For this grow I will using a 5x5 tent with a 4x4 flood table and running Cement Shoes S1 fems from Cult Classic Seeds. I will be growing in Rockwool again and I think I will be hand watering this round which hopefully won't be too hard based on having the raised flood table. I put 15 seeds in distilled water for 24 hours, put in a damp papertowel for 24 hours and then placed in 1.5" Rockwool blocks. I soaked the blocks in distilled water at 5.5 PH and nothing else.
In my two other grow areas I have a 720w and a 480w Kingsbrite light. Both are 3500k running UV & IR LED bulbs. Both of the other fixtures have Meanwell drivers that are dimmable.
In this grow journal I am going to use the new Photontek 600w bar style light. There will be (6) 100w bars running full spectrum each with magnets and the ability to remove them if desired. There is also a removable driver that is dimmable.
I am a bit skeptical using this light in such a big tent and I am going to be extra critical as I think there should be a good reason to buy a named brand light over the Alibaba Kingsbrite.
The Photontek light is on the way and should be here in next 2 weeks. Once it arrives I will get installed into the tent and get pictures taken.
In addition to the light, I still need to get the flood table, tray and solo cup plan put together. Lots to do in the next few weeks 🙂
Stay Tuned......
A lot has happened since my last post. I got my Photontek light delivered and installed. I got my Botanicare 4x4 Flood Tray and Fast Fit table installed. I conditioned my Rockwool blocks, charged them with a 500EC nutrient blend and then put in the seedlings.
I also started on my auto-watering system today. I got the PVC frame built using 1/2 PVC, I installed 4 manifolds with 8 ports each for the water distribution system and I ordered the 14g reservoir that Doc recommends here on the site and also the 400gph pump. I have been busy the past few nights but it sure has been coming along well. No issues or setback thus far.
Not much to report as the seedlings are rooting into the larger Rockwool blocks and there isn't much change. My humidity has been too low and heat a bit high so the environment could be dialed in more.
I currently have the lights at 50% power and turned it up to 75% last night. The increase in power increased the temps in the tent by 4 degrees. Based on the intense heat lately, I may turn it back down to 50% until this heat dies down a bit as they are just seedlings and don't need much more.
In addition to the seedlings I also started my Party Cup Challenge grow. I am using the same Cement Shoes strain so it will be a good contrast to the larger plants.
I got a notification that my leg reducers on my fast fit tray have shipped so I will install those, reduce the height of the tray and then finish and test the Autowater Setup.
Things are moving along well. I topped the plants today and I will try to hold off flip for another 10 days.... All in all this is the best tent of the 3 that I am running. When I say the best, the plants just seem to be healthier and happier... Is it the strain? Is it the Photontek 600w Light? hmmmmm
Enjoy the video.
Party Cup Update:
I have been watering over two days right now at about 1100eC. Probably too high for her but I don't want to make a separate nutrient solution so we will see how she does.
I don't think I am going to top her but I think I will tie her down again in the next week.
Here is another party cup update as I have been training them and will be flipping to flower soon. I will be posting a video of the entire tent in a few minutes as well. Enjoy.
So.... I flipped the plants to flower before leaving to Alaska on a fishing trip. With the Autowater system, I did not need my wife to do anything except water the solo cup..
How do you think she did?
I flipped to flower about 12 days ago... not a ton of stretching but the bud sites are starting to pop up nicely. I am going to clean and change the reservoir today and will feed at around 1350 - 1400EC. still doing the Floramax Flora A Flora B, Resin-XS and then PowerSI Bloom.... Pretty Simple.
Things are going wonderful. No issues with anything in the grow. The buds are coming along now and I get excited every time I open up the tent.
This tent is moving along and doing well. The light has been amazing and I would like to get a 465w for my 4x4 tent.
I hit these plants a little hard with the PK boost a week ago and several had tip burn and some leaf damage. They are bouncing back fine though. It is always hard to grow 16 plants all from seed in the same tent as they are all a bit unique with their nutrient needs.
These plants should be fattening up over the next few weeks... Here is a quick video that I uploaded to my YouTube Channel..
The plants have been doing well and they have really started to stink up the place. I will have to change my carbon filter after this run as I don't think it is doing a good job.
The tent is changing colors a lot and I think the plants will be done fairly early .. maybe 2-3 more weeks. The Photontek has been doing great and I am thinking of getting another one for my 4x4 tent.
