Diary Legend:
💧- Watered
🌱- Seedling
🌲- Cut Down
🍃- Defoliation
✂️- Topping or FIM'ING
🚂- Training (LST)
Wk3
11/1/21: Day 15. 💧Lower branches have grown out a little more, I think that it's going to start kicking into pre-flower mode any day now. I noticed a curling edge on one of the larger leaves, I will keep an eye on it, and remember to adjust the nutrient ratio down for this strain next time around.
11/3/21: Day 17. Starting to bush out a bit more than before, a sign I like to see. Tucked back as many large leaves as I could, to make room lower down. Lower shoots are extending a bit further out, hopefully producing a nice even level of colas. While the leaf tucking helps, the stems are strong and compact, so they popped up quite easily. To combat this issue, and instead of tying anything down, I used garden staples to hold down some leaves, and angled the lower shoots into the light. Absolutely cannot wait to try this one out, as I'm a huge lover of kush varieties, and all indicas in general. Eventually, I plan on running this one again, along with a few other breeders' Northern Lights strains, have a sea of Lights. Perhaps at some point, I will run several NL strains, both autos and photos, have a big supply of Aurora Borealis.
11/5/21: Day 19. 🚂+💧Hopefully the flowering stretch will help with the short node spacing, as I've read this strain is prone to mold, as it's a compact plant. I will do my best to keep it spread open, and remove any branches that may cause issues with cramping. It will suck, but if it needs to be done, it will. Gave it a thorough watering, as the pot was finally completely dry. I will be removing some more leaves in the next few days, as the ones getting tucked are now stuck nose down in the dirt. I filled the pot higher than usual for this one, in hopes that I would have more room for watering. Well, with this plants compact structure, it's a bit of an issue. Manageable, as it just gets the leaves wet, so it's not too bad.
11/6/21: Day 20. 🍃🚂💧 Late last night I decided I would just defoliate heavily, instead of tucking leaves back. Tucking helps, but it's so damned tightly spaced it's a pain in the ass. Since there is plenty of new growth, I knew removing a few leaves wouldn't be an issue at this stage. Removed 4 leaves for sure, but I think it might have been 6. Such a big difference. I know the next few days will see a lot of change, as the light is exposed to so many new areas. I also used the time to pull out some branches, allowing there to be more air flow between branches. I will have to keep a close eye on it, as they will need maintaining for another 2 weeks or so. A lot of moisture was used since yesterday, so I added in more today. I will wait for pot to fully dry out again before watering. Still not seeing signs of pre-flower, but I might just add the nutrients in soon anyhow, as it cannot be that far away.
11/7/21: Day 21. Plant looks amazing today, doesn't seem to have been phased at all by the defoliating yesterday. The top leaves that were tucked back, had popped up again, once more showing me it is a strong plant. The lower shoots are spread out nicely, and will continue to bush out. I'm glad I decided to defoliate, I just now wish I had done it sooner, as I'm sure the side shoots would be much better right now.