NeedsWork 2018 - Year Four

NeedsWork · Jan 20, 2018

Trident chilli said:
Good to read your Over-Winter's are doing well under your new light regime... nice set up wishing you a fruitful season

Thank you! I hope they continue to be happy. The OW reaper lost some leaves when the heater became unplugged Thursday night and temps hit 45F. It's a crybaby. I'm only keeping it because it is so difficult to make happy.

Masher said:
Holy moly you went all techno on this one...congrats on the new lights.

I have been looking at them for a few yrs now....still hooked on hids.

Looking great in there

Thanks! Honestly I would still be using HID if the replacement bulb hadn't broken my fixture. It was a great/simple light that produced tons of plants and pods. I only took the plunge because I had to pick either buying new HID equipment or something else. Having 3 light figured means 3 power cords to deal with and 3 more things to hit my head on. They also make picture taking a pain. I left a T8 fixture in there to make it easier to work (4th power cord). I'll probably still be using 500-600W compared to 1000W with HID - and it will be a while before I know if the new lights are good enough. Also my sunroom looks like a EDM rave if I open the tent. Long reply

The third and final light arrived today. Before we get to that (down below), here are some shots of the babies and OW's. The Aji's are really tall and leggy. Hopefully the 3rd light fixes that, or is that how they grow?

NeedsWork · Jan 20, 2018

Light 3

MaxBloom X4 Plus (Amazon link)

Claims to consume: 200W ± 5W (Q/A section)
Measured: 203W, 106W veg, 103W bloom

Claimed spectrum: 12 spectrum, UV, 380nm, 420nm, IR, 720-760nm

Initial thoughts:
This light was the most expensive of the three and has the lowest Wattage.
Mfg claims over 9 years experience building lights.
Upon ordering, they sent me a separate email, introducing themselves and thanking me for my purchase. I responded showing the Glog and they responded back within 24 hours complimenting the grow. Great!
It came in an unmarked amazon box. The box inside was well marked.
The build quality is the best of the 3 lights. It reminds me of my wife's KitchenAid mixer.
I really like the two independent hanging wires. This is the only light of the three with that feature.
The dials work for a full range of dimming and click off.

Masher · Jan 20, 2018

Looking good...my Aji's were fast and tall. 5' tall in nc10 nursery pots at end of season

NeedsWork · Jan 20, 2018

Masher said:
Looking good...my Aji's were fast and tall. 5' tall in nc10 nursery pots at end of season

Thanks and yikes! Did I start them too early? :dance:

Masher · Jan 20, 2018

Early smirly, you're committed now :cheers:

NeedsWork · Jan 20, 2018

Masher said:
Early smirly, you're committed now

Haha indeed.... uh oh... :cheers:

Safety first THP!

Devv · Jan 20, 2018

Wow!

'Yall are just too hi-tech for me. I'm using T8's and T5's. Are the LED's really worth it.

Please say no. If I buy new lights the wife will want yet more kitchen hardware

NeedsWork · Jan 20, 2018

Devv said:
Wow!

'Yall are just too hi-tech for me. I'm using T8's and T5's. Are the LED's really worth it.

Please say no. If I buy new lights the wife will want yet more kitchen hardware

Too early to tell for me. HID was great, one bulb. If T8's and T5's are doing the job - I'd say stick with what works. Tis the hand that moves and waters the dirt, not always the dirt.

But if you're looking to have fun. Try a cheap LED panel.

NeedsWork · Feb 3, 2018

Nothing too crazy going on here. The plants seem to like the lights. Lots of flowers.

I had fungus gnats try to take hold. I nipped that in the butt with some yellow sticky paper.

The OW's are running out of soil nutrients. They get bent out of shape if they aren't fed.

Walchit · Feb 3, 2018

You can water with BT to kill fungi's gnat larva, I used the mosquito disk things once. I thought they weren't doing any damage to the plants until a couple more finiky strains fell over and the roots had been eaten. The internet says they are from over watering, I think the grow store keeping their soil outside is where they come from

Dinsdale · Feb 3, 2018

Very cool garden! (I really should buy a bigger tent...)

fcaruana · Feb 4, 2018

Awesome grow! I actually just bought the same exact light - Maxbloom COB X4 LED and my plants are absolutely loving it. I'm running only the veg light at about 75% power and about 18-25" off the top of the plants and they are growing like mad... I have to transplant now because they're already at 3 sets of true leaves in my seed plugs.

Excited to see how your plants do under yours!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Walchit · Feb 4, 2018

How big of an area does it cover at 18-25 inches

Masher · Feb 4, 2018

NeedsWork said:
Nothing too crazy going on here. The plants seem to like the lights. Lots of flowers.

I had fungus gnats try to take hold. I nipped that in the butt with some yellow sticky paper.

The OW's are running out of soil nutrients. They get bent out of shape if they aren't fed.

What an awesome looking grow....Very happy plants for sure!!!

Chilidude · Feb 4, 2018

Maybe you have already noticed the same thing as me, but something is a bit off with your small plants growing in those small pots and i have seen the similar thing with my plants too. That light green color/yellowing of the leaves is not a good sign, like they dont have enough nutrition in the soil for normal color/grow.

Dinsdale · Feb 4, 2018

Chilidude said:
Maybe you have already noticed the same thing as me, but something is a bit off with your small plants growing in those small pots and i have seen the similar thing with my plants too. That light green color/yellowing of the leaves is not a good sign, like they dont have enough nutrition in the soil for normal color/grow.

In my experience, it could also be caused by a healthy, very rapid growth.

Chilidude · Feb 4, 2018

Dinsdale said:
In my experience, it could also be caused by a healthy, very rapid growth.

Of course, but then you need to start giving them more frequent doses of fertilizer to not halt said rapid/Healthy grow.

NeedsWork · Feb 4, 2018

Walchit said:
You can water with BT to kill fungi's gnat larva, I used the mosquito disk things once. I thought they weren't doing any damage to the plants until a couple more finiky strains fell over and the roots had been eaten. The internet says they are from over watering, I think the grow store keeping their soil outside is where they come from

I'll have to keep that in mind if they come back. There was only a few, and I think I caught them early enough. I agree - I think they come from the soil.

Dinsdale said:
Very cool garden! (I really should buy a bigger tent...)

Thanks! You will always want a bigger tent. This is 8 x 4 and I want a 15 x 15 room.

fcaruana said:
Awesome grow! I actually just bought the same exact light - Maxbloom COB X4 LED and my plants are absolutely loving it. I'm running only the veg light at about 75% power and about 18-25" off the top of the plants and they are growing like mad... I have to transplant now because they're already at 3 sets of true leaves in my seed plugs.

Excited to see how your plants do under yours!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They seem to be loving it! We will have to compare notes under the same light.

Walchit said:
How big of an area does it cover at 18-25 inches

I have mine at 32" and it covers about ~30 x 30.

25" seems to cover ~ 25 x 25.

18" is about 20 x 20

Under 18" it doesn't seem to blend the LED spread as well.

These are really unofficial as I have a mix of plant sizes with a tape measure and my eyes. I only measured the brightest area. There is probably an extra 10 or so inches on each side that would be OK for small plants / no fruit.

Masher said:
What an awesome looking grow....Very happy plants for sure!!!

Thanks!!

Chilidude said:
Maybe you have already noticed the same thing as me, but something is a bit off with your small plants growing in those small pots and i have seen the similar thing with my plants too. That light green color/yellowing of the leaves is not a good sign, like they dont have enough nutrition in the soil for normal color/grow.

:

Dinsdale said:
In my experience, it could also be caused by a healthy, very rapid growth.

Chilidude said:
Of course, but then you need to start giving them more frequent doses of fertilizer to not halt said rapid/Healthy grow.

Good eyes! Some of the small plants in the small pots are yellow because of over feeding. They are in a very rich (hot) potting mix and I fed them. They have started to outgrow it, but my DIY mix is still really hot for some. I've stopped feeding them because the potting soil should have plenty for the next month or so.

The older plants with yellow are because they are underfed and the soil is depleted. They will get potted up in the spring. I don't want them to grow anymore because I am out of space.

Devv · Feb 4, 2018

Looking good Nick!