Day 22:
Today officially marks the beginning of week 4 of my Strawberry Gorilla Automatic grow, and I conducted a thorough check on the plant. The leaves still seem a bit heavy from the significant watering two days ago, but overall, the plant looks healthy and vigorous. The fine hairs indicate that it's in the pre-flowering stage, and I'm excited for it to soon enter full bloom.
Substrate and Moisture Control:
To ensure that I'm keeping a close eye on the moisture levels in the substrate, I weighed the pot again today. The dry weight of the substrate is 3.25 kg, and after watering two days ago, it weighed 4.75 kg. Today, the weight was still at 4.5 kg—meaning the moisture content is still sufficient, so I didn't need to water it fully again. However, I decided to topdress the soil with 25 g of Green House Feeding BioBloom, as the plant has grown well and is entering the flowering phase.
Nutrient Supply and Granules:
To activate the BioBloom granules, I gave the plant 200 ml of water, which matches my calculation based on the pot's weight. The granules will now slowly release the necessary nutrients for the flowering stage. I deliberately chose this amount of water to avoid overwatering since the leaves are still a bit heavy, and I don’t want to stress the roots with too much water at once.
Growth and Current Phase:
The strong growth is a positive sign. The leaves are still a vibrant green, indicating good nutrient supply. However, some leaves show slight curling and minor discoloration, which could be due to small fluctuations in watering and humidity. This isn’t anything to be concerned about at the moment, and I will continue closely monitoring the watering schedule.
I’ve also noticed the purpling of the stems. I suspect this is due to the nighttime temperatures dropping to around 18°C. As long as the plant continues to grow well, I’m not too worried about it. However, I’ll keep an eye on the temperatures to ensure they don’t fluctuate too much.
Ventilation and Airflow:
As for ventilation, I’ve observed that my current fan, which blows air from the bottom upward, is sufficient for the size of the tent. Ideally, I’d like an oscillating fan to ensure more even air circulation, but for now, my setup is doing fine. The leaves are slightly moving in the airflow, which helps prevent mold and ensures the plant gets enough CO₂.
Next Step:
My plan for the next watering is in two days. I’ll add 1 ml of BioGrow, 1 ml of CalMag, and 0.5 g of Bio Enhancer per liter of water to support the plant's nutrient needs. It’s essential that the plant now gets enough energy for the upcoming flowering phase. I’ll also weigh the pot again to ensure that moisture levels remain balanced and the plant is adequately hydrated.
I measured the plant today: it is currently 15 cm tall, showing good growth compared to the last few days.
I'll observe the growth over the next days, maybe she needs some LST, but I don't want to stress her too much right now.