Florida Growers Thread

[GypsyBush]

Gypsy,

I feel like a child or an asshole who sits in an office reading manuals but never gets hands on experience. Touche', once again your points are well taken. I'll opt for the field experience backed with things I've read.

No worries...

You will get your own experience soon enough...

The trick is to use other's while you gain yours.. so that you can have success the very first time...

I like to say that even though I didn't invent the wheel, I can borrow one and it will work just fine...

Gotta read lots... but cross reference your info too...

We make new scientific discoveries every day... and facts change...

Eventually I'll find how to do more right than wrong. which brings me to another truth I read on here for new growers. If you have females flowering, you've done more right than wrong.

...


Females are good if you want buds yeah...

It's all one big ongoing experiment after all.

Sure.. have fun with it... but remember... there is no reason why your very first grow shouldn't be a successful one...

I'm currently using fox farms stuff. I did use chemical ferts but not really all that much, maybe four or five gallons through the whole grow and they haven't had any in well over a week now.

Sucks when you get used to something.. and they quit carrying it...

I've had that happen too...

My partner is a plumber, I am not good mechanically, he's not good on the science end. He is starting to get the "I want to go hydro" bug. I showed him your post on your ebb and flow system, he understood immediately, hell, even I understood.

Well it is pretty simple....

and time tested...

Every river delta in the world is nothing but a giant ebb flow tray.. think about it...

every year the waters rise and flood the banks.. spreading nutrient rich deposits all over the flood area...

Then as the flood recedes... fresh air is pulled into the ground...

Except we do it multiple times a day instead of once a year...

let me know if you need more info...

You could easily do a small "corner" set up with things from WM and give it a small scale try... check this post fro the GrowFAQ

here's the DIY...

https://www.rollitup.org/view.php?pg=faq&cmd=article&id=466

Edit. I also never make the solution stronger than fifty percent of the manufacturers recommend dose.

That is one of the best points for hydro, in my opinion...

I grow scientifically... I KNOW when I need to add 200PPM of ferts...

I know what my Ph is doing RIGHT NOW... all the time...

It's just much more exact...

but I will be honest with you...

NOTHING will beat the simplicity of soil... except soil outdoors...

 

[GypsyBush]

Pasco County here. 55 years old with 30 years outdoor grow experience.

Welcome to RIU...

A lot of members will be happy for your knowledge...

Cheers...

 

[SACReDHeRB]

Tough to say...is the badseed from a Sativa or Indica plant...probably don't know. A sativa grown well can grow over 5 feet outdoors.

Idk i havent got the seeeds yet. If they do end up being indica dominant how much bud can i expect from each plant grown right and from early april till like sep. or oct. (whenever it ends flowering). I also know that indicas are more of a bush than a tree. but i know it is common to see 4ft. indicas but rarely over 8ft. but sativas can be up to almost 25ft. and i have another question there are street lights behind my house, used to be woods, some parts still are but they put a street there and a few townhomes(damn developers)they have no respect for nature. So my ? is will the streets lights(they arent too bright and theres like 3, and i have a 6ft privacy fence) affect my plants during flowering?

down here i just get mids. cant find any namebrand stuff yet(so unknown genetics). but i know that the indica is more couchlock and the sativa is more energizing and "head-high" so ill look out for that in the bud so i can kinda get a feel for what the dominant part is.

 

[Heads Up]

I placed the order for the 600w, upgraded to the easy cool6 hood. Ninety five thousand lumens, that's seventy five thousand more than I have now. Look out tampa, here I come for my next batch of supplies. All I really need is more soil, some hydroton, and a gallon of grow big and some grow bags. I still have tiger and big bloom for another grow or two.

 

[GypsyBush]

I placed the order for the 600w,

AWESOME!!!!

You will be soooo happy...

I still can't believe I grow these buds myself... all cause of the light...

upgraded to the easy cool6 hood.

Very nice...

Have you figured out what fan are using for the air cooling?

Ninety five thousand lumens, that's seventy five thousand more than I have now.

Yup... and don't stare at it... or you will forever have HORTILUX stamped in your vision...

Look out tampa, here I come for my next batch of supplies.

Did you see the DIY ebb flow?

All I really need is more soil, some hydroton, and a gallon of grow big and some grow bags. I still have tiger and big bloom for another grow or two.

You mix the hydroton with your soil? interesting...

 

[Heads Up]

I do know better than to stare into the sun but thanks for the concern. As to the fan, no, not yet, but I will have at least a few weeks to ponder and research and of course look for the best prices. Never know who has a fan on sale. My partner has a crappy six inch in inline fan that I'm sure I can borrow just to have some air flowing through the light. The hydroton I use on top of my soil, forgive me, but I read where plants won't grow roots right up to the top of soil grows because the top of the soil dries out too much and too often to support roots. So basically the top couple of inches is a waste, so I tried hydroton and low and behold when I pulled the males I checked the root mass and sure enough the fine roots were near the top of the soil. I also saw a picture of someone who had used it in the soil. It is supposed to hold water and nutes and also give your root system nooks and crannies to explore. Who knows? I'll try anything to see if it helps. By the way, thanks for the tip about the fan pushing air through the light.

Edit. I saw the diagram of the ebb and flow system and my partner says, I can make that. You gotta' love plumbers.

 

[SACReDHeRB]

What happened to the Specs. on nirvana they used to be very detailed about their plants, now they barely have any information on the plants.

 

[GypsyBush]

What happened to the Specs. on nirvana they used to be very detailed about their plants, now they barely have any information on the plants.

I am not sure if you are asking me..

But I am not the Gypsy from Nirvana...

I'm just a Gypsy...

 

[RetiredToker76]

Chat is boring tonight...

Guess I'll head over to the toke n talk forums and see how's posting stoned...other than me.

Peace Florida...

-RT76

 

[GypsyBush]

I do know better than to stare into the sun but thanks for the concern.

Just trying to be a good Gypsy...

As to the fan, no, not yet, but I will have at least a few weeks to ponder and research and of course look for the best prices. Never know who has a fan on sale.

Smart.. being in a hurry will cost you extra bucks...

The VORTEX brand of fans is considered to be of GOOD quality with eithr a 10 year or lifetime warranty...

There is also a another real good manufacturer of TOP QUALITY fans called SOLER & PALAU

My partner has a crappy six inch in inline fan that I'm sure I can borrow just to have some air flowing through the light.

I am not sure what you call crappy, but I use the ECO PLUS brand of fans...

They work good.. mine are 6 months old now and have not missed a beat... and they are considerably cheaper (also read considerably LOUDER)

If I had the money when I got mine, I would have gone with S&P... or even the VORTEX..

BUT.. I gotta say I am happy so far with the ECO PLUS..

I also use their 185gph and 256gph water pumps... depending on the tray I am flooding...

The hydroton I use on top of my soil, forgive me, but I read where plants won't grow roots right up to the top of soil grows because the top of the soil dries out too much and too often to support roots.

I am stepping out of my realm a little here...

But I will give it a shot...

Roots will grow where there is moisture in the medium...

If part of the medium dries out, so will the roots in that part..

You find the top of your pots have no roots because it dries out...

Now...

I know for a FACT that good potting soil retains much much more water than the hydroton...

How do I know?

Well how often do you water your plants in soil..?

2x a week..?

What happens if you water a soil pot everyday? the plant will suffer...

With hydroton filled pots, I water them 6x a day.. and have done 12x a day...

if you did that with soil, you would have killed all the plants by drowning...

...

Does that make sense...?

Now... I have a few rose bushes outside, in pots of dirt mixed with hydroton... to AERATE the soil... but I gotta water MORE OFTEN, because the clay holds very little...

...


What I think maybe happeining in your case, is that the layer of hydroton is acting as a barrier to the moisture... helping keep it closer to the top...

But that is just a wild guess... I have no proof or experience in this... sorry...

So basically the top couple of inches is a waste, so I tried hydroton and low and behold when I pulled the males I checked the root mass and sure enough the fine roots were near the top of the soil.

OOOps ..

I guess I got ahead of myself there..

In my pots of hydroton, I see roots within the flood zone...

Every square inch of airspace gets filled with roots...

Everything above the flood is woody, dry root... just a conduit, no absorbing properties...

I also saw a picture of someone who had used it in the soil. It is supposed to hold water and nutes and also give your root system nooks and crannies to explore.

Nooks and crannies... aiespaces... but I doubt the moisture thing...

About the only thing that wil lhold more water than soil is straight up RockWool...

Who knows?

I think we can make some pretty educated guesses here... even consult someone if we get stuck...

but I am not sure how important this is... as long as what you are doing is producingthe desired effect, I will consider it a seccess...

I'll try anything to see if it helps.

That is a scary sentence...

Let's use the kitchen as an example... (I love to cook)

Let's say you have never been in a kitchen before (grow op) and all of sudden you feel like eating a cake...

You spend hours looking at the pictures in the cookbook (RIU)... trying to decide what KIND of cake you will have... (soil, hydro, aero)

When you decide on a recipe ( I recommend a simple cake to begin with) you will gather all of your ingredients and follow the recipe...

IF you follow the recipe accurately, you will end up with a cake...

May not be the fanciest cake in the world.. but there is no denying it... it's a cake...

Bake a few "standard" cakes and you will get a feel for how this baking cakes work...

By the time you are on your 4th or 5th cake, you have enouh experience to look at another recipe and say... "oooohhhh! Almonds sound real good with my cake..."

So you bake a cake with the extra almonds in it..

When the cake is done, you will be able to tell the difference between this and the other cake.... because you already ate a few of them, you have a solid basis for comparison...

If the cake does not work... bake another standard cake... if it comes out right, you will know that almonds are not compatible with your recipe...

Is this making any sense???

Use a known recipe... and your very forst cake will be delicious and pretty...

Try to do like a 9 year old and just mix a bunch of random ingredients from different recipes all at once and you will have a big mess in your kitchen... and maybe some weird batter to munch on...

Find a recipe... and follow it...

Follow ONE RECIPE, a proven one... something you can see other people doing with the same results...

Something OBVIOUSLY REPLICABLE...

Then.. all you have to worry about is following the recipe...

Follow it like there is no other cake in the world... follow it ignoring any and all advice outside of the recipe... subtitute only with ingredients approved by the master...

Do that and you will have a grin that you will not be able to hide...

But, there's plenty of people that like to "create" their own recipe... though I can't imagine a very good cake the first few tries...

By the way, thanks for the tip about the fan pushing air through the light.

No problem.. every little bit counts...

If we can make our equipment last, we are saving money...

Edit. I saw the diagram of the ebb and flow system and my partner says, I can make that. You gotta' love plumbers.

Sure you can do it... it's easy...

But I meant did you see this..?

How do I make an ebb & flow
hydroponic system?





The goal: To demonstrate the construction of an Ebb & Flow hydroponic system.

The system being constructed is small, however the design is the same as larger systems.

Parts list...

• Restaurant bus tub, 15 1/2" x 20 1/2" x 4 1/2", flood tray.
• Restaurant bus tub, 15 1/2" x 20 1/2" x 7", reservoir.
• Reservoir lid, 15 3/4" x 22".
• Overflow fitting.
• Fill/drain fitting.
• Water pump, 70 gph.
• Tubing, 1/2" ID.
• Aquarium air pump.
• Air stones.
• Green air line.
  
  Notice, in the pictures above, the one inch holes, in the flood tray for the overflow, and fill/drain fittings, also, the two inch holes in the lid, for the fittings to pass through.
  
  
  

  
  
  A view of the plumbed flood tray with lid. See how it fits over the fittings.​
  
  

  
  
  This is a view of the reservoir with lid, and plumbed flood tray.
  
  

  
  
  Here, it's all assembled. The water and air pumps are not shown. The power cord, and air lines fit between, the reservoir and lid. A small notch may need to be added, to avoid pinching the air lines, and to help the flood tray sit level.
  
  
  

  
  
  Assembled with six 5 1/2" square pots. Notice the easy access to both fittings. The fill/drain fitting has a connector for a 1/2" hose, under the screen. Remove the screen, connect the hose, turn the pump on, and pump out the nutrient solution. Makes reservoir change outs very easy.
  
  
  

  
  
  Another view of the system.
  
  

  
  
  Note: Choosing a container...
  
  Not all containers are made equal. Some are very sturdy, while others are not. Using a weak container will only lead to failure and a flood. Choose heavy duty containers. Also, some containers will need a center support to keep them level under the weight of the nutrient solution.
  
  Note: About sizes...
  
  The reservoir should be large enough, to hold two, to three times the volume of the flood tray or table. The pump should be sized to flood the tray in 5 min. or less.

 

[Heads Up]

Gypsy, by crappy I mean one of those inline fans you can get at home depot. It's basically a trash can with a fan inside. Made of tin or something like that and noisy as hell. Thanks for the instructions on building an ebb and flow system, I hadn't seen that. I didn't mean try 'anything', I'm not using piss for nitrogen but I've read you can. The one problem I have found about growing, the plants won't grow as fast as the thoughts in your head. It's almost six in the morning and my lights are about to come on. That hydroton thing on top of the soil, it does not trap the moisture at the surface. The deeper I push my probe into the bag of soil, the more moist it becomes. It just keeps it from drying out to quickly. I do use fox farms ocean forest but next grow I'm going to make a mix of ocean forest, light warrior and some mushroom compost.

 

[GypsyBush]

Gypsy, by crappy I mean one of those inline fans you can get at home depot. It's basically a trash can with a fan inside. Made of tin or something like that and noisy as hell.

like this???

These fans are garbage for our applications..

It is only better than having nothing...

Axial fans have no umph!...

ANY restiction and they loose cfm big time...

That is why we use centrifugal fans.. they have enough brunt to over come SOME restrictions without loosing too much flow...

A fan like this has no place in a grow op with a 600w light...

It just doesn't work hard enough... by design...

Thanks for the instructions on building an ebb and flow system, I hadn't seen that.

Yeah.. I posted a link to it.. but the pictures are always easier to catch...

You can do that with any size container...

I will give you a tip though...

Every DIY tray I have made has been replaced by a real ebb/flow tray by BOTANICARE...

All my DIY trays held a pool of water... and the roots would hang out in the pool and get sick...

Growies love standing water...

I chose the white BOTANICARE trays cause they are heavy duty.. made for the job...

has a "low spot" for the fittings... channels to keep the pots off the bottom... easy to clean in the shower stall/bath tub...

And it just works.. the first time...

I didn't mean try 'anything', I'm not using piss for nitrogen but I've read you can.

When following a proven recipe, it is not recommended to experiment...

Just learn to get what the plan calls for...

I mimicked Al's op... I didn't start experimenting until my output matched his...

Now that I get the same as he does.. I can try to improve on it...

But remember... he's been improving on it for 7 years now...

Kinda hard to beat..

The one problem I have found about growing, the plants won't grow as fast as the thoughts in your head.

Patience is deff a virtue...

And that is another reason to follow a plan... you know what to expect ahead...

It makes things a little less nerve wrecking when someone else doing the same thing stops by and tells you how good you are doing and where you'll be in no time...

Like the Fuct heads stick together, so do the Stink Buddies... and all of the other "cult grower" students...

It's almost six in the morning and my lights are about to come on.

Cool... do we get to see some pics?

That hydroton thing on top of the soil, it does not trap the moisture at the surface. The deeper I push my probe into the bag of soil, the more moist it becomes. It just keeps it from drying out to quickly.

That is exactly what I meant... my bad .. poor choice of words...

I do use fox farms ocean forest but next grow I'm going to make a mix of ocean forest, light warrior and some mushroom compost.

I don't know about soil, but I do know that FF is a reputable company...

 

[Heads Up]

You are up early this morning gypsy. My problem is, I haven't found a recipe yet. This is only my second grow and it is way better than my first. I should be getting ready for work, not on here pursuing my 'hobby'. Do you use botanicare supplements too? I'm trying to get to the point I'm all organic, want to find that taste I keep reading about. I bought two trial packs of some grow supplies last year. One of the three packs is botanicares liquid karma, pure blend pro grow and pure blend pro bloom. I want to do a rough comparison of how botanicares stuff measures up to fox farms stuff. Peace, I gotta' get ready for work. Looks like another rainy day in the sunshine state. I hope it rains tomorrow, we have an exterior to paint, a three day weekend sounds good to this tired body.

 

[GypsyBush]

You are up early this morning gypsy.

It's 2:30 here.. I'm still up...

But the Sun won't set for another few weeks... so it's 2 am but it looks like 2 pm..

My problem is, I haven't found a recipe yet.

This will be the single most important decision you make for your next grow...

We need to go find some good organic soil guys to help you out there...

Subcool comes to mind, but I am not sure how busy he is, or how willing to put in the time...

But I'll go look for some threads of some people that know what's up for you to start the hunt for a Master Grower/Mentor...

This is only my second grow and it is way better than my first.

That is very good... and it will get big time better now... just watch...

I should be getting ready for work, not on here pursuing my 'hobby'.

A person has to have priorities...

Do you use botanicare supplements too?

No..

I use NSR Greenleaves Grow and Bloom juice.. plus the h202 for pathogen control...

I'm trying to get to the point I'm all organic, want to find that taste I keep reading about.

Stick to soil then...

I tried going organic in my hydro op and it was a nightmare...

Word of advice...if you do hydro.. keep it synthetic, use h2o2 and you will have no issues...

If you really want to do organic... stick to soil...

Now...

I prefer an outdoor organic smoke...

But in my op.. I have some dandkity dank.. and it tastes GOOD...

especially after a 4 week cure...

But go with what you know...

Organic soil TO ME is like magik...

Hydro is more like science.. in my opinion...

I bought two trial packs of some grow supplies last year. One of the three packs is botanicares liquid karma, pure blend pro grow and pure blend pro bloom. I want to do a rough comparison of how botanicares stuff measures up to fox farms stuff.

I have used the complete Foz Farms line... in my hydro res...

I could throw it away fast enough..

what a nightmare...

Some kind of growie that came in the bottle colonized my res and took over...

My res would plunge from pH6.3 to 4.9 daily...

Now that I am back to 1 synthetic nute and h2o2, my res is stable and healthy..

It's been at 6.0/5.9 for 5 days now...

Peace, I gotta' get ready for work. Looks like another rainy day in the sunshine state.

Hot... so hot... and muggy...

It was hot here today.. for here...72F was the high...

Already too hot for me...

I hope it rains tomorrow, we have an exterior to paint, a three day weekend sounds good to this tired body.

Best of Luck...

 

[alldayeriday420]

Figure i ask my buddys here for a ?
Is this plant 100% female or to early to tell...see the thing is a found a perfect spot to bring em to and just hoping it will do better there....so watcha think? Looks like preflowers to me could be to soon to tell but maybe it is....

 

[WeedCreed]

I can't tell sorry, are you into 12/12 yet? Once you go 12/12 it takes about 7 days to find out the sex and you will know right away the difference from male and female.


To: HeadsUp if you want quality and consistent results with no real maintance problems go with GH 3 part man...you won't regret it. I use GH 3 part in my ebb and flow system and I can leave it be for up to a week and have no ph drifts or problems. Of course I don't because I love working in my room and seeing my ladies grow for me.

 

[alldayeriday420]

well i cant do 12/12 only cause mother nature takes care of the lighting... i was just getting ready to bring em to a really good spot with direct sunlight wich i was hoping to produce more bud...oh well just gonna say fuck it and bring em out there and hopefully it is a female....

 

[alldayeriday420]

well i do know what a male and a female look like but its just that these preflowere confused me...

 

[SACReDHeRB]

Gypsy. I have a question about your ebb and flow system there is room for 6 plants, but how big could they get in that and what would be the estimated yield from those size plants? And for anyone is it too late for me to plant a couple like 15 and pull off a few pounds(outdoors)? and how much light does it take to have a negative effect on the plants during flowering?

 

[haloman420]

Wat is up florida Can anyone answer this question? I have this plant I planted as a seed in late march well now its about 6 ft tall and no signs of the sex yet. In florida when will I see the sex Please help. P.S. My buddy has one that is two ft tall and all the leaves are all those little one leavers WTF.