Carmen's Winter Autos With ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro!

[NickHardy]

That said, if you like one over the other I would suggest sticking with that soil going forward. There are so many other variables that having a constant is a blessing!

5.8, 5.8, 5.8 - anything else I can make constant on grows I really care about from an greedy point of view I’ll keep. Not testing out stuff in a main grow. If it worked before dinnae change her!

Nick

 

[Carmen Ray]

5.8, 5.8, 5.8 - anything else I can make constant on grows I really care about from an greedy point of view I’ll keep. Not testing out stuff in a main grow. If it worked before dinnae change her!

Nick

You wanna know what it is that has me looking at enticing alternatives... I had a calmag issue in that orgasoilux. In my last grow I started the plants in softer potting soil-orgasoilux blend to avoid this. I also gave them calmag in their water. I'll probably end up going with the Orgasoilux again. I've been making inquiries about the B&B soil and it seems it needs ph'ing and liquid nutes. I just don't need the hassle.

 

[NickHardy]

Ah!

A medium question?

Umm - I probably have my approach somewhere about

But I did having read a few bits and pieces up my Cal Mag particularly in a thread where Bill was helping someone else - so now, generally we’ve been 2ml a mix on Graduation (not always) from 1ml/L on Big Grow. I am very happy I did. They’re booming.

Not sure how that equates to your medium choices.

Nick

 

[Carmen Ray]

Ah!

A medium question?

Umm - I probably have my approach somewhere about

But I did having read a few bits and pieces up my Cal Mag particularly in a thread where Bill was helping someone else - so now, generally we’ve been 2ml a mix on Graduation (not always) from 1ml/L on Big Grow. I am very happy I did. They’re booming.

Not sure how that equates to your medium choices.

Nick

I use a bottle of a CalMag solution and that gets mixed into the water. I would pour that down the middle to get a direct shot to the root ball in an acute situation, or into the main res for preventative treatment. I don't have to worry about Ph because living organic soil... bliss, so easy in theory. Let's see how it plays out though That's why I say I am yet to master a grow with this soil.

 

[Weffalo]

Thank you Weff. I have been testing the heater tonight because it is really cold. The bottom line is it burns too much electricity. If I can't use it it's fine though. I've done my previous grows without a heater. I had hoped an oil fin heater would use less electricity than the one I had but it's still brutal so it's likely not going to be used much if at all.

Yeah I completely understand Carmen and at the end of the day it's not needed, you've proven you can do great without all these environmental controls already!

 

[CaptainLucky]

Thank you Weff. I have been testing the heater tonight because it is really cold. The bottom line is it burns too much electricity. If I can't use it it's fine though. I've done my previous grows without a heater. I had hoped an oil fin heater would use less electricity than the one I had but it's still brutal so it's likely not going to be used much if at all.


Thank you Otter. I think that this is the path revealing itself to me too. I do manage to get seeds to sprout without a heat mat fortunately. I haven't needed one yet. I think that whilst I might try to aim for the temps you suggest, Weff, it might be difficult not being in a tent. Step 1 - buy hygrometer.


I'm hoping I can find an optimal setting on that dial in which enough heat is generated to warm up the room to the right temp and then a different setting to maintain it without burning a hole in my wallet. I need the hygrometer to measure the ambient temp before I can carry on with this investigation. The heater has two power switches and a full dial to fiddle with, as you see in the pic.

Thanks for the valuable input guys. It's much appreciated. It really helps me think things through and find solutions.

Maybe you should think about a inkbird or similar device that kicks on and off at your desired temperature. I’m not sure if that would work for your situation though. CL

 

[Carmen Ray]

Yeah I completely understand Carmen and at the end of the day it's not needed, you've proven you can do great without all these environmental controls already!

Thanks for understanding. Whilst I know I can do without the environmental control, I know that if I could dial in more there'd likely be an improvement in yield and bud density, so I continue to think about the possibilities.

Maybe you should think about a inkbird or similar device that kicks on and off at your desired temperature. I’m not sure if that would work for your situation though. CL

Thanks Cap, what I did was follow Nick's advice to start on the lowest setting. It's surprising how quickly the room warms up like that, and it does indeed switch itself off when reaching temp.

Good news. My friend Fridge, who is a fellow homie-growmie is lending me a hygrometer

 

[Carmen Ray]

Who needs a hygrometer when you are born with frizzy hair. My hair tells the story of the humidity in the air. When there is moisture in the air, my hair curls and frizzes, when it's dry my hair is straight with a slight wave. Anyway, Fridge is unable to grow for the foreseeable future, so his stuff is gathering dust which is how I come to borrow the hygrometer.

I have finally made a decision on the soil! I am going to make a complete change and go for a product I haven't used before. The Freedom Farms Premium Classic.

Hydroponic.co.za describe it as follows:

"Description​

Freedom Farms Premium Classic Growing Medium is a living soil that has been formulated with your roots in mind.

Perfectly aerated for optimum oxygen exposure, supplemented with natural plant macro and micro nutrients for greater plant health and full of beneficial microbes to keep the root zone healthy and pathogen free.

Meticulous care is taken in sourcing, formulating, preparing and blending the components of Freedom Farms’ mediums. All ingredients are 100% Natural.

Ingredients: Coco Coir, Worm Castings, Compost, Perlite, Vermiculite, Volcanic Rock Dust, Bone Meal, Gypsum, Dolomite Lime, Kelp Meal, Organic Nutrients

Directions of use: Add Freedom Farms Premium Classic to container, plant and water thoroughly the first time. After the first drying of the surface layer, water lightly for indoor plants and thoroughly for outdoor plants in full sun.

• Container growing only
• Excellent for Vegetables, Ornamentals and Herbs
• Suitable for both inorganic and organic fertilizer amendments
• Use with Freedom Farms Fabric Pots for additional plant growth benefits
• Recycle and reuse
• Not recommended for seed germination. Use Freedom Farms’ SeedStarter!

Macro-nutrient content: Nitrogen (9.1 g/kg), Phosphorus (7.6 g/kg), Potassium (3.1 g/kg), Calcium (56.9 g/kg), Magnesium (14.3 g/kg)

Size: 30dm = 30L

Formulated and produced in South Africa by Freedom Farms Horticulture Technologies (PTY) LTD"

I've been watching a local grow-off start out on Facebook. The folk growing in the FFPC have plump, emerald green babies. They are perfectly formed and jewel like. I spoke to one bloke who says he starts his out in jiffy plug into the soil to protect the brand new sprout. So I won't go to the expense of getting a seedstarter mix this time. The bloke I spoke to uses compost tea only with the soil.

@StoneOtter what am I missing though? They don't specify what "organic nutrients" are in the mix. It was malted barley right to hasten the grow? What else would you say is glaringly absent?

 

[Carmen Ray]

Capacity	30L
Inoculant	Cannabis Microbial Consortium
Blend	Compost, Vermi-compost, Coco peat, Sphagnum peat moss (sustainably harvested) and perlite
Ingredients	Alfalfa meal
Aloe meal
Basalt Rock Dust
Bio-Char (preloaded with microbes)
Canna-kashi
Calcitic Lime
Copper Powder
Dolomite Lime
Guano (sea-bird)
Gypsum
Humic Acid
Fulvic Acid
Frass
Kelp Meal
Malted Barley
Manganese Oxide
Montmorillonite Clay
Soft Rock Phosphate
Zeolite

Okay, on chatting further with this bloke, turns out he is a grow shop. He hasn't used the Orgasoilux. I am going to do one of each and see which I prefer, I think.

 

[Azimuth]

It was malted barley right to hasten the grow?

Yes, correct.

 

[CaptainLucky]

Who needs a hygrometer when you are born with frizzy hair. My hair tells the story of the humidity in the air. When there is moisture in the air, my hair curls and frizzes, when it's dry my hair is straight with a slight wave. Anyway, Fridge is unable to grow for the foreseeable future, so his stuff is gathering dust which is how I come to borrow the hygrometer.

I have finally made a decision on the soil! I am going to make a complete change and go for a product I haven't used before. The Freedom Farms Premium Classic.

Hydroponic.co.za describe it as follows:

"Description​

Freedom Farms Premium Classic Growing Medium is a living soil that has been formulated with your roots in mind.

Perfectly aerated for optimum oxygen exposure, supplemented with natural plant macro and micro nutrients for greater plant health and full of beneficial microbes to keep the root zone healthy and pathogen free.

Meticulous care is taken in sourcing, formulating, preparing and blending the components of Freedom Farms’ mediums. All ingredients are 100% Natural.

Ingredients: Coco Coir, Worm Castings, Compost, Perlite, Vermiculite, Volcanic Rock Dust, Bone Meal, Gypsum, Dolomite Lime, Kelp Meal, Organic Nutrients

Directions of use: Add Freedom Farms Premium Classic to container, plant and water thoroughly the first time. After the first drying of the surface layer, water lightly for indoor plants and thoroughly for outdoor plants in full sun.

• Container growing only
• Excellent for Vegetables, Ornamentals and Herbs
• Suitable for both inorganic and organic fertilizer amendments
• Use with Freedom Farms Fabric Pots for additional plant growth benefits
• Recycle and reuse
• Not recommended for seed germination. Use Freedom Farms’ SeedStarter!

Macro-nutrient content: Nitrogen (9.1 g/kg), Phosphorus (7.6 g/kg), Potassium (3.1 g/kg), Calcium (56.9 g/kg), Magnesium (14.3 g/kg)

Size: 30dm = 30L

Formulated and produced in South Africa by Freedom Farms Horticulture Technologies (PTY) LTD"

I've been watching a local grow-off start out on Facebook. The folk growing in the FFPC have plump, emerald green babies. They are perfectly formed and jewel like. I spoke to one bloke who says he starts his out in jiffy plug into the soil to protect the brand new sprout. So I won't go to the expense of getting a seedstarter mix this time. The bloke I spoke to uses compost tea only with the soil.

@StoneOtter what am I missing though? They don't specify what "organic nutrients" are in the mix. It was malted barley right to hasten the grow? What else would you say is glaringly absent?

Have you seen Sohum living Soil? It’s supposed to be especially for cannabis. Another good one is Purple Cow Indicana. I was thinking about trying them in the future. CL

 

[StoneOtter]

@StoneOtter what am I missing though? They don't specify what "organic nutrients" are in the mix. It was malted barley right to hasten the grow? What else would you say is glaringly absent?

Hi Carmen, reading on their site they don't list the ingredients. It does seem to be something good to try! I'm putting Malted Barley on hold for a while. My attempt at using it was a fail. I may have used too much? I don't know but I thought I was going to lose the grow in the beginning! It came beck thankfully! Go easy if you use it until you get a feel.

With my soil I keep something with magnesium and something with calcium on hand just in case. Cal/mag works or you can do it separately. Sounds like a good choice!

 

[NickHardy]

Hiya! Been a while catching up lots now.

Some cool stuff going on and you are yet to pop! “Proper Preparation Prevents Pxxx Poor Performance” is how I learnt it but he was legit special forces guy Even that toeless monster of a man couldn’t learn me that. But still!

Some all happy positve feedback below

Thanks Cap, what I did was follow Nick's advice to start on the lowest setting. It's surprising how quickly the room warms up like that, and it does indeed switch itself off when reaching temp.

That’s awwwwesome! Broken thermostat from the thrift store might have beeen why it was there. Not hard to replace but I wpuldn’t do it - oh I wonder if my Sparky in Cape atoen is still around I collect Sparkies globally How’s the bill?

EDIT! Safety - on 220v never seen a fire but those pil hesters draw current. Make sure if using the wall socket is decent and if using an extension cord its very good. With a circuit board like you have the extension cord they tend to just trip a fuse and melt the extension cord but better save than sorry. I’ve never heard of a proper fire and everyone in HK used to use them.

Formulated and produced in South Africa by Freedom Farms Horticulture Technologies (PTY) LTD"

That is the coolest thing. Its local. SA is a big country but flying organic soil around the world kind of defeats at least part of the ethos. And its in Strand my bru - lekker close to you. The coconut will have come from distance probably but continental all I hope! Its really nice.

Yeah I completely understand Carmen and at the end of the day it's not needed, you've proven you can do great without all these environmental controls already!

Yes mate - Carmen has done this before way more than us! Make the awesome light deliver with your skills (and that great looking soil - is the Probiotic Bran in the ingredients related to the Wheat stuff you were discussing with Azi?)

So go for it! Seems like decisions have been made and the grow must be edging closer?

Nick

 

[Carmen Ray]

Yes, correct.

Thank you Azi. Jamie's soil, the Orgasoilux has it in already, so I might heed Otter's words and leave well alone until I know what I am doing with the soil. I am yet to do a water only grow and will be doing that this time. It will be good to compare.

Have you seen Sohum living Soil? It’s supposed to be especially for cannabis. Another good one is Purple Cow Indicana. I was thinking about trying them in the future. CL

Thank you Cap. I'm in South Africa and we have a different range of soils available to us here. I have heard very good things about Sohum.

Hi Carmen, reading on their site they don't list the ingredients. It does seem to be something good to try! I'm putting Malted Barley on hold for a while. My attempt at using it was a fail. I may have used too much? I don't know but I thought I was going to lose the grow in the beginning! It came beck thankfully! Go easy if you use it until you get a feel.

I know. I remember that. I thought maybe you put too much in. I will do a water only grow this time. Who am I to think I can improve on something I don't understand yet Jamie kept insisting that I feed water only.

With my soil I keep something with magnesium and something with calcium on hand just in case. Cal/mag works or you can do it separately. Sounds like a good choice!

I have a bottle of stuff!

 

[CaptainLucky]

Thank you Azi. Jamie's soil, the Orgasoilux has it in already, so I might heed Otter's words and leave well alone until I know what I am doing with the soil. I am yet to do a water only grow and will be doing that this time. It will be good to compare.

Thank you Cap. I'm in South Africa and we have a different range of soils available to us here. I have heard very good things about Sohum.

I know. I remember that. I thought maybe you put too much in. I will do a water only grow this time. Who am I to think I can improve on something I don't understand yet Jamie kept insisting that I feed water only.

I have a bottle of stuff!

Sorry, sometimes I forget that everyone isn’t in the States or Canada. South Africa must be exceptional for growing outdoors and the strains that are available to you make me jealous. Happy growing. CL

 

[Carmen Ray]

Hiya! Been a while catching up lots now.

Hey, it has been a busy couple of weeks, hasn't it. Nice to see you!

Some cool stuff going on and you are yet to pop! “Proper Preparation Prevents Pxxx Poor Performance”

indeed

is how I learnt it but he was legit special forces guy Even that toeless monster of a man couldn’t learn me that. But still!

Some all happy positve feedback below



That’s awwwwesome! Broken thermostat from the thrift store might have beeen why it was there. Not hard to replace but I wpuldn’t do it - oh I wonder if my Sparky in Cape atoen is still around I collect Sparkies globally How’s the bill?

It's fine. I have a meter in my flat that I recharge prior to use, so I can watch the kilowatts tick by. I need to concentrate more and do a proper 24 hour comparison. It doesn't look bad and I have plenty of juice left and tomorrow is recharge day.

EDIT! Safety - on 220v never seen a fire but those pil hesters draw current. Make sure if using the wall socket is decent and if using an extension cord its very good. With a circuit board like you have the extension cord they tend to just trip a fuse and melt the extension cord but better save than sorry. I’ve never heard of a proper fire and everyone in HK used to use them.

That is the coolest thing. Its local. SA is a big country but flying organic soil around the world kind of defeats at least part of the ethos. And its in Strand my bru - lekker close to you. The coconut will have come from distance probably but continental all I hope! Its really nice.

Strand bruuu

Yes mate - Carmen has done this before way more than us! Make the awesome light deliver with your skills (and that great looking soil - is the Probiotic Bran in the ingredients related to the Wheat stuff you were discussing with Azi?)

I wonder. I thought barley, bran and wheat were different things? Or is bran from wheat? Idk

So go for it! Seems like decisions have been made and the grow must be edging closer?

Nick

Thank you

 

[Carmen Ray]

Understanding light in order to apply it to cannabis growing

There's a lot to light and so I find the study of it complicated. I started out with a light of unknown brand for my first couple of indoor grows. It was a 200W white bar LED without a dimmer switch. I now have the two ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro lights to up my game, and so it is about time I learnt to understand light better.

I found a good introduction to light in a lesson from Study.com. Here is an extract:

"What is light, exactly?

Light is electromagnetic radiation. Light however can be thought of as a wave or a particle. Light shows wave-like properties by producing interference patterns in the double-slit experiment. However, light has particle-like properties demonstrated in the photoelectric effect. Light as a wave is composed of many wavelengths and frequencies, light as photons oscillates at different frequencies along varying wavelengths.

What is the study of light called?

The study of light is sometimes called optics. However, because light is such an integral portion of the universe and how things work, the study of light is essentially a huge portion of physics and quantum physics.

What is the definition of light in science?

The definition of light in science is electromagnetic radiation or energy that propagates as waves or oscillating photons through empty space at approximately 300,000 kilometers per second. Light as a wave propagates through the electromagnetic field. Light as photons (quanta or particles) emerges as a flux in the electromagnetic field and propagates perpendicular to its oscillation or energy level."

Further Questions:

I have more questions and more will arise as things progress.

What are the different wave lengths incorporated into grow lights in general? What does each one do?

And most specifically,

How do the ViparSpecta XS1500 Pro lights work with regards to spectrum?

Vipar Spectra say that the XS 1500 pro are optimized by an algorithm that determines the ratios between red, white and infra-red light and thereby optimizes the light for each stage of growth. I'd like to know more about this. What is the algorithm based on? How does one know what to set the lights at? Is there a guide or a chart? How does it work? Talk about rookie questions! For instance, what are the K and nm in the chart below? Are those ratios fixed?

What are the different measurements of light (PAR / ppfd etc) and what do they represent?

How will I determine the distance from the plants and the intensity of light in the different stages? I've never used a dimmer for a grow before.

I'm like a kid in a candy store! I'm so excited. I can't wait!

 

[InTheShed]

I can't answer all of those questions but I can answer this:

what are the K and nm in the chart below? Are those ratios fixed?

K is a measure of light temperature in degrees Kelvin. For example, an old-style incandescent bulb is 2700ºK (warm/red) and sunlight on a bright day is 6500ºK (cool/blue).

Here's a chart to help, and it even spells "colour" like you do so you know it's good!

The following table shows the correlated colour temperature of common light sources:

Color Temperature	Light Source
1000-2000 K	Candlelight
2500-3500 K	Tungsten Bulb (household variety)
3000-4000 K	Sunrise/Sunset (clear sky)
4000-5000 K	Fluorescent Lamps
5000-5500 K	Electronic Flash
5000-6500 K	Daylight with Clear Sky (sun overhead)
6500-8000 K	Moderately Overcast Sky
9000-10000 K	Shade or Heavily Overcast Sky

nm (nanometers) are a measure of the wavelength of light, where the reds are on the longer end of the scale and blues are on the shorter end (as shown in the colour chart above).

As to whether the ratios are fixed, that would depend on whether the light has veg and flower settings. If not, they're fixed.

In terms of your PAR/PPFD question, this might be worth reading.

Finally, relating to why they consider cool 5000ºK light good for veg and warm 3000ºK light good for flower, that relates to what plants would normally see outside during those times. In the summer the sun is more directly overhead, and the light would be bluer. As it gets lower in the sky toward fall and winter, the color temp gets warmer as the light has to travel through more of the atmosphere to get to you, redding it up (like sunsets).

 

[Carmen Ray]

Thank you Shed! I am making a note in bold to find that blog post again later. It's taking a while to sink in.​

Lumens, Lux, Candela, PAR, PPF, PPFD, DLI​

Units of measurement and terms to qualify horticultural lights.​

 

[StoneOtter]

I know. I remember that. I thought maybe you put too much in. I will do a water only grow this time. Who am I to think I can improve on something I don't understand yet Jamie kept insisting that I feed water only.

I probably did. There was also insect frass involved that may have influenced. I think I went too much and with two things instead of one at a time for testing. I broke the rules and paid!