Last Update 2021
This was the first morning that I went into veg room (doubles as laundry room) and no visible flying insects. Also, no visible damage from insects to be seen at this time (been that way in flower room for a week maybe). So now if I spray every other day and if I am lucky (which I’m not…sigh) maybe them mites and thrips be gone in a few weeks!
Chucked original #2 due to much bug prob. Only one in clone room is from original seed and that is #1 (which may get chucked as have good new #1 clone).
Original #3 got chopped early a few days ago (actually had some amber on sugar leaves) but buggy big buds with cool temps a recipe for mold so better to have decent bud then moldy bud.
#6 was hermie and #4 male (have clone). Have a #2 clone with another #2 clone started. Have successfully produced some Pineapple Haze seeds from #3 (just chopped) and should be seeds in #5.
So right now I only have two #5’s in flower. One #5 (original from seed) will be chopped in a few weeks (unless honeydew shows up on leaves which then I will chop early)
Here is a heads up on a decent product found here in U.S. at Lowe’s. These are perfect for a weird, “side-lighting,” kinda dude like me. In pic above one can see two red and white LED fixtures (much more red than shows in pic).
Here is pic of box showing spectrum. They are 4 foot at 30 watts and the flower spectrum is approx. $60.00 (the veg/reg cycle spectrum is less money I think). They are made by GE. It wouldn’t be my choice for top lighting but can already tell they rock on as side lighting!
Also, at my Lowe’s they decided to close out a bunch of organic insecticides etc. like Dr. Earth’s, Bonide, Captain Jacks, and Safer’s etc. I bought em out here on many brands (reg $10-$15 all close out at $1.97 and $2.97). And no I don’t work for Lowe’s just trying to help.
Since we went legal here in New Mexico my plan is to work towards a license ($500.00 for 100 plants). At this time I don’t even have the room or the lights to grow what I can grow legal now between my wife and I (we can have 12 plants in flower and 12 in veg). I’ve thought about my expansion and the multitude of paths available and have decided a room of 3 X 3 stalls would work best for me.
I will further pursue my method of growing (utilizing side lighting) as I will build stalls in the future. I paint my walls with Elastomeric roofing paint for very high reflectivity (better than mylar). Seems a no-brained decision to use side lighting in order to get the most out of my lights.
I could hang some good LED’s and do a whole room grow but I miss out on side-lighting and would have to do a SOG which would be fine if I wasn’t doing so many different strains with different heights, etc. With stalls I not only get great reflectivity but can also hang side lights. Height no longer becomes an issue as each stall will have it’s own adjustable light and can grow up to 6-7 feet in an adjusted stall (good for 6 feet now on one side).
Also, when factoring in canopy penetration (not so easy with LED’s) seems yield will increase over SOG, SCROG on a similar small scale grow. I have separated my closet into two stalls. Each stall has it’s own passive exhaust into attic. Will have to add inline duct fan as I add more lights in room.
So next I will build a wall coming out three feet from closet wall with open access at top for light placement and air circulation. I feel I have better controls with temperature and lighting options when using a reflective strategy within a stall. So eventually, I will have a room of stalls (with at least one independent stall that is sealed from others for strain stabilizing and breeding).
I could hang a 600 watt HPS in center of room and grow plenty but not my style of growing. My electric bill now is so low I can’t even imagine anyone not taking advantage of LED’s. Gotta add those fluorescent lights for that must have UV light though.
Couldn’t believe it when I went into Lowe’s and found 4 foot T12’s. Mentioned to the clerk hadn’t seen em in years and clerk said ya they were out for a long time and just started coming in again. The, “plant and appliance” bulb is 3100K. Couldn’t find a 2700K but plenty of 3500K and 4000K and even 6500K.
They sell the bulbs but don’t sell a 4 foot shop light (or any light fixture) that uses T12 4 foot florescent bulbs. I have two shop lights (bought extra ballast…they only had the one) and have a quad unit may hook up at some point.
This Pineapple Haze at just under 5 feet tall is a perfect example of the benefits of side lighting. Aside from commercial lighting very few LED’s will even penetrate well at three to four feet (cobs having better penetration but that’s changing).
HPS Metal-Halide great at canopy penetration but LED’s not so much. So either side light or SOG, SCROG?
A guy I know grows with hydro and grows a bunch of little plants very fast with little popcorn buds (that taste and smell like a frog’s ass…swampy) and not very strong high. His weed has bag appeal but many shop at out-of-town dispensaries because local so bad. Dude does grow a bunch of weed quick if that’s what is most important???
SCROG seems too labor intensive and kinda a bondage for weed but just my dumb opinion as I haven’t tried it. Twenty years ago I was a purist and wouldn’t even pluck a single leaf of even top them. No stress growing!
Insects will turn one into a leaf pluck-er like quick!
In a 2 X 2 space can get much more yield from growing a 5 foot plant with side lighting then a 2 X 2 SCROG. Below is a pic of a 5 footer trying to spread out beyond the 2 X 2.
So this is really trying to spread out!
Guess better lasso this little mare!
Ah, that’s better.
I’ll finish off this post today with some more bud pics of Pineapple Haze #5
you’all be safe and have a Happy New Year!
