The Ladies’ First Cup

GolliGrows GolliGrows Vegetation – Week 1 (Seed Day ~7 | 18.01.2026) Early Veg | Settling In, First Structure Tea Room Notes Lady Rosalind: Well then, shall we begin? I do believe this calls for tea. Lady Eleanor: Indeed. One can hardly assess a gardener’s competence without a proper sit-down. Lady Beatrice: Quite. Now then — we’ve been moved again. Larger quarters, I notice. Fabric pots. Airy. Civilised. Lady Rosalind: Plagron Light Mix, if I’m not mistaken. Soft on the roots, not overly indulgent. A sensible choice for a first competition. Lady Eleanor: The early days were… comfortable. Warmth around 25 degrees, humidity hovering in the low eighties. Rather spa-like, really. Lady Beatrice: Yes, but we did make it clear that we were ready for more. Roots do tend to speak for themselves once they start peeking out the bottom. Lady Rosalind: Our gardener seemed to take the hint. Into the tent we went — final homes already, despite our youthful appearance. Lady Eleanor: There was some hesitation, I sensed. But no panic. That’s promising. Lady Beatrice: We are currently still under these little domes. Temporary, he says. They’re lifted once or twice a day — fresh air, polite exposure, no drama. Lady Rosalind: In two days’ time, they’ll be gone entirely. At which point we shall be introduced to a gentle airflow. Not wind — merely a reminder that gravity exists. Lady Eleanor: As for the light — restraint. Maximum height, 25 percent intensity. No blinding ambition. One must appreciate a gardener who understands that strength comes after structure. Lady Beatrice: All in all… a calm beginning. Not rushed. Not indulgent. One might say he’s listening. Lady Rosalind: Let us observe him further, shall we? The tea is still warm. Grow Details Environment: Temperature: ~24–25 °C Relative Humidity: ~80–85 % Lighting: Mars Hydro FC4800 Maximum height ~25 % power 18/6 light cycle Watering & Nutrition: Seedlings have been transplanted from plugs into their final soil medium (Plagron Light Mix). Each plant received approximately 0.5 L of water at transplant. A low dose of Plagron Power Roots was applied to support early root development. No base nutrients or mineral feeding are used at this stage. Green Sensation is listed solely for contest eligibility and is not in use. Setup: Plants are placed directly in the grow tent. Micro-propagator domes are used temporarily to stabilize humidity after transplant. Domes are lifted once to twice daily to allow fresh air exchange. This practice will continue for approximately two more days, after which the domes will be fully removed and gentle airflow introduced. Observations: Seedlings have established in soil without visible stress. First true leaves are present. Stems are upright but still delicate, indicating the need for gradual airflow acclimation. Next Steps: Maintain elevated humidity briefly post-transplant. Remove propagator domes completely within two days. Introduce soft, indirect airflow to encourage stem strengthening. Continue low-intensity lighting and minimal intervention. “The Ladies are satisfied — for now.”

GolliGrows GolliGrows Vegetation – Week 2 (Seed Day ~12 | 24.01.2026) Early Veg | Establishing Roots, Slow Momentum Tea Room Notes Lady Rosalind: “He has adjusted the light again. Very carefully.” Lady Eleanor: “Yes. A touch more confidence, perhaps a touch less pacing.” Lady Beatrice: “Nerves are understandable. First contests do that to people. Still — his restraint is improving.” Grow Details Environment: Temperature: ~21–22 °C Relative Humidity: ~60–65 % Gentle, indirect airflow is present across the canopy to support stem strength Lighting: Mars Hydro FC4800 Distance: ~50 cm Intensity: 25 % Light cycle: 18/6 Plan: gradual increase of approximately 1–2 % per day, aiming for ~35–40 % in early vegetation and ~50 % toward the mid of veg Medium & Additives: Plagron Light Mix (final containers) Water + Low dose of Plagron Power Roots applied Watering: No regular feeding yet First feeding irrigation planned after proper dry-back of the substrate Propagation & Transition: Mini propagator domes were removed early, as the plants no longer required elevated humidity Seedlings transitioned directly to ambient tent conditions Gentle airflow introduced to encourage stem stability Observations: All three plants have established well in their final containers First true leaves are clearly developed Growth is steady and controlled, without visible signs of stress Development is intentionally unforced Compared to other contest entries, this grow is behind in timeline due to a later start. That difference is noticeable and does create a certain restlessness — not in the plants, but in the gardener. The current focus is therefore as much on calming the grower as it is on growing the plants: prioritising stability, patience, and clean development over unnecessary speed. Overall, satisfaction outweighs concern. The Ladies are satisfied — for now.

GolliGrows Vegetation – Week 3 (Seed Day 18 | 30.01.2026) Early Veg | Straightened Up, Dialled In Tea Room Notes Lady Rosalind: “Right then — today’s entertainment was the pH. A rather stubborn little number.” Lady Eleanor: “He adjusted, waited, measured again… and didn’t spiral. That’s growth in its own right.” Lady Beatrice: “I’ve seen gardeners chase perfection until the plants pay the price. He chased accuracy — and stopped when it was correct.” Lady Rosalind: “Also — we were leaning. Not dramatically, mind you. Just enough to look vaguely unladylike.” Lady Eleanor: “A touch of soil at the base. Practical. No theatrics. Simply… uprightness.” Lady Beatrice: “And then the instruments started lying.” Lady Rosalind: “Not lying, dear — merely behaving strangely.” Lady Eleanor: “He recalibrated everything. Sensible. If the numbers are odd, you fix the numbers — not the plants.” Grow Details Lighting: Mars Hydro FC4800 Intensity: ~36 % (increased) Distance: ~50 cm (unchanged) Light cycle: 18/6 (unchanged) Gradual intensity ramp-up continues Watering & Nutrition This week remained intentionally minimal, allowing proper dry-back and strong root behaviour. This is the second watering of the week — the previous one was a few days ago — keeping irrigation spaced and controlled. Frist feedings solution was: pH: 6.2 EC: 0.80 mS/cm Todays feeding solution was: pH: 6.2 EC: 1.05 mS/cm No unnecessary extras were introduced. The focus remains on controlled increases, consistency, and keeping the plants calm while growth accelerates. Observations All three plants look healthy and vital, with clean colour, good posture, and noticeably improved momentum. The earlier lean has been addressed with a small top-dress of soil around the stems, bringing the structure back into a stable, "upright" baseline. The overall impression is straightforward: the plants are settled, responsive, and beginning to “lock in” to early vegetation. Dialling in measurements became part frist feedings work as well — strange readings triggered a full calibration check, and everything is now back in a trustworthy range. Next Steps Continue gradual light intensity increase while watching leaf posture and tip response Maintain gentle airflow and consistent dry-backs Increase feed strength only in small steps if the plants keep reacting smoothly The Ladies are satisfied — for now.