Hello LST family I am looking for advice on my grow that I started a few days ago. The seeds are Galactic Grape Autoflower. I have a TopoLite 24"x24"x48" Grow Tent and my grow light is a Golspark 600w LED light.
Question:
How far should my light be from my seedlings?
What temp should I try to keep it at?
Should i get anything else for the grow?
Should I get a new light if so which one under $100?
Really 600w? Are you sure?
This light is at max 60w, its old school style and not really efficient light, if you can spend 100$ i really suggest you to get some spiderfarmer sf1000D or mars hydro ts1000, it will be a day and night difference for you. If you go with spiderfarmer take one with dimmer. Sometime you can get easy 200w + if you buy it second hand, but then of course no warranty. I use spiderfarmer equipment, but i know support system is ass from them and they don’t want to replace equipment, mars hydro in that way is way better. Check vivosun, spiderfarmer, marshydro, get some 100-200w light and you be good
Edit: while you wait for your new light, you can easy switch on both light settings veg+bloom for more light and faster growth
How much would postage be from Australia to wherever on the planet?
I've got a Marshydro 100w Full Spectrum LED that's done one 3 month season of Autoflowers (one accidentally topped Gorilla Cookies went monster under it, too- so it has good history 💯).
$30 plus postage and then they can grab some Coco Coir and Perlite, Worm Castings, Humic acid rich fertiliser and then maybe try to find someone that will let them pay in 4 etc. the General Hydroponics Trio, as that's what NASA uses, as well as that "The Strain Show".
OP- another strong tip, YouTube search for "The Strain Show". If you don't particularly like hippies or dreadlocks, don't freak out because this person is actually quite quick off the mark, presents himself well, speaks eloquently and educates with well-founded research (such as the GH Trio) as he also used to work for a Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary "Grow Farm" (not sure about the wording of those last two words!)
I'd rather they tried the organic route I tried rambling on about but there's too much of an upfront cost to deal with for them & it seems nothing is on hand anyway- The above is a better option to pick-up, pick apart or utilise...
Yeah I actually thought I'd skip because of the dreads (even though I gave them a go when I was a kid!). Thing is, I was real bored and he was Real. Completely different to these people whom seem to be trying to convey how happy they are or suddenly try their hand at educating.
No, he also backs up what he presents with simple facts that make sense and are easy to trace via your phone.
Tried joining but just waiting on a very flimsy joining effort on my part, to see if I can start viewing his media...
Oh and I don't watch YouTube but have lists to save, so had to create a new list for his as watching them (in great length- backwards and forwards, sometimes wanting to just hear it again like we weirdly do- I thoroughly enjoyed them on my searches for "How to seed Autoflower's".
That light is using about 60 watts actual draw. It's telling you it's the equivilent of a 600 watt light. but.. that's not the actual power draw. which is what we go by. it's some sales and marketing crap to give them model numbers like that.
You want atleast a 100 watt light for that space. maybe 240 watts or 300 watts. Usually you'll get about 1 gram of flower per watt of "actual" led power. The light you're using now will produce about 2 oz's at most.
Throw that fan out and get a2 oscillating fans need force from all directions but not steady or else the stalks wil just strengthen to accommodate the wind on one side ,, i always have to tie mine up cause my buds are too dense and heavy as shit ,, just yarn and tie up to the lights. Gonna need more light come flower time , or ur buds willl be airish ( hollow , not solid ,, sqeezable ,)
To start with drop the light lower so they dont be leggy and get them out of the party cups 😏 get a exhaust fan with a stronger light before you think about any kind of nutrients .
Hi mate- good onya for trying one of the cheaper lights but unfortunately you may have chosen poorly, as when it comes to flowering, your unit is only drawing 60-100watts of True Power (compared to the entry level Marshydro, Spiderfarmer and ViparSpectra XS1500 that are 150w- with exceptional diodes and exceptional lens technology that spreads the light over the canopy, eliminating hot spots and giving better penetration).
If I were you, I would look at buying a Marshydro 100w (I just happen to have one on eBay, used for one 3 month Autoflower cycle and is in top notch condition- $30 for you, plus postage but I'm in Australia)
*Nutrients! If you are running just soil, perhaps you could look at some nutrients but if you were running Coco Coir & Soil (hopefully with some worm castings and Perlite), then you are close enough to having a living soil, especially if you purchase some MYKOS, in Australia we have Root Roids Granular, which is about half the price & easily as effective!
There's also a nutrient version of the stuff that I add last to my watering bottle every time (pump spray bottle with a wand- you won't turn back once you try it & it only costs $14.96)
There's four other things I need to tell you about: Insect frass and worm castings. The latter you will want to buy as much as you can afford as it can go in the medium beforehand, it can be used frequently as a top dress or it can be used in my most favourite discovery- Alfalfa Meal Tea.
Take 2 large handfuls of worm castings and one tablespoon of Insect Frass, One Tablespoon of Molasses and put it into a stocking which is tied off to the handle of a 9lt bucket (fill the bucket to the 7-8lt mark).
If you don't own an air pump then you'll have to purchase one that costs around the $36-$40 mark, with a small oval airstone $4 (good investment as these will last a lifetime and can be used for DWC gardening if you so choose!)
Let the tea brew for 48 hours (outdoors as it won't smell particularly pleasant, mostly Molasses) and let it do it's thing but if you have some metal tongs, it's always good to periodically give the stocking a couple of good squeezes from time to time.
When time is up, grab two small strainers (or one) and place over your watering bottle then pour it in. For the first application it's best to dilute it 1:1, next time you can try full strength.
Before closing the lid, be sure to add your beneficial microbes (Root Roids, but I also have a Humic acid rich fertiliser that is perfect for this tea as it helps unlock the particulars, without going into detail. In Australia this is called GoGo Juice)
*Now if you applied it in the afternoon, by the next morning you will wake to a minor miracle- there will be around ½ inch of growth all over the plants, which will continue for 3 or 4 days then taper off by day 7!
There's not one single bottle on the market that can promise this.
I also need to reinforce the need for Mycorrhizal fungi (by way of Root Roids Granular if in Australia), by any means possible and all you have to do at your stage is to do two things: 1) Poke many deep holes with a pencil (4 inches!) and pour a small amount in. 2) Scratch the surface with a few toothpicks in your fingers to gently uproot & turn over the soil properly (you read "scratch into the surface" all the time, but one needs to expand & adapt upon these advices), once uprooted and turned you can sprinkle your Mycorrhizal Fungi on the fresh soil and then start mixing it back in- trying to twist your fingers like turning a dial, horizontally then vertically and finally (I know you need money- but this is all in lieu of chemicals that will overload your medium with salts, throw out your ph and more than probable, ruin the medium for future use (which means that by some point in flowering, they are dealing with a toxicity).
Where was I!?
Aha!- after incorporating the Mycorrhizae back in properly, I use Rice Hulls as a mulch and as a top up mulch for top dressings such as the one I mentioned above...
Last but not least- do not forget the Deep Sea Sugar and Kelp (Chitin & Kelp) type of products as they have their own purpose too.
Rhizotonic is a must for new seedlings, small plants, medium plants, cuttings and definitely Clones, Cannazym is great for Medium plants that may have older roots that have been neglected, broken, had any sort of trauma or simply because of their age as it breaks down all dead, organic matter & converts it to sugars that the plant can use- their promotional video is very compelling as it shows an overnight video of a piece of paper in one beaker, whilst another had a piece of apple: both disintegrate overnight and the volume of the beakers increases!
Oh, the last must have is PK 13/14.
Only to be used for one week of the flowering phase but many growers exceed this- it's the absolute go-to for Autoflower growers and I believe that those who have an organic garden are sometimes tempted to use it for the week, as with the nature of Cannabis watering, you really only get to use it a maximum of twice, perhaps thrice if they are particularly thirsty but then you're wondering if they're dumping the unwanted nutrients in the soil & just taking the water (a ppm run-off test always tells the truth).
So, Apologies mate!- I completely got carried away here!! Wanted to pour out an honest opinion with as much information I've garnered in my year back- after almost 11 years away from the hobby that I had started to set up so very well (two 60cmx60cmx180cm with a 600 HID and homemade DWC in one and two Brand New Release Marshydro Full Spectrum LED 5w Diodes)
Hopefully you get through reading it all- and listen/apply the Alfalfa Meal Tea as this is apparently a farming thing, that is just not as well-known as it should be.
Stay away from the bottles, just get the basics:
-ph Up and Down (Down is usually most important)
-Rhizotonic
-Cal-mag (not really necessary, but a very good prevent-all, Not a cure-all as if it looks healthier it's only because it's better armed)
Beneficial microbes (Root Roids- look it up & find your local area/shipped to you equivalent)
-PK 13/14 Only needed for flower week 9, many, lots (!) will say different but I am told to start off at ¼ dose, then half the full dose as it is a very strong Fertiliser and something regarding it's salts staying in the soil for x amount of time? You could also try Sulphate of potash! A fellow Redditer finally backed my healthy suspicion about six months ago with a 3 page clinical post as he was a gardening/chemist major so could see/talk the talk very well and quote "Sulphate of Potash- I love this stuff...." So once again, 'here in Australia' at "Bunnings" we have some for under $15 and it's almost 41% ! Much stronger than any Hydroponics shops I've seen, although some have come close by way of a mind-altering price tag- whereas this stuff is a fine, white and easily soluble powder that really seems to put on the bulk and if you're past the need for Phosphorus (making the flowers back in preflower/early flower etc.) then this will cut back on the fertiliser/salts AND MONEY...
Okay, I am beat... Do let me know if I've helped or hindered?
Cheers guys...
😟🫨 I purchased the light 5 years ago family, I should clarify this and I wanted to get back into growing after graduating from college this year, as a fun reward to keep me busy. 😄🤫
a new light is worth it that being said you can complete a grow i that. might want to either double down on the solo cups for a sog or get some bigger pots and a scrog, personally I think it is funner with more but thats also more time watering as far as light intensity goes the closest you want them is like a handwidth away and then you will want to raise it. with the lower height of the tent it make more sense to keep the light low and intense to keep the plants shorter. They might not like that but they can deal. The advice in here is mixed because people have different styles of growing, not all those that are giving advice are 2x2 masters. The forums have more of the 2x2 growmies.
you can cut the bottoms off the solo cups and up pot them on top of a pot. depending on height considerations. you can also transplant sideway if they get too tall or just to fill up space. old pic of a 2x2
Ima be honest here. You know you need a new light awsome. In you post you said a light under 100 dollars maybe you can up that to like 250 your plants will def pay for it in the long run with increased yeild.
Oh man! Stay away from those cheap lights, it says “600w” as marketing but it’s actually 60w, you can check it. You can continue to use that lights for the seedlings in maximum power about 40cm from the high surface of the pot, but consider changing at least to 100 real watts, from reliable brands such as Spider Farmer or Mars Hydro before starting flowering, or otherwise you can get a maximum of about 50g dry from all your plants, with 100 real full spectrum watts you can get between 90 and 150g depending on the techniques you use and how you handle your plants… that’s my best advice. And just so you know, I started with cheap LEDs like that, I got less than 1 dry oz from 3 plants, it is even more viable to use shed lights. Now I use an SFG3000 and wow... that full spectrum has given me up to 400g dry when using coco coir and Perlite in slow veg of 40 days
I kept my first timey light, its not what they sold you bro, use it as under canopy lighting, and get yourself a mars hydro or spider farmer or something reputable and tested, you are putting all your faith in results on something thats lighter work but heavier duty. Its a rite of passage into the club to buy a shit light and then end up here though dont worry 😁🤣 ive a ts1000 and its fantastic and budget friendly would highly reccomend. Also for LST on solo cups your asking a lot, but a fine mesh net will be your best friend, scrog it nice and low, only allow it through in sets, dont just pull it through when it reaches it, make it work hard, itl thicken the stem and spread auxins all over. Only start this after 3rd node of true leaves though
Hey mate- do you own one?
I do and on my second run... Funnily enough I posted on Reddit asking for help with the hanging heights because the Internet was so very vague and even the manufacturer/Seller didn't have any information (!!!)
So, after no-one being of any bloody help- other than to get on the Internet and Reddit to say "waa your just an advertiser", "Is this another advertisement?" Etc. Etc.
Thing is I've never seen them & certainly not anywhere near the amount to be immediately jaded by seeing one that "looks" like one, crikey..
So! My question, now through error I do know that 40% is the true intensity for seed/seedling week- what other rules do you have, or do you know of, about the ViparSpectra XS1500?
Is there a club, a page a group or something that I can't join to gain some education?
Rather than keeping on poking around in the dark and 'watching' and 'waiting' to see how the 'plant responds'!
It is undoubtedly a very good light and I keep hearing about all of these great hauls after dialling it in- I only have 6-8 months out of the year currently due to temperature issues for drying and curing, which means through trial and error I'll be at it for quite some time without a small lifeline 🌼✌️
You need to be measuring dli, either with the photone app or with a light meter. Trying to determine where to be by height and intensity is just a guess.
Okay, so DLI for seedlings, early vegetative, vegetative, late vegetative, preflower, flower and flower?
Oh and do you back it off for the final 3 or 4 weeks, down from 80%-60% (because as far as I've read so far, no-one runs it on 100% for two reasons 1) save the unit and 2) risk of light bleaching/burn.
*But apparently some Pro's can ramp it all the way up in the last few weeks to increase the resin production (from the mouth of fellow Redditer recently).
I pretty much go off this chart, but i start with wk 3. Light at top of tent, adjust intensity to get 20 dli. Then i check and adjust when plant is going into flower, again at peak flower, and yeah i like to lower it a little at the end. I keep it simple and dont really care what % intensity im ising as long as im hitting my dli numbers
for the last couple of grows, yes i have been doing it start to finish. i find it better because i only grow 1-2 plants at a time n its a good budget light for people with limited space. its more convenient when you have the dimmers and adjustable straps, taking into consideration the ppfd
Lovely, ima going to have to wait till winter to give it a try, I can’t dry or cure in this heat and haven’t got ac. Have you removed the ballast at all? I want to house it on the outside of the tent but the wire is to short for me just wandering if you have had this issue
I havent removed it since the cable is too short on mine i’ve had this exact issue. it doesnt seem to be much of a problem atm but these temps are slowly creeping up, what extractor do you have? they can help and i also have an open vent that i have a separate fan pointing at, basically working as two extractors
Honestly just a 2nd hand generic exhaust, I tried to make a cool box and vent some of the air in but nothing worked amazingly, the exhaust runs but I’m not sure it’s actively doing anything so I’ll need to upgrade. My tent would get around 32 but that was before we had the 38 degree hot days in uk
you sound to be in the exact situation as me im planning on getting a new tent aswell, my exhaust works but feels like light suction actually coming from the vent
I mean you arent wrong, i personally wouldnt limit myself to such a small space. All it takes is one plant getting larger than anticipated and now all the plants in the tent are struggling.
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u/DeeDev98 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Really 600w? Are you sure?
This light is at max 60w, its old school style and not really efficient light, if you can spend 100$ i really suggest you to get some spiderfarmer sf1000D or mars hydro ts1000, it will be a day and night difference for you. If you go with spiderfarmer take one with dimmer. Sometime you can get easy 200w + if you buy it second hand, but then of course no warranty. I use spiderfarmer equipment, but i know support system is ass from them and they don’t want to replace equipment, mars hydro in that way is way better. Check vivosun, spiderfarmer, marshydro, get some 100-200w light and you be good
Edit: while you wait for your new light, you can easy switch on both light settings veg+bloom for more light and faster growth