Phototron Advice?

[stewpadasso]

I have recently aquired a Phototron and I'm going to try to grow some White Widow in it.Does anyone here have any experience with the Phototron?

[tiedye420]

Yeah I have one.
been using them over 10 years.
If you only want one plant ina little corner they are perfect.
Mine is in storage because i need new bulbs for it. I might get them soon I have a prized mom i would like to put in it.
Are you going to use the stock phototron formula ?
I use potting soil in mine- I was very careful how i watered them because there is no drainage. They work better with a pc fan in the top -to draw air out through the top ,, which brings cool air up from underneath, where the leaves need the carbon most. Better to grow an indica dom in a phototron, They make flowering and veg bulbs for the hanging fixture. I never tried those yet- Im going to get both when i order new flouro's for it.
And a lot of people talk real bad about phototrons, most of the people who do have never ran one right, or are interested in more commercial gains.
IMHO A phototron is cool for a hobby grower,, easy to stick in a corner and doesn't need a lot of space. You can get decent product fairly simple, for much cheaper than market value. Can't lose there.cheap on electric too.seems like it was about ten bucks a month to run on 18/6.
lemme know how the ww does in it eh.
hey i know a stu-padassho. Your brother maybe?
Later dude
tiedye

[stewpadasso]

Thanxx 4 the reply Tiedye420.I got my Phototron off of Ebay.I have seen them advertised for years and was always curious about them.Its a Phototron2.Not sure how old it is but it seems to be in good condition.Being that it is used I'm wondering if it has the right bulbs in it.I was at my local "Lowes" store and I seen that they have different kind of "U Bulbs".Are there certain types of bulbs for the Phototron?I want to make sure I have the right bulbs going into this project.What do you mean by stock phototron formula ?Is this nutrients or soil?I put potting soil in mine for now.I have 3 plants going right now in it while I am waiting for my W.W. seeds to arrive.Is it best just to stick to 1 plant?I want to make sure I have a female in the Tron B4 I decide on one plant.Do you have any advice on this?I will hook a PC fan on to mine like you said.Can you just use the power output for the top grow light to hook the fan up?Does a PC fan run on standard 110?I know I have a lot of questions I hope you dont mind.As far as watering goes.How often do you water them?Do you use a spray bottle or a watering can or both?I know they say that using a high pressure sodium bulb will give better yields but I'm only looking for enough for my head and my wifes head.The pot you grew in your phototron...did it turn out good with high potency?Well I guess that is enough questions for you for now.Thanks for the help.I will have to check my family tree on this stu-padassho.LOL.Peace.

[tiedye420]

go to the phototron website for bulbs
mine is a 2 also
the formula was 4 like hydro or coco choir i think.never used it myself.
id grow 3 to five at first- sex them and keep the branchiest female early, like 3 -5 weeks turn it to 12/12for sexing them.andjust keep the best- move the rest outside somewhere.

[stewpadasso]

I laid aluminum foil down on the soil hoping to reflect more light.I also started in with a 15-30-15 Miracle grow formula (Wal-Mart Special)They are starting to responded after just one day.I have also 6 seedlings under a floro shop light with the same formula.As far as I can tell the phototron kicks ass compared to the Floro shop light.Time will tell.I have not started with the W.W. seeds yet.I think I want to let my first experimental grow be the bag weed seeds.Then collect data and then start the White Honeys.I am also thinking bout experimenting with a H.P.S.Don't know yet but damn growing is fun.Will keep this thread posted on my progress.Pics to come.Lets here from some of the viewers.Damn I'm gonna feel like shit at work 2morrow!

[tiedye420]

sounds like you got it dialed.
i'll be back to peek at the pics bro.
good luck- you got me wanting to revive mine for a special mom ,or testing cuts by budding as few real small ones in there..
later

[stewpadasso]

Come on Tiedye420.Break out the Tron for the mother.It will make your life all that more interesting.

[tiedye420]

she is in sunshine now, probably by the end of summerI will, but my electric bill for a travel trailer is already over 200 a month.. ouch.
worth it ,though we are scraping by right now.

[stewpadasso]

Well here are some pics at about 2 weeks progress.The three plants in the Phototron are doing well.Kinda slow growing I think but they have been transplanted 3 times till they got in thier resting places.The tempature here sucks so my growrooms average temp is around a chilly 50 degrees and sometimes colder.The weather was nice till I put the phototron in the attic.: ( The plants I have under the shop Floro suck ass pretty much.They are getting long and strigy as you can see in the pic.I have a cool and a warm light in the shop fixture but life does not look good under it.It may be to blame for the tempature.I have the light about 6-7 inches above them.Don't know if that is good or not.Well wanted to post pics.

[tiedye420]

the ones in the tron look real nice

about that flourecent fixture you have though.
the bulbs themselves need to be between 2 &4 inches away.
to keep it about 2 inches away is best. but no closer.
they should perk up fine.
good luck hope it helps.

[stewpadasso]

Well here are some pics of the Phototron plants at 6 weeks old.I have given up hope on the Attic growroom today.The temperature is just to damn cold going down to the high 30s at night and high ranging from 70-90.It seems to harsh for growing conditions.Can anyone give me any advice on these temps?I'm afraid that once it warms up here that the highs could go into the 100s during the day.Anyhow I have found a new indoor home at a friends house that seems to have an average temp of 70 degrees F.I have put a small fan at the bottom outside of the Phototron and have it blowing air into the Tron up and under the leaves.I'm hoping for better results at the Phototron's new home.Although the temps that they have been challenged in I don't think they look to bad (Maybe slow growing but I blame the enviroment).I have some yellowish brown spots forming on the leaves and am wondering what they represent.I wonder if the plants have been getting to much Nitrogen.I have been using the plant spikes and Miracle grow formula at full strength.I have been studying up today and have just realized not to feed them fert every watering so I am gonna back off with some pure water for the next couple waterings and alternate with and without as I go at 1/2 strength.I am going to wait till the plants reach the top of the Tron B4 I go 12/12 and hope for the best flowering.I have been thinking bout a 400watt High Pressure Sodium setup for flowering but am curious to see what the phototron can do on a complete cycle crop.What do you think Tiedye?I am also thinking on ordering some good Ferts.Ok I am gonna read up a bunch more and will post results again soon.Let me hear what you guys think.Thanks.

[grouchy_old_dude]

I am going to wait till the plants reach the top of the Tron B4 I go 12/12...you do know those plants will double, if not triple in size once you initiate 12/12......where do you plan to go with that new growth?..;)

[stewpadasso]

No I did not know that grouchy.Wow I guess I would need an 2nd floor addition for my Tron.Would you recommend going 12/12 right now?I really though the vegetative growth stopped and the flowers came only on 12/12.Since my plants are only 6-8" tall I think I want to wait one more week now that the Tron is in a controlled enviroment to get some real growth.I have about 26" to the top so if the plants double in size in the 12/12 period I should be fine.Thanks for the tip and anymore advice would be great.

[stewpadasso]

Can anyone give any ideas from experience on what nutrients to use for the flowering period.I know that backing off the Nitrogen is good but what is good after that?

[rangerdanger]

I hate to break it to you, but a 'tron is just an expensive toy. No ventilation, no drainage.
For $300.00 you could have bought a wardrobe (free-standing closet) or used an existing closet, provided ventilation, stuck a 400-watt HPS in there and grown a pound of phat sticky buds per crop.

I had a 'tron. It was my first indoor grow and the results were so poor (less than an ounce of light airy buds instead of dense nuggs) I gave up an indoor growing until a friend pointed me in the right direction.

I gave the 'tron away to a friend, he tried one crop with the same results.
This thing got passed around and last time I heard in was in the corner of someone's garage, gathering dust.

If you're serious about growing, get a REAL set-up.
If you willing to settle for low yield low-potency buds, a 'tron is fine.

P.S. I've heard that 'ton's are good for rooting clones.

[stewpadasso]

Well say what you want bout the Tron.I have heard all this B4 in other posts.So far I am having fun with my tron.2 of the 3 plants turned out to be male so I chopped them.The other has buds all over her and looks great.The ventelation in the tron is great if you just lift up one of the panels a few inches and put a small face fan outside of the open panel.Like I said so far I am having fun so thats all that matters,I'm not out to sell my weed.Just want some smoke for the head.

[rangerdanger]

Growing in a closet is fun too, but the end results are sooo much better.

[stewpadasso]

I'm sure it is but right now I don't have that option.The Tron produces no heat and the electric bill is much cheaper.So right now untill I have that option I will tronastone myself.

[stewpadasso]

Well here we are about 4 weeks into 12/12 with my phototron sweetie.So far she looks pretty cool.Stacking buds.Any feedback would be cool.

[smileyjohn]

Stewpadasso, your gal looks a little sparse, but healthy. Congrats! FYI, I have had great success with a liquid concentrated nutrient called Flora Nova Bloom from General Hydro. As of Tuesday, a plant I have will have been in 12/12 for 4 weeks and she is showing 3-4 times the buds as the 1 in your pics. I don't know if the difference is related to nutrients, grow climate (I've a closet set-up) or just genes.

[stewpadasso]

Cool man.Lets see some pics.

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

nice dude, but i have sum plants that are 3 weeks into flowering and they have double if not tripple the bud sites and size is way more bigger, and i am only running 1 250 watt hps........b_O420

[smileyjohn]

Cool man.Lets see some pics.
Tomorrow will be 4 weeks at 12/12.http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/1042/10153CAV_Jun05_2.jpghttp://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/1042/10153CAV_Jun05.jpg

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

oh my sweet jesus, my plant is going to look something like that i beleive.....the way i am tying it down i shoudl see a couple oz's from her........b_O420

[stewpadasso]

Wow very nice Smileyjohn!Did you use a HPS for the veg state also?Is where your plant is sitting the place where you grow her?I'm just curious because this looks like a full room.I'm wondering how you ventilate a closet set-up.Do you have incoming fresh air coming into your closet or just a fan blowing the air around?

[smileyjohn]

Thanks stewpadasso! She vegged under fluorescents 24/0 first. I had to move her out from the grow closet to take the pics because of the bright light. The closets are in a room that is part of a garage that is half underground. Every morning, I open all the windows and doors (except the car entry door) in the garage / basement for cross-ventilation. Fans on timers keep the air moving when everything is closed up for the night. During the winter the fans just stay on.

[stewpadasso]

Very nice.That is a beauty you got there.Quick ? if I can.When you open all the windows do you open up the grow closet also to let the air in?I was thinking that you had to add an air intake and exhaust fan to a closet setup.Like two different air vent fans with duct work like dryer hose or tin ducting?One pushing air in from outside the closet and one pushing the old air out.Am I getting to carried away with my closet idea setup?

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

no your not getting too carried away thats the proper way to set up a grow room, but i personally grow out of my closet n i just leave my door open ALWAYS!!!! b_O420

[smileyjohn]

I do the same as b_O420 and just leave the closet doors open. Even though venting would be best, I am too lazy and unskilled to make it happen. Beside, even with doors & windows closed I get good circulation with fans because my house is not air tight.

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

same here........i am think ing baout puttin two vents in so i can have company in my room.........

[stewpadasso]

Anyone know of a good priced low noise fan?

[hidesjj]

Hey stew

I have a tron since 1985. The idea behind it is you plant a number clones say 3-6 and you keep topping. They will grow sideways and you train them to interweave with each other. Now if you follow the inventor he wants you to flower the plants and then after the harvest to reveg the plants. To do this you have to leave some bud-age and or plant matter on the plant.
If you got the 4 light one your running about 160watts. They should have a line(cord) from the middle so you can wire a couple small lights that will hang in the middle of all the plants.
Watch the drainage because there is none.
BTW home depot has ubend lights for about 1/3 the price
Good luck

[smileyjohn]

Anyone know of a good priced low noise fan?
I'll be watching to see if anyone gives you a cheap resource. Almost always when people besides family or friends use the bathroom that is right over my grow closet, I get asked about the noise (LOUD fans). I always say it must be water being pumped from my well.

[stewpadasso]

That would be a concern with the noise with me also.I seen some videos where some growers use "Rat" or "Squirrel" cage fans.I wonder how much noise those make?Hey Hidesjj:Do you have any pics of your Tron plants.I would love to see them.Do all buds turn darker when its time to harvest?Mine is still white as snow.

[hidesjj]

Hi stew

I haven't use it in about 15 years. So no pictures sorry.
WW finishs in 70 days (10 weeks). Buy yourself a magnifing glass. Check your trichones(the litlle mushrooms) They go from clear to milky and with ww some will go amber. Most plants are done when most tric's turn cloudy.
I'll try an upload a pic. of a G13xBW
stay safe
BTW Black widow and white widow are the same. The name was change by the breeder when he left the seedbank to start his own.

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

wheres the updated pix stew?????????

[stewpadasso]

Hey Burned out420.Will update as soon as I get over to my buddys place.Hidesjj:That is a
beauty.What type of watts was that under?Damn look at the colors man.Very nice plant!

[tiedye420]

www.discounthydro.com (http://www.discounthydro.com/)
under ventillation there are Axial fans.....

http://www.discounthydro.com/Images/325fan.jpg
Axial Fans

This Axial Fan is available for building your own grow chambers or for many other uses. Balll bearing motors assure a long life. Moves 55 cfm. Has a 1 year warranty.


http://www.discounthydro.com/Images/bar2.gifhttp://www.discounthydro.com/Images/Add%20to%20Cart.gif (http://www.discounthydro.com/hypercart/cart.asp?sku=AXIAL3)$ 14.95 - 3.25" Axial Fan

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

no pics yet stew???? whats goin on man????

[stewpadasso]

ok ok ok update!!Here we are at 3 months.I must say that I am impressed by the Phototron.I have read so much bad on this item and not so much good.Ok Ok...I see by the pics of Smileyjohn that using an HPS will produce better results
by far but......The Phototron does produce buds.From what I see so far my buds are kinda nice and are decently potent.Growing with the tron is easy(Able to move from room to room,No need 4 a closet,Very easy on the electric bill,produces some pretty fine smoke).I will report my final results but as far as I can see behind red eyes...The Tron is very cool to grow a small amount for your head without much fuss.Any opinons would be great to hear.

[tiedye420]

They can be useful for headstash Is what i told you from the beginning.
Glad to hear you got it dialed in.
Those people talking bad about phototrons , have never used one, or are a commercial type grower.Interested in cash- a phototron is shit. Interested in stash- the phototron is "the shit"
smoke a fatty for me- and hashplants work nice in a tron- High quality is the answer with the tron.
tiedye

[stewpadasso]

Your right Tiedye420.I'm glad I took the chance on the Tron.I found mine for around $200 on ebay.It goes to show that you cannot believe everything you read.Get out and try life for yourself.Breathe deep...It feels good.By the way new pics are now posted on my last post.

[rangerdanger]

I used a phototron.
Twice.
Averaged about 1 oz. of airy buds both times.
The results were so poor (3.5 months for a bag of schwag) I gave up indoor growing and gave that toy away.
Then a friend clued me in on the REAL way of indoor growing, in a closet, under a 400-watt HPS, a fan, with drainage.
The closet set-up cost me about 1/2 what the 'tron cost me, and yielded me 10 oz. of big beefy buds in the same amt. of time.
That allowed me to grow 1 crop a year for my own head, then shut the closet down for the remainder of the year while the buds in curing got better and better.
I gave the 'tron away, it got passed around and everyone who tried it got the same dissappointing results. Last time I heard it was in the corner of someone's garage, gathering dust.
Bottom line: I know people who have switched from a 'tron to a real grow, but zero who have switched the other way.

I'm grateful to the 'for 1 thing--it taught me how NOT to grow pot indoors.
You'll find out when you graduate from the 'tron to a REAL indoor grow.

[stewpadasso]

Hey redranger..How many plants did you bud under that 400watt HPS?

[rangerdanger]

Initially 16, then I found out I got the same yield from 8 plants as I did with 16. Because yield is not determined by # of plants, rather than by available resources such as light & nutrients.
In otherwords, you could put 100 in a 10'x10' sq/ft chamber plants under a 400 watt HPS you'd get the same yield as 8 plants in a 3'x3' chamber under the same light.

Anyway, I would plant clones, veg them for 3 weeks, then 12/12 them. I averaged 1.25 oz. per plant.
With a donor plant in a corner under a 70-watt HPS and a tabletop for clones under 2 x 40-watt flo's, I got 10 oz every 12 weeks.

[bUrNEd_oUt420]

not bad ranger...........

[TVR]

As TieDie said, if you're growing for stash, the Phototron is great. Those who reported airy buds most likely didn't follow the inventor's instructions to a T about pinching and pruning. The first time I grew in a tron, I got airy buds too - but I skipped the pruning and pinching, using it like I would a regular grow closet.

The key is you have to be vigilant about pruning and pinching - tron's don't produce a ton of light, but they distribute the light much better than any other system. Think of it like a hybrid car - it uses low energy to be more efficient. That's why the pruning, pinching is important. You want to make sure that: 1) all of the buds get light, 2) no leaves obstruct buds from getting light and 3) more budding sites develop.

They do provide no drainage, however. This can be fixed if you don't mind modifying your tron - or you can just ventilate. I use a big fan and open up one of the smaller doors for a few hours. Also gets your plants nice and strong.

Also keep in mind that because it doesn't drain, the "puddle" method the inventor describes can lead to root rot and mold, even with ventilation. I water them every other day - and that works fine for me.