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Hey all,
Time for another grow - this time using autoflowers and soil, both of which are new to me.
Comments/advice is appreciated.
Thank you to all the forums out there and specifically 420 Scene and his discord for the feedback given.
This will be a soil organic grow that aims to be as hands off as possible.
Taking PPM's and pH of a hydro setup before and after work got old, but I'm glad I experienced a couple DWC grows to get a taste.
Learning about soil has been interesting. I've had a few vegetable gardens mainly in premix that did well enough and was happy with, but this is different.
My favorite part so far is learning about microbial life and how they assist the plants.
Rushed the germ process a bit... needed to get them in their final home.
Soaked in glass of water for a day, paper towel for a day, then planted.
Amended a 1.5cu' bag of Coast of Maine Grower's Blend with 8qt's Perlite and 1.5C of Dolomite Lime from Down to Earth to get started.
I dug out the center of my pots and filled it in with Coast of Main Organic Seed starter mixed with a handful of worm castings for the seedling stage.
I have an RO water system which comes out at 6.4 pH which I'll be using - VERY thankful for this lol.... no more adjusting pH for me.
The Mars Hydro TSL 2000 is 3' away at 25% load, I'll be using 20/4.
Tent hangs out around 70° - 74° and 50-60 rh for now.
I'll turn the humidifier on if need be when they break soil.
My outline is below... again, comments/advice appreciated. Happy growing all.
Amending with Down to Earth dry organic nutes as it progresses.
Worm castings added with each top dress.
Recharge added with each water until flowering starts, then switching recharge to Mammoth P.
Week four, top dress, 3x 4-4-4, 3x 4-8-4. ( Tbspns )
Week seven, top dress, 3x 4-4-4, 5x 4-8-4. ( Tbspns )
3/3 FastBuds BlackBerry Auto popped their heads last Monday - 6/27
1/1 Dutch Passion Mazar Auto popped it's head head last Tuesday - 6/28
Switched light to a HLG 350R, it's on the second setting.
Added a humidifier.
They'd probably like it more humid then what it is but they seem fine.
Watered twice since last Sunday.
Easy growing.
Started to lightly LST.
HLG 350R on the second setting.
Watered with RO water and Recharge twice since last update.
Really enjoying the ease of this grow so far compared to my last two DWC endeavors.
More upgrades. :]
Now growing in a 5'x5' AC Infinity tent, with the AC Infinity air mover and controller.
Plants are trucking along. All four are showing pistils as of yesterday.
Watered a couple times since the last update.
I've been using plain RO water with recharge, their last drink was fish tank water and recharge.
Good luck all, peace.
The Mazar seems to have a deficiency... Magnesium?
If confirmed, will add Epson salt on the next water and see how it does.
Taking soil pH later tonight to narrow down the issues... I've been using a cheapo soil tester from Amazon but I'm not sure I trust the thing.
I have a good pH meter from when I was growing hydroponically and will be making a dirt slurry to test.
Well, plants are still trucking along somehow.... even though the pH of the soil is 7.3-7.5 lol
Bummer... but oh well, you learn.
My guess it the dolomite lime that I added to the Growers Mix to give more cal/mag increased the pH so much it started locking out the magnesium... how's that for irony lol
Seeking advice for this, not quite grasping how to dial in the soil pH with respect to the microbes also providing buffering.
Started to LST.
Top dressed last Saturday with 4tbspns 4-4-4 and 3tbspns 4-8-4 and Mammoth P.
Please consider using my ILGM affiliate link if you plan on ordering some kickass seeds from them - https://ilgm.com?aff=6649
Hoping this grow isn't boned and I can get the soil pH dialed in for some happy plants, great yields and excellent smoke.
If not there's always next time... more seeds are on the way.
Good luck all, peace.
Not sure the pH had much to do with the issues on the Mazar Auto.
Still not sure what's up with the Mazar Auto.
Still getting more questions then answers lol... but that's part of the fun right
Need to get better at watering. It seems I was under watering, which can be especially bad with organic grows.
I'm also going to get a charcoal filter instead of using RO.
Need to get better at honing in my light distance and strength.
Honestly I'm happy with how it's going for it being my first soil and auto grow.
Learned a lot and am still learning more... great prep for the next grow - ILGM's Girl Scout Cookies auto.
Good luck all. Peace.
Spose' the BlackBerries are looking good enough, but I think the Mazar needs help.
Have been doing a lot of reading but feel like I'm chasing my tail.
My newbie hypothesis is too much light, maybe paired with over pH downing of the water... seems like the plants might be locked out? Especially the Mazar.
Hah ... I used teaspoons instead of tablespoons to measure out dry amendments when I top dressed a few weeks ago....no wonder they've been showing deficiencies.
Top Dressed again last Sunday and have been keeping the pots moist with a simple worm casting/molasses tea to get the nutrients into the soil a.s.a.p.
Rocky grow lol. Nice learning though.
Another week down.
Been giving worm casting tea in RO water to try to get the microbes working overtime to get in that last top dressing a.s.a.p.
They seem to be doing alright considering the lack of nutrition.
Defoliated a little this morning.
Happy growing all.
This run has been a little all over the place lol
The plants seem to be doing well enough though, and I'm happy with them....again, great learning experience.
Top dressed over the weekend with 10 tablespoons 4-8-4 and 1 cup of worm castings, watered in with what you see above.
This should be their last feed.
The trichomes on the Blackberries are milky... maybe another week or two?
The Mazar seems like it'll be about three to four more weeks... there's still a fair amount of clear.
There was a power outage today for a little over three hours, hope they don't herm. :]
The problems with fungus gnats have gotten worse so I've applied diatomaceous earth to all the containers I've got going.
Peace all. Happy growing.
Well, it my first soil grow so its hard to say how easy the plants were to grow... don't have anything to compare it to.
Will say that that due to my mistakes they lacked the needed nutrition for about 1/3rd of the grow if not a little more, and they still came out decent and I'm happy with them.
I love the deep purple/black/red colors on them, paired with the deep red/dark orange hairs, surrounded by a good amount of trichomes.
They look and smell delicious - skunky berries.
Updates coming after dry/trim.
Took at about 10.5 weeks with trichome maturity as shown.
I would've liked to run them a little longer for more amber but needed to get a move on.
Happy with them, another grow down.
9/19 - Trimmed, 4.75oz. dry.
Buds are a little airy but smell great and are frosty.
Pleasantly surprised with quantity.
Well, it my first soil grow so its hard to say how easy the plants were to grow... don't have anything to compare it to.
Will say that that due to my mistakes they lacked the needed nutrition for about 1/3rd of the grow if not a little more, and they still came out decent and I'm happy with them.
She's frosty. Think I took her a little premature but she's ready enough.
Updates coming after dry/trim.
Took at about 10.5 weeks with trichome maturity as shown.
As stated before, I think I took her a little premature.. but she's grown enough.
I had to get a move on and I'm satisfied.
Happy with them, another grow down.
9/19 - Trimmed, 2.9oz. dry.
Pleasantly surprised with quantity and quality... very sticky.
Onto curing.