Setup and Material Challenges:
I finally received the necessary setup, although getting grow materials in Germany has been quite a challenge. We’re skipping from early Week 2 to the end of Week 3.
Plant Progress and Techniques:
The plants were topped on Day 16 after planting. They are thriving, with vigorous growth. Unfortunately, the Cereal Milk plant has started growing crooked. In my low-stress training (LST) approach, I focus on stressing only the stem bases to encourage stronger growth and achieve a uniform canopy. The plants did not show significant reactions to topping and continued to grow steadily.
Stress Management:
I administered Alg-A-Mic from BioBizz half a day before topping to mitigate stress, and it seems to have worked well. It’s reputed as a miracle cure by BioBizz and appears to live up to the claim. The smell is similar to my pond water, making me wonder if that could serve as an alternative.
Nutrient and Water Management:
Given that our tap water is low in minerals, I’ve been supplementing with Cal-Mag. I also need to wait and adjust the water pH twice, half an hour apart, to break down the buffer in the water and achieve a stable pH level. A small teaser for future entries: this method still won’t be sufficient when using citric acid.
Light Stress and Growth:
I am now working with nearly 400 PPFD. The plants are showing slight signs of light stress, but it’s nothing critical at this stage. Interestingly, the light stress is leading to bushier growth, which is advantageous for me as I aim to produce an even canopy.
Plant Differences:
Plant #1 is growing bushier, while Plant #2 has better spacing between the leaves. There isn’t much difference in overall growth between the two.