex at the 6-8 week mark and some wont show unless you bloom or force them too show. What i do is to grow for 6 weeks and then remove the growing head after a week the point where you removed the main head will have two ( or more if ya good ) new heads and under that ya see pre flowers starting to develope.