The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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@Hashy
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Week 1 Light cycle=24/0 Light Power=73w 30% Extractor controller settings High temp= 23c Low temp= c Temp step=0c High Rh= 70% Low Rh= % Rh step=0% Speed max=5 Speed min=1 Smart controller settings (during lights on). Lights on=am Radiator on= not in use Radiator off= not in use Humidifier on= below 63% Humidifier off= above 68% Dehumidifier on= not in use Dehumidifier off= not in use Smart controller settings (during lights off). Lights off=pm Radiator on= not in use Radiator off= not in use Humidifier on= not in use Humidifier off= not in use Dehumidifier on= not in use Dehumidifier off= not in use VPD aim=0.4-0.8 DLI aim=15-18 EC aim=0.4 PH aim=6.2 Fri 22/12/23 #3 (Day 1) 📋 5.00pm Leaves open and working on its 1st set of true leaves. 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 Method= manual Neutralise=0.1ml/L Roots=5ml/L Feed=nutes Volume=100ml Easy Ph down=0 drops/L Ec=0.36PH=6.3/6.0 Time=10.00pm Runoff. Total runoff=10ml Ec=3.27 PH=5.6 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 📋 Calibrated ph pens in ph 4/7 solution. Older pen read 6.8 Newer pen read 7.1 Sat 23/12/23 #3 (Day 2) 📋 Looks ok. Root has hit the bottom of the pot. H=5cm D=82cm DLI=16.1 Sun 24/12/23 (Christmas eve) #3 (Day 3) 📋 Still working on its 1st set of true leaves. Mon 25/12/23 (Christmas Day) #3 (Day 4) 📋 Merry Christmas everyone. 10.30pm she looks ok. 1st set of true leaves are OK. Started developing 2nd set of leaves. Tue 26/12/23 (Boxing Day) #3 (Day 5) 📋 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 Method= manual Neutralise=0.1ml/L Roots=5ml/L Feed=nutes Volume=150ml Easy Ph down=0 drops/L Ec=0.28PH=6.2/6.2 Time=10.00pm Runoff. Total runoff=30ml Ec=2.94 PH=5.5 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 Wednesday 27/12/23 #3 (Day 6) 📋 She has a bit of a lean I'd imagine it's from yesterday's watering. 9.30pm decided to stake her as she's nearly touching the soil. Before changes. H=7cm D=82cm DLI=15.2 After changes. H=7cm D=79cm DLI=19.2 10.00pm Light cycle=22/2 Light power was=73w=30% Light power now=86w=36% Lowered light by 3cm. Extractor controller settings High temp= 24c Low temp= c Temp step=0c High Rh= 70% Low Rh= % Rh step=0% Speed max=5 Speed min=1 Smart controller settings (during lights on). Lights on= 02.00am Radiator on= below 19c Radiator off= above 20c Humidifier on= below 64% Humidifier off= above 67% Dehumidifier on= not in use Dehumidifier off= not in use Smart controller settings (during lights off). Lights off=00.00am Radiator on= below 16c Radiator off= above 18c Humidifier on= not in use Humidifier off= not in use Dehumidifier on= not in use Dehumidifier off= not in use Thursday 28/12/23 #3 (Day 7) 📋 H=7cm D=79cm DLI=19.2 She has a major lean on from over watering and is supported enough for now. The single finger leaves are developed and she is working on the next set of 3 fingered leaves. Conditions have been good for the week. Back soon. Take it easy.
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@Theia
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A good week with no news to report. Very sativa like growth and buds... EC dropped to 1.6 and more pk removed from the diet. Just greenbuzz nutrients organic bloom now. Lights are at 60% and 1100umols average across the canopy. Life is good Grow well 🌿💚🌿🙏🏼
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@Targona
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68 days since my little girl sprouted from seeds🌱 Eleventh week of growing my SUNSET SHERBET AUTOMATIC 🍨🍨🍨 Nutrients: For the POWER BUDS Contest – Zamnesia + Plagron (seeds and nutrients as sponsorship) Nutrients: During this period I only add flushing - Advanced Nutrients Flawless Finish - For plants, rinsing is very important to get rid of pollutants, fertilizer salts, toxins and other harmful substances, so your harvest smells better, tastes better and therefore commands a higher price 😋👌 Advanced Nutrients Flawless Finish is the only product that is completely safe for plants and very effective 💚⭐ Supplement for more efficient flushing of the substrate from fertilizers in the final phase 🌾💓 It contains powerful cleansing ingredients called EDTA along with special ingredients like citric acid 🍋 and magnesium sulfate. It can also be used in case of over-fertilizing the plant 💩 It is also suitable for hydroponics and aeroponics 🌴🌿 -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- ------- In general: SUNSET SHERBET AUTOMATIC 🍨🍨🍨- The girl's leaves are completely yellow and dying 🍂. I think the girl didn't handle the ph 😥 somehow I couldn't keep it right despite using Biobizz PH regularly- 😕 Her main cola has really grown a lot, she is strong, massive 🏵️🌸. I will definitely harvest it this weekend 💚 Unfortunately I got mosquitoes/Sciaridae dark mold in my tent so I planted yellow sticky rosehips and sprayed the plants with homemade nimbus oil spray which is organic Training: Since the girl grew like this, she doesn't even have many leaves and her branches are automatically shaped the way they are, so no extra training, I just removed some yellow and dead leaves 🌞💚🍂🍂 Buy seeds on Zamnesia Seeds website with discount code: ZAMMIGD2023 - 20% off ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ https://www.zamnesia.com/ 👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆 Light: Mars Hydro TS1000 The plants respond effectively and the light is technically very well managed - I try to have 50 cm between the light and the plants, so I move it up regularly. But with this plant, the gap between the tip and the light is about 5 cm 💡💡💡 Thanks for the likes and you can follow me on X / ❌: @ Targona666 See you soon 😍
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@WeedM8
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The way flowers are pumping is beautiful 🤩 starting to make some sirius progre
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Had to harvest a little early, the high is very clarifying, and long lasting. The trichomes were mostly clear, with some slightly milky, not much amber at all. Flavours will be updated after a bit more testing. 20inx20inx36in grow space, 100w quantum board. Taste/effects/more info will be added after some curing time. A little bit sad that I had to harvest around a week early due to a small amount of bud rot, but it looks and smells great, I cant wait to actually try it out. Harvested 125 grams(dried) total from the 3 plants, I honestly didn't expect to get such an amount on the first try. Bud was so sticky during the final dry trim, my scissors kept getting stuck on themselves and I had to keep cleaning them often. Out of the 3 plants it was probably around 50g/50g/25g as the one in the back corner was smaller than the rest, but just as frosty. Great seeds, I would like to try the photo period version in the future.
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Day 83: After being in the dark for like 4-7 days, they where ready to harvest. All plants getting cut by the machine, big buds are cut by hand. I never weight wet buds because that doesnt make any sence. I will update soon on how much it is dry weight. My friend helped me with the harvest since it takes many hours of work. I have many buds that are as big or bigger as my hand. Quallity so far looks promising even thought there are shitty buds as well, but thats normal and oke. They have been cut freshly so I won't lose much weight when cutting. This will happen when cutting dry buds. The remaining small leafs on the wet buds will dry in with the buds and will be barely visible. More info soon.
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@Bncgrower
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Another week almost over, the girls are beautiful and smell great. Apparently everything is under control, I'm really looking forward to the results. Happy growing! 🌱🌱🌱
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Last day of light today next 2days will be of darkness and then I will harvest all plants. They are looking good and strong smell . Cheese buds are hard as rocks and the ogkush smell sting diesel smell. Very happy with this grow..
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🌱 Week 2: Mutant Magic in Full Swing! 🌱 Hey Grow Fam! Another week, another step forward in the adventure with these Mentha de Croco beauties. Week 2 has been nothing short of fascinating—the variety in leaf shapes is absolutely mesmerizing. These tiny mutants are already showing their unique personality, and I’m loving every second of watching them grow! 🌿✨ Tent Conditions: Consistency is Key The setup remains the same as last week, keeping these little ones in the perfect environment to thrive: • Temperature: Stable, warm conditions for steady growth. • Humidity: Maintaining high RH ensures they’re still enjoying tropical vibes as their root systems develop. • Lighting: The Future of Grow (FOG) LED at 200 PPFD continues to deliver just the right amount of light to keep the plants growing compact and strong. Nutrition: Introducing the Organic-Mineral Boost 🌿 This week, I started feeding the plants with the incredible Aptus Holland organic-mineral line. It’s been a game-changer, and here’s why I love it: What’s Organic-Mineral Nutrition? • Combines the benefits of organic matter (microbial health and soil vitality) with the efficiency of mineral nutrients (direct uptake by plants). • Supports balanced, steady growth while boosting plant resilience. This Week’s Feeding Schedule: • Regulator (0.15 ml/L): A silica-based product that strengthens plant structure and helps regulate stress, ensuring the plants stay strong and sturdy. • CalMag Boost (0.25 ml/L): Calcium and magnesium are essential for cell wall development and chlorophyll production, supporting lush, vibrant growth. • All-in-One Liquid (1 ml/L): A comprehensive blend that delivers all the essential nutrients in one easy feed, perfect for these little mutants finding their stride. • Start Booster (0.25 ml/L): Packed with root-stimulating microbes and nutrients, this product ensures strong root development and prepares the plants for explosive growth in the coming weeks. Why Aptus? I’ve been a huge fan of Aptus Holland because their line truly focuses on building strong, healthy plants from the ground up. The results speak for themselves—happy plants, explosive growth, and vibrant health at every stage. true believer here and way before being sponsored by them . Mutant Leaf Love: Celebrating the Unique 🌿 The highlight of this week has to be the unique leaf patterns these plants are developing. Each one seems to have its own story to tell—serrated edges, funky symmetry, and a whole spectrum of textures. They’re tiny but mighty, and it’s so exciting to see the potential of these genetics from Terpyz Mutant Genetics come to life. Mutants always bring surprises, and it’s a beautiful reminder that diversity is what makes this journey so rewarding. Reflections & Tips for Fellow Growers 💡 💚 Feed Lightly, Grow Strong: For young plants, keep your feed gentle to avoid overloading them. Start slow and adjust as they grow. 🌱 Celebrate Differences: Each plant will grow at its own pace, and unique traits are part of the magic. Patience is key! 💧 Stay Consistent: The foundation you build in these early weeks sets the tone for the entire grow. Stable conditions = happy plants. Shoutouts & Grower’s Love 💚 Big thank you to @Terpyz Genetics for these funky mutant seeds, @Aptus Holland for their stellar nutrition lineup, @Future of Grow for the lighting that keeps these beauties thriving, @Pro Mix Soil for the best one i have encountered so far and @Grow Diaries for being an amazing platform to share this journey. And a HUGE shoutout to all of you—followers, growers, or just curious passersby! Your love, support, and shared passion for growing make this experience truly special. Stay tuned for more mutant magic in Week 3. Let’s grow, let’s grow, let’s grow! 🌟 Genetics - Mentha De Croco https://terpyz.eu/products/menta-de-croco-fern-type?_pos=1&_sid=e9237cbcb&_ss=r DogDoctorOfficial Discount Codes @ terpyz.eu - DOCTOR 15% off Nutrition - @aptusholland https://aptus-holland.com/ Led Power @ F.O.G. Future Of Grow https://www.thefuturofgrow.com/en/online-store/BLACK-SERIES-600-p489093171 Controls @ TrolMaster https://www.trolmaster.eu/tent-x As always thank you all for stopping by, for the love and for it all , this journey of mine wold just not be the same without you guys, the love and support is very much appreciloved and i fell honored with you all in my life With true love comes happiness Always believe in your self and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart , be a giver and the universe will give back to you in ways you could not even imagine so Growers Love To you All 💚
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@Hash268
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Moving pass the transition a little more this week and slowly switching to bud development. The feeding has been holding up and I've decided to top dress and just let them ride out on what they have available in the medium.
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3 out of the 4 Cheese plants have been put up to dry, I have uploaded a video for you guys with all the information, any questions just ask 👍🏾🌱💚
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Stressful grow honestly I have ptsd from my last grow being a complete Hermie den I literally had to check them every single day wondering if the swollen ovule’s were actually seeds lol well anyway I had to harvest at week 6! And this shit still came out ridiculously good smell✔️Taste✔️Bag appeal✔️✔️✔️ Great strain can’t wait to grow it again !
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@Kagesan
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🔥🇩🇪Daily updates.🇩🇪🔥 I am open to suggestions for improvement. Write me if I do something stupid. I know that not everything is perfect, but I try to make the best of my circumstances.🤓 ——————————————————————————— Germination 01.04.24 - 07.04.24 Vegetation08.04.24 - Today 🗓️ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🌱Day 15 || 😎 Everything is going great so far. I made a time-lapse recording after watering. Have fun with it. 100ml distilled, 300mlEasyGrow, 100ml distilled Humidity 53%// 26°C Light 40% //45cm//420-440PPFD 🌱Day 16 || Watering not necessary Humidity 52%// 26°C Light 40% //45cm//420-440PPFD 🌱Day 17 || I have repeated my watering routine from two days ago 100+300+100. during this time I noticed that some of the leaf tips were slightly yellow. Hopefully this is not a major problem. 🤔(Maybe a slight over fertilisation.) I have already asked a question about this and hope for the best.🙏 Humidity 53%// 26°C Light 40% //45cm//420-440PPFD 🌱Day 18 || The new leaves that have emerged all have a small yellow discolouration of one to two millimetres at the tips. These spots have not become "bigger" in the last 24 hours. I will water again tomorrow with pure distilled water. I hope to be able to start LST in the next few days. She is currently 10 cm tall and the leaf spacing is very close together. Humidity 52%// 25,5°C Light 40% //45cm//420-440PPFD 🌱Day 19 || She had a favourable growth spurt in the last 24+ hours so that I could start with the LST. I only watered her with 600ml of distilled water today. Almost three days have passed since the last watering. (66h) Humidity 52%// 25,5°C Light 42% //45cm//440-455PPFD 🌱Day 20 || Happy 420😁 Watering not necessary Humidity 52%// 25,5°C Light 45% //42cm//460-470PPFD 🌱Day 21 || Lots of yellow tips but the new leaves look better. Watered her with 1200ml of distilled water Humidity 52%// 25,5°C Light 50% //50cm//490-510PPFD
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Week 7 flowaaa !! Let me just say I am soo in love with growing cannabis I don’t do it for anything but the love for it just watching something grow to become these huge pretty colorful smelly plants is amazing! The GMO PUNCH is coming along very well becoming more vigorous and bright green as the days go on. The plants are still stretching which I was dreading so I actually put in another Scrog net you will see on my next post to help keep them from stretching too high .
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Brutal genetic! Just like that BRUTAL. Tons of resin, super strong woody pimey smell, very beautiful strain to grow, beautiful indica leafs, I know that this is one of those indicas that once you smoke that dense smoke you won't be able to get up from the couch, very strong genetic, I'm so fortunate to have this lady in my garden man! Definitely want to grow her again next season and make a big nice bush.peace!✌️🙏❤️🌱👨‍🌾
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Zdravím vás , Tak konečně první týden květu. Když se podíváte na video který tu mám jsou to ty přední tři kytky. Super rust. Jsem zvědaví jak tohle cele dopadne. Cena semínek =kvalita. Je opravdu znát. O proti black Dog například. Teď nehnojim vůbec. Počkám si až začne dělat květy. A rovnou prehodim i hnojiva. 😎
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✨ Week 6 in bloom and our White Widow is pure poetry in motion — compact, dark, and sparkling with trichomes under her 11/13 light dance. She’s living proof that beauty and strength can thrive even under a 12-12 from seed rhythm. Join the journey, feel the energy, and come see her story unfold in 4K on YouTube. 🎥💚 🌿 White Widow – Week 6 Flower Lighting: 11/13 Shuttle (12-12 from Seed) Strain: White Widow by Zamnesia Grow Style: Living Super Soil + Aptus x Plagron Recipe Series: Ongoing on YouTube (in 4K 🎥) ⸻ 🌸 The Queen in Her Prime Our White Widow is officially in full bloom — Week 6 Flower, and she’s breathtaking. Compact, dark, resinous, and powerful — a perfect example of what’s possible when we trust the process. Her leaves are deep green, her buds are tight and frosty, and her structure shows the elegance of genetics and discipline combined. Despite being a 12/12 (11/13) from seed grow, she’s performing like a true photoperiod queen. Every detail on her — from the sugar-coated fan leaves to the symmetry of her bud sites — tells a story of health and balance. ⸻ 💡 The Emerson Effect — Science Meets Soul This week we’re diving deep into one of the coolest aspects of this grow: The Emerson Effect 🌞 Every morning, the red spectrum (around 660 nm) turns on 15 minutes before the main lights. Every evening, it stays on 15 minutes longer than the rest. Why? Because we’re mimicking nature — sunrise and sunset — and activating one of the most fascinating plant processes ever discovered. 🌱 What It Does The Emerson Effect is the enhanced rate of photosynthesis that occurs when red and far-red light (around 730 nm) are present together. In simple terms: red light excites one photosystem, far-red excites the other, and when both are active, the plant runs its photosynthesis engine at maximum efficiency. ⚗️ The Results • Faster and smoother metabolic transitions • Reduced light stress during on/off cycles • Increased photosynthetic efficiency • Denser, more resinous buds • Slightly faster maturity under 11/13 schedules We’re not just flipping lights — we’re syncing biology with physics. 🌞🌙 ⸻ ⚙️ Technical Deep Dive: Emerson Effect + 11/13 Light Shuttle For the enthusiasts — when using 11 hours of light and 13 of dark, you simulate tropical photoperiods where cannabis evolved naturally. This encourages faster flower initiation and more compact plant structure. By extending the far-red light 15 minutes on both sides of the cycle, we’re signaling the plant that the sun is just beyond the horizon. It’s like whispering: “Keep going a little longer, but rest well.” This combination strengthens the balance between flower hormone production (phytochrome response) and photosynthetic drive, leading to better overall bud development. Science + intuition = success. 🌿 ⸻ 💧 Feeding & Nutrition This week’s feeding schedule continues the successful Aptus x Plagron symbiosis. From Plagron: 🌸 Power Buds – flower development booster 🍯 Sugar Royal – enhancing aroma, oil, and terpene profile 💎 Green Sensation – late-phase bulking and resin enhancer From Aptus: 🌿 All-in-One Liquid – full-spectrum nutrition 💧 CalMag Boost – mineral support and stability ⚖️ Regulator – nutrient balance and plant stress protection Even with the soil’s natural nutrient reserve (NPK still holding around 5.75), we’re gently pushing — testing how much she can handle under this 12/12 rhythm. She’s loving it: no burn, no droop, no stress — just pure growth. ⸻ 🌡️ Environmental Conditions Even with 45°C (110°F) heat outdoors, the grow room remains stable and healthy thanks to proper airflow and control. 📊 Environment Stats: 🌡️ Temperature: 28–30°C 💧 Humidity: 55–60% ☁️ CO₂: 450–800 ppm (natural fluctuation) 📈 VPD: ~1.3–1.8 kPa This is near-perfect for mid-flower — warm enough to boost metabolism, yet steady enough to maintain trichome production. ⸻ 📸 Photos & Videos This week’s gallery includes: 📷 Detailed studio shots of her canopy and buds 🎥 Clips showing her daily environment 🌿 A moment of me sharing medicine with her — part of our daily ritual of connection and gratitude Screenshots from TrolMaster TM+ app, showing the red-light pre-dawn and sunset cycles Every frame captures her strength and personality. No micro lens this time, but the natural look says it all — she’s glowing. ⸻ 🔮 What to Expect Next Expect: ✨ Buds bulking and trichomes stacking heavily 🌬️ Aroma deepening and resin turning more opaque 🌿 Leaf color possibly darkening further Not to Expect: 🌱 Any major new growth — stretch phase is over 🍂 Fade just yet — that will come closer to flush She’s now in the consolidation phase: weight, flavor, and resin. ⸻ 🌱 Quick Recap • Germination: After early setbacks, she became the solo survivor — and a star. • Veg: Compact and steady. • Transition: Adapted perfectly to 11/13 shuttle. • Early Flower: Tight nodes, dense frost. • Now: Week 6 — full bloom, full potential. ⸻ 🙏 Gratitude & Shoutouts 💚 Zamnesia – for the legendary genetics that started it all. 💧 Aptus – for consistent balance and vitality. 🌸 Plagron – for the boosters that bring color and resin to life. ⚙️ TrolMaster & ThinkGrow – for giving precision and control. 🌍 And most of all — to you, the readers, growers, friends, lovers, haters, and believers — thank you. This community keeps the passion alive. ⸻ 🎥 Watch in 4K on YouTube 🌿 The full White Widow 12/12 from Seed Series is live in 4K resolution on YouTube. Come see the journey in motion — the lights, the trichomes, the setup, the vibe. Every week, every detail, every heartbeat of this grow. ➡️ Search: White Widow 12/12 from Seed – Grow Series (Zamnesia Genetics) Let’s share the love and learning together. ⸻ #GrowDiaries #WhiteWidow #Zamnesia #Aptus #Plagron #TrolMaster #ThinkGrow #FutureOfGrow #EmersonEffect #12-12FromSeed #LivingSoil #OrganicGrow #LEDGrow #CannabisCommunity #GrowWithLove 📲 Don’t forget to Subscribe and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @DogDoctorOfficial for exclusive content, real-time updates, and behind-the-scenes magic. We’ve got so much more coming, including transplanting and all the amazing techniques that go along with it. You won’t want to miss it. • GrowDiaries Journal: https://growdiaries.com/grower/dogdoctorofficial • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: • Genetics, gear, nutrients, and more – Zamnesia: https://www.zamnesia.com/ • Environmental control & automation – TrolMaster: https://www.trolmaster.eu/ • Advanced LED lighting – Future of Grow: https://www.futureofgrow.com/ • Root and growth nutrition – Aptus Holland: https://aptus-holland.com/ • Nutrient systems & boosters – Plagron: https://plagron.com/en/ • Soil & substrate excellence – PRO-MIX BX: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en-us/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae • Curing and storage – Grove Bags: https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ We’ve got much more coming as we move through the grow cycles. Trust me, you won’t want to miss the next steps, let’s push the boundaries of indoor horticulture together! As always, this is shared for educational purposes, aiming to spread understanding and appreciation for this plant. Let’s celebrate it responsibly and continue to learn and grow together. Friendly reminder all you see here is pure research and for educational purposes only, With true love comes happiness. Always believe in yourself, and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart. Be a giver, and the universe will give back in ways you could never imagine. 💚 Growers love to all
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10 September Harvest - see pictures. While some growers leave the plant whole when they cut, I do not. It is a personal preference and situational convenience if your a home grower. I chose to cut large, long branches, and remove any whole water leaves, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the bud formation. I don’t trim yet. This is done for a few of reasons: 1) It’s my last good close-up look at her until another 5 days or more, 2) I don’t want wet leaves drying on my buds if I can help it, and 3) I occasionally like being able to shine a small LED flashlight on the flowers while its drying. Mold is our greatest problem as growers, it can destroy a beautiful grow right up until the end process. Then I hang it in a dark closet, provide circulation and ventilation. Light and heat, anything above 80 degrees F, will start a break down in cannabinoids during the dry, it is ideal to stay away from both. I’m fortunate that a humidity level of 50- 55% and temperature of 65-70 degrees F is fairly consistent and easy to maintain. Anything below 60 degree F will prevent the adequate drying out of chlorophyll. Almost all my flower routinely take 5-7 days, some a little longer, to properly dry out. 15 September Trim - see pictures. First you’ll notice the buds have shrunk up to half their original size. This is just a fact that we growers have to deal with. Due to evaporation without uptake of water, it takes about 3 days for the chlorophyll to dry up, then slowly go through a chemical change. Along with the leaves, cannabinoids also begin a chemical change after 3 days called decarboxylation. A slow process where the THC level increases while curing. You want the leaf to be dry so they can be hand trimmed easily, but you do not want that bud so dry that it starts to fall apart in your hand. Try to handle carefully by the main stem to avoid touching the bud all together. A lot of these cut leaves will be covered with trichomes, good for making oils, or other products, it’s an option worth looking into keeping it. After trimming, I do separate a few premium flowers for my first smoq. Then loosely fill wide mouth quart mason jars with about 1 oz/28 gr of product per jar. I seal the lids for a few hours to determine what relative humidity they are at, see hygrometer pic, before making a decision to put in a 62% humidity control pack of my choice or to wait, then place in secure in a cool dark place with stable humidity and temperature. It is very important to then observe/burp or exchange the air as needed, up to several times a day, until 62% rh is achieved. Once your close to to your mark, put in your desired RH level control terpene shield. If you have a problem getting there: 1) it has dried out too much, no real solution, try to put several large cut stems left over from harvest into the jars with the buds to try and increase humidty, 2) it has not dried out enough, in this case no problem, just remove and dry out a little more. This is also a personal choice, some people like it drier in the 50% plus range. Whatever you do, research and preserve. At that time burping is no longer required. Cannabis will reach its peak potency potential at about 40 or so days into the cure. The finished product should be a perfect grind when cured correctly without clogging up your grinder, this could take a month. Now that I’ve said that, I’m sure someone has grown something that they have not been able to grind. It can remain in this state for an easy 6 months with little change, locking in all the terpenes and potencies. All you need to do is occasionally check the product to ensure there are no molds. If your grow/harvest/cure techniques are good this should not be an issue. It would not be uncommon to find many cannabis strains will last, with small degradable change, for up to one year after being stored this way. Using an airtight glass container, controlled relative humidity, maintained low temperature, and kept in darkness will equal maximum shelf life. Always avoid direct sunlight and temperatures above 80 degrees F. The reasons I’ve ultimately chosen Deep Water Culture as a grow medium. Each has their own pros and cons indeed. I found the most efficient, less maintenance and ideal solution for my situation was DWC. Burdens to overcome depend on size up set-up; initial equipment cost, size of containers, ph monitors, air pumps, type of water to use-reverse osmosis, RO cost/set-up/maintenance, ways to transfer/change water and nutrients, what nutrients to use and schedules, takes several grows to learn and understand, a 1 year learning curv, easy to nutrient burn. The Benefits of growing in water; no dirt, no bugs, no diseases, rare nutrient deficiencies/toxicities, steady and rapid growth that enables the plant to reach its genetic potential. After harvest, there is about a 1 hour equipment cleanup, sterilization and turn around process before replanting. Cannabis will perform in so many different ways and mediums, no one way is the best and the best way is the one you are using, right. Chose what works for you in the long run. There will always be an initial cost in set-up. My advice if one were in need to cut corners, I would not recommend cheap lights. This single factor is the most critical, afford for the best. The notion that organic and water has a different taste, flavor and potency effect is absolutely debatable. The more we learn the better we grow and experience is always the best teacher. This is what works for me and my methods of growing in general from beginning to end. A BIG “Thank You” to everyone who stopped by to take a look. My next diary will start at the beginning of October 2023 with a Forbidden Runtz Auto. There will be minor differences during the grow. I enjoy Auto strains simply by what can be achieved in a short time. No matter the strain they will unveil one thing in common, the demand for attention. Many times over it is the anecdotal gardener that surmount plant scientist. Last should I mention, do not forget to stop and enjoy the fruits of your labour...
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