1000 watt HPS closet grow (Pics)

Thanks for checking out my journal. I'll post the pictures in different posts and what-not. This is my second grow, my first using three 100 watt CFL's for one plant that I found the seed in some bud. Decided to try it and ended up after all the trouble with about a quarter ounce. Looking better this time around. I'd appreciate any comments, but I know I could make it more efficient. Bad part is I'm in an apartment. Smell isn't an issue, the carbon filter is fine. But there is little ventilation and heat is a problem.

Setup:

1000 watt HPS
Home made carbon filter because I'm broke
Fox Farm soil and perlite (70-30)
Fox Farm Grow Big and Tiger Bloom
Three strains: White Widow, ICE, and Crystal

Planting date was January 7th and these pictures were taken on January 30th. At first I didn't have my HPS and was using CFL's as you can see. I up'ed it soon though. Finally got enough cash.

Now, initially I started eight. Had to give two to a friend. Ended up with three White Widows, two ICE's, and a Crystal. Not fem'd seeds and so I was hoping for about three females total. I got a nice surprise. Five turned female, the male being one of the ICE's. Decided to keep them all even though I had not initially planned to grow so many. I started a lot just for insurance purposes.

February 10th:
Still going well. Using full strength nutrients which later came back to bite me in the ass with a nute burn problem. Transplanting and flushing solved it though. Salt build-up was my guess. Anywho...

February 24th:

Transplanted to five gallon buckets. Flowered on the 22nd so just getting it going.

I also decided to give cloning a go so I purchased some cloning gel and took two cutting of each type. Ended up giving these to some friends for free and they threw me some bud which was nice. They are now mother plants and have seeded three gardens. Babies all grown up...

March 12th, 2 1/2 weeks into flowering:

I had to go on vacation for a week so I had a friend of mine take care of my ladies. Loved coming back after a week and seeing the difference.

I know I could probably have done much of this easier, but I'm learning as I go and I enjoy it that way. I like learning from my own mistakes sometimes instead of just reading about it, although I definitely do research beforehand. 1000 watt overkill? Yeah. But I'm moving to a house with a basement in June. Planning ahead.

March 19th, 3 1/2 in:

Back from vacation and I'm giddy haha.

March 24th, 4 weeks:

You can see in the last picture that one of my white widows spontaneously split its tops. A few other buds have done that on the same plant. I ended up not topping, just kept it simple. So I was somewhat surprised to find this. Found out it's semi-common anyway?

5 weeks:

Up to date now. Took these tonight. Estimated harvest date is April 19th and I can't wait!

very cool. subscribed and i will be back. you should come see my blackberry in hydro. I'm almost 3 weeks in.

Revolution101 said:

very cool. subscribed and i will be back. you should come see my blackberry in hydro. I'm almost 3 weeks in.

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very nice, had some real nice growth between weeks 2.5 and 3.5

benmont21 said:

very nice, had some real nice growth between weeks 2.5 and 3.5

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Nice that's exactly where I'm at too. And i can already see what you're saying. I saw way noticeable growth just from last night to this morning when i went to spray them and kick the lights.

So just started adding molasses. I used 2 tablespoons per gallon. This is a decent and satisfactory amount right? Anyway, went to take a look at some of the buds this morning and my fingers got stuck. Needless to say I started laughing and had a big ass grin. I just...wanna...

Hahaha. Anyway. New pics in a few days or so.

lookin great man keep us posted.

Been adding molasses and it seems to be helping a bit.

Other question: the yellowing of the leaves. Normal right? It's about two and a half weeks from harvest now and I watered tonight. Next watering will be molasses only and no fertilizers to flush and it will continue to be just molasses until harvest.

I'm getting a real carbon filter and not a DIY one tomorrow. =D I think the smell is a bit too strong now.

New pics. First is an overshot. Second is a Crystal bud. Last is one White Widow bud. If anyone wants more pictures or specific ones let me know.

So I just got a half ounce of some Hindu Purple Kush. Bomb shit. Can't find seeds though. Is this simply another name for Hindu Kush? I've also read it's a rare phenotype and is unpredictable.

One other question: does adding molasses change the pH? I added everything but the water was much to dark to test. I have the cheap-swimming-pool drop-color-comparison one. I'll be getting a digital one eventually but for the moment this is all I have.

Thanks again for any advice and keeping up everyone!

buds are looking nice and fat. From the looks of it though, you can pull even more out of them. Don't cut these bitches until they're done swelling up, I think they're gonna get huge.

New pics.

Lookin' good. Lots of fan leaves yellowing and dying. Still adding 2 TBLs of molasses per gallon. Just under two weeks of flowering left. So excited! Haha.

Just a bit of waiting left.

One week left.

Seven into flowering.

Excited as hell.

Thanks for looking,

-Evoman

that's looking good and tasty i must say

Looking great. I'd say you might even let them go another 10 to 15 days. Last time, I harvested at the 65 day mark as advertised for my strains and they definately could have used an extra week. Just be nice and patient and let them swell up nice and fat.

Do you know the strain or are these from bag seeds?

I know the strains. The three in the back are White Widow, the one in the front right is ICE and the one in the front left is Crystal which is by far the largest producer.

I also read that White Widow will explode in growth if you turn out the lights for an extra two weeks entirely after the eight week flower period. Any thoughts?

Great job! I just got my first HID 400w HPS, i am just starting out this season, little seedlings right now, i hope in a few months my stuff looks like that!