FluxScale & KiS Organic

Dongra02 Growing in KiS Organic, Water-Only soil. After 3 hydroponic grows and all the work they entailed, I wanted to give a water-only soil a try. I have a busy spring so I needed a slightly less involved method. 5 of 6 seeds germinated, my freebie Durban Poison didn't want to come out and play. The goal is to harvest 4 in the 4x4 grow tent. I'm using an absolutely superior grow light in the Fluxscale by Growflux. This light allows me to create custom light spectrums, schedule my lights and spectrums via computer or cellphone, and more. I added Mykos when potting and will likely do that again when they move to their final 7-gallon smart pots. I did not mix any perlite or coco into the soil, so it is a bit "hot" for these going in. I'm testing the KiS instructions though. Humidity will be an issue throughout the early stages of this grow. Definitely some tip burn as they started out.

Dongra02 After initial burn, and some higher than ideal temps, they're taking off a bit. Looks like the roots have taken hold. The Critical Kush pot doesn't drain as well, so it droops a bit after watering - something to keep an eye on for re-potting next. At this rate, that might be the end of week three. They'll go into their final, 7-gallon pots. Watering with a mix of tap, brita and distilled. PPM ends up around 100 or so, and pH around 6.5.

Dongra02 New and recent growth is looking very healthy. These are putting on size at the same rate as my previous grow in coco, has me thinking I could have watered those plants more often. At this rate, these will be re-potted just about exactly 3 weeks from sprouting. If they handle that well they'll be getting their 1st of 2 planned tops soon after. I'll also reduce to 4 plants, hopefully leading to my giving a friend their first plant to grow!

Dongra02 Moving to 7 gallons at the end of this week. Critical Kush still having root issues, adjusted watering and hoping he re-pot helps.

Dongra02 Still trying to figure out the issue with the Critical Kush. It responds well to watering, so I don't think it's a drainage issue. I tried aerating the soil with a skewer thinking maybe the top level roots aren't able to pull in any air. If that fails I'll try to re-pot and loosen them up manually. Determined to revive that. The rest took home in the 7 gallons with ease and have been topped. They all had 6-7 tight nodes. I've raised the light up a few inches. Humidity continues to be rough but I'm around enough to spray when it gets too dry. Even the C Kush is putting on a healthy green new growth and is keeping pace height wise, she might just pull out of it on her own.

Dongra02 All have been re-potted. I added a tiny bit of Mykos to holes and sprinkled on roots before planting. All have had their first top. Humidity has been going up making it a little easier to keep it somewhat decent in there, still dryer than ideal. They look ok, I continue to mist in there a few times during the lights on, not sure if that accomplishes anything, feel free to point that out in comments! Always open to tips and feedback. The critical kush seems healthy, just behind.

Dongra02 Transported 1 Amnesia Haze plant to a friend (legal state, all good!) and keeping the other 4, as was the plan all along should I have more than 4 still viable at this point. All looking good, continuing to adjust ties and they're filling right back up nicely. Second top

Dongra02 Plants were topped a second and final time this week, all seem to be bouncing back strongly. Once they are settled, I'll likely need to defoliate and flip earlier than planned. I'm moving out of the country and don't want to harvest them any earlier than necessary. The two freebie seeds, Critical and Cheese, are thus far the lushest of the bunch. Though they all look healthy. I'm excited to flip as I get to use a more custom light formula. If you are not familiar with the FluxScale (Growflux), I would check it out.

Dongra02 Flip week. Gave them a light defoliation and put the SCROG in, and flipped to a 12/12 light cycle about 6 days into this week. The formula includes White & Deep Red for about 11:45, and then Far Red for 15 minutes prior to dark. When I switched from a Quantum Board setup and could set up a timed formula (from lap top or phone), the lag between flip and true flower/stretch all but disappeared.

Dongra02 Flipping early was kind of a drag as there was so much open SCROG space, but they seem to still be filling it out nicely. The Haze and Critical Kush haven't quite caught up in the center of the plants, but the last round with the Critical Kush started similarly and ended with some nice buds in the middle, so not concerned. Just watering and tucking, and not missing creating nute mixes and pHing. I feel like I'm cheating at this and waiting for it to blow up. I will be adding a bit of vermicompost tea from a friend of mine a little later on. I'm worried the 7 gallons won't be enough to see some all the way to maturity, particularly the Amnesia Haze.

Dongra02 They're all starting to flower nicely, a little gap still to fill in but they're creeping into those empty spaces. Will need to add an additional upper fan and a dehumidifier in the next couple of days. Also going to drape the tent in blackout curtains. By the end of this week, I'll be doing the last "major" defoliation. I typically clean anything under the canopy out completely and then unblock bud sites. Otherwise, if it's healthy and not blocked or blocking anything, I tend to leave them alone.

Dongra02 Going into the 3rd week on 12/12 schedule. Starting to see some trichomes forming, especially on the Critical Kush and the Critical. At the beginning of the week, I gave all 4 a pretty serious clean up under the canopy, in some cases leaving a few lower sites on the Crit. Kush and Amnesia Haze to finish stretching up. By the end of the week, this has proven to be a good move. All responded well to the defoliation. I cleared a bunch of bud sites but then left anything that was getting some light and not blocking anything. They really to pray up to this light when it comes on in the evening, and the speed at which they started producing flowers lends some credit to the Red/Far Red light. They're also starting to put out a nice aroma. Stretch seems to have just about wrapped up and they're now full on into flowering.

Dongra02 All 4 seemed to have enjoyed their clean up. I"ll possibly do another light defoliate and then just continue to clip off any new growth along the lower stems. Not too many areas with overlap so air flow and light penetration seem to be great. I added another few fans and raised the light to the max in the tent. It's about 31-34 inches from the canopy depending on plant and area. Based on PAR Maps and PPFD of my light, this should really be ideal. They seem to be racing through flower, with all 4 starting to frost and thicken. The Critical is by far the nicest and flattest of all 4 canopy-wise, with the Amnesia Haze unsurprisingly proving to be the tallest of the bunch. The Cheese is showing a little "lightening" of the lower leaves, I'll be adding some tea from my friend's vermicompost set up this week so. Hopefully, that will replenish some of the N and other nutrients in the soil. Otherwise, seem to be on track. I may have time to see the cure through myself before leaving the country. I'm going to miss this hobby.

Dongra02 Most are looking very healthy going into 4th/5th week of 12-hour lighting. The Amnesia Haze is showing some possible N deficiency. pH seems fine, I added vermicompost tea and will do another water-in with that at the end of the week. The Cheese might need it too. All are getting really frosty and starting to smell up the house. Glad I have friendly roommates and landlord! I did another clean up underneath, and it was almost like harvest with all the resin stuck on my fingers and clippers. These are going to be some nice buds if I keep them healthy for the next few weeks. As predicted, looking like the Critical Kush will be the earliest to come down, but will be close with the three indica heavy plants. The Haze will probably be an extra few weeks.

Dongra02 The aroma is getting nice. The Amnesia Haze and Cheese are starting to fade a bit, I think a little is expected this late into flower. I had added the worm poop tea last week so they should have access to N and other nutrients by now if they need it from the soil. I think these may be ready a bit earlier than I had expected, which would be nice. Still a few weeks to go, but I'll start looking at trichomes, especially on the indica-heavy plants. Continuing to water about every 3 days or so with a gallon of water (Poland Spring to be consistent-ish) each, pulling off lower leaves if they are fading or dying. No sign of any major issues or pests so far. Temps are OK, I may need to A/C the room to keep the humidity in check over the next few weeks.