Forbidden Fruits

What a difference that just a week can make! The growth within this tent has been explosive! These plants are well ok their way to a successful Vegetative Cycle. The plants' grow environment has changed to accommodate their needs. The mighty PhotoBio MX has been lowered to shower more light photons upon the plants to facilitate their photosynthetic needs. The AC Infinity fans (excluding the exhaust blower) are now set to run at a low level, all day, to assist in air circulation. And humidity is being continuously piped in to keep the weather nice and balmy. It should also be noted that I ripped out the Floraflex Drainage system that I previously employed. Nothing against Floraflex - I swear by their products, if it wasn't already obvious - but a Shop Vac doesn't clog and doesn't require manual suction when the pump refuses to trigger on. This will likely result in more cleaning and maybe even a dingier appearance, but less work for me. The ladies nutritional regimen has also changed. The plants are now receiving full doses of Floraflex V1/V2, Veg Foliar spray, and, perhaps just as importantly, Humic Acid. I'm also top dressing the bases of the plants with Great White Mychorrizae before one feeding each week. This last variable in their nutritional program may have spurred the rapid rooting and, thus, vertical growth. Pro Tip: Any beginners looking for a sure boost in plant growth, at any stage, should look to buy some Mychorrizal Innoculant. I happen to like Great White, but there are a plethora of options available. This stage of the plants' life cycle is always full of high hopes (forgive the pun) over how the plants will grow, what they'll look and smell like, etc... But a grower's patience will always be rewarded. This is the boring part where we set our plants up for success later in their life cycle. These ladies are destined for great things. I'll likely introduce Terpinator into the nutritional regimen within the coming weeks, but likely, at first, to a less aggressive extent than recommended by the manufacturer. My plan is to ramp up their doses of this supplement later into their Vegetative Cycle and perhaps even closer to The Flip. Anyway, I think that's all I've got for now. Until next time...

The plants have grown massively, almost doubling in size since my last post. All indications suggest that these plants are destined for great things! First off, there was a slight change in nutritional regimen. Terpinator is now included in the feeding schedule. Having observed [possibly] very early signs of a Cal-Mag deficiency, I included a very small dose of Cal-Mag into their feeding solution. If this resolves the problem, I'll taper down use until we hit their stride. I also increased their feeding volume, following invigorated root development. Second, the plants are benefiting from exposure to dynamic levels of air currents from AC Infinity's ventilation system. There are lots of ways to LST... Overall, the grow continues to impress. All good things. Otherwise, there's not much to report. Until next time...

The plants continued successfully into their Vegetative Cycle this week. First, growth has been explosive. The plants were topped earlier this week, but still managed to grow an average of 5 inches each! I believe that this explosive growth has occurred as a result of feeding the plants a little extra Cal-Mag - literally half of the smallest recommended dose - with each feeding. I thought that feeding the plants under Floraflex's "No Cal-Mag" schedule would eliminate the need for extra Cal-Mag... and maybe it would, but for my preference of using 100% Coco Coir for grow medium (it's known to leach Cal-Mag away from the plants, being that the medium itself is nutritionally inert). It should also be noted that while I've just added Mills Vitalize to my list of nutrients, I've actually been using this supplement since Week 1 of the plants' Vegetative Cycle. When it comes to Silica, I use whatever is cheapest. Mills has never failed me for quality or price. Second, I've slightly bumped up the plants' feeding volume. The dry back period was getting a bit too frequent for my tastes. Also, the intensity of the mighty PhotoBio MX has been increased to a 55% intensity and likely won't be increased again until The Flip. I've also lowered the PhotoBio MX to roughly 24" above the canopy. Third, and at the risk of saying something controversial, Copycat Genetics' product quality is beyond reproach. Each of these plants manifests textbook structure, just as if they'd been purchased directly from Compound Genetics. But for Compound Genetics' purposefully establishing artificially low manufacturer supply that results in unattainability for most, I'd have gone with Compound Genetics in a heartbeat... but I'm not disappointed in the least with Copycat Genetics. Otherwise, there's not much else to report. Until next time...

Growth, again, is the theme of this past week. Change is in the air, as we near the The Flip. First, the plants' appetite is nothing short of voracious! Their dryback intervals continue to surprise and amaze. At this point, their feeding volume is now increased to one gallon per plant, every other day... Thanks to their imbibing upon mychorrizae, beneficial bacteria, and Humic Acid from early on, these ladies' root structures are nothing short of bulletproof. Plus, they can eat like crazy over and over again without any risk of burn or nutrient lockout. Given their collective appetite, and frequent feedings, I decided to perform "mini flushes" of these plants over the last week or two. I'm not the biggest fan of flushing the plants - my preference is to overwater from time to time - but I've been feeding so much that I'm concerned with excess electrolyte buildup in their grow medium. Interestingly, this seems to have resulted in continued vigorous uptake in feeding solution by the plants. Thus, this may become a standard practice for me in the future. Second, we've hit a point in the grow that becomes something of a part-time job... Defoliation. As the pictures reflect, I've held off on a "full" defoliation because I need to buy a Mother Tent (Grape Gasoline # 1 and Applez & Bananaz are too good to hope for identical genetics in another seed) and don't want to deprive the plants of any photosynthetic capacity any less than a few days before The Flip. Further, I'll be integrating some Floraflex B1/B2 into their V1/V2 feedings so as not to shock the plants upon The Flip. Third not much has changed as to the grow environment. The AC Infinity system continues to run strong, as have the Inkbird Humidity and Temperature controllers. While humidity is getting a bit higher with the frequency of the plants' feedings, it's nothing that the AC Infinity system can't handle. In other news, the mighty PhotoBio MX continues to effortlessly rain down light upon all of the girls. Expect some significant changes for next week, as we Defoliate and continue onto The Flip. Until next time...

These plants just won't quit growing! At an average rate of about an inch per day, we've clearly reached their late Vegetative Cycle. I'm holding out on flipping them for no other reason than my desire to take trimmings from each plant... but I'm still awaiting delivery of the new "Mother Tent", as it were. Notwithstanding their delayed Flip, these plants are getting huge and remaining healthy. On the nutrition front, I increased their feeding volume to roughly a half-gallon per day to facilitate a pre-Flip flush. I'll likely lower the volume of their Feeding solution to a bit over one-third of a gallon per day, as their dryback interval isn't quite intense enough to require that much fluid... yet. I added this caveat because it's very likely that feeding volumes will increase over time. Otherwise, I've slightly bumped up their dosage of Terpinator, but that's about it. On the environmental front, I'm facing the seasonal challenge of keeping everything below 80F. I may have to make improvements before harvest, though I have no specific plans in mind. I do want to give a few shotouts in this diary entry. First, Copycat Genetics' product is legit, to say the least. The company has a lot of haters - and perhaps deservedly so, most certainly in reference to ripping off the genetics of affordable, widely available seeds - but they provide the opportunity to lay hands upon seeds that are priced out-of-reach or in outrageously short supply. Second, Floraflex nutrients are likely the absolute best deal out there, hands-down. You need to add extra Cal-Mag if you're growing in Coco (ignore their statements to the contrary), but so what? They make growing a breeze for growers at all levels without the need to dilute or slowly ramp up dosages. It should be noted also that, this past week, we bid farewell to Grape Gasoline # 2. My goal for this grow was to limit myself to two plants only. But don't worry... Grape Gasoline # 2 is being loved and cared for by an enthusiastic buddy. Until next time...

The Flip was delayed after an extra week of Vegetative Cycle. The delay occurred as a result of longer-than-expected delivery of a new Mother Tent, which is now constructed and operational. The only thing to report is regarding the size of these plants... they're getting massive. They're actually larger than I'd like them to be, at 3½ feet tall, as they're likely to stretch over a foot - maybe 2 feet - by the time they enter Late Bloom. I know, I know... it's a good problem to have. In any case, that's all for now. I'll have more on the Mother Tent on my next post. Until next time...

Change was in the air all week... The Flip has commenced! First, we'll cover the tent growing environment. Light intensity has increased to 70% and an AC Infinity S6 fab was strategically placed to provide both cooling and dispersion of C0²... because yeah, I added a Pro C0² bucket, too! Ambient temperature has been increased to accommodate the vigorous growth of the plants and also the operating temperature of the PhotoBio MX. Another AC Infinity S6 was placed to disperse moisture buildup under the canopy, as I'd like to avoid the risk of bud rot wherever possible. Second, I've altered the plants' nutrient regimen. I've began the process of tapering them off their Cal-Mag supplement, as they won't need as much of it with their Bloom nutrients. And speaking of Bloom nutrients, the plants are now receiving B1, B2, and Bulky B, all from Floraflex. In addition, the plants are currently receiving Rock Resinator to assist with oil secretion and resin production. Terpinator and Sour-Dee have also been respectively increased and introduced per their feeding schedule. Third, we cover growth... and what growth! The plants are growing taller and wider by the day. It should be noted that their respective scents are bearing truth to their namesakes - the Applez & Bananaz smells fruity and the Grape Gasoline exudes odors of jet fuel. Naturally, there's more subtlety to their respective scents but I don't have the time to draft an excursus on the matter. What I can say is that these plants will almost definitely reach 5' in height and could potentially eclipse 6'. Ultimately, I'm looking forward to reaping the rewards of this grow... but there is still quite a bit of time before harvest. No sense in rushing things. Until next time, my friends...

Change continues to waft through the air during the plants' second week of their Flowering Cycle. Naturally, there's much to report. First, growth is the ongoing theme when it comes to development. As of the last month or so, the ladies are averaging approximately 5" of vertical growth on a weekly basis. The plants, finely manicured as they are, will likely yield large harvests. At over 4' tall, I am becoming concerned with the potential need for supercropping... but, oh well. It's a good problem to have, I suppose. Second, feeding and nutritional regimen continue to see incremental changes as well. At this stage, the plants' collective dryback interval seems to be holding steady at intervals of roughly 48 hours. Third comes the ladies' grow environment. The mighty PhotoBio MX continues to rain light down upon the plants at a 70% intensity... which is likely to be increased in the coming week(s). Given the plants' rapidly increasing height, I've amended placement of the three AC Infinity S6 fans in the tent, as well. It should also be noted that I will be replacing my current Pro CO² Bucket XL with two Pro CO² Mini Buckets, as the size of the former will soon be impeding airspace that might otherwise be claimed by the light ballast. Otherwise, I have no news to report. I'm hoping that only good things await us. Until next time...

At this point in the game, we're nearing the ladies' Mid-Bloom Cycle. With this transition comes further changes in our grow. First, let's talk about nutrition. The plants' regimen now *requires* regular mixture volumes of 1 full gallon, every other day. At this point in the process, dry-backs are a B-word. Given the girls' inclination towards flowering, they're now imbibing upon increased dosages of Terpinator and Rock Resinator. They will no longer receive any helpings of Bloom Foliar, as doing so could interfere in their bud development and growth. The Second topic of this post is growth and training. My worst fears have come to pass... the plants are becoming too tall for their tent - definitely being my fault, due to improper planning in relation to taking clones (which ultimately failed to thrive, by the way) - which resulted in my resorting to HST. Much as I fear this training strategy, largely due to my inexperience in wielding it, new bud sites appear to be multiplying and the existing buds appear to be fattening up! I'll definitely remember to set up a trellis net for my next grow (more news on that in future posts) to avoid this issue in future grows and, hopefully, achieve similar [or better] results. As to the grow environment, I cannot help but think that the vigorous growth has something to do with my employment of CO² supplementation. The Pro CO² XL Bucket now sits on the floor of the Tent with an AC Infinity S6 Fan blowing in its general direction. I replaced the XL Bucket with two Mini Buckets from Pro CO²... and the plants seem much happier. The downside is that foliage rapidly regrows after defoliation, but photosynthesis is clearly enhanced as demonstrated by bud development and the healthy coloration of the plant leaves. Though the mighty PhotoBio MX continues to rain down light at a 70% intensity, it is likely that her power usage will increase in the near future with the pendency of Mid-Bloom. Otherwise, there is little else to report in this post. Stay tuned for more updates in the future. Until next time...

This past week represents the beginning of our ramping up into the plants' Late Flowering Cycle. Though still in their Mid-Flowering Cycle, we continue to institute incremental changes for the long-term benefit of the plants. First, we discuss nutrition. The ladies' nutritional regimen has only slightly changed since last week. They're now imbibing upon increased dosages of Terpinator and Rock Resinator - and, as you can see from the pictures, the plants are soaking it all up. On a related topic, this coming week will likely be the last week that the ladies absorb any Bulky B nutrients from Floraflex... from there, they'll start munching on rocket fuel (also known as Full-Tilt) that'll send their growth and development into outerspace. Second comes grow environment. And, sadly, the main changes here are slightly for the worse. With daytime temperatures hovering at around 95F, and the sun beating down directly upon my shed, I'm having difficulty with maintaining a constant temperature. I've ordered another portable air conditioning unit and I'm hoping this will improve the ambient air temperature. Thank God I spent the money on an independent sub-panel for my grow space! Otherwise, there isn't too much to report as regards grow space. I intend the increase the intensity of the PhotoBio MX to 90% within the next week, in anticipation of the ladies' pending Late Flowering Cycle. Third, as to growth and development, these plants are monsters. Applez & Bananaz has largely caught up to Grape Gasoline in terms of size, though appears to continue lagging in girth. The plants clearly manifest different grow structures - A&B is long and lanky, while Grape Gasoline wants to grow both upwards and outwards. Their scents are both pleasant, but very distinct... A&B smells fruity and sweet, while Grape Gasoline smells like fruit soaked in jet fuel (in a good way, that is). Otherwise, there is little else to report. We'll continue to hold steady as we transition into the plants' Late Flowering Cycle and will report back next week. Until next time...

This past week has borne witness to the plants' official transition from Early Bloom to Mid-Bloom. As always, change is in the air... First, the ladies' development is palpable to the naked eye. While their vertical growth has largely come to a halt, the maturation of their flowers has only just begun. Though their fan leaves are beginning to yellow at the tips, their buds are fattening by the hour. Only days ago, their buds looked like small, yellow orbs dotting the surface of the plants... now manifesting as growing, bulbous fruits. Second, let's discuss nutrition. We've all heard that colloquialism, "you are what you eat"... well, this applies to pretty much every living organism - including cannabis. If we don't properly feed our plants, our plants will not properly grow. It's a fairly simple proposition. Accordingly, we must pay careful attention to what we're feeding the plants if we want to realize a successful grow. At this point, the plants religiously continue to experience dryback periods of approximately 48 hours. Their feeding volume is unchanged, but their nutritional regimen has been slightly amended. While not noted above, the plants are receiving slightly less Silica supplement because it's not going to be needed for much longer - it's always best to taper them off this stuff. The plants' Terpinator supplement has been swapped out with Purpinator for no other reason than superficial appearances (who doesn't love them purps?!). For the sake of full disclosure, this past week will be the last week that these plants receive Floraflex's Bulky B. I will begin feeding them Full-Tilt upon their next feeding. Third comes grow environment... in which there have also been some long-awaited changes. The most significant change is the plants' exposure to UV-A/B for approximately 2 hours per day. This causes the ladies to secrete additional resins for the purpose of protecting themselves from those harmful wavelengths of light - and, in turn, promotes enhanced trichome and resin production! Pretty neat trick, huh? In addition to the foregoing, the mighty PhotoBio MX's intensity is set to be increased to 90% as we transition into Mid-Bloom. This part of the grow may be among my favorites... watching all of our earlier hard work pay off through massive gains and amazing results. Stay tuned for further updates. Until next time...

This past week has resulted in some massive changes. Change is in the air as we approach Late-Bloom. First, I've substantially amended the plants' nutritional regimen. The ladies are no longer receiving supplemental Cal-Mag, temporarily, because they just don't need it anymore. They're not receiving any further infusions of King Crab, as their roots are likely about as rigorous as they're going to get - at least, that is, from any additional doses of beneficial bacteria. The plants are also receiving an increased dosage of sweetener, given their proximity to Late-Bloom. As of this week, they are receiving reduced doses of Floraflex B1/B2... but only because they're now imbibing upon Floraflex's Full-Tilt nutrients. Further, I've decided to split the maximum dose of terpene-promoting supplementation between Terpinator and Purpinator. While I'm admittedly a sucker for "dem purps," Purpinator throws off the NPK ratio and would rather play it safe. It should be noted that this is a new strategy on my part and I have no idea how it will turn out; only time will tell... Second, the grow environment has also changed. I've lowered the temperature of the plants' grow environment, thanks to the purchase of an upgraded air conditioning unit and the installation of window tinting film on the windows of the Head Shed. The combined result is a peak temperature reduction of roughly 5F, which is a massive improvement in my book. Additionally, I've increased the light intensity of the mighty PhotoBio MX to 85% and added two UV-A/B light bars to rain down lower wavelength lighting upon the plants - for those who don't know, using this type of lighting is an easy way to stress the plant into producing increased resins to protect its cellular structure (as it turns out, high-intensity UV hurts both humans and plants) - for roughly 2½ hours per day through regularly scheduled, 30-minute intervals. Third, regarding growth and development, the changes have been palpable. The girls' buds are fattening up very, very quickly. Both plants are secreting lots of additional oils... so much so that even grazing either plant will result in reeking of cannabis! The plants are showing off their unique personalities, too: A&B smells sweet and fruity, showing off a picture-perfect branch structure, while Grape Gasoline smells like jet fuel-soaked, denatured fruits and displays comparatively larger buds. If it isn't obvious, I'm extremely excited to see how these plants continue to develop. Otherwise, I don't believe there is anything further to report. Until next time...

We've officially transitioned into Late Flower! This week has witnessed massive change in a number of variables. First, the plants are no longer receiving their Silica supplement, nor are they munching on any of Floraflex B1/B2 mixture... Only Full-Tilt from here on out. I've also maxed out their dosage of Rock Resinator, though they're already getting sticky from prior supplementation (in conjunction with its imbibing Terpinator and Purpinator, of course). They continue to demand approximately 1 gallon of feeding solution, every other day. Second, the grow environment has also incrementally changed. The mighty PhotoBio MX is now raining down light at 100% of its full capability. This has resulted in slightly increased temperature throughout the "Lights On" period of the day, but its nothing that the AC Infinity system can't handle! The plants' exposure to UV-a/b has also been increased slightly, for the purpose of promoting resin production. Third, changes in the plants' development has been nothing short of massive - particularly in reference to Grape Gasoline. Grape Gasoline's buds are getting so big and fat that one of her main branches collapsed (thankfully, without any tears or breaks on the lower side of the branch) under the weight of them... a good problem to have! Applez & Bananaz is also getting larger, though not at the same rate as her sister - which is OK, because not all plants grow at the same pace or result in the same yield. At the end of the day, all ladies are beautiful when it comes to marijuana. Last, it would appear that we're nearing the end of this grow. We've probably got a week or two left before The Flush. Until then, we'll hold steady and continue moving towards a successful harvest. Until next time...

This past week marks the second-to-last interval before we begin to flush... at least that's the plan right now. Thus, change continues to be in the air. The plants' grow environment has changed to facilitate ripening of the ladies' flowers and maturation of their trichomes. First, the plants' exposure to UV-A/B has been increased by 30 minutes per day. In addition, the humidity controls have been purposely set not to exceed 50% rH. Further, their nighttime temperature has been reduced to 68F - this alteration is intended to avail the result of shocking the plants a bit AND facilitating the transformation of their coloration and appearance. These changes should, hopefully, push the plants into maturation a little sooner. Nothing has changed in terms of their feeding regimen. The plants' development is off-the-charts. The ladies' buds are fattening up like it's no one's business. Grape Gasoline reeks of jet fuel and her buds are nothing short of massive! Applez & Bananaz continues to fatten up - though not to the extent of her roommate - but exudes the sweetest smell of ripe fruit with a touch of funk. Both are getting a bit purple due to their small doses of Purpinator, and both plants are nothing less than overswelled with resin and trichomes... thanks, no doubt, to Copycat Genetics' superior workmanship! At this time, there's not much else to report. Stay tuned for mid-week updates, as anything can happen at this stage in the game! Until next time...

At this stage in the game, we've nearly reached the end of the road. The plants, having grown about as large as they're going to get, are now reaching the stage of The Flush. The plants' nutrients have been reduced as part of the flushing process. While they continue to receive a small portion of the Humic Acid and Floraflex Full-Tily that they normally do, they're also being cleaned out with Floraflex Root Drip. Starting next week, they'll no longer receive any of the Humic Acid or Full-Tilt. While they're continuing to receive their full doses of Terpinator/Purpinator and Rock Resinator, I'll be cutting those out after the end of the week, as well. With all this having been said, the plants have began to receive large doses of Sour-Dee... if ever there was a time to ensure that we enhance the fruity flavors of this stunning bounty, this is the time to sweeten your buds. For this short duration before harvest, it's perfectly safe and reasonable to triple the ladies' dose of sweetener. I intend to do exactly this. During the interim, I've significantly reduced relative humidity to make sure that they have as even a drying process as possible. Fans are running at a low speed 24/7 to prevent against bud rot and protect against hot/cold spots in the tent. In other news, the ladies' exposure to UV-a/b has been increased to 3 hours per day. My hope is that this continues inducing the plants into overproducing resin, oils, and trichomes. From the look of the plants, it seems to be working! On the developmental front, these plants look stunning! Applez & Bananaz looks exactly like models depicted by Copycat Genetics - a beautifully staggered bud structure coupled with solid, frosty, medium-sized buds that reek of fruit. Grape Gasoline also looks exact as depicted by Copycat. Though it also presents with a comely, staggered, and frosty bud structure, its buds are massive and smell strongly of jet fuel (with a hint of fruit). Both look nothing short of stunning! In any case, very little else has changed. I'm just holding steady until the trichomes turn milky and we get the clear to chop everything down. I'm very excited, to say the least!

This past week represents a lead-up to the culmination of our efforts as growers: The Flush. During this time, we must put our emotions aside and do the unthinkable: Slowly kill our plants. The grow environment has changed dramatically. I've taken efforts to reduce temperatures, as well as the intensity of the mighty PhotoBio MX. The only light that these plants will get until Harvest will be UV-A/B. As to nutrients, the regimen has drastically changed. The ladies will receive a solution consisting only of water, Floraflex Root Drip, and Sour-Dee. This mixture will ensure that the plants will imbibe upon nothing but the sweet stuff, thus softening their smoke, magnifying flavor and scent, and also cleaning out the grow medium to ensure that they will not absorb any further nutrients or supplements that will counteract the role of the sweetener - in other words, we are transforming a healthy plant into a product that will be pleasant to smoke. The plants' development has also taken a turn, in that the ladies' buds are firming up and glistening with milky trichomes. They are fragrant to a degree that easily penetrates clothing and even leaves a slight, odiferous residue on skin when exposed for more than a few minutes. In other words, these ladies have reached maturity. In the coming days, I will likely harvest the plants. There will likely be updates to follow this post. Until next time...

See

Updates coming...