Carmen's Winter Autos With ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro!

[Emeraldo]

Good going! 60 Watts will work too, lol. I forgot to mention: Get an incandescent bulb if you can!

In recent years, with the advent of LED, it can be hard to find/buy the good old "incandescent" bulbs. I think you can still get them, but you may need to ask. The newer LED bulbs don't give off much heat.

 

[Lerugged]

Yo. Put your pots behind the fridge or TV or some machine that you are running. Don't need to spend more on running extra electricity. Do your grow lights produce heat? Those would be perfect.

 

[Emeraldo]

Do your grow lights produce heat? Those would be perfect.

@NickHardy wrote that Carmen's lights would give off heat. Idk, are ViparSpectra lamps LED? Even if they do get warm, it's not necessary to run the lights to germinate. Atop the fridge or stereo amp or TV or other appliance is maybe also warm enough as @Lerugged suggested.

 

[Carmen Ray]

Good going! 60 Watts will work too, lol. I forgot to mention: Get an incandescent bulb if you can!

In recent years, with the advent of LED, it can be hard to find/buy the good old "incandescent" bulbs. I think you can still get them, but you may need to ask. The newer LED bulbs don't give off much heat.

I couldn't find incandescent but I found eco halogen.

@NickHardy wrote that Carmen's lights would give off heat. Idk, are ViparSpectra lamps LED? Even if they do get warm, it's not necessary to run the lights to germinate. Atop the fridge or stereo amp or TV or other appliance is maybe also warm enough as @Lerugged suggested.

Yo. Put your pots behind the fridge or TV or some machine that you are running. Don't need to spend more on running extra electricity. Do your grow lights produce heat? Those would be perfect.

The grow lights get a little warm close up but I agree with Emeraldo that it's a bit of overkill to run them now when there is no green to be seen. I thought of behind the fridge but why waste a brand new 70 watt halogen light bulb ey? lol
I've set up the lamp underneath my bedroom dresser and behind stuff to keep the warmth in I hope. The paper towel cds are wrapped in woolen scarf underneath the light. Thanks team!

 

[Azimuth]

I've known halogen lights to run  super hot so be sure to check on them. No sense letting them get too hot to germinate (or something even worse).

 

[Old G]

I’ve been growing autos for 3 yrs , I germinate between wet paper towels in my drawer, I wait till the sprouts are 1/4 inch and plant them. I’ve never had a problem, I’ve grown easy 50plants, the crucial time is the first 3 weeks seems they take forever to start growing. Guess I’ve been lucky to be honest I’ve read a lot of people have problems even germinating, don’t give up Carmen , you’ll get the hang of it , autos are fun once you get the hang of it, I love growing them . I give it to friends what I don’t smoke , I usually get 5/6 ozs a plant it’s all I need

 

[Carmen Ray]

I've checked on it a couple of times and it feels fine. It's hot above the light and the lampshade is warm to the touch but the paper towel cds in the red scarf are fine where they are. There's plenty of ventilation. I think this is going to work.

 

[Carmen Ray]

I've known halogen lights to run  super hot so be sure to check on them. No sense letting them get too hot to germinate (or something even worse).

It is hot. I was nervous and careful to check.

I’ve been growing autos for 3 yrs , I germinate between wet paper towels in my drawer, I wait till the sprouts are 1/4 inch and plant them. I’ve never had a problem, I’ve grown easy 50plants, the crucial time is the first 3 weeks seems they take forever to start growing. Guess I’ve been lucky to be honest I’ve read a lot of people have problems even germinating, don’t give up Carmen , you’ll get the hang of it , autos are fun once you get the hang of it, I love growing them . I give it to friends what I don’t smoke , I usually get 5/6 ozs a plant it’s all I need

I am still nervous with autos, you're right. I feel pretty confident that these next seeds will do better. I was in a rush to get going after all the delay, and I grew impatient and tried to hurry things I think.

 

[StoneOtter]

 

[CaptainLucky]

Had an idea for you @Carmen Ray.

When I was in high school -- long, long ago! -- we'd save the seeds from that 1 oz bag they called a lid, weed imported from Mexico. This was not your sinsemilla, and I didn't even know what that was. It was bag weed, consemilla.

So anyway, my older brother and I used a 40 watt light bulb strung through a hole in the top of a fairly small box, it was maybe 1 foot square around and 18 inches tall. Because the box could be closed, the heat the light bulb produced could accumulate. Germination was a breeze in this box. Whether it's paper towels or soil in small pots, it's moisture plus the right temperature (25C/79F) that makes germination happen, not light. Light really becomes important only after the bean has popped and the cotyledons have opened.

If germination at your room temperature is too slow, you might improvise such a box. It would give you the warmth you need in a very small space so heating it will cost very little. After sprouting, the seedlings will enjoy the warmth and light for a week or so. At some point you can easily transplant to your perlite or soil and put them under your grow lamps. Just a thought.

In the Greater Chicago area it was Mexican brickweed that some marketing genius coined the name COMMERCIAL COLOMBIAN. We had some hash occasionally but mostly it was C.C. lol CL

 

[Carmen Ray]

Good day,

Thank you for your patience. I am having difficulty germinating seed for this grow. I have two more gone in Tuesday and Wednesday. It's down to human error most of it, making it all the more frustrating.

Oh dear, I handed Roy the book and he hung the lights. I didn't check that they were done according to the book. They are not and I will have to get him to come and drill more holes.

C'mon lil seeds, c'mon!

 

[Old G]

Carmen i germinate my seeds in a drawer it usually takes 3 days to get a 1/4 inch sprout. Sometimes it takes 4 days but they always germinate you have to be patient, they will sprout, once you plant them I go maybe 1/2 inch deep it takes 3 days to break soil sometimes longer, but they do break soil. Seems they take forever to start growing, but their setting roots then they start growing. Look at my gro at 10 days theirs hardly any growth then look at 21 days. Autos are a different beast but once u get the hang of it their great. Their doing a lot with autos , and their potent, just hang in there, if I can do it anyone can. Of course I’ve been lucky and had Bill for a tutor even though he’s a die hard photo guy

 

[Old G]

There’s not alot of auto growers in here, I’m more than happy to give you any advice you need

 

[Carmen Ray]

Carmen i germinate my seeds in a drawer it usually takes 3 days to get a 1/4 inch sprout. Sometimes it takes 4 days but they always germinate you have to be patient, they will sprout, once you plant them I go maybe 1/2 inch deep it takes 3 days to break soil sometimes longer, but they do break soil. Seems they take forever to start growing, but their setting roots then they start growing. Look at my gro at 10 days theirs hardly any growth then look at 21 days. Autos are a different beast but once u get the hang of it their great. Their doing a lot with autos , and their potent, just hang in there, if I can do it anyone can. Of course I’ve been lucky and had Bill for a tutor even though he’s a die hard photo guy

Thank you Old G, this is good to know. I appreciate your help with the autos very much. The seeds themselves are tiny but I think I saw tails starting to sprout when I last checked an hour or so ago.

There’s not alot of auto growers in here, I’m more than happy to give you any advice you need

Please. I can do with the advice!

 

[NickHardy]

I was chatting to TRNH last night. I’m not sure I mentioned this but he tried to pop 4 more before the current 4 I sent him from the generally awesome people at Herbies (deliberately not tagging but they are one of the sponsors) I’m not tagging because I don’t want them to worry this reflects on them! Anyway all 4 failed. They were my JOTM prizes. One apparently exploded!

He said yesterday “I just don't get it I did everything the same, same paper, same technique apart from the hydrogen peroxide and in the same conditions and yet the second 4 all came up perfectly”

I said “You answered your own question”

apart from the hydrogen peroxide

I really think its a game changer. I use my swimming pool water as its just water and H2O2 for an hour. Cleans the shell of bacteria and softens it up. I reckon the less good the seed provenance the lone you want it. Bill does a full 24 hours. For TRNH we got a bottle of 3% and mixed with water. Then an hour soak and then into paper towel ziplok hung from a clothes peg in warm and dark conditions. Once twice a day walk past and lift the bottom of the hanging ziplok up above the height of the clothes peg a second or so - the accumulated water in the bottom of the bag washed over the seed in the paper keeping it moist.

He popped 4/4 (including the Skywalker OG same as you) in 3-4 days. I get 36-48 hours same method but my theory is the climate here lets them acclimatise. They’re already soft and have a slightly higher internal moisture content as we live literally on a tropical island.

Wasabi seeds - 2 months in the freezer to acclimatise. Weed - keep cool not cold dark slightly humid. (My guess)

I’d never put weed seeds in the fridge for example. That to me is nuts and I live in a permanently hot place.

Oh and don’t look for 36 hours. Certainly don’t open the bag.

I was rubbish to start. Now if one doesn’t pop I’d be surprised. It dies after launch? Meh bad seed. Happens. Whatchyagonnado?

Nick

 

[Carmen Ray]

I was chatting to TRNH last night. I’m not sure I mentioned this but he tried to pop 4 more before the current 4 I sent him from the generally awesome people at Herbies (deliberately not tagging but they are one of the sponsors) I’m not tagging because I don’t want them to worry this reflects on them! Anyway all 4 failed. They were my JOTM prizes. One apparently exploded!

He said yesterday “I just don't get it I did everything the same, same paper, same technique apart from the hydrogen peroxide and in the same conditions and yet the second 4 all came up perfectly”

I said “You answered your own question”



I really think its a game changer.

Thanks Nick, yes I've not bothered before but there's benefit in doing it so I probably should. I must just go get some.

I use my swimming pool water as its just water and H2O2 for an hour. Cleans the shell of bacteria and softens it up. I reckon the less good the seed provenance the lone you want it. Bill does a full 24 hours. For TRNH we got a bottle of 3% and mixed with water. Then an hour soak and then into paper towel ziplok hung from a clothes peg in warm and dark conditions. Once twice a day walk past and lift the bottom of the hanging ziplok up above the height of the clothes peg a second or so - the accumulated water in the bottom of the bag washed over the seed in the paper keeping it moist.

He popped 4/4 (including the Skywalker OG same as you) in 3-4 days. I get 36-48 hours same method but my theory is the climate here lets them acclimatise. They’re already soft and have a slightly higher internal moisture content as we live literally on a tropical island.

Wasabi seeds - 2 months in the freezer to acclimatise. Weed - keep cool not cold dark slightly humid. (My guess)

I’d never put weed seeds in the fridge for example. That to me is nuts and I live in a permanently hot place.

On the contrary, I've always been advised to keep my seeds in the freezer. I hope that's ok because all my seeds are in the freezer.

Oh and don’t look for 36 hours. Certainly don’t open the bag.

I get too impatient and want to check after 24. I've just put two more in to soak and I will force myself to leave them alone now until Sunday morning. That will be 48 hours.

I was rubbish to start. Now if one doesn’t pop I’d be surprised. It dies after launch? Meh bad seed. Happens. Whatchyagonnado?

Nick

True.

New seeds soaking are a Gelato Auto and a Parmesan Auto. If they all pop, I'll put the Gelato and a Skywalker OG outside I think and keep the second Skywalker OG and the Parmesan under the lights.

I'm trying to get hold of Roy to come and rehang the lights for me.

 

[HashGirl]

Sorry to hear of your germination issues. I've been there and can understand your frustration. I hope the next batch of seeds pop for you right away.

 

[Old G]

The hard thing with autos which actually isn’t bad once you get used to it, they grow so fast if you mess something up you don’t really have time to fix it. Photos you can fix anything.I found it’s the first 3 weeks are when the plant is vulnerable, just be careful with watering and I don’t fertilize until week 3 but I do use fox farms happy frog and ocean floor, they have enough nutrients for the first 3 weeks. Once you get past 3 weeks the plants do their thing

 

[Carmen Ray]

Sorry to hear of your germination issues. I've been there and can understand your frustration. I hope the next batch of seeds pop for you right away.

Thank you HG. I'll check on the two new ones tomorrow. I checked on the two Skywalker OG and they have done nothing. The one went in on Tuesday and the other on Thursday.

The hard thing with autos which actually isn’t bad once you get used to it, they grow so fast if you mess something up you don’t really have time to fix it. Photos you can fix anything.I found it’s the first 3 weeks are when the plant is vulnerable, just be careful with watering and I don’t fertilize until week 3 but I do use fox farms happy frog and ocean floor, they have enough nutrients for the first 3 weeks. Once you get past 3 weeks the plants do their thing

Thank you OG. I have a couple of auto grows under my belt, so not completely a novice auto grower. My concern is if they have a slow start from seed, their potential to stretch may be compromised?

I am growing in LOS, so the feed is built in. I will start them in seedling mix on mini-SWICKS, so that by the time their roots get to the soil, the plant is strong enough to handle the LOS.

Notes On Lighting Configuration
I read in @Tokin Roll, journal that for a two plant grow the lights must be hung end to end not side by side, and mine are hanging side by side.

I measured ppfd with the lights hanging as is and found that for the length of the light ppfd is approximately 300 at a distance of 61 cm / 24 inches at 25 %. It tapers off to the upper 200s on the outsides.

It might be that the lights are configured fine and that I just need to keep turning the plants daily to make the most of the light. I don't understand enough to make this call yet.

 

[InTheShed]

I read in @Tokin Roll, journal that for a two plant grow the lights must be hung end to end not side by side, and mine are hanging side by side.

I'm 100% sure that depends on how the lights are configured and their spread patterns. For example, Thirvnrob had his lights end to end and didn't think his plant in the middle was getting enough light. Rotating them each 90º filled in the middle space.

Or Skunksta who had his lights side by side and it was creating a hot spot in the middle, which was eliminated by rotating them 90º.