Dark Star Diary

18 April 2021 I’m a little relieved by the response of the plant to installing the cargo net. One of the branches that I broke was not completely severed and I was able to tape it together rather quickly after breaking it. So far, the whole stem seems to be recuperating and the main bud at the end has started to turn upward with all of the other buds on the plant. I had to add a string to the large stem on the back right (from the outer door) in order for it to be given a chance to turn upward better. It is so long that it rests on the other side of the tent wall, so I looped some yarn around it to bring it up a little bit. Not much, just a little so the buds can reach for the light and grow. Feeding, I’m going to add the same amount of nutrients as the other day. I’m still in the second week of the flowering stage, so from now on, as long as the plant seems to handle it, I’m going to follow the feeding chart that Patrick gave me. CALiMAGic 5ml (1tsp), FloraMicro 7.5ml (1.2tsp), FloraGro 2.5ml (.5tsp), and FloraBloom 10ml (2tsp).the starting pH of the water and nutrient solution was 5.97. I added 2ml of pH UP and it was adjusted to 6.49 which is what I’m going to feed it today. The runoff pH was 5.96. Not great, but at least it’s still above 5.5 which is considered the low point a healthy plant. All in all the plant is looking great considering what I’ve done to it the last few days. I’m still very hopeful that all will stay well. 20 April 2021 I’m actually writing this log live now as I have finally caught up and have everything for my grow documented here (so far). I’m about to feed my baby again, and I plan to keep up with the feed chart I’m using now because it is more intuitive and easy to follow. I’m adding CALiMAGic 5ml, FloraMicro 7.5ml, FloraGro 2.5 ml, and FloraBloom 10ml. After mixing everything up, the pH was 5.96. I added 2ml of pH UP which adjusted it to 6.46. The runoff was 5.96. The plant is still looking good, and the top I accidentally tore off last Friday seems to still be alive in its solo cup and soil. I’ve been giving it a little of the nutrient solution as well. I don’t know how it is going to end up, but so far so good. I wish I could say the same for the other clones that I have deliberately tried. They are all dead and gone in the trash. Oh well, eventually I’ll get the knack for it. 22 April 2021 Feeding time again and I’m still using the same amount of nutrients as indicated in the Flora Series grow chart I received from another grower. Today I’m infusing CALiMAGic 5ml (1 tsp), FloraMicro 7.5 ml (1.5 tsp), FloraGro 2.5 ml (.5 tsp), and FloraBloom 10 ml (2 tsp) into a gallon of water. The initial pH was 6.10, and I added 1.5 ml of pH UP which adjusted the pH to 6.46. That level is pretty consistent with what I’ve been giving, so that is what will be fed today. The runoff pH was 5.98. Overall, the plant is looking great. I have seen many bud sites forming and getting bigger all over the plant. I think my LST methods are going to pay off with a pretty decent amount of bud in the end. However, I don’t plan to get ahead of myself, and I realize that the way I’ve chosen to grow makes the actual end about 7 weeks away still. Patience is key I guess, and I’m a patient person. Oh, I also actually measured the plant today to see how tall it’s getting. It wasn’t easy seeing how my LST method means that the plant from soil to top is actually only about 19 inches, but the branches coming off the base are between 44-50 inches. I’ve learned valuable lessons on my first grow, and one is that I don’t have to let it veg for 10 weeks! My plant was big before I started the flowering stage, and has only gotten bigger. It seems that the stretch is slowing down, and since I installed the cargo net last week, spreading the larger branches out has made it easier, and has also allowed more light to the middle and underside of the plant. I have many budlets forming on lower branches that are making their way up to and through the net to get direct light exposure. I’m contemplating clearing out the underside to promote growth above the cargo net, but I’m not sure if I want to get rid of the buds that are growing there. Decisions, decisions, decisions... 24 April 2021 Today is the last feeding for this week. I’m ending week 3 of flower with CALiMAGic 5 ml (1 tsp), FloraMicro 7.5 ml (1.25 tsp), FloraGro 2.5 ml (.5 tsp), and FloraBloom 10 ml (2 tsp). Initial pH was 5.98. I added 2 ml of pH UP which rose the pH to 6.44. The runoff pH was 5.89 (lower than expected and desired). However, everything seems to be going well. The aroma of the plant is starting to pick up to where it permeates the room as soon as the tent is opened. Not overwhelming, but nice! The budlets are starting to become more numerous and fattening up (a little). I’m happy with the progress!! Week 4 of flower starts tomorrow.