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DaveJohnson Week 1 of Veg going. Lemon cherry and apple fritter in happy frog have been getting 1-2 cups of tap water. I will say the Apple Fritter has gotta “leggy” Lemon cherry in coco first feeding was tap water. Next watering was a cup of tap water mixed with cal mag. PH was around 6.4 Spider farmer light 25%-35%. Gradual increase every other day

DaveJohnson Week 2: Early Veg - Finding Their Rhythm 🌱 We're in that crucial early vegetative phase where these autoflowers are establishing their root systems and preparing for explosive growth. Light intensity has been gradually increased from 40% to 50% throughout the week, giving the girls time to adjust without stress. Lemon Cherry Cookies (Coco Coir) - The Patient One She's chugging along at her own pace. Growth hasn't quite exploded yet, but that's not unusual for week 2—some plants take a bit longer to establish before they really take off. I'm expecting her to show significant progress over the next couple of weeks once those roots are fully developed. Feeding Schedule: Wednesday: 2 cups with 1/4 tsp Cal-Mag, pH 5.7 Friday: 3 cups plain water, pH 5.7 Sunday: 3 cups with 1/4 tsp Cal-Mag, pH 6.0 The pH range between 5.7-6.0 is ideal for coco coir, helping her access the full nutrient spectrum as she grows. Gradual increase in water volume as her root system expands. Lemon Cherry #1 & #2 (Soil) - Right on Track These two are progressing nicely! New leaves are filling in with healthy vigor, showing all the signs of solid vegetative development. Feeding Schedule: Wednesday: 3 cups with 1/4 tsp Cal-Mag, pH 6.7 Sunday: 4 cups plain water, pH 6.7 The higher pH is perfect for soil growing, and they're drinking well. Increasing water volume as they grow shows healthy root development. Apple Fritter - The Stretchy Lady A bit leggy, but she's doing well overall. Some stretch is normal, especially if she's reaching for light, and it's nothing to worry about at this stage. Feeding Schedule: Monday: 4 cups plain water, pH 6.7 She's not drinking as aggressively as the others yet, so I'm letting her soil dry out between waterings. Better to underwater slightly than overwater at this stage.

DaveJohnson Week 3: Early Veg - Growth, Loss & Going Organic 🌱 Week 3 brought solid vegetative progress, a heartbreaking loss to everyone's favorite four-legged garden assistant, and preparations for transitioning to organic nutrition. Here's how the survivors are doing: Apple Fritter - The Stretchy Survivor She's coming along nicely! Still showing that leggy tendency from earlier, but overall growth is solid. As she gets deeper into veg, I'll need to do some strategic defoliation and training to open up her canopy for better light penetration. Watering Schedule: Monday: 4 cups plain water, pH ~6.7 Saturday: 4 cups plain water, pH ~6.7 Keeping it simple with plain pH'd water. She's drinking consistently and the soil is drying out at a good pace between waterings. Lemon Cherry (Coco Coir) - Gone Too Soon 💔 RIP to this little lady. We have to say goodbye to our coco coir experiment. Fido decided the grow room looked like an all-you-can-eat salad bar and helped himself to this young plant. One moment of unsupervised curiosity = one cannabis casualty. Lesson learned: Lock. The. Door. Every. Single. Time. She will be missed, but at least Fido seems fine (not recommended, buddy). 🐕 Lemon Cherry (Right) - Drinking Strong This girl is progressing well and increasing her water intake as she grows—always a good sign of healthy root development! Watering Schedule: Wednesday: 4 cups plain water Sunday: 5 cups plain water (bump up!) The increase to 5 cups shows she's expanding her root zone and ready for more. Growth is on track for week 3. Lemon Cherry (Left) - Steady as She Goes Watering Schedule: Sunday: 4 cups plain water She's on a slightly different schedule than her sister—taking her time but looking healthy. No need to rush her. The Organic Transition - Roots Organic Terp Tea Coming up next: Top dressing with Roots Organic Terp Tea! Making the switch to organic amendments to build soil biology and provide slow-release nutrition. This will simplify feeding schedules and support more natural, terpene-rich growth. The microbes in the soil will break down the organic matter, feeding the plants exactly what they need, when they need it. Why organic? Builds healthy soil ecosystem Reduces risk of nutrient burn Enhances terpene and flavor profiles More forgiving than synthetic nutrients Key Observations & Adjustments We're down to three plants after the Fido incident, but the remaining girls are showing solid early veg development. Watering volumes are increasing appropriately as root systems expand. The transition to organic top dressing will happen soon—just waiting for the plants to establish a bit more before introducing the Terp Tea amendments. Security upgrade: Door gets locked from now on. Lessons learned the hard way! Next week's plan: Apply first Roots Organic Terp Tea top dress, continue monitoring water uptake, and possibly start some light LST (low-stress training) on Apple Fritter to manage that stretch. Three plants, three different personalities—let's keep them all safe and thriving! 🌿🔒 Pour one out for Lemon Cherry (Coco). She died doing what she loved... being a plant. Fido is officially banned from the grow room. 😅

DaveJohnson Week 4: Pre-Flower - The Hunger Games Begin! 🌱➡️🌸 Currently bumping: Larry June - Organic Tokens 🎵 All three ladies have officially hit pre-flower! The transition is happening, and these girls are making it crystal clear—they're HUNGRY. Time to step up the organic feeding game. All Three Ladies - Pre-Flower Mode Activated Apple Fritter, Lemon Cherry (Right), and Lemon Cherry (Left) are all showing those telltale pre-flower signs—pistils popping, internodal stretch beginning, and most importantly, an increased appetite that plain water just isn't satisfying anymore. Last Week's Feeding: Roots Organic Veg Tea Ratio: 1 tbsp per gallon mixture Applied as a soil drench to boost available nutrients The Reality Check: It helped, but it's not enough. They're telling me loud and clear that they need MORE as they prepare for the energy-intensive flowering phase. The Organic Solution - Double Trouble Top Dress Time to bring in the big guns! Preparing for flower means giving these girls a nutrient-rich foundation they can pull from over the coming weeks. Upcoming Top Dress Mix: Half-strength Roots Organic Terp Tea (bloom-focused formula) Gaia Green All Purpose (balanced NPK for transition support) This combo gives them: Immediate microbial activity from the Terp Tea Slow-release nutrition from Gaia Green Support for both the vegetative finish AND early flower development Enhanced terpene production (that's what we're here for!) Application plan: Light top dress on the soil surface, then water in gently. The microbes will get to work breaking everything down, making nutrients available exactly when the plants need them. Why This Approach Works Pre-flower is the PERFECT time to top dress: Plants are entering their hungriest phase Organic amendments take time to break down—starting now means nutrients are available when flower really kicks in The transition from veg to bloom nutrients happens naturally as different microbes activate Less risk of overfeeding compared to liquid synthetic nutes Key Observations These girls went from "we're good" to "FEED US" seemingly overnight. That's pre-flower for you—the metabolic shift is real. The stretch is beginning, which means they're pulling hard on nitrogen, phosphorus, AND potassium. The Gaia All Purpose will cover the NPK bases while Terp Tea brings the micronutrients and beneficial biology. Larry June voice: "Organic garden, hand-crafted nutrients, you feel me?" 🎶 Next Week's Plan Apply the Roots Terp Tea + Gaia Green top dress Water thoroughly to activate the amendments Monitor how quickly they respond to the feeding Watch the stretch—may need to start LST or support stakes soon Keep the music bumping and the vibes organic ✌️ Pre-flower is when the magic really starts happening. Let's give these ladies everything they need to absolutely THRIVE! 🔥🌿 Good soil + hungry plants + organic amendments = the recipe for terpy, flavorful flowers. Let's get it! 🎵

DaveJohnson Week 5: Flower - Different Strokes for Different Folks 🌸 Currently vibing to: Larry June - Smooth Kind 🎵 We're deep into flower now, and the girls are teaching me one of growing's most important lessons—even sisters from the same genetic line have their own unique needs. Individualized care is the name of the game. Apple Fritter & Lemon Cherry (Right) - Still Hungry! Despite last week's top dress, these two are showing signs they want MORE. Sometimes plants just have bigger appetites, and that's okay—we adjust and keep moving. Last Week's Feeding: Top Dress: Equal parts (1 tbsp each) Gaia Green All Purpose 4-4-4 Roots Organic Terp Tea Bloom (direct feed) Supplement: Growganica Incredible Kelp (for bulking support) The Reality: They're still looking a bit hungry—lighter green than ideal, possibly showing early signs of nitrogen or micronutrient deficiency as they push through flower. This Week's Plan: Direct liquid feed with Roots Organic Terp Tea Bloom for faster nutrient availability Another top dress to build the soil reserve back up The combination should give them both immediate and sustained nutrition Sometimes you've got to hit them from both angles—quick-acting liquid feeds AND slow-release top dressing. Lemon Cherry (Left) - The Thriving One Meanwhile, her sister is absolutely GLOWING. Lush, deep green leaves, vigorous bud development, and zero signs of deficiency. She's the poster child for what these plants should look like right now. Her Schedule: Same feeding as the others last week The Difference: Could be phenotype variation, root mass differences, or just plain old plant personality. This is why we observe each plant individually rather than treating the whole garden as one unit. Feeding Plan: Keep her on the same schedule—if it ain't broke, don't fix it. She'll get the kelp supplement but may not need the aggressive feeding the others require. The Growganica Incredible Kelp Addition Added to all three plants to support: Bulking and bud density Micronutrient uptake Natural plant hormones for flower development Stress resistance Kelp is that secret weapon in organic growing—packed with trace minerals and growth hormones that plants love during flower. Key Observations & Real Talk The big lesson this week: Two plants from the same seed batch, getting the same treatment, responding completely differently. This is NORMAL and actually really important to recognize. Some plants are heavy feeders. Some are light feeders. Some have more aggressive root systems. Some are more efficient at nutrient uptake. You can't cookie-cutter this—you have to read each plant and respond accordingly. The hungry girls aren't struggling—they're just asking for more. And that's fine! Better to feed them what they need than stubbornly stick to a schedule that's not working. The Organic Feeding Strategy Moving Forward For the hungry duo: Immediate: Liquid Terp Tea Bloom feed (faster absorption) Follow-up: Top dress to rebuild soil reserves Monitor: Watch for color improvement and vigorous growth response For the thriving girl: Maintain: Current feeding schedule Observe: Keep watching to ensure she stays happy Adjust: Only if she starts showing needs Next Week's Plan Execute the dual feeding approach (liquid + top dress) on Apple Fritter and Lemon Cherry Right Continue kelp supplementation across all three Monitor bud development and adjust support/training as needed Document the differences in plant response—this is valuable data for future grows Keep the Larry June flowing and the vibes smooth ✌️

DaveJohnson Week 6: Flower - Purple Power & Organic Excellence 💜🌸 Currently vibing to: Larry June - Organic (keeping it smooth) 🎵 Week 6 flower is where things start getting REAL. The buds are swelling, the trichomes are stacking, and one of the ladies is putting on a color show that's absolutely stunning! All Three Ladies - Thriving on Organic Fire The feeding regimen is dialed in, and these girls are responding beautifully. Consistent nutrition is paying off with healthy, vigorous flower development across the board. Current Feeding Schedule: Roots Organic Terp Tea Bloom (consistent feedings) Growganica Incredible Bulk (for density and weight) This organic combo is doing EXACTLY what it's supposed to: Supporting robust bud development Enhancing terpene production Building density without harsh synthetic salts Feeding the soil biology that feeds the plants The slow-release nature of organic amendments means the plants are getting steady, consistent nutrition—no spikes, no crashes, just smooth sailing. Lemon Cherry (Right) - The Purple Princess! 💜 SHE'S TURNING PURPLE! And not just a little bit—she's really expressing those anthocyanin colors. This is exactly what we want to see! Why the purple? Genetic expression (she had it in her the whole time) Temperature fluctuations between day/night can enhance purple coloration Stress-free environment allowing her genetics to shine Proper nutrition supporting color development Bag Appeal Status: Already looking FIRE. The contrast between purple buds, green leaves, and frosty white trichomes is going to be absolutely stunning come harvest. This is the kind of bud that makes people stop scrolling on Instagram. 📸 The visual quality on this one is going to be exceptional—she's going to photograph like a dream and look premium in the jar. Apple Fritter & Lemon Cherry (Left) - Green Giants While they might not be showing the purple genetics, these two are producing beautiful, classic green flowers with excellent structure and trichome coverage. Current Status: Dense bud formation Healthy green coloration Responding well to the organic feeding program Trichome production ramping up Not every plant needs to be purple to be premium. These girls are going to deliver quality, potency, and terps regardless of color. The Growganica Incredible Bulk Advantage Adding this to the feeding rotation was a smart move. Week 6 is when bulking really kicks into high gear, and the kelp-based nutrients are supporting: Increased bud density and weight Enhanced resin production Micronutrient availability for optimal flower development Natural plant hormones that promote swelling Combined with the Terp Tea Bloom, we're giving these plants everything they need to maximize their genetic potential. Key Observations Color expression is REAL: Lemon Cherry Right is proving that when you give plants the right environment and nutrition, their genetics can fully express. Purple isn't just pretty—it's a sign she's healthy, happy, and doing her thing. Organic feeding consistency matters: No deficiencies, no toxicities, just steady growth. The microbes in the soil are doing their job, breaking down amendments and delivering nutrients on demand. Week 6 is the sweet spot: This is where flower production really accelerates. Each day brings noticeable changes in bud size and density. Bag appeal is already locked in: Even before harvest, you can tell Lemon Cherry Right is going to be a stunner. Sometimes you just know you've got something special growing. Next Week's Plan Continue current feeding schedule - it's working, don't mess with success Monitor purple progression on Lemon Cherry Right (might get even more vibrant!) Support branches if needed - as buds get heavier, stakes/yo-yos might be necessary Watch trichome development - week 7+ is when they really start stacking Maintain optimal environment - keep temps, humidity, and airflow dialed in Take progress photos - especially of that purple beauty for the 'gram 📸 Larry June voice: "Purple flowers, organic power, smooth cultivation every hour..." 🎶 Week 6 flower: Where genetics meet execution, and the results speak for themselves. Let's keep this organic train rolling! 🔥🌿💜 When she starts turning purple in week 6, you know you're doing something right. Bag appeal: SECURED.

DaveJohnson Week 8: Flower - Tale of Two Phenotypes & Lessons Learned 🌿💜 Currently bumping: Payroll Giovanni - 580 Benz 🎵💰 The Phenotype Reality Check: Same strain, same environment, same nutrients—COMPLETELY different expressions. This is one of the most fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) parts of growing cannabis. Let's break down what's happening in the tent. Lemon Cherry (Left) - The Speed Runner 🏃‍♀️ She's moving FAST! While her purple sister takes her time, this phenotype is racing toward the finish line. Current Status: Bulking nicely with solid density Getting frosty - trichome production is strong Trichomes almost mature - surprisingly ahead of schedule! Harvest window: ~2 weeks out The Lollipopping Regret: Real talk—I lollipopped her early in flower, and now I'm second-guessing that decision. Looking at her sister with almost double the bud sites, it's clear I may have been too aggressive with the lower growth removal. Lesson Learned: Lollipopping can improve airflow and focus energy on top colas BUT removing too much means losing potential yield With autoflowers especially, sometimes it's better to let them do their thing Every bud site is potential weight—be conservative with removal The Silver Lining: The buds she DOES have are dense and frosty. Quality over quantity? We'll see at harvest! Lemon Cherry (Right) - The Purple Princess Takes Her Time 💜👑 She's SUPER purple and absolutely stunning, but she's on her own schedule—no rush, just vibes. Current Status: Progressing at a great rate (just not as fast as her sister) Color expression is PEAK - the purple is deep and vibrant Way more bud sites than Left (thanks to minimal pruning) Harvest window: Likely 3-4 weeks out The Phenotype Difference: This is a textbook example of phenotype variation: Left pheno: Fast-finishing, green, fewer but denser colas Right pheno: Slower maturation, purple expression, more bud sites Same genetics, different expressions. It's like siblings—same parents, totally different personalities. Bag Appeal Winner: The purple coloration combined with frost and more bud sites means this girl is going to be STUNNING in the final product. Worth the wait! Apple Fritter - The Dark Green Giant 🍏 She's doing well overall, though showing some signs of nitrogen excess from the organic feeding program. Current Status: Lower leaves super dark green - classic sign of excess nitrogen Not affecting bud development (thankfully!) Progressing well through flower Harvest window: ~2 weeks out (same timeline as Lemon Cherry Left) The Nitrogen Situation: Dark green, almost waxy-looking lower leaves indicate she got a bit heavy on the N during feedings. Why it's (mostly) okay: It's NOT causing nutrient lockout or deficiencies Buds are still developing normally Just a cosmetic issue at this point Common with organic amendments that release nitrogen over time What I'd do differently: Lighter on the Gaia All Purpose early flower, heavier on the bloom-specific amendments. Live and learn! Key Observations & Growing Wisdom Phenotype variation is REAL and unpredictable: Even from the same seed pack, you can get wildly different plants. This is why breeders hunt through hundreds of seeds to find "the one." Both Lemon Cherry phenotypes are good—just different. Lollipopping: Less can be more (sometimes): Seeing the bud site difference between the two Lemon Cherries is a powerful reminder that aggressive pruning isn't always the answer, especially with autoflowers. They have a limited vegetative phase—every growth site matters. Nitrogen in flower: Easy to overdo with organics: Organic amendments like Gaia All Purpose can release nitrogen longer than expected. During flower, less is more. Focus on P and K, dial back the N. Different finish times = staggered harvests: Having plants ready 2-4 weeks apart actually works out well: Manageable trimming workload (not all at once) Continuous supply of fresh flower More time to dial in drying/curing process Speed ≠ Quality: Lemon Cherry Left finishing faster doesn't make her better. Lemon Cherry Right taking her time might result in bigger yield and better bag appeal. Patience pays. The Growing Lesson Summary Phenotype hunting is real - expect variation even within the same strain Conservative pruning - especially with autos, let them keep bud sites Watch nitrogen in flower - dark green leaves mean dial it back Each plant teaches you something - these "mistakes" are actually valuable data Next Week's Plan Lemon Cherry Left & Apple Fritter (2 weeks out): Start monitoring trichomes closely Begin thinking about flush timing (if flushing) Watch for final swell and fade Prep trimming/drying station Lemon Cherry Right (3-4 weeks out): Continue current feeding program Let her take her time—she'll finish when she's ready Enjoy watching that purple get deeper More time = more weight and resin Post-Harvest Planning: Two harvests coming soon (Left + Apple Fritter) One more to follow (Right) Drying space ready Cure jars prepped Already thinking about the NEXT grow 🌱 Payroll Giovanni voice: "Different phenos, same hustle, purple flowers and that muscle..." 🎵💸 Week 8 wisdom: Every mistake is a lesson. Every difference is data. Every plant is a teacher. Keep the music playing and the garden growing! 📚🌿 Same strain, different personalities. That's the beauty (and chaos) of growing cannabis. Roll with it and learn! 💚✨

DaveJohnson Week 9: Flower - Nitrogen Rescue & Microbe Boost 🍯🌿 Currently bumping: Bossman Dlow - SportsCenter 🎵🏀 Week 9 brought a critical observation and a quick pivot in the feeding strategy. When your plants talk, you gotta listen—and these ladies were telling me they needed some help! All Three Ladies - The Nitrogen Intervention The Problem: Both Lemon Cherrys were getting a little TOO yellow. Not the natural fade you want late in flower, but signs they were running out of nitrogen earlier than ideal. The Fix - Super Soil Cocktail: Last week's feeding was a comprehensive microbe and nutrient bomb: Roots Organic Bloom Terp Tea Roots Organic Veg Terp Tea (bringing back some N!) 2 teaspoons of molasses 🍯 Growganica Incredible Bulk The Results: ✅ Some leaves are turning green again! This is exactly what we wanted to see. The nitrogen from the Veg Terp Tea is being absorbed, and the plants are recovering their healthy color. The Molasses Magic 🍯 Why molasses? This is next-level organic growing. Molasses isn't plant food—it's microbe food. What it does: Feeds beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil Increases microbial activity and population Microbes break down organic matter faster = more available nutrients Boosts terpene production (which is what we're REALLY after!) Provides trace minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron) Carbs help with bud density and resin production The Science: The sugars in molasses feed the soil food web. More active microbes = better nutrient cycling = healthier plants = better terps and flavors. It's like adding rocket fuel to your soil biology. Hoping it does something? Oh, it's DEFINITELY doing something. The microbes are feasting right now, breaking down all those organic amendments and making nutrients available exactly when the plants need them. Lemon Cherry (Right) - The Purple Princess 💜 Current Status: Still super purple and stunning Color is getting even deeper Benefiting from the nitrogen boost Terpene development ramping up Still taking her time (probably 2-3 weeks out) The molasses + terp tea combo should really enhance those terpene profiles. Purple flowers with loud terps? That's the goal. Lemon Cherry (Left) - The Speed Runner Current Status: Responding well to the nitrogen intervention Greening back up after yellowing Still on track for harvest in ~1-2 weeks Fewer bud sites (thanks to lollipopping) but they're DENSE The nitrogen boost came just in time. She needed that extra push to finish strong. Apple Fritter - The Dark Green Giant 🍏 Current Status: Was already dark green (nitrogen-heavy) The veg terp tea probably wasn't necessary for HER Still progressing well Also about 1-2 weeks out from harvest She might not have needed the extra N, but the molasses and bloom nutrients are still beneficial. The microbe boost helps everyone. Key Observations & Growing Wisdom Reading the fade vs reading deficiency: Natural fade (good): Lower leaves yellowing gradually in late flower as plant redirects energy Deficiency (problem): Rapid yellowing, moving up the plant, affecting bud development The Lemon Cherrys were hitting deficiency territory, not natural fade. Catching it early and correcting = salvaging yield and quality. The organic rescue: With synthetic nutrients, you can fix deficiencies quickly. With organics, you need to: Feed the microbes (molasses) Add the right amendments (veg + bloom terp tea) Wait for the soil food web to do its thing Monitor recovery Molasses is underrated: Seriously, 2 tsp of blackstrap molasses per gallon of water is one of the cheapest, most effective additions to organic growing. If you're not using it, START. Different plants, different needs: Even though they all got the same feeding, they needed different things: Lemon Cherrys: NEEDED the nitrogen Apple Fritter: Didn't need it but won't hurt All of them: Benefiting from the microbe boost The Soil Biology Breakdown What's happening right now in the soil: Molasses hits the soil → Sugars available Microbes feast → Population explodes Enhanced decomposition → Organic matter breaks down faster Nutrient availability increases → Plants can access N, P, K, and micronutrients Terpene precursors → Better flavor and aroma development It's like upgrading from regular gas to premium—same engine, better performance. Next Week's Plan Lemon Cherry (Left) & Apple Fritter (~1-2 weeks out): Monitor trichomes DAILY with loupe Watch for 70-80% cloudy, 10-20% amber Continue light feeding or start flush (depending on trichomes) Prep for harvest Lemon Cherry (Right) (~2-3 weeks out): Continue bloom feeding with molasses Let her take her time Watch that purple deepen Monitor nitrogen levels—should be good now All Plants: Keep the microbes fed (molasses in waterings) Monitor recovery of green color Support branches if needed Manage humidity (Week 9 = dense buds = mold risk) Environmental Check: Airflow strong ✓ Humidity under control ✓ Temperature stable ✓ Music bumping ✓ Bossman Dlow voice: "Feeding organics like it's game time, molasses got the microbes in their prime..." 🎵🏀 Week 9 lesson: Plants will tell you what they need—yellowing too early meant nitrogen deficiency. Quick thinking + organic amendments + molasses = problem solved. The microbes are WORKING, and these plants are getting back on track! 💪🌿 When your plants talk, listen. When they're hungry, feed them. When in doubt, molasses it out. 🍯💚✨