Royal Gorilla and Cheese Autoflower

Transplanted from the peat pellets to their 5 gallon pots. The mesh around the peat pellets was carefully removed to facilitate root growth. Almost no transplant shock noticed. Plants all looking healthy. Cheese #1 took the longest to pop and still hasn't made it upright. Suspect it might have been a pH issue early in the germination stage.

Plants are all doing really well. Noticed some pH issues starting with RG4, so I purchased a pH probe, and started to pH my water. That definitely fixed the issue.

This week went great. Plants have been exploding in growth. Going to begin low stress training this weekend. Im thinking of starting nutrients this week, but I'm just really not sure the proportions. Im growing in Fox Farms Ocean Forrest, so I know I'm all set on the nitrogen part of the nutrients. Im going to go with the Lucas Formula, which is general hydroponics line of nutrients. Im thinking of using 2.5 mL/gal of GH MICRO and 1.0mL/gal of GH BLOOM. 1/4 the recommended dosage from GH comes out to 1 mL/gal MICRO and 1.75mL/gal BLOOM. Im kind of at an impasse because I have really no experience adding nutrients to soil, and don't want to nutrient burn the plants. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. -Cheese #1 was a freebie seed included in the bundle. From the beginning showed poor genetics. Im going to let it grow out to see how they compare to the RG genetics (Royal Queen Seeds). UPDATE: 4/13/19 -All plants fed with 1 mL/gal MICRO and 1.75 mL/gal BLOOM pH at the very end to 6.2. Was very very very hesitant to feed 1.75 mL/gal bloom, as I have never fed with it before. I did obverse come white pistols on RG #5, #2, and #3. I decided to go with the 1.75mL/gal BLOOM because it seems like my plants are true to the auto flowering schedule, almost to a tee. Super interesting how plants can be super accurate and precise. Plants are just awesome. -RG#2 began to show signs of calcium deficiency. There is some micronutrients in the formula I gave them, so I don't expect the brown spots to continue to grow. -After watering with he nutrient solution, all plants showed significant signs of drooping. This was weird for me, as all the other times ive been watering this has not happened. I think I might have stressed the plants out during watering. I use a jerry-rigged watering "can"--which is just essentially a solo cup with a bunch of little holes cut out on the bottom. While watering the soil, I definitely agitated the plants, which I can see they did not like. I checked back in the morning, to see all the plants have recovered beautifully, no drooping, with new plant growth. I think I can safely say the plants handled the nutrient mixture well. Excited for what flowering brings! 4/14/19 Well it looks like my hesitation on the nutrients proved to be ultra precautionary. Half of the plants exhibited never observed before explosive growth. RG #2 & #4 are still showing signs of stress. Im going to hold off on LST for #2 & #5 until signs of stress have passed. Preflowers observed on #5, haven't checked the others.

4/15/19 Flush Week on the nutrients. Not going to overdue it. The plants generally responded well to the nutrients. RG #2 is still showing signs of nutrient deficiency, can't quite attribute it to a specific cause. -LST started today, bending into optimal light path. Decided against raising the LED by 2 inches. 4/16/19 -RG #2 seems to be bouncing back -All plants have been responding very well to LST, RG #1,3,4,5 have really started to absolutely explode in nodal growth. Lower nodes stretched by LST seem to really be growing towards the top. Going to continue to bend the main cola slowly every day until they catch up -Not really sure what to do with the light. Debating on raising it 2 inches or not. -I think I've been able to successfully identify a phosphorus deficiency. Not 100% convinced its actually a deficiency, but rather a pH problem. Going to test for all that jazz tomorrow, -More LST don't in the PM on all plants to optimize undergrowth & slow down vertical growth in order to attempt to accelerate lower nodal growth. -Royal Gorilla #3 leaves are straight up, hands in the air loving life. -I think I'm going to change up how I water the plants. Ive been waiting until the soils dry, then adding water until runoff from the bottom. It just hasn't really been the most effective. Im going to transition to listening to the plants based on their growth patterns. Most all of the plants fan leaves are at an upward angle. Ill start watering with just 1 cup at the stem when the fan leaves start to droop. This way im not drowning the soil, and creating excess salts via nutrient build up in the soil surrounding the root system. -Im going to give RG #2 a diluted dose of nutrients, as she's clearly stressing. Im going to do a straight water flush once she rebounds. 4/17/19 -Royal Gorilla #2 is not showing signs of recovery, I fed it 1 small cup of pH 6.25 water. -RG#4 soil is drying out faster than all the other pots (weird) so I fed it with 1/2 a small cup of pH balanced water. -RG#5 LST is working really well. Bottom nodes are growing to about the same height as the main cola. I just actually had to bend one of the branches so it wouldn't become any taller. -All the plants are starting to fill out. -RG#2 is honestly leaving me with my head scratching. ONLY the fan leaves are showing signs of phosphorus deficiency, but I'm at the perfect catch-22, they need more nutrients, but the soil is not completely dry, watering it now would most likely cause just as many negative effects as the deficiency itself, so I'm forced to wait for the plant to signal it wants water before I can really do anything about it. -RG#2 has new growth--and it looks super healthy too, albeit the leaves are a little nitrogen heavy. -RG#1,3 beginning to fill out. Not really 100% sure on how to do LST when im trying to bend the plant in 1 direction (towards the light). -Cheese #1 growth is still super slow, but none the less it is still showing growth. -RG#3 is growing really well, leafs up! Going to hold off on nutrients next feeding. *Holding off on Nutrients for RG#2,3 this week only feeding water when plants request it* 4/18/19 -RG #1 went leafs up today. Its loving life. Been doing light LST to try and get bottom nodes to grow up -RG #1 started to show signs of flower growth -RG #2 is showing continued signs of nutrient deficiency snd spreading fast. At this point im just hoping its not going to die. -RG #3 is still leaves up! showing great undergrowth. Bending all branches growing out of the light path towards the light path. -RG #3 is showing slight signs of clawing but since new growth is not stunted or slowed so im not worried. Leaves up is a good sign that the plants are happy. -RG #4 is just temperamental as fuck. Finally starting to show undergrowth. Its soil is drying out faster than all the other plants. I think its from the circulation fan. Going to add another fan in the near future. -RG #5 is just doing fucking amazing. Botton 2 nodes have broke the canopy and are at the same height as the main cola. 2nd highest nodes are close to breaking the canopy. -RG #5 had 100% started flowering -Cheese #1 is a slow but steady grower. Responding well too nutrients. -Every plant except RG#2+3 have handled nutrients well -Still not going to give RG#2+3 any nutrients next water cycle. Just pH'd water 4/19/19 -RG#1 is showing continued signs of growth. Began flowering -RG #2 nutrient deficiency seems to have slowed down. Began flowering -RG #3 showing continued signs of growth. LST working on bringing the under nodes up to the same height as the main cola. -Since vegetative growth has stopped, all new LST would be useless. -RG #4 is slowly catching up--has not began flowering -Rg #5 vertical growth has slowed--Strong transition into flowering -Cheese #1 is starting to grow well--has not began flowering -RG #4 and Cheese #1 are the only plants to not begin flowering. -Im really keeping an eye out for signs of thirst. Were right around the time I would usually water. Since I'm trying a new watering method, im going to be monitoring the plants throughout the weekend. 4/20/10 -Leaves are drooping a little bit, this is telling me they want water. I checked the soil and they're all dry. Going to water with 1 large cup and maybe 1 small cup and go from there. -Brown spots are spreading to all fan leaves on RG #2 -Cheese #1 is exploding vertically, same with RG #4 -Light raised 2 inches -No nutrients for any plants, decided against it due to slight clawing -RG #5 leaves started drooping so I fed only 1 large cup of pH 6.25 water with no nutrients. *Plant height (12 inches) & Lamp height (17 inches)* -RG #4 started drooping & fed it 1 large cup of pH 6.23 water -RG #3 fed one large cup of pH 6.25 water. Leaves were showing signs of drooping, flowers are starting to form. 4/21/19 -RG #1 showed drooping so it was fed 1 large cup of pH balanced water -All other plants (other than RG #2) are looking really healthy. -RG #3 clawing has subsided a little bit, pH balanced water seemed to do the trick -RG #5 soil about 1 cm thick has dried up, soil still moist underneath.Seems as if the plant is really thirsty which tells me it rapidly developing and flowering. I think I'm going to feed it bloom nutrients next week, but again well see how it progresses throughout the week. --**Im going to closely monitor the plant for signs of thirst**-- -RG #3 leaves are pointing straight up and leaves are curling much less. Plant looks overall very healthy. Much more healthy than last week. -RG #4 began flowering. -Cheese #1 is growing vertically quite some time. Could classify as explosive growth.

4/22/19 Day 43 --RG#1,3 leaves are straight up --RG #3 has seriously exploded in growth had to bend the main stock in towards cheese #1 --Since Cheese #1 is a short boy I put it "on stilts" --Raised the light up to 17 inches above the canopy --Brown spots are showing (singular brown spots) going to water with nutrients --RG#5 leaves started drooping so I fed it with 1 large cup of pH balanced water with no nutrients --RG #3 was showing drooping so fed 1 large cup pH balanced water nutrients. 4/23/19 Day 44 -Brown spots found on multiple spots on multiple plants--now because of the spreading to multiple plants its definitely Leaf Septoria :( -All leaves with septoria were cut off and removed. Fan moved to be blowing on the canopy -tent door opened all the way to lower humidity. 4/24/19 | Day 45 -Leaf septoria hasn't spread--countermeasures seem to be working--no new spots :) -Cheese #1 has really been exploding in growth since I raised it--stem has really thickened out -RG #1,3 are leaves up loving life -RG #4 still growing vertically--looks very healthy -RG #5 vegetative growth stopped--looks like it made the full transition to flowering -RG #5 leaves have began drooping so I fed it 1 large cup of pH balanced water being careful not to hit any leaves to keep the Leaf Septoria under control. 4/25/19 | Day 46 -RG #3 leaves majority drooping--super thirsty, fed 1 large cup of pH balanced water -Only 2 new leaf septoria spots on RG #2, none on any other plants. -Cheese #1 is really growing well-leaves up -RG#1,2,4,5 & Cheese #1 are leaves up 4/26/19 | Day 47 -All the plants were leaves up -Trimmed some small leaf septoria spots from RG #2 -Pruned some wilting lower fan leaves on RG#3 -LST done on Cheese #1 to bring lower nodes into SOG light. Cheese #1 is doing very well and started preflowering. Gowing to lower next week. -All other plants are well into flowering -New vortex fan put blowing at a 80 degree angle, moved the clip fan to make an exit port, now I have in & out circulation for a constant flow of new air. Hopefully it will completely stop the spread of the leaf septoria. 4/27/19 -After changing fam configuration i think i allowed the leaf septoria to spread by not completely clearing the infected leaves -Thoroughly cleared the bottom leaves.Turned off purple lights and went leaf bu leaf. -RG #2 took a hit on the fan leaves. Cleared some lower fan leaves which werent getting good light through the canopy -RG #4 had some tiny spots--cleared the fan leaves -Did some more major pruning of the lower leaves more prone to the LF as well as not receiving enough light which can become a problem down the road -Watered RG #1,3 & Cheese #1 with 1 large cup of pH balanced water -sprayed canopy with thyme and rosemary oil with the intention of using their topical antifungal properties

4/29/19 -2 gallons of nutrient solution made with 6 mL Micro and 9mL Bloom total. -RG #5 watered with 1 large cup and 1/2 small cups of the nutrient solution. Holding off on others until they're thirsty...dont want to over water -RG #5 seems to be responding well--well as in not getting worse. Im waiting for other plants to get thirsty before i give them nutrients. -RG #4 showing some different coloring on the leaves coming out of the buds. Plants overall look super healthy so it might be just the plants coloring coming in. It is an indica! *4/30/19* -RG #1,2,3,4 & Cheese #1 watered with nutrient solution -RG #5 responded well--really growing well -RG #3 is is drooping slightly on the younger branches after watering with nutrients. Upper fan leaves are looking okay. Watering with nutrients makes me nervous -3 hours after watering with nutrients RG #1,3 leaves have bounced back and its looking all good! 5/5/19 *Been so busy at conferences the past week and was not able to take pictures for a few days* -RG #3 watered with 1 Large cup of nutrient solution -Cheese #1 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution -Large amount of fan leaves blocking smaller leaves pruned. Thinking behind this is that the huge fan leaf if blocking light to the smaller leaves, and if that light were to be able to reach those smaller leaves, the plant would be able to gain more energy from a higher surface area in contact with the light.

5/6/19 -RG #5 showing signs of phosphorus deficiency (reaf leaf tips). Its wierd because im watering with nutrients. That alone makes me immediately suspect pH. Upon doing some research i realized the pH window for phosphorus is 6.3-7.0. Ive been watering with pH 6.19-6.25 water. Going to re-make nutrient solution at a pH of 6.4. -Nutrient solution made with 7 mL Micro & 10 mL Bloom pH balanced to 6.41-6.43. Going to wait until leaves start drooping signaling their thirst. -Ive also completely moved my entire grow. The leaf septoria needed to be chemically destroyed while not contaminating any of the cannabis. Growing without pesticides of any kind is very important to me. We have no idea the effects of any combustion products and the use of any pesticides excluded the option to transform the raw cannabis into other concentrated products for personal use because the pesticide also gets concentrated. Shockingly one of my closets matches the dimensions of my tent so the plants were moved and responded without any stress. To my surprise the change in location in location seemed to curtail the spread of the Leaf septoria. 5/7/19 -Cheese #1 is looking healthy but honestly is growing really weirdly--seems like there are some major mutations on the lower fan leaves. -Only going to grow 2 plants at a time in the future so i can treat it like an experiment to really optimize grow conditions -all other plants looking healthy--RG #5 is not getting worse. LF is also not spreading-thankfully. -Cheese #1 has started to flower. Looking really good. Healthy. Top bud kind of looks like a siamese twin--split into two 5/8/19 -RG #5 leaves started drooping and some leaves turning yellow & red--fed 1 large cup pH 6.4 nutrient solution -LF cut off RG #2, watered with 1 Large cup of nutrient solution -RG #1,3 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution -RG #5 showed quick response to nutrient watering. Well see if the deficiency stops spreading -Cheese #1 watered with nutrient solution 1 large cup -RG #4 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution. -All plants watered with nutrient solution. Expect to water RG #5 5/10 and rest 5/11. 5/9/19 -all plants looking really healthy. I took a closerlook at RG #5 from down low and holy shit the buds just look great. Theyre really filling out. -Cheese #1 has sprouted a bud on top, really starting to flower. -Nutrient solution seems to be working well. -All plants are leaves up--a really good sign. -Thinking RG #5 foliar color change could be due to late stage flowering (just a hypothesis) and not a specific nutrient deficiency--like phosphorus (could be completely wrong just an idea). 5/10/19 -all plants look very healthy. RG #5 fan leaves are at a like 80 degree angle. Leaves up and loving life. -I was reading online that color change is normal towards the end. Carotenoids and anthrocyanins that are produced change the colors of the plant to all different kinds of colors. 5/11/19 -Cheese #1 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution -RG #1,4 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution --RG#2,3,5 still need to be watered soon. Rg #2 showed some amber trichomes, going to flush with pH balanced water. Since most of the fan leaves had to be cup off due to LF, i think the plant finished flowering much sooner as a result. 5/12/19 -RG #3,5 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution -RG #2 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.45 water no nutrients (flush before harvest) -All plants watered this week-going to make week 9 nutrient solution ------4(mL/gal) Micro & 8(mL/gal) Bloom 3 gallons of solution. -------4(mL/gal)*2.5gal=10mL Micro -------8(mL/gal)*2.5gal=20mL Bloom -Cheese #1 watered with Week 9 nutrient solution

5/13/19 -Plants showing signs of stress-probable nutrient burn--going to water without nutrients twice and go from there -RG #1,4 expected to need watering tomorrow -RG #3,5 expected to need watering 5/15 5/14/19 -RG#1,3,4,5 & Cheese #1 all watered with 1 large cup ph 6.45 water no nutrients. -Beautiful fruity smell coming from the plants. Has gotten much stronger the past few days 5/15/19 -All plants looking healthy & strong -odor is getting very intense-very fruity right now -Cheese #1 doing great -Time lapse set up=hoping to be able to see leaves drooping in real time so i can water accordingly 5/16/19 -RG #1 leaves started drooping-fed with 1 large cup pH 6.45 balanced water no nutrients -RG #2 leaves drooping fed 1 large cup pH 6.45 balanced water no nutrients -RG#3-5 & Cheese #1 yet to be watered--expecting to get thirsty tomorrow -RG#1,5 are fast approaching harvest--leaves are starting to yellow & pistils are turning orange -RG#2 pretty much ready to harvest--just waiting for some bottom buds to mature -Some light pruning done 5/17/19 -RG #1,2,3,5 & Cheese #1 started drooping--watered with 1 large cup pH 6.45 water (no nutrients) 5/18/19 -RG #4 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.45 water (no nutrients) 5/19/19 -RG#1,4 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.45 water no nutrients ---expecting RG#3,5 Cheese#1 to get thirsty tomorrow--- -Cheese #1 getting a little bit lime green on the new growth so im going to feed with nutrients next watering. I think Cheese#1 will respond well, but we will see.

5/20/19 -RG #2,4,5 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.45 water (no nutrients) -Cheese #1 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.48 nutrients solution (week 9 nutrient solution) -All plants watered-->expecting to water again 5/22 -Cheese is partly leaves up for the first time in a while, glad i gave it nutrients. Hoping all leaves will be up overnight. Makes it easier to tell when its thirsty. 5/21/19 -Cheese #1 looking really really good. Responded really well to nutrients. Going to feed it with nutrients once a week. Averaging around 3 waterings a week. Leaves are up! -RG #1 leaves starting to yellow, telling me that harvest is close by -RG #5 sugar leaves are starting to turn purple.Colas are beginning to really really thicken up. -RG#1,5 are definitely going to be the biggest yielders. -RG #3 entering late harvest. Leaves are just starting to yellow up. -Some pruning done to remove weak leaves prone to LF. Still dealing with it although its not a huge issue. 5/22/19 -Going to harvest RG #2 today because it seems to be LF host & has been infected for a long time. All hairs are orange. -RG #2 harvested & cut--much more than i expected -All other plants looking great, buds starting to purple. 5/23/19 -All plants watered with 1 large cup pH 6.49 water no nutrients -colors are really beginning to develop-sugar leaves are starting to turn purple and buds are really starting to thicken. Aroma is much more potent -LST has done wonders to RG#5 creating many more significant side cola sites. Growing six plants was a great idea in theary-i didnt heave enough physical space to properly support its growth. -RG#2 trimmed on branch and left to dry with small amount of ventilation for 3 more days before final trim and curing can begin. 5/26/19 -All plants watered with 1 large cup pH 6.47 water with no nutrients -RG#1,5 fast approaching harvest -RG#1,3,5 fan leaves starting to yellow & sugar leaves are turning purple -Cheese #1 is really starting to develop its main cola.

5/27/19 -Looks like Cheese #1 is starting to turn purple. Sugar leaves starting to turn purple -RG #5 is really completely turning purple--most mistils have turned orange--waiting on lower small nugs to turn orange to harvest -RG #4 leaves are starting to claw for some reason. I went 1 day to many on the watering and i think i stressed the plants w the underwater -RG #4 watered with 1 large pH balanced water no nutrients -Week 10 grow solution made with 6mL Micro and 12mL Bloom--pH balanced to 6.42 -Thinking of harvesting RG#5 sometime this week. Not sure if i should wait for bottom most nugs to turn orange. 5/28/19 -Smaller RG#2 branches finished drying & transferred to mason jar to cure -some cal/mag deficiency starting to froliferate with Cheese #1-i anticipated this and made week 10 nutrient solution -harvesting most of RG#5 tomorrow-im liking the trichomes -going to water plants probably tomorrow, Cheese #1 with nutrients -RG#1 watered with 1 large cup pH 6.48 water no nutrients ' 5/29/19 -Cheese #1 watered with 1 large cup nutrient solution at pH 6.47 -RG#1,3,5 watered with 1 large cup water pH 6.47 no nutrients -going to water RG #4 tomorrow -Cheese #1 sugar leaves & bud leaves turning purple--hoping the nutrient supplement will strengthen the buds--looks like were entering mid-flower 5/30/19 -RG #4 watered with 1 large cup water no nutrients pH 6.47 -turned off bloom lights & things look different under white COB light. RG#1,4 are a litte lime green and definitely could use some nutrients. -not sure when im going to harvest RG #5 havent decided yet. 5/31/19 -RG #5 mostly harvested -All other plants are looking really good except for some fan leaves on RG #4, some weird coloration is goin on there but i believe that to be a nutrient deficiency i didnt catch early on. -RG #5 harvest went super well. All the buds are really thick and dense, and packed with resin, to the point where i needed to grab some nitrile gloves and some Fast-Orange to get the resin off my hands. Buds have this really beautiful purple tinge littered with crystals and orange pistils. Super excited to start the cure -Dry began today, expect to begin curing 6/4. 6/1/19 -RG #5 hang drying in a dark room with constant light airflow. Should be ready to cure 6/3-6/5 -hoping it wont take long for RG 5 small branches to ripen up -Cheese #1 rapidly changing color to purple--some lower fan leaves yellowing -Cheese #1 watered with 1 large cup Week 11 nutrient solution @ pH 6.42 -RG #3 watered w/ 1 large cup pH 6.47 water no nutrients

Overall my first grow went well. Very small yields compared to other growers, but im ok with that. I learned so much about just the fundamentals of growing cannabis. I can't wait to apply what I've learned to my next grow. Im going to try coco coir, as the nutrients can be dialed in. As I was harvesting and tossing out the rootball, I noticed a little bit of root binding. For my next grow I opted to go with 2 7L smart pots. I also am going to abandon the SOG method, as that lead to more issues with circulation and leaf septoria for me. I also don't think I did LST to well, as some of the chutes became main colas but otherwise it didn't really function as anticipated. Im going to try FIM on my next plants and bring the total number of plants down to 3 instead of 6. I feel like ill be able to focus more of my energy into 3 plants than 6. Hoping to double my yields per plant.