Outdoor Strawberry Cheesecake Auto

This week kicked off strong. Despite clear skies and no weather warnings, a heavy downpour tested the plants, but they handled it like champs. With the weather vastly improved after last week's storms, temperatures nearly hit 30°C (86°F), making the plants thirsty. The growth has been impressive. I've been busy with LST, gently guiding the side branches to make the plants wider and bushier. Especially with P3, the main stem has grown so strong that I had to switch to a stainless steel hook to support it. Watching them grow daily is a real treat. The buds are also developing strongly, it's particularly evident with P2, while P3 still needs a bit more time. Trichomes are standing out more now, especially on the leaves and starting to cover the calyxes, shining like crystals in the sun, showing off their resin production. The smell has also ramped up, noticeable even from a distance. Unfortunately, P2 has a minor issue with aphids, likely hitchhikers from other plants on the balcony. I've been manually removing them, but it's time-consuming. All plants got treated with COMPO Pest-Free Plus AF - Insecticide, and I'll do it again to keep those pests in check. Additionally, I've selectively removed some leaves with a razor blade, as they were wilting or already dead. I prefer to avoid this with the auto-flowering variety and only do so when absolutely necessary. Overall, I'm really pleased with how things are going despite these little hiccups. The plants are loving the LST, staying healthy and full of life. Looking forward to seeing more progress next week.