Radogast's Hi-Brix Basement Grow - New Location - New Soil - New Experiences

[Radogast]

None of the girls needed watering or training today.

The Tangerine Widow seed sprung a tail, so I made a little divot, and planted her in a one-gallon

 

[Radogast]

Let them talk as much as they want. If they get to know you they will find out how cool you are.

That's a lot of lattice. It has always been a pain for me to install without cracking, then I mess up and decide to try and paint it after a couple years and that never goes well.

I have a small nail gun with a 2 gallon air compressor. I bought thick wood lattice and hit each panel with 150-200 narrow staples. Probably more than needed

Lattice facing on the existing fence

 

[Blazinjones]

None of the girls needed watering or training today.

The Tangerine Widow seed sprung a tail, so I made a little divot, and planted her in a one-gallon

awesome hope she sprouts for ya but I'm guessing she will with ur lvl of exp. but still wishn u gud luck brotha hey i had a question is it normal tohave the top of ur soil to get pretty hard and wen i water i have to dig lil holes and pour in the holes otherwise it jus sits on top for a long time b4 soaking in so jus wondering if thts normal or not??

 

[NorCaliwood]

BTW Congrats on the GJOTM win.. Keepem Green

 

[Radogast]

awesome hope she sprouts for ya but I'm guessing she will with ur lvl of exp. but still wishn u gud luck brotha hey i had a question is it normal tohave the top of ur soil to get pretty hard and wen i water i have to dig lil holes and pour in the holes otherwise it jus sits on top for a long time b4 soaking in so jus wondering if thts normal or not??

The seed is sprouted. I've had good luck with seeds from this point on. Being a cloner, I honestly don't have that much experience with seeds. My first year of growing I did maybe 12 seeds. And I'm up to about the same number this grow.

The only time I've had the soil surface get hard was after I spread diotamaceus earth to fight fungus gnats. The treatment was worse than the problem and I had a very bad 8 months after that - but there were other factors.

I think you hit upon the issue in the other threads: Rice hulls in the build-a-soil mix. I'd add a 1/2" layer of happy soil on top (top dress) and mix it in with the top 1/2" or so of your existing soil. When you get ready to reuse the soil, I'd ammend with about 20% perlite. Without the aeration it probably limits certain scientifically measurable soil features, like percolation rate and cationic exchange capacity. It's going to slow down your girls a bit.

If you think the problem is bad, you might take one plant, dust off the roots and replant it in better soil. The growth will stall for 3-4 days, but it should probably grow more vigorously after that. It's sort of a judgement call. In veg I'd try that. In flower I probably wouldn't. If it works, you can do the same for the rest.

I'm actually having 2 pots slow to soak up water right now. That's because I top drssed with too much worm compost. If it doesn't sort itself out in the next week, I will top dress and scratch in some regular soil in the top 1/2" or so. I'm not getting a real good deep water this way.

 

[Radogast]

BTW Congrats on the GJOTM win.. Keepem Green

Thank you. This month's grow journal winner gets the added prize of several pounds of fertilizer - so congrats to PotChimp !

 

[NorCaliwood]

I know that was late,,, but I just seen it.. I'm alittle slow is all'' Keepem Green

 

[Blazinjones]

The seed is sprouted. I've had good luck with seeds from this point on. Being a cloner, I honestly don't have that much experience with seeds. My first year of growing I did maybe 12 seeds. And I'm up to about the same number this grow.

The only time I've had the soil surface get hard was after I spread diotamaceus earth to fight fungus gnats. The treatment was worse than the problem and I had a very bad 8 months after that - but there were other factors.

I think you hit upon the issue in the other threads: Rice hulls in the build-a-soil mix. I'd add a 1/2" layer of happy soil on top (top dress) and mix it in with the top 1/2" or so of your existing soil. When you get ready to reuse the soil, I'd ammend with about 20% perlite. Without the aeration it probably limits certain scientifically measurable soil features, like percolation rate and cationic exchange capacity. It's going to slow down your girls a bit.

If you think the problem is bad, you might take one plant, dust off the roots and replant it in better soil. The growth will stall for 3-4 days, but it should probably grow more vigorously after that. It's sort of a judgement call. In veg I'd try that. In flower I probably wouldn't. If it works, you can do the same for the rest.

I'm actually having 2 pots slow to soak up water right now. That's because I top drssed with too much worm compost. If it doesn't sort itself out in the next week, I will top dress and scratch in some regular soil in the top 1/2" or so. I'm not getting a real good deep water this way.

Yea i only got 1 girl in flower rite nw n i got a funnel in there to do my version of a half ass olla attempt lol but its worked wonders so i dnt have the top soil issue like the others since i jus fill the funnel n walk away n it slowly drains dwn into the soil but my girls in veg dont have the funnel idea cuz at first the funnel idea was jus an experiment to see if it worked n since it does im guna make up some ollas n wen i get my cloth pots i will uplant a few of my veg girls n put the olla in with them so wen i up pot them ill add in like 20% perlite to my soil mix n use tht cause my soil shud be done cooking rite around the time my cloth pots shud arrive so all i wud need then wud be the perlite then ill up pot them n bak into the veg tent to pack on alil xtra gerth b4 the flip

 

[Tomula]

Hello Rado! So I've finally caught up to the action here. Gotta say I like how you're doing with the HB kit. Just lovely nugs. I see you now vape too! You deserve the Journal Award as I would vote for you too! Keep it coming I keep watching and smiling!

My ex was a lot harder on my budget.


Could you have bought half that pile for $175?

I suggest you get yourself some decent COBs and drivers, to replace your 2x600W you are looking somewhere around 700W that's around 650 dollars. For 2x4 you would need around 300W and that's 6 COBs at 50W. So 6x 3000K/3500K Vero or Citizen CLU1818 that's around 25$ a piece so 150$ plus the driver for 120$ and you need some cooling that's another 70$. That's my uneducated guess and you might find the parts cheaper. But it should pay itself quite fast. Heck I've paid 250 just for my chips (CLU1825) I also recommend adding UVB bulbs/tubes for peak hours as all LEDs lack the UV spectrum. The cheap drivers and COBs are not worth it IMHO. This array should last you 10+ years if cooled enough.

 

[NorCaliwood]

I had abunch of gnats once.. I always have 1 or 2 running around but I used this weird stuff called Go-Gnats for gnats. Worked great. One shot deal as a drench at half strength. Just in case you are ever needing to deal with them again. I always reuse about half my soils. I use them in the bottom of my larger pot,, and new soil on top, Kind of a kicker start on the microbial thing.. But I amend my new soil with all kinds of goodies in the organic mix. You can never have enough bone meal in the mix.. All plants love alittle extra calcium in the mix...
GL and Keepem Green

 

[Radogast]

Hello Rado! So I've finally caught up to the action here. Gotta say I like how you're doing with the HB kit. Just lovely nugs. I see you now vape too! You deserve the Journal Award as I would vote for you too! Keep it coming I keep watching and smiling!

Thanks Tomula. I feel good now

I'm beginning to settle down into the HB routine. Watering/fertilizing them as individuals during veg and treating them mostly as a group during flower and Brix spraying has simplified things for me - with good record keeping, I can keep myself on track.

The vaping thing is still up in the air. I don't seem to get high or body buzz, just the perma-grin. But it is still a bit unclear for me, because the sativas are not hitting me hard. A bowl of Indica can last me 4 days and I feel high as --- brownies. I smoked a bowl of Sour Diesel yesterday and the day before - I felt good, had ton's of energy and enjoyed myself, but didn't feel at all high. Another lightweight friend of mine took me to the hardware store in her pickup truck, so I bought her some hardware store goodies and smoked her up for a thanks. She hung around for 2 hours until she felt like she could handle the 5 block drive home. - Same stuff and I'm out there with the chain saw and power tools and not a worry in the world, working for hours. I could do laps on a race track on either of the recent Hi-Brix Sativa harvests.

In a previous grow, (grown with small harvests in poor organic soil,) AK47 XTRM knocked me back hard, but her HiBrix sister doesn't phase me - she just supports me and takes me to a happy place, a place where I spend a lot of time anyway. The sativas seems to mix well with alcohol, doubling the euphoria of alcohol without no obvious after effects. So with that going on when smoking, I don't have a solid baseline to explore the effects of vaping

I suggest you get yourself some decent COBs and drivers, to replace your 2x600W you are looking somewhere around 700W that's around 650 dollars. For 2x4 you would need around 300W and that's 6 COBs at 50W. So 6x 3000K/3500K Vero or Citizen CLU1818 that's around 25$ a piece so 150$ plus the driver for 120$ and you need some cooling that's another 70$. That's my uneducated guess and you might find the parts cheaper. But it should pay itself quite fast. Heck I've paid 250 just for my chips (CLU1825) I also recommend adding UVB bulbs/tubes for peak hours as all LEDs lack the UV spectrum. The cheap drivers and COBs are not worth it IMHO. This array should last you 10+ years if cooled enough.

By cooling, are you meaning large heat sinks? I've been running a 6" canfan with adequate CFM through the HPS hoods to cool the room. Are the COBs fine with heat sinks and room cooling?

As I think I've said before, I haven't felt seriously tempted to replace my lights until recently. At this point, I'm tempted to contact the lighting guy who sponsored SweetSue and talk about a 'kit' solution. Do the Vero and Citizen normally come pre-wired with driver compatible plugs, and a mounted lens? As you can tell, my thoughts are all over the map on this. So far, everytme I start googling for answers, family life intervenes.

 

[MrGreene]

I have a small nail gun with a 2 gallon air compressor. I bought thick wood lattice and hit each panel with 150-200 narrow staples. Probably more than needed

Lattice facing on the existing fence

The lattice looks good. Your yard will be amazing when things start growing. I think I see/understand the style you're trying for after reading the last couple pages. I'll try to get caught up on the whole thread soon.

 

[Radogast]

The lattice looks good. Your yard will be amazing when things start growing. I think I see/understand the style you're trying for after reading the last couple pages. I'll try to get caught up on the whole thread soon.

Reading the whole thread is ambitious. You'll soon notice the switch from living in a New England maple forest on pages 1-47 and living in a Midwestern city on page 48.

 

[mouser]

Thanks Tomula. I feel good now

I'm beginning to settle down into the HB routine. Watering/fertilizing them as individuals during veg and treating them mostly as a group during flower and Brix spraying has simplified things for me - with good record keeping, I can keep myself on track.

The vaping thing is still up in the air. I don't seem to get high or body buzz, just the perma-grin. But it is still a bit unclear for me, because the sativas are not hitting me hard. A bowl of Indica can last me 4 days and I feel high as --- brownies. I smoked a bowl of Sour Diesel yesterday and the day before - I felt good, had ton's of energy and enjoyed myself, but didn't feel at all high. Another lightweight friend of mine took me to the hardware store in her pickup truck, so I bought her some hardware store goodies and smoked her up for a thanks. She hung around for 2 hours until she felt like she could handle the 5 block drive home. - Same stuff and I'm out there with the chain saw and power tools and not a worry in the world, working for hours. I could do laps on a race track on either of the recent Hi-Brix Sativa harvests.

In a previous grow, (grown with small harvests in poor organic soil,) AK47 XTRM knocked me back hard, but her HiBrix sister doesn't phase me - she just supports me and takes me to a happy place, a place where I spend a lot of time anyway. The sativas seems to mix well with alcohol, doubling the euphoria of alcohol without no obvious after effects. So with that going on when smoking, I don't have a solid baseline to explore the effects of vaping





By cooling, are you meaning large heat sinks? I've been running a 6" canfan with adequate CFM through the HPS hoods to cool the room. Are the COBs fine with heat sinks and room cooling?

As I think I've said before, I haven't felt seriously tempted to replace my lights until recently. At this point, I'm tempted to contact the lighting guy who sponsored SweetSue and talk about a 'kit' solution. Do the Vero and Citizen normally come pre-wired with driver compatible plugs, and a mounted lens? As you can tell, my thoughts are all over the map on this. So far, everytme I start googling for answers, family life intervenes.

Vero (Bridgelux) chips come in several varieties...bare requiring a soldered connection, a mid level that includes a small port for a plug/harness, and a 3rd that has push in connectors for solid core wire. As far as I know the Citizen cobs require a holder to be solderless. Cree chips also need an ideal holder as well...I think...

Using the 133-140mm predrilled pin heatsinks out there I have no problems at all with heat. I do run a 6" clip fan to keep the air moving, but I doubt its even needed. Running the chip at 50w Im only using about 50-33% of the heatsinks cooling capacity,

The Growmau5 videos on youtube are a great source of info...not to mention any/all of Fanleaf's threads.

 

[SweetSue]

My kits came as a "plug and go" configuration. It took no time at all to get them connected. They need a frame, but Hash Hound and MrGreene have both demonstrated that you can make a perfectly functional one from the channel used for lowered ceilings. Dan is incredibly helpful and accessible, from what I hear. He sends, I use. He made it so easy for me it's almost unbelievable.

I gave away much more wattage than I have hanging, and my plants have never been happier. It's worth looking into.

Incidentally, Dan and Timber Grow Lights don't sponsor me. He loves me for what I do, and for that reason alone he sent the lights, intending only that I grow better medicine for myself and my patients.

 

[Tomula]

Thanks Tomula. I feel good now

I'm beginning to settle down into the HB routine. Watering/fertilizing them as individuals during veg and treating them mostly as a group during flower and Brix spraying has simplified things for me - with good record keeping, I can keep myself on track.

The vaping thing is still up in the air. I don't seem to get high or body buzz, just the perma-grin. But it is still a bit unclear for me, because the sativas are not hitting me hard. A bowl of Indica can last me 4 days and I feel high as --- brownies. I smoked a bowl of Sour Diesel yesterday and the day before - I felt good, had ton's of energy and enjoyed myself, but didn't feel at all high. Another lightweight friend of mine took me to the hardware store in her pickup truck, so I bought her some hardware store goodies and smoked her up for a thanks. She hung around for 2 hours until she felt like she could handle the 5 block drive home. - Same stuff and I'm out there with the chain saw and power tools and not a worry in the world, working for hours. I could do laps on a race track on either of the recent Hi-Brix Sativa harvests.

In a previous grow, (grown with small harvests in poor organic soil,) AK47 XTRM knocked me back hard, but her HiBrix sister doesn't phase me - she just supports me and takes me to a happy place, a place where I spend a lot of time anyway. The sativas seems to mix well with alcohol, doubling the euphoria of alcohol without no obvious after effects. So with that going on when smoking, I don't have a solid baseline to explore the effects of vaping


By cooling, are you meaning large heat sinks? I've been running a 6" canfan with adequate CFM through the HPS hoods to cool the room. Are the COBs fine with heat sinks and room cooling?

As I think I've said before, I haven't felt seriously tempted to replace my lights until recently. At this point, I'm tempted to contact the lighting guy who sponsored SweetSue and talk about a 'kit' solution. Do the Vero and Citizen normally come pre-wired with driver compatible plugs, and a mounted lens? As you can tell, my thoughts are all over the map on this. So far, everytme I start googling for answers, family life intervenes.

You can vape two ways: Load the chamber with desired amount of herb, switch on and draw. That's the ,,over-time'' vaping. Then you can load, let it get warm and take few big hits. The latter will be stronger in effect. But not all vapes can deal with big hits and can overcook your herb. I take big hits through bong and reduction. It has very pleasant taste and coolness.

With COBs you gotta get adequate heatsinks for around 50% of the power is heat. Passive is more expensive but condition and fool proof. With pre-drilled heatsinks it is just a matter of applying thermal paste and screwing the reflectors+holders in place. Some holders are equipped with clips you just stick the wire in. No need for soldering with wago clips. It should be an easy build. I suggest you check growmau5 on YT, he has some very nicely made tutorials, even for ppl who do not understand lights at all. Dictionary needed for some words I got lost here and there too At least I educate myself further I like it now when it's over. I dunno how much the kits are pre-assembled. I hope this helped, I'm beginner myself, but my bro and YT helped me understand the basic wiring. Cheers Rado, and happy sunny weekend to you!

 

[kelticBlue]

By cooling, are you meaning large heat sinks? I've been running a 6" canfan with adequate CFM through the HPS hoods to cool the room. Are the COBs fine with heat sinks and room cooling?

As I think I've said before, I haven't felt seriously tempted to replace my lights until recently. At this point, I'm tempted to contact the lighting guy who sponsored SweetSue and talk about a 'kit' solution. Do the Vero and Citizen normally come pre-wired with driver compatible plugs, and a mounted lens? As you can tell, my thoughts are all over the map on this. So far, everytme I start googling for answers, family life intervenes.

Dan is incredibly helpful and accessible, from what I hear. He sends, I use. He made it so easy for me it's almost unbelievable.

I did the DIY kit, tutorial link in my sig, easy enough. You can source the parts and build from the ground up cheaper. But i did the Timber kit, saved time instead of money. I use a fan system to keep the cobs cool as possible for the long haul but they are cool to the touch. I am running 3500k CREE cobs, they are the more expensive one but they put out the photons in a big way! Fanleaf can explain what ya need to do to equal or outperform a hps set up, i dont know crap about some of the stuff these guys talk about. But if HPS is working for ya i think you are doing fine, if ya wanna save on electric COBs will help.

Like Sue said Dan was helpful and answered my email questions in less than 24 hours every-time. we had about 10 email exchanges.

My diy is all 'bubblegum and bailing wire'
I put fans between my heat sinks, not really necessary but i am a freak

Here is picture proof of my goofiness

fanleaf's build thread, it is to big to read, but a good place to ask a question.
Fanleaf's Huge 42 Cree CXB3590 COB Array Build Plus Other Builds

 

[Radogast]

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas for the COB kits.

And yes, Keltic, your fans are a bit goofy but you have almost no height in your tent so it makes perfect sense.


I have basic home wiring skills and have built a few PCs - back in the day - including gluing heat sinks, so I'm not scared of the DIY part.

With Doc Bud's kit and existing lights, I'm getting a good yield per plant. I also about to increase from 4 plants in flower to 6 plants in flower. For me, with lights, It's about saving money without losing performance.


I've got research to do...

 

[Radogast]

Increased plant count

I've decided I want to try going from 4 to 6 plants in the existing flower area

For a plant count, I'm going to try 6 plants in early veg and 4 plants in late veg(big pots), to feed 6 plants in flower.


With 4 late veg plants in big pots, instead of 2, the space is a tighter, so I may have to buy more 7 gallon Geopots or 12x12x12" plastic pots to replace 10 gallon GeoPots. The 10 gallon SmartPots I have are just too big.

As far as space, that's my only change required.

- - -

Last night, I watered 4 1/2 plants before I ran out of 7-8 gallons of Reverse Osmosis (RO) water that I had stored in buckets.
With more big pots in use (10 instead of 6-8) I need to store up more water.

My RO unit only has a 4 gallon tank, so it takes 2 fillings a couple hours apart to store up 8 gallons.

I'd like to have a 15-20 gallon reserve of water, preferably a tank that automatically refills off the 1/4" RO water line.

I'd like to have a water wand and hose on the barrel to help with the watering.

I can probably get a free rain barrel from the city.

Any ideas?

 

[Canyon]

I had a low volume RO setup that I replaced with a 7 gallon per hour. I just added the old tank to the new setup. That gives me about 7 gallons. Some days I need more. I keep 5 or 6 gallon jugs full. That gives me about 12 gallons at a time if I remember to fill the jugs.