Apollo 11 x Grimm Glue Cross

cloudrider Germinated 3 seeds (100%). These are regular seeds, so will have to pull males during flowering stage. Fertilizing once a week with a compost tea that consists of 1 teaspoon of Craft Blend, 10 teaspoons worm castings and 1/2 teaspoon Hi-Brix in 64 ounces water that has been left to sit for 2 days. Heavy wind from fan in grow box is essentially a Low Stress Training technique and will keep height manageable.

cloudrider Plants are motoring along. Nice thick growth with short internodal length. The wind from the fan is the only Low Stress Training technique being used. Preparing for a sea of green. I am not planning on topping, will have single cola plants. Will switch to 18 hours of light with continuous 24 hours fan in grow box for another 2 to 3 weeks prior to moving to tent for flowering. Alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 4 days with the compost tea blend (see prior compost tea recipe plus adding 8 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Using 2 drops PH Down for every 64 ounces of water to balance PH (target of 6.5). Letting plants fully dry out prior to watering. TIP: Lift the pot to get a feel for the weight when light (dry) and heavy (wet).

cloudrider Week 3 completed, both plants are doing good. Both plants have nice thick growth with short internodal length. Fan is on High setting and is on continuously. Wind from the fan is the only Low Stress Training technique being used. Shown is sea of green with several strains. I am not planning on topping, will have single cola plants. Switched to 18 hours of light with continuous 24 hours fan in grow box for one more week, starting to run out of head space in the grow box. Will move to tent for flowering. Alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 3 days with half strength compost tea blend (see prior compost tea recipe plus adding 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Using 2 drops PH Down for every 64 ounces of water to balance PH (target of 6.5). Letting plants fully dry out prior to watering. TIP: Lift the pot to get a feel for the weight when light (dry) and heavy (wet).

cloudrider Hi Growers, Week 4 is in the books. Plants are doing good. Both plants are 15 cm tall and have thick growth with short internodal length. Wind from the fan in the grow box is the only Low Stress Training technique being used. Shown is sea of green with several strains. I am not planning on topping, will have single cola plants. Starting to run out of room in the grow box, will move to tent this week for one more week of veg (18/6) then will switch to flowering (12/12). Alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 3 days with half strength compost tea blend (see prior compost tea recipe plus adding 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Using 5-6 drops PH Down for every gallon of water to balance PH (target of 6.5).

cloudrider Hi Growers, I was getting ready for tent time, although both plants turned out to be males. What are the odds? This is the risk of growing regular seeds that I have bred. It was a bummer, but both plants have been removed from the garden. I have included some early identification pictures of the males at the pre-flowering stage (look for the little bells protruding at the nodes). I do have other plants growing as part of this grow (see previous sea of green photos), so I am switching this diary to one of my favorite Brothers Grimm crosses, an Apollo 11/Grimm Glue F1 hybrid crossed with Animism (this mother plant with 30% THC from the Joseph lineage). Lil Joe tends to be a short, squat plant with thick growth and short internodal length. I transplanted "Lil Joe" into an 8" container (with saucer) with Roots Organics soil. The veg grow tent has a 100 watt Bloomspect LED quantum board with SMD diodes and MeanWell driver. Brightness is adjustable, so started first day at 25% brightness, now at 50% and will gradually increase to 100% over the next several days. The Air King fan is pretty strong even on the low setting. Currently on 18/6 light cycle. Will continue with veg for another week or two, then will switch to 12/12 for flowering. Alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 3 days with full strength compost tea blend (see compost tea recipe with 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces).

cloudrider Hi Growers, Lil Joe (Apollo 11/Grimm Glue x Animism) is looking like it will be female, although no positive indication as of yet. Plant is now 25 cm tall and has nice growth. Will keep in the veg tent for a few more days and then move to flowering. Still alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 3 days and then the full strength compost tea blend (see compost tea recipe with 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Happy growing!

cloudrider Hi Growers, Lil Joe is growing nicely. Switched to flowering 12/12 light cycle this week. Plant is now 34 cm tall and is starting to stretch. Completed light defoliation of lower set of fan leaves and some small lower leaves to open up the canopy. Still alternating watering (PH balanced) approx. every 3 days and then the full strength compost tea blend (see compost tea recipe with 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Using approx. 6 drops PH Down for every gallon of water to balance PH (target of 6.5). Happy growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Update on Lil Joe, a custom breeding project with Apollo 11/Grimm Glue cross with Animism from the Joseph lineage. She is starting to stretch two weeks into flowering (12/12 light cycle). She is now 42 cm tall and is starting to show some pistils. She is lacking the deep green color of healthy growth (she is a little yellow), so I am going to give her a batch of Miracle Grow All Purpose Fertilizer (24-8-16) to help regain color (1 teaspoon per gallon of water). I find that this can do as good as a CalMag supplement without having to go to the garden store. I have been watering every 3 days and then alternating with the full strength compost tea blend (which consists of 1 teaspoon Craft Blend, 10 teaspoons worm castings, full teaspoon Hi-Brix and 4 drops SuperThrive per 64 ounces). Note: I have increased the Hi-Brix to a full teaspoon per 64 ounces for flowering. Continue to let water stand for 2 days and balancing PH with a target of 6.5. Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Completed third week of flowering and she is starting to come around with better color. Lil Joe is now 48 cm tall and the stretch seems to be slowing. Nice pistil development forming with some chunky buds forming. The smell has started to become more pungent, so got the carbon filter in use with the AC Infinity Cloudline A4 fan. Both are mounted on the top of the tent to allow for maximum head height in this shorty tent (24" x 36" x 54" tall). No training has been completed and this is her natural structure. Looking forward to see what she looks like when done. Going to let her go from here and hopefully there isn't too much stretch. Going to stay on the 12/12 light schedule for the remainder of flowering. Raised the lights in the tent to 22 inches from top of plant. The lights are a 100 watt Bloomspect quantum board with SMD diodes and MeanWell driver and an HLG 65 watt with Samsung LM301H diodes (so total of 165 watts). The Bloomspect light is an entry level quantum board and the light spectrum tends to be a little harsh compared to horticultural rated diodes (Samsung LM301H & LM301H EVO). To compensate, I've found that the light spectrum is more plant friendly a little farther away, so I try to keep it fairly high in the tent (for my set up around 22" is the sweet spot). If the light is too close (less than 18 inches) it can stress the plant (although some plants can handle it better than others). I watered twice in a row with a light solution of Miracle Grow (1 teaspoon per gallon) and that seems to have helped her regain some color. The light was also raised which may help. Now back on the alternating watering schedule with water and then the full strength compost tea blend (see last week for recipe). Will keep on this schedule for now and adjust if needed. Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Completed the fourth week of flowering and bud development is starting to come together. She has a nice compact size with a mini Christmas tree structure. A coat of resin is forming and smell is starting to come on with a potent sweet candy aroma and gas. Her color has come around a little bit and plant vigor is good. I am not going to worry if she is not as green as the other plants in the tent (which all had the same feeding schedule). She has held her height (still 48 cm), so stretch appears to be done. No training has been completed and this is her natural structure. The lights are set at 22 inches from top of the plant. I have been on the 12/12 light schedule and will do so for the remainder. I have reduced the amount of nitrogen in the tea, increased the HiBrix (molasses) and reduced PH slightly to 6.3. She is quite thirsty and I am watering or feeding (alternating) around 0.75 liter every other day. The compost tea blend is 5 teaspoons worm castings, 1 teaspoon Craft Blend, 1 teaspoon HiBrix and 4 drops SuperThrive per half gallon (I let the tea sit for 2-3 days). Plant response has been positive. Looking forward to the next weeks as she keeps packing it on. Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Lil Joe (Apollo 11/Grim Glue male x Animism female) has completed the fifth week of flowering. Bud development is stacking and a resin coating is forming on the sugar leaves. She is 45 cm tall which is after a top dressing of soil to fill the plastic bag pot to the top (the soil tends to settle in these plastic bags). The light will stay at 22 inches and I will remain on the 12/12 light schedule. I have reduced the temp's at night slightly to try to bring on some color (check out my Grapefruit grow if you want to see some purple!). Over the last two weeks I have been feeding with a flowering compost tea blend which I have reduced the amount of nitrogen in the tea, increased the HiBrix (molasses) and reduced PH to 6.2. I am watering or feeding (alternating) around 0.75 liter every other day. The compost tea blend is 5 teaspoons worm castings, 1 teaspoon Craft Blend, 1 teaspoon HiBrx and 4 drops SuperThrive per half gallon (I let the tea sit for 2-3 days). Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Lil Joe (Apollo 11/Grim Glue male x Animism female) has completed the 6th week of flowering and she is getting chunky! Bud development is coming together and she has a little Christmas tree structure (45 cm tall with minimal stretch). She has some pretty orange pistils and has a nice sweet/tart aroma. The light will stay at 22 inches and I will remain on the 12/12 light schedule. I have been feeding with a half strength flowering compost tea blend (PH 6.3). I am watering or feeding (alternating) around 1 liter every two days. The flowering compost tea blend is 5 teaspoons worm castings, 1 teaspoon Craft Blend, 1 teaspoon HiBrx and 4 drops SuperThrive per half gallon (I am reducing this to half strength by mixing 50/50 with water). Lil Joe is going to make some fine smoke, I can't wait! Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Lil Joe (Apollo 11/Grimm Glue male x Animism female) has completed the 7th week of flowering and she is getting fat! Nice chunky bud formation and Lil Joe has a perfect little Christmas tree structure that is made for indoor grows. She has pretty orange pistils (looks like a Cali Orange) and has a nice floral citrusy sweet/tart aroma. I am planning on around 60 days of flowering, so I have started to flush with water (PH 6.3) I plan on a 10 day flush and 36 hours of darkness prior to the chop. Looks like we are getting close! This is some fine smoke and I can't wait till I get the cure done! Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Lil Joe (Apollo 11/Grimm Glue male x Animism female) has completed the 8th week of flowering and things are getting heavy! The branches can barely support the weight of the chunky bud development. Trichomes are are mostly cloudy milky white with little to no amber. Calyxes are fat and swollen and pistils are amber orange. She is fragrant although not over powering with a floral citrusy sweet/tart aroma. I have been flushing with water for the past week (PH 6.5). Overall plant vigor is definitely slowing down and she is not as thirsty. I have been gradually removing leaves, although she has minimal yellow fading and her color is still good. I will continue flushing with water and it looks like around 5-7 more days. I will then do 36 hours of darkness prior to the chop. The finish line is getting close. I can't wait till I get the cure done! Keep on growing!

cloudrider Hello Growers, Lil Joe (a Brothers Grimm cross of Apollo 11/Grimm Glue male x Animism female) has completed 9 weeks plus 4 days (67 days) of flowering and the finish line is here. Trichomes are nearly all cloudy white with a small mix of amber and little to no clear. Calyxes are fully swollen and pistils are all amber orange. She has chunked up nicely with heavy fat buds that are barely supported by the branches. Lil Joe has a nice compact shape with heavy rock hard nugs. No training or topping was completed and this is the natural structure. The aroma is a floral citrusy sweet tart smell. Lil Joe was flushed for 18 days with water (PH 6.5). I let the plant dry out pretty good between watering and then water fully so there is some draining from the bottom. I completed the chop today with the help of my little friend "Chopper." I will dry slowly and cure over the next month, so I will update in about 2 weeks with the Harvest log, recap of the grow and the all important smoke report! I can't wait to get the cure done so I can enjoy some top shelf smoke. Thanks to all the growers who have rode along on this journey. Stay in the clouds my friends! Keep on growing!

cloudrider Grow notes: Lil Joe (a Brothers Grimm cross of Apollo 11/Grimm Glue male x Animism female) competed 67 days of flowering and was harvested when the trichomes were mostly cloudy white with a small mix of amber and little to no clear. Calyxes were fully swollen and pistils were amber orange. This plant handled the grow nicely, although did have some slight yellowing at the end of veg and first week or two of flowering. Will add CalMag supplement to the feeding schedule next grow to help maintain color and vigor. She chunked up nicely with heavy fat buds that were barely supported by the skinny branches. Lil Joe has a nice compact shape with heavy rock hard nugs. No training or topping was completed and this plant has a naturally compact structure built for indoor grows. I plan on crossing this Lil Joe strain to the Grapefruit strain that I have recently grown (which I have 1 regular seed left). This was a fun grow that yielded some top shelf stash (can you say sticky). Stay in the clouds my friends! Keep on growing!