Greenthumb J's BCNL Producer Grow - 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

[Radogast]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Phenomenal . Great growing.

There's days in the desert without sunburn is an achievement!

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

well I sure didnt go through 7 days without a sunburn, but it wasn't too bad. used lots of sunscreen and got into the shade when it was too hot. Lovely cabanas they have poolside at Mandalay bay. Just wish i was able to smoke some green while we were sitting on the couches.

Anyways back to the task at hand!

Today i have started my planning of the new grow room. I am going to start a materials list not including wood and obvious building materials. So basically a list of the expensive stuff! Light shades, bulbs, timers, ballasts, filters, poly film, fans... Lots of research. Also depends what i want to buy online and wait for as opposed to buying from my local hydroponics store and being charged more.

My time schedule is limited as i want to have the Sativa, which can take up to 4 months to flower, done by the end of the year. The White Widow will be done in 9ish weeks from switch to 12/12.

Its about time that i get a microscope or a jewelers loupe, because the Rhinos are looking super frosty and the crystals covering them are already looking to be cloudyish... thats only viewing with the naked eye tho and not looking under magnified inspection.

Hopefully i will be able to upload a quick sketch of what the grow room is going to look like by some point tonight!!



But i will be planning the actually lay out of the room and how it will be constructed, dimensions of the SCrogs, Where the door will be placed, and how it will be light proofed, where the water res is going to sit, how it will be cooled (air intake/exhaust), where the lights will sit. EVERYTHING (that i can think of!)

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

I actually have some drawings to upload! stay tuned!

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

okay everyone following along and anyone who is just tuning in! Here we go with a picture update!

So i been talking a lot about building a full sized grow room inside my dining room area in my apartment. Well i have finished a couple rough sketches of this project. I haven't included any measurements really other than the room size which is going to be 8.5' tall, 9' long and at least 6' in width.
Here is a picture of what it would look like walking in from my front door:

Now i was contemplating the water reservoir placement when drawing the last picture. I had thought the shelf that I will put on the front there to hold my nutrient bottles and bags of rockwool croutons an so forth, would also be a great place to hold the water reservoir, because the temps would stay down due to no being under the HPS bulb. but this is CapnStyle, nice and simple. My idea would make more hoses and all sorts of headaches just to get the water to drain back into the main res outside the room. Keeping it simple, I quickly scrapped that idea and went with each plant having its own Water Res and it sitting directly below it as per TheCapn does it.

SO, heres my rough sketch of the interior of my planned grow room:

My wonder is, do i use an intake fan for the lights.. or an exhaust fan pulling air out? or both? i dont want to have like 15 fans plugged in running.. i will be getting rid of the mother area to set this up and i'm not wanting the electric bill to ACTUALLY go thru the roof even tho my grow box and my 400w light in the bathroom are costing me hardly nothing. So what should i go with on the air cooled lighting?

Noteworthy points:
- I will have two intake fans, cause I have a feeling this box is going to be warm inside. One on the left side (if looking at the first picture, its the duct going into the bottom left.) The second fan will duct fresh air into a spot between the two plants so that both plants get equal amounts of fresh air coming in (in second picture, it is between plants near the bottom)
- Contemplated getting the NutraDip Tri-meter, but i will save the $200 per meter i would need and just get a better PH and PPm pen, and gauge the water temp by touch. I cook for a living so my hands are like thermometers!
- The water res for each plant is 9" tall. The super roots air-pot i'm going to order is 11.5" tall, plus a gap of about 3-4" for a drain hose between tubs, unless i place the air-pot directly, on top of the res, i will have a 24" distance between the ground and the top of the air-pot. Thats 2 feet taken away from my growing head space. Take into consideration that the air cooled hoods i'm using will be 9 or 11" in height, and they wont really have much moving to do since the plants are huge already, so i'm thinking the will be up at the ceiling of the room from the get go, unless i top the hell out of the plants (and take some clones to run in the grow box in the meantime) then i'm not sure about a yo yo for the lights. After that paragraph, i come to the conclusion that i will have about 5ft of growing space, which means i need to start getting these plants shorter cause the scrog isn't going to do a thing!
- I cant decide where to put the door to get in. I'm thinking on the left side, of side of the room. otherwise it will just be right in the middle of the two plants and i will have two shelves on either side of the door. I dont know. I just need to buy some wood and start building it to find out.
- Each plant will have its own surge protector that has a Water pump, an air pump and 2 fans plugged into it.
- Each ballast will be mounted on the back side, to its own surge protector, on their own timers to make sure one light isn't affected if the other goes out for any reason.
- Carbon filter will sit near the top, cause hot air rises and will take the smells with it. It will exhaust out the right side separately from the HPS lights. but out the same window

And i think that is all i got at the moment. I will update tomorrow with some of the goodies i plan to use for this room!

 

[Radogast]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

I went to Mandalay Bay the first year it was built. Spectacular beach. Bikinis at 7am.

Regarding fans, for the lights exhaust fan only. An intake fan adds pressure which messes up the seals for the fan hoods.

For the room, others will disagree, but I believe in exhaust only. Again it is about the pressure. An intake fan creates pressure for air and aroma to leak out. An exhaust fan creates negative pressure for air to leak in and aroma to exit through the carbon filter.


I would consider two air intakes for the room air, one outside and one from inside the home. The temperature inside your home is often better than outside air temperature. Since they don't have fans, you can just open or close the intake holes to choose where to get fresh air. Co2 created by humans seems stale to us, but can seem fresh to plants.

 

[Radogast]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Regarding doors. I have a single 28" door in the center of the long side of a 8' by 4' flowering room. It is awkward to turn around and I have snapped branches with my butt and only 4 plants. If I were running more plants, I would consider removing the stud wall and replacing it with multilayer fabric and panda walls so that I could open up the whole wall. Maybe sliding panel walls that can open both sides.

If you are sure about two plants and two lights, I would do two doors, one for each plant.

I have my cupboard/ dry sink outside the flowering room for mixing nutrients, storing supplies, etc.
If you are committed to storing nutes within the 9x6' area, consider as recessed cupboard accessed from outside the room

 

[Radogast]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

I mounted my ballasts outside the room above the door. For heat reasons, outside the room is better.
My ballasts have leds and fans, leds "on" are indicators that it is "safe" to open the door during flower.

All your choice, just passing on my ideas.

 

[KingJohnC]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Have you considered using LED light panels in your new room design? I am currently reviewing a Lush Lighting Dominator 2x and seeing excellent results. I am also pleased to announce I will soon be reviewing 2x Green Sun LED Lights Znet4 LED light panels.


KingJohnC's Lush Lighting LED Dominator 2x Soil Indoor Grow Journal & Review

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

I had already planned for the ballasts and as much of the electrical to be outside of the box. My original plan was to have the exhaust fans running higher cfm to create the negative pressure so that there are no unnecessary air/odour leaks, but still having some low powered intake fans to ensure there was some fresh air coming in. The box is sitting next to the window that faces south and gets sun all day, so temps will be high if i dont do something about air circulation.

And i'm thinking of doing 2 doors so i dont have to crawl under the canopy to get to the other side of the plant.

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Have you considered using LED light panels in your new room design? I am currently reviewing a Lush Lighting Dominator 2x and seeing excellent results. I am also pleased to announce I will soon be reviewing 2x Green Sun LED Lights Znet4 LED light panels.


KingJohnC's Lush Lighting LED Dominator 2x Soil Indoor Grow Journal & Review

Thanks KJC, i had considered them when i went through your current review of the Lush Lighting LED panels. Your last picture update looks wonderful, and the plants sure seem to love the LEDs. However, they are just out of my price range, and with the costs that my new grow space is going to rack up, i defintely dont have the money for an LED panel, unless a site sponsor wants to ship one to me!! hahah.

For a future endeavor, i think i will try them for the electrical cost benefits.

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Once I'm back to the routine of working and saving money again, I'm sure i will be able to afford a good LED panel

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

I am also pleased to announce I will soon be reviewing 2x Green Sun LED Lights Znet4 LED light panels.

I will be looking forward to this journal!

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Picked up a cheapo magnifying glass today at walmart. $2 whoo! hopefully it will give me an idea of the colour of the trichomes. I'm thinking the magnification isn't enough however, but you never know, right?

anyways, i will post a full update tomorrow of the flowering plants and the mother.

Good night!

 

[TheBoogyman]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

looking real fat and plump, nice work, man.

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

looking real fat and plump, nice work, man.

Thanks boogyman.. I am doing a defoliation right now, and trying to make a decision on the stump that i have in my left DWC.. its dead for sure, but i dont want the roots to infect my other 2 plants in the DWC, they look just fine at the moment. I'm hoping that Aquashield, which saved my grow early on because of dead roots, will feed off the dead/dying roots in the DWC like it did before and i can chop the stump out and leave the roots in the tub and let the Aquashield works its magic and decompose the dead root material into compost for the roots. Its worked before so i dont see why it wouldn't work again.. I will just use a more aggressive dose since there is a higher amount of decomposing roots in there.

so fingers crossed it goes well, and i dont end up losing 2 plants.. Even tho i actually plan to chop the sativa thats left in there cause its going to take at least 6 more weeks i think to have the buds be mature enough for harvest. 15+ week flowering time is too long!! They were free beans so i'm not too bummed out. The mother i have of this strain is a beast! i will post a picture very shortly.

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

i figured out the white balance on my camera!!! i will upload a nice bunch of pics later!! the buds sure do look really frosty!

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Okay everyone here we go!

Day 44 of Flower.

I finally figured out how to mess around with the White Balance on my camera. So i decided to shove my arm into the grow box and take a couple photos. Some are bright and look extra frosty because of the camera flash and pardon my amateur camera skills but i can assure you, that these buds are caked already and theres probably going another at least week before i start them on their 14 day flush. They are going to get a heavy feeding before a solid 2 weeks of flushing. The sativa that is in the flower box, is just crazy! So stretchy and just wants to grow. definitely a plant that needs space to grow, or a plant that gets tied down almost everywhere!

Anyways, lets get on to some pictures. i will post some more tomorrow when i can play around with the white balance settings and do the final bit of defoliation. Tomorrow/Today is day 45. I feel like i'm on the Home stretch.

Heres some shots looking in:

And now some bud shots! In the next 2.5 weeks, these plants are going to be so caked up in crystals. I cant wait!!

TheCapn was interested in seeing how the White Widow turns out. Well heres 3 alright shots from the angkle i had:

I think the Mother widow i have will produce an amazing harest!

I think thats all i have for the moment. unfortunate events occured and i have to put grow room build on hold until some extra money for grow shit! Goodnught!

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

Due to my own negligence, i let the sativa mother go for i dont know how long without the roots being submerged in water. The plant was very wilty, but i have since gotten her into the DWC bucket and she seesm to be perking back up. will take a day or two for all the leaves and such to not be so limp and lifeless.

I am off to check the ladies again, and finish up the last of the defoliation on the plants in flower.

I will post some more pictures as i go along

 

[CronicHempHog]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

they look Great

 

[Greenthumb J]

Re: Greenthumb J's BCNL "Producer" Grow. 800w DWC - First Grow Ever! Multi-Strain

they look Great

Thanks Chronic! hope your having a green sunday!! I've caught up on your journal and i hope you make a speedy recovery!! Glad to head the ribs aren't broken and its just a broken finger! You'll be back up and at em in no time at all!

Okay. Morning update on the sativa mother. She's looking a little sad still as she recovers from her roots drying out a little bit, but her lower growth is perking back up. I'm having some leaf discolouration that i will take a picture of and hopefully KingJohnC can lend some knowledgeable advice on the topic.

i haven't checked the ladies in flower yet, but i'm sure they look amazing! guess i can go take a peek! They look really good! I really dont think i'm going to wait around for the sativa to finish flowering. I keep reading different reports that this strain takes up to 16 weeks to finally finish. Thats 4 god damn months!!?? i definitely dont have the time to wait an extra 2 months after my first plants are done to harvest one extra plant. SO once the Widow/Rhinos/GWS are done and chopped, the sativa is coming down too maybe a week later or so to give it an extra week. but it will end up getting a 3 week flush rather than just 2 if i wait an extra week for the sativa. I have no idea how premature it will be at that point, but i know the plant is putting on the trichomes now, so it could end up being some real good smoke even tho it will be a month or less premature.


So i'm having troubles deciding if i even want to flower out my sativa mother. Shes going to take up to 4 months to finish. And i definitely will have the space to flower her, but having the time is a different story. it will take a good 2 weeks to dry and another month to give the buds a proper curing. If i plan to move at the end of the year, i will need to have my apartment "weed-free" by the time the end of November comes and people start walking through and checking out the apartment. Our roommate is moving out next week, so we might actually end up staying here now that we have some extra space, which would no longer give me a time limit as to when i can harvest my sativa mother. i have to admit, i really love living in the apartment, the only problem i have is that my window i WAS exhausting my grow box out of is right beside my neighbours balcony, and it the wind blows that way, he might get a whiff of something very tasty! Although i have my grow box door wide open right now and i dont smell any smell of dank smelly weed growing. Then again, the smell is really going to start being very strong in the next couple weeks as they get closer to harvest time.

I think i'm going to run the new strains i'm going to order in the new grow room. Do one plant of each and top and bend it to a 1lb monster all While i strain hunt for something that produces a huge yield as well as some high THC % cannabis. I just dont have the patience to let the Malawi gold finish cause i dont really wanna wait 4 months just to smoke her! I'm probably going to stick with indica-dominant strains so i can keep the flowering time down to 7-9 weeks, unless i find something thats just worth the wait. So far the sativas i have aren't giving me that feeling, regardless of the smoke reports i have read about this strain, every one says that the wait is worth it, so i guess we will see right?