Maria's First Grow

Okay....so this is my first grow and I just started my journal today. However, I have been keeping track of my grow so far in a composition notebook. Let me catch up weeks 1-4 from seedling here. Germination Method: On 8/8/21 I put seeds into jars of water and waited for them to sink. Once the seeds sunk (within 24 hours), I placed them into folded and somewhat moist paper towels. I put the folded paper towels into plastic baggies and placed them into a dark cupboard for about another 24 hours. I checked the seeds and saw all of them starting to pop. The Afghan Kush seedlings seemed to pop faster as they had longer roots. On 8/9/21 all seedlings were placed into 1 gallon pots with 50% Happy Frog and 50% Ocean Forest. Light cycle was 24 hours. I'm only using one light currently, as all the plants are still very small baby seedlings. On 8/12/21 the first "true leaves" appeared On 8/13/21 I used natural spring water from my well with a ph of 6.86 which I had in a reused milk gallon sitting at room temperature for more than 24 hours (using ph down to lower it from 8, as the water comes out at about a PH of 8 and a PPM of 00100) to mist all the plants (no nutrients added). Played my plants high vibration tunes. On 8/14/21 misted the plants again 2x this day at 6:55 AM and then again at 8:40 PM using spring water directly from the well with a ph of 6.86, ppm of 00116 (no nutrients added). Water had been prefilled into an empty milk gallon at room temperature for more than 24 hours. On 8/15/21 misted plants with spring water directly from the well with approximately the same conditions as previously noted at 2:30 PM On 8/16/21 misted plants with spring water directly from the well with approximately the same conditions as previously noted at 1:00 A.M. Also played the plants high vibration tunes again. On 8/17/21 misted plants with spring water directly from the well with approximately the same conditions as previously noted at 3:00 PM On 8/18/21 misted plants with spring water directly from the well with approximately the same conditions as previously noted at 2:00 A.M. **On 8/18/21 I noticed yellow tips on plants labeled Afghan Kush. The first true leaves looked to have "the claw" and signs of nutrient burn---most likely from the soil as I have not added any nutrients. The two other plants labeled Sour Diesel seem to be thriving and healthy.** On 8/18/21 @ 9:00 P.M. Misted plants using the same spring water with a PH reading of about 6.59. Played high vibration tunes. **Changed light cycle to 18 on and 6 hours off using an automatic digital timer which turns off at 3:15 AM and then turns back on at 9:15 AM the same morning. ** On 8/19/21 @ 1:00 PM misted plants On 8/20/21 @ 1:00 AM misted plants On 8/21/21 I watered the plants for the first time (all previous notes are only where I misted them with a small, gentle spray bottle). I gave each plant two full cups of water directly from the well prefilled into empty milk gallons at room temperature for more than 24 hours, with a ph reading of 6.5. Both plants labeled Afghan Kush stunted in growth--with burned tips that are commonly described as "the claw." Due to the stress, I did a lot of research this day and believe I should have started the seedlings into only Happy Frog, but I did a 50/50 mix with Ocean Forest instead. I think this caused the two plants labeled Afghan Kush to nutrient burn, but the Sour Diesel plants seem to love the soil. Also started to doubt myself today as to whether or not I swapped the seedlings because everything I read online says the Afghan Kush strain loves nutrients, but these are the ones that seem to have nutrient burned or at least I labeled Afghan Kush but did I accidently swap them? Time will tell. 8/26/21 I gave all plants 2 cups of water, using same water directly from the well with a ph of about 6.5 8/28/21 I gave all plants 3 more cups of water in an attempt to help flush the soil, this was my game plan to help the two nutrient burned plants but decided to give all plants the same amount of water. Still no nutrients added into water at this time. **Topped all plants for the first time this day** Also put the fan on high setting for the first time this day. I have two photos posted from this day. 9/1/21 I gave all plants 3 more cups of water with a Ph of 6.86 directly from the well 9/5/21 I gave both plants labeled Sour Diesel 4 cups of water 9/6/21 Gave both plants labeled Afghan Kush (which have started to grow again but seem to be previously stunted in growth with burned tips are now being watered) 4 cups of purified reverse osmosis water purchased from the store. Still no nutrients added to any water at this time. 9/7/21 Both plants labeled Sour Diesel which I have also been calling "healthy plants" are 8 inches tall but are growing more bushy/wider. The Afghan Kush strain, which seem to have struggled at first due to nutrient burn, are now 10 inches but seem to have spotting in the leaves. No more leaves appear to be getting "the claw" though from nutrient burn. Instead, these spots I think are showing me signs of a ph imbalance and so therefore, I changed the Afghan Kush plants to receiving on purified water as noted on the previous day. On 9/7/21 I topped both Sour Diesel "healthy plants" for the 2nd time On 9/8/21 I topped both Afghan Kush plants for the 2nd time On 9/9/21 I watered both plants labeled Sour Diesel aka "healthy plants" 2 cups at around 9:15 AM when the lights turned on, then transplanted both plants that afternoon into 5 gallon cloth pots and then watered them with 1 half gallon of purified store purchased reverse osmosis water. On 9/10/21 I watered the plants labeled Afghan Kush 2 cups at around 9:15 AM. These plants I have nicknamed the "Survivor plants" and are the ones which both showed previous signs of nutrient burn. Both of the first true leaves died after getting "the claw," but are both now looking way more healthy, and have grown much larger. However, these plants are still showing some spotting in the leaves, which I will show in pictures. I transplanted these two strains into 5 gallon cloth pots and gave them 1 half gallon of purified reverse osmosis water a few hours later this same day. **The 5 gallon pots for both strains are still 50/50 mix Happy Frog & Ocean Forest by FoxFarm** **No additional nutrients have yet been added to any time I've watered the plants. The nutrients are still strictly provided from the soil.** On 9/10/21 I measured both plants which measured in size as follows: Sour Diesel "Healthy Plants" 10 1/2 inches tall Afghan Kush "Survivor Plants" 12 inches tall 9/13/21 **I turned on the 2nd light this day** Both lights are now on at 100% and are 12 inches from the plants. The two Sour Diesel plants share a light directly adjacent to the two Afghan Kush plants, who have their own light now. 9/15/21 The rest of the pictures shown on this diary entry are from this date. Measured plants which are set up in the closet from left to right as follows Plant 1 --- Plant 2 --- Plant 3 --- Plant 4 Plants 1&2 are the ones labeled Sour Diesel aka "Healthy Plants" Plants 3&4 are the ones labeled Afghan Kush aka "Survivor Plants" Plant 1 = 12" tall Plant 2 = 12 1/4" tall Plant 3 = 17 5/8" tall Plant 4 = 14 5/8" tall Also checked water level of soil using my soil meter and are as follows (water scale is 1-10, with 1 being dry and 10 being wet) Plant 1 = 5 Plant 2 = 6 Plant 3 = 6 Plant 4 = 8 Due to soil still being wet, I am not watering any of the plants again and they have not yet been watered since previously noted during transplant into 5 gallon pots.

Still no nutrients given to any plants. 9/17 Topped all plants for the 3rd time 9/18 Gave all plants 0.5 gallons of reverse osmosis purified water 9/21 Measured height and soil moisture levels (soil moisture meter scale is 1-10, with 1 being dry and 10 being moist): Plant 1 (SD) = 15" with a moisture level of 7 Plant 2 (SD) = 15 1/2" with a moisture level of 6 Plant 3 (AK) = 21 3/4" with a moisture level of 7 Plant 4 (AK) = 18 5/8" with a moisture level of 8 Most likely going to keep these girls vegging until their 2 months old.

9/24/21 Removed some bottom leaves and gave each plant 0.5 gallons of purified reverse osmosis water. 9/27/21 Gave all plants 0.5 gallons of purified reverse osmosis water 9/28/21 Plants 3 & 4 still show some discoloration in the leaves--could be genetics as I've been on reverse osmosis water for weeks trying to fix it... Measured all plants again: Plant 1 (SD) = 19 inches Plant 2 (SD) = 19 1/2 inches Plant 3 (AK) = 30 inches Plant 4 (AK) = 23 3/8 inches

Still no nutrients fed to any plants. Planning to flip these girls soon, within the week or two weeks at most depending on when I receive the sweat dome I ordered, as I will take clones same day and then flip after a few days of recovery. 10/01 0.5 gallons of reverse osmosis purified water each 10/04 0.5 gallons of reverse osmosis purified water each 10/06 the following measurements Plant 1 (SD) 21 inches tall, moisture level 4 Plant 2 (SD) 23 1/8 inches tall, moisture level 5 Plant 3 (AK) 35 1/4" tall, moisture level 4 Plant 4 (AK) 27 5/8" tall, moisture level 6 Pictures above are from 10/06/21, two days after previous watering. Afghan Kush (AK) still showing signs of stress but has come a long way since the time it's first true leaves got the claw and burned off. They've grown very tall and have a strong smell but I can't seem to get the light discoloration in the leaves to disappear. Per a friends recommendation, I've cut back the light schedule by 1 hour and am now doing 17 hours of light; I swapped to this light schedule on 10/4. Time will tell if it aids the Afghan Kush in recovering further.

10/09 Fed all plants their first mix of nutrients: 2 tsps grow big 2 tsps tiger bloom 3 tsps cal mag 1 gallon of 6.5 ph water each mixed with the above nutrients. I am now using my home natural spring water from the well and just making sure to adjust the PH before giving it to the plants, as the reverse osmosis water never helped the Afghan Kush gain better color---however, it does appear the recent feeding with Cal Mag is helping!!! The ppm of the mixtures ranged from 775-790 after mixture. 10/13/21 Added a bigger light, removed 1 smaller light as shown in above pictures Height Measurements: Plant 1 SD = 24 1/4" Plant 2 SD = 25 5/8" Plant 3 AK = 42 1/4" Plant 4 AK = 30 3/8" 10/14 Gave all plants 1 gallon of water mixed with 3 tsps of Cal Mag each, since the Cal Mag really seems to have helped the Afghan Kush since I started feeding it--laid off other nutrients for now 10/15 Took clones, defoliation of bottom 15-20% of each plant removed. Pictures above. - Made sure water was 4.5 PH before spraying onto the cubes to get them wet for the clones (cubes are by default at a 7 PH and stabilize at 5.5), then after spraying the 4.5 PH water onto the rockwool cubes, I tested the water in the dome pan and it came out to about 5.5 PH, which is the recommended stabilized PH to around 5.5 as recommended for rockwool cubes. After putting the Clonex on all the clones and putting them in the cubes, I misted all the plants with 5.5 PH adjusted water and placed them in with their sisters for now. I'm waiting on a grow tent to arrive in the mail so I can flip the big girls and put the clones in their own room. =) Thank you for checking up on my grow! I'll update everyone again next week!

So this last week has been a bit crazy....I installed a new light and I accidently light burned them a little bit. Also, the Afghans are looking like they are Nitrogen deficient. I will show you my PPM's below....I was trying to be safe but apparently I did not feed them enough. I am planning to up the feeding this week on the Afghan's. Because my plants are showing signs of stress, I have decided I will not flip them until they are nice and healthy. I've ordered more soil and plan to transplant them into bigger pots. Only 5 of my clones have survived in the rockwool. So I will also be taking more clones before I flip them. I moved the new light to 24" above the plant to prevent further light burn. 10/17 Gave all plants the following nutrient enriched water with a PH between 6.5-6.68 (depending on the gallon). My PPM was between 600-640 for every gallon. 5 ML Cal Mag 3 ML Grow Big 4 ML Big Bloom 10/21 I was planning on only giving water this time, but because my Afghan plants are now showing signs of Nitrogen deficiency, I mixed in 5 ML of liquid Seaweed for the Afghans only: PH 6.5 and 5 ML of liquid seaweed per 1 gallon of water, PPM came out at about 140 PPM 1 gallon for each Afghan plant As for the Sour Diesels, I only gave them water, 1 gallon each, with a PH of 6.5 Rearranged the plants. I have both Afghans on the right and left, and both the Sour Diesels in the middle. 10/22 Afghan plant #3 is getting too tall, and since I have to continue vegging until my plants heal, I cut about 6 inches off the tops of the plant to lower the height to 50 inches today

Okay, I swear I am going to flip these soon LOL but since I light burned them, etc. --- I really wanted to wait until they are nice and healthy. The plants seem to be healing nicely. Here is my update for the last week. 10/23 Transplanted all four of the plants into 10 gallon pots, still using a 50/50 mix of Happy Frog and Ocean Forest. Even though I already chopped off 6 inches from the tallest Afghan, plant #3, I chopped a few more inches on this day because I'm scared of this plant getting too tall for the closet after I flip them soon. I also took some time to try to do some LST using stakes and strings, giving more space between the branches. 10/25 Since all the plants are now in bigger 10 gallon pots, I gave each plant 2 gallons of water this time with the following nutrients with a PPM between 700-800, depending on the mix: 3 ML Grow Big 2 ML Cal Mag 4 ML Big Bloom 4 ML Liquid Seaweed I was planning to up the nutrients on the Afghans, but since I gave them new soil, I am going to wait and be cautious before giving them too many nutrients. 10/27/21 Took photos to show the plants improvement (see above)! They are healing nicely from the recent stress! The plants are arranged in the pictures/closet from left to right Afghan #4, Sour Diesel #1, Sour Diesel #2, Afghan #3. I have 5 clones so far that are doing very well which I have also provided a picture for today. Currently, I have the clones in starter cups and in their own little tent. All five of my successful clones are Sour Diesel. I plan to try to get more clones, especially from the Afghans. However, next time I plant to use peat rather than rockwool. I plan to water all four of these beautiful girls tomorrow morning on 10/28 with no nutrients added in.

Sorry Fam, A lot of shit has happened these last few weeks---my sister died and I just haven't been able to update this. Let me catch up now. 11/7/21 Sour Diesel #1 - 2 gallons of 6.5 PH water 1182&1186 PPM per gallon Afghan Kush #3 - 2 gallons of 6.5 PH water 1182 PPM per gallon Afghan Kush #4 - 2 gallons of 6.5 PH water 1291 PPM per gallon Sour Diesel #2 - 2 gallons of 6.5 PH water 1146&1252 PPM per gallon Since I only have 1 gallon containers, I have to mix each gallon separately with the nutrients, and then giving each plant 2 gallons each. In a few cases, the PPM magically came out to the same in these 1 gallon containers, and others had variant PPM's after mixture (as noted above)). Right now I am mixing in the following into each 1 gallon container: 3 ML Grow Big 2 ML Cal Mag 4 ML Big Bloom 4 ML Liquid Seaweed 11/13/21 Gave each plant 2 gallons of water only at 6.5 PH (no nutrients) 11/17/21 My new grow tent 60x60x80 has arrived! I've transferred all the plants into the grow tent, trimmed them all down because they've been vegging for so long they were too big. Also did some slight LSTing today to try to spread the branches out. Took new clones from all the plants. Planning to give these girls a few days of healing from all the trimming I did today, and then I'll flip them by the end of this week. After moving the girls into the tent, I moved the 5 successful clones I previously had into the closet, with 100% happy frog soil and still in starter cups (planning to transplant these into 1 gallon pots soon). The new clones are in the little "clone tent." This time I'm doing the clones with peat instead of rockwool, hoping for better success. All pictures shown above are from this same day! UPDATE: FLIPPED THE GIRLS TO 12-12 ON 11/18/19!

11/18/21 2 Gallons of nutrient enriched water between 850-1000 PPM's depending on the gallon mix Grow Big, Big Bloom, Liquid Seaweed Flipped light schedule to 12-12 11/26/21 Watered / no nutrients 2 gallons of water each plant 11/29/21 Watered AK#4 only 3 gallons of water each mixed with 0.25 Tsp of Open Sesame mixed into each gallon 11/30/21 Watered AK#3, SD#1, and SD#2 with 3 gallons of water each mixed with 0.25 Tsp of Open Sesame mixed into each gallon with average of 6.5 PH each gallon 12/5/21 Water only, 3 gallons of water each. Measured the PPM run offs on each plant: AK#3 run off was 1802 PPM, with a PH of 6.41 SD#2 run off was 2066 PPM with a PH of 6.23 AK#4 run off was 1850 PPM with a PH of 6.41 SD#1 run off was a WHOPPING 2889 PPM and a PH of 6.14---surprised this plant not dead lol or showing signs of big nutrient burn yet. Definitely giving this one only water next round. **I just ordered 6 foot stakes to help hold up the branches for the Sour Diesels. The branches on this strain seem very weak and unable to hold up on their own, even though I've had fans on them since they were seedlings. The Afghan Kush branches are strong and sturdy. I've light burned a couple top leaves here and there, but I have been going in the tent daily and rubbing/encouraging branches to grow more sideways than up.** PICTURES ABOVE DATED 12/5/21

12/12 All plants received approx. 0.50 tsp per 1 gallon of Beastie Bloomz by FoxFarm, measured run offs as shown below: AK#4 Run off 6.23 PH & 2001 PPM AK#3 Run off 6.05 PH & 1098 PPM SD#1 Run off 5.95 PH & 2419 PPM SD#2 Run off 6.32 PH & 2576 PPM So I saw some top and bottom leaves with brown edges and spots, I believe I have a magnesium deficiency because of the low PH levels showing on the run offs. Turns out, my PH digital meter needed to be calibrated, too. 12/18/21 The Afghan Kush plants estimated harvest is within 6-7 weeks, whereas the Sour Diesels are known to flower 10-11 weeks. Therefore, on this day, I only fed the Afghans 0.70 tsp of "Cha Ching" by FoxFarm (since I don't have many more opportunities to feed these ones and I have to flush them two weeks before harvest) and gave ONLY WATER to the Sour Diesels, since they have decently high PPM run offs and extra weeks of flowering time left still. I retested the run offs today for each plant: AK#3 Run off 6.23 PH and 800 PPM AK#4 Run off 6.41 and 1939 PPM SD#2 Run off 6.5 and 1941 PPM SD#1 Run off 6.71 and 1668 PPM 12/20/21 Decided to give each plant some Cal Mag to address magnesium that caused some brown edges/spots on some leaves the other week, mixed in 0.25 gallons of water with a PPM of 515 and a PH of 6.5 12/24/21 Pictures are from today! I plan to feed the Afghans ONE MORE TIME within the next day or two, then I'll start the two week flush before harvest.

I'm so excited everyone!! These are coming along so nicely for my first grow. My first harvest will be on the Afghans within the next week (already started flushing). Let me catch up this diary for everyone: 12/26 Prepared tea for all the plants using two strainer bags filled with worm castings tied to the side of a 5 gallon bucket, along with liquid seaweed and molasses. Brewed it for 2 days using an air pump until it had foamy bubbles on the top and gave 1 gallon to each plant to replenish microbes. 12/27 AK#4 3 gallons water only, run off PPM was 1746 and a PH of 6.14 AK#3 3 gallons of water only, run off PPM was 909 and a PH of 6.23 SD#1 3 gallons of water only, run off PPM was 1900 and a PH of 6.14 SD#2 3 gallons of water only, run off ppm was 1194 and a PH of 6.23 My PH run offs were low, likely because my PH meter was recently off and needed to be calibrated, which I took note of for my next watering that I'm about to notate next: 1/3/22 Fed the Sour Diesels today the following each: 2 ML Cal Mag, 2.55 CC of Cha Ching, 6 ML Tiger Bloom, 7 ML Big Bloom. I mixed this all into one gallon but then split the mixed nutrients into 3 separate gallons. SD#1 fed 3 gallons of water with the following readings with the above noted nutrients: Gallon 1 - 6.77 PH & 329 PPM Gallon 2 - 6.68 PH & 296 PPM Gallon 3 - 6.68 PH & 370 PPM TOTAL PPM: 995 Run off readings: 1128 PPM & 6.41 PH SD#2 Also fed this SD with the same nutrients: 2 ML Cal Mag, 2.55 CC Cha Ching, 6 ML Tiger Bloom, 7 ML Big Bloom. Mixed together in 1 gallon and then split into 3 gallons before feeding to the plant as follows: Gallon 1 - 6.77 PH & 301 PPM Gallon 2 - 6.59 PH & 240 PPM Gallon 3 - 6.41 PH & 463 PPM TOTAL PPM: 1004 1/4/22 Gave both the Afghans ONLY water since I'm starting the flush and these two plants will be ready for harvest VERY soon (the SD's have a long time still lol) AK#3 - 3 gallons of water only, run off PPM was 6.41 and PPM was 611 AK#4 - 3 gallons of water only, run off PPM was 6.32 and PPM was 755 1/10/22 AK#4 Water only, 4 gallons this time instead of 3 with a run off readings of 824 PPM & PH 6.41 SD#2 Water with 1 ML of Cal Mag mixed at 209 PPM, 3 gallons with run off readings of 6.5 PH & 856 PPM AK#3 Water only, 4 gallons this time instead of 3 with a run off readings of 572 PPM & PH 6.5 SD#1 Water with 1 ML of Cal Mag mixed at 207 PPM, 3 gallons with run off readings of 6.5 and I freaking forgot to write down the PPM reading but I know it was like 800 and something ***Pictures of all the plants are taken as of 1/10/22***