my ghetto box

[Lux]

Hi all, my first post!
What a wealth of information this site has.
Have just started a little grow box, originally started with couple doz. bagseed and am now down to one plant (omg I hope its a girl).
Its almost wk 3 under 2 x 55w T5s' (5500s ?) + 2 x 46w (2600) cfls, so around 18000 lum. Running 18/6.
I want to transplant into a larger pot now but am worried about stress for sexing.
Am using a propogation X bonsai potting mix.
I am thinking about re-potting into expanded clay so that I can keep the nutes up or just potting into more bonsai potting soil.
When the plant is big enough I'll take some cuttings and flower them to see the sex, this one will hopefully be the mother.
Your wisdom is appreciated.
Here is a pic.

 

[Alistair]

I have no idea what expanded clay is; I can't help you there. If the bonsai mix is of the proper ph and is well aerated, and it's working well, then I'd stick with that.


Transplanting is not going to stress your plants, regarding sex. Just make sure that the plant is big enough before doing it. Do a search on transplanting and you'll see how simple it is.

How close are the lights to the top of the plant? Put the lights as close as possible. 2" is normally a good distance. It seems as though you have enough lumens. 6500 K is the ideal bulb to use. However, I believe that 5500 K isn't bad.

A decent pH meter for testing the pH of the watering solution is recommended. Soil/water pH is VERY important. Some growers overlook this for various reasons. I for example, didn't take it seriously enough, and as a result bought crappy pH testing devices. Those reagent drops that I used were useless for me. But I was in denial, because I didn't want to spend the money on proper equipment. Since I bought my good pH meter, my grows have come along quite nicely. A marked difference from my previous grows, which often times suffered greatly because of improper pH. The plants weren't healthy, and now they are. Big difference.

Your plant looks healthy, good job so far.

 

[Lux]

sorry 6400. Still havent made up my mind weather to go soil or medium.
pic of expanded clay.

 

[Lux]

Have gone with hydroton (expanded clay)
Gave a light dose of seeweed, how long before I can give nutes?

 

[Locked]

A good ph tester for a good price......hxxp://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html

 

[Lux]

OMG! what great advice, I was going to pay off the ph tester and was thinking (how bad can it be?).
Bought the tester, my town water is 8+

thanks guys