Mummyscurse
08-25-2006, 05:54 PM
Greetz to all...my first post.
I have been growing my own smokes for the better part of 40 years (started gettin' buzzed as a college student, during the "tumultuous" 1960's). With this much growing experience, I didn't think of myself as a "newbie". But, after watching a couple different Marijuana cultivation videos recently, and reading a few forum posts here, I realize that all I've been doing is repeating the same mistakes. For example, I never brought any plants to bud, until last Fall, and to this day, my intake is 90% skuff! Last year I finally started researching better techniques, and was particularly interested in getting plants to bloom, which I have succeeded in doing, with the 12/12 lights routine.
My problem is that once the first, spikey fronds appeared, I observed very little growth in the four plants (having destroyed 3 males...which, unfortunately pollenated the females first). I had concluded, from this first, untutored, budding experience, that once the plant's flowering stage begins, overall growth yields to producing blooms, after which the plant dies. The videos I've seen clearly demonstrate the extraordinary growth plants go through, while producing the massive bud clusters!
The buds from my first flowered crop, were awfully immature looking, and had none of the mass and density of buds I've purchased over the years, or those in the videos (although, smoking these immature, fertilized buds has been the best "homemade" high I've ever had, by far). My number one suspect, for the failure to grow thick, meaty buds, is poor lighting. After the first crop, I did a modest amount of research, and opted to buy four, inexpensive T5 HO fixtures, with two, 4' tubes in each. My current crop of six budding plants (grown as all-female clones from last Fall's crop), is looking notably better under these T5 HO lights (Lord, what was I thinking, growing grass under shop lights all these years?). Buuuut, I still don't get the sense that there's much overall growth going on, and the buds are developing so slowly.
Thinking that lighting may be the heart of the matter (I have switched to a bloom stimulating fertilizer during this stage, as I did last Fall), I'm looking at alternatives like the Halides or HPS I saw in the videos. The "rub" is a serious wattage issue that I face. No way I'll ever be able to stick two, or more, 400 watt Halide or HPS fixures in here! I was a bit shocked, and pleased, to see that T5 HO lights produce very significant lumens, enough to think that it maybe can used.
I am still feeling that I should be seeing more robust buds forming, though, and more vertical growth at the tips. So, is it still best to think in terms of a HPS system (I could probably get away with two, 250 watt fixtures)...or can an equivalent wattage in T5 HO's (8-10 tubes) really get the job done just as well? Am I daydreaming to think that gorgeous buds can be produced from 500 watts worth of T5 HO's, or is a HPS/Halide system the only suitable option for the finest yield?
Also, what light spectrum do you folks who have made a science of growing better weed, recommend...first for new plants, and then during blooming? Do you use narrow spectrum, or broad spectrum approaches during either phase of growth? 6500 K's or 3000 K's?
Apologies for the lengthy post...I tend to get a little "wordy" when I have a buzz going, and I wanted to give a bit of background on what my growing experience has been. Can any of you younger "heads" offer some much needed advice to a grizzled, old timer? :-)
TIA...
I have been growing my own smokes for the better part of 40 years (started gettin' buzzed as a college student, during the "tumultuous" 1960's). With this much growing experience, I didn't think of myself as a "newbie". But, after watching a couple different Marijuana cultivation videos recently, and reading a few forum posts here, I realize that all I've been doing is repeating the same mistakes. For example, I never brought any plants to bud, until last Fall, and to this day, my intake is 90% skuff! Last year I finally started researching better techniques, and was particularly interested in getting plants to bloom, which I have succeeded in doing, with the 12/12 lights routine.
My problem is that once the first, spikey fronds appeared, I observed very little growth in the four plants (having destroyed 3 males...which, unfortunately pollenated the females first). I had concluded, from this first, untutored, budding experience, that once the plant's flowering stage begins, overall growth yields to producing blooms, after which the plant dies. The videos I've seen clearly demonstrate the extraordinary growth plants go through, while producing the massive bud clusters!
The buds from my first flowered crop, were awfully immature looking, and had none of the mass and density of buds I've purchased over the years, or those in the videos (although, smoking these immature, fertilized buds has been the best "homemade" high I've ever had, by far). My number one suspect, for the failure to grow thick, meaty buds, is poor lighting. After the first crop, I did a modest amount of research, and opted to buy four, inexpensive T5 HO fixtures, with two, 4' tubes in each. My current crop of six budding plants (grown as all-female clones from last Fall's crop), is looking notably better under these T5 HO lights (Lord, what was I thinking, growing grass under shop lights all these years?). Buuuut, I still don't get the sense that there's much overall growth going on, and the buds are developing so slowly.
Thinking that lighting may be the heart of the matter (I have switched to a bloom stimulating fertilizer during this stage, as I did last Fall), I'm looking at alternatives like the Halides or HPS I saw in the videos. The "rub" is a serious wattage issue that I face. No way I'll ever be able to stick two, or more, 400 watt Halide or HPS fixures in here! I was a bit shocked, and pleased, to see that T5 HO lights produce very significant lumens, enough to think that it maybe can used.
I am still feeling that I should be seeing more robust buds forming, though, and more vertical growth at the tips. So, is it still best to think in terms of a HPS system (I could probably get away with two, 250 watt fixtures)...or can an equivalent wattage in T5 HO's (8-10 tubes) really get the job done just as well? Am I daydreaming to think that gorgeous buds can be produced from 500 watts worth of T5 HO's, or is a HPS/Halide system the only suitable option for the finest yield?
Also, what light spectrum do you folks who have made a science of growing better weed, recommend...first for new plants, and then during blooming? Do you use narrow spectrum, or broad spectrum approaches during either phase of growth? 6500 K's or 3000 K's?
Apologies for the lengthy post...I tend to get a little "wordy" when I have a buzz going, and I wanted to give a bit of background on what my growing experience has been. Can any of you younger "heads" offer some much needed advice to a grizzled, old timer? :-)
TIA...
