Note: I have acquired a medical license to grow up to 25 cannabis plants since my first diary and am moving from 4 plants to 12 per run going forward.
I should not have transplanted the smallest ones yet, as the root structure, while present, was not full. Since my last diary's plants were about to be harvested, I wanted to get these situated in the new 4x2 even though it was early. These plants were all sitting in a propagation dome for a couple weeks prior. The PK (Purple Kush) were all clones, and the Gelato were popped from seed. They are all in various stages of having been over-watered or nutrient deficiency.
They are also home to some Fungus Gnats. I have learned that I will be dealing with these critters on the daily, and that's OK because they are easy to deal with. I use yellow sticky traps and diatomaceous earth, but the latter is far less effective than I had hoped. I could use a lot more I guess, but it is expensive. The sticky traps do a good enough job to manage the gnat population easily.
When they were transplanted I used 3 tablespoons per gallon of Gaia Green's All Purpose 4-4-4 and 5 tbsp of worm castings. This was about +200% of the recommended dose of the Gaia Green, which I only realized later. I used the same ratios last run and top-dressed half way through flower, and the plants did not senesce (deteriorate with age) before harvest because they were so well fed. The buds were very potent and very frosty, but harsh. At most stages throughout my last grow TDS was over 3000 when I checked, which is too high and must have led to the harshness. I have converted much of that grow into flower rosin and I can almost taste the Gaia Green...
This time around I did it again! Only after transplanting to 1 gallon pots, and over feeding by 200% did I realize our boy Mr Canuck (Matt) was using 1 tablespoon per gallon - not 3. Realizing this, it is clear why the first run's buds are harsh. Experience tells me they will be fine, and actually thrive, even with this hot substrate. When I transplant to 3 gallon pots, I will feed them 1 tablespoon per gallon.
I'm excited to see how the Gelatos do alongside the Purple Kush. Last run I had a hermaphrodite (from overfeeding?) and the buds stopped swelling on all of the plants once they were pollinated. Maybe thsi time around they will be bigger.