EarthBox [LOS] - HSC - Garlic Budder

Introduction - Week 12|05 Summary - Ensign's log, stardate 9399.40, Wow! This was a pretty good week of growing! After learning from the solo cup waterings, started to increase the watering in general and growth for all plants seems to have improved. Also have not fertilizer fed at all. Aside from aloe, coconut, microbes, and saponins, pretty much been water only! Also received and assembled the new grow tent system! Going where no Ensign has gone before. Perpetual! Been researching in preparation for my first attempt at cloning while learning about various perpetual styles of growing. Oops! In all the excitement, sort of forgot to take this week’s measurements. Plan to start taking cuttings next week! [START OF WEEK 12|05] ========================================================== Garlic Budder #1 - WEEK 12|05 - Full Veg Wk3 Garlic Budder #2 - WEEK 12|05 - Pre-Veg Garlic Budder #3 - WEEK 05 - Full Veg Wk3 Garlic Budder #4 - WEEK 04 - Full Veg Wk2 05/20/24 → 05/26/24 This Week's Estimated Goals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DLI: ~19 mol/m²/d PPFD: ~300 μmol/m²/s VPD: ~1.0 kPa This Week's Meter Readings & Averages [Lights On: 16:00 - 10:00] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DLI: 19.12 mol/m²/d PPFD: 295 μmol/m²/s VPD: 0.78 kPa Soil %: [31.1, 27.3, 34.1, 38.6] ========================================================== Day 01 - Monday - 05/20/24 - Total Days: 084 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.6°F [26.4°C] - Humidity: 77% - VPD: 0.78 kPa - Soil %: [33, 26, 27, 47] ----------------------------------- - [23:04]: Evening check. --- Wow! #1 is looking great! She has been drinking from the reservoir and has just been exploding with growth. Really like the growth structure, she’s bushing out without any training. --- #2 is still a rut, but growing steady. --- Nice! #3 is looking happy and starting to grow larger. Yesterday’s watering was good idea. --- Damnit Ensign.. #4 is looking very wilted. Clearly she needs water. - [23:10]: Checked down both fill tubes. --- Both reservoirs were completely dry! - [23:13]: Took #4’s total weight. --- She weighed 296.5g --- It’s been a day since her last watering (weighed 356.9g after watering) --- Her last dry weight before watering was 290.1g --- While on a scale, --- Gently misted #4’s straw mulch with distilled water. --- Tried to keep the top growth dry. --- Misted 5-10 sprays. Waited a few seconds, then misted again. - [23:18]: Repeated this process until the cup weighed 360.2g --- There was a bit of runoff. --- Decided to bottom water. - [23:21]: Filled a measuring cup with 1/2 cup of distilled water. --- Poured the water in #4’s drip tray. - [23:23]: Okay timer set for 15 minutes, let’s go! --- While waiting, --- Poured 3 cups of distilled water down EB1’s fill tube. --- Poured 2 cups of distilled water down EB2’s fill tube. - [23:38]: Okay! 15 minutes done. --- Removed the drip tray and replaced it with a fresh dry one. --- Hopefully I didn’t over-water. - [23:44]: Checked the humidifier. --- Tank was pretty full. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. --- Plan to transplant #4 tomorrow. --- Don’t die on me little one! That’s an order! Day 02 - Tuesday - 05/21/24 - Total Days: 085 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.9°F [26.6°C] - Humidity: 76.9% - VPD: 0.79 kPa - Soil %: [32, 26, 29, 42] ----------------------------------- - [11:59]: Ooo yea! The final box has arrived from AC Infinity! --- Wow, the box was actually too big to bring into the room so had to bring in the contents separately. --- In preparation, the room was re-arrange and a 3x3ft area was cleared out. - [12:16]: The contents of the huge box included: ------ CloudLab 733 - Advance Grow Tent (36”x36”x72”) ------ IonBoard S33 - LED Grow Light ------ CloudLine Lite 6 - Inline Fan (6”) ------ CloudRay S6 - Oscillating Clip Fan (Version 2) ------ Carbon Filter (6”), Ducting, Hanging straps, 5-gallon Fabric Pots, along with various accessories. --- Nice! Now that everything has arrived, time to get started! --- Just going to be assembling the tent for now. --- [*after a few bowls and a bit of tinkering] - [13:09]: Done! --- Wow! The tent looks incredible! --- Assembly was both simple and relatively painless. --- Both happy and relieved that the tent fit in the corner of the room (space is very limited where I am growing). --- Since I’m not in any hurry, placed the rest of the ACI gear inside the tent and will be assembling it over the next week or so. --- Both stoked and nervous to get started! --- Still can’t believe that this one-tent grow has evolved to a perpetual two-tent grow! --- Been researching a bit on cloning and have a week or two to prep, can’t wait! - [17:32]: Evening check. --- #1 is bushing out and looking great! Can clearly see multiple tops starting to grow in! --- #2 is looking okay. She is sort of droopy, but still growing. --- #3 is looking a bit droopy. Maybe she needs water? --- #4 is droopy. Still. Damnit Ensign. Time to transplant! - [17:34]: Another convenience about receiving the ACI kit early is I now have six 5-gallon fabric pots! --- Placed a 5-gallon fabric pot on the floor. ------ Poured the rest of the excess soil from the EarthBoxes (saved in a bag). --- This filled about half of the pot. - [17:41]: Time to add some fresh BuildASoil 3.0 Potting soil! --- Placed a filled solo cup into the center of the pot. The top of the solo cup was just under the inner line on the pot (just below the grommet holes). ------ Poured in some BuildASoil 3.0 Potting soil. --- Filled the fabric pot until the top of the solo cup was just about fully covered. --- The soil was dry but not dusty. --- Flattened and gently pressed around the sides of the top soil. - [17:59]: Gently removed the solo cup from the fabric pot. --- Nice! A perfect hole! ------ Using 1/4tsp of Great White, --- Dusted the sides of the hole. Also sprinkled a bit around the top soil. --- Great! Time to transplant! --- It’s been a day since her last watering so hopefully the soil is not too dry. - [18:03]: Gently flipped #4 upside-down and she just dropped straight out of the cup with ease. --- Wow! This is my first time seeing an actual root ball! All of my previous transplants were smaller and the soil just fell out and broke apart in clumps. This time the soil held together perfectly. --- Yea, she’s been over-due for a transplant. Did not break the root ball up or anything. --- Gently placed #4 into her new home. - [18:05]: Great! #4 has been transplanted! --- Pressed and evened out the top soil. --- Placed #4 back into the tent. - [18:13]: Using some BuildASoil Organic Barley Straw, ------ Covered the top soil with just enough straw until I could not see the soil. --- Going to make 4 cups but going to give about 3 cups of wetting solution for #4’s initial transplant watering. - [18:32]: Filled a measuring cup with 4 cups of distilled water. --- Added 1/32tsp of Quillaja Saponaria Extract [60] --- Added 1/4tsp of Horticultural Aloe --- Added 1/4tsp of Horticultural Coconut --- Added 1/4tsp of Mycrobe Complete --- Mixed the solution and poured it straight into a pump sprayer. - [18:44]: With the exception of #2, misted the solution onto the straw mulch of all plants. --- Mainly focused on #4, but also tried to water around #1 and #3 a bit. - [18:45]: Checked down both fill tubes. --- EB1's reservoir was completely dry! --- EB2's reservoir still has some water. --- Poured 3 cups of distilled water down EB1’s fill tube. - [18:53]: Checked the humidifier. --- Tank was still pretty full. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. - [19:02]: Removed the secondary Ecowitt soil sensor from EB1. --- After some re-arranging, placed a soil sensor into #4’s pot. --- Made sure to rename the sensors to match: ------ [CH01 EB1 - Garlic Budder #1] ------ [CH02 EB2 - Garlic Budder #2] ------ [CH03 GFP - Garlic Budder #3] ------ [CH04 FPT - Garlic Budder #4] --- Wow, that whole transplant process went surprisingly smooth. A bit late, but no issues at all. --- Just hope that it’s not too late for #4 and that she recovers from being root bound. Day 03 - Wednesday - 05/22/24 - Total Days: 086 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 80.1°F [26.7°C] - Humidity: 77.3% - VPD: 0.79 kPa - Soil %: [31, 26, 34, 34] ----------------------------------- - [21:44]: Evening check. --- Wow! The garden is looking great! --- #1 is bushing out and looking happy! Multiple nodal growth sites are just popping up everywhere! --- #2 is growing along. --- Nice! #3 is looking green and growth is starting to ramp up! --- Ooo yea! Compared to yesterday, #4 is looking a whole lot better! I think she’s gonna make it! - [21:47]: Checked down both fill tubes. --- Both reservoirs were completely dry! - [21:48]: Checked the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor data: --- 31% - [CH01 EB1 - Garlic Budder #1] --- 26% - [CH02 EB2 - Garlic Budder #2] --- 33% - [CH03 GFP - Garlic Budder #3] --- 33% - [CH04 FPT - Garlic Budder #4] - [21:51]: Using a spray bottle, --- Misted the top growth of all plants. - [22:06]: Checked the humidifier. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. --- The past few weeks have been mind-blowing. --- Just looking at growth, #4 is about the same height as #1 which is a good two weeks older. --- Also have not fertilizer fed at all. --- This whole time, I’ve clearly been watering wrong. Day 04 - Thursday - 05/23/24 - Total Days: 087 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.9°F [26.6°C] - Humidity: 76.9% - VPD: 0.79 kPa - Soil %: [31, 26, 36, 36] ----------------------------------- - [13:06]: Over the past couple days, been assembling the AC Infinity 3x3 grow tent system. --- Most of the main components are the same as the 4x4 tent so was pretty easy to install. --- Now have the Controller 69 Pro in place with a few devices already hooked up. --- Notably, the 3x3 drip tray is white and not the same reflective material as the tent. --- Yet I really like how the tent itself has a place for the controller along with wire holes for easy cable management. --- Have the CloudLine Lite 6 exhaust fan set on top of the tent which will pull air out from the top vent. --- Since this is a going to be a dedicated veg tent, not going to use the carbon filter. --- Thinking about changing the 4x4 tent to the same exhaust configuration. I did not use the carbon filter during the last flower cycle so may take the exhaust system out and place it on the outside (this will also free up more vertical space inside the tent). I’ll still use the carbon filters, but for the lung room and not the tents. --- Anyways, --- Installed the ThermoForge T3 and CloudForge T7 and have them both already hooked up to the Controller 69 Pro. --- Now before even using it, have to say I like the new CloudForge Version 2! --- The unit looks essentially the same as the original, but the added washer-sealed UIS port in the front is a noticeable improvement (the control panel also looks a bit different). No more humidifier disconnection issues! - [13:14]: Time to install the CloudRay S6 oscillating fan! --- Received the Version 2 model which already seems better than the original ones (have two in the 4x4 tent). --- The build quality feels a lot more sturdy. Also the new design has both the cords and controls separate from the oscillating fan which is nice. --- For better vertical angling, the Version 2 has notches on the side for 30° and 40° placement. --- The added screw on the fan’s front makes the face plate removable which is also a nice improvement. - [13:25]: Placed the S6 into the tent. --- As just preference, the fan is placed upside-down. - [13:31]: Okay now for the light! --- The IonBoard S33 grow light is a perfect for this tent. Also since I’m not flowering in this tent, won’t ever need to run it at full strength. --- The ballast driver for the grow light is mounted onto the light itself which is not a big deal, but would have liked to have placed it outside the tent. --- However, since I’m not planning on running the light at full power, the heat should be minimal. I think. - [13:35]: Modified the ratchet rope clips a bit. --- Basically swapped out the original cords with a longer ones. --- Now the cords are about 15’ long. - [14:08]: Placed the IonBoard S33 onto the floor of the tent. --- Not going to use the included metal hangers. Instead I made hanging loops using zip ties. --- Connected both ratchet clips to the grow light. The clips are connected with the ratchets in front. This makes raising the light a whole lot easier. For easier centering and leveling, the cords are connect on the diagonal corners. - [14:32]: Gently raised the grow light a few feet off the floor. --- Not going to need the grow light for a few of weeks, but getting it prepped for later. --- Keeping the light low for now and will adjust as needed. --- Later going to build the propagation kit which will suspended on a shelf above the main grow light. --- Once I start taking clones, the cuttings will spend the first 2-3 weeks of growth inside the propagation dome. --- Or at least this is the plan. --- As far as cloning method, going with soil. --- Mainly because soil is all I have right now (well I do have rockwool cubes too, but don’t want to go that route). --- Also at the moment, I don’t have any commercial rooting hormones. --- With the help of the internet (mainly Chat GPT), thinking about using a piece of aloe. The salicylic acid from the aloe should be a natural rooting hormone. - [16:42]: Evening check. --- #1 is looking like a champ! She is just a bush of plant. Aside from minor leaf tucking, have not trained her at all. Very happy with the growth! --- #2 is well growing. Just going to continue on. --- #3 is looking a bit droopy, going to water tonight. --- Nice! Still not looking completely recovered, but #4 is looking even better than yesterday! - [16:45]: Checked down EB2’s fill tube. --- Reservoir was completely dry! - [16:46]: Checked the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor data: --- 31% - [CH01 EB1 - Garlic Budder #1] --- 26% - [CH02 EB2 - Garlic Budder #2] --- 33% - [CH03 GFP - Garlic Budder #3] --- 32% - [CH04 FPT - Garlic Budder #4] - [16:59]: Filled a pump sprayer with 4 cups of distilled water. --- Misted the straw mulch for #1-3. --- Focused mainly on #3. - [17:08]: Refilled the pump sprayer with 3 cups of distilled water. --- Misted #4’s straw mulch. - [17:26]: Checked the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor data: --- 31% - [CH01 EB1 - Garlic Budder #1] --- 26% - [CH02 EB2 - Garlic Budder #2] --- 51% - [CH03 GFP - Garlic Budder #3] --- 65% - [CH04 FPT - Garlic Budder #4] - [18:57]: Checked the humidifier. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. - [20:13]: Time to build the AC Infinity Propagation Kit! --- As always, all of ACI’s products are packaged very well. --- Wow! Very nice! --- Unlike a standard humidity dome, the propagation dome was made of a thicker and more rigid plastic. --- Also the kit includes height extension panels to raise the dome’s height even higher. --- The dome even has a set of grow lights that rest in grooves on the domes lid. Very cool! - [20:52]: After a bit of tinkering, managed to assemble the panels and wow she’s a beauty! --- Using a spare metal rack, extra 1/8” cord, and a couple of ratchet rope clips, I made a makeshift shelf. Used about 10’ of cord for each ratchet clip. --- The adjustable shelf is suspended above the IonBoard grow light and is perfect for the propagation dome. - [20:59]: Placed the propagation dome into the tent. --- Also attached and installed the grow light bars. --- Since the Controller 69 Pro’s ports are all full, going to use the included default controller for the propagation dome. --- Nice! The tent is pretty much almost ready for vegging plants! --- [*smokes a bowl] --- As far as the process of going perpetual, been doing a bit of research and I think I have a plan. --- If I can get viable clones to root before flipping to flower, I can veg the clones into mothers while the current plants go through bloom. --- Once the current flower cycle is complete and the plants are harvested, I can take cuttings from the mother plants while the harvest dries. --- Then the cycle restarts as the flower tent is reset, and new vegging clones are moved into the flowering tent. --- I guess it’s not fully perpetual, but now I can preserve genetics by keeping mother plants. --- If I can get through a couple of grow cycles, I can begin pheno hunting for new flavors! Day 05 - Friday - 05/24/24 - Total Days: 088 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.9°F [26.6°C] - Humidity: 77.4% - VPD: 0.78 kPa - Soil %: [31, 26, 39, 38] ----------------------------------- - [09:42]: Quick morning garden check! --- Mainly checking #3 and #4. --- Looking good ladies! --- Clearly I’m still learning to water in soil and growth can be always be better. --- But still happy that both plants have recovered and are growing again. - [21:07]: Evening check. --- #1 has exploded with growth! She is looking both happy and looking healthy! --- #2 is a runt, but not giving up on her! --- #3 is looking great! She is starting to bush out! --- Ooo yea! #4 is looking better every day! Even though #1 is larger, #4 has become my new favorite of the bunch. --- Not going to mist the top growth today. - [19:44]: Poured 4 cups of distilled water down EB1’s fill tube. --- Poured 2 cups of distilled water down EB2’s fill tube. - [21:22]: Checked the humidifier. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. Day 06 - Saturday - 05/25/24 - Total Days: 089 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.6°F [26.4°C] - Humidity: 77.1% - VPD: 0.78 kPa - Soil %: [30, 28, 37, 36] ----------------------------------- - [08:41]: Quick morning check! --- Nice! Just wanted to check on #4. She’s is looking better and starting to perk up! - [20:33]: Evening check. --- #1 is growing along already surpassing the sides and just taking over the canopy! --- #3 is looking great! New growth is looking nice and healthy! --- #2 is growing slowly. --- #4 is getting a bit droopy. She needs watering. - [20:36]: Checked down both fill tubes. --- Both reservoirs were completely dry! - [20:42]: Checked the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor data: --- 30% - [CH01 EB1 - Garlic Budder #1] --- 26% - [CH02 EB2 - Garlic Budder #2] --- 36% - [CH03 GFP - Garlic Budder #3] --- 34% - [CH04 FPT - Garlic Budder #4] - [20:47]: Filled a pump sprayer with 6 cups of distilled water. --- Misted the straw mulch for all plants. --- Focused mainly on the straw mulch of #4 (~4 cups). - [20:55]: Checked the humidifier. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. --- Oops! - [21:07]: Poured 4 cups of distilled water down EB1’s fill tube. --- Poured 2 cups of distilled water down EB2’s fill tube. Day 07 - Sunday - 05/26/24 - Total Days: 090 ----------------------------------- Daily Averages [~23:00] - Temps: 79.7°F [26.5°C] - Humidity: 77.2% - VPD: 0.78 kPa - Soil %: [30, 33, 37, 37] ----------------------------------- - [19:02]: Evening check. --- #1 is a bush! She’s growing along very nicely and looking great! --- #2 is looks like sprout in comparison to #1, but she is still growing. --- #3 is growing and looking very nice! Growth is still looking pretty uniform as the fan leaves start to stretch out sideways! --- Ooo Yea! #4 is back and looking perky! She’s taught me more about growing than any of my previous 66 attempts. - [19:04]: Checked down both fill tubes. --- EB1's reservoir was completely dry! --- EB2's reservoir still has some water. - [19:11]: Using a spray bottle, --- Misted the top growth and straw mulch of all plants with distilled water. - [19:56]: Checked the humidifier. --- Refilled the humidifier with distilled water. --- [*smokes a bowl] --- Wow what a week! --- Still can’t believe I’m about to start preserving my own genetics! --- As a grower, this is truly going to begin a new frontier! --- For this grow cycle, my main goal is to preserve as many of the 6 phenos that are in the current tent (#1-4 plus the original #1-2 which are surprising still growing). --- Definitely plan to take clones of both #1 and #4, but if #3 gets big enough, will try to take a cutting or two (maybe try topping for the first time). --- Once (or if) the cloning is successful, the plan will then be to veg each clone in a solo cup. --- Then I’ll select the healthiest of each pheno to be my mother. --- Breeding is a definite eventual life goal, but as a great captain once said, one impossible task at a time! --- Steady as she grows Ensign. Steady as she grows. [END OF WEEK 12|05]