Fruity Freak

BC_Green It is awe-inspiring to watch these ladies pop out of the soil. I know this will sound weird, but sometimes I sit beside them just staring at them–they are such incredible plants. As you can see, my grow setup is fairly humble. The platform is made of 2x4’s, plywood scrap, and a few screws. I placed a plastic washing machine drain pan on top to catch water. The containers are paint bucket liners with a bit of clear packing tape to clamshell them together (allowing me greater control over heat and humidity) and holes poked in the bottom to allow excess water to drain. I have a digital humidity/temperature gauge (which I normally use for curing) taped to the side of one of the containers to monitor conditions. I am growing inside my house to avoid using a space heater to grow in my garage (I will plant them outside long before flowering). The light is an HLG RSPEC 100, and I have it plugged into a WIFI smart socket scheduled to automatically turn on the light at 5:59 am and off at 11:59 pm.

BC_Green Another week, and now I am really enjoying Fruit Freak’s unique genetic makeup that causes it to grow such beautiful leaves! It is really fun to grow it side by side with OG Fun, which has a more stereotypical appearance at this stage. Seed Husk Stuck: Fruity Freak #1’s leaves had slowly been peaking out of the shell of the seed but ultimately stalled. I decided to intervene using the method described in this link (squeezing tweezers inward enough to slip the ends inside the seed husk then release the tweezers so it pushes the shell open and falls right off): https://www.growweedeasy.com/my-cannabis-seedling-leaves-are-stuck-together-from-the-seed-shell-what-do-i-do There is some additional information here: https://growdiaries.com/journal/common-cannabis-seedling-problems-new-growers-face I should have intervened sooner (I waited three days, but should have intervened by two at the latest)–her growth was stunted as a result. The rounded cotyledon leaves appear as though there may have been some damage to the cell walls that prevents them from moving in response to the light. However, plant/leaf growth has continued–therefore, I expect her to recover (clearly strong genetics). And, having started growing in January, I have plenty of time to start new seeds if anything goes wrong. Lighting Update I noticed the intense 12:00p sunlight (peak intensity) pouring through the window on my plants while the LED grow light was running–probably too much light for a seedling, although the plants were fully upright and the leaves were green and tilting toward the sun. I knew from my Bannizzle experiments (my last grow) that higher light intensity during vegetation and flowering produced bigger yields. And that notion was reinforced by this study (for flowering): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8144505/ But I hadn’t checked to see what light intensity is best at each stage. I downloaded the Photone app (a well-reviewed grow light meter app) to measure light intensity (in Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density, or PPFD, which is how many photons of light the plant can actually use every second). Then I made a homemade diffuser out of printer paper (per the instructions inside the app) and found that my light intensity (1,000 PPFD with the grow light and sun combined and 765 PPFD with the sun alone) was well above their recommendations for a seedling (100-300 PPFD) as outlined in one of Photone’s well-written article: https://growlightmeter.com/lighting-requirements-of-cannabis-over-the-full-grow-cycle/ And also discussed here: https://growdiaries.com/journal/how-to-increase-the-dli-in-the-cannabis-grow-room-for-better-yields I decided to schedule my grow light to turn off from 10:30a - 12:45p while the plants receive direct sunlight (on cloudy days I override the WIFI socket and run the light during this time). I also decided to change my WIFI socket to shut off the grow light at 9:59p (it turns on at 5:59a) so that total light hours are kept to 16. I think this combination will make for the easiest transition for her to move outdoors. I do recognize that the total DLI from the sun added to the total DLI of the grow light for the remaining hours is a bit higher than recommended, but the plants seem healthy and I don't want to make too many adjustments at once. I also became curious how much DLI these plants would receive growing outdoors (so I can prepare them for similar DLI before I put them outside). This is a cool tool for that: https://dli.suntrackertech.com/ Finally, I implemented a container rotation schedule and now move the plants one position counterclockwise every day. After four days I will turn all containers ninety degrees. This should promote more even plant growth. Water I am watering the plants once a week (my native soil is dense and retains water) using about two tablespoons worth. The plants only get melted snow warmed to room temperature or captured rainwater to keep soil pH and conditions consistent with the outdoors. Airflow The tops of the clamshells are now removed. I am running my ceiling fan during daylight hours. I am also using an oscillating fan while the plants receive direct sunlight (I am using a WIFI socket to turn it on and off automatically for me) to help cool the plants and begin strengthening their stems before the transition outdoors. Two interesting articles on the subject: https://growdiaries.com/journal/ventilation-in-the-cannabis-grow-room-a-detailed-guide https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/providing-sufficient-airflow-for-plant-growth-environments

BC_Green It has been another amazing week of the plants growing. I have been watching as the Fruity Freak leaves become progressively more fern-like, and ornamental as a result! Based on my Banizzle grows, I knew I needed to understand plant nutrients in a more meaningful way if I wanted these plants to thrive. So, I decided to get a soil test (see Ref. 1 below on how to perform a test) to understand what nutrients my plants needed. The report I received advised that I needed to add 200 lbs/acre of nitrogen, 150 lbs/acre of phosphorus, and 190 lbs/acre of potassium (see picture labeled Pic.1 (FYI you can't see these images unless you login to growdiaries)). I then researched what to do with my results (Ref. 2 helped), and I figured out that my nutrient needs of 200-150-190 fall close to a 2-1-2 ratio. I then looked at different types of organic fertilizers (see Ref. 3 and Ref. 4) and considered that I already had a 3-10-5 fertilizer (Vermibloom) on hand. I discovered Dr Earth’s Alfalfa Meal is 2-1-2 and includes beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizae (to promote healthy plant growth and disease resistance). However, I knew I would be low on nitrogen if I only used those two fertilizers. Therefore, I decided to buy some blood meal (12-0-0). I also liked that blood meal is more fast acting while the other two are more moderate. I hunted around for a solid fertilizer calculator and found an amazing tool from the University of Georgia Extension (Ref. 5). I entered all three fertilizers into the calculator, and it kicked out the exact amount of each fertilizer I needed to apply to 1 square foot (see Pic. 2). As I am using 10-gallon fabric pots (that can hold 1.5 cubic feet, but I put stone on the bottom and there’s space left at the top) I decided to use the one square foot application rate as I can always add more later, but I can’t take it away. Not only did I want to understand the nutrients I needed, but I also wanted to understand the structure of the soil (as it was not included in my test results). North Dakota State University has a nice page that discusses this (Ref. 6), and I performed a soil ribbon test (see Video 1) based on this information. I determined my soil to be medium textured (which is great), but I have seen occasional water pooling on the surface, suggesting that it may be more of a medium-fine. This means adding peat moss, coco coir, or other amendments might improve drainage (and plant hydration) and allow for roots to grow more easily. In the long run, I plan to use compost to enhance the soil structure and nutrients. I filled the bottom of my 10-gallon fabric pots with a ½” of pea stone to allow for drainage (Pic. 3). I then partially filled two 5-gallon buckets with topsoil from near where I will plant (but not in an area the roots will reach). I used a digital scale to measure the amount of fertilizers recommended by the calculator (Pic. 4, 5, and 6) and added it to one of the 5-gallon buckets (see Pic. 7). I mixed the fertilizers into the soil as evenly as possible (Pic. 8 and 9). I then poured a two-inch layer of non-fertilized soil, then peat moss, and then fertilized soil (in a roughly 2:1:1 ratio) and blended them together. I repeated this until the pot was full (getting additional soil as needed), and then I repeated the process for the other three pots. I set the filled fabric pots in my garage (Pic. 10) for two days to allow any upset bugs to flee into my garage instead of my house. I then moved the pots (wrapping them in a contractor garbage bag to prevent making a mess) into the room with the grow light. I placed a board on top of the fabric pots to insulate the plants (in their smaller pots) from the cold soil (Pic. 11). Once the soil in the fabric pots reaches room temperature, I will transplant. (Ref. 1) This video shows the method I used to take a soil sample. I didn’t have a field to test, so I took four samples from the area where I will eventually plant outdoors and blended them together. I then mailed my soil sample off to the lab, and about a week later, I received an email with a PDF of my results (included with my pictures this week). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9AwxmFxBwg&t=8s (Ref. 2) This video from the University of Minnesota Extension (many universities have agriculture extensions that can assist you with soil testing and growing information for your area) discusses what to do with your soil testing results: https://youtu.be/HYrkcfE62Pg (Ref. 3) This is a nice article that discusses organic fertilizer solutions: https://www.grow-it-organically.com/npk-fertilizer.html (Ref. 4) This article lists the NPK values of many organic fertilizer solutions: https://www.epicgardening.com/organic-fertilizers/ (Ref. 5) Many websites tout a fertilizer calculator…but this one is hands down the best I have found. If you scroll down to the bottom, you can enter any fertilizer type you want (and the cost, if you want). It will give you the exact blend of multiple fertilizers to solve your nutrient deficiencies (I included a snapshot of the solution I used in my pictures). https://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soil/fertcalc/ (Ref. 6) This is an excellent article that discusses how to evaluate your soil: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/evaluating-preparing-and-amending-lawn-and-garden-soil

BC_Green We are officially four weeks in, and what could be ignored at week two or three as possibly stunted growth is now undeniable. My experience and comparing this grow to similar grows on this website (including grows of Supafreak (a relative of Fruity Freak) in similar conditions and grows using an HLG RSPEC 100 light with similar settings) show that these plants are at least 50% delayed. Having discovered my native soil has a medium-fine texture last week, I already had a good idea of what the issue might be. I also observed the soil compacting in the containers over time as I watered the plants. As I had originally dug up the soil (and therefore created air pockets), some level of compaction was expected, but when I measured it, I found that the soil level had fallen an inch (and the containers only had 3.5” of soil on top of 1” of rock). That is roughly a 30% compaction of the soil, now squeezing in on my young plants’ roots, restricting nutrient uptake. I needed to move forward with transplanting into a soil mix that compacts less. I had already added peat moss (and nutrients) to my 10-gallon containers of soil last week, but even peat moss can compact over time. Therefore, I needed an additional amendment. I decided on perlite after I read this article (and saw that it is superior for situations with higher clay content, which is likely driving my soil’s compaction): https://www.epicgardening.com/perlite-vs-vermiculite/#:~:text=We've%20already%20covered%20the,into%20many%20seed%20starting%20systems. As a result, I removed half of the soil from each 10-gallon container, filled 25% of the container with perlite, mixed it into the soil, then filled the container back to the top with soil and blended that into the soil below. This resulted in the container weight dropping from 58 lbs. to 46 lbs. The soil was slightly damp (and there is a ½” of pea stone in the bottom), so the dry bulk weight is actually lower. That means the weight of my mix is within the range of potting mixes you can buy. Hopefully, this means I have the correct porosity to allow for proper drainage and root growth and will solve the growth issues. At this point, you may be asking why not buy good soil instead of amending my native soil. Well, I noticed native soil greatly improved disease and drought resistance of the outdoor plants I grew previously. Also, it might be cheaper and more environmentally friendly in the long run, and the flavor of the bud will be improved (which I noticed during my Banizzle grows). Additionally, I have a dual benefit here–the more I learn about growing these plants in my native soil, the more successful my approach to my yard and garden will be. Therefore, I’m going to keep experimenting. While the pots were out of the room, I added a drop cloth beneath the platform and up the guest bed to ensure that dirt and water/humidity are contained. After amending the soil, I returned the 10-gallon containers to the room and transplanted the seedlings. I watered them carefully toward the middle to avoid excessive watering, especially since thesr plants are small for the container at this moment.

BC_Green We are now over a week out from the transplant, and the results are mixed. Fruity Freak 3 is definitely growing! Fruity Freak 2 has grown a little but is starting to show a bit of brown on the tips of two leaves. Fruity Freak 1 has shown little growth. Unfortunately, I made a critical error in my experiment–I don’t know when my organic nutrients will be available to my plants (because I don’t know exactly how long it will take for them to release), and this (presumed nutrient deficiency) could be causing the browning leaf tips. This article explains why: https://www.gardenmyths.com/limitations-of-organic-fertilizer/ Normally, I use leaf coloration information to troubleshoot these issues–but it appears that this may not provide reliable results: https://www.gardenmyths.com/can-leaves-identify-nutrient-deficiencies/ The browning tips of Fruity Freak 2 (and simultaneous browning of leaves on the OG Fun plant I am growing under identical conditions) could be: (1) A response to lowering the grow light (which was necessary to keep the light intensity the same as when these plants were in small containers and directly under the light). I have since raised the light to eliminate this variable. (2) It could be a change in pH due to the addition of 25% peat moss. I have ordered a pH pen that will arrive this evening, and I will perform a soil slurry test to rule this out. (3) An imbalance in nutrients that could be difficult to troubleshoot without another lab soil test (easy to perform and only eleven bucks plus shipping), but that information would quickly become irrelevant as the organic nutrients continue to release. I am trying an extremely small dose of a water-soluble synthetic 20-10-20 fertilizer on Fruity Freak 1 only (to reduce the risk of damage to other plants) as the majority of the organic fertilizer I used is 2-1-2 alfalfa meal and is likely still decomposing into a usable state. If Fruity Freak 1 responds positively, the pH test is normal, and the leaves remain unchanged after the light adjustment, I will add synthetic fertilizer to the other plants. I did add some aluminum taped to cardboard next to the plants on the sides that do not face windows, and it increased light intensity by over 20%! I also added a space heater to the room, and I am keeping it at 75 during the day and 70 at night–this should encourage growth, and it helps the soil dry out faster (I am watering approximately 0.85 liters every 5 days). I am going to germinate another seed to create a “control” plant. As I have never grown this strain before, and there are no photos of this exact strain online. I want a clearer idea of the differences between my organic experiment and a more standard approach. I will post that new diary soon!

BC_Green Success! The synthetic water-soluble 20-10-20 fertilizer worked fantastically with noticeable growth in all three plants–in particular, Fruity Freak 3! Additionally, my concerns about soil pH were alleviated when I tested the soil and got a 6.2. This initial dose of fertilizer was a mere ⅛ tsp (I actually filled it just under, so closer to a 10th) per gallon. That would make it roughly 26 ppm of nitrogen and potassium and 13 ppm of phosphorus. Several controlled studies I have seen recommend optimal plant growth for cannabis at 150-200 ppm nitrogen, including this one from Israel: https://israelagri.com/advances-in-science-based-fertilization-technologies-for-medical-cannabis/#:~:text=optimal%20nitrogen%20level%20at%20the,concentration%20of%20cannabinoids%20and%20terpenoids. As I still don’t know how much nutrient is being released from the organic fertilizers in the soil, I don’t want to apply the full 150-200 ppm. I decided for this round to use ½ tsp per gallon (actually a ¼ tsp per half gallon as I don’t have a gallon-sized vessel), which will give approximately 132 ppm of nitrogen and potassium and 66 ppm of phosphorus. Here's the calculator I used for ppm (I weighed one tsp of my fertilizer and it was 5 grams, therefore 2.5 grams is 1/2 tsp): https://www.omnicalculator.com/biology/water-soluble-fertilizer

BC_Green The 20–10-20 water-soluble fertilizer continues to work wonders for these little ladies. Fruity Freak 3 has almost doubled her height in the last week and leads the pack at 9”. Fruity Freak 2 is 7.5” and Fruity Freak 1 is 5”. All three are looking extremely healthy and beautiful, almost resembling tomato plants at the moment. I’m starting to get really excited to watch them get big! I have not adjusted the distance of the grow light to the plants, so as the plants grow taller, they are getting a higher light intensity. I have switched from captured rainwater (with higher acid and lower micronutrients) to tap water (mine has a 6.8 pH and more micronutrients). I’m not adjusting nutrients at this time, as everyone looks happy. Therefore, the dose of 20-10-20 remains the same ½ tsp per gallon (I am using an empty gallon water jug to mix and pour the solution). I am giving them each about ½ gallon per week on Mondays.

BC_Green Wishing everyone a Happy and green St Patrick’s Day! These freaky plants had another excellent week of growth! Fruity Freak 3 is now 13”, Fruity Freak 2 is 12”, and Fruity Freak 1 is 8”, about a 4” increase each! They look stronger every day, which is great because the weather is getting warmer, the sun is getting stronger, and I am excited to transition them outside! Now that the nutrients are better aligned with the plants’ needs, I have been adjusting the lighting. I was using an HLG Rspec 100 only–but when I transitioned these ladies to larger pots, I inadvertently decreased the light intensity of each plant because they are further from the center of the light (if I had to do it again, I would transition them to one or two-gallon pots before ten, and I would purchase a light that was at least as large as the 3x3 grow footprint). A few days ago, I added a 65w Fecida grow light (I already had) and dropped both lights to 12” above the plants. This increased the light intensity from 300 PPFD to 600 PPFD (measured with the Photone app). They have tolerated the light increase well, but with the closer lamp distance to the plants, I am paying attention to signs of damage to the leaves. They continue to receive intense doses of light between 10a-1p as the sun passes by the south-facing window in the room (I have the timer set to turn off the grow lights accordingly, which I override on cloudy days), and they are now getting a little afternoon sun from the west-facing window. I continue to dose ½ tsp of Pennington 20-10-20 per gallon of water. This past week, I was able to water each plant a ½ gallon on Monday and another on Friday–however, there was a tiny bit of runoff from two containers on Friday, so I will be more careful this week.

BC_Green Each week these plants get bigger and stronger, and I watch this incredible growth pattern exploding from the top of the plant. It is strangely mesmerizing and unlike anything I have ever seen. All three plants continue strong growth. Fruity Freak 3 is 15”, Fruity Freak 2 is 12.5” (but reaches its leaves to 16”), and Fruity Freak 1 is 10”. I did, however, notice yellowing/browning leaves at the bottom of all three plants. This could be a result of them getting much larger and no longer needing these old leaves near the bottom that are getting little light under their ever-expanding canopies. The brown leaves could also be nutrient burn from a combination of the alfalfa meal (I blended into the soil six weeks ago) starting to release nutrients while I am using a synthetic fertilizer. In the future, I might skip the slow-release nutrients because my goal is to grow the best plants I can in a relatively short growing season. If I can supply the plants' nutrient demand perfectly (which is far easier with synthetic water-soluble or liquid fertilizer), yield and quality should be optimal. Either way, I am at one month of synthetic fertilizer use, so it is a good time to use water only, which I did this morning to help clear out any salts. I also came across an article that gives me concern about the synthetic fertilizer I am using: https://www.gardenmyths.com/chelates-improve-plant-growth/ Pennington 20-10-20 uses chelates (a substance that prevents nutrients from reacting with oxygen or other ions so that the nutrients remain available to the roots), which, normally, would be fantastic. Pennington uses EDTA, and in acidic soils with high calcium levels (like my native soil that I blended in these containers), this can lead to the formation of stable calcium complexes that may lock out nutrients from the plants. Out of an abundance of caution, I am going to change fertilizers. As I am changing from chelated to non-chelated fertilizer, I also wanted to consider the 20-10-20 ferilizer that I am using. The soil testing company that I used recommends 177 ppm Nitrogen, 87 ppm Phosphorus, and 187 ppm Potassium (approximately a 2-1-2 ratio) to grow hemp. However, an Israeli-controlled study suggests 160 ppm Nitrogen, 30-90 PPM Phosphorus for vegetative and less than 30 ppm for flowering (for the highest quality, but the highest yield would be 90 ppm), and 175 ppm Potassium during vegetative and 60 ppm during flowering is the most optimal. Therefore, I am going to search for fertilizer solutions that are 5-1-5 for vegetative and 6-1-2 for flowering. The Israeli study I referenced: https://israelagri.com/advances-in-science-based-fertilization-technologies-for-medical-cannabis/#:~:text=optimal%20nitrogen%20level%20at%20the,concentration%20of%20cannabinoids%20and%20terpenoids

BC_Green What an incredible week of growth–another 3”- 5” each (Fruity Freak 3 is now 20”, Fruity Freak 2 is 15.5”, and Fruity Freak 1 is 13.5)! I gave them water only for both waterings this week to clear any salts (including EDTA) and also try to determine if the slow-release nutrients were contributing to growth. Their strong growth rate suggests they have adequate nutrients. I am planning to continue limiting water-soluble fertilizers for the time being, but I am keeping a careful eye on them as my OG Fun plant (growing under identical conditions) has some yellowing leaves. When they are ready for water-soluble fertilizers, I have found some really cool ones that I am excited to try, including: Soy hydrolysate, which I will use as a source of nitrogen. However, it also acts as a biostimulant and can help correct soil pH back to a 6-7 range regardless of whether the pH is higher or lower. Here are two interesting articles: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371968847_Protein_Hydrolysate_A_Promising_Biostimulant_for_Sustainable_Agriculture https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10819947/ Langbeinite, which I will use as a source of potassium, magnesium, and sulfur. It has the added benefit of being pH-neutral. https://www.cropnutrition.com/resource-library/potassium-magnesium-sulfate-langbeinite/ I also plan to use super phosphate as my source of phosphorus (as it is less acidic). However, I need to determine how I will supply the remaining micronutrients (so tune in next week ;) This week begins their transition outside. I am not transitioning them fully outdoors until we hit 14 hours of sun (in about a month). But for the time being, they will hang out in the sunroom to give them more sun and exposure to varying temperatures. Additionally, I will move them outside for increasingly longer periods to allow them to harden off.

BC_Green The plants have transitioned seamlessly to the sunroom and the addition of outdoor time! I have also been slowly reducing their grow light hours to transition them to the 14 hours of sunlight they will receive when they move outside full time. Despite the changes, Fruity Freak 3 is now 24” (4” increase), Fruity Freak 2 is 18” (2.5” increase), and Fruity Freak 1 is 17.5” (4” increase). I did give them a small amount of fertilizer two days ago (each received 1/16th of a tsp of Pennington 20-10-20 with two cups of water). However, that was my final application of that product, as today begins my first attempt at my own fertilizer blend! I have read a lot about blending, and I believe that these ingredients will have no adverse reactions–in fact, soy hydrolysate should assist in nutrient chelation (as noted in the PubMed article included in last week’s journal entry), making some nutrients more available to the plant–but there are many unknowns. My mix (in 1 liter of water) will consist of: Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 1.33 grams (160 ppm) Super Phosphate (0-18-0) - 0.38 grams (30 ppm) Langbeinite (0-0-22 and S 22% and Mg 10.8%) - 0.96 grams (175 ppm) Micro nutrient blend (Prevegenics 0.75% Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Cu, B, Ni, Fe) - ¾ tsp I used this calculator to determine the needed weight of each fertilizer (except the micro-nutrient blend, for which I am following the instructions): https://www.omnicalculator.com/biology/water-soluble-fertilizer To test this blend, I will mix a half-strength version to test on Fruity Freak 1 first. If there is no adverse response, I will proceed with the half-strength dose on the other plants. As there are still slow-release nutrients in the soil, I will proceed with caution from there.

BC_Green After some colder weather, there are finally some opportunities to get these ladies outside, and they are absolutely loving it! Fruity Freak 1 has just outgrown her sister at 21”, Fruity Freak 2 is now 20.5”, and Fruity Freak 3 is now 26”. I had to adjust my fertilizer mix from last week. Although sources I read suggested that pulverized super phosphate is water soluble, I have yet to discover a method that will pulverize the phosphate enough for that to happen. Therefore, I have replaced it with a liquid 4-10-3. I am, however, able to effectively pulverize the langbeinite with a hammer and get most of it to dissolve. Still, it does make it so that I need to weigh any material that does not dissolve (a small amount that sinks to the bottom) and pulverize more to replace it. The soy hydrolysate and langbeinite behave well together in solution, but I noticed some cloudiness (possible precipitation) when mixing the 4-10-3. I am continuing to experiment with mixing the fertilizers, but I am able to deliver them separately without issue. I am giving them (per gallon): Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 4.2 grams (160 ppm nitrogen (133 from soy hydrolysate + 27 from liquid fertilizer)) Liquid Fertilizer (4-10-3) - 2.6 grams (30 ppm phosphorus - measured with a cup on a scale) Langbeinite (0-0-22 and S 22% and Mg 10.8%) - 3.28 grams (175 ppm potassium (158 from langbeinite + 17 from liquid fertilizer)) Micro nutrient blend (0.75% Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Cu, B, Ni, Fe) - 15 ml

BC_Green We are officially outside full-time, and the ladies are loving the extra light and space! Fruity Freak 3 picked up another 4” this past week and is now 30” (definitely thinking about cloning her)! Fruity Freak 1 and 2 are both 23.5”. All three have beautiful, thick stems and are looking incredibly healthy. They all have pre-flowers as of a few days ago, and this is always an exciting and reassuring development! I am using an outdoor floodlight from 8p-10p each night to interrupt their sleep cycle and discourage flowering until daylight exceeds 15 hours. I am continuing to experiment with my fertilizer blend. The micro-nutrient fertilizer appears to precipitate when combined with the liquid 4-10-3 fertilizer–however, the other ingredients seem to combine without issue. Therefore, I am delivering the micro-nutrient fertilizer separately from the others. The langbeinite is also somewhat challenging to pulverize sufficiently to dissolve it completely in water, and I may seek out a more soluble source of potassium. I am still giving them (per gallon): Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 4.2 grams (160 ppm nitrogen (133 from soy hydrolysate + 27 from liquid fertilizer)) Liquid Fertilizer (4-10-3) - 2.6 grams (30 ppm phosphorus - measured with a cup on a scale) Langbeinite (0-0-22 and S 22% and Mg 10.8%) - 3.28 grams (175 ppm potassium (158 from langbeinite crushed with a hammer + 17 from liquid fertilizer)) Micro nutrient blend (0.75% Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Cu, B, Ni, Fe) - 15 ml (delivered separately on a different day)

BC_Green Fruity Freak 3 is 3 ft., and it isn’t even May, what a beast! Fruity Freak 2 is 27.5” and Fruity Freak 1 is 29”. You will notice that Fruity Freak 2 and 3 are now in 20-gallon containers, located in my south-facing side yard. I used a mixture of 33% soil from my yard, 33% peat moss, and 33% perlite to fill the containers. The soil I selected from my yard already had weeds, oregano, and mint growing in it, in the hopes that the plant matter and, more importantly, the living roots were included. The idea was inspired by this article, which speaks about the benefits of living roots on the micro-biome and soil quality: https://www.gardenmyths.com/latest-science-on-soil-health/ Fruity Freak 1 remains in her 10-gallon container and will be relocated into a 4x4 bed with Fruity Freak A (from my other Fruity Freak grow) at my friend’s house. I am sad to see her go, but it will be really interesting to see any differences resulting from my gardening techniques vs. my friend’s. He has promised to provide pictures and updates. It had become somewhat cumbersome to pulverize and use langbeinite as a source of potassium in my fertilizer blend, so I switched to potassium nitrate. My new mix is below. New fertilizer mix (per gallon): - Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 2.43 grams (160 ppm nitrogen (77 ppm from soy hydrolysate + 27 ppm from liquid fertilizer + 56 ppm from potassium nitrate)) - Liquid Fertilizer (4-10-3) - 2.6 grams (30 ppm phosphorus - measured with a cup on a scale) - Potassium Nitrate (13.5-0-46.2) - 1.56 grams (175 ppm potassium (158 ppm from potassium nitrate + 17 ppm from liquid fertilizer)) ** Soy hydrolysate, liquid fertilizer, and potassium nitrate are combined together with no noticeable precipitation - Micro nutrient liquid fertilizer (0.75% Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Cu, B, Ni, Fe) - 15 ml (delivered separately on a different day to avoid precipitation when blended with the 4-10-3)

BC_Green Fruity Freak 3 is now 42”, how big will she be in October…only time will tell! Fruity Freak 1 and 2 are tied at 35” and looking healthy. Those having read last week’s entry will recall Fruity Freak 1 was heading to my friend’s house, and he has picked up Fruity Freak A (from another grow), but he has been a little slow to pick up Fruity Freak 1. However, I love her and she’s welcome to stay as long as needed :) I did notice three spotted lanternfly (SLF) nymphs on Fruity Freak 3 two days ago and chased them off (I haven’t seen any since). Last summer, I killed approximately 200 adult SLFs that landed on my plants out of an abundance of caution (even though cannabis is not a preferred food source). They can suck sap out of the stem with their proboscis (and if there are enough of them they will weaken or kill the plant) and their feces can cause mold, so I prefer not to take risks with them. Unfortunately, neem oil spray and drenches seemed to make no impact–only cutting off the neck of a disposable water bottle and covering the SLFs with it (causing them to jump into the bottle), then crushing them worked. Here's an article on the subject: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/hemp/news/15691550/need-to-know-spotted-lanternfly-and-hemp#:~:text=While%20little%20research%20exists%20on,an%20outsized%20threat%20to%20hemp I'm using the same fertilizer blend (per gallon): - Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 2.43 grams (160 ppm nitrogen (77 ppm from soy hydrolysate + 27 ppm from liquid fertilizer + 56 ppm from potassium nitrate)) - Liquid Fertilizer (4-10-3) - 2.6 grams (30 ppm phosphorus - measured with a cup on a scale) - Potassium Nitrate (13.5-0-46.2) - 1.56 grams (175 ppm potassium (158 ppm from potassium nitrate + 17 ppm from liquid fertilizer)) * Soy hydrolysate, liquid fertilizer, and potassium nitrate are combined together with no noticeable precipitation - Micronutrient liquid fertilizer (0.75% Mg, Mn, Ca, Zn, Cu, B, Ni, Fe) - 15 ml (delivered separately on a different day to avoid precipitation when blended with the 4-10-3)

BC_Green This past week was almost all rain, and even though we’re above 14 hours of daylight, the ladies decided to flower, lol. I knew there was a risk starting as early as I did, and heading outside when I did, but that’s ok. I took advantage of their flowering state and took a few cuttings, so maybe I’ll have some bushy monster clones to experiment with. In the meantime, my Fruity Freak #2 grow, with plants started 6 weeks later, did not experience flowering–therefore, I will be adjusting timing for next year. I took the cuttings from the top of the plants as I am concerned their height could exceed 9’ (a wonderful problem to have), which would be visible from the street, and thus require me to move them into the back yard (which has less sun). I know I am late in the game, but I’m going to prune/train them to stay below 8’ and use some stakes to support them. The cuttings were taken with disinfected scissors. I wiped them clean with rubbing alcohol between plants to minimize any risk for disease transfer (even though these ladies have been impressively healthy outdoors). All cuts were made at a 45-degree angle to prevent rain from pooling on stems (and creating potential for infection). I cut off all but two small leaves near the top of each cutting to minimize moisture loss until they can root. All cuttings were dipped in rooting hormone (IBA) and tapped on the side of the container to remove any excess. They were immediately placed in small pots with Pro-Mix BX that I had wet with ¼ strength of my fertilizer blend, and covered in plastic wrap to act as a humidity dome. ¼ strength is (per gallon): Soy hydrolysate (12-0-0) - 0.6 grams Liquid Fertilizer (4-10-3) - 0.65 grams Potassium Nitrate (13.5-0-46.2) - 0.39 grams Before the ladies had flowers, I contemplated using plant hormones to encourage growth. I want to thank everyone who answered my question on the subject once again. It is such a fascinating topic, and everyone had such interesting insights. I had considered experimenting with kinetin, a cytokinin that looked promising (it is supposed to encourage bushier growth). However, some of the controlled studies I looked at had inconsistent results. But now that I am topping the plants, they will create a bunch of cytokinin as a natural response, and probably won’t revisit this topic until next year. In the meantime, this article is an interesting read on the subject: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7355821/ Fruity freak 1 was 42”, but is now 34” Fruity freak 2 was 39”, but is now 34” Fruity freak 3 was 49”, but is now 37”

BC_Green We’ve had about 5” of rain so far this month, but these ladies are holding strong. Each had one or two yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant, prompting me to remove them, but otherwise look very healthy. Fruity Freak 3 developed a bit of mold below the topping cut I made to her stem last week. I removed the moldy section with another 45-degree cut below it (closer to the node), and I am now spraying it and all topping cuts (on the other plants) with neem oil. I also gave Fruity Freak 3 a neem oil soil drench to boost her ability to fight off the infection. Considering the amount of powdery mildew, septoria, and other issues I have seen (especially during lots of rain and high humidity), it is quite impressive that these plants are doing so well. Additionally, slugs attacked some of my plants at this time last year (and are attacking other plants in our yard), but haven’t touched any of these plants. The topping cuts have caused all three plants to start bushing out nicely, particularly Fruity Freak 2. It will be interesting to see which one is the highest yielder this year. Fruity Freak 1 was the fastest to germinate, Fruity Freak 3 has shown the fastest vertical growth, but Fruity Freak 2 might have the right shape. Hopefully, they continue to grow even bushier as the flowers continue to disappear with the increasing daylight hours and the plants re-vegetate. I haven’t been able to deliver the water-soluble nutrients these past two weeks because the soil/media has been too wet, but I will give them some in the next day or two. The cuttings are holding color so far, which is encouraging. They are a bit dry–I have been spraying the leaves with water and keeping the humidity dome on just a bit longer to try and help. I also sprayed any exposed cuts with neem oil.

BC_Green The fruity freak ladies have been doing wonderfully. No return of the white mold (from below the topping cut on Fruity Freak 3) from last week, but I did go ahead and buy some HOCL just in case (thanks again for those that answered my grow question). I am beginning to do some LST (low-stress training) on Fruity Freak 2 and 3 with bamboo stakes and garden wire to encourage outward growth (instead of upward) and open up the plant's interior (by pulling branches slightly downward, more level with the ground, the leaves have more space) to maintain good airflow and hopefully prevent disease. I am ensuring the garden wire is not constricting around the branches (to avoid restricting growth/delivery of nutrients), but I am placing a slight lateral tension on each branch to promote growth in that direction. The plants are responding well! As I have been working with the plants, the wonderful citrusy smell of the flowers has been in my face, and I have been really enjoying it!