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As this is an autoflower, the last thing I want to do is to cause any issues in retarding this plant as the clock starts after germination. I chose my no till earthbox that was used previously and is teeming with microbes, and earthworms. I last top dressed with nutrients about 9 weeks ago before putting my previous grow into flower. I pulled the old root ball out and replaced the divot with Build a Soil 3.0. Placed seed in new soil to avoid the abundance of life the earthbox contains as rove beetles and springtails abound in the soil. Soil is still moist from last grow even though the reservoir has been emptied for several weeks. I placed the seed directly in substrate. Used BB+ and Rootwise Mycrobe complete. Placed a plastic lid on top to retain moisture and warmth and set light on for 24 hours. May reduce the light to 18 hours after the seedling starts to grow. Just closed the tent to await germination. UPDATE: Seed germinated. Added pic. Will lightly mist the humis layer daily and watch her rip... I really like the idea of using Beauvaria Bassaria as it will inoculate the plant and turn pests into food. I turned down light and will top dress with Build A Flower Top Dress and Craft Blend, both from BuildASoil after a few days of growth...
Seedlings are not the most exciting part of the grow. However, I took the time to top dress the Earthbox by removing the Barley Straw and worked into the top layer of soil, 1 cup Gnarly Barley, 1 cup Craft Blend, 1 cup Karanja Seed Meal, and 2 cups Worm Castings. I then replaced the Barley straw and watered in 1/2 gallon of rainwater, with saponin as a wetting agent. I placed 1/4 tsp of freeze-dried aloe, 1/8 tsp Big 6 Micronutrients, 1/8 tsp OptiVeg, and 1/4 tsp coconut powder to start the reaction. I also sprinkled some bokashi on top of the barley straw to help with breakdown and assist in making nutrients plant available. The last time I had added nutrients was 4 weeks before flower on the last grow and I'm sure the soil could use the food/nutrients. I checked the PPFD of the light and set it to around 180 which for 20 hours is low for DLI as I do not want to force growth. Will take it easy as I know there is plenty of food for the plants. Happy Growing!
This week was uneventful. I didn't water as there is plenty of moisture in the earthbox. I increased PPFD to around 300 to slowly ramp up growth. DLI for 20 hours is good. Captured a picture of the seedling every morning and the seedling is certainly growing. No issues noted and I will continue to take pictures daily as the seedling digs in. Happy Growing!
12/20 - After top dress, I noted that the topsoil was a little crusty from the Craft Blend, I went ahead and mixed with the topsoil so the material would be easier to uptake by the microbes and plants. I then watered slightly to moisten and placed a mulch cover on the earthbox to protect the soil and allow the feeder roots to breach the soil without exposure to light. Also lowered light to achieve 560 PPFD for a DLI of 40 @ 20 hours to get the party started.
Easy week. I previously top dressed around the earthbox and watered in... plenty of food, now just waiting for it to become plant available. She is growing into a short squat phenome. Will continue to monitor. I believe it will be at least another week before I fill the reservoir. I check daily for moisture and noted it is not needed. When needed I only provide a small amount of water to the plant root zone, the seedling germinated in the divot created when I removed the previous root ball and replaced it with BAS 3.0 soil, planting the seed directly in the substrate. The plant now gets 550 PPFD and the increased light is showing dramatic results in only one day. Will continue to take pictures daily to show progress.
12/25 - I lowered the light to give the plant an increased PPFD of 700. I also removed four leaves that occluded the side branching from the light. In a week I should be able to start training by bending over the main stem to expose more side branching and encourage growth.
Great uneventful week. Will start training this week if growth continues like last week. Removed an additional four leaves that was covering side branching. No water for reservoir yet as the moisture content in the media is still moist. I validate with a moisture meter to be sure. I have been growing this plant slowly as not to trigger her into flower, so I may have a couple extra weeks of vegetation. Will continue that plan as she grows into the light providing 750 PPFD to the plant.
12/31 - Defoliated the leaves at the bottom of the plant as well as some leaves to allow the light through. 01/01 -added much needed humidity to tent which was long overdue! VPD now within limits and the tent environment is much improved.
01/05 - Bent Mainstem, removing top leaves to allow light to penetrate the bud sites down stem. Hoping this will also push side branch development. I have yet to water as the earthbox appears to be still moist with reservoir empty. Any water added is only to the divot I replaced with BAS 3.0. Also noted that it appears flowers are starting to develop. Next diary entry will be for flowering week 1!
Great week! I replaced my humidifier and was able to achieve a target of .6 - 1.6 kPa VPD and noticed the plant took off with growth. Still have not watered since week 1, nor is there water in the reservoir. I am amazed at the way the soil is holding water. As a result, I have removed the mulch cover (shower cap) to allow the soil to breathe. I have also opened my tent and turned off the humidifier to help the soil dry out and was astonished that I was able to support a VPD of 1.6 kPa with the tent open. So I'll try that for a couple of days. The girl is exhibiting her sex throughout the plant, and I see hairs developing on the bud sites as well. There are an amazing number of bud sites on this plant, and after performing LST, noted that the stems at the place of bend, shot up with two bud sites immediately. All side branching has taken off in less than 24 hours after bending over the main stem.
1/7 - Noting that the plant is needed something. I have not placed water in reservoir until this point to prevent anaerobic conditions, I let the plant grow for at least a couple weeks to allow root development before filling reservoir. This run went a little longer. Replaced the mulch cover to protect the soil.
1/10 - Knocked light cycle down to 18 hours from 20 after watching the plant decline due to DLI in late evening. Takes a couple of hours for plant to recuperate, so I reduced the light cycle and the corresponding DLI.
1/11 - Noted that the reservoir is empty. Provided a soil drench of 1/2 gallon of water with 1/2 oz. of Thrive Probiotics Yah Whey. Girls are praying. Now that I know the SIP is empty, I will fill tomorrow.
1/12 - Filled water reservoir and added SCROG netting to level canopy and to provide uniform lighting.
Informative week.
I found out my moisture meter is highly inaccurate and that I may have lost a little grow time due to the fact that I filled the reservoir later than I would have preferred.
Will continue to allow the smaller buds to stretch up into the canopy while I keep all branches stretching bent towards the netting to allow all branches to even up. Once that is accomplished, I will let them grow to a height I can maintain in my short grow tent. Best week was last week, and I see many great weeks ahead!
1/14 - Reservoir was dry again... girls are thirsty! Refilled.
1/16 - Lollipopped plant to clean her up.
1/17 - Reservoir was dry again... girls are thirsty! Refilled.
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A flat canopy
Small delicate flowers
All buds will soon grow large
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Stretch into the light
Flowers develop and stack
Grow old and mature
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Simple week. Best week of growth. Trichomes appearing on sugar leaves. No issues noted except a little tip burn. Since I have not provided anything except water to the reservoir, I'm thinking the dry amendments have broken down to the point that the nutrients are plant available and are feeding the plant. On week 1, I added 1 cup Karanja Seed Meal to provide a little nitrogen and that too must becoming available for the plant to use. I am only providing water to the reservoir when empty. This part of the grow I sit back and watch her grow and tuck branches back into net to keep an even flat canopy. Girl is starting to smell of molasses, brown sugar and dark chocolate.
1/21 - Noticing that the reservoir was dry, I took off the mulch cover to discover the mulch was a little moist, but drying out. I thought this would be an excellent time for a feeding. There is a lot of food already available for the plant, so for balance, I used a ferment and gave the girls a gallon of ordinary aged tap water along with an oz. of Yah Whey probiotics, a ferment made with kefir whey, a 1/16th tsp. of Big 6 micronutrients, 1/2 tsp. of coconut water powder, and 1/16th tsp. Quillaja Saponaria extract powder as a wetting agent.
1/22 - Reservoir empty. Added aged tap water to fill reservoir.
1/23 - Defoliated and lollipopped to remove larf candidates and promote bud growth and ventilation.
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Genetics are key
420FastBuds are great
Gorilla Cookies
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Another worry free and lazy week where I only filled up the reservoirs of the earthbox and the humidifier. Dont get me wrong, I defoliate and check the plant daily, just don't have a whole lot to do... I am water only from now until harvest. There is plenty of food available for microbes in the soil, just need to ensure she is watered. When the reservoir drys out, I usually wait one day before filling it. This way I never have an issue with overwatering or fungus gnats. The genetics of this plant are wonderful. Beautiful structure and a huge main stem for such a smaller plant. As the buds bulk up, there will be little need for supporting the COLAs.
1/27 - Filled Earthbox reservoir with aged tap water.
1/29 - Bought lottery tickets and added (3 cups) of Build a Flower Top Dress. I watered the top dress with 1/2 gal of aged tap water with 1/2 tsp coconut powder and 1/2 tsp of Build a Bloom as a bloom booster. Plants are the winners!
1/31 - Dry again! Filled reservoir with aged tap water. Added 1/4 tsp Langbeinite in water reservoir for water soluble sulfur, potassium, and magnesium.
2/1 - Noted some leaves were canoeing, so I raised the light a couple inches.
Another wonderful week! I have added more humidity as I have started another grow next door and need the extra humidity for the seedling. I keep the humidity around 50% in flower. I also added water to the reservoir as it was empty again. Keeping an eye on these flowers as the plant is happy and healthy!
2/6 - Noticed canoeing occurring on fan leaves on separate COLAs. Lifted light so it is eighteen inches above the areas affected. Also provided one-half gallon of water on the soil as a drench in case the plant needs additional moisture at rhizosphere for respiration. I'll keep an eye on this at late stage.
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Awaiting Finish
Blossums Eagerly Mature
Large Pungent Flowers
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2/10 - Terrific week of flower development. The smell is stronger, trichomes are all over this gorgeous plant. However, there are problems lurking as I am seeing canoeing of the leaves which tells me that the plant is having difficulty keeping up with transpiration. The leaves close as there is not enough moisture at root level to supply the leaves with necessary moisture. The leaves curl up to limit light radiation received blocking photosynthesis. I think I may have a collapsed weeping column internally and that is why the water has been displaced. I can barely pour two gallons into the reservoir without overflowing. This is approximately one gallon short of what capacity should be. This morning I filled the empty reservoir and gave the soil a drench of one gallon of water with a wetting agent, 1/16 tsp of Big 6 Micronutrients and 1/2 tsp of BuildABloom. Then I cleaned up the mess from the water overflowing from the reservoir, but I know that the plant soil is completely moist including the base of the plant.
2/15 - Noted reservoir was empty. Instead of filling reservoir, I opted for a soil drench of one gallon of aged tap water with a wetting agent and coconut powder.
Another uneventful week. Set up moisture meter for precision watering. The moisture level is 35%. Buds are still bulking up and I am keeping my eye on trichome development. One-two more weeks maximum until harvest. Just water and sugars from here on out.
2/18 - Watered in a gallon of water with wetting agent and coconut powder for the hungry microbes.
2/22 - checking daily on maturity. Will most probably harvest on Friday. Moisture at 29%. Don't see need for further watering.
2/24 - Ice storm caused 36 hour electrical outage. Plant was at 53 degrees F for the duration. I will let her thaw today and tomorrow I will harvest.
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Life is truly short
The smell of flowers is strong
Harvest time is near
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This strain is one of my favorites. The stickiness and trichome development are spectacular. The structure is quite strong but I'm glad I scrogged as the buds get quite beefy. However, the branching did most of the support. The smell is outrageous as well. I can't wait to try some! The strain put up with all my mistakes and grew beautifully. She likes humidity, so if you keep her in the green for VPD you are good. But she also puts up with cold quite well having her low temperatures around 63 degrees F. throughout her life at night. She likes some rest also and improved greatly when I transitioned from 20 to 18-hour light cycles. She is a voracious eater, and your grow will benefit from training resulting in a high quality yield. More pics after cure of 63 degrees F and as high humidity that allows me in the winter. I opened the Earthbox and noted that there was a little dirt in the reservoir area. Removed all the soil and re-amended with earthworm castings, Craft Blend, Basalt, Flower Girl, and some crab meal. Reassembled to ready for the next grow from Ganja Farmer.