Hello all, got a couple of questions, if anyone could be so kind as to shed some light on these.

Firstly my plants posture.....if thats the right way to describe it!
When I look at my plants just before lights out (Veg Stage - 18 hours) 2 of my 4 plants (23 day old NL's from seed) seem to lose the erect posture of their leaf stems and seemingly go quite limp looking (not holding their leaves out strongly)
but then 6 hours later after the dark period they seem to regain their more robust looking posture and the process seems to be repeating daily. The other two which seem more developed and robust overall anyway don't have this problem.
No nutrients yet just airstone blasted water - they are in West Plus advanced, Started in seed and cutting mix.
Are these just the runts of my pack? The other stronger ones are using more water and have rooted out previous pots faster

The other thing was my easy rolls. I can't seem to make them work! and I doubt 2 individual ones are broken so it must be me - I will try and describe whats happening

When I extend the string out it winds back in tape measure style so of course Im thinking "well the screw at the back must tighten this and stop it contracting back in" but it doesn't - if I tighten the screw all the string still recoils back inside, then I can't get the string back out again without loosening the screw.

The only thing I can think is the weight of the light should be keeping it down to the level you want?

Please save me from the awkward clanking chains of despair!

get some chains from hardware shop and put the easy rollers in the bin


i use hair clips to hold mine in place

the flat flexible metals ones


water

Yes the weight of the reflector/lamp keep the easy rollers down. tie the string to the reflector and then you tighten it so it's not quite tight, that way you can move it up and down no problem.

Loads of people on here have moaned about them, but once you realise how they work they are very simple and effective!

The trick with the easi rolls is to tighten the wing nut fully and give it half a turn anti- clockwise. Works perfect for me. I didn't figure this out by the way i had to get a demo from the guy in the hydro store

As KC33 says it's easy once you know how!!

Youre plants are alive mate. They are breathing and transpiring. When the sun comes up (or on!) they stand and salute the light.
Have a look at FATFREDDYs grow diary videos for a speeded up version of what you are describing.

As to the easy rollers, I leave that to someone else.

Heya , i find they work so much better upside down so to speak , so the black ball joint bit , is the nearest part attached to the lamp , i think it helps with the weight also i have one operating a parabolic and the twin set , on a small light enviro both work great upside down ime .

Click to view attachment

Here is a thread about easy rollers Click Here! which you might find helpful.
I always used mine upside down, the same as the Sheriff.

H.T.

They are working upside down like sheriff described - Thanks for the great help as usual people

I should have searched for an easy rolls thread - I wasn't aware of the other one so recently - still people still seem indifferent on them and there proper application, anyway if it safely works for you, your in!

Any ex boy scouts among us? What is the safest/best type of knot to be tieing my string up with? I don't trust my light dangling on double knots!

I hear what your saying Leprechan Sweet - I understand they are alive, but only 2 of the 4 plants are acting this way and they just don't look right, it's not like I turn the light on and they perk up, they are already looking perky at the start of lights on so they have done this in the dark - Not checked FATFREDDYs diary as you say, so I will do so now.

Cheers

Or, look on youtube. Search for 'uk420 fat freddy'. There are 3 or 4 timelapse videos showing. Well worth a look.

EDIT

I love my easy rollers, even tho one of mine is broke and doesnt wind up fully, didnt think of using them upside down tho.

Those fat freddy timelapse vids are awesome.

A safe knot is a bowline, won't slip. Very easy to do once you've got the hang of it. Also handy if a guy in a helicopter lowers you a rope. Well you never know, it might happen.

No worries about the droopy plants, they're just getting their jim-jams on ready for bed.

I've often wondered if the first and last 15 minutes of lighting need to be full strength. If the plants start to wind down, wouldn't reduced lighting be more appropriate? Yet another thing on my 'to test' list.

Hiya every1,

I have used ER's for years with no problems.


Peace,
GG

Now the plants have come on a bit more they are not even going limp before lights out, I didn't think it was preparing for bed time as some have said because only 2 of 4 seedlings were doing this (the weakest 2) , now they are more robust and bigger they don't do it.
They hold their stems out strong and proud all day to the last minute

Im not saying your plants (Whoever wants to argue it) are not doing this and you are wrong but I didn't think mine were because they should all be doing it if that was the case and I feel it was no coincidence that it was my slowest growing and least developed seedlings that were doing this

That's it ...

Just don't over tighten them.


Laz

Yea got em working now bud, interesting to see they have caused confusion for others and some have even chucked em out! Shame, they are great things.
They are gonna be so useful instead of them damn chains!

And as for knots lazi, I went with a round turn and two half hitches!
Sounds far more complicated then it is! could have been called wrap it round twice and tie two knots!
kindly demonstrated here on MonkeySee for those who want knot peace of mind- http://www.monkeysee.com/play/3834-tie-knots-hitches

Coincidentaly when I did a google search for knots (not even an image search) this came up

Click to view attachment

My kinda girl