Happy Week 5 Everybody!
Another fast week has passed and these beautiful ladies are charging! All three strains are flowering in multiple sites. This week, some of the bigger fan leaves were tucked down and the longer branches were CAREFULLY bent using a chiropractic technique to help better expose the lower flower sites to the light, and to create better air flow through the center of the plants. There is still a lot of large vegetation, probably too much in places. I will most likely defoliate it next week when the plants really start to push in to flower. But right now I like the aesthetic of the lush canopy, so it stays.
I noticed some discoloration on a few of the top leaves of the sour diesel plant. I googled some images and it looks similar to a calcium deficiency, which I have not been supplementing. All three plants have been on the exact same feed and water schedule, so unless the SD plant needs more calcium than the others, I'm not sure why there would only be spots of the deficiency on one plant and not a more global presentation. This plant is the tallest of the three, and as such is always closest to the grown light. My other thought is that the spotting may be a thermal burn from the lights. I treated for both and will keep watching to see if it improves.
The LA Kush plant is the bushiest and shortest of the three. There is about a 4-6 inch height difference between LAK and SD. I raised the LAK box up on 2 x 4s and now the canopy is even, with the light a more uniform 16-18 inches above the canopy.
Changes in grow conditions this week are as follows: The grow light continues to run at 100% intensity, with the IR channel now started at 25%. The plants are drinking about 1/2 gallon of water a day. Filling the earthbox containers with enough water for them has raised the RH to about 70%. To prevent any moisture build up/ mold growth there are 2 fans running. And the soil in the earthboxes looks super healthy. Lots of feeder roots are peaking through the soil!
Looking forward to the week ahead!
See you next week.
I applied some beneficial nematodes a little over a week ago and the gnat problem has almost gotten under control. I might do another application later this week or next.
I also put up some sticky traps to catch the adult fliers.
@PartTimeUnicorn,
Love to hear that. Seeing those gnats in the tent is such a downer! The zevo that I put in the tent seems to have resolved the problem for me too. I haven't seen any new gnats in a few days.
I top dressed my soil two days ago because the plants were showing pre-flower. I didn't see any gnats crawling around in the soil when I pulled back to plastic cover sheet. Hopefully it holds up.
Have you had any issues with fungas gnats in the earthboxes? Seems like whenever I top dress, I get an infestation of them. I did add some beneficial nematodes recently and it seems to be helping.
@PartTimeUnicorn
Dude! Fucking YES!
I haven't put up my week 3 post yet, but I have started noticing them. I ran a power cord with a zevo bug catcher into the tent. It's quelled them but there's still a few stragglers. The bug catcher emits a blue light to attract the gnats. I use them in my house during the summer, especially near the sink and fruit bowl. They work well.
I had gnats in a lime tree pot a few years ago and used nematodes with good effect, but ended up changing the soil when I moved the plant outside the following spring. Otherwise I'm trying not to put more water in the basin than can be absorbed in a day or two. The fungal gnats drive me fucking crazy though!
The earth boxes are so damp that I think gnats are going to be a problem the whole time. I asked my GF for some of the milled mustard seed from build a soil for Xmas. Its supposed to kill of gnats and boost mycelial growth. Hopefully that helps. I'll let you know if it does.
Good luck hunting!