Forbidden Runtz - Runtz Showdown

They went steadily but surely last week. They could've been bigger but I keep them smaller with the fan speed to get thicker stalks and less height. Just feeding some plain water adjusted for PH, coming week their roots will find more hot soil so I will keep watering with normal water. The climate is stable and I've added a humidifier to keep VPD levels in check. I'm usually in the sweet spot and see this is an addition that will add to the final result dramatically. I'm really happy so far with these genetics. What vigor from germination on and can't wait to see how they will perform. The SP-3000 is of course way overdoing it for this part of the veg. So we turned it way low and hung it further up so we won't burn the plants. Every week I put the lights a smidge higher, to let the plants get used to full blast gradually. Also, our prize came in, we are very happy with even more great strains by Fastbuds! But also the socks are so smooth and comfy, thanks so much @growdiaries and @fastbuds! The tray and the weed saver bags were dearly needed and are already being put to use. I feel like a collector with all the exotic strains here now and can't wait to try them all for next diaries. Thank you for checking us out again! Hug Bud

This week I started feeding them, just some organic BAC Grow and Calmag 2.0 and added some molasses for feeding the micro-life. I put the SP-3000 a little stronger until leaves started to pray a little. Keeping the humidity and temps in the ideal zone. I see the plants really enjoy this and I was growing a bit on the dry side with my other grows. I'm looking at my options for fimming or topping auto's, my experience is, don't mess with them too much. This is also why I chose to not over-pot them. They started in a cup of seedling soil surrounded by super soil. They have been growing though and are going faster by the day now. Coming days I will make the decision to top / fim or just LST only... Thank you for checking me out again. Hug Bud

And another week has passed, they are bigger but didn't do the growing I expected them to do. I think something stressed them for a couple of days, where the XL Runtz took the stressing factors a bit better. I'm trying to find out what it could have been and preventatively softened the light, lowered temps and it seemed to recover. Maybe I pushed the SP-3000 by Mars Hydro a bit too hard... We also had some white pointy bits... With a lot of trust in this growing method, after the previous grows, and the plants look overall happy I'm not too worried. The soil will balance out if just don't push the lights too hard. It's a matter of adjusting and finding sweet spots and limits. So I started bending a little and this week will bend over the tops, to further the LST which is about the only thing ill do and maybe some defoliation after 3rd week of flower.... Thank you for checking out my diary again!

Ok so I'm a couple of days later with posting, though the images are of last Friday. They went full into flowering. At the same time, 3 of the 4 have some weird growth going on. Deeply ridged leaves, a bit springy plants. I raised the lights cause I also saw white points and other leaf burn. I have to get used to the nitro-fueled energy of these thoroughbreds and the 'on the edge' style of growing that autos deliver, as a mostly photoperiod grower, this is both exiting as well as a bit out of control in the style of a rollercoaster, once you get on - you have to do the ride. All in all amazed with the vigor, though clearly, the XLs outperformed the Forbiddens in growth. I have so many conditions going on, however, that all will be too close to call for now and in the long run my results will have been tainted by my experimenting and finding all optimal with these rocket-style plants. I'm amazed at this growth as Jack must have been when popping his magic beans. Still, they keep developing and power through with bud formation. I have to watch these lights, the SP 3000 by Mars Hydro is so powerful, that also getting this light optimal is a whole learning curve, but it does deliver a punch. I think I overdid the amendments at the start with the blood meal and that's why I see ridging so I'm careful with the Nitrogen and give them lots of fresh water with just some topmax in between. They seem to hold out but its on the edge. As far as bending, after the initial bend, I saw many branches develop that are nicely outward, tucked some leaves but I'm happy with the shape of the plant and will let the center bud develop. Take care and see you next week! Thanks for visiting!

Another week has passed. An eventful week in our lives, but the plants came back on track. Some regular water and defoliating made them happy again. I see lots of similarities between the two strains. Where the XL Runtz ae a true XL and sees to adapt a little better to the conditions than the Forbidden Runtz. But the fight isn't over yet. We still have weeks to go and the forbidden Runtz might recover, my two cents is this: Fastbuds are just a little bit less heat resistant and temps went up last weeks with the SP -3000 on high. Also the XL Runz are closer to the intake of cooler air. So it would be fair to trade places what I do coming week. Thanks again, see you next week!

The past week I've been trying to identify problems with my climate and feeding. Three out of two plants (so also one of the XL Runtz) stay behind with exactly the same problems. I've been ventilating more to get cooler air into the tent. This seems to resolve some of the issues but has cost some development. Reason enough to call off the battle. The playing field was influenced by me as I'm still getting to know 'the rules of engagement' with growing autos indoors. They are way more sensitive to influences than my usual regulars. So I'm using all this info to tune my tent, for climate, and the soil for nutrients. So the next run will be more stable. Still, these strains completely amaze me with how fast they put out these buds. It is almost alien in 6 short weeks up to now. Considering my options for summer. Dealing with temps in a hot attic, or start growing some plants indoors and transfer to outdoor when it gets too hot. The jury is still out on this but the invasion of Ukraine could play a role in this as my government keeps pumping Russian oil and gas for our energy needs and Sunshine and me stand solid in our support for a free Ukraine. Thanks for following again!! Hug Bud and Sunshine!

And another week has passed and the ladies are going towards en of flowering. What I noticed the last couple of weeks is trouble keeping it stable and unstunted. The two Forbiddens and one XL all went slower. The one XL Runt in the 5 liters bigger grow bag is going full throttle and is almost done, the others are still filling out. My theories: The bigger grow bag held on to more water, the bigger grow bag kept the roots cooler, the bigger grow bag had in theory the same amount of nutes as the smaller, so the ratios could be more optimal. The bigger grow bag was nearer to the intake of cooler air and not so hot by the heat. Final theory: the bigger grow bag has better super soil regulation and is less affected by the fluctuating PH of my nute mix. For now, it is all speculation. Im considering all possibilities but I think I need to tweak my recipe for autos and always use 20 liter bags instead of 15. Still Im not complaining, they all get to a nice size and we still have some weeks of flowering to go. But the XL Rut on the left is creating fat heavy buds I wish all plants had. Nice how the smell is definately geloto on the both, the XL runtz a little more pungeant, the Forbiddens a little more fresh. This SP 3000 still delivering the goods, with the ventilation still great output, no noticeable loss of output or overheating. Look at the spring deals at www.mars-hydro.com. When is the last time you treated yourself to something nice? Come on, you've earned one! We shall see how they develop, trying to balance my way to the end of flowering hoping they won't stunt again. Final weeks. Thanks again for visiting!! Hug Bud

As we saw in earlier weeks, I'm trying to balance them out, something is bothering them. But seeing the results so far it could only be 2 or 3 things: 1/ the left plant (XL runt) is closer to intake of cooler / fresh air. 2/ That one is in a bigger pot 3/ buffering with super soil works better in a larger pot. So next time I will use: better ventilation, also horizontal circular, using bigger pots, also put back in the hydro corn, which I didn't this time, God knows why... Ah I know, cause I was stoned probably... Fr autos I will also use a little fewer amendments in the coming grow. It's just a learning curve with my setup and having never grown auto's indoors. Also with these Forbidden Runtz, I'm happy with what they are doing still with me messing up a bit. Still, it is a tent full of weed. See you next week!! Hug Bud PS check the deals on this excellent SP-3000 that I'm using on www.mars-hydro.com

This is the final week, they are going to be chopped coming week. Already had some darkness and they are very very smelly. I am amazed at this strain's resilience. It had to deal with my noobishness with autos, heat, very hot soil and less PH buffering with my own super soil recipe (see the yellow image in the germination page) in the smaller bags. Still, they became huge and full of bud. Forbidden Runtz is an amazing strain. Very strong growth but also with most auto's I've grown: once the grow derails, it seldom recovers. But these do. I'm sure next grows I'm going to get even more out of them. Can't wait to try them again with what I've learned now. And you should all consider the SP-3000 as a growlight, look at my results! I will update when I've harvested, thanks for visiting!! Don't forget to check out the special spring discounts on www.mars-hydro.com Big hug Bud

One was more bushy and was a little behind. As I said, they had some heat stress and I think the 15-liter pots are too small when the environment is hotter. Still, they are totally worth growing and joy to smoke. They don't need much curing and the weed is very very strong. Going to try this strain again very soon!!