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Days 0-4
Now that I’m less than three weeks away from harvesting my two Blue Dreams, I decided that now is a good time to get some seeds started.
For this diary, I will track Seedsman Purple Ghost Candy (fem). She’s a large plant, so SCROG is my plan. I start off by soaking my seeds in RO water with some CalMag added and 28ml/ gallon of Maxicrop Seaweed extract. I soak for anywhere from 12-20 hours. I will try to dunk the seeds…..I won’t plant them until they sink.
Day 2: transferred seed to Happy Frog soil that has been pre moistened with RO water plus CalMag plus Seaweed Extract. The tail on this seed was just starting to show itself after 15-16 hour soak.
Day 4: broke the soil late on day 4
ABOUT PURPLE GHOST CANDY
From the Seedsman site…..here’s the cultivar description for easy reference.
“Description
Purple Ghost Candy is an exciting cross between Ghost OG and one of the very best recent Purple cuts, viz. Candyland Purple. Purple Ghost Candy is 60% sativa with 40% indica genetics. These are large plants, easy to grow and with high potential yields both indoors and outdoors. High resin production and a tantalising terpene profile make this a must-grow strain for extract makers.
How Purple Ghost Candy Grows
Plants are quite sturdy and are vigorous growers with aggresive branching. Some support for the lateral branches of these large plants will be of benefit as they can grow to a height of between 250 - 350 cm. outdoors while indoor cultivators are recommended not to spend too long on the vegetative growth phase prior to flowering unless they have plenty of space and head-room. Even so a SCRoG set-up will both reduce the plants' height while exposing more bud sites to better light penetration leading to even bigger yields.
Indoors, plants grow to 130 - 160 cm. taking between 70 - 84 days to complete the flowering stage with yields of 500 - 600 gr/m2 rewarding growers. Outdoors in the northern hemisphere harvest time will be during the middle of October with each plant capable of yielding between 700 - 900 gr. each. A noteworthy facet is the very large, golden resin crystals that are produced, and these become noticeable after only a week or two of the flowering stage and which sticks like glue having a scent that persists for hours.
The top-most colas are an explosion of colour with the full spectrum of shades starting as a lime green and fading into yellows, reds, and oranges with the tips turning into dark red / purple colours that can either have a pastel or sharp gloss quality. Flowering finishes with a “pink-lemonade” appearance, reminiscent of a warm yellow-orange sunset with a dash of pink-purple velvet-matte colour.
Both feeding and ventilation requirements build to a peak at 8 weeks whereafter nutrient needs taper off. The last week or so it is advised to flush plants with iced water, the low temperatures acting to increase colour development. Dried and cured buds are lime green with purple pastel shades and of medium density. Inhalation is soft and mild due to the high resin content and clouds of smoke or vapour are dense.
Purple Ghost Candy Taste, Smell, and Effect
While Purple Ghost Candy has the typical fuel-like scent of OG strains, it is typified by spicy and earthy flavours alongside supporting notes of lemon with peachy tones. Initial notes are of a lemon-lime soda mixed with a peach/mint note on the tongue. Crisp, smooth, fruit-like aftertaste on exhale reminiscent of peach/grape candy. The lingering impression is comparable to eating peach ring candies with a dash of grape and lemon-lime candies at the forefront - refreshing and fruity.
THC production is very high at 27.54% with CBD content low. The effect produced is potent with a strong physical side balanced with a cerebrally stimulating effect too. This is a perfect strain to enjoy when just chilling out during a hard-earned rest.
The qualities expressed by Purple Ghost Candy make it eminently suitable for entering into cup competitions whether for bud or extracts/concentrates.”
Welcome to Days 5-12
Seeds sprouted on day 4, so now we’re in the seedling stage for 2-3 weeks. This seed emerged with the seed casing on her leaves. I sprayed with a mister multiple times today and eventually was able to remove the seed casing by night time.
I’m misting them with Reverse Osmosis water plus CalMag plus seaweed extract.
Removed the propagator tray, placed on heat mat. Containers were very light and needed water, so I misted and added 8ml of seaweed water to each cup.
On Wednesday, I used the Photone iPhone app to dial in the light better. I increased the light (20” high) from a 10% setting to a 20% setting. Lamp recommendation for seedlings at 18 inches and 30% intensity, so I’m still below recommended.
Some stretching in LA Peyote sprout, so more light is needed. Also reduced light timing from 24 hours to 20 hours of light.
On Thursday, I increased the light to a 20” height and a 30% intensity.
She’s been stretching, so I topped off with fresh soil yesterday to support her longer stem. Looking good today,
Misting with RO water with CalMag and Seaweed Extract.
I think i transplanted too early. Saw some roots at the bottom of the cup and leaves hanging over the edges of the solo cups, so I transplanted to one gallon containers. Rootballs we’re loose, not many visible roots.
ACI T22 Light was at 18 inches and 40% intensity until Tuesday. Increased to 50% intensity. Recommended intensity by manufacturer is 30% for seedlings and 70% for veg…..I’m working my way up to 70%.
I transplanted the last day of last week from solo cups to one gallon containers. I’m not sure what soil I’m using as it was left over mix. It’s a mix of Ocean Forest and Happy Frog and perlite….not enough perlite either.
Misting with a combination of RO Water, CalMag and Maxicrop Seaweed Extract. I plan to introduce a microbial element with EM-1 being used after tomorrow. That will be a new product for me, but I’ve read great reviews.
Saturday…..foliar fed and soil feed including EM1 bacteria and seaweed extract.
As of Wednesday, I’m planning to top this plant after she grows two more nodes. I will top above the 4th node, and remove the bottom two nodes.
She’s finally exiting the “seedling” stage….counting as 4 weeks since she popped from the soil. Foliar feeding and a little soak when the pots feel light.
Light is at 18 inches and 50% intensity as of Sunday. By Tuesday, this was increased to 70%.
Topped above the fourth node on Sunday. I had previously removed the bottom two nodes from each seedling. This will leave four branches for low stress training.
I am foliar feeding with seaweed extract and EM-1. I prefer to foliar feed outside the tent so that the spray doesn’t get on my LEDs.
Transplanted on Tuesday as she was ready and her leaves were wilting. Added Mykos, put in FFOF soil with perlite, watered in with seaweed extract.
Low stress training started on Thursday. Used landscape spikes to spread out the four remaining branches.
This was my favorite strain to grow, and here I go and break one of the four branches off. I’ll be more gentle in the future. She doesn’t seem healthy or happy at the moment. I’ve added a humidifier to the environment which will increase the humidity from 50 to 65%. That may help with the lower VPD.
I’m doing Quadline training, so trying to spread her out in the shape of an X. The nodes along each branch can climb towards the light (and be topped)
I’m defoliating the quadline plants….only two leaves need to be removed here due to blocking bud sites.
By Tuesday, small dose of micro and bloom seems to have helped leaf color.
As usual, the week starts on Sunday for me.
The quad line training continues. Today I will defoliate to insure that light is reaching all nodes. Also will evaluate if it’s time to top the plant. This plant has the one missing limb….so she has three branches to work with.
Increased Flora series Micro to 3ml and Bloom to 6ml. I am following the Lucas formula where I use twice the amount of Bloom as I do Micro….working my way up to 8ml/g of Micro and 16ml/g of Bloom. See posted photo.
On Tuesday, decided that this plant would do better under a SCROG net than as a Quadline since it lost a branch. Added SCROG net and wove branches thru net. Removed a few excess leaves.
On Wednesday, increased Micro to 4ml and Bloom to 8ml. She’s starting to drink a lot,
Perhaps it’s the Sativa in her (60%) but she’s lacking “structure” and her branches are very pliable and bendable. Not growing like a bush, which I’m accustomed to. In reading about this strain, SCROG is recommended and I can see why now.
Friday. Decided to end the vegetative stage and will start flowering her on Sunday. Since she is now under a SCROG net and will be difficult to move, I decided to remove the AC Infinity self-watering wick base. I will water this plant traditionally from the top. I wouldn’t be able to remove the reservoir for regular cleanings if I left it in place. No water or nutrients needed. Reservoir water at 850ppm and 7.0 ph.
All weeks will now begin on Saturday and end on Friday…..works better for my weekly update schedule.
I never intended to use this little veg tent as a flower tent, but here we are. Let’s see how this little AC Infinity system works for flower. The LED was at 17 inches above the canopy and dimmed to 90%….close to manufacturer instructions. Getting a reading of 30,000 lux (very low for veg or flower), so I lowered the LED to 9.5 inches above the canopy. Much improved, but still insufficient for good flowering in my opinion. Photon app and my lux meter are showing around 60,000 lux. The downside of the low canopy height is that my edges are not getting nearly enough light now. I’ll likely raise it to 12 inches to improve the overall coverage.
I think the information on this LED is incorrect…..see two photos. Manufacturer recommended 18 inches above canopy during flower, yet look at the ppfd readings in the following slide. That’s a weak lamp and it should be moved down to 12” or lower IMO. I’ll watch for signs of light stress or heat stress over the next few days. 1100 ppm feed and 6.6 ph.
SATURDAY
No action needed. Tucked a few branches into the SCROG net. I’m glad I decided to convert this plant to a SCROG since she grows more like a vine and less like a bush. Her Sativa must be showing, because I’ve never really experienced this type of growth. Lowered light to 12 inches above canopy and increased intensity from 90% to 100%. Added side lights to cover the dim edges. She’s growing much faster than my two indica plants.
SUNDAY
Fed 1.5 gallons nutrients at 6.7ph and measured runoff at 1100 ppm. Used 5ml Micro and 10 ml Bloom.
Adjusted side lights to improve edge coverage. Tucked branches and used plant clips to bend a few larger branches.
MONDAY.
Readjusted net….hard to scrog a 2x2. Net is More of a support tool than a SCROG. Plants are not as dark green as I’d like to see, especially knowing they’ll need nitrogen for their growth spurt. Increased Micro from 5 to 7 ml/g and Bloom from 10 to 14 ml/g. Double checked for light-proof in dark room and discovered several light leaks. Fixed leaks (fastened down Velcro, closed vents tighter). Let the flowering begin.
TUESDAY
increased micro to 8 and Bloom to 16 ml/ g. Fed one gallon. Ph 6.4 and ppm at 1000. This is the maximum under the Lucas Formula, so I plan to continue Micro and and Bloom at this level. Runoff ppm at 1900….will do more runoff next watering due to high ppm of runoff.
WEDNESDAY
Fed 1.5 gallons of nutrients. Removed runoff water. Tucked branches and used branch clips on a few taller ones.
I’m starting this journal 2 days early because New Years Eve weekend will be too busy to do so.
I’ll return to Saturday updates next week.
She’s really growing quickly….see photo below for 9 day difference.
I want to capture this in my journal,, so I’m adding this to each of my journals for easy reference in the future. This is the basic simple formula that I followed for this grow. Let’s see how she finishes, but this has been simple and effective feeding regiment.
In summary, I used Lucas recipe in FFOF soil in 5 gallon containers. Always 2:1 ratio of GH Flora Bloom to Flora Micro.
Early Veg. 2 Micro / 4 Bloom
Late Veg. 5 Micro / 10 Bloom increased to 7 Micro / 14 Bloom
Flower 8 Micro / 16 Bloom
Notes:
Included 2ml/g of CalMag, Micro for Hardwater, humic acid, Seaweed Extract in veg, Silica in veg and stretch, homemade Terpinator in flower.
Saturday: lowered LED to target 70,000 lux, tucked long branches too close to light, fed 1.5 gallons (no feed yesterday). Tested Photone app and getting wild readings between devices. Not going to use it…..start saving for an Apogee meter.
FINALLY able to get accurate Photone readings using mini IPad. (No luck with older iPhones). Raised light by 3-4 inches to reduce intensity. New DLI is still too high as I want to be between 36-38. It’s interesting how the Photone cannabis guide recommends that I should dim my lights further….I’m glad to save energy and drive my LEDs a little easier too.
Thursday: coming up on 2 weeks of flower and she’s stretched 6-8 inches so far. She has filled up the SCROG net. Hoping she slows down now in this short 48” tent. Fed 1.5 gallons of nutrients. Added liquid Koolbloom bulking formula 0-10-10. Probably going to flower at least 8-9 more weeks.
Friday:
Today marks the end of two weeks of 12/12 lighting. This Sativa-heavy Purple Ghost Candy is hopefully slowing down her stretch. I’m realizing that SCROG was likely my only option given how vine-like the growth is and how short my tent is (4’). I’ve never seen growth like this…but I usually grow indicas. I can’t wait to smoke this strain.
Feed per gallon: 8ml Micro / 16 ml Bloom / 2.5 ml Liquid Kool Bloom / 3.5 ml CalMag / 1300 ppm / 6.5 ph
Saturday: Welcome to Flower week #3. Hopefully the stretch is almost over in this short 4’ tent. My LED was too close to the plants and hung as high as possible, so I removed the ratchet hangers and zip tied it to the ceiling. I think I picked up 3 more inches, so the LED is 12 inches above the canopy. Target Daily Light Integral target is mid 30s and I’m getting a reading of 37.
1/2 gallon of nutrient water added
Sunday: Prepared to move plant to new 2x2x4 flower tent with brighter led. Defoliated and removed scrog net. Found a 150 watt LED on sale for under $100, so I decided to make a new grow tent using my current drying tent.
Monday. I’m struggling with sufficient headroom over the new LED in this short 4 foot tall tent. Ordered 2x2x6 tent for more headroom. This will be a new flowering tent.
Thursday: finished tent and light setup. Did a quick defoliation on plant in week 3 of flower, primarily lollipopping. I don’t like to remove too many leaves. Watered with 1.5 gallons and a little runoff. I skipped watering yesterday and she was thirsty. Double check Daily Light Integral and par reading using Photone app. Targeting 1050 par reading. Installed scrog net again to arrange colas under the light for better coverage.
Need a smart inline fan for the new tent…..fan running 24/7 is cooling the tent too much. I’ve been spoiled by the new technology. The AC Infinity T6 in-line fan will improve the environment in the new tent considerably.
Friday: end of week 9. No feed today. Added LED sidelights, although I don’t feel like they’re needed with this light. This VipraSpectra 150 watt par readings are far superior to the 130 watt ACI light I was using. New in-line fan coming today, so the Controller 69 will control four pieces of equipment…..LED, in-line fan, clip fan and sidelight LEDs.
As usual, the week starts on Saturday and ends on Friday. Starting week 4 of 12/12 lighting. Everything is looking good so far.
I had this girl in a SCROG net and squeezed into a 2x2x4 tent. She simply outgrew it, so she’s now in a 6’ tall tent. I removed the SCrOG net to let her live freely. With her quadline training, I shouldn’t need stakes to hold up the colas.
Saturday: fed one gallon of nutrients. Included EM-1 to this feed. Light defoliation as this is the last time to do it. (End of week 3 flower). Removed a lot of lower leaves after the photos were taken. Installed lower fan to improve airflow under canopy.
Sunday: Finished defoliation. Not extreme, but significant reduction in leaves. Much better airflow through canopy. I’m going to leave the SCROG net off. Fed nutrient water.
Monday: no plan to feed today as the pot is still heavy. No more defoliation either at this point.
Tuesday. Gave a little nutrients with Epsom salts added. Worried about the high ppm at 1500. Stopped feeding halfway.
Wednesday. Fed lower ppm feed (1200 ppm) using a gallon of RO water and 2.5 gallons of tap.
Thursday: I realized that the stretch wasn’t as bad as i expected. I can squeeze all three plants into one 2x4 tent. Posted above….with Purple Ghost Candy, Godfather OG and LA Peyote Kush in order from left to right.
Friday: end of the week. Plant is still heavy, so not going to water.
She’s new to the self watering and accustomed to top-watering, I will continue to top water her.
I tried to combine her with two other plants in a 2x4, but it felt overcrowded. So I moved her back into the 2x2 flower tent. Considering she was damaged early and almost sacrificed as a result, she turned out to be a nice plant.
I had been top feeding this plant. Moved her to an AC Infinity self feeding base last week.
Topped off reservoir with 1300 ppm solution.
Wednesday: moved to 2x4 since she is the same height as the Godfather OG. (She’s on the left in the Thursday photo). Moved LA Peyote Kush to 2x2 since she is shorter.
Thursday: topped off reservoir. She seems to be getting leafier….wonder if she has too much nitrogen. Small buds but stacking nicely.
Weeks start on Saturdays, so today is the start of week 6 since 12/12. My maintenance plan is as follows…..
Daily: fill reservoirs with 1250 ppm nutrients / 6.3 ph
Weekly: check reservoir ph and ppm levels
Every other week: empty and clean reservoirs
Thursday: it’s almost the end of the week, so I added a few photos. Looking healthy! 4-5 weeks of flower left to go. This plant is showing a potassium deficiency on the older leaves. Adding liquid koolbloom to stop the spread.
Im a day late posting the start of week 7 of flower…..I usually start my weeks on Saturday. As usual, I filled reservoirs with 1200 ppm nutrient solution at 6.3 ph. Seeing a slight potassium deficiency on the lower leaves, but not spreading since I added liquid KoolBloom (0-10-10)
Checked trichomes on Thursday. Starting to get cloudy, but no amber yet. This is in week 8 of flower and the strain is expected to run 10-12 weeks.
Filling reservoir daily.
Weeks start on Saturday, so today is the start of Week #9.
Filled the self watering base reservoirs with 1300ppm and 6.6 ph. Probably 2-3 weeks of flower left, so I will contemplate reducing nutrients as we get closer to harvest.
Monday. Removed Micro from feed as we near the finish line. That lowered the ppm of the feed from 1300 to 1150.
I also raised the PH to 6.6. Took photos in the tent….they are becoming difficult to move around for photos.
Wednesday. Tried to remove plant for photos but she’s too heavy and floppy. Trichomes say 2-3 more weeks.
Note that I am using a home made Terpinator recipe. Dosage may not match up with official product dosage recommendations.
Week 10 of flower and her trichomes appear ready for harvest. Planning to harvest this week.
Saturday is start of week. Photos taken, and reservoir filled with nutrients.
Tuesday-as usual, I filled the reservoirs with weak nutrient solution. Less than one week left before I harvest this plant.
Friday. Started to harvest, and I checked trichomes one last time. Still looking clear on several buds, so stopped harvest and planning to wait another week.
It’s Saturday, so the start of another week. Today is the start of week 11 of flower. I had thought she was ready for harvest, but another trichome check this week confirmed that I need to wait another week. Almost ready.
Daily activity….fill the reservoir with 1050ppm solution at 6.5 ph.
This plant grew like a vine and was my first attempt at a Sativa. A SCROG makes sense when I grow this again. Definitely a strain that is worth growing again.
T_Dub
