First Grow - Questions: Lights, Seedlings, LST, Yeast

Hey, new here.

My first question is for lighting: For flowering, I have the option to use four 100W HPS bulbs (one for each plant, 9600 lumens) or one 400W HPS bulb. Which is better? I'll probably be using fluorescents for veg'ing unless it is better for me to just use HPS throughout the grow (though I heard this wasn't so).

Second: Is it necessary to plant germinated seeds in smaller containers before transplanting to larger ones? Like letting the seedlings grow in 16oz plastic cups until they're too big and then transplanting to a 2 gallon pot.

Third: I'll be LST'ing. I've read a detailed guide on the method - anyone tried it to success?

Fourth: I might introduce CO2 using the yeast method...does this method really work, though?

Thanks for any help.

how many plants do you have? i always recommend the higher wattage but in this case four bulbs all around 1 plant would be great. you might be able to grow more with the 4 100watts, but id recommend the 400watt cus youd prolly get fatter, denser buds.

Thanks for the response. I'm aiming for four plants (sorry, my original post had said that before I edited it). I'm getting five fem'd seeds and using the damp paper towel method for germinating. Hopefully I'll get four - my grow room is all set up for that.

Would one 400W be good for all four plants? The grow room is 3ftx4ft and I was planning to give each plant about a foot of room with, probably, 8 inch pots. If I use four 100W HPS I can put a bulb directly above each plant...or should I still only have one? Also, do 100W HPS still need a special ballast? When I went to the hardware store the package said that it did. Perhaps it would just be more economical to go with only one 400W rather than 4 100W.

Any help with the other questions?

yeah the 400watt would be perfect for 4 plants. although, i wouldnt get fem'd seeds..they risk a huge chance of hermying.

Piou said:

Thanks for the response. I'm aiming for four plants (sorry, my original post had said that before I edited it). I'm getting five fem'd seeds and using the damp paper towel method for germinating. Hopefully I'll get four - my grow room is all set up for that.

Would one 400W be good for all four plants? The grow room is 3ftx4ft and I was planning to give each plant about a foot of room with, probably, 8 inch pots. If I use four 100W HPS I can put a bulb directly above each plant...or should I still only have one? Also, do 100W HPS still need a special ballast? When I went to the hardware store the package said that it did. Perhaps it would just be more economical to go with only one 400W rather than 4 100W.

Any help with the other questions?

Click to expand...

chronicle said:

yeah the 400watt would be perfect for 4 plants. although, i wouldnt get fem'd seeds..they risk a huge chance of hermying.

Click to expand...

Well if I get the normal batch of 12 seeds I don't think I'll have enough room or enough light to grow them through sexing. I plan to flower once the plants are about 2 feet in length (LST). How many fluorescent lights would I need for a dozen plants?

Is there any chance you could be exagerating the chance of hermies with fem seeds? With LST I know there will already be extra stress on the plants...but do you have any experience with fem'd seeds hermying?

Also, any responses to the other questions? LST, the necessity of transplanting seedlings, and CO2 from yeast.

Would four 37W four foot fluorescent tubes be sufficient for the vegatative cycle if I go with the five fem'd seeds (4 plants)? What if I do the whole dozen?

Well I can answer 2 of your questions the yeast and co2 thing I am not sure of. You do not need to plant in a smaller pot. I germed my seeds and then put them in those small peat moss pots that can be put right into a bigger pot after you have sprouted. I fill the moss pot with dirt add the seed, cover, I then add some water, and cover with saran wrap, and put in a dark warm place untill they sprout, then just put the pot and all in the larger pot. I have used the lst, and had great success with it. I will be doing it again through this grow. Hope this helps. Good luck

newbie grower said:

Well I can answer 2 of your questions the yeast and co2 thing I am not sure of. You do not need to plant in a smaller pot. I germed my seeds and then put them in those small peat moss pots that can be put right into a bigger pot after you have sprouted. I fill the moss pot with dirt add the seed, cover, I then add some water, and cover with saran wrap, and put in a dark warm place untill they sprout, then just put the pot and all in the larger pot. I have used the lst, and had great success with it. I will be doing it again through this grow. Hope this helps. Good luck

Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. I'll probably just go straight from germination to planting in the main pot, then.

Can anyone tell me if the 4 fluorescent tubes will be sufficient for 12 plants? What about 4 plants? I know you can use HPS throughout the entire grow, but it's better if you can use a more blue spectrum light for the veg cycle.

Anyone have experience with the yeast?

i've tried that yeast method i dont think it works i didnt see any difference between the two week i had them in my room and the rest of the time they've been growing.