Rifleman's Roost Open 24/7: Perpetually Perplexed

[Rifleman]

Would its initials be AFN? I just got curious (no reason, I don't own one) and typed "how to upgrade Mars 1200 to COBs" and that was the first cannabis forum result. Err... It looked like every other cannabis forum in existence also has threads on upgrading them, too. I got 697,000 results, lol.

That would be it. BigSm0 inquired about being a sponsor here but in reality being a one man shop he is barely keeping up with orders as it is. The traffic driven from the other site is about all he can handle for now. There's still hope he coughs up the $$ to be a sponsor here and let business explode, hire one or two people, etc etc. but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[TorturedSoul]

Be nice to see him get to the position where he can both afford to become a sponsor and benefit from same; I think he has friends here, and I tend to root for the little guys anyway.

Hey, about what I alluded to amongst the ramblings. Some hillbilly you don't know and who will probably never get to meet (traveling to Sue's former place was really beyond his practical limit) said to tell you that "BuzzTrout says THANK YOU for breeding your beans." I haven't a clue what he means, of course .

 

[Archiweedies]

Would its initials be AFN?

That be the one matey yarghhh!

CRAP, I meant to add:

Thanks for posting the DIY article for everyone!

I assume you ended up with a more useful, efficient, and modern light (and with the same power consumption?). Did it drastically change your panel's footprint, though, either increase or decrease it (or just change its shape, which is also something to be aware of)?

I've got a 160-watt "dots" LED panel. It was given to me with the (repeated) assurance/insistence that it was "fully capable" of growing and flowering nine square feet. It's sufficient, more or less, if one is growing autos and, thus, running it 18 hours per day throughout the flowering cycle... fox six, if you're not too worried about density. It's alright when hung at a proper height over a space that it can illuminate, but that's not nine square feet. If growing photoperiodic strains, I doubt it'd be six. Four would probably be pretty good. But, me, "T Trust Your Fellow Man S," I set it up in a 3'x3' space, lol. I've thought about trying to upgrade it, somehow.

But my buddy is finally ready to do a full grow indoors (he's only started his outdoor plants inside previously). I'm giving him some autos (you might know the breeder, RM ) , so I'm thinking now about giving it to him and telling him to make a 3'x2' space, or maybe a 4'x2' since I think he'll end up with three T5 sticks before too long. Or something that they'll fit in but that'll also accommodate the panel's footprint, IDK. He likes to get high and is in pain a lot, so I'd like to see him make it to harvest without getting disappointed. He said, "I'll hang a sheet for walls," and I told him to go to a department store and ask if they have any refrigerator boxes and grab a can of flat white spray paint on the way out the door. It's that kind of low-budget grow (he's depending on ME for equipment, lmao, so that's to be expected).

Wait... Forgot the thread topic. Better click on the button now.

So, to answer this, let me be clear about the AutoCOB light. BigSm0 is the manufacturer as Rifleman said, and they are intended to be installed one per plant. He sells a kit for 3x3 tents, it includes four of the individual autocobs.

Okay so, the upgraded light has three of the led's that he uses for the single led fixtures, but they are slightly under driven. The result is a light that is way brighter than one individual autocob. I had it in my 2' x 3' veg box and it would be plenty to flower a couple autos.
I intended to use it as my "fourth" autocob as I purchased them individually as I could afford. I can still use it that way, but it has to be kept several inches further away than the autocobs. Hope that helps!

That would be it. BigSm0 inquired about being a sponsor here but in reality being a one man shop he is barely keeping up with orders as it is. The traffic driven from the other site is about all he can handle for now. There's still hope he coughs up the $$ to be a sponsor here and let business explode, hire one or two people, etc etc. but I'm not holding my breath.

He's a great dude and has been working on these for quite some time. He deserves to succeed in my opinion and I love these little lights. I am, however considering an HPS 600w for the winter months in my garage. Might have to use my heater a little less.

 

[Rifleman]

@Archiweedies that's the only drawback so far, the lack of heat. Growing in the buckets the plants were so large that I had to run the filter and extraction fan 24/7 and wound up with PM due to cooler temps.

Four much smaller plants this time and I just walk by and turn on the fan for a minute several times a day just to keep the humidity lower. If I ever decide to hang around the homestead during the hotter months they'll be damn near perfect for a Summer crop.

 

[Archiweedies]

@Archiweedies that's the only drawback so far, the lack of heat. Growing in the buckets the plants were so large that I had to run the filter and extraction fan 24/7 and wound up with PM due to cooler temps.

Four much smaller plants this time and I just walk by and turn on the fan for a minute several times a day just to keep the humidity lower. If I ever decide to hang around the homestead during the hotter months they'll be damn near perfect for a Summer crop.

Yeah I'm fighting the same thing and supplementing with a oil-filled radiator style heater. It works quite well, but I have a feeling a hotter light in the colder months may be what I need. I ordered a 6.5' x 6.5' x 6.5' tent today because I need more space heaters, dehu's and an ac unit. Slippery slope, this growing game.

 

[TorturedSoul]

Those radiator-style heaters are nice, because they'll continue giving off heat after they shut off. The lack of a fan can be a detriment in some situations, but a benefit in others - such as in a grow when you don't want hot air blowing directly on plants.

 

[Archiweedies]

Those radiator-style heaters are nice, because they'll continue giving off heat after they shut off. The lack of a fan can be a detriment in some situations, but a benefit in others - such as in a grow when you don't want hot air blowing directly on plants.

Ive managed to get it dialed in pretty good. The thermostat on the unit is kinda inaccurate

 

[Rifleman]

Good morning y'all. I've been sitting here watching the small animals outside scurry for food. Seed in particular. Yeah I feed the birds, squirrels, chip monks, etc. so what. But I got stuck on the thought of seed.

You guessed it. The time for a Grape Crinkle reversal is neigh. The first seed has been cracked and placed in a container of ProMix. It should sprout in a few days. I'll drop my last two GC beans two weeks after that.

If things go as planned the current crop will be getting harvested about the time the GC are getting pollinated. Soon after that I'll pull them from the tent, remove the reversed branch and clean the tent. Then start four more of something... back in my DWC buckets.

Who knows, I might make that grow a seed run too. Keep your eyes open, I'll take photos and narrate the process.

 

[TorturedSoul]

Feeding animals is fine, as long as it's not done in such a way that ends with too many animals and too little food. I feed animals, too - they partake of their salad bar whenever they want, it turns out .

Then, occasionally, I have them return the favor .

Grape Crinkle, huh? Mephisto's? I read a review on that one. If I remember correctly, something like "low yield, high quality - and frosty." Which sounded great, but then I read "two joints of it will set anyone on their @ss," and I thought, "Two joints?!" lol. So I don't know what to think. But it mostly made the strain seem appealing. I just did a quick-search for flavor and got "The smell is VERY Loud with a Sour Lemon Lime Citrus witch a hint of grape on the end." Nice.

Reversal? Hmm... Can I be your new best friend? LOL. Hope you enjoy it. I'll be interested in seeing what your yields amount to.

 

[Archiweedies]

Good morning y'all. I've been sitting here watching the small animals outside scurry for food. Seed in particular. Yeah I feed the birds, squirrels, chip monks, etc. so what. But I got stuck on the thought of seed.

You guessed it. The time for a Grape Crinkle reversal is neigh. The first seed has been cracked and placed in a container of ProMix. It should sprout in a few days. I'll drop my last two GC beans two weeks after that.

If things go as planned the current crop will be getting harvested about the time the GC are getting pollinated. Soon after that I'll pull them from the tent, remove the reversed branch and clean the tent. Then start four more of something... back in my DWC buckets.

Who knows, I might make that grow a seed run too. Keep your eyes open, I'll take photos and narrate the process.

This is exactly my focus for 2019, seed making, taking cuts, and high brix growing.
I’m in brother!

 

[Rifleman]

..........Grape Crinkle, huh? Mephisto's? I read a review on that one. If I remember correctly, something like "low yield, high quality - and frosty." Which sounded great, but then I read "two joints of it will set anyone on their @ss," and I thought, "Two joints?!" lol. So I don't know what to think. But it mostly made the strain seem appealing. I just did a quick-search for flavor and got "The smell is VERY Loud with a Sour Lemon Lime Citrus witch a hint of grape on the end." Nice......

Yes Mephisto. So far everything of their's that I've grown has been top notch. The alleged bag appeal and frost is what drew me to the GC. I don't normally worry about yield because of DWC, and this is more about seed propagation than anything else.

PSA: I know they aren't a sponsor, but if you're on a budget, don't mind growing autos (especially if you grow dwc), and you need as many seeds for your $$ as you can get. Ordering directly from Mephisto can not be beat. My experience in the past has been I receive nearly as many, if not AS many freebies, as what I order. Your experience might be different, but I've been more than pleased every time. Normally delivered within a week in the US too.

 

[SweetSue]

Yes Mephisto. So far everything of their's that I've grown has been top notch. The alleged bag appeal and frost is what drew me to the GC. I don't normally worry about yield because of DWC, and this is more about seed propagation than anything else.

PSA: I know they aren't a sponsor, but if you're on a budget, don't mind growing autos (especially if you grow dwc), and you need as many seeds for your $$ as you can get. Ordering directly from Mephisto can not be beat. My experience in the past has been I receive nearly as many, if not AS many freebies, as what I order. Your experience might be different, but I've been more than pleased every time. Normally delivered within a week in the US too.

I’ve yet to come across anyone unhappy with the company.

 

[Archiweedies]

Agreed about Mephisto and ordering direct. I am on my third all mephisto run and everything you said is accurate. I'm making the move back to predominately photo's, but the HubbaBubbaSmelloScope (my last ) harvest was a great plant and a good yielder despite my attempts to kill them

 

[Rifleman]

Agreed about Mephisto and ordering direct. I am on my third all mephisto run and everything you said is accurate. I'm making the move back to predominately photo's, but the HubbaBubbaSmelloScope (my last ) harvest was a great plant and a good yielder despite my attempts to kill them

I'm torn about my Jan 2019 grow. I've got a plethora of auto beans from Mephisto, but I've got an equal amount of exotic photo beans. Things like Panama Red, True OG, Caribe, THC Bomb, and others. Some of those are single beans that need reversed too. I just hate flowering times as long or longer than a completed grow of autos. I'm lazy you know.

 

[SweetSue]

You’re also successful enough at it that I marvel at our stubbornness to continue growing photos. Lol! There was talk a while back that Ministry of Cannabis was working on an Auto Carnival. That may change the game for me if they ever get it done.

 

[Rifleman]

You’re also successful enough at it that I marvel at our stubbornness to continue growing photos. Lol! There was talk a while back that Ministry of Cannabis was working on an Auto Carnival. That may change the game for me if they ever get it done.

IDK Sue. I've been told photos are more potent, taste better, yada yada yada. Every excuse and bias there is against autos. I just don't see it... or feel it.

I bet there is an auto out there with the same profile as the Carnival. It's just a matter of trial & error until you find it. Maybe Seedfinder's profiles and lineage on strains can help locate one. It sure is nice to be able to turn a pound in 90 days in a 4x4.

 

[Archiweedies]

I'm lazy you know.

You might have said that before once or twice

As a relatively new grower who is still working on environment and gaining confidence, I made a mistake making the switch to all autos. I believe autos are at their best when a grower has the skill and wisdom to grow this amazing plant, as they can keep stress to a minimum and most likely devoid of it.

 

[Ganjagrowergu]

Sure wish I could pull an ounce per square foot... my current breeding experiments are focused on developing my own autoflowering strain that will hopefully resemble my Punto Rojo crosses in vigor, potency, and effect along with the purple of DDA. I believe that I can do it... but probably still wont be able to do a pound in a 4x4. Lol

 

[TorturedSoul]

For the actual Punto Rojo, find a way to run a 1,000-watt HPS in your tent (separate extraction setup for that, air-cooled reflector, reflector designed with that size bulb in mind that gives as close to a square footprint as possible, insulating reflector cover) and you'll have 62.5 watts per square foot of intense light. Then go with either a true scrog or a sog grow with a reasonable plant density. It's a little more effort to chase yields with a sativa. There are other ways - you may have seen people grow "vertically," meaning bulb(s) in vertical orientation. In a tent, maybe a couple of 600-watt HPS in the center, stacked, hoping to get tall plants with good lighting from the top to the bottom of the canopy. Although for an equatorial sativa, one might be better served with a larger space and the budget (and electrical budget) to support bulbs spaced around a center plant, with additional plants around those. Do a search for Heath Robinson grows - he wasn't growing pure sativas, but then again his gram per watt ratio was... epic.

Crosses may manage with less light.

There are other lighting setups which will give you decent intensity and gross light output, of course. But you'll want to get as much as is reasonably possible (for a strain from a country that is partially on the equator, my above recommendation might even be considered "pretty decent" instead of "awesome, bordering on overkill," lol.

The quest for an autoflowering version of Punto Rojo seems like an admirable one.

Speaking of auto crosses, Rifleman, if it turns out that you really like that Grape Crinkle but aren't thrilled with its yields, maybe think about one of Dutch Passion's "super" autos as a potential breeding partner. Some of them have reportedly produced huge plants even from first-time growers using soil. I have no idea whether you'd find an affect (et cetera) profile that fits your specific wants/needs, though.

 

[Ganjagrowergu]

The quest for an autoflowering version of Punto Rojo seems like an admirable one.

I love PR very much. It will take a lot of crossing and fooling around with my future F2 phenotypes to get there. Close enough would suit me fine.

I have this grand scheme to avoid buying seeds for the rest of my days. I have been blessed with an overabundance of genetic material to start from scratch so to speak.