Seedling phase week 4

At the beginning of her 5th week, I covered up the soil in the SIP while I can still see it. I use garden fabric topped with river rocks. Since the SIP is fed entirely from the bottom, the top 2-3” of soil tends to get dry. Covering the top keeps the moisture closer to the surface, allowing roots to grow there. After topping it may seem like Amy didn’t grow much. While she didn’t gain much in height or width, her lower nodes really took off. I’ve started using 12” bamboo skewers with wire hooks to LST some of her limbs. I’ve also added a Vivosun 3x3 scrog net about 8” above the bucket. The hooks it comes with makes it really easy to set up. As does the ability to access three sides of the tent ;) Amy is finally acclimated to the SIP and is starting to take off. She’s drinking and respiring enough that I was able to remove the humidifier from the tent. The Vivosun SGS is keeping the VPD right around 1.1-1.2. Coming into the end of her 5th week she is still tight and bushy. I removed a handful of leaves, especially those growing toward the middle of the plant. Removing some of the larger fan leaves allows her to concentrate her growth at the tips, while also getting more light in the middle of the plant. The plan is to keep everything below the net until it is as full as possible. I want her to grow horizontally for now, so for the next few weeks I’ll be spreading all the new growth to the outside of the tent.