Too small? Help!

[merl1n]

Hi MJ

It was a gradual thing, first it was 400HPS, then plus a 1000MH. The 1000 died a horrible death, blacked the whole house out when that blew. Replaced with a couple of 600w but light wasnt getting everywhere so uped it again with two more 600 HPS. I have all 4 on a straight steel bar with a pivot bearing in the middle so I can rotate my lights daily very easily. This has been done all over about 18 or so years, so no none of it was instant. Ive made many stuff ups and learnt from every one of them. Made improvements on top of more improvements. Started in a space the size of a wardrobe, then about 2m x 2m made from panda plastic to now be a 3m x 3m x 3m stud walled room. One thing I must say is, Ive learnt from a few oldtimers (even older than me) listened to what they've had to say and used that info to assist. One of the oldies made my SCROG net up for me. But every grow is different, I tried to model mine on a mate's room. He was pulling pounds when I was doing ounces. I could never match his quantity.

But he couldn't match my quality.

As a noob, MJ don't be counting the $$$, I have been burnt and kno many others who have been counting the $$$, to only fall flat. But dont be banking on it. Look at it this way, if it works thats a bonus, but dont bank on it.

[Mr Jane]

Hey Merl1n,

 

Well there ya go, what caused the 1000mh to go kaboom? Was it just the globe or the ballast as well? Seems like the electricity gods have it out for ya man 18 years is an impressive amount of time to be growing, I wish I had someone with that kind knowledge around me to guide me through.. but oh well. Sound advice on the fanancial aspect, I've learned not to count anything until it's in your hand.. doesn't hurt to hope though

 

2 of my girls are a lot bigger than the other 2, I tried to tie them down, but split my plant slightly, freaked out and went no further. I'm thinking of bending/knuckling them right down/out. I've read through the threads relevant on here, the one I found closest to the info I am looking for was was by reefer24, although his strains were sativa, and mine are dominately indica. Some of the suggestions were to 'crack' the branches every inch or so to limber them up, then tie down, tip them or bend/knuckle. I'm thinking of giving the bending and knuckling a go because I've got a lot of wasted real estate in my grow space atm, but I always thought once you've switched to 12/12 you shouldn't do any of these things because of stress??.. refer24 was into week 3 of fower when he was attempting this.. about where I am now, my girls are flowering no problems btw. I guess I'm just after reassurance on this one guys...

 

MJ

[The Hash Nibbler]

PH dude......dont worry about EC yet, without PH, everything will go to shit. Get that one drop test kit now.......or ya can watch ya plants die, simple as that.

I can read my plants to see if I'm running em too hot or not (EC) , but I can't eye PH levels, no-one can, unless they superman.

 

Lift the pots up after ya water, they heavy, dont water em until they are at least half that weight, will stop ya overwatering.... can even take one out, weigh it and then weigh it when ya think it needs watering........ you'll know if they too dry, all the leaves wilt down.

 

Peace, Nibbler.

[Mr Jane]

Ahhh.. wtf you talkin bout Nibbler ? Great advice, but I already have a PH meter and EC meter.. and have no problems in that area. Was this post meant for me?

 

On another note, I have a noob interested in buying the property I rent... FUUUUUU no roof space, time to get real creative.

[merl1n]

Hi MJ,

"what caused the 1000mh to go kaboom?" It was the starter in the ballast that died on the 1000, why? buggered if I kno, but it died.

 

"18 years is an impressive amount of time to be growing, I wish I had someone with that kind knowledge around me to guide me through.. but oh well." Well MJ you do have that knowledge base and I'd say easily over 100 years, right here at OS. We all have some info that may help, it just a case of you sorting thru what is relevant to you and your setup. Not all of my knowledge will be relevant to you and your setup.

 

"2 of my girls are a lot bigger than the other 2" This is one of the reasons I grow one plant. I have, in the past, grown up to 6, but one would grow quicker than the others and thus put the others in shade. One would get root rot and infect the lot or one would turn male and fuck the lot. Some ppl think more plants = more bud, but it aint the number of plants but its the grow space and lighting along with pH EC and airflow that has more of an impact.

 

"I'm thinking of bending/knuckling them right down/out" MJ, I try to only comment on things I know. I wont give advice on DWC or Coco cos I don't use them. Same goes for knuckling, as I train from the very start I have no need to knuckle, I do bend to train and I have split the stems before, one grow my lights came crashing down and broke/split a few stems, some had to be removed but the others I left and they came thru ok. Plant stems absorb nute, fluid thru the outer part of the stem, the woody centres give the plant stability and strength. That is why if you ringbark a tree it will die, it doesn't draw nutes thru the middle of the trunk but only the outside. Due to this a split stem isn't fatal, so long as the plant can still absorb what it needs.

 

Merl1n

[Mr Jane]

Hey Merl1n, Yeah everyone here is a great help, there's no way I would have made it this far without ya's that's for sure.

Yeah next grow I will be cutting back to 1 plant, and scrogging it like a motherlicker.. might even change what lighting I use.

That's fair enough, you can't give lessons you haven't learnt.. can anyone else chip in on the bending/knuckling subject?

I read somewhere that splitting the stem while your plant is flowering will actually help produce bigger buds.. I can't remember the 2 terms used.. but it's got to do with foliar feeding flowing down the stem (which apparently isn't all that much help to the growth of the buds) and the feeding from the roots up (which is better), If you split the stem it slows the feeding from the top, and increases from the roots.

 

Mr. Jane

[Matanuska Thunder]

Knuckling...

I'm a recent convert, I've found a huge (25%+) increase in yield, the biggest buds no longer need support, the knuckling increases the size of the stem, all observational, no side by sides done.

 

Can't recommend knuckling enough!

[merl1n]

Hi MJ,

See what I mean MJ, You want to know something(in this case Knuckling), somebody here wiil know. So ask. Draw on all that knowledge, draw on those years of experience. It can only help. But don't be using it as a bible

 

As I say, this is what I do. It suits me and my setup, some of it maybe useful to you, some may not. It really is a case of experimenting. I told one bloke how I regularly flush, like what I do. His first flush he had a massive flood. He came back and said It was my fault 'cos it didn't work for his system'. I explained how it works for me but his setup is different to mine, obviously, cos I dont have that problem, (unless I cock up and leave a tap running. DOH!!) so PLEASE experiment. Give the ideas a trial run and learn, that way you'll have less DOH moments or 'ahh shit I did it, again' moments. Neither of which are good.

 

Merl1n

[brick]

http://hightimes.com/video/hager/6124

Soma. worth a look. Super cropping.

[Faith]

http://hightimes.com/video/hager/6124

Soma. worth a look. Super cropping.

 

@ brick - Just having a squiz and you just pointed me to what I was looking for in two separate posts, this and the pea straw...Cool Place OS!

 

Peace to yas. v