VictorVonDoom's 1st Grow - Converted Mini Fridge - Indoor/Soil 2013

Re: VictorVonDoom's 1st grow. converted mini fridge - indoor/soil 2013

VictorVonDoom said:
Easy now,
just a quick update of the photos
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Much better use than for booze :D
 
AfricanGrower said:
In my honest opinion, I think it may be a combination of heat and lack of moisture. In your last picture I noticed a couple of the biggest fan leaves 'curling' up. I also notice that you have the PC pointed directly at them as well. Although air circulation is important, having slightly warmer temps in a small space like yours in combination of direct breeze, results in the the plant trying to preserve moisture. The top of the leaves tend to take the most heat, then the fan eventually will start drying them out , but in more extreme cases of 'dryness' can even start to form a 'taco' shape.

There is not much to worry about here though. In the case that this was only due to heat, the leaves would start to droop downwards as it still has moisture, but due to the stress of the heat, it can no longer support itself.

I say you should still keep the PC fan, but avoid a direct breeze on them...observe and see if the curling subsides.
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Thanks for the yet again brilliant explination's AG. (dont think I would of got the KAYAK reference, not herd of that. Its a good en thou.)

Ok, so I've lowered my plants and altered the direction of the fan to get it out the way of the plants.
I have done temp checks
- Fan on, 72.7F/22.6C
- Fan off, 75.3F/24.1C
To my knowlege day time temps should be between 70 and 80 F so I dont think this is the problem.
Im guessing from what you have said that the culpret is the PC fan. Now i'm wondering if I even need it, as thinking about it now the extractor fan is very powerfull for the application I am using it for. But I will be leaving it in while monitoring to see if the problem goes away. As I will most likely need it in there if I add another 2 lamps on my next grow.

Will the old leaves recover or will they just stay the same, with the new growth growing correct?

Thanks for the help fellas.

One love
 
75F :thedoubletake: !!!! Bro you are more than fine without the fan, as air is moving quite quickly through your small space. I wish I had it as good as you when I was growing micro. My temps all the way to harvest steadied no lower than 82, going as high as 86-90F! You won't start to see REAL heat stress until you reach these temps.

Those leaves should recover as they were only reacting to the change in environment.

When it starts to get bushy in there, temps may raise. That's when you could think about implementing a breeze for circulation ;)
 
Traditionally, an oscillating fan performs many different functions in a grow from controlling heat, RH and O2 replenishment. It also serves to keep the plant constantly moving which strengthens it for larger grows, but also makes for a more hostile environment for bugs and mildew. The bug and mildew thing is probably the only factor that you'll miss out on by taking away the fan as a microgrow won't put on the kind of weight that extra skeletal structure would be needed. If you can find away for your air movement to go across the plant as well as the whole space, this will address that. If not, just keep a watchful eye for powdery mildew or bugs. Maybe even get some sticky paper for bugs.
 
The buds were very light and airy (due to the CFLs) but you could definitely tell that the plant overall could have been denser and more 'moist' at the time of harvest. It took only 3 days to completely dry, and the smoke was pretty smooth, but the high was not I was expecting: a bit of a head buzz that lasted an hour or so.

I also know THC begins to degrade at higher temps as well.
 
@Skybound

This is why I thought it would be benificial to add the fan, haha.

I will definitely keep looking out for powdery mildew or bugs.

I did look for sticky paper but couldnt find a shop that sells it near me, when I take a trip to the grow shop to get my new lamps I bet they will stock them.

Good thinking sky.

Thanks you again for your input :high-five:
 
The grow shop will likely have aphid paper which is better. What I was trying to say about your air flow, I'm assuming you have a passive inlet and a fan on your exhaust? Whatever the case may be, from your inlet, is there air flow that you can feel? If yes, maybe a piece of cardboard could be used to channel some of that breeze in your plants direction? Also, I believe when AG first mentioned the fan, he was just trying to tell you not to blow straight on the plant, but still blow around the room. When my seedling first sprouted, I didnt use the fan. After a few days, I added the fan and timer to blow for 30 minutes every 2 hours, and then only at the wall so the plant can feel an incidental breeze. Then I went every other 30 minutes at the wall, then constant at the wall, now constant at the plant. By at, I mean oscillating.

Not trying to convince you to bring it back in, just don't want you to develop a fear of the fan or something. I think diverting some airflow across your plant will be more beneficial than bringing the fan back in anyways.
 
Hey skybound,

The grow shop will likely have aphid paper which is better.
Thanks, now I wont go in looking silly asking for sticky bug strips, haha

Dont worry pal, you didnt make me fear the fan. You just made me think about when to use mine correctly and importiantly about using it when necessary.
I have tryed looking all over to find a small oscillating fan to fit my space. I have been thinking of getting a 12v oscilating motor, and making a platform on top to sit the fan. But will nead to do some recearch into finding out if a 12v oscilating motor even exists. I will have to get my head down and do some research. I'll find any excuse to make something :)
I never even contimplated putting it on a timer aswell, I really like that idea and think it would work really well for my situation.

As regards to my ventilation it looks kinda like this
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I can feel air slightly going past my hand when i put it near either outlet. The out take is 100mm and there are 2x 52mm holes for the passive intake. In theory shouldn't the air going out be exactly the same ammount as the air going out? or am i wrong?
My original plan was to have 2 pipes comming into the fridge along the length of the fridge, then to drill holes all the way down. I didnt have the budge on it for this grow.
Because of what I have, the only way I will ever directly be able to direct air flow across the plant and soil is with a fan.

Thank you for some really good points sky, much appreciated

:Namaste:
 
Day 28 / 10 Flower Day 2

Firstly I would like to say.
When people have been giving me advice along the way I have understood what they have been saying but I some times have wondered why I would need them. Fully down to me just not know whats going on fully yet. Well today after seeing the growth spurt, the cogs have finaly clicked.
So I would just like to give a special shout out to
African Grower - for your advice on stunting growth and the indepth explanition of FIM
Spimp - For showing you concern on flipping my plants to Flower
Crazycarl - Spotting something wrong with the leaves
:Namaste:
Im sure I've forgot to mention loads of helpfull coments but I still dont know how to use this blody thing yet and dont know how to link in loads of quotes. But I do thank all that have contributed, (you know who you are) much appreciated. I'm really feeling this whole 420 community and the positive energy it brings. Again thank you all that have contributed so far.

Enough chat, heres some pics
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Peace
 
I don' know what mods you're willing to make to your fridge, but you could mount the fan somewhere externally to save space, and use flex duct to bring it in. From that point, a flap or series of flaps can be inserted where the flex duct terminates inside your box (preferably lower for inlet air). these flaps (just like the vents in your car) can direct air flow over the plant before it is exhausted out the top. Perhaps these flaps can be mounted to a mechanism that directs them left to right to left etc. This would give you the oscillation you want and save the space that you need.

End result, I know you're gonna do whatever it is that needs to be done to improve your girl's environment, irregardless of how ghetto it looks. My entire setup is one mod on top of another. I only care about the end result and noise b/c my situation requires a minimal level of stealth. I too use 120mm PC fans and they move air pretty good. Also have a 400 CFM blower that really moves, but it's loud and big.

Just keep this in your mind when searching for a mod that will work great for you. "Air has to move". It don't matter where it comes from or where it goes, just as long as it is a safe growing temperature when it comes in. If you want to mount your fan 100' from the fridg and duct it all in between, that's your prerogative. Just try to inlet low and exhaust high. Oscillation is a plus, not a prerequisite. stealthgrower does his entire grow in his supercloset with just 2 little 4" fans that do not oscillate and he does great. So don't restrict yourself to the ones that oscillate. Also, if it's within your ability, try to filter your inlet air lest one of your neighbors (that you don't know about) has a male flowering and releasing pollen into the air. Not to mention the bugs and other pests that can kill your grow. Just play around with different ideas and configurations, and you'll find what works best for you.

By chance, you don't happen to have central vacuum in your house, do you? Pressure pushes, vacuum pulls, both moves air. If you can tap into an already running air mover, all the better and more stealthy.
 
Sky is right that is what I did to move my carbon scrubber out of my box . This is how I would do all of your fan and venting as your space is the biggest limiting factor. You can look at my first grow might have to look to the middle I did that when I was running out of height on my first grow. Now it is out of the way and I am lining out the next design issue to pop up
 
Hey Crazycarl,

Yeah that is seaming to be the way, i just have an unused shelf so i was only thinking inside the box.
I've just had a little think and a rough sketch of what im thinking.
Using this stuff
flex1.jpg

To do this
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If you can follow.
Basicly mounting 2 50mm fans on either intake, and use that flexable conduit to direct the air.
Its just summit i thought of now, its definatly not ready for release but its prototype idea's
 
Skybound said:
I don' know what mods you're willing to make to your fridge.

I am willing to mod the turkey jiblets out this fridge in the persuit for the never ending quest of perfection. haha

By chance, you don't happen to have central vacuum in your house, do you? Pressure pushes, vacuum pulls, both moves air. If you can tap into an already running air mover, all the better and more stealthy.

Nope, there not very common where I am from.
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All brilliant and ideas mucker. A good point too about people getting good results by keeping it simple, when simplicity works.

Peace holmes
 
VictorVonDoom said:
Hey Crazycarl,

Yeah that is seaming to be the way, i just have an unused shelf so i was only thinking inside the box.
I've just had a little think and a rough sketch of what im thinking.
Using this stuff
flex1.jpg

To do this
DSC005174.JPG


If you can follow.
Basicly mounting 2 50mm fans on either intake, and use that flexable conduit to direct the air.
Its just summit i thought of now, its definatly not ready for release but its prototype idea's
Click to expand...

+reps Victor! I have never thought of ducting through the grow space. I will definitely have to implement a similar design for my PC box ;)
 
I'm glad you mentioned that VVD. Where's my royalty cut of the REPs AG just gave you? I think 1/10th of the REP you just got is fair, so fork it over!
 
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