Status update.

[Uncle_Al]

So to answer the question "what is your actual draw" the six bulb fluorescent luminaire is pulling 2.10 amps

 

[Uncle_Al]

That's not a lot of current, the starting inrush is more almost 4 amp still not a lot, the timer is rated for 15 amps, the contactor is probably unnecessary, but I like the safety aspect. Most people won't be standing next to the timer when it goes up in smoke. The contactor WILL increase the life of the timer.

 

[Uncle_Al]

The 400w mh lights are pulling 4.75 amps each, so at 9.5 running amps, the contactors are a necessity to handle the starting inrush current.

 

[FerretWrangler]

The 400w mh lights are pulling 4.75 amps each, so at 9.5 running amps, the contactors are a necessity to handle the starting inrush current.

All this is a little above my head I'm sad to say, I'm glad you're taking safety precautions.

 

[FerretWrangler]

Nice score @FerretWrangler Do you know what the actual wattage is at full power? or what model it is? Also does it say if it's 3w or 5w diodes.
That amount of light should kick out some serious buds

@Sunshine I will have it in hand in a couple hours and as soon as I do I'm going to research and find all that out. I'm very excited, I assume it'll probably pull around 400w or so. My landlord used to grow aeroponics with this light, and presumably many others.

 

[Sunshine]

How's she looking btw? Any improvement?
Did you get round to ordering the new ferts yet?

 

[FerretWrangler]

I just ordered it! I can't really see any improvement @Sunshine

20171005_184231

• FerretWrangler
• Oct 6, 2017

20171005_184308

• FerretWrangler
• Oct 6, 2017

 

[Sunshine]

Something went wrong between her bouncing back after transplant and then going down.
If you added ferts you need to flush her again when dried then leave her.

 

[FerretWrangler]

Something went wrong between her bouncing back after transplant and then going down.
If you added ferts you need to flush her again when dried then leave her.

I haven't added any, I don't know what the malfunction is

 

[Sunshine]

It's either incorrect watering or temperature. Make sure you keep her in the high 77-82f range of temps and keep her moister than you would ordinarily would but not soaking.
A week of warmth and moisture should bring her back round

 

[FerretWrangler]

It's either incorrect watering or temperature. Make sure you keep her in the high 77-82f range of temps and keep her moister than you would ordinarily would but not soaking.
A week of warmth and moisture should bring her back round

Will do! It's generally around 80 in there, and I believe I over watered a little last week. The second time I forgot to check the soil with my finger and went by the meter. Would that cause a little yellowing?

 

[Sunshine]

Yes it certainly could my friend. If the soil becomes too saturated the roots are starved of oxygen which will cause problems.
How much water do you add at each watering typically and how many days between watering?

 

[FerretWrangler]

Yes it certainly could my friend. If the soil becomes too saturated the roots are starved of oxygen which will cause problems.
How much water do you add at each watering typically and how many days between watering?

3 days between each water, the first time I only saw a few drops of runoff, the second time I saw at least 20% in the bin around the fabric pot, and it took a couple days to evaporate. I don't really have a schedule per se, I like to go off the dryness of the soil.

 

[Sunshine]

I asked the 2 questions, how frequently and the volume of water to get a better understanding of your current watering schedule which may or may not be helpful in diagnosis.
For example had you said 5litres every 7 days I would have suggested you perhaps went down to 1litre waterings but on a more frequent basis, for example every 2 days.
I like to standardise the amount of liquid I give each time, usually 1.5 litres to a 20litre bucket, when I'm not tea soaking.
This is enough to sufficiently wet the soil without over saturating it and means the down time between waterings is reduced.
Think of your soil as a sponge, you want it moist but not soaking or saturated.
When you've got more life in your soil you won't want to let it dry out as much in between waterings but never let it get saturated. What you never want is soaking feet at the bottom of the plant and dry at the top few inches, this isn't a sponge it's a problem.
It sounds like you are either adding too much water and/or too frequently and adding different amounts of water each time. Get a 2 litre bottle - water with that next time, then wait and see how many days until it needs watering, then use the 2 litre bottle again. If it's too much go down to a 1.5 litre bottle, too little go up to a 3 litre container.

he second time I saw at least 20% in the bin around the fabric pot, and it took a couple days to evaporate.

It looks like watering is almost certainly where your issue lies. Next time you over water and it comes out the bottom, it's best if possible to pour away any run off and perhaps even let the smart pot sit on an old towel to wick out the saturation, then put her back in situ.
She basically got waterlogged. Standardise, find what works, repeat

 

[Uncle_Al]

I water at about a quart per 5 gallon bucket I look for lower leaves to droop a little or for the soil at the top of the bucket to pull away leaving a gap around the soil, the soil at that point has gotten stiff to the touch I loosen the soil somewhere about an inch and a half down while feeling for moisture content, the soil on top gets dry and sticks together kind of like dried mud. Anyways in veg I only water about once a week but in flower it will be two or more by need. I will flush the buckets right before the light switch as a precaution as there will be a change in nutes

 

[FerretWrangler]

I asked the 2 questions, how frequently and the volume of water to get a better understanding of your current watering schedule which may or may not be helpful in diagnosis.
For example had you said 5litres every 7 days I would have suggested you perhaps went down to 1litre waterings but on a more frequent basis, for example every 2 days.
I like to standardise the amount of liquid I give each time, usually 1.5 litres to a 20litre bucket, when I'm not tea soaking.
This is enough to sufficiently wet the soil without over saturating it and means the down time between waterings is reduced.
Think of your soil as a sponge, you want it moist but not soaking or saturated.
When you've got more life in your soil you won't want to let it dry out as much but you want it less saturated. What you never want is soaking feet at the bottom of the plant and dry at the top few inches, this isn't a sponge it's a problem.
It sounds like you are either adding too much water and/or too frequently and adding different amounts of water each time. Get a 2 litre bottle - water with that next time, then wait and see how many days until it needs watering, then use the 2 litre bottle again. If it's too much go down to a 1.5 litre bottle, too much go up to a 3 litre container.

It looks like watering is almost certainly where your issue lies. Next time you over water and it comes out the bottom, it's best if possible to pour away any run off and perhaps even let the smart pot sit on an old towel to wick out the saturation, then put her back in situ.
She basically got waterlogged. Standardise, find what works, repeat

Sorry to have given a crappy response, the truth is I cannot remember exactly what I've done since I've been so busy. I also didn't know you should standardize your watering at all. Thanks for telling me though, after reading that I'm POSITIVE that's my issue and I'll be more careful from now on. I'm attaching a pic of my watering pot which I don't know the volume of. I usually give her around 50-60% of a full pot every 4-5 days but I believe I absentmindedly gave her the whole pot a few days ago, and possibly a day early. From now on I'll try to wick any extra moisture from the bottom and pour out runoff if I can. How do you stop her from having wet feet and a dry soil top at the same time? She certainly doesn't have that issue now but she has in the past. Can wicking fix that as well? Thanks again @Sunshine I need to get this watering thing down! I read that beginners do it accidentaly so many times in my reading that I fooled myself into thinking I was too smart to make that mistake. Silly me of course I need to standardize!

 

[FerretWrangler]

I water at about a quart per 5 gallon bucket I look for lower leaves to droop a little or for the soil at the top of the bucket to pull away leaving a gap around the soil, the soil at that point has gotten stiff to the touch I loosen the soil somewhere about an inch and a half down while feeling for moisture content, the soil on top gets dry and sticks together kind of like dried mud. Anyways in veg I only water about once a week but in flower it will be two or more by need. I will flush the buckets right before the light switch as a precaution as there will be a change in nutes

I'm taking a note to come back here and read all this again every couple weeks or so. Thanks for all the great advice @Uncle_Al and @Sunshine! How did I let myself be such a fool lol

 

[Uncle_Al]

I put about two inches of foam packing peanuts in the bottom of the bucket bucket has six 3/16 holes drilled in it around the base going out the side so it don't sit in runoff

 

[FerretWrangler]

I put about two inches of foam packing peanuts in the bottom of the bucket bucket has six 3/16 holes drilled in it around the base going out the side so it don't sit in runoff

I've got some old clothes I could get in there and change out. Sounds like a smart setup you have got there @Uncle_Al fortunately I've got a fabric pot so no need to drill holes.

 

[Uncle_Al]

If you use peanuts just make sure they are not the biodegradable ones or you will have good in your bucket