New Light 400w MH

So, finally, I have decided to upgrade the lighting. I have been keeping costs minimal but yearning for stronger lighting.

I think that my plants will be happy. I found a Sun System 2 400w metal halide light at a reasonable price so I couldn't resist.

There is no describing the difference in light. It's amazing.

I just hooked up the light last night so I'm not sure what effect it will have on the plants. Next week should be telling.

Pepper Plants 2-23-8

The Chocolate Habanero pepper plants are doing very well in the hydroponic container. There are a couple of them growing currently.










Just as exciting as the Chocolate Habaneros are the Orange Habanero peppers. These have been doing very well so far. I imagine that a very strong growth phase for both types of Habanero is about to occur.







Last of the pepper bunch are the Tabasco peppers. This one has essentially only had 2 leaves for quite a while so this third and fourth are welcome additions. Much like the other peppers there appears to be an affinity for hydroponics.

Edible Plants 2-23-8

So, the experimental cucumber has been moved to the hydroponic container.

Still, the leaves have not separated the seed husk from the plant but I imagine this must happen soon. The leaves are growing fairly large as compared to the stem.






I started to unwrap the soybeans a bit and have temporarily attached them to the wall to prevent them strangling each other. I had imagined that by now they might be sturdier.

These will be interesting to watch over the next couple of weeks.





Still, I am a bit disappointed at the appearance of the stevia plants. I am almost certain that these conditions are not ideal for this plant.

Truthfully, I just don't really know. Maybe that's how it grows. Maybe it's sick. No idea. I'm going out on a limb and saying that the stalk can't harden off because of the excess water and the leaves can't take that much direct sunlight.

Watch it or move it?

Tobacco Plants 2-23-8

Just moved the Burley Tobacco to a larger container this week. Very few of these have germinated and grown to a reasonable size compared to the other varieties so hopefully this one continues to grow well.





The Kentucky hybrid tobacco seems to be doing quite well and is beginning to fill out its new home. One of the plants is quite a bit more developed than the other. There is definitely no question for me why this plant is grown commercially for yield.








It's amazing what a bit of light can do for the Midewivan Sacred Tobacco plants. This one has grown much larger and stronger than the rest. At the top and at the leaf nodes there are flower buds that are coming along nicely. I hope to see these flower soon.








Still the strongest producer, the Tennessee Redleaf Tobacco plant has started to bud. Both this and the Midewivan Sacred should flower around the same time.

I am interested in what type of growth will occur while the plant is flowering.






Walkers Broadleaf tobacco remains very similar to the Redleaf in appearance. However, it still does grow tall faster, and the leaf stems are much longer.

This plant should produce a nice yield.

Edible Plants 2-16-8

The Experimental Cucumber in the seeding tray is still growing taller with the leaves filling in, yet the seed has still not been shed from the top. I find this interesting as I imagined that by now this would have occurred.

I am curious what the initial root growth is like and if there would be any harm, or benefit, in moving this now to a larger container. There are a couple so maybe I'll move one this week and see what happens.





The soybean plants are gorgeous. The stalks of each wrap around the others and continue to grow strong. I'm sure for yield that I would be better off thinning out the plants, but they are fun to watch.

If leaves happen to be your thing, like they are for me, then this is a great plant to have. The leaves on these plants are unreal, looking almost artificial.






The Stevia plants are still a bit slow growing. I suppose that strong light and hydroponics are not ideal for these. A test is in order. Maybe planting this in another area near a window would yield stronger results. In any event, they are still growing strong and continue to produce leaf nodes so I'm not planning to move them from the hydroponics.

Tobacco Plants 2-16-8

The Burley Tobacco still lags behind the others. This is the plant after approximately 2 months of growth from germination. Finally, though, the plant is beginning to take shape. This had the lowest germination rate and slowest growth of all the tobacco varieties that I have planted so far.






The Kentucky Hybrid Tobacco plants have reached a solid phase of vegetative growth. There are actually a couple of plants in this container, but the majority of the growth is just one plant. The leaves of this variety appear lighter in color than the others. This holds true, so far, in the drying as well.







The Midewivan Sacred Tobacco plants continue to grow taller than the rest and yield from the leaves is much lower. At the top of this plant a set of flower buds is beginning to form as well as at the higher nodes.

Not surprising, but certainly exciting, the better light source in the flood table has made this specimen significantly stronger and encouraged much more growth than the others.





Still, the Tennessee Redleaf plant is outgrowing the others. Just recently flower buds have begun forming on this plant. Hopefully flowering will begin soon on this and the Midewivan Sacred plants. The others I imagine will be a bit behind based on growth patterns so far.

Contrary to the Midewivan Sacred, though, the leaf nodes do not appear to be growing flower buds, at least not yet.



The Walkers Broadleaf plants have come into their own now. The plant appears to be growing much faster and stronger. Still, the stalk growth seems to be the major focus of this plant. The stalk as well as leave stems are longer and stronger than the other varieties.

Pepper Plants 2-16-8

To the right is the Chocolate Habanero Pepper plant. This has done much better since being moved. The leaves have filled out well and no longer appear wholly deformed. There is a new light on the way that should help the peppers really thrive.








At right is a Tabasco Pepper Plant. This has not changed entirely much but based on previous experience these are slow in this phase and should pick up well shortly.

Since these were just moved to the hydroponic container recently I imagine that over the next couple of weeks the benefit of this system will begin to show.






Still the leader of my pepper plants, the Orange Habanero is wasting no time in growing out. Not as much up, but definitely out. The leaves are broadening and lengthening quite well. This plant out-paces the Chocolate Habanero and certainly the Tabasco pepper.

Edible Plants 2-9-8

The experimental cucumber is growing nicely. The seeds are still attached to the seedlings. Already these appear to be pretty hardy plants. Still not sure what to expect from this variety. As soon as the seeds are shed and the plant is a bit stronger it will be moved to a larger container.








The Stevia plants have done much better since being moved out of the direct light. I expect that it was just a bit too much for these plants. My hope, and expectation, is that this plant will begin to bush out a bit more as the leaf nodes appear to be getting closer and growing additional leaves more rapidly.








The soybean plants are growing well, but they are all over the place. Each seedling has its strengths and weaknesses so I haven't decided to pull any or move any quite yet. I expect some significant growth in the next couple of weeks as the expected lifetime of these plants, according to the packet, is not much longer than that for full maturity.

Tobacco Seedlings 2-9-8

The Burley Tobacco, picture at right, has been the slowest growing to date. I do feel however that this, and the Kentucky, are similar in style and will produce a strong yield.

It does seem however that this Burley variety has started to reach a strong growth phase at last.





The Kentucky Hybrid tobacco plants have really begun to grow and certainly promise a strong yield. The leaves are full of veins, more than the other varieties, and it is clear why these are typical for commercial production of cigarette tobacco. Hopefully this plant can be moved into a larger container in the next week or two to support full growth.


This Midewivan Sacred tobacco plant I have moved into the flood table which is powered by a 400w compact fluorescent light. The growth has shown that lighting makes a huge difference for this variety as the others, receiving less light, are not nearly as well developed.

The mystery of the slowed growth phase became clear this week when I noticed that the Midewivan Sacred plants are getting flower buds at the higher nodes.



This is still the largest of the tobacco varieties I have grown. The Tennessee Redleaf plant began as the fastest growing and has continued to set the pace. The stem now reaches well above the top of the bucket I moved it to and the leaves continue to grow well.

These appear to be extremely hearty plants. I imagine that this is about one-third through its growth.



The Walkers Broadleaf tobacco is quickly gaining on the Redleaf and appears to be similar in nature. The major difference seems to be the height of the stalk growing faster on the Broadleaf plant.

This one also promises fast growth and a strong yield.

Habanero Pepper Seedlings 2-9-8

The Habanero Pepper seedlings have been moved from the seeding tray to the hydro container. In a few short days it appears that the benefits of hydroponics are becoming quite clear. The leaves have filled out very well and have grown more in a few days than a couple of weeks.

The image to the right is a Chocolate Habanero Pepper plant and is a bit slower growing than the Orange Habaneros currently.





Clearly, there is much more growth from the Orange Habaneros which I was able to move a bit earlier and have really taken off since being moved.

This seems to be a much sturdier and faster growing plant in general. However, this judgment is based on the few seedlings I have so is merely speculation.

Regardless, I am very excited about the Habaneros and hope for a strong harvest when they are ready.

Edible Plants 2-2-8

Some of the food related plants that I have been growing are showing promise.
To the right are the soybean plants. These are pretty neat. The leaves grow wide and beautiful. At the top sets of three leaves are emerging from either side. Near the bottom, what's left of the seed is growing yet more leaves. I wonder if both areas grow toward each other. No idea. It'll be fun to watch.







To the right is the Stevia. There were two in here. One was moved to another hydro system where the light isn't so strong. I have a feeling that this plant is not one for large amounts of light. If there is no difference in the growth between both plants in a week or two then this nullifies that theory and it may that the plant doesn't like to be too wet. In any event, we'll know soon.






This is pretty neat, a cucumber, but I don't really know what to expect. This came with a seed order and described itself as an experimental cucumber.

Tobacco Plants - 2-2-8

It is just amazing how large these plants are becoming. All of the tobacco varieties I have planted have really begun to take shape. The leader is still the Tennessee Redleaf and the one lagging furthest behind is the Burley.

To the right is the Burley catching up to the rest of the bunch.


After a long wait in the seedling stage the Kentucky Hybrid is starting to fill out and it is clear why this is the plant selected for much of commercial cigarette production. The leaves promise a strong yield. It also appears that the leaves are a bit lighter and presumably the smoke would be as well. Time will tell.






The Midewivan Sacred tobacco plants are doing quite nicely now. I am still trying to follow the growth cycle. The plants shoot up quickly and begin to grow leaves, then slow, without significant change, then have begun growth again. These are the tallest and sparsest of the current varieties so far. The stalks seem quite unstable and I have difficulty imagining many of this variety surviving a season in the wild. Recently these seem to have strengthened and may have been doing so to facilitate the second phase of leaf growth.



So far this plant is the prize of my tobacco plant collection. The Tennessee Redleaf plants have promised and delivered on rapid, sizable growth. These larger leaves are easily 14-15 inches. Recently the stalk has really begun to grow a few inches above the surface. I imagine this will end up shorter and denser than the other varieties. Not quite sure yet how it will compare to the Burley and Kentucky as those are too early yet.




Just recently one of the Walkers Broadleaf plants has reached a stage of growth that I felt comfortable moving it to a larger container. This plant seems very similar to the Tennessee Redleaf but the stalk is growing tall much earlier and may end up being taller and sparser than the Redleaf but not quite as much as the Midewivan Sacred.

Pepper Plants - 2-2-8

The Habanero pepper plants are really starting to take off. The Orange Habaneros still are growing faster but the Chocolate Habaneros are catching up. I have moved two of the Orange Habanero plants to the hydro containers and one of the Chocolate Habaneros.

See at right the Chocolate Habanero is starting to fill out nicely.







The Orange Habanero plants have been growing strong. There is a marked difference in growth though between this and the plant that was next to it and has been moved to the hydro system. It seems in just a day or two the hydro system has accelerated growth.




The Tabasco peppers have just started sprouting. It will be interesting to see how the growth of these compares with that of the Habaneros.