Mini-Pheno-Hunt - Urban Seedlab

Harz_Kontrolleur ​Week 1: Substrate Transition & Technical Calibration ​The Pivot: From Coco to Soil Logic ​After the initial setup, I am recalibrating my approach. Coming from a long-term Coco / Drain-to-Waste background, my instinct was to target a lower pH. However, to better support the microbial activity and the natural buffering capacity of the BioBizz/Worm Casting mix, I am adjusting my strategy: ​Current Target: 6.3 pH (Vegetative phase). ​Future Adjustments: I plan to gradually drift towards 6.5 during the stretch and 6.7 in bloom to optimize nutrient solubility in an organic environment. ​Water Chemistry Update: I am sticking to the 50/50 mix of Tap and Distilled water. To correct the native 5:1 Ca:Mg ratio of my tap water, I continue to supplement with Canna Mono Magnesium. The primary change is the adjusted pH of 6.3 to better align with the organic substrate. ​Environment & VPD Management ​The start of this week was challenged by a hardware failure (humidifier), leaving the RH between 40% and 50%. This resulted in a VPD that is significantly higher than the targets defined in Week 0. ​I’ve implemented manual countermeasures: ​Water trays added to the tent (though the effect is minimal). ​Manual spraying twice daily. ​Lighting & Growth Strategy: Currently, one of the FC3000 EVO units is running at 30% (approx. 300-350 PPFD). While I could lower the intensity to reduce transpiration stress and "fix" the VPD issues, I am prioritizing a compact nodal structure. I’d rather accept some slightly crinkled leaf textures now than deal with unwanted stretching later. ​Selection Outlook: ​In about 10 days, the "Casting" for the Top 6 will begin. I am not stressing the current humidity issues too much, as the move from 1L to 5-gallon pots will drastically increase the transpiration surface and soil volume, which usually stabilizes the tent environment naturally.

Harz_Kontrolleur Week 3: The Elite Selection & 19L Transition ​The Selection Process: Culling for Performance Plant count reduced from 10 to the "Elite 6" based on root vigor, nodal structure, and early development. ​Permanent Chimera #35 x White Truffle: Leading the pack with exceptional root colonization. I selected the pheno with the 2-day lead in development. ​Diamond Marker (The Double Feature): This strain secured two spots in the final setup. One spot was pre-planned, and the second was awarded as a "Wildcard" because both phenotypes were performing at an identical, strong level. Very intense smell already present at Day 18. ​Urbans 11: Selected the most vigorous phenotype. Interesting note: U11 was the slowest to germinate, but it has caught up significantly in terms of vigor and leaf size. ​Lab Candy #37: Both phenotypes were looking great, but I chose the more compact one for canopy homogeneity. The other pheno was culled due to larger nodal spacing. ​Gorillato x BBC: Decision based on root mass inspection, as vigor and stem rub were identical between candidates. ​Note on Genetics: So far, the seeds from Urban Seedlab have shown 100% germination and solid performance in early veg. No complaints so far, but the final verdict stays reserved until the flower is in the jars. ​Substrate & Transplant Setup: ​Pots: 19L (5 Gal) breathable fabric pots. ​Drainage: 2L clay pebble (Correls) base layer (not included in nutrient calculations). ​Medium: 17L BioBizz Light Mix enriched with 10% Earthworm Castings. ​Nutrition: Amended with precisely 51g (3g/L) Greenhouse BioGrow. ​Inoculation: Immediately after transplanting, I re-introduced Greenhouse Bio Enhancer at 1g/L (as per the 2-week schedule) to prime the new substrate. ​Technical Adjustments & Training Strategy ​Water Profile: Switched to 100% Tap Water. Mineral balance adjusted with Canna Mono Magnesium for a perfect Ca:Mg ratio. pH level dialed in at exactly 6.3. All irrigation is actively oxygenated. ​Lighting: Second Mars Hydro FC3000 EVO activated. Intensity is currently at 300–350 PPFD, but will be increased to 400 PPFD as soon as the topping is done. ​Spectrum: Adlite Blue/UV remains active for 3 more days until topping to maintain maximum compactness. It will be deactivated post-topping to allow for healthy branch expansion. ​High-Performance Training & Outlook: The plan is to continue the vegetative stage for 3 more weeks. In the coming days, I will top all plants above the 4th node and remove the lowest node pair. This marks the start of training for exactly 6 main colas per plant (36 total) to ensure a controlled microclimate and maximum airflow throughout the grow.

Harz_Kontrolleur Week 3: Metabolic Stress Analysis & Structural Calibration ​The Incident: Microclimate Failure & Xylem Overload ​Jan 19th (Post-Transplant): Failure to activate the exhaust system led to a 24h transpiration blockade. ​Physiological Impact: With RH peaking near 100%, the Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) effectively collapsed. At this saturation point, plants are forced to cease transpiration as the air cannot take up any more moisture. This halt in the evaporative cooling cycle caused an abnormally high turgor pressure within the cellular structure. ​Diagnosis: While the other 4 cultivars maintained homeostasis, the Diamond Marker sisters exhibited clear morphological anomalies (crinkling). This was a classic case of cellular over-hydration and restricted nutrient transport due to the total lack of an evaporative pull. ​Training Status & Early Development ​Jan 20th: Despite the environmental stress, the scheduled training was executed. All plants were topped above the 4th node, and the lowest node pair was removed to focus energy on the remaining 6 primary shoots. ​Vitality Check: Despite these minor hiccups (which I fully take responsibility for) the plants are showing great resilience. The stems are developing very good girth and strength, and I am highly satisfied with the overall vigor across all strains so far. ​Strain Profile: Diamond Marker Sisters ​Stress Response: Those two sisters have officially been classified as the "Sensitivity Lead." The leaf crinkling was a localized reaction to the excessive turgor and the specific high-energy photons of the Adlite Blue. ​Recovery Status: It is noteworthy that 5 days after topping, the new growth is developing beautifully again. The plants have successfully bypassed the stagnation phase. ​Correction: Adlite Blue deactivated on Jan 22nd. Removing the supplemental blue spectrum reduced the photomorphogenic stress, allowing for more balanced meristematic development. New shoots are already showing optimized intercellular spacing. ​Recovery & Defoliation Protocol: To account for their higher metabolic sensitivity, I am adjusting the recovery buffer: ​The other 4 strains will be defoliated 3 days before the flip. ​The Diamond Marker sisters will be granted a full 5-day recovery window post-defoliation. ​Community Inquiry: I am curious if other Growmies have observed similar phenotypic sensitivity or turgor-related leaf crinkling specifically in Permanent Marker crosses? Is this a common trait in this lineage when VPD fluctuates? ​Technical Progression & Canopy Engineering ​Jan 26th (Status Quo): Implementation of minimal Low Stress Training (LST). The 6 primary shoots are being gently anchored toward the pot periphery to maximize the horizontal canopy footprint. Combined with selective Leaf Tucking, this ensures optimal photon flux to the lateral meristems. ​Structural Goal: Once the target radius is established, all apical dominance will be redirected vertically. ​DLI Balancing & Flip Strategy: Current Baseline: 400 PPFD (18/6). ​Flip Target: 600 PPFD (12/12). ​The Objective: By precisely synchronizing the intensity increase with the photoperiod reduction, I am maintaining a constant Daily Light Integral (DLI). This "Steady-State" transition prevents photo-oxidative shock and ensures a seamless metabolic shift from vegetative to generative growth. ​Genetic Outlook & Stretch Anticipation With the flip approaching in 14 days at the latest, the real challenge begins: managing the individual stretch characteristics of this high-profile lineage. Given the genetic background of these cultivars (ranging from Permanent Marker, Jealousy, and Permanent Chimera #35 to White Truffle, Gorillato, and Banana Butter Cups) I am expecting a highly dynamic transition. ​The primary objective for the remaining vegetative phase is to maintain a homogenous canopy despite the diverse morphological traits inherent in these crosses, including Lab Candy #37, of which I do not know the exact lineage. Observations on internodal elongation will be documented to ensure the 6-shoot structure remains optimized under the upcoming 600 PPFD intensity push.