how long

[ganjafarmer]

what is the average time it takes from germanation to harvest with indica?using 10 40 watt floro bulbs with 4 plants been about 5 weeks thinking about switching to 12/12 next week.thanks

[Luke Skywalker]

As long as you want really. If it's developed enough (showing some flowers at internodes) you can turn to flower from seedling anytime from 4-6 weeks vegetative growth. Sometimes you can go to 12:12 sooner, but usually yeild will suffer dramatically if you don't allow them to physiologically mature under a vegetative scheme from seed.

 

Budget 8 -10 weeks in bloom, (from switch over to 12:12 lighting) although I wouldn't be hoping for too much under 10 40w fluoros. They're not really suitable for best growth in bloom, and for a small investment you can have a much more intense light (and much bigger buds) with a 400w high pressure sodium which should consume similar power to your present fluoros...

 

If you can post some pics of the setup you'll be able to get a heap of advice from the boards on how to improve the growing area and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Skywalker

[ganjafarmer]

thanks skywalker.i am going to have to figure out how to post pics i can do that tomarrow.Your advice has been helpfull i also heard online from different people that flowers will not show untill you go 12/12 is this true. first time growing indoors not shure where to get a decent hps seen them on a couple of sites where pretty expensive do you have any advice on where to get a a 450 watt for under or around 200 dollars with every thing i need.thanks

[Luke Skywalker]

Well, flowers will show, but it varies from strain to strain how quickly, and they won't go into full flowering (although there are some strains that are so called "autoflowering" which will bloom regardless of light cycle) They will however show a few preflowers, or single flowers at the internode, where the leaf and branch comes off the main stem. These can be used to identify sex reasonably accurately, although you ultimately won't know if you've got a total female and not hermaphrodite (having male and female flowers) until you harvest the crop and haven't seen any male flowers.

 

A 400w lamp, ballast and shade should be available for a shade over 200 bucks in most hydroponics shops or some online shops. You may find some hydroponics shops have second hand gear too, and this can help keep the cost down.

 

Honestly, if you're growing indoors, you're far, far better off to invest in some good equipment straight up. You'll thank yourself (and so will the plants) a thousand times over for not going the quick and easy path. Invest a good 4-500 bucks and you'll have a good setup that will put you in good stead for your first crop.

 

There is absolutely no industry on the planet which has a production to cost ratio like cannabis does, except with the possible exception of other illicit drugs, and that's debateable. The $ you spend today will pay you back at least 10 fold (in production vs cost to purchase that is) if you pay attention to your efforts and don't skimp on things.

 

Have a look at some of the grow diaries on the boards and you'll no doubt discover a whole pile of information on setups from small to large scale, and if there's anything in particular you're looking for, just use the search function at the top of the page.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Skywalker

[ganjafarmer]

after thinking about it i figured i would take your advice and get a hps light picked up a 400 w swithcable hps/mh with reflector ballast and all wireing for 125 on ebay got a real good deal cant wait to get it.

[Pam]

One small thing, be sure that your grow area doesn't exceed the capabilities of the 400w light. I've just had to get all new equiptment and this time chose a 600w. The local hydro shop had one for $200 with the batwing included, and that's less than I paid for my 400w that I got on ebay!

Best of luck!

[ganjafarmer]

my space is a 4 ft by 3 ft area started off with 4 plants but now have only three had the white goo problem but i think thats about all i will ever grow just for personal use.is a 400 w sifficient.

[Pam]

yep, perfect!