Building Lights from Scratch and Mainlining White Widows

Buy Building Lights from Scratch and Mainlining White Widows:

• White Widows for Middlecoast
• Germination Phase
• Vegetation Phase
• Flowering Phase
• The Road Less Taken

Rookie growers often assume marijuana growing as an expensive hobby. However, as the years go by, they learned that spending could be kept to a minimum as long as they know how. These growers inspired Middlecoast to build the lights for the White Widow grow. Producing the lights helps growers understand the importance of the lumens and their position to the plants.

Another thing that the amateur grower wanted to experience for this grow is mainlining, a method that experienced growers suggest to bring abundant yields. Join Middlecoast as he sets on an adventure of what appears to be two of the roads less taken by cultivators.

White Widows for Middlecoast

White Widow often tops the list of most famous marijuana strains in the world. It has been in circulation since the early 90s, and a lot of growers learned the ease of growing these plants on their own.

The buds that they yield are white, with crystal resin that warns of powerful effects. After a shock of euphoria and energy, smokers may find it easier to stimulate conversation and do creative projects with this strain.

Grower’s Profile:
Name: Middlecoast
Location: USA
Seeds: White Widow
Yield: 48 oz (wet)/ 11 oz (dry)

Preparation

• VIVOSUN 36” x 36” x 72” Mylar Hydroponic Grow Ten
• iPower 6” 442 CFM Inline Fan, with 6 Inch Carbon Filter
• Fan speed adjuster (a must in my opinion)
• Grow light hangers
• 5-gallon buckets
• FoxFarm Ocean Forest Organic Soil
• FoxFarm Big Bloom, Grow Big, Tiger Bloom
• SensorPush Wireless Thermometer / Hygrometer
• 6” clip on fan
• 1 x Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive
• 2 × Mean Well HLG-240H-C1400B with dimmers
• 6 × 140mm Pin Heatsink
• 6 × Bridgelux VERO29 (3500K 80 CRI B) with Molex connectors
• 3 x 8 ft aluminum angle (1/2” size)
• Fox Farm Ocean Forest
• Fox Farm Big Bloom
• Fox Farm Grow Big
• Fox Farm Sledgehammer
• Humboldt Nutrients Equilibrium (Calcium-Magnesium or Cal-Mag)
• Coco Coir
  

Germination Phase

2017-08-21

All growers have different styles and capacities when it comes to keeping their marijuana plants happy, healthy and productive. Middlecoast wanted to test the limits of his capabilities and set out on a one of a kind adventure: building a DIY LED light for his grow. Here are the things prepared to create a 440-watt light:

• 1 x Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive
• 2 × Mean Well HLG-240H-C1400B with dimmers
• 6 × 140mm Pin Heatsink
• 6 × Bridgelux VERO29 (3500K 80 CRI B) with Molex connectors
• 3 x 8 ft aluminum angle (1/2” size)

Once finished, the grower set the light at least 24 inches above the plants. As of the moment, it is still let on the lowest setting in the dimmers.

2017-08-22

Initially, the row of LED lights is spaced 12.5” from the center. However, after gathering opinions from other growers, Middlecoast moved them closer to at least 3.5” closer, so they are now only 9” away.

On top of all that, the seeds finally came in and are now soaking in a shot glass.

2017-09-01

After 24 hours, the White Widow seeds settle into Rockwool cubes. Two days later, there is no evident growth from those two. Still, keen on not giving up, Middlecoast dropped them in the soil. Again, three days of being in the ground did not do anything for the seeds.

Then, he decided to start over by dropping two other seeds in a glass of water and then, on with folding it in a paper towel. It worked well this time as taproots appeared 48 hours later. Skipping Rockwool altogether, the grower dropped the seeds in a mix of 50% Fox Farm Ocean Forest and 50% Coco Coir.

For the meantime, Middlecoast wrapped the cups in a plastic bag and placed them in the tent. The DIY lights are currently running on 25% on the dimmer. If his calculations are correct, it is releasing about 164 watts of output.

Vegetation Phase

2017-09-04

Three days since sprouting, everything seems to work out well for Middlecoast and the White Widows. They have spurted out a couple of inches of growth and grew some leaves as well.

2017-09-06

Day five and the leaves grew broader and greener over time. The seedlings do not get any nutrient as of the moment because Middlecoast believes Ocean Forest contains what they need for now. He only gives them reverse osmosis (RO) water pH’d at 6.0.

Although the lights increased to about 50% in the dimmer and is lowered at 20” now.

Day

• Temperature: 78°F
• Humidity: 35%

Night

• Temperature: 72°F
• Humidity: 40%

2017-09-14

The seedlings are two weeks old today, and while they certainly grew, there is evident droopiness in the leaves. Thoughts immediately go to overwatering as the culprit, but after leaving them for a day, there is no visible change. That is when the grower realized that he might be under watering instead.

He also went out of town for a couple of days, as soon as Middlecoastis back the plants are begging for water already. They were given half a gallon each, but two days later, they look overwatered. The plants were left as is, but that did not yield anything useful. Plants were left as is, but that did not yield anything good.

• pH: 6/3
• Nutrients: 1/2 dose of Fox Farm Big Bloom twice a week
• Light: 350-watts and 20” away from the plants

Day

• Temperature:78°F
• Humidity: 35%

Night

• Temperature: 72°F
• Humidity: 78

2017-09-19

After much convincing from Bob31, the plants are now in bigger containers. The cup removal was real work, but it looked marvelous once removed:

Once Middlecoast eliminates the cup, the plants and its compacted soil drops in 5-gallon smart pots filled with Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil.

48 hours later, the White Widows grew beyond recognition. They shot up a couple of inches taller, and the leaves turned to a yellow-greenish hue.

Also, to aid with the run off, the pots are sitting on top of some gravel. It will take more than a liter of water before the plants even touch the water.

 

• Water: Tap water pH’d to 6.5
• Light: 250 watts at 22” from the plants

Day

• Temperature: 78°F
• Humidity: 50%

Night

• Temperature: 72°F
• Humidity 60%

2017-09-27

Manifolding or mainlining, as other would call it, means forming a “hub” of stems from a single node. It results in an equal distribution of energy from the roots to the top of each cola. Middlecoast started by topping everything up to the fourth node. So, the plants ended up with two mainlining branches.

2017-10-02

Five days later, as the plants seem ready enough, the grower cut everything but the first and third node.

2017-10-12

The girls were looking quite like a jungle. The grower maintains it by trimming what needed to stay and giving them an ample amount of water per day.

2017-10-17

Almost a week later, another problem arises. Middlecoast has a hard time figuring out the perfect amount of water for the plants. The leaves drooped a lot, and under watering may be to blame.