Beginner’s Indoor Grow Journal

[Kushy Tushy]

This is my first grow.

Indoor set-up: 9x9x9 insulated room with 110/220 outlets
Lights: Sun Blaze T5s; 18/6 cycle and Hortilux 600w (not using yet)
Soil: Happy Frog + added perlite
Nutrition: Nothing added yet (plan on using Botanicare Pure Blend Pro Grow)
Airflow: A/C 10,000 BTUs of raw cooling power and x2 wall mount oscillating fans
Temp/Humidity: avg temp 82-88F (91F Hottest) and avg humidity 65-75% (32% lowest)
Containers: Plastic party cups and black plastic 1-3-5 gallon pots
Training: NEED HELP!!!!!!! Topping/Lollipopping/FIMing/Bending/WHOA! HELP WANTED! Please advise.....
Seeds: All feminized-GSC x2, Cheese Auto x2, Bruce Banger x1, Jack Herrer x1

 

[Kushy Tushy]

And more pics of the room......

 

[Kushy Tushy]

Timeline

5/26/19 - seeds soaked overnight in distilled water and all seeds popped
5/27/19 - drained into paper towel
5/28/19 - planted into Happy Frog soil in party cups
5/30/19 - all seeds have stalks coming up; put under T5s
5/31/19 - green leaves came out
6/1/19 - all stems straightened up and leaves open (some seed shells haven’t fallen off yet)

 

[Kushy Tushy]

And more pics.....

 

[Kushy Tushy]

6/11/19 - transplanted into 1 gallon black plastic pots with added perlite

 

[Kushy Tushy]

6/21/19 - transplanted into 5 gallon black plastic pots with Happy Frog and added perlite

 

[Kushy Tushy]

Can someone please tell me when and how to start training.....topping/lollipopping/FIMing/?
Also, I have not begun feeding, recommendations please!

 

[Srenots]

nice ...looks like u already know sup...lookin good so far and has been a while already since u started this grow....will post ur thread for some feedback ....

 

[Srenots]

use the search bar for info usually works...

Search results for query: training plants

www.thcfarmer.com

 

[Kushy Tushy]

Thanks :)
I have no idea what to do now about training, so any advice would really be appreciated!

 

[PlumberSoCal]

Thanks :)
I have no idea what to do now about training, so any advice would really be appreciated!

You've been following the right guy, don't stop now. Knocking it out of the park!

 

[The Jewels]

The plants are a picture of health. Well done.
Many folks wait for the fith node and top back to the third.
Depends on how you want the plant to end up. ( scrogged, netted, caged, manifolded etc)
I am finishing up my second grow. There is some topping pics in my hydro journal.
I started to get an idea of how topping generated the final plant shape by reading axelrose"s journal around late January if this year. Take a peak there.

You have enough space to veg six plants for another 6 -8 weeks. However, if you veg more than another week or two, you will need to pony up for another one of those 600w hid's.

 

[MIMedGrower]

Super nice work on the room and the plants! Clean, organized and healthy. Sweet!

@Kushy Tushy you asked for tips and i have a few.

First make sure there is no light leaks through the window A/C. Most leak light.

And you can wait much longer to transplant. You have a nice space with high ceilings. So you dont have to train your plants down in veg really at all.

I like to see the plant about twice to 2/3 bigger than the pot before i transplant up.

A longer dry cycle between waterings will get the roots to branch out and fill the pot before circling. Even the seedlings i transplant usually lift right out of the cup by the stem. (Be careful trying this).

Both of these tips will likely increase yield. All i ever do to train is grow the plant as big as will fit in my veg tent. About 16-18” tall. I give a week in the final pot after transplant and then bend the plant down and tie it to a clip on the pot. Also i tie the main stem with a brace at the base to the opposite side to keep the roots from pulling up. There are pics in my thread of this. Its basic lst but i do it during stretch aftwr week 1 to 10 days in to flower.

Also. And this is the most important in my opinion. Environment! Temps should be in the 75 - 77 degree range for best flower quality. I panic if my room stays at 80 for long. I also move the flowers away from the 600 hps a bit like maybe 2-4” lower to help preserve trichomes during ripening. And also taper off the feed strength as they need less and less as they finish.

Other than that you have done your homework. Great grow man! Im jealous of your nice room.

 

[Kushy Tushy]

You've been following the right guy, don't stop now. Knocking it out of the park!

Thanks! I’ve been reading your journal too! Love that snake u found :) we have lots of spiders, but not brown widows, only black widows and tarantulas. Ewww.

 

[Kushy Tushy]

The plants are a picture of health. Well done.
Many folks wait for the fith node and top back to the third.
Depends on how you want the plant to end up. ( scrogged, netted, caged, manifolded etc)
I am finishing up my second grow. There is some topping pics in my hydro journal.
I started to get an idea of how topping generated the final plant shape by reading axelrose"s journal around late January if this year. Take a peak there.

You have enough space to veg six plants for another 6 -8 weeks. However, if you veg more than another week or two, you will need to pony up for another one of those 600w hid's.

Thanks for the info.... I will check out your hydro journal and axelrose’s from January. I’m not sure yet about what kind of final shape would be best for each plant, I guess that just comes from experience. I will def check out your topping pics. I was thinking that they might need another 600.

 

[Kushy Tushy]

Thanks for your help!

Light leaks - yes, the A/C does leak a small amount of light. I keep it on all the time now even during dark phase 10 am - 4 pm. It is currently set to 80; but I will lower it to 75. So 75-77 is best for BOTH veg and flower? What about humidity?

Transplant - I would have liked to wait longer to transplant, and then into 3-gallon pots. My bf made that decision. I understand what you mean about the roots, and I do the dry-out between waterings and water til run out the bottom.

Feeding - this morning was first feeding with botanicare, 1 TBSP into 1 gallon, per plant with run out the bottom. I guess they are 25 days old today. (The stalks came up 5/30.) And when/how much do you think I should be feeding now?

Training - if I don’t train at all in veg, how long should I wait? And what should I do next? Since I won’t be transplanting up anymore, they’re in 5-gallons now. And what is “stretch”? Is that the first week in flower when you do the bend down with the main stem? I have seen your pics and I’m going back to re-read them.....also, what about topping?

Lights- how far should they be from the t5s now? And if I just keep them under t5s vegging out for a while, should I plan to get another 600 hps? How many plants per 600?
Thanks........

 

[Kushy Tushy]

Super nice work on the room and the plants! Clean, organized and healthy. Sweet!

@Kushy Tushy you asked for tips and i have a few.

First make sure there is no light leaks through the window A/C. Most leak light.

And you can wait much longer to transplant. You have a nice space with high ceilings. So you dont have to train your plants down in veg really at all.

I like to see the plant about twice to 2/3 bigger than the pot before i transplant up.

A longer dry cycle between waterings will get the roots to branch out and fill the pot before circling. Even the seedlings i transplant usually lift right out of the cup by the stem. (Be careful trying this).

Both of these tips will likely increase yield. All i ever do to train is grow the plant as big as will fit in my veg tent. About 16-18” tall. I give a week in the final pot after transplant and then bend the plant down and tie it to a clip on the pot. Also i tie the main stem with a brace at the base to the opposite side to keep the roots from pulling up. There are pics in my thread of this. Its basic lst but i do it during stretch aftwr week 1 to 10 days in to flower.

Also. And this is the most important in my opinion. Environment! Temps should be in the 75 - 77 degree range for best flower quality. I panic if my room stays at 80 for long. I also move the flowers away from the 600 hps a bit like maybe 2-4” lower to help preserve trichomes during ripening. And also taper off the feed strength as they need less and less as they finish.

Other than that you have done your homework. Great grow man! Im jealous of your nice room.

I turned down the A/C.....thinking about moving in there for the summer. Do you use the same temp range of 75-77 for both veg and flower?

 

[TerriR]

6/21/19 - transplanted into 5 gallon black plastic pots with Happy Frog and added perlite

WOW! Nothing like doing shit right! I mean your whole setup...the room, lights, etc. That sure beats a tent...

 

[The Jewels]

You need blackness.
As in - the absence of all discernable light.

A T5 bulb can pretty much touch a leaf with only advantigous results. Look at Phylex (sp?) journals, his lights are always mashed into the canopy-and they all look like movie stars.

You can flip to flower anytime now. The longer you wait - the heavier the harvest.

With divided space , you could flip some to flower soon and pratice your topiary skills on the others during an extended veg. Cannabis will veg indefinitely.
Clone them, top them, try everything, have your way with them. During veg, it is only a bad haircut, it will grow back.
Your noodle dream will manifest itself.
Have fun.

 

[Kushy Tushy]

WOW! Nothing like doing shit right! I mean your whole setup...the room, lights, etc. That sure beats a tent...

Wanted to do a tent, but it’s too hot here. The room has been a weekend project since March :) it’s been really fun! Had a couple offers to rent it out from friends. I guess if the growing doesn’t work out it will be a one bedroom. With lots of outlets. I’m hoping to keep the growing thing going!!! Thanks for looking!!!