Carmen's Winter Autos With ViparSpectra XS1500 Pro!

:popcorn:
 
Just what I was hoping for, seeds cracked 1 June 2023, due date 10 August 2023, a mere 70 days later :)
Roy the handyman is hanging my Vipar Spectra XS 1500 Pros tomorrow morning, so my babies will have light when they break dirt on the weekend.

I set up the 20 L (5 Gal) SWICKS on swicky pads with wicks, and the junior SWICKS on perlite with a wick leading into the soil from the bottom. I'm not sure if that is necessary but I did it last time and it worked so doing it again. How I do it, is water to runoff into the res, and allow the wicks to float in the water. The soil has drained, the bags are damp and the capillary action should be working by the time I up-pot in a few weeks from now. Perlite is wet and the res is about a third of the way up, with the base of the pot squidged into the top of the perlite.
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You'd never say these pots had been through the washing machine would you!

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Humidity domes on both junior SWICKS.

I don't have a hygrometer handy just yet. Hopefully after the weekend.

Thank you very much for joining me on this grow. Let's get it on! :yahoo:
 
:popcorn:
 
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Roy came and put the lights up for me this morning. The ceiling is cement. I've tied the power cables out of the way. I have the lights 60 cm / 24 inches away from the sprouts at 25 % power. I have not connected the two as it is not necessary in my small set up, and I would like to have the flexibility to treat them differently if necessary, particularly given that they are autos.

I have to say from the outset I am very impressed with the solid build of the Vipar Spectra XS 1500 Pro. They are an easy mount and the cable mechanism for lowering/ raising the lights runs very smoothly.
 
And you're off! Love the stacking Carm! They look great under those lights! :green_heart: Happy grow!:green_heart: Cement ceilings are different to fasten into huh? Glad your guy is cool with it! Grow Time! YAY!
 
StoneOtter said:
And you're off! Love the stacking Carm! They look great under those lights! :green_heart: Happy grow!:green_heart: Cement ceilings are different to fasten into huh? Glad your guy is cool with it! Grow Time! YAY!
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Thank you Otter! :green_heart:They are difficult. You need a special drill he says.
Emeraldo said:
Did Roy need to drill into the cement, or is it just attached somehow?
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He did and he put these amazing looking screws in the holes, they expand into the drilled holes and are stronger than normal hooks. Those lights are nice and secure, thanks to handyman Roy!

Sun is shining today⛅ Very cold weather expected tomorrow, 11 C / 51.8 F at the low and raining🌧️
 
Two stairways to heaven!
 
Carmen Ray said:
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Roy came and put the lights up for me this morning. The ceiling is cement. I've tied the power cables out of the way. I have the lights 60 cm / 24 inches away from the sprouts at 25 % power. I have not connected the two as it is not necessary in my small set up, and I would like to have the flexibility to treat them differently if necessary, particularly given that they are autos.

I have to say from the outset I am very impressed with the solid build of the Vipar Spectra XS 1500 Pro. They are an easy mount and the cable mechanism for lowering/ raising the lights runs very smoothly.
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Wow you have a serious grow Carmen, very nice. I love my ViparSpectra as well, the best part is the cables, so easy. I started with a 60watt gro lite that literally had to keep 4 inches from the plants, lol, my plants were always alittle crispy by harvest .I’m gonna follow your gro looks interesting, I need some new methods
 
Old G said:
Wow you have a serious grow Carmen, very nice. I love my ViparSpectra as well, the best part is the cables, so easy. I started with a 60watt gro lite that literally had to keep 4 inches from the plants, lol, my plants were always alittle crispy by harvest .I’m gonna follow your gro looks interesting, I need some new methods
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Welcome to the start of my grow Old G. Thank you for joining.
 
Boy oh boy did it rain today. I've got the hygrometer and it will be interesting to monitor conditions even if I am not really able to do much about them. I have to explain. In a month when I am not growing, I use 10 Kw / day electricity. I have been monitoring consumption since turning on the heater and the two XS1500 Pro lights and I used 27 Kw in one 24 hour period. I turned off my geyser to save some there and measured consumption 24 hours later. I had used 26 Kw in that period. I cannot afford to double, let alone triple my bill so I will get the seeds through germination and then reduce temp and allow nature to take its course.

About the seeds.... one is a curly root with a helmet head atm, and I can't find the other. I have put another seed in paper towel to take its place, and if they both germinate I'll have to make a plan.

The temp under the lights is currently as follows according to they hygrometer, but it is reading the external temp incorrectly. It's about 10 C outside. Also, the time on the display is incorrect. Temp and RH readings feel accurate.
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That's all for now. Thank you for your interest and company. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.
 
Hiya Carmen,

Sucks about the electricoty 🥲

Is your geyser insulated?

I remember being amazed 15 years ago they were just steel - fancy ones had a thin copper lining. If not a layer of insulation - stuff you can buy at a hardware store for cheap. 90cm 10m type stuff. But ask in the store.

Sorry if that’s old hat these days - but back in 2000’s I was wowed by no one having that. Back in the day in England they used to sell blankets to hot water tanks sizes. No one ever took them off but just a DIY thing. Now its already sprayed on when you buy.

But likely the heater and lights, eh?

Only thing I have is go off the recommended @ViparSpectra chart and push the envelope! Lower % setting and lower lights?

I have another idea maybe but need go back to your setup photo's tomorrow!

You can get that bill decently down I reckon!

Nick
 
Carmen Ray said:
Boy oh boy did it rain today. I've got the hygrometer and it will be interesting to monitor conditions even if I am not really able to do much about them. I have to explain. In a month when I am not growing, I use 10 Kw / day electricity. I have been monitoring consumption since turning on the heater and the two XS1500 Pro lights and I used 27 Kw in one 24 hour period. I turned off my geyser to save some there and measured consumption 24 hours later. I had used 26 Kw in that period. I cannot afford to double, let alone triple my bill so I will get the seeds through germination and then reduce temp and allow nature to take its course.

About the seeds.... one is a curly root with a helmet head atm, and I can't find the other. I have put another seed in paper towel to take its place, and if they both germinate I'll have to make a plan.

The temp under the lights is currently as follows according to they hygrometer, but it is reading the external temp incorrectly. It's about 10 C outside. Also, the time on the display is incorrect. Temp and RH readings feel accurate.
DSC_2679.jpg


That's all for now. Thank you for your interest and company. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.
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Carmen I thought my XS1500 Pro was gonna use a lot of electricity but it doesn’t, it’s also why I kept the power at 75% my last gro. I don’t know what electricity costs where you are though, sucks when you have to worry about it, I do also
 
NickHardy said:
Hiya Carmen,

Sucks about the electricoty 🥲

Is your geyser insulated?

I remember being amazed 15 years ago they were just steel - fancy ones had a thin copper lining. If not a layer of insulation - stuff you can buy at a hardware store for cheap. 90cm 10m type stuff. But ask in the store.

Sorry of that’s old hat these days - but back in 2000’s I was wowed by no one having that. Back in the day in England they used to sell blankets to hot water tanks sizes. No one ever took them off but just a DIY thing. Now its sprayed on when you buy.

But likely the heater and lights, eh?

Only thing I have is go off the recommended @ViparSpectra chart and push the envelope! Lower % setting and lower lights?

I have another idea maybe but need go back to your setup photo's tomorrow!

You can get that bill decently down I reckon!

Nick
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I mean to buy a geyser blanket. Thanks for the reminder. I will keep that off and put it on to shower only. I am not going to compromise on the lighting. The heat will have to go. This is the first winter I have had heat and managed pretty well without in previous years. Yield was obviously compromised but I have always been about growing for fun and for my personal consumption. I am still smoking off my 2021 harvest, and have managed to share with a few friends and family. That's adequate for my needs. I will do a spring and a summer grow too, so we will see what variations there are with the change in temps and RH. I'm dying to hear your idea Nick, thank you :)
 
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