First Grow: Northern Lights X Big Bud, and White Widow

So all the pieces for my first cabinet are here finally! However, the 6" cool tube for the lamp came shattered by UPS. Fortunately the manufacturer is sending a replacement soon. I will show pics once its all put together.

It was perfect timing for the seeds as well, as they arrived the same day as all the other gear. They are 10 Northern Lights X Big Bud seeds and 10 White Widow seeds.

What is the best way to germinate them? Should I just use the tried and true moist paper towel? Or should I try soaking them?

Once the seeds have sprouted, and I place them in rockwool, what maintenance to I need to do? I have one of those clear mini greenhouses with cover, and a tray for the rockwool. Do I spray them inside it once a day with just regular water? Do I want to leave the mini greenhouse cracked a bit? Do I want to have the greenhouse placed under the grow light once I have placed the seedlings into rockwool?

Here are pics of the cabinet. Its pretty much done, except I am waiting for the replacement circular glass cover for the light.

Can't wait till these lil guys start to sprout!

NOOOOOOO!!!! You'll regret growing the nl x bb....NO!!!! Good luck.

Really? Any tips on keeping her under control?

that isn't much room...i only vegged for 5 weeks...look at my pics...that's 7 weeks flower...and they are still growing...my advice is to flower clones and not the seedlings. In a space that small your only chance they won't reach the top IMO is use clones and flower right away.

Love the cab dude, you got way too much questions for now though.
For now I can tell you that your doing it smart so far.
I would use the paper towel method over soaking the seeds anyday.
Thats my opinon though, its worked for me.

Your not going to need to germ that many seeds.....clone clone clone!!!

SmokerE said:

Your not going to need to germ that many seeds.....clone clone clone!!!

Click to expand...

I agree, clones are much better, more dependable.

Do you have another room or place to setup a cloning chamber.
I get the impression that your trying to go discreet though.

woah drizzle, you're going to have problems. you'll have males, and you'll have dead roots in the res, tangled with good roots... all around bad situation.

i always recommend starting your plants in soil, selecting mothers, and cloning for hydro. in your case, if you decide to downscale to avoid root tangle (i would) nix the nlxbb.

also, with that cab, i'd suggest little to no veg time...

kp

JonnyBlunt88 said:

I agree, clones are much better, more dependable.

Do you have another room or place to setup a cloning chamber.
I get the impression that your trying to go discreet though.

Click to expand...

Im working towards that. I have to work with my roomate on it. I dont see any problems expanding to my closet to veg. and clone, but I may have to warm him up to the idea.

kindprincess said:

woah drizzle, you're going to have problems. you'll have males, and you'll have dead roots in the res, tangled with good roots... all around bad situation.

i always recommend starting your plants in soil, selecting mothers, and cloning for hydro. in your case, if you decide to downscale to avoid root tangle (i would) nix the nlxbb.

also, with that cab, i'd suggest little to no veg time...

kp

Click to expand...

Hmmm, I probably should have waited for some advice before germinating. I had a feeling I would not have room for the amount I started.

I'd like to do sog, but I would have to get some CFLs for the closet, assuming my roomate lets me. Its his house after all. He is cool with the cabinet, but he shot down my initial plan to have the full 7' tall version. He figured it would stand out too much, or at least thats what he said.

If I do go ahead with it all in this cab, ill only veg for a few days to a week.

I would go for the cfl route...make it happen.

What I would suggest is that you take the system out for the time being.

Start all the seeds off in a propgator with the tray that came with the cubes your going to start them in. Let them grow for a bit and then transplant them in to some of the big 6" rockwool cubes, you can keep them in just a cheap tray and hand water them, when the time is ready take as many clones as you can and fill the system with these.

My biggest worry for you is from seed your going to out grow that space in no time flat, if you want to get the most out of it you need to fill it with the smallest plants you can so this means flowering from clone.

nongreenthumb said:

What I would suggest is that you take the system out for the time being.

Start all the seeds off in a propgator with the tray that came with the cubes your going to start them in. Let them grow for a bit and then transplant them in to some of the big 6" rockwool cubes, you can keep them in just a cheap tray and hand water them, when the time is ready take as many clones as you can and fill the system with these.

Click to expand...

That sounds like a plan, since I don't really have the funds to buy more stuff to make the closet veg area happen just yet. So if I did raise them in the propagator first, transplanted to the large cubes, then took clones, how many of the 14 spots could I use to grow the clones?

What should I do with the 5 nlxbb seeds I started germinating?

All five white widow, and all five northern lights x big bud germinated with success. I soaked the rockwool cubes for a few hours in 5.5 pH water, before placing the seedlings in the cubes using tweezers.

I also picked up some CFLs to place over the mini greenhouse while I wait for the replacement glass cover for the MH / HPS light. I will eventually move the CFLs to the closet to keep some mothers in there to take clones from.

looking good drizzle, Ill be around for this one.

Wow that was quick! Less than 24 hours after placing the seedlings in the rockwool, I can already see the embryonic leaf popping up on one of the White Widows.

Day 4 from seeds;

Lights: 3x 30W "Bright White" CFLs

I have just been spraying the lid of the humidity dome 3-4 times a day. A couple times when they looked real dry, I misted the cubes as well. I have some General Hydroponics, Flora Nova Grow but haven't used any yet, just distilled water.

Temperature: ~78°F
Humidity: 52%

White Widow Sprouts