First grow

I’m running off memory and photo dates from my phone. I’m coming up on week 6 as I type this. This is my first grow and this stage was super boring to me. I feel like it looked the same every time I came to look at them.

I went out of town, and came back to them both looking a bit smaller than expected.

Not sure what’s happened to either of these. The Royal skywalker has a couple leaves that just stopped growing, and the critical is doing some weird stuff.

I noticed the critical has new growth covering the main top growth like an umbrella, so I tied it a bit to allow light.

Critical still just trying to live. Decided to top/defoliate the Royal skywalker to try delaying it from getting taller to hopefully let the critical catch up a bit.

I’ve decided to let the critical just chill in the corner of the tent. I won’t be transplanting it, but I will still water it just because. I got a bit too aggressive with the tie downs on the Royal skywalker’s top branches and it got a small tear at the joint, so I backed the ties off some so hopefully it will repair itself. Also I haven’t mentioned yet, but I did use a tsp of Trifecta Myco Supreme when I transplanted, and I rotate feedings and waterings when the soil gets dry a couple knuckles deep. I did get an ac infinity self watering base that I will fill/use soon. I will still top feed.

I didn’t do a lot since last week’s update. I raised the light to 18” and intensity to 70% power. Leaves started curling, so I took it back down to 60%. The leaves flattened back out. I took off a few of the fan leaves that shaded the center area and took of a couple of growth point that was on the underside of the horizontal branches. Other than that I’ve just been trying to keep up with tying her down. The critical is showing my inexperience with growing. These two germinated the same day, so it’s funny to see the two side by side. I defoliated all the weird growth off, and she’s just been chillin in the corner.

I did some defoliation on the lower branch of the Royal skywalker. Got rid of everything that wasn’t getting light. I did save one cut for trying out cloning. I have no plans for it other than to see if it roots, and gain some knowledge. As for the critical, it had a rough start and I said I wouldn’t transplant it….i lied. I did end up transplanting it. It’s just seemed to be acting a lot happier here lately. Not vigorously growing, but looks happy. I bought a cheap wick watering pot on Amazon that would fit perfectly in the corner of the tent.

I bought 2 trellis nets. Used one and will use the other a bit later after I flip. I plan to flip soon. Maybe next week. I was having some moisture between the leaves, so I decided to defoliate some. I feel like I’m defoliating every week. Idk if that’s necessary or not. I’m learning/experimenting as I go. The critical is deciding to finally put on some growth. If she doesn’t reach the net by the time I flip I’ll get a pot stand so she’s a little taller and can get some of that corner light.

This is nearly their last day in veg. I will be flipping tomorrow night. I had just defoliated quite a bit of smaller spindly growth sites and leaves that weren’t getting much light yesterday. I didn’t notice until a couple of days ago that critical has a flower time between 7-9weeks and Royal skywalker is between 9-10weeks. I’m hoping I luck out with them finishing up at the common 9 week timeframe. Something I’ll remember to check when deciding future grows in the same tent.

I flipped to the 12/12 light cycle 6days ago. The day after my last entry here. I increased my light intensity to 80%, and they’ve been drinking a lot more than usual, especially the Royal skywalker. I’m adding about 2qts of water in the ac infinity reservoir nearly every day. I’m trying to hold back the defoliating until around day 21. I’ll probably use another scrog next week. Depending on how much it stretches and what things are looking like.

Not much going on with them this week other than growing. They’re drinking heavy compared to what they drank during veg. I had an extra scrog that I added to help flatten the canopy a little more. I also defoliated to allow some airflow. Ordered another fan for airflow on top of the canopy. Critical looking to be maturing a bit faster than the Royal skywalker although it’s quite a bit smaller.

This is day 20 since flip and I watched some videos about the big defoliation that happens around this time. I went for it. I pulled my head out of the tent, saw them, and boom…anxiety lol. They’re so naked, so I’ll see if they are chilling with it later on. Hope it helps bud growth and prevents any flowering moisture issues. Also got the second fan. Loving it.

I pretty much left them alone this week. Just peeked in from time to time. I’m noticing a big difference between main stalk development and development from side branches. Depends on how the grow ends up I may be trying mainlining next time for more main stalks, and less of the small side branches. They just never really got thick and looking puny. I also started adding a table spoon of molasses this week.

I haven’t messed with them at all. Just feed/watering. I’ve been just letting them do their thing. I’ve seen pics of others with more straight/spiky white hairs than mine. Mine are more curly, and I’m not sure if it’s genetics or something I’m causing.

I feel like there’s a plateau on growth the last couple of weeks. Not noticing much change in size. I’ve just left them alone to do their thing while trying to keep a steady environment. Smell is getting pretty noticable. Faintly smelling it throughout the house and pretty heavy scent in the room. I did notice 1 fungus gnat in the drip tray I have under my humidifier a few days ago. I skipped a watering to try drying out any larvae that may be in there, so hopefully I don’t see any more. I’m also picking up some sticky cards today.

I’ve noticed a bit more orange hairs and less white hairs. I’m still not doing anything differently. Just letting them do their thing. Smell is definitely noticable when walking into the house.

Few days ago I had a couple fan leaves overshadowing bud sites. I went to clip one and overshot and clipped this little bud. I have it hanging in the tent to see how it is when dried. Good little lesson on paying attention when cutting leaves. Other than those couple leaves being cut they’ve mostly been left alone. Getting close to the end of the advertised flowering time, but all trichomes are still clear.

I feel like I’m getting close. This is 9weeks of flower and the seed description mentions 8-9weeks for critical and 9-10weeks Royal skywalker. Checking the trichomes, with zero experience, it looks like it just went from clear to some amber. I’m getting leaves starting to shrivel up and die. None falling off yet, but they have to be getting close. If you’re reading this and have some expertise with when to cut. I’d appreciate any knowledge you’d want to drop me. I posted a couple of trichomes pics. Sorry if they aren’t the best quality. I tried. Also, I saw someone mention taking a dark pic with flash….it looks so good I had to add one here.