jj's garden

[jadins_journey]

I had a bulb and ballast in the garden the other evening for a buddy to make sure it works like it did when I took it down. There has been a good amount of talk lately about vertical placement of bare bulbs in grow rooms so I figured since this bulb was fired up and suspended above the plants I would get out my light meter and see just how well it preforms. It was my honest intention in doing this little project to prove to myself that I could take down my sealed reflectors, turn off the fans and run a bare bulb system atleast during the winter months.

Measurements were taken off of a 3' x 4' footprint. I took 12 measurements spread out acorss this 12 square foot area at equal distances. All measurements were taken from 13" below either the bottom of the bare bulb or 13" below the bottom of my reflectors. I tested all three bulbs (MH, HPS, and Dual Arc) in the same reflector fired by the same ballast, all bulbs had 15 mintues of warm up time before measurements were taken. Room temp was 71F and RH was 45%. Granted I only tested BELOW the bare bulb as that is the only way it could fire in my system.

MH Bare
range 750 - 1700 FC
avg. 1083 FC

MH in Reflector
range 600 - 4600 FC
avg. 1891 FC

Dual Arc in Reflector
range 700 - 4500 FC
avg. 1550 FC

HPS in Reflector
range 1000 - 6500 FC
avg. 2830 FC

This research is based on finding the most efficient means of useing light power, not a discussion on spectrum as that decision is based on bulb type not mounting position. I am fully aware that reflectors suck as far as distribution goes, the range numbers alone prove that. I am also aware that one reflector can suck much worse than another as the one in my veg system is proven to put out 30% more light power than the ones I have in flower fired by the exact same equipment, tested that long time back but not enough cash to upgrade now.

This little project took me about 3 hours the other night and it COMPLETELY changed the way I ventilate my grow room. Each of my reflectors have a 425 cfm fan attached inline to vent out heat. I turned off the fans, removed the glass in my reflectors and am running a modified bare bulb system LOL, no fans but I am keeping the reflectors where they are, room temp is exactly what it was with the fans and glass. Next step is to tame that room exhaust fan down some with a variable speed controller.

Best of luck,

jj

 

[ProGroWannabe]

GREAT experiment JJ! I love it. I happen to believe that the bare-bulb would have fared much better if one were able to measure the light emitted from the side of the lamp, like it was in the other examples. Sometime when ya get bored, maybe you can get a measurement on that since you've already set some well-defined parameters.

If more peeps could do controlled experiments like you have, we'd be much better educated as growers. Thanks for doing this!

 

[jadins_journey]

Have a couple of slow days in the garden now so figured I would use the time and make me a work bench. Plants and systems have taken over the garden and I got pushed out. The location for the bench sucks but it's all I have to work with. One more night of tinkering and it should be operational.

jj

 

[ProGroWannabe]

Nice JJ! Looks like you have some carpentry skills man. Post us up some shots when hse's done.

 

[jadins_journey]

Here she is, little tweaking to do here and there but it's for the most part finished. Lighting is critical because of where the unit is located, a dark corner of the basement. I wired it to run either 40W halogen, 60w halogen, 100w halogen or fire the floro. Multiple combinations of lighting.

Some people are stress eaters, some folks are stress shoppers. Personally I am a stress builder, been a hard few days and I needed to focus some where else for a minute.

jj

 

[ProGroWannabe]

That looks great JJ! From the pics I'm lookin at, she looks strong as an ox. I can appreciate that since I "overbuild" everything I make. hehe

 

[jadins_journey]

It's day 55!!!! This girl is supposed to go in 55 - 60 days and I know it's not ready yet but I had to take one down and try it out. Picked 1/2 of the smallest plant, these girls all have double cola's, trimmed down wet weight was 29g.. Dried down to 30% of wet weight figure this little limb is a 1/4 z. If my math is right looks like about a 1/2 Lb yeild from 15 girls that had a hard life.

Fresh bud, nothing quite like it :smoke

jj

 

[jadins_journey]

Flower room, G12 is at 55 days, G13 at 25 days.

jj

 

[Smoking Gun]

Wow, look at G13, that canopy is going to be very full. I am excited to see how much weight those girls put on. Nice job on G12, that branch looks pretty yummy.

 

[ProGroWannabe]

Hell yeah! That harvest pic is awesome JJ! She's pretty-well-coated in frost huh? I agree with SG....looks yummy!

 

[jadins_journey]

Wow, look at G13, that canopy is going to be very full. I am excited to see how much weight those girls put on. Nice job on G12, that branch looks pretty yummy.

Smoking Gun, thanks for stopping by this thread, G13 is living up to expectations so far. Give them another 30 days and that will be the real test. Nothing like the taste of fresh herb, little grassy yet but that's to be expected.

jj

 

[jadins_journey]

Hell yeah! That harvest pic is awesome JJ! She's pretty-well-coated in frost huh? I agree with SG....looks yummy!

ProGroWannabe, yummy would be an understatement. The reason I like this girl is the THC content, yeild overall sucks but damn is she sticky. Think what I had stored got a touch of mold in it, hard lesson learned when you have to toss a jar.

jj

 

[jadins_journey]

Harvest is coming up in a week and I had one last little project before then I wanted to finish up. I have an herb garden upstairs for Ms. jj that requires new plants on a monthly basis to keep it running full. New plants means new seeds as nothing green ever walks in the front door here, seeds are the only way a new plant enters this house.

I germinate in rockwool cubes and have up till now done it in a regular nursery flat. Once the humidity dome is removed the cubes require water at a minimum of once per day and that increases as the plants develope. Watering 44 rockwool cubes by hand sucks and it can be forgotten during busy times, darn near lost a batch during last harvest. So I wanted something that would water my plants for me as I am one lazy ass gardener.

The first version got trashed as it was too shallow to hold enough rocks to balance on the table. Cut another tub taller and it works just fine. Parts list is short, mostly scraps I had in the shop. System is on a timer now and it waters itself. This is not the final version but a test run, if it works out I'll do better.

jj

 

[hererisssh]

Good adaptation JJ, automation is a good thing.

 

[ProGroWannabe]

Sweet idea JJ. I'm a complete DIY'er, personally. Sometimes the best solutions to a problem are cutom built. Apparently we have lots of DIY'ers here.

 

[jadins_journey]

Had to change bulbs last night so I had the lights on 30 minutes early, had to get a couple of shots. G12 is being flushed now and is harvested this week, G13 is at 28 days in these pics and G14 is headed to flower when G12 is harvested, they are 19 day old clones in this pic. Flushing G12 with H2O2, haven't heard on anyone else here useing it as a flushing agent. It is a multi purpose disinfectant that has many many uses in my garden.

jj

 

[Dagga]

Nice! we use H2O2 round here as well!

 

[Smoking Gun]

Hey JJ, is G12 really coming down this week? Looking at the most recent picture compared to the previous picture it looks to me like those girls are really just starting to pack on the weight. Are you chopping because of time tables? Do you prefer the effect at this stage? Not trying to knock what you are doing, the girls look awesome, and you have a good technique down with proven results, just kind of curious.

 

[ProGroWannabe]

Your definitely keeping them rollin JJ. I appreciate the tip on H2O2. I need to get some so I have it on hand.

 

[jadins_journey]

Smoking Gun Yep, they are down now. This girl really doesn't get that heavy, she has a crystal percentage that is way out there but weight is not her strongest characteristic. Trichs had begun to turn and hairs were darkening up, bought the best this old girl is gonna do.

ProGroWannabe Hey buddy, forget the 3% stuff from the drugstore and get the 35% or the 50%. This stuff is for reall, all ways wear laytex gloves and eye glasses. No kidding here man forget the gloves once and you will remember the next time.

This picture represents the $19.5K of capital investment and 1 1/2 years of learning. The weed is not what I see in the picture, it's the system working. There are actually 4 generations there if you look really close, clones will be cut off of G14 in 7 days and the growth is already there.

It's a Happy Day in my garden :D

jj