(Dec 1 – Dec 30) 2024

Antarctic 🌱 GrowDiaries – First Hydro Attempt (Dec 1 – Dec 30) Setup: • Hydro DWC buckets (early DIY) • Tap water ~400 ppm (RO filter bought but very slow) • Nutrients: Hesi Grow, Advanced Nutrients Grow (pH Perfect) ← помилка (думав, що це лише pH-коректор, а не добриво) • Light: LED, перші ~20 днів всього 10% потужності (великий недолік) • VPD: не контролювався, вологість ~65% (зволожувач) ⸻ Week 1 (Dec 1 – Dec 7) • Seeds germinated in a kitchen sponge (not rockwool/root plugs → погана ідея). • Plants transplanted into DWC with just tap water. • No proper nutrient plan, water ppm already high. • Environment: 65% RH, low light (~10%). Notes: • Slow start, weak root development. • Lesson: start with RO water + minimal feeding + strong light from day 1.

Antarctic Week 2 (Dec 8 – Dec 14) • Still on tap water. • Began adding Hesi Grow + Advanced Nutrients Grow (double feeding mistake). • 13–14 Dec: first signs of yellowing → nutrient imbalance + lockout. Notes: • Thought AN Grow was just pH adjuster, actually gave double NPK. • Overfeeding signs + wrong water base.

Antarctic Week 3 (Dec 15 – Dec 21) • 20 Dec: root rot starts (no chiller, no sterilization, high ppm). • 21 Dec: brown roots, leaves curling. Notes: • Root rot from bad hygiene, high ppm, lack of beneficials. • Lesson: need Great White / Hydroguard / sterile res maintenance.

Antarctic Week 4 (Dec 22 – Dec 29) • 23 Dec: Plants surprisingly look OK (resilient). • 24 Dec: normal growth, despite stress. • 27 Dec: strong yellowing → lower leaves fade fast. • 29 Dec: 1st–2nd node fully yellow, 3rd fading. Notes: • Likely salt buildup + N lockout. • Plants couldn’t recover, growth stalled.

Antarctic End (Dec 30) • Decided to end grow. • Main mistakes: 1. Tap water 400 ppm as base. 2. Wrong nutrient use (double feeding). 3. Weak light (10% first 3 weeks). 4. No res cleaning, root rot developed. 5. Photos during dark cycle (stress). Takeaway: • Even failed grow = success in experience. • Next time: RO water, sterile res, balanced feeding, stronger light, proper hygiene.

Antarctic Week 7 (Jan 15–21): Royal Gorilla Auto stayed very small, about 20–30 cm tall. First pistils appeared, showing the start of flowering. Plant structure is extremely compact, likely a dwarf phenotype.

Antarctic Week 8 (Jan 22–28): Buds slowly started to form. Development is weak, the plant did not stretch. Leaves stayed green but overall growth looked stunted.

Antarctic Week 9 (Jan 29 – Feb 4): Some progress in bud formation, but the yield potential looked very low. Height remained almost the same, no significant stretch. Week 10 (Feb 5–11): First pistils started turning brown. Buds are airy and trichomes are barely visible. Some leaves began to dry out, probably stress-related.

Antarctic Week 11 (Feb 12–18): A bit more trichome coverage appeared, but still very light. Plant looks weak, buds remain small. Yield expected to be minimal. Week 12 (Feb 19–25): Most pistils turned brown, buds gained a little mass. Started flushing with plain water and flushing solution. Plant looks ready to finish.

Antarctic Week 13 (Feb 26–27): Final flush with Flawless Finish. Harvested on Feb 27. Plant was tiny, buds very small with low trichome production. Yield extremely low, but the grow provided a lot of experience.