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Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:32 pm
by srich250
I am taking two California Dream plants that are both very close in height, width and number of branches and nodes. Both just went into flower 11 days ago on 10/28. Both were veg under LED from another excellent test company.

Nutes: Aptus full line with Heavy 16 as the base
CO2: 1500 ppm
Soil: Aurora Roots Organic
EcoGrowing Pots: 7 gallon
Water: 75% RO/25% 48hr old tap
sealed room with ventilation and other plants
temps: night 68 degrees/day 72 at base and 76-81 top of plant
humidity: 60-65% lights off/40-50% lights on
running UV bulbs on since i'm doing this test for flower only
Height- 22"
Diameter avg- 18"
I trained both with FIM during veg and tied down taller branches/nodes to allow the lower ones to catch up both during veg and beginning week of flowering.Both showed flowering

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:43 am
by SisterMaryElephant
Welcome to the forums!

With LED grow lights, I typically suggest finishing at 2-3 feet due to penetration issues, I hope you have good luck!

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:50 pm
by srich250
what do you mean by finishing at 2-3'? thx

Do you mean finished height from top of soil to top of plant ?

This is my 9th grow after 21 yrs of using HID's. we avg 2.25-7.25oz per plant depending on strain. One of the other tests i have been doing is with FERO LED 10 spots and 12 spots for 6 grows. All plants go into flowering around 18-22' tall and bushy. Out of the last 37 plants, only 3 were below 3oz dried and cured. two plants were above 6.25oz. the rest were mostly between 3.75-5.25oz/plant.

I have been testing with FERO, Black Dog, Lumigrow and California Light Works and have been loving the testing and the quality and yield. Every strain has been tested by two labs and the lowest we've had is 15.7% THC on one strain, avg is 17.1-19.1& on 8 strains and 3 strains just above 21%.

I'm finishing both this SF400 grow test and a Lumigrow as I type. another 50 days or so and I shall review the results:)

Thanks for any suggestions and comments, and discussions that follow:)
thx

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:08 pm
by srich250
Update. 36 days into flowering. looking healthy

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:48 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
srich250 wrote:what do you mean by finishing at 2-3'? thx

Do you mean finished height from top of soil to top of plant ?

Yes, exactly, LED lights don't work well for growing taller plants. SOG and ScrOG are probably the two best growing styles for current generation LED grow lights.

I'm looking forward to your results... ;)

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:43 am
by srich250
plant height,health and penetration update

Plant height is 32" above soil line. The first 11" is kept clear of buds but any leaves are kept below to catch light. Thats 20" of growing height which is what we stay at with HID as well. unless we have side lighting which is rare for most growers so i will leave that out. The plant is doing well and some leaves are starting to die because it's within a couple weeks of harvest time. The top 12"-14" of buds all look healthy and are dense and comparatively good from other light tests/plants. From 12" above soil to 18" above soil are not so good. They are small, not as dense and more spaced out compare to another light i'm testing.

One way that I break down plant yield with each light i test is comparing the yield on the top 12" of the plant to the bottom 12" of the plant. You can do this with HID as well. Typically we suggest only growing the top 18-24" max no matter what type of overhead lighting you use. That way you get the healthiest concentration of buds without a lot of airy popcorn.

i will also try to attach some pics. some are with the light on and some with the light off.

Re: Grow test with the SS400

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:11 pm
by SisterMaryElephant