greatbranch's heinz 57 lighting / yield increase/mainlining trial (strawberry cough)

My setup is below:

1)Phototron T5 with hood reflector, fan panel, and additional top bulb - Original height 39" I use this for vegging ONLY now - ( This thing was WAY overpriced for the use I get out of it, but I am a geezer and I remember them from way back...you can grow to completion in them, but not more than an ounce or so every 3 months) It IS a space saver for veg, though.

Currently have Amnesia Haze (7 weeks from seed) and Strawberry Cough (4 weeks from seed) in there Three plants gets very crowded even at 4-5 weeks, but is possible. Width is more a problem than height (hence my 2-liter hempy pots that closely matched the shape of my 5 gal buckets)

2)Lighthouse Hydro tent 32"x32"x60" for flowering - 2 Blackstar Hydro 135W flowering LEDs and a 150W HPS for fill light and to keep the heat the same as the Phototron...I just have to keep 1 room climate controlled and both hang within 5 degrees of each other. also have a 440 cfm fan and carbon filter to keep smell down.

Currently have White Widow x Big Bud and Cotton Candy at 7 weeks in flower (My short WWxBB was only 10 days behind...should have let her catch up in veg)- in 5 gallon hempy buckets with perlite/moss mix.

OK - so with the exception of going with something like an Area51 panel which I am working on getting (SLOWLY gathering the funds), what else can I do to increase my yield and improve my setup? Going to get another tent when I get the new panel and just increase that way - any way to do that without getting another filter and fan? Maybe filter the room instead of the tents? BTW - Green Gator filters... I learned about from The Dawg... https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/787785-dawgs-600-watt-sgs-160-a.html
(Does EVERYONE just decide "Aw f- it...might as well just use the WHOLE room)

This is only my third run - got 2.5oz dry from my first White Widow x Big Bud plant. Figuring I SHOULD be able to get at least 4 with two plants every 8-12 weeks depending on strain. I would OBVIOUSLY like to increase that, so ALMOST any and all feedback is appreciated

Things I expect to hear, but know just a little about: (and I'm not including the "Hey, dude, you have crappy lights" comments...lol - 1)SCROG them 2)build a watering system (not too keen on this)

Recent changes:

First, I read THIS - great information!
http://www.growweedeasy.com/main-lining-technique-nugbuckets
https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/542308-main-lining-thread.html
https://www.rollitup.org/drain-waste-hydro/546006-world-hempy.html

I have recently cut my buckets from 5 gallon to 3 gallon in the hopes of feeding more regularly.
This is the first run with both of my UFO LEDs and HPS being used for the entire flowering time. (second UFO acquired at about week 3 of current flowers)
Moved from using cut off 2 liter bottles for veg pots to using 1 gallon smart pots to improve root structure.
I have BEGUN topping and training my first main-lining victim!!!

Performed surgery yesterday. Something to note...I am aware I started too early, but this little girl started running for the sky, and I want to keep that main mantifold relatively low. Otherwise, I would have waited for a week or two. This is the only reason to start this early. If you do top and remove the nodes below this early, be sure to leave the fan leaves to act as "solar panels" for your remaining node until they beef up, or it will cost you precious time.

Strawberry cough before surgery:


And after...do NOT injure your growth tips when topping! (I shake like a chihuahua in the cold...lmao)


This diverts all of the plants energy to the remaining growth tips that I will begin to train as they grow out.

Hey, greatbranch!

Nice read so far... I like the topping demo. That's the clearest picture I've seen of it. Is that particular method called "FIMming"? (FIM = fuck, I missed.) I always leave the 2 growth tips too. If you explain mainlining that clearly, that'll be awesome.

Awww Brother Greatbranch You Are A Grower After My Own Heart.I Love The Tron Bra.I Remeber Back in The Day When My Eye's First Gazed Upon The Mighty Phototron I Thought It Looked Like The Star Trek Transportor.Damn I Wanted 1 Badly.So Trons Right And Left Engage Peace And Make It So!!!!!

daveroller said:

Hey, greatbranch!

Nice read so far... I like the topping demo. That's the clearest picture I've seen of it. Is that particular method called "FIMming"? (FIM = fuck, I missed.) I always leave the 2 growth tips too. If you explain mainlining that clearly, that'll be awesome.

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Thanks, man! I appreciate the company! I don't know, honestly, if I left enough to be considered fimming in the proper sense, but I did f-ing miss...lol. It wasn't what I was trying to do. I just didn't want to nip my growth underneath it, so would rather goof on the high side (pun intended ). If I did leave enough for it to keep growing, I will be sure it is completely gone when I have more room for error. Also don't know if anybody noticed I snuck more "soil" in the pot at the end - covering up the first couple of nodes below. "Choking up" on the bat, so to speak. She is the stretchiest little thing, but I think that's because half of her light is being shaded by the BUSH on the other side of the Phototron. Wish I had started this one plant earlier. My amnesia haze is a healthy girl so far. She's the reason I switched up my pots. She is being restricted by the 2 liter hempy. Thankfully, I can get her out of there this week. Her "trunk" is already the size of my flowering, 3 foot plants.

Check it out. I know ONE improvement I can make. Thanks, Dawg!!!!

The Dawg said:

Ok My Hommies This Is The Deal.From Today At 4pm Till Sunday 4pm These GreenGator Filters Will Be On Sale For $99.00 USD. The Clocks Ticking.

http://greengatorfilters.com/

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http://greengatorfilters.com/

The Dawg said:

Awww Brother Greatbranch You Are A Grower After My Own Heart.I Love The Tron Bra.I Remeber Back in The Day When My Eye's First Gazed Upon The Mighty Phototron I Thought It Looked Like The Star Trek Transportor.Damn I Wanted 1 Badly.So Trons Right And Left Engage Peace And Make It So!!!!!

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DUDE! I was SERIOUSLY just PMing you to see if I could get you to take a look!

So you got 2 plants in veg and 2 in flower and they're all different. That'll keep my brain stimulated, keeping track of them all by strain name. Strawberry Cough and Amnesia Haze sound like what happens to a person when they smoke it. lol Have you smoked any of these before?

That Amnesia Haze looks like she's gonna be a monster. That "trunk" is fat for a plant still in veg.

Have you tried out that Mainlining technique yet?

Whoever bred the White Widow x Big Bud strain needs to come up with a new name for it! Remembering 2 strain names to refer to one strain is just too much to ask!

daveroller said:

So you got 2 plants in veg and 2 in flower and they're all different. That'll keep my brain stimulated, keeping track of them all by strain name. Strawberry Cough and Amnesia Haze sound like what happens to a person when they smoke it. lol Have you smoked any of these before?

That Amnesia Haze looks like she's gonna be a monster. That "trunk" is fat for a plant still in veg.

Have you tried out that Mainlining technique yet?
Whoever bred the White Widow x Big Bud strain needs to come up with a new name for it! Remembering 2 strain names to refer to one strain is just too much to ask!

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I do have 4 different strains going (six, but I wasn't going to talk about the white lemon and the blue thai that are germing - unless it's possible for me to train more than one of them...got this hand made tomato ring thingy I put together out of a coat hanger and I need to see how much room I will have when bonding the main-line victim, the added veg time will be put into trunk, roots and low growth, so I may have no trouble with 3 in 1 gallon pots before they go to the tent...but stay tuned, my friend!). Haven't smoked any of them besides the one that needs a new name, and I agree.
The amnesia haze IS a monster. Supposed to be what happens to you when you smoke it...lol. I went over the other plants more for a description of my setup(pictures), and so I can get some feedback on improvements and explaining where the shade was coming from. This will be primarily following the main-lining (which is brand new to me) of the strawberry cough - "Shakira"...lmao - don't you guys name your plants???????

greatbranch said:

I do have 4 different strains going (six, but I wasn't going to talk about the white lemon and the blue thai that are germing - unless it's possible for me to train more than one of them...got this hand made tomato ring thingy I put together out of a coat hanger and I need to see how much room I will have when bonding the main-line victim, the added veg time will be put into trunk, roots and low growth, so I may have no trouble with 3 in 1 gallon pots before they go to the tent...but stay tuned, my friend!). Haven't smoked any of them besides the one that needs a new name, and I agree.
The amnesia haze IS a monster. Supposed to be what happens to you when you smoke it...lol. I went over the other plants more for a description of my setup(pictures), and so I can get some feedback on improvements and explaining where the shade was coming from. This will be primarily following the main-lining (which is brand new to me) of the strawberry cough - "Shakira"...lmao - don't you guys name your plants???????

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Shakira... That's a great name! Sounds kind of Zulu or something, like Shaka Zulu. I used to name my plants, but I'm not so creative at it.

That's a relief that you'll be focusing this journal around the Strawberry Cough! I have a hard time keeping track of a lot of different names at my age. Although I would be interested in seeing how the Amnesia Haze progresses. (Did you name that one?) But a demo of the Mainlining method would be really nice to see.

I read the section at that link you gave me about defoliation. The pictures got me kind of excited about it. I'm just a bit afraid to try it full bore on a plant that's kind of my only lifeline to pot right now. I'll probably pinch off a few upper leaves that are blocking a lot of light.

daveroller said:

Shakira... That's a great name! Sounds kind of Zulu or something, like Shaka Zulu. I used to name my plants, but I'm not so creative at it.

That's a relief that you'll be focusing this journal around the Strawberry Cough! I have a hard time keeping track of a lot of different names at my age. Although I would be interested in seeing how the Amnesia Haze progresses. (Did you name that one?) But a demo of the Mainlining method would be really nice to see.

I read the section at that link you gave me about defoliation. The pictures got me kind of excited about it. I'm just a bit afraid to try it full bore on a plant that's kind of my only lifeline to pot right now. I'll probably pinch off a few upper leaves that are blocking a lot of light.

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If I goof it up and kill the plant, I will be surprised, but I am ready for that. I had been topping the crap out of them before, so really, this will be far less. So far, this is the most defoliating I have done. It is only focused on the lower building of the structure. After a point, I will return to only removing dying leaves. But, yeah...gotta look out for that supply first!

All but my first strain (which is hard with that damned two strain name) have names with phonetic similarities to the actual strain name...Strawberry cough - Shakira...amnesia haze - Neecy...White Lemon - Willomina...Blue Thai - Betty...lmao

EzekielPaf said:

hair loss treatment

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I DO NOT NEED, nor do I want to be a member of that club, douché! Carry yo bald ass elsewhere!

Me:Last Week I Was Playing Poker With Some African Tribesman
Friend:Oh Really Zulu's??
Me:No I Won

Brother Greatbranch The Hair Loss Post Is A Spammer.I Seen This Last Night Im Surprised Riu Hasnt Taken It Down

The Dawg said:

Me:Last Week I Was Playing Poker With Some African Tribesman
Friend:Oh Really Zulu's??
Me:No I Won

Brother Greatbranch The Hair Loss Post Is A Spammer.I Seen This Last Night Im Surprised Riu Hasnt Taken It Down

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Right on time, Dawg!!! Lmao. Yeah, I know he's spammin'. I already reported the post. Not normally a taddle-tale, but these people are the Jehovah's Witnesses of the internet.

^^^^^^^^^^likey^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

OK - this is to highlight some issues that I have to deal with that might not jump out to those not familiar with the Phototron. They still advertise them in High Times mag, and they make a killing off these expensive ass things. They are NOT the best thing to use, though recently, I have had the thought that they would be awesome for someone growing autos. There are those that keep mothers in them, and it's working out for vegging. Saves me some floor space too. Anyway - the bottom holds about 5 gallons. I may be able to fit 3 one gallon smart pots. The panels all the way around DO open up, but I only have a 9 inch wide area to work with. Also, from the top of my "soil" to the top of the plant cannot be any higher than about 17" and still be able to get the plant OUT to move to the flowering tent. This works out perfectly, though, because my tent height is 60". (You salty Dawgs know this, but this is good noob information) If I go past that point of 17", and my plant triples in height in flowering (high sativa, but NOT always), I have a fight on my hands. It is relevant to all the other peeps who may wonder why I don't just veg my plants longer to get more yield. It will also be good information to keep you guys from harshing on the ghetto 'tomato' ring I made, so I can still get the plant out through the opening when I bust it out...lol.

So the small amount of added veg time for main-lining (as long as 21 days), will not hurt me, but ensure I don't have to tie things down too much (like I am going to have to do with that monster in the photo when I move it^^^^^^) (other than for support). This process should take about 4.5 -5 weeks from now before I'm ready to move the main-lined plant over to flowering, but that is a guess. (added time is the beginning seedling time that I just chopped down to the size of one that would have just sprouted) I should have that amnesia haze plant tamed, adjusted, and done stretching by then. Shakira, our main-line victim, is recovering nicely from her surgery just two days ago. I have illustrated where we are taking her. Noticed a little nut burn...guess it makes sense after losing all of that plant, that her reduced frame doesn't need it.

greatbranch said:

So the small amount of added veg time for main-lining (as long as 21 days), will not hurt me, but ensure I don't have to tie things down too much (like I am going to have to do with that monster in the photo when I move it^^^^^^) (other than for support). This process should take about 4.5 -5 weeks from now before I'm ready to move the main-lined plant over to flowering, but that is a guess. (added time is the beginning seedling time that I just chopped down to the size of one that would have just sprouted) I should have that amnesia haze plant tamed, adjusted, and done stretching by then. Shakira, our main-line victim, is recovering nicely from her surgery just two days ago. I have illustrated where we are taking her. Noticed a little nut burn...guess it makes sense after losing all of that plant, that her reduced frame doesn't need it.
View attachment 2981400

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Super photo there! The text and arrows really help show what you're planning to do. I wouldn't have guessed that you'll be pruning off the longest branches and biggest fan leaves soon. Very helpful and much appreciated.

daveroller said:

Super photo there! The text and arrows really help show what you're planning to do. I wouldn't have guessed that you'll be pruning off the longest branches and biggest fan leaves soon. Very helpful and much appreciated.

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Thanks, D! I wouldn't have guessed it either when first looking at it, and when "Nugbuckets" shows keeping the fan leaves in an "immature" situation like mine, from the tutorial I linked to at the beginning, it was a little fuzzy to me. They also didn't mention WHY you would ever want to do it early. I will be diagramming heavily as I pick which nodes to snip and train. This is one of the areas where the tutorial that I linked to in the beginning is lacking just a LITTLE. There are subtle differences in timing and size, and perhaps node selection that are customizable to everyone's grow situation. Best to keep in mind that we are each working with 1/3 scale models for their final resting place in our respective situations - don't be afraid to tailor it and make it your own!