This is my Wi-Fi controlled light and camera lift in action! If you are interested in the details, please feel free to check out my profile. The post is right near the top of my posts. I am extremely happy and proud of how this turned out. It was my first project working with and coding for ESP32, and it turned out better than I could have hoped for.
I designed and built a light and camera lift for my grow tent, controlled through Wi-Fi, with a custom web page. I can have the camera and control web page up simultaneously, and adjust my light from anywhere! This idea was born from my current grow, with a sativa cultivar that was stretching so much in flower, in the morning it would be under the light, and by the time I got home from work it would be past the light.
The motor control system is operated by an ESP32 with custom code. Everything is powered by a 24V power supply, 2 motor drivers, 2 step down converters, a 24V motor for the light lift, and a 12V motor for the camera lift.
The next phase of this project will be to integrate Time-of-Flight sensors with custom code so the light automatically raises itself based on canopy height. Im really just a beginner at coding and microcontrollers, so I have some much to learn before I make this happen.
Ultimately I think it would be cool to make it so I could technically never even have to open the tent from when the plants are put in until harvest. I have watering already on an automatic irrigation system, and all the equipment is controlled through a AC Infinity environmental controller. Im basically already at my goal.
I realize there are obvious reasons not to not go in the tent to prune and train, and other maintenance. Besides, I can't help myself and constantly open it up to admire my girls and make sure everything is looking good. It always puts a smile on my face when I open the flap and see that beautiful verdant canopy. Growing makes me so fucking happy and brings out the best parts of me.
I designed and built a light and camera lift for my grow tent, controlled through Wi-Fi, with a custom web page. I can have the camera and control web page up simultaneously, and adjust my light from anywhere! This idea was born from my current grow, with a sativa cultivar that was stretching so much in flower, in the morning it would be under the light, and by the time I got home from work it would be past the light.
The motor control system is operated by an ESP32 with custom code. Everything is powered by a 24V power supply, 2 motor drivers, 2 step down converters, a 24V motor for the light lift, and a 12V motor for the camera lift.
The next phase of this project will be to integrate Time-of-Flight sensors with custom code so the light automatically raises itself based on canopy height. Im really just a beginner at coding and microcontrollers, so I have some much to learn before I make this happen.
Ultimately I think it would be cool to make it so I could technically never even have to open the tent from when the plants are put in until harvest. I have watering already on an automatic irrigation system, and all the equipment is controlled through a AC Infinity environmental controller. Im basically already at my goal.
I realize there are obvious reasons not to not go in the tent to prune and train, and other maintenance. Besides, I can't help myself and constantly open it up to admire my girls and make sure everything is looking good. It always puts a smile on my face when I open the flap and see that beautiful verdant canopy. Growing makes me so fucking happy and brings out the best parts of me.
Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co are starting to blossom, and seem to (maybe?) be done stretching. Note to self: next time dont veg for 10 weeks lol. Gave these girls a heavy pruning and removed over a pound of biomass. Sativa cultivars really are a different experience from the Indica heavy ones I've grown so far. Im particularly excited about this cultivar and its cannabinoid profile. Hoping the smoke experience is as different as the growing experience!
These two girls are Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co. Most of the lineage of this cultivar is sativa dominant, including Durban Poison varieties, and that Sativa Stretch seems to be legit. Everything I've grown so far has been either Indica dominant or a fairly balanced hybrid. These girls have put on about a foot of stretch since being put into flower 8 days ago. Im interested in seeing what the next 8 days look like! Ive got about 2 feet of space left without some sort of intervention, so I'm not worried...yet.
These two girls are Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co. Most of the lineage of this cultivar is sativa dominant, including Durban Poison varieties, and that Sativa Stretch seems to be legit. Everything I've grown so far has been either Indica dominant or a fairly balanced hybrid. These girls have put on about a foot of stretch since being put into flower 8 days ago. Im interested in seeing what the next 8 days look like! Ive got about 2 feet of space left without some sort of intervention, so I'm not worried...yet.
I made an MCT coconut oil tincture. I used 4.5 oz of the oil with 40 grams of Girl Scout Cookies harvested last month. I tried some last night, and its strong stuff! Slept through the night, which is rare for me. Its hard to say what the strength is without any kind of testing, but i would guess there are at least 100 doses in this bottle.
I made an MCT coconut oil tincture. I used 4.5 oz of the oil with 40 grams of Girl Scout Cookies harvested last month. I tried some last night, and its strong stuff! Slept through the night, which is rare for me. Its hard to say what the strength is without any kind of testing, but i would guess there are at least 100 doses in this bottle.
This second plant was in desperate need of training. I brought it from 44" tall to 35", and got the strongest growing top shoots evenly distributed. This Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co is definitely the most vigorous growing cultivar I've had to date. Can't wait to see what they do in flower.
Im really happy with how this SCROG system turned out. I never know how my ideas will turn out. Sometimes I spend a weekend designing and building something that is better off staying in my head. Its fairly easy to move around, and fits in both a 2x4 and 3x3 tent with 2 side by side. Its easy to adjust in height, and can easily be modified with longer PVC pieces to make the screen bigger or smaller. The "net" is made of individual braided nylon cord to be easily removed from the flower at harvest.
This second plant was in desperate need of training. I brought it from 44" tall to 35", and got the strongest growing top shoots evenly distributed. This Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co is definitely the most vigorous growing cultivar I've had to date. Can't wait to see what they do in flower.
Im really happy with how this SCROG system turned out. I never know how my ideas will turn out. Sometimes I spend a weekend designing and building something that is better off staying in my head. Its fairly easy to move around, and fits in both a 2x4 and 3x3 tent with 2 side by side. Its easy to adjust in height, and can easily be modified with longer PVC pieces to make the screen bigger or smaller. The "net" is made of individual braided nylon cord to be easily removed from the flower at harvest.
After an almost two months wait, my Qidi Box is finally here. Im stoked to be able to take my projects to the next level and do the things I haven't been able to do. Fingers crossed most of the kinks have been worked out. Anyway, let's get this mofo fired up!
I wanted a SCROG system that was portable, easy to move, adjustable, would fit in both a 2x4 and 3x3 tent, and easy to remove the netting from the final flowers. This got a bit more overengineered than I originally expected, but I couldn't be happier with the final product. Now I just have to make 3 more. Its fully adjustable with knobs for easy installation and extension. The netting is individual strands of braided nylon so it can be easily pulled out of the buds and won't leave stuff behind. There are 4 handles so its easy to pick up and move around. Im going to be adding adjustable cross bars for under canopy lighting as well! Im pretty stoked how this first one turned out, so now its on to the second one.
I wanted a SCROG system that was portable, easy to move, adjustable, would fit in both a 2x4 and 3x3 tent, and easy to remove the netting from the final flowers. This got a bit more overengineered than I originally expected, but I couldn't be happier with the final product. Now I just have to make 3 more. Its fully adjustable with knobs for easy installation and extension. The netting is individual strands of braided nylon so it can be easily pulled out of the buds and won't leave stuff behind. There are 4 handles so its easy to pick up and move around. Im going to be adding adjustable cross bars for under canopy lighting as well! Im pretty stoked how this first one turned out, so now its on to the second one.
This is my first attempt making gummies, and it went really well. The recipe called for 1/4 cup of coconut oil, so i infused 1/4 cup of coconut oil with 30 grams of Granddaddy Purple, and made 120 gummies. The flavor is raspberry and it has a very creamy berry tatse. But who cares about that shit...how does it hit?! Oh boy. I ate one and it really snuck up on me and then I realized I was totally baked while I was working on a project. I think a half a gummy would probably be good for me and have to remember it takes a while to kick in.
This is my first attempt making gummies, and it went really well. The recipe called for 1/4 cup of coconut oil, so i infused 1/4 cup of coconut oil with 30 grams of Granddaddy Purple, and made 120 gummies. The flavor is raspberry and it has a very creamy berry tatse. But who cares about that shit...how does it hit?! Oh boy. I ate one and it really snuck up on me and then I realized I was totally baked while I was working on a project. I think a half a gummy would probably be good for me and have to remember it takes a while to kick in.
The veg tent is filling up fast, and i still have 3 weeks before i can move them to the flower tent. These are Teslas Secret from Hoku Seed Co. I am particularly excited about this cultivar due to its diverse cannabinoid profile! These are Type II genetics, with a mixture of THC, THCV, CBD, and CBDV. All three beans i popped germinated all three were extremely uniform in morphology. One was culled simply due to space constraints. I experimented with different training methods for each plant; the one on the right was topped, and then lateral branches were tied down. The left one i let grow taller, then folded the whole main stalk over. It has created a really interesting effect of the center being mostly empty, with a ring of individual stalks forming around it. It takes up more space, but allows more light penetration. I see a lot of potential with this method.
I dont know how well these pictures are picking up the difference, but it is *quite* dramatic. These results are seen around the whole perimeter of the tent. Anything in the middle, or too far, dont see benefits. Both of these branches were at the same height, on the same plant. The one without side lighting is actually getting more light from the main light, the one with side light is basicallycovered by canopy. All the buds against the side light are way bulkier and frostier. I certainly need to see how this plays out across several crops, but it seems like a big upside for just an extra 50 watts. I may have to throw in an under-canopy light. Now it makes sense why all the big grow facilities are using them.
I dont know how well these pictures are picking up the difference, but it is *quite* dramatic. These results are seen around the whole perimeter of the tent. Anything in the middle, or too far, dont see benefits. Both of these branches were at the same height, on the same plant. The one without side lighting is actually getting more light from the main light, the one with side light is basicallycovered by canopy. All the buds against the side light are way bulkier and frostier. I certainly need to see how this plays out across several crops, but it seems like a big upside for just an extra 50 watts. I may have to throw in an under-canopy light. Now it makes sense why all the big grow facilities are using them.
I dont know how well these pictures are picking up the difference, but it is *quite* dramatic. These results are seen around the whole perimeter of the tent. Anything in the middle, or too far, dont see benefits. Both of these branches were at the same height, on the same plant. The one without side lighting is actually getting more light from the main light, the one with side light is basicallycovered by canopy. All the buds against the side light are way bulkier and frostier. I certainly need to see how this plays out across several crops, but it seems like a big upside for just an extra 50 watts. I may have to throw in an under-canopy light. Now it makes sense why all the big grow facilities are using them.
These two GSCs are starting to really fill out this 3x3 tent! The aroma when I open the tent is a very strong and sweet smell.