So - Ive spent a few months putting a system together and working the bugs out using some crappy bag seeds. The last grow ended up with 5 out of 6 plants turning hermies (as in true Herms due to crap genetics).
But I reckon I’m ready to start a proper grow using my spanking new ILGM seeds.
Ive decided to try the Jack Herer Autoflower and popped them in some pH adjusted rock wool to germinate today under some mild lights.
Once germinated I’ll be putting them in a stealth cabinet set up for rock wool ebb/flow hydro using MEIZHI 600W LEDs.
Looking forward to a quick grow to make up for the last 2 crappy bag seed grows!
So - I have converted an old wardrobe. On the left side I have put the reservoir, the air intake and exhaust fan, timers, grow logs, and a place to hold bits and pieces (pH up/down, trimming tools etc).
On the right I have the main grow compartment - which consists of a carbon filter exhaust, a 600W LED reflector light, scrog net and frame, and flood table.
(NB These photos taken showing the last failed grow due to bad genetics)
Ive set the timer to flood 4 times a day and it seems to like it. Am thinking I might increase to 5 to help along a fast auto-grow.
Known problems with this system are:
At 26L - the reservoir too small - especially when the plants get bigger/stretch - I need to top up every second day - but I havent found this to be too much of a problem.And I do like having the entire system stealthed.
Somewhat limited height space - might mean being very careful with taller grows.
I am going to try 5 autos which I think given the nature of autos (smaller yield) I will be able to get away with. However I think larger non-auto I could realistically only fit 2-3 plants.
In the near future I am installing an arduino based control system that does the following:
monitors temperature, humidity, reservoir water levels and temperature and reports them to my smartphone via the Blynk framework
Allows me to make changes remotely if required (eg manually trigger fans, change watering and lighting schedules etc)
This part is still in the prototyping stage. Ive built the “brains” box but now just coding/testing it. Will install in a few weeks.
I checked on my seedlings this morning and gave them a spritz of water. Fingers and toes crossed for some little heads popping out in the next day or so !
Germination update … unfortunately not going as well as hoped . . .
I only have 2 successful spouts so far (one came up 5 days ago and the other 3 days ago).
Temps have ben kept in the 20-30 deg C range, and Ive kept the rockwool spritzed but not drenched. Ive never had any failures using this method in the past – so I am really hoping I see some action out of the other 3 in the next day or so . .
Wondering if anyone can advise at what point should I give up on the 3 stragglers?
