The start of this week was a 5 hour power outage for unannounced repairs. Great. Fortunatly I was spot on and reacted quicly and moved the plants outside. Partially cloudy, chilly wind but when the sun shined...it shined. Seeing them out in the open was heart melting. They really belong under the naked skies...
Basically just tweeked a little here and there : raised the lights 10 cm for variation, changed twice a day the fan direction and speed, also every 3rd/4th day I rotate the pots (say clockwise) for a relative even exposure, brought the night temperature to 20°C. The first CO2 burner run out in about 5 days, so made 3 more and now you can deffinetly feel that particular smell of fresh CO2 in the air.
Feeding wise, made some biochar witch I intend to powder and top the substrate. Would like to mention that I feed accordingly to the biodynamic moon calendar. For example, there are 2/3 days a month where fertilizing is counterproductive, and 1/max.2 where if you prepare in advance, it really makes a difference. It goes the same for watering : there are zodiac signs when is best not to water and avoid the installation of parasites and viral attacks, and days when you can go as much as the plant/substrate can take. It is just as much science in it as in everything else and the plant responds in consequence. And again for pruning/defoliation/transplant. But the outstanding thing I learned is about seeds : there are particular days to germinate plant seeds in accordance to the end game - plants for flowers or fruit or leaf, in order to achieve maximum potential. And my germination rate has gone through the roof!
P.S. Today I felt for first time a hint of that sweet smell I keep reading about 😄.
3rd day Update : Defoliated as much as possible all plants according to the moon calendar. So I crancked up the water and feeding soution volume : prewashed with 50 l rain water and followed by 50 l light feeding solution. Will water 2-3 times a week/2 waterings per day with the same amount of feeding solution for the next 2 solid weeks. Increase of the night temperature from 18 to 22 proved a smart move, flowers have visibly paced up! Also added trace amounts of a yeast&sugar formula, on roots and foliar spray. No negative side effects so far, since yeast feeds on pottasium but I have plenty in the Basic Bloom Feed solution.
Concerning the CO2 burner, I was wrong. Is still going strong and the emission stabilized. The new double in size one is just picking up.
Somehow my humidity level came down to 55, is not the best but outside is cold (10°C and wet) so fully satisfied. The dehumidifier works round the clock.
Last weekly Update : my phone broke down so I have no other pics for the end of the week. Stopped the daily foliar shower because the flowers are fatting up and the mold risks are proportional. Finnaly the humidity came down to 50%. Night temperature stabilized at 20°C .
@Growpotkin, thank you ! Man I love your auto collection ! Very nice choices, will def follow your WW auto, since I plan as well to try my hand with an indoor auto run, and have some same strain freebies just lying around lol. All the best !
@Rock_n_Roll_Randy, I could never doubt it, it's my first time ever under LED. Either way, Mars Hydro is simply an amazing piece of lighting. Love the dimming option, easiest mounting ever and the light itself is clear , pleasant and plants respond very very well as soon as One gets a feel in playing with heights and intensity. Blew me away at first try.
#later edit : And I would say that is a compendium of things that gets them frosty, starting with Mother Nature, followed by Barney´s Crew, hillman and Mars Hydro. Wouldn´t You agree lol !?!
@youngatheart, thank you 🙏 ! Man, all the hard work pays off eventually, one way or another. I feel I'm getting close to a organic home made formula strong enough for an indoor. P.S. Your Kush'n'Cookies look amazing bro !
@Rock_n_Roll_Randy, yes they are good. I'm thinking of repurpose them exclusively for seed sprouting and vegetation state, as a prep before outside transplant. I mean things grow well and fast under them, of course with the right amount of care and the right lamp to plant distance.
@FarmingTown, Basically this particular brew plays the role of a grow+bud candy fertiliser. I fermented plant leaves like stinging nettle, dandelion, camomile, burdock, elderflower together with fruit parts or juice like dried figs and dates, orange and apple juice, carrot roots, alfalfa for Rhyzobium. All in certain amounts for good balance. It needs oxygenation, by hand or ideally by fish tank pump, as you are actually growing bacteria. Its PH is acidic, very good to bring down high PH waters. It can be used diluted 1L/10L up to 5L/10L without causing burns. Also makes an excellent foliar spray, diluted 1L/10L, to be used 30 min before sunrise, or an hour after sunset, if grown outdoors.