this is my first grow as many of you who have given me good advice know...and thank you ...i know it isnt really enough but i found a ballast to run a hps 150w(up until now ive used only 2 400 w mh lights throughout) so i mounted it on a peice of channel rod and fixed it so i could move it up and down throughout the day...its a chore but i dont mind...im looking for a hps conversion bulb to run on one of the mh ballasts...anyway...the plant is filling out pretty well...id say at least 50% of most of the main stems are getting covered but the hairs are still very white..all of them...is the best way to tell when they are done budding is to watch the color of the hairs?? its been on 12/12 for 5 weeks and ive only had the hps for 1 wk..so anyway how much longer should i wait?and is the hps helping ? thanks
Wait another 3-5 weeks. The white hairs you see know will take on an amber color. About 2/3 need to be amber but not brown then they should be ripe for harvest.
Patience... Buy youself a jewellers loupe(magnifier) to keep an eye on your trichs...you'll know when 3 qrtrs of the hairs have turned amber and you see plenty of THC build up.They do say when they look ready...give them another week or two!Peace
using MH lights to flower isnt the best idea, if thats what youve been doing. HPS is the red spectrum color you need to flower. MH is good for veggy stage while HPS is good for flowering, ya it might be a hastle to get both but both are needed for great lookin buds
This little chart will help you decide when you should harvest... Depending on what kind of smoke you want.
whats up bud? the diff between HPS and MH lighting is the MH has more of a blue spectrum of light which provides good lighting for vegative growth. The HPS light provides more of an orange red spectrum which is better for flowering and budding. I have seen people grow with MH only but for you to get the best nugs you need to get yourself an HPS light. you went from using 2 400 watt MH lights to using a 150 watt HPS? how many plants do you have? and how big of an area are you trying to light? thats a big dip in the lumen pool. As far as when they are ready to harvest, get yourself a 20x or 30 x magnifying glass and use that chart that snick' provided you. it all depends on what kind of stone you want from your bud when they are ready. if most of your pistels are still white, i normally wait til about 50 to 75 % of them are amber. i like more of a head high so i tend to harvest when my trichs are cloudy. sounds like you still have a few weeks though. if you need more info just ask hope this helps.
thats why i come here..lol thanks guys ....i have a cabinet i built thats 6ft tall 4ft wide and deep...i have one plant thats budding...i have the hps right on it and i move it up and down as the day goes on...but i continually still run the 2 400 watt mh ...i have 6 plants in 5 gallon buckets that are on 16/8 waiting for them to reach 2 ft they are all about 1 ft right now ... so a total of 7 plants...i would like to be able to produce enough personal for me to quit running around all the dam time..as i am an everyday smoker for allota years...so i am hopeing with the 2 400wmh and the 150 w hps...i can achieve my goal...i am steadliy looking for a conversion hps for the other ballast i have so i could run 1 400 wmh for the veg and the other for bud...but i cant find the bulb..thanks again guys
FOUND IT! http://www.discounthydro.com/lightbulbs.asp if your worried about online orders, send a money order versus credit cards..good luck dude
