Sunset Paradise, Germany May 2025

Sejanus21 I transplanted the baby into her final home, a Lechuza Classico LS 35. I find the Lechuza system very comfortable; after 4 to 6 weeks, the plant is feeded through the water reservoir (3l), which basically makes the pot a hydro system. The only drawback is that you need to monitor the pH and EC very closely. The pot is living in my greenhouse for now.

Sejanus21 The little girl is slowly growing. This is nornal, considered the mineral substrate and the big pot. I am confident that this will change in a few weeks. She is in the greenhouse during the whole day and night. Her leaves are a little light green, but nothing to worry about. I still need to turn on the heating at night to keep the temperature at a minimum of 16°C. Today I sprayed her leaves with a little dose of Haifa Polyfeed 18-18-18 and she seems to have enjoyed it. EC 1.2 is quite high for her growth stage, but no signs of overfeeding so I just continue with the same nutrient dosage.

Sejanus21 Paradise Sunset is growing nicely in the cosy greenhouse. She is finally getting used to the mineral substrate andwill probably be ready for topping in a week. I am really happy that I seem to sucessfully grow this interesting strain.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is growing strongly under quite ideal conditions in my greenhouse. The first root reached the water reservoir of my Lechuza Classico LS 35, so that I can now start to treat the pot as a hydro system. I keep the feeding light. Next week she will hopefully ready to be topped.

Sejanus21 Conditions in the greenhouse are still quite ideal. The roots have reached the reservoir of my Lechuza Classico LS 35 pot. I can therefore start to use it like a hydro-system. As you can see, I also finally topped the lady a few days ago; she has already recovered nicely. I expect explosive growth in the next week.

Sejanus21 We had some very hot days this week. The greenhouse heated up to well above 30°C. The young lady got quite stressed and did not grow as much as I expected. Today I exchanged her feeding solution. I changed to a professional grow fertilizer, Hakaphos Green (NPK 20-5-10+2). Next week the weather will be less hot, but still sunny, so I hope that she will grow a little faster.

Sejanus21 Finally, Paradise Sunset added 20cm last week. She still suffers from the extreme changes in temperature between day and night, even in my greenhouse. Also, during the days humidity is well below ideal levels. She is still not drinking much, considered this. Anyway, she seems to push through.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is growing quickly (+15cm). I moved her from the greenhouse to a protected spot in the garden. The slighly lower temperature seemed to have helped. She is getting thirstier and drinks her reservoir of 3,7l in 2-3 days. Nothing to worry about with sunny and dry weather ahead.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is growing fiercely. I reduced Hakaphos Grün slightly, because the leaves became dark green; probably too much phosphorus because of my pH reducer phosporus acid, which is adding up with the fertilizer. Anyway, she is looking very healthy.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is growing nicely and consistently. She is getting more thirsty every day and drinks her reservoir of 3.7l in one day if it is warm and sunny. I will reduce nutrients because the leaves are getting very dark green. From now on, she will get her nutrient mix only every second time, every other time she will get pH corrected water. We will see, how this is working out.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is enjoying life more than ever. Even on her diet (of feeding solution only every second time) she is showing no signs of stress or discomfort. She develops a lot of bud sites. I will lollipop her next week, so that she can go into flower fully focused on her top buds in the next weeks.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is growing nicely. My neighbor will take over in the next two weeks. To make it simple for him, he will only use one fertilizer (Wuxal Blütenpracht) and no pH correction. Let us keep our fingers crossed that the lady will be satisfied. The change in nutrition also reflects that the flower phase should start soon.

Sejanus21 I was on holiday for the last two weeks. My neighbor did a great job, feeding the lady with simplified nutrition. She shows signs of pre-flowering. Next week, I will be back with more details.

Sejanus21 The lady stopped growing vertically and is now showing signs of flowering all over. She is still not in perfect shape, but I just stay with my nutrition scheme. We will see what happens.

Sejanus21 The lady gets a lot more appetite. She seems to like her nutrition mix and especially the lower pH. Sunset Paradise seems to react more sensible to a too high pH value (as during my holiday). There a LOTS of flower stems appearing everywhere and her colour is as healthy as it could get. Lady happy, grower happy :-)

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is powering through. Moderate temperatures and sufficient sunshine. Buds are developing everywhere. She continues to eat a lot of food. The next weeks will be interesting.

Sejanus21 The buds already glitter like powder sugar. This strain is a producer. Due to heavy winds, the pot fell down once, but there was no severe damage. I cut a lot of leaves to increase airflow and light exposure for the lower buds. My guess is that I can harvest in three weeks (mid October).

Sejanus21 Suddenly autumn has come to Germany. Heavy wind has toppled the pot several times. ER-Room treatment was necessary and 1/3 of the plant had to be amputated. Anyway, she smells very sweet, better than the other ladies. I will giver her two more weeks maximum, because I am afraid of mold.

Sejanus21 Sunset Paradise is entering her final phase. Very nice, compact buds and a great sweet smell. I plan to harvest in 2 weeks max. She will get pure rainwater from now.

Sejanus21 Not much to do; just waiting. She only gets rainwater. I had to remove a few leaves with mildew and a few buds with bud rot, but nothing to worry about, yet. Considered that she had a "broken leg" and an amputation, she is doing just fine. The trichome production is insane. Also, she is smelling so sweet. I will give her one more week...

Sejanus21 # Sunset Paradise - Summary ## Grower Profile **Location:** NRW, Germany (51°N) **Experience Level:** Advanced (2+ years) **Growing Philosophy:** Scientific approach, data-driven optimization --- ## Setup & Equipment ### Container & Medium - **System:** Lechuza LS 35 (13L self-watering pot) - **Medium:** Lechuza Pon (zeolite/lava/pumice hydroponics substrate) - **Total Volume:** 13L substrate + 3,7L water reservoir ### Environment - **Location:** Outdoor under roof overhang (protected from direct rain) - **Climate:** Temperate Central European (NRW) - **Season:** Late spring through late autumn (challenging October finish) ### Nutrients - **Water Source:** Groundwater (pH 7.2, EC 0.7) - **pH Adjustment:** 8.5% phosphoric acid - **Base Nutrients:** Hakaphos Grün/Rot mineral fertilizer series - **Supplements:** Calcinit, Hakaphos Basis 3, Haifa SOP, Fulvital Plus - **Strategy:** Precision mineral hydroponics with calculated NPK ratios --- ## Timeline & Development ### Germination & Early Growth - **Germinated:** Late March 2025 - **Early Stage:** Indoor and Greenhouse cultivation until end of May - **Transition:** Moved outdoors under roof overhang late May ### Vegetative Phase - **Training:** Topped and lollipopped for optimal structure - **Growth Pattern:** Vigorous vertical development - **Final Height:** 150cm (compact for outdoor) ### Flowering Phase - **Natural Photoperiod:** Flowering initiated naturally in late July/early August - **Flower Duration:** 8 weeks - **Total Days from Seed:** 177 days --- ## Challenges & Crisis Management ### Major Incidents Overcome **1. Severe Stem Break (Multiple Storm Events)** - Plant fell over twice during October windstorms - Major stem injury with significant structural damage - **Solution:** Emergency stabilization, plant successfully compartmentalized wound - **Result:** Almost full recovery, continued flowering without catastrophic yield loss **2. October Weather Challenges** - Cool temperatures (8-10°C nights) - High humidity and rain exposure - Increased disease pressure - **Solution:** Protected location under roof, preventive monitoring - **Result:** Minimal powdery mildew, only minor botrytis on individual buds despite conditions **3. Late Season Finish** - Harvesting in late October (suboptimal for outdoor) - Risk of quality degradation from cold/moisture - **Solution:** Staged harvest approach over 5 days - **Result:** Optimal ripeness achieved, premium quality maintained --- ## Harvest Strategy ### Two-Stage Harvest Approach **First Harvest (October 21st)** - First main stem - **Wet Weight:** 204g (after rough trim) - **Status:** Currently drying (Day 4 of 10-14) - **Expected Dry Weight:** 41-51g **Second Harvest (October 25th)** - Other main stem - **Wet Weight:** 324g (after rough trim) - **Status:** Just hung for drying - **Expected Dry Weight:** 65-81g **Potential Third Harvest** - Small remaining material still on plant - Decision pending based on trichome development - **Estimated Additional:** 15-25g wet --- ## Expected Results ### Yield Projections - **Total Wet Weight (harvested):** 528g - **Expected Dry Weight:** 106-132g - **Efficiency:** 8.2-10.2 g/L substrate - **Rating:** Excellent for outdoor hydroponics in challenging conditions ### Quality Assessment **Visual Analysis:** - Dense, compact bud structure - Exceptional trichome coverage - Healthy green coloration - Well-developed calyxes - Optimal pistil maturation (90%+ brown/orange) **Trichome Status (at second harvest):** - 65-70% Clear/Milky - 25-30% Cloudy - 5-10% Amber - **Assessment:** Peak cannabinoid production window --- ## Drying & Curing Protocol ### Drying Conditions - **Location:** Basement with dehumidifier - **Temperature:** 21°C (stable) - **Humidity:** 53% RH (optimal) - **Method:** Hung upside down on clothesline - **Air Flow:** Gentle, indirect circulation - **Duration:** Expected 10-14 days - **Target:** Stem snap test positive, 55-65% final moisture ### Curing Plan - **Container:** Glass jars with Boveda 62% packs - **Duration:** Minimum 2 weeks with daily burping - **Goal:** Optimal terpene preservation and smooth smoke/vapor --- ## Growing Insights & Lessons ### What Worked Exceptionally Well **Lechuza Self-Watering System:** - Consistent moisture availability crucial after stem break - Reservoir system prevented stress during crisis - Efficient water usage for outdoor setup - Excellent root development in Pon substrate **Mineral Hydroponics Approach:** - Precise nutrient control - Cost-effective (agricultural fertilizers vs. cannabis-specific products) - Rapid response to plant needs - Professional results at ~2 cents/liter nutrient solution **Crisis Management:** - Plant demonstrated remarkable resilience after severe trauma - Proper support and continued feeding enabled full recovery - Staged harvest maximized quality despite challenging timing ### Challenges & Adaptations **Structural Stability:** - Top-heavy growth in Lechuza created vulnerability to wind - Lesson: Earlier support stakes essential for outdoor hydroponics - Alternative: More stable container base or protected location **Late Season Timing:** - October outdoor finish pushed limits in NRW climate - Greenhouse finish might have been safer option **Hydroponics Outdoor:** - Daily reservoir monitoring required - More maintenance than soil-based outdoor grows - Trade-off: Precision control vs. ease of maintenance --- ## Technical Specifications Summary **Strain:** Sunset Paradise (Paradise Seeds Gelato selection) **System:** Outdoor hydroponics (Lechuza Pon) **Container:** 13L (Lechuza LS 35) **Height:** 150cm **Days from Seed:** 177 days **Flower Duration:** 8 weeks **Wet Harvest:** 528g+ (staged) **Expected Dry:** 106-132g **Efficiency:** 8.2-10.2 g/L **Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 - Excellent despite extreme challenges) --- ## Final Assessment ### Success Factors ✅ Survived severe structural damage ✅ Maintained quality through October weather ✅ Optimal trichome development achieved ✅ Efficient yield per liter substrate ✅ Professional-grade bud quality ✅ Complete crisis recovery documented ### Achievement Unlocked **"Phoenix Rising"** - Successfully recovered from catastrophic stem break and delivered premium harvest despite October outdoor conditions in Northern Germany. --- ## Tasting Notes (Upcoming) **Express Dry Sample:** Planned tasting October 29th **Method:** Vapman temperature stepping (160-210°C) **Expected Profile:** Sweet, creamy dessert notes with citrus undertones **Effects:** Relaxing, euphoric, evening-appropriate **Full Review:** To be updated after proper curing (2+ weeks) --- **Grow completed by:** Sejanus21 **Location:** NRW, Germany **Date:** October 2025 **Strain Source:** Paradise Seeds *"From crisis to triumph"*