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First time grow and I'm very excited! Decided to grow 3 autoflowers at once, all in the same conditions with no extra lighting or real push for a big yield. I'm just happy to see where these babies go with natural light, and as I don't have a garden I'll be utilising the top of my boiler cupboard (under a slanted skylight) and a small balcony area just outside a normal window. Once they're a bit bigger I'll move them all to a large bright windowsill.
So this is the first week of growing 3x royal dwarf seeds, using the starter kit from royal queen seeds to germinate. Once popped I transferred these to some fairly wide 8 litre pots half filled with some multi purpose compost with nutrients. I couldn't find any perlite but figured I could top the soil up with a mix once they've grown a bit more.
Finding it hard to decipher each one, so my partner suggested naming them... So now we have Brienne, Sansa and Arya! Based on their heights at the moment, but lets see how they grow :-)
Second week for the ladies, I think they're doing well but as the weather hasn't been so warm or summery lately where I am so they are growing a little slowly. Also experiencing issues with fungus gnats! I panicked and after reading online that they hate cinnamon I sprinkled a tiny bit on top while waiting for some diatomaceous earth to arrive.
So once that comes I'll sprinkle it over the top layer, then I'll start watering from the bottom. There doesn't seem to be many of them so a good thorough dry out and lots of natural light (indoors below a skylight) should help. Not much to report other than that :-)
End of the third week, it's been really cold and wet outside so no chance of leaving them to their own thing at the moment. Disappointed as it's meant to be summer.. but thankfully these are autoflowers so it shouldn't matter TOO much. I'm not looking for mega yields either!
I decided to donate one of the ladies to an open minded elderly family friend, who suffers from various physical ailments and takes a variety of painkillers, but always has a toke when I'm smoking and says it helps. She's also a very keen gardener with an amazing sunny outdoor space, so I'm excited to see what happens with Sansa in her garden/greenhouse.
It's the end of the fourth week! As mentioned these ladies are growing fairly slowly due to gloomy weather, so they've been kept inside under a skylight, and the apartment kept comfortably warm too. Now I'm only looking after two it's much easier.
They're starting to smell a tiny bit now - a fresh, green lemongrass inspired smell which I cannot wait to smell more of.
I'm thinking of beginning to add flowering nutrients next week, as I'm not sure if they are starting to flower yet or not? I started with nutrient based potting mix, so in terms of veg we've been covered, but I wouldn't want to overload them. Will keep updating!
So I decided to take a risk and add some more soil beneath these two... and it went really well! (I think.) I first carefully removed the diatomaceous earth layer sprinkled on top, got my partner to help with extracting the plant (and holding) while I added more soil to the base of the same pots. Then it was a slow flip back into the pot and some extra soil added around the edges. They're looking good and hopefully the extra room means they'll be more comfortable now.
Not much else to report really, other than the weather seems to be improving! Looking forward to seeing them begin to flower over the next couple of weeks, then will introduce some diluted bloom nutrients into their diet. Smell is getting slightly stronger now too, but not overpowering or 'weedy' yet.
Very excited they have started to flower! I'm glad the last minute soil top up didn't do any damage, only seemed to make them a little stronger.
Now, I need to start adding nutrients - but the question is how much? I'm using Canna Terra Flores, but as these are autoflowers I'm not sure how much to add.. I'll do a little research online before I go ahead though.
Started introducing some flowering nutrients into the ladies lives! One is coming along faster than the other, slightly taller sister - probably due to having less direct sunlight, so interesting how they respond quickly to those environmental changes.
Had to add some more diatomaceous earth on the top layer as pesky fungus gnats love to return! They also love the basil and coriander I grow indoors so I guess it's not personal hehe.
I've been quite busy lately but the ladies (Arya & Brienne) have just been doing their thing in the background. One is happily flowering along and the other has only just really started to! Interesting that the nodes are closer on the shorter plant which is doing better, yet the other which has had slightly less light overall is lighter on leaf coverage and stretchier.
I only wonder how the third lady is doing with her donated carer! I've asked for a photo update but she's not the best at taking pictures so we'll have to wait until I next visit :-) I imagine she'll have grown differently being kept outdoors in a mostly sunny garden/greenhouse.
So it's been exactly 9 weeks since I first sprouted these ladies and I'm very pleased with how it's going!
The ladies are well in bloom now, I imagine the nutrients are helping along with the recent sunshine.
They've started to smell a bit more now, but not an overpowering scent, really citrus and fruity. 😃
Nothing special to report! The ladies are coming along nicely, and the recent warm weather has led to more flowering and a bit more height. Watering them a little more now with a stronger concentration of bloom nutrients. Just waiting and watching now :-)
Getting closer to maturity now, but still a couple weeks at least to go. They've probably been a little slower due to natural light cycles and generally poor summer weather where I am!
So the long await was over, finally! Due to an abrupt end to the very minimal summer where I live, these ladies didn't produce what I imagine a standard yield would be from these great seeds. I also chose fairly small containers (although when tidying up I hadn't noticed any roots bound). They were attacked by fungus gnats a bit, with a little respite given using diatomaceous earth, however eventually they found their way back.
Nevertheless this grow wasn't about yield, and more about growing from seed and exploring the plant itself - which this has been an excellent experiment for.
I got a modest amount of flower from the harvest, which I trimmed and hung up in an airing cupboard to dry. After a few days they looked ready so I popped into a vintage copper lidded jar to cure. I don't have scales which read accurately enough to put how much there was, but it definitely weighed much less when trimmed and dried! It's an enjoyable smoke, not strong at all but gives a nice buzz which is what I wanted!
I made cannabutter using the trim, which is quite potent! I glazed some home made donuts with it which tasted okay, but I think I'll save the rest for some gooey chocolate brownies.
Overall I'm very pleased with my first grow, and would definitely look to grow again in a better climate with improved drainage, larger containers and more space! 😊
Hey
Your ladies are looking good!
Could you take a look at my week 3 dwarf diary? My girl is a little small for 20 days and I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to boost her growth organically! Any feedback is appreciated!
@LawAbidingCitizen420, She's looking good at week 4 now, but maybe a little over watered? Maybe let them dry out a little, and more direct daylight if possible :-)
Looking nice..
what soil are you using?
No stress summer wil begin shortly :)
Your pots are a bit small for autoflowers, next time I would take some bigger ones (at least 15L) so they don’t get root bound and stay healthy till the very end.
Good luck! 👍
@ladiesgardens, not sure if it’s smart to transplant, maybe it’s best you make a growingquestion, there are pros here that will answer that.
All I know is that Autoflowers stop growing for up to a week and that’s far from good for a autoflower. They need a stressfree life..
I hope 8L will be big enough but just ask to be sure.
And always remember, the more room foor roots the bigger the yield and plant.
@CoastGrower, just plain potting mix with veg nutrients included. Thanks for the tip! I wasn't sure how big to go on the pots - do you think I should move to a bigger pot? Or maybe remove the diatomaceous earth/add some more soil?
Don't feed bloom nutrients untill she at least shows sex. You'll know when that is because white hairs start forming on the nodes, but that won't be necessary for at least another week or two.
Looks like they starting flowering. 🌼🌼
As a suggestion...next time edit the picture by drawing a ring around area to highlight.
You doing great considering the weather.
@pillowz,Generally the first week just keep the soil damp, week 2-4 , water till 10% drains out bottom, re-water when the container "feels light" and at least the first 2 IN of soil is dry. It is better to underwater than over water. Over-watering is one of the biggest mistakes in growing. especially for beginners who, rightfully so, check and water there plants way to often. Depending on size, the first couple weeks might only need 2 watering a week, depends on soil type and drainage as well.
Wow day 84, she's really making you play the waiting game! It will all be worth it in the end - looking forward to seeing your harvest, looks like it should be a good one!
ladiesgardens
