Newbie First Time Grow with mixed results- looking for feedback and advice

Hi everyone,

This is my first time grow. I got five clone plants from a friend. I built the grow box from a shelving unit that has adjustable shelves. I walls are cardboard lined with survival blankets and I'm using 26/100 watt CFL light bulbs. Currently I use 5 of these bulbs which produce 1750 lumens each. The growing medium is a mix of whatever he put in the pots and I added Miracle grow potting soil with moisture control which is suppose to feed for six months. I just added the Miracle Gro soil about a week ago. Using tap water after letting it sit for a couple days in an open container and sometimes collected rain water which also sits for a couple days. The plants are in 24hrs lighting right now.

What I'm trying to understand is what caused the different results. All plants are clones and are the same age. Plant A seems to be growing well from what I can tell. Plant B finally started growing - picture shows about 4 days of growth. Plants C & D are still the same as they were when I got them. They are alive but not growing. One of the clones died after about 3-4 weeks. When I transplanted them they all had a very established root system. Any insight or suggestions would be welcomed and appreciated.

I have attached photos.

Thanks in advance!

to start with you should skip the Miracle grow products

and at this ages I wouldn't go 24/7 I would give em some night time 20/4 or 18/6 IMO

I would also add more light now you have em, and in some way train the plant`s to get small and bushy instead of high and thin (top/FIM or LST) as CFLs don't provide much light after 10 inch`s

also what kind of Kelvin is the Bulb`s ? you should go for a majority of 6500K or 5000K for Veg. and choose some low Kelvin color light for flowering (2700/3000K)

light up that cab like a christmas tree for good results

I have 5 26 watts - 100 watt replacement bulbs. 1750 lumens, 2700k. I have them placed in clamp lights facing from the top,sides and bottom to give light to the lower branches. All five are on 24/7. I turned a couple off to be able to take my pictures. I'm going to go look for some 5000k or 6500k bulb to replace the 2700k and then use the 2700k for flowering. So you think I should top/FIM or LST the large one? I was thinking about giving it another 2 weeks under the 6500K lights and then switch it to 12/12. What do you think?

they seem to be stretching to me...

I ukeep the light very close to them and only raise the lights to accomodate the growth.

I'd have to agree with giving them some night time, I usually go off 24/0 once they start needin feeding because they would start yellowing and looking weak if I didn't. Also keep the lights as close as possible without touching.

Ok thanks, Do you see any problems or benefits with putting them outside in the sunshine on sunny days. I the weather has been pretty good the last couple days, so I have been sitting tyhem out on my deck to take advantage of the sunshine. Does it make sense to do that or should I just keep them in my grow box and 100% indoor grow?

One other question. What will the plants gain by moving to a 20/4 or 18/6 light dark cycle? I thought that you could keep them at 24hr light until time to switch them to flower with 12/12. May be a crazy question, but this is my first grow. I actually decided to give it a try just for the hell of it , but once the one started taking off growing , I started researching and am now really wanting to learn so I can get better at it since it's legal here now and I have friends with med cards and they are letting me use them as their provider to learn how to grow since I'm interested now.

i would just slowly introduce them to sunlight if your going to leave them out a bit. putting them out in the sun is a huge change to them and could really stunt their growth if not gradually hardened off. start them out with some morning light for a few hours.

Gs3000 said:

One other question. What will the plants gain by moving to a 20/4 or 18/6 light dark cycle? I thought that you could keep them at 24hr light until time to switch them to flower with 12/12. May be a crazy question, but this is my first grow. I actually decided to give it a try just for the hell of it , but once the one started taking off growing , I started researching and am now really wanting to learn so I can get better at it since it's legal here now and I have friends with med cards and they are letting me use them as their provider to learn how to grow since I'm interested now.

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I've actually left my veg tent 24/0 and have absolutely no negatives. In fact it seems to keep any stretching to an absolute minimum. Good luck!

Ok I thought since when growing indoors we are tryimg to simulate sunlight that getting the real think would be better. Didn't think doing that could have a negative impact. Well I'm learning. Probably should just keep them indoors rather than run the risk of messing them up.

blowincherrypie said:

I've actually left my veg tent 24/0 and have absolutely no negatives. In fact it seems to keep any stretching to an absolute minimum. Good luck!

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Guess I could split them up and leave two 24/0 and do the other two 18/6. The outcome will be useful during my next grow.

mrblu said:

i would just slowly introduce them to sunlight if your going to leave them out a bit. putting them out in the sun is a huge change to them and could really stunt their growth if not gradually hardened off. start them out with some morning light for a few hours.

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Mrblu, can you help understand how it could cause growth stunt. I see in all the post that we are trying to provide light like daylight, and that the some lights have problems penetrating the leaves and getting light to the lower branches, I read that sunshine penetrates and and provide the light that is needed by the plant at all the levels. Is it the move between the two light sources that could potentially cause a problem?

I'd just found my plants did a little better when they got some rest, it could've been because it was hotter in the grow area with the lights on. As for bringing it outside I'd advise against it because you may bring unwanted pests in with your plants and depending where you are the heat could stress them out too

JohnBaked said:

I'd just found my plants did a little better when they got some rest, it could've been because it was hotter in the grow area with the lights on. As for bringing it outside I'd advise against it because you may bring unwanted pests in with your plants and depending where you are the heat could stress them out too

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Thanks John! I understand what you mean. I think I will just keep them all indoors and switch to 20/4 light schedule.

plants born outside develop protection against the powerful rays of the sun, indoor plants that are brought outside do not have this protection developed yet which is why you need to get them used to sunlight or they may have problems

Adjorr said:

plants born outside develop protection against the powerful rays of the sun, indoor plants that are brought outside do not have this protection developed yet which is why you need to get them used to sunlight or they may have problems

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Thanks for the explanation. It makes a lot of sense.

Ok I switched out the 26/100 watts softlight 2700k lightbulbs for 26/100 daylight 6500k lightbulbs. Man the light is really different. The softlight lightbulbs had a yellow tint, the daylights lightbulbs produce a white clear light, it almost like being outside on a clear sunny day.

Gs3000 said:

Ok thanks, Do you see any problems or benefits with putting them outside in the sunshine on sunny days. I the weather has been pretty good the last couple days, so I have been sitting tyhem out on my deck to take advantage of the sunshine. Does it make sense to do that or should I just keep them in my grow box and 100% indoor grow?

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I do it all the time they love it. It's a good chance to hose them off good too, they like that. If they have been under intense light they will be fine but a tender plant can get a little scorch. Only other drawback is you risk exposing them to insects outside.