Old in the Way-First Grow Journal

Hello All,

You may have noticed me trying to assist with some questions posted here at RIU. I am only trying to give back what many here and other forums offered as I prepared to construct and fire up my op this past summer.

I come from a traditional horticulture background so Hydro and Cannabis offered some unique challenges for me. I have a great deal of comfort with much of the process but the balance that must be maintained requires some trial and error as well as expert guidance......that being said......

I would like to thank AlB, Potroast, VV, Stinkbud, Bugs, Spark and many more.....all of you here have made a difference in my op-whether you know it or not....I keep an eye on as much as I can and try to pay attention to what is working and what is not. Thanks again to all of you.

I hope many of you will stop by and follow along. And pleeeease give some feedback......the learning never stops, and I am definitely still on the curve.....but its getting there.

There are a number of questions I have and a great deal of issues that seem to come and go throughout the life-cycle so some of my initial posts will be that of some problems I am encountering and any assistance with these issues would be greatly appreciated.

Gather around everyone.....Old's first pics ever........

Ok guys,

This summer I designed and built my op....details will follow

I am not doing anything special but I thought it would be nice to post a thread anyway....yes I know just some other newbie doing the Al B Tribute Grow.

Yes and No.

It is a perpetual harvest SoG with top-drip and hydroton as the medium, I utilize some aeroponics for my veg phase (which is only 4-7 days) But Mums and Flower are top-drip (I will be changing to flood drain in flower-details as to why and whats what to follow). I have tweaked some things to fit my needs but otherwise its just another perpetual SoG.

I ordered seeds in early August and germinated on August 23rd. I used seedbankupdate.com to find reputable seed banks and had no problems with my choice(s)

I have 7 strains going in order to find the best for my op.

Afgani #1-pure indica
Skunk #1-80/20 sativa/indica-cup winner from way back in the day
Shiva Shanti-afgani dominant indica
Malawi Gold-african sativa
White Widow-f1 hybrid
Big Bud-f1 hybrid
NLxAK

Pretty basic choices but i will start adding some other mums to my quiver in early 09'

Got some kiwi haze and cali orange seeds that I have not started yet.

I waited on the haze till I worked the bugs out and the cali orange doesn't look that dank. But I will probably start a few soon to do some trial runs.

I guess we will start with my veg, clone and mother room.

Mums are under 1kw Mh, Aeroponic Veg Unit is using a 4'-8 bulb T5 (400w floro), Clones are done using rapid rooters instead of rw cubes but otherwise I follow the batch of clones in rockwool set-up.

Here are some pics.

Starting with mums. More posts and pics to follow....oh what the hell I am going to throw in a couple bud pics too....i just can't help myself.


Mums

More Mums

the same Mums...again

twin skunk #1 at 5 weeks

Shiva Cola at 7 weeks

Clone Pictures...........



Clones are done in Rapid Rooters, trays are sitting on heat mats.



One thermostat controls both heat mats.....nice huh



These are 6 days old, I usually see roots in 7-10



Close up shows a couple secrets-I turn my rapid rooters upside-down and make my own hole so the cdutting is held firmly by the medium. They also sit in net cups which ar secured to the tray so things don't topple over when watering/misting.

I usually take cuttings the same length as my pruners. That's about it-I will post some pics of the aeroponic veg unit soon and then move into pics of the flower room.


Hope you guys like it so far.....

Thanks for looking.

-OitW

are there supposed to be pics?

No pics?? I put them in the text-not as attachments. Do you need to change a browser setting maybe??

Can anyone see the pics??

Here is a EZ Clone 120.



I didn't find it usefull for cloning so after my clones root through the rapid rooters...........I hang them in here for 4-7 days to put on some roots and a node or two in height before they go to flower.....They start looking like this.



after 7 plus days......they really get rolling




They then get moved to flower.

Tray 1--Days1-20
1kw HPS

Here is a sneak preview.



I hope these pics are coming up...if not let me know

hmm i dunno i dont see anything where it wold say ttext pic but i donts see any

Are the pictures in my post??? I had the pictures marked private in my album maybe that meant you couldn't see them. Anyone know what the deal is....I hate all this computer crap.


Can anyone see this picture??

Here is a couple new pics......wide shot of flower room





Hope you guys like it...I have some semi-major changes in the works. Such as a 4th light and res but I need to switch from 3-8x4 trays and get 4-6x4 trays (i only use a 6x4 space on my trays for each 1kw lamp) to change from a 20 day cycle to a 15 day. All will be completed after the new year.

Stick around it should get interesting......Hey check out my 4000w Grow Room thread in the Design and Set-up Category. Thx for playing

How do u approach a king lol ?!...
Teach me everything u know...

How do u set ur clone trays up...Please disect ur process and explain it to me step by step so i can mimmick it exactly sir....

This fawkin grow is sick in the head! + reps sir!!!!!!!

On Edit: I read ur entire thread before posting, I guess the points I would like for u to reitterate for me is what temp is ur heat mat on, The plugs look really wet in the domes maybe thats why i havent had succes in a dome.... My setup has worked to date by just cloning in a cup of water but im going to be sogging my current grow so I need a proven (like such as urs)cloning method that will be sufficient to Keep my flower tub full.. Thanks for all the help in advance

onthedl0008 said:

How do u approach a king lol ?!...
Teach me everything u know...

Click to expand...

Please don't say such things, I am a humble observer of the Masters nothing more. Just come from a hort background...which does'nt hurt. But our nursery never could sell clones....wish we could've

How do u set ur clone trays up...Please disect ur process and explain it to me step by step so i can mimmick it exactly sir....

Click to expand...

You really can just call me Old...not sir...but my clone set-up.

Heatmat Tstat is set around 82--i don't think its very accurate so if it seems to be running warm I just turn it down to like 78-80 or so. Cheap tstats aren't trustworthy.

I use 2" net pots, about 36-40 per tray, put the rapid rooters in them (straight out of the bag)--upside down--so I can make my own hole with a skewer or chopstick.

I soak them to the point you see in the pic with 5 or 6 good sprays (not mists of 5.8ph water.

Cut clones, Clonex Gel, in plug.......if you aren't comfortable with this part let me know....I use the "Batch of Clones in Rockwool" System by Al B Fuct that is stickied at the top of the hydro section.

They go into the closet or bathroom attached to my op for at least a 6 hour dark period (up to 12) to recover from the shock.---this is a very important step.......Then under the floro 24/7.

Moisture level of RR.....I just watered...I lifted the dome TO water so the pic is a bonus.
The main point I want to make is that I DO NOT keep them this wet during the first 4-5 days. Keep them moist but not saturated-more moist than rw cubes but not dripping water if you pick them up.
The other thing is on day 6 (in this pic)--I KNOW with 100% certainty that any that have come that far are and will be showing roots over the next 24-48 hours and are taking up alot more water at this point.

RR are more forgiving than RW Cubes but overwatering will rot off your cuttings quickly.

This fawkin grow is sick in the head! + reps sir!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

Thanks...some ppl say that 'bout me.

On Edit: I read ur entire thread before posting, I guess the points I would like for u to reitterate for me is what temp is ur heat mat on, The plugs look really wet in the domes maybe thats why i havent had succes in a dome.... My setup has worked to date by just cloning in a cup of water but im going to be sogging my current grow so I need a proven (like such as urs)cloning method that will be sufficient to Keep my flower tub full.. Thanks for all the help in advance

Click to expand...

You should carefully read and follow the Batch of Clones in Rockwool system in the hydro section. That is the system that worked for me.


Thanks for checking things out.

-OitW

Woot! Lookin good! +rep 4 ya

Some more pics.....in honor of a new post in my thread.....again I am really sorry these pics aren't rotated--i figured you did it here on the site......friggin old-timers i tell ya.



These should be good ones...

OLD! I have printed and will read and reread these instructions...

I dont understand why u would revert me to als thread with rockwool lol...

Im trying to follow ur system with the plugs because thats what I have found have worked best in my DWC system.I have tried rockwool but it tends to get and stay to wet while keeping water levels at proper hieghts for maximum growth during different plant stages of growth...

I havent been this excited about my grow in a long time and appreciate ur help humble king LOL Had to...Sorry..

On another note, Please stop by my grow, mainly when i cut and clone ur critique would be greatly appreciated to walk me thru the process of ur plug technique which ive decided is the best for my op.

Thanks again for all ur help! U R the man!

I send members there for the cloning process.....not the medium.

The Cut
The Dip
The Insert into Medium
The Dark Period
The Environmental Info, Temps, RH, etc.

Al's thread should be called "A Batch of Clones in Medium of Your Choice"

Just replace the word rockwool with rapid-rooter in any of his threads.

Still the same system......

Thats......um....a lot of um..... green. Good for you Old. I will subscribe and follow this very closely. Can't wait to see this cycle. I don't think I could ever have a system like this with that many plants. I would never leave the house, or grow room for that matter. Yeah the 20 clones in rockwool by Al B. is great, sad he's not around anymore. Good luck on your grow. +rep

Awesome Old in the Way! Love the journal in progress plus the mouth watering pics !!!

Thanks for sharing with us all. I'll be following this thread with keen interest !!! +rep

prity crazy piczz im hopeing to get started tomorow evrey thingzz redy i hope i dont fuck it up ill be hopeing to get sum help if needed

ACEakaGREEN said:

prity crazy piczz im hopeing to get started tomorow evrey thingzz redy i hope i dont fuck it up ill be hopeing to get sum help if needed

Click to expand...

Good luck on your first Grow, The first one is always a little scary. You'll probably make some mistakes but everyone does. Just learn from them and you'll be growing thick buds in no time. Good Luck Bro