Sour Diesel Auto (second attempt)

MamaJunebug Looking good this week! If anyone has suggestions or you see something that I should be doing, please let me know. This is a new hobby for me.

MamaJunebug Increasing nutrients, light, and water as she grows. She seems to be doing well despite the heat. Started training after a few days, then tacked her down to for light distribution and to keep canopy low. I’ve had mixed feelings about topping, but decided on heavy lst instead. Maybe next grow I will try topping to see what works best. I have a lux meter and have raised the light output from 9000-15000 during the week. Also monitoring ppm, trying to keep between 700-800 which seems high, but my soil has a lot of coco coir in the mix, which drains well. I saw what may have been a spider mite (aaah!) so bought some DE (diatomaceous earth) to top dress with and Lightly drenched with Aza Max, which was recommended by a master gardener I know.

MamaJunebug More growth every day! I’ve increased lux to around 25k and feeding every other day. (Water every day) Plan to increase lighting to 45k over the next 2 weeks. I pin leaves aside and change up pins nearly every day trying to make sure the whole plant gets enough light. With only 1-2 weeks left of vegetation, I want to make the most of my time while not loving her to death. Any advice? More water? Nutrients? Update - she continues to do well. I have done some minor defoliation to improve light and airflow, and added CalMagic to the mix.

MamaJunebug As a newbie, I worry about defoliating too much and am probably doing too little. I remove just 2-3 leaves per day. And I’m thinking I need to remove all the very small leaves sprouting from the base. Overall I think she is doing well. I don’t see the large growth I see on others’ diaries at this stage, but maybe she needs less light to stretch some. I am measuring 45,000 lum and holding Plan to move her outside with my clones but it will be rainy all week. Holding off for now. Edit: each day I pick a few leaves and pin a few more areas. She keeps growing strong.

MamaJunebug She seems to be growing well. I am picking abou 10 leaves per day, and I think it might not be enough. I have also been using garden pins to pin down branches keeping her low and wide. Mild weather and high humidity have been good for her. I expect to see budding soon, then plan to move her outside! Happy growing, all!

MamaJunebug Pre-flower? Maybe! As an auto, I am glad she has stayed in vegetative as long as she has. As of today, she is an outside plant. For the next couple days, she is in partial shade, then full sun for the duration. This is a very pretty plant. They would probably be popular house plants if they didn’t require so much light. It has been a hot, humid, and buggy summer so far. There is no air movement- not even a breeze today. But “nature does it best” so I will let her be and keep my fingers crossed that she will be happy out there! Update: she is pleased as punch to be outside in the big world, stretching out with bright happy leaves!

MamaJunebug After a week of stretch, I am finally seeing some flowering! I am so excited to see the process. She has loved being outside and the frequent rainfall has been beneficial. I have been thinking about installing rain barrels since they like the rain so much. I have been warned to watch for caterpillars, so I’m checking closely each day. It is a nice feeling to be on the homestretch.

MamaJunebug Something is eating her! I suspect caterpillars or grasshoppers, but I see small green flying bugs, too. I have been liberal with DE and plan to dose everyone with Monterey Bt as soon as my sprayer arrives on Tuesday. I cut back nitrogen / flora micro, but with the yellow leaves, I realize I may have been too hasty. Will increase Nitrogen and flora bloom this week. I feel I am constantly tweaking the menu. She is growing and stretching, though, so overall I am satisfied with this week’s progress. 40 mph winds expected later this week. The 7 gallon pots should be fairly easy to move inside.

MamaJunebug I am a bit late posting as I have been out of town. She got plain well water while I was gone, and has been so thirst the last couple days. It is supposed to rain today, and a good soaking will be beneficial. Still yellow leaves, and I am suspecting not enough potassium...? If anyone has onsite, please let me know! I cut out the flora micro and added in a good dose of AN Big Bud. I guess we will find out, as she is now getting a fair amount of phosphorus and potassium. We are on the home stretch a d I am so excited to see what happens in the next couple weeks!

MamaJunebug The days are getting shorter, and temperatures are finally coming down. Not much has changed since last week - it is just a waiting game now. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring!

MamaJunebug I haven’t made any nutrient changes this week, but I guess it is time to start easing back on the “Big Bud.” We had a nice soaking rain today, which the plants really needed - it has been so dry and hand watering just isn’t the same. Looking forward to the weeks to come!

MamaJunebug The smell is so strong, I can get a whiff all the way from the driveway. I’m sure the Amazon drivers know. She is continuing to mature and is truly a beautiful plant. I am guessing another 3 weeks until harvest. (Hopefully sooner!)

MamaJunebug No more nutrients as of today. I think only another 2-3 weeks left for this girl. It is so exciting!

MamaJunebug This has been one hardy plant - she stayed strong through this week’s storm and continues to thicken up. I am planning on letting her mature for another week or two. I like how she has been turning out and I anticipate a decent harvest. This is my second plant, started just a couple weeks after my first grow, and I am very pleased with her.

MamaJunebug Skipped a week - I am just waiting. This plant just won’t mature. It has been raining a lot. Not much else happening.

MamaJunebug Extremely sticky. Pam cooking spray works much better than rubbing alcohol for cleaning up. Strong smell. I am looking forward to trying it.