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beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:21 pm

Week 5

Nothing much to report this week. Looking forward to the taste test...

LED plant - note the bright white bleached tips
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LED flower
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HPS plant
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HPS flower
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beefxer
 
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby Dustydirt » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:37 am

Hey beefxer! Really cool to see your comparison...and what a great looking grow.
What was causing the bleached tips in the led plant... Is it from being close to the light? I have my light pretty close to the tops and was wondering if it was too low (4 inches or so from the tall part). Thanks and look forward to hearing about the taste test!
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:38 pm

Thanks Dustydirt! I've been checking out your grow too. Looking good man!

Yep, any closer than 12" or so and you'll get those bright white spots on the flowers. I moved the light up a little bit, but I generally like to run my lights as close as possible to the canopy. In my experience a little bleaching means you're close enough. :lol:
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:05 pm

Week 6

Both plants are continuing to pack on flowers and resin. The two plants look nearly identical, with the HPS plant showing slightly brighter green coloration (and larger flowers, of course).

I'm guessing that the LED plant will yield 5oz, and the HPS plant will yield 7oz. Anyone else want to hazard a guess? :mrgreen:

LED
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LED flower
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HPS (front)
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HPS flower - note the brighter appearance of the flowers and leaves
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:37 pm

Week 7

The UV bulbs have been switched on this week. CLW suggests their use during the last few weeks of flower, and I haven't decided whether I'm going to run them to week 8 or 9. Usually this strain finishes well at week 8 but I'm tempted to see what the LED can do with a little more time.

LED plant
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LED flower
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HPS plant
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HPS flower
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beefxer
 
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby SisterMaryElephant » Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:07 pm

Looking good man, how tall/wide are those getting?

The trichomes will tell you when it's ready, when they start to turn amber you're getting close. Some people harvest at various stages; partly amber, half amber, mostly amber, etc. depending on personal preferences. Do you have a pocket microscope?

Did you forget about the rootball pictures or did you post and delete them? :lol:

Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:22 pm

The LED plant is about 2' wide, and the HPS plant is about 2.5' wide. Heights don't matter as much since they have thin canopies and a lollipop job below. I'm waiting for dry weights before I make any judgments on the LED's production.

I prefer a somewhat early harvest for a more cerebral effect when smoked. At week 8 this strain's trichs are usually just over 50% cloudy which is about right for me. I have a 30x jeweler's loupe, but lately I rely solely on the mk1 eyeball.

I haven't forgotten about the rootball pics... just haven't had a chance because it takes more hands than I've got. I bugged my gf about it last night but then I gave up. :D I'll be sure to get a couple root shots in before harvest.
beefxer
 
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby SisterMaryElephant » Thu Dec 27, 2012 4:34 pm

Lollipopping plants under a 1000w HPS reduces yield that you could get from lower branches compared to lower powered lights. Lollipopping is best for SOG or lower powered SCROG, imho. YMMV...

I alternate between 40 to 60% cloudy; sometimes I like a little couch lock too. :D

The first time I saw how big a DWC rootball can get I was hooked, hopefully your root pictures will inspire others to try *DWC.

I've been trying to figure out what my new "back friendly" system was going to be and a friend at a local hydroponics store talked me into trying a coco-coir based hydro system that's similar to soil based grows but I ended up tweaking his suggestion a little because I like to automate as much as I can. Once my back gets better or if I can get my son-in-law to drive down and help put it all together I'll take some pictures and start a non-led journal in a month or two. I have an appointment at the VA to see a neurosurgeon but that's 6+ months out and I'd like to get growing again before that if I can. I still plan on building a hybrid RDWC system that I've been working on in my head and picking up parts for here and there but that will have to wait now.

Disclaimer:
I still use HID and I'm NOT an LED expert. All of my LED knowledge is from other parties or research so I can't say from first hand experience one way or another. I also run a medical grow consulting business in SoCal.
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:47 pm

Glad to hear you're getting back into the garden SME, and I look forward to seeing your journal. I've never used coco myself so I'm interested to see what you think of it.
beefxer
 
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Re: beefxer's mmj grow test - SolarStorm 400w

Postby beefxer » Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:05 pm

I snapped some macro shots of the LED plant in preparation for harvest. Tomorrow marks 8 weeks, and I'd probably let them go for another week if I didn't have plants waiting to take their place.

Here's one for CLW's brochure :D
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The bleached tips look oddly tasty, but you can see how it stunted the buds in comparison to their non-bleached counterparts.
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