First Living Soil Grow - King Juice

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 1 – The Beginning of Living Soil Period: April 5th to April 12th This week marks the start of my new project – an organic grow in a living soil bed, following the motto: "Soil is alive – and everything starts beneath the surface." On April 5th, I prepared the bed using the Almicanna Rearmament Mix to build a rich and fertile base. I also sowed companion plants (a.k.a. cover crops) to support soil structure, encourage microbial life, and naturally boost nitrogen levels. I watered the bed with 6 liters to help activate the soil biology – now it’s nature’s turn to do its thing. King Juice Cutting That same day, I planted a King Juice clone into the bed. I topped the cutting to promote bushier growth right from the start. I also began LST (Low Stress Training) by gently bending the side branches down and fixing them to the soil surface to encourage horizontal growth. Light & Environment Lights are running on an 18/6 cycle – turning on at 6:00 PM and off at 12:00 PM the next day. For now, I’m using a 35-watt seedling light setup, soft enough for the early phase but enough to kickstart healthy photosynthesis. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 2 – The Soil Army Moves In Period: April 12th to April 19th This week brought a serious boost of life into the system – quite literally! I switched the grow light to full spectrum, so the plant can now benefit from a broader range of light for stronger, healthier development. King Juice The King Juice cutting is doing well. I continued to gently bend the branches sideways and fixed them close to the soil – aiming for a wide, bushy structure and better light exposure for the lower shoots. Cover Crops The companion plants (cover crops) are thriving! Within a few days they’ve grown rapidly, greening up the surface and supporting soil structure and microbial life. Worms Incoming A big move this week: I introduced 450 earthworms into the bed! They're here to loosen the soil, improve nutrient cycling, and support the whole underground ecosystem. DIY Worm Hotels To make the worms feel at home, I built two small worm hotels using clay pots with holes. These act as feeding and retreat zones. Each hotel was filled with a bit of soil, leaf scraps, eggshells, and organic waste – the perfect buffet for worms and microbes alike. Watering I added 4 more liters of water to keep the moisture level stable and help the worms settle in. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 3 – Mulch, Light & Blumat Period: April 19th to April 26th Week 3 was all about bringing a little order into the jungle and setting up the system for long-term stability. Blumat System Installed I installed the Blumat automatic watering system, giving the plants a consistent and steady supply of moisture without the need for daily hand-watering. The first drips are flowing – the soil now stays evenly moist and balanced. Cover Crops Trimmed & Mulched The cover crops went wild this week! To keep everything in harmony, I trimmed them back and used the cuttings directly as living mulch. On top of that, I added some dried trim from past cannabis grows to create a hemp mulch layer. This helps regulate moisture, feeds the microbes, and supports a healthier soil structure. Defoliation & Light Optimization To improve light penetration and airflow, I selectively defoliated both the King Juice and some of the cover crop. Now more light reaches the inner and lower parts of the canopy – setting the plant up for stronger, more balanced growth. Additional Watering Besides the Blumat, I also added 3 liters of water by hand to make sure all areas of the bed are evenly saturated, especially after the new mulch was applied. Worm Hotel: First Guest Arrived Exciting news – the worm hotel is officially open for business! This week I spotted the first earthworm inside the clay pot, confirming that the structure is working and being accepted. A small but important sign that the underground life is active and exploring its new home. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 4 – Mulch, Microbes & Monitoring Period: April 26th to May 3rd In the fourth week, the bed continued to thrive. The King Juice plant looks healthy and vigorous, steadily growing with strong leaves. The cover crops are also getting bigger, bringing plenty of life and diversity to the bed. Pruning & Mulching The cover crops were pruned again, and the clippings were spread out as a mulch layer over the soil and lightly moistened. It’s fascinating to see the microorganisms actively breaking down the old leaf material — the mulch system is visibly working. The nutrient cycle is kicking in. Hemp Mulch & Moisture Management Towards the end of the week, I trimmed the cover crops once more, chopped them up, and scattered them across the bed. On top, I added a layer of coarse hemp mulch to help maintain consistent moisture in the upper soil layer and support a stable soil climate. Worm Hotel Replenished Both worm hotels were replenished with fresh organic material like leaf litter and kitchen scraps — providing food for the worms and boosting soil life. Yellow Sticky Traps Against Fungus Gnats As a preventive measure against fungus gnat infestation, I hung yellow sticky traps to catch any early signs before the problem escalates. So far, everything looks green and healthy. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 5 – Letting Go & Observing Period: May 3rd to May 10th In the fifth week, I mostly let the bed do its thing and just allowed nature to take its course. Sometimes, giving the plants and soil some time to work on their own is exactly what they need. The King Juice plant continues to look quite vital, has unfolded nicely, and become noticeably bushier. You can really feel that it’s gaining significant volume now — there’s definitely more growth to come! The coarse hemp mulch kept the soil surface nicely moist, which is visible in the soil structure. The cover crop is starting to poke through the mulch here and there, making the bed look lively and healthy. In between, I applied a bit of low-stress training (LST) to gently shape the plant and promote even growth. Additionally, I applied another round of EM1 microorganisms to support soil life further. I also watered the soil again with 4 liters to keep everything flowing smoothly. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Veg Week 5 – Growth and Care Period: May 10th to May 17th In the fifth week, I let the King Juice continue to grow and spread out across the area. The plant is getting denser and wider — a real bushy marvel! The cover crop is also spreading under and alongside the King Juice, creating a lively green carpet. For aesthetics and ecological balance in the grow box, I left one plant standing in the right corner — just for the eye and the environment, following the motto "It can't hurt." Additionally, I diluted EM1 microorganisms with water and watered with a total of 4 liters to boost the microbial life in the substrate and further stimulate soil activity. It’s simply a joy to look into the box and watch the plants grow bigger and bigger. Towards the end of the week, I thinned out and defoliated the King Juice, so it now looks a bit wild and ragged — but that’s part of the care to allow more light and air inside the plant. Unfortunately, I had to remove the ivy that was standing in the left corner because it didn’t fit well into the environment and didn’t harmonize optimally with the other plants. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Vegetation Week 7 – Calm Before the Next Chapter Period: May 17th to May 22nd During this short but significant week, I simply let the King Juice grow undisturbed. She continued to adjust to her environment, unfold her potential, gain strength, and thrive at her own pace. It was a joy to watch her looking so healthy and full of energy – lush, green, and strong. The plant is developing beautifully, and it’s becoming clear that she’s ready for the next big step. With space in the grow box getting tight, I decided to mark May 22nd as the final day of the vegetation phase. The transition to flowering was initiated overnight from May 22nd to May 23rd, making May 23rd the official first day of the flowering stage – an exciting new chapter begins. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 1 – The Starting Signal Period: May 23 to May 29 (Light cycle switched from 18/6 to 12/12 on the night of May 22 to 23) With the switch from 18/6 to 12/12 lighting during the night of May 22 to 23, the flowering phase officially began on May 23 – marking the first official day of bloom. To kick things off, I applied between 50 and 100 grams of Almicanna Drop Top Dress as a powdered top dressing across the surface of the soil. The goal was to provide a vital nutrient boost right at the start of flowering, giving the plant everything it needs to transition smoothly into this new phase. Throughout the week, I watered twice with EM1 (Effective Microorganisms) – 5 liters at the beginning and another 6 liters toward the end. This keeps the microbial life in the substrate active and thriving, which is especially important now. I also defoliated the King Juice once to improve airflow and light penetration into the inner parts of the plant. She continues to look healthy and vibrant, spreading out nicely across the grow area. To support lateral growth and maximize light exposure, I built a ScrOG net using leftover wood and rabbit wire, and I’ve started threading the individual branches through the mesh. The LED light has been set to full spectrum at maximum power, providing the plant with all the energy she needs going forward. Lets Grow 😋

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 2 – Leaf Care, ScrOG & Biological Plant Protection Period: From May 29 to June 5 Hello everyone! I looked at my previous grow diary and decided to continue writing in German from now on, so I can save myself the constant translating while also contributing to the German-speaking grow community. Defoliation & ScrOG Weaving: This week, I extensively defoliated the King Juice to allow light and air to better reach the interior of the plant. The branches were woven through the ScrOG net to distribute them evenly across the area. At the beginning, it was about 55 cm in diameter – by the end of the week, it had grown to about 60 cm. Biological Plant Protection – Beneficial Insects: To protect against pests, I used two Koppert products: - Swirski-Mite Plus – contains Amblyseius swirskii, a parasitic and predatory mite that specifically targets larvae of thrips and whiteflies - Spical Plus – houses Neoseiulus californicus, a generalist predatory mite, ideal against spider mites but also effective against other leaf mites These beneficials are applied in slow-release bags and help preventatively in biological pest management – to avoid larger problems from arising in the first place. Plant Condition: The King Juice has recovered quickly, looks vigorous, and continues to grow robustly. The foliage shows a rich green color, with no signs of deficiencies. Very satisfactory! Watering & Microbial Culture: The substrate is still nicely moist. Therefore, I will water again as usual at the beginning of next week. Once again with EM1 (Effective Microorganisms) to continue supporting the soil life. Best regards from Northern Germany – until the next weekly update!

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 3 – Radical Defoliation & Plant Care Period: From June 5 to June 12 At the beginning of this week, I went for a large-scale defoliation, as the plant's canopy had developed very lushly. This time it was a real radical cut – a significant amount of leaf mass was lost. The goal was to bring more light to the lower shoots and improve air circulation. To help the plant with regeneration, I watered it with 6 liters of water mixed with EM1 (Effective Microorganisms) to strengthen the soil life and keep the plant vital. Loss of Shoots: Unfortunately, while defoliating, three branches broke off. Two of them didn’t survive – however, one surprisingly recovered. Despite the loss, I couldn't notice any serious impairment of the overall structure. Observation of Possible Deficiency Symptoms: In the meantime, it briefly looked like there was a slight deficiency. Leaves became lighter from the inside, darker at the outer edge, and curled slightly inward. But just a day later, the plant looked completely normal again, so everything is in the green zone. Worm Hotel & Special Feed for the Worms: To further promote soil life, I treated my worms to some high-quality worm feed, consisting of: - ground mushroom nutrient malt - calf meal - neem cake - algae lime - natural fine semolina I sprinkle a handful of this weekly over the soil and specifically into the worm hotels. And lo and behold, two days later, everything was completely gone! The worms were noticeably active and visibly feeding. It's very pleasing to see how lively and healthy the microbiome in the soil is. General Condition & Growth: Throughout the week, I continued to pull the branches outward to make optimal use of the space. Thanks to the defoliation, noticeably more light reached the lower areas, and the shoots developed splendidly, visibly shooting up. Measurements at the End of the Week: Width: approx. 65 cm Height: approx. 15 cm Flower Development: The plant is now clearly in the early phase of flowering. The flower sites are clearly visible and show even, healthy growth. Overall, the plant appears very vital and robust. Until next week!

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 4 – Flower Power & Gardener Joy Period: From June 12 to June 19 Every time I open my box right now, my heart just fills with joy. No kidding, this grow is bringing me so much happiness! The development this week has been enormous. The King Juice has put on a strong stretch, its flower clusters have grown significantly, become more compact, and are slowly starting to show real fullness. The canopy looks strong and vibrant, and the color of the leaves is a rich, dark green. At the beginning of the week, I watered with 6 liters of EM 1 again. I also spread worm food for the compost worms over the bed once more. Other than that, not much interference; the plant was allowed to do what it does best: grow and channel its energy into flowering. At the end of the week (Day 28), I did a light defoliation to improve light penetration and watered with another 6 liters of clear water. There was a small but very effective upgrade. I bought two new oscillating fans. A really big difference from my old fan. Significant improvement in air circulation. In my opinion, the space in the tent is now really well utilized. The plant is growing wide, strong, and stable. The sea of flowers that is slowly forming is just beautiful to behold. Even the lower shoots are now getting more light and showing decent growth. This week, the scent has also intensified significantly. The King Juice is now exuding a fruity-sweet aroma that becomes a bit stronger every day, not as strong as at the end of flowering yet, but the character is already well recognizable. Often, I just sit comfortably in front of the box and watch the plant grow. Just a dream!!! 😍 I have to say, I’m hyped. My prettiest grow so far. The plant is showing its best side, developing splendidly, the micro-life is thriving, the flowers are exploding, and I’m just happy. 😊 I’m excited to see what the coming weeks will bring; the most thrilling phase is just beginning. Have fun looking at the pictures and see you next week!

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 5 - Just let it grow and watch Period: June 19 to June 26 Hey there, We're now in the fifth week of flowering, so days 29 to 35, and what can I say: I'm just happy again! 😊 I hardly did anything this week, and that was totally fine. The plant just kept doing its thing. The buds are developing beautifully, getting denser, more compact, and starting to really sparkle. The trichomes are spreading over the sugar leaves, and the resin is sticking like crazy. When I stick my head in the box, a really sweet and fruity scent hits me. So delicious! 😍 I haven't done much more. I treated my worms to some worm food and watered with 6 liters of water again on day 35 of flowering. What I'm currently thinking about… Some of the buds are pretty close together. I'm a bit worried that with the increasing density, the risk of mold could rise as well. So I'm considering doing a bit of defoliation next week to improve air circulation. Also, the lower buds would surely appreciate a bit more light and air. 😜 Of course, I took way too many photos again. It was really hard to decide which ones to upload. 😅 Enjoy looking at them! In that sense: Have a great weekend, take care, and see you next week! 🙌

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 6 – Hot Days & Thirsty Plant Period: June 26 to July 3 The temperature has climbed up to nearly 30 °C at times, which has naturally affected the plant. It's currently drinking quite a bit, so I've had to water more often to keep the soil from getting too dry. The flowering is progressing well, everything is going pretty smoothly so far. No major deficiency symptoms, just a few brown spots on some leaves. The buds are getting denser and more compact, and the smell is getting stronger... By now, you can clearly recognize the characteristic scent of King Juice, fruity, sweet, aromatic with a nice citrus note 😍 The canopy is very dense again. So far, I haven't mustered the courage to defoliate again. I'm just letting the plant have its peace and time for now. It seems to be doing well, so I'm not interfering too much. I'm still watering with plain water, without any additives. The worms are getting their food regularly to keep everything active in the soil. I'm not doing much else at the moment. Just letting it grow, observing, and enjoying. 😉

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 7 – Ripeness, Sparkle & Anticipation Period: July 3 to July 10 Flowering Day 42 to 49 Flowering Week 7. I haven't done much. I'm just letting the plant continue to ripen in peace. The buds are getting fuller, the smell is becoming more intense, and the trichomes are noticeably increasing; it's sparkling all over the plant now, as if someone sprinkled a fine layer of crystal dust over it. The bud structure is now thumb-width, thumb-sized. They're slowly becoming really massive and feel quite stable and firm. It's just fun to watch the process... week by week, you can see everything getting denser and riper 😍 This week, I watered again with my 6 liters of water, nothing more. No major interventions, just continuing to observe and let it do its thing. Slowly but surely, you can see that we're heading towards the finale. I estimate that in about two weeks, the good King Juice will be ready for harvest. I'm really curious to see if the leaves might turn purple at the end, just like its mother from the last grow 😇

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 8 – King Juice just before the big finale Period: July 10 to July 17 Flowering Day: 49 to 56 Flowering Week 8 is done, and it's getting serious. The King Juice is clearly heading towards the finish line. I didn't change much this week. Just watered it calmly. Checked the temperature and humidity. The value was between 50 and 64%, so everything is in the green zone. I lightly defoliated once to improve air circulation between the buds. Additionally, I placed a mini dehumidifier in the box. Don't want the humidity to get higher than desired. Towards the end of the week, I gave it a good amount of water, a total of 8 liters, and the little worms got something to nibble on too. The buds are continuing to mature, and you can already see some changes under the microscope. Individual trichomes are changing from clear to milky and some are even slightly amber. It's still subtle, but the process is clearly underway. I estimate it needs another week to be fully ready. If everything continues like this, I'll be harvesting next Thursday. Of course, I'll keep an eye on it for a few more days before making a final decision, but my gut feeling says next week is the time. The buds are insane, really nice and fat, compact, rock-hard, and full of resin. They sparkle, are super sticky, and emit an unbelievably fruity-sweet scent 😍 And what's also cool is that some leaves have slightly turned purple, not as strong as their mother, but maybe something will happen in the last week. Let's see, I'm curious. To be honest, I can hardly take my eyes off them. It's just a pleasure every time to open the box and admire this beauty. I'm super happy with the development and I'm really looking forward to the last week 😊

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 9 – Harvest in Sight? Period: July 17 to July 24 Flowering Day: 56 to 63 It's really coming to an end now, the ninth week of flowering is over. I've been regularly checking the trichomes under the microscope this week. Some are still glassy, many are already nicely milky, and a few are even showing amber. So it looks very promising, but I might wait another day or two to get a bit more ripeness. Today I'll check them thoroughly again and then decide whether to harvest or give them a little more time. What I did last week: I adjusted the light cycle again. From July 18 to July 21, it was on 11/13, then I switched it down to 10/14. I wanted to signal to her that it’s time to finish up. Additionally, I raised the lamp another 10 cm to reduce the light intensity a bit and keep the stress minimal towards the end. I haven't watered anymore. You can clearly tell that in the final phase, she doesn't have as much thirst; the substrate stays noticeably moist for longer. I was a bit worried about the humidity. It was slightly elevated due to the weather, but at 56–66%, it was still within an acceptable range. The temperatures were 22–25°C at night and 28–30°C during the day, so everything is in the green zone. So far, everything looks good, no sign of mold. Now the final phase is upon us. The harvest and drying. That will be exciting too, but if the weather stays somewhat stable, there should be good conditions for it. The next update will come after the harvest, once the buds are dried and I can draw some initial conclusions. I'm looking forward to it!

MyLittleGarden Flowering Week 10: The Last Days Period: July 24 to July 28 Flowering Days: 63 to 67 After about 9.5 weeks of flowering, it was finally time for harvest! The trichomes had reached exactly the ratio I wanted. I grabbed my Japanese saw and quickly cut the King Juice at the stem. After that, I carefully lifted it out of the tent along with the ScrOG net and placed it right in the middle of the living room. It was then that I realized the full extent of it all. A really big plant, many branches, and a ton of beautiful, resinous buds. The head buds on top were compact and large, while further down there were many smaller popcorn buds, but they were also firm and sticky. After about 4 hours of trimming, the ScrOG net was back in the tent, this time upside down and packed with the individual branches. A real heaven of buds 😍 The drying went perfectly, with temperatures consistently at 20–21 °C and humidity between 54–65%. After 10 days, I finally harvested the buds on August 7. Appearance: Compact, thumb-sized buds, many small resin bombs with purple hues Smell & Taste: Fruity, sweet, spicy, peppery. Effect: It hits well but is still clear-headed. Very pleasant! Conclusion: I’m super satisfied with the entire grow. No failures, hardly any deficiencies, temperatures and humidity mostly stable, and the bed really worked well. The plant adapted wonderfully to ScrOG, and I was really able to fulfill a little dream with it. Pulling off a plant completely, beautifully spread out in the tent. Just how I imagined it. It was a lot of fun! 😊 Preparations for the next run are already underway, the bed will be freshly planted again, and I’m looking forward to the next grow!!! Follow-up Update after 10 Months: The King Juice was harvested on July 28, 2025, and then slowly dried in the tent for over 10 days. Even during the drying process, an extremely intense smell developed with sweet, fruity, and slightly creamy notes. After the subsequent curing, the strain showed a very rounded and strong overall profile. A later measurement with the Purpl Pro reached a strong 26% THC with a residual moisture of 8.9% and a water activity of 0.4 AW. Over the months, the smell and taste have somewhat diminished, but they are still clearly present and very pleasant. The original extreme intensity has decreased a bit, but the aroma now feels riper, softer, and more harmonious. In terms of taste, the strain remains sweet, slightly fruity, and very smooth. The smoking sensation has now become exceptionally pleasant – almost like inhaling a warm cloud. Very soft, not scratchy at all, and overall extremely relaxing to smoke. The effect, on the other hand, has remained unchanged and strong to this day. King Juice delivers an intense, long-lasting effect with noticeable physical relaxation and simultaneously strong mental effects. Overall, the strain has held up excellently even after a long storage time and definitely ranks among the stronger and higher-quality harvests of my previous grows. 😋