Northern Lights Auto CO outdoor 2026

bkickstand Week 2: The "Solo Cup sisters" are really coming along. I placed 6 total seeds in the wet papertowel, but FOUR are no shows so far. Just Charlie on the left, and Mickey Dee on the right. Really spreading their true leaves. Still just 50mL of water almost daily. No nutes yet. Girls are still too young. In about 3 weeks they will get moved to their forever homes. A 10 gallon potting bag. From there I will top just once and LST the branches until harvest come late June or early July I will also be using a 50/50 mix of organic garden soil and potting soil. I hope that helps with the higher pH of just garden soil, but is able to drain moisture efficiently with the mulch of the garden soil in with the potting mix Color is good. Posture is "praying" and serrations in leaves are very pronounced. Lookin' good girls!

bkickstand Grow Diary: Northern Lights Autoflowers (Week 2) ​Dates: April 17 – April 23, 2026 Status: Seedling / Early Vegetative Stage ​Overview ​The Northern Lights autos (Charlotte and Makayla) have officially moved into Week 2. This is a critical transition period where the focus shifts from just surviving to establishing a vigorous root system. Both seedlings have successfully shed their seed hulls and are working on their second set of true serrated leaves. ​Weekly Environmental Log ​The local conditions played a role in managing the indoor microclimate this week, as the air remains quite dry. • ​Temp/Humidity: Indoor temperatures remained steady, though the low external humidity (dropping to 15% on April 23) required a bit of monitoring. • ​Weather Context: We saw a wide range this week, ending with a sunny high of 62°F and a breezy 19 mph wind from the northwest. The clear, intense sun helps warm the indoor space. ​Feeding & Maintenance ​Since these are autoflowers in their second week, we are being very gentle with the inputs to avoid stunting their fast-paced life cycle. • ​Nutrients: No heavy nutrients yet. Continued with light watering to keep the 50/50 soil mix damp. A very diluted dose of FOOP Sweetener was used once to help establish soil microbiology. • ​Watering: Focus is on watering in a small circle around the base to encourage roots to search outward. • ​Lighting: Adjusted the height of the light panel to ensure the seedlings aren't stretching. They are currently showing nice, tight internodal spacing. ​Plant Observations • ​Charlotte: Showing slightly more vigor this week with wider leaf development. • ​Makayla: Just a hair behind but very healthy. The stem is thickening up nicely—no "flopping" or signs of weakness. • ​Companions: The African marigold seedlings are still sharing the light bench and provide a nice visual gauge for the overall health of the seedling area. ​Upcoming for Week 3 • ​Move into their "forever homes" (the 10-gallon bags) soon to avoid root restriction, as autos don't like being transplanted late. • ​Continue to monitor the wind and overnight temps

bkickstand Week 3: The Big Move for Charlotte & Makayla The "Solo Cup Sisters" are officially leveling up! This week was all about transitioning the Northern Lights into their permanent homes. They’ve handled the shift like champs and are looking vibrant and healthy as they settle into the 10-gallon fabric bags. Growth & Vitals Charlotte: Currently standing at 100 mm (approx. 4 inches). She’s showing great vigor and tight node spacing. Makayla: Following close behind at 85 mm (approx. 3.3 inches). She might be the "little" sister for now, but her leaf structure is incredibly robust. Appearance: Both plants are sporting a deep, healthy green with no signs of transplant shock. The internodal development is exactly where I want it to be for future training. The Setup Medium: Using the "secret sauce" 50/50 organic garden soil and potting soil blend. Containers: 10-gallon fabric bags. These are perfect for providing the drainage and root aeration these girls need. Environment: They’ve been spending time on the deck to soak up the morning sun. I’m keeping a close eye on the High Plains weather—bringing them inside when the Colorado wind gets a bit too rowdy to ensure they don't get beat up. Strategy & Next Steps Training: I’ve got some LST (Low Stress Training) hooks ready to go. I’ll start gently guiding their growth once they establish their roots in the new medium. Trellis Prep: The plan is to let them grow into a trellis system set about 12 to 18 inches above the soil line. This should give us plenty of airflow and a manageable canopy. Nutrients: Sticking with the organic regimen. I’ll be introducing the FOOP line—Veg, Bloom, and Sweetener—on a weekly schedule once they’ve fully recovered from the transplant. **Note:** The focus for the next few days is purely on root establishment. I'm keeping the moisture levels consistent but being careful not to overwater while they adapt to the larger volume of soil. #GrowDiaries #NorthernLights #Cannabiscommunity #Homegrown #OrganicGardening #Week3 #TransplantDay**

bkickstand Grow Diary: Week 4 – The Northern Lights "Solo Cup Sisters" It’s a big week for the autoflower side of the garden. Charlotte and Makayla, our Northern Lights sisters, have officially hit the one-month mark. While the Durban Poison quartet is focused on canopy training, these two are all about root expansion and transitioning into their final phase of growth. Weekly Vital Signs Stage: Early Vegetative / Transition Average Height: 5–6 inches (with LST) Health: Vibrant, deep green leaves with thick, sturdy stalks. Status: Settled into their permanent 10-gallon fabric bags. Post-Transplant Recovery** Moving these sisters from their Solo cups into the big 10-gallon fabric bags was the highlight of the last two weeks. The Move:** The transplant into the custom 50/50 organic soil blend went smoothly. By using sea kelp during the transition, we’ve seen almost zero transplant shock. The Stretch:** Since getting their "forever homes," Charlotte and Makayla have started to stretch vertically. They are showing that classic, bushy Indica structure that Northern Lights is known for—compact, resilient, and wide. Training & Structural Support Even though they are autoflowers, we aren't letting them just do their own thing. LST (Low Stress Training): We’ve started pinning down the main stems using the yellow and green training stakes. Because autoflowers have a shorter life cycle, this early training is crucial to ensure the side branches get enough light to become "bud sites" later on. Tucking:** Instead of heavy defoliation, we’re mostly tucking the larger fan leaves under the new growth. This keeps the energy production high without stressing the plant. Feeding & Environment The 10-gallon bags provide a massive buffer, so we’re letting the soil do most of the work right now. * **Current Regimen:** A light dose of organic sweetener and kelp to keep the root microbes thriving. We’re being careful not to overwater, especially in these larger bags, to encourage the roots to reach out and find the moisture. Light Cycle: They are soaking up the Colorado sun on the deck during the day and getting a little boost from the indoor lights during those cooler spring evenings. Looking Ahead As we move into Week 5, we’ll be watching for the first signs of "pre-flower" (the little white pistils). Once those appear, the clock really starts ticking. The goal for next week is to maintain a flat canopy and ensure the sisters stay well-fed as they prepare for their explosive growth spurt.

bkickstand Grow Diary: Northern Lights Autoflower duo. Stage: Vegetative – Week 5 Genetics: Northern Lights Medium: 50/50 organic potting/garden soil blend in 10-gallon fabric smart pots Nutrients: FOOP Organic regimen + sea kelp tonics Overview: Entering the Stretch Week 5 is officially in the books, and the Northern Lights sisters—including Charlotte ("C") and Makayla ("M")—are hitting an incredibly exciting transitional phase. After spending the last few weeks focusing heavily on building out robust, thick root zones beneath that organic soil blend, the top growth is reacting beautifully. The plants are showcasing classic, deep-green indica traits with broad, healthy fan leaves and excellent nodal stacking. Despite some intense, fluctuating Eastern Plains spring weather, the resilience of these landrace-leaning genetics is fully on display. Training & Canopy Management Instead of using a SCROG setup for this run, the focus is entirely on localized, precision training to maximize the efficiency of the outdoor footprint: LST: Structural training is well underway. The main stalks are being carefully bent and anchored downward using soft garden ties to break apical dominance. Lateral Development: This aggressive pulling back has beautifully exposed the inner nodes to the high-altitude sun. You can already see the lower lateral branches reacting by turning upward, creating the foundation for a wide, multi-topped bush rather than a single dominant Christmas-tree shape. Pot Rim Anchoring: The heavy-duty 10-gallon fabric rims provide the perfect, sturdy anchoring points for the training lines, allowing for incremental adjustments as the branches lengthen. System & Environment Update Irrigation Layout: The custom DIY manifold irrigation rings are fully pinned and operational. The hand-drilled green hose rings line the interior of the pots flawlessly, providing uniform moisture distribution across the entire root zone while keeping the intense sun from baking the top soil layers unevenly. Mobility Strategy: With heavy spring rains moving through the area and a rollercoaster forecast ahead, having these massive 10-gallon bags staged on heavy-duty furniture dollies is proving to be a massive lifesaver. It allows for quick, effortless transitions across the deck to chase the sun or seek shelter when the weather turns sour. Drainage: The fabric pots are doing exactly what they were designed to do. After a heavy watering followed by unexpected rainfall, the medium is shedding excess moisture perfectly, preventing root stagnation and allowing the soil food web to breathe. Next Week's Plan As we look toward Week 6, the goal is to let the soil medium cycle through a proper dry-down phase after the recent heavy soakings. Once the weather stabilizes, we'll continue fine-tuning the lateral branch tie-downs to open the heart up even further, ensuring maximum light penetration just as these autoflowers begin preparing for their transition into pre-flower.

bkickstand Garden Log: Week 6 — The Northern Lights Sisters The girls are officially settled into their big homes on the deck, and the High Plains sunshine is treating them right. Charlotte and Michaela are moving along beautifully as we cross into Week 7, showing off that classic, sturdy Indica structure. Here is how the sisters are looking as they head into the late-veg stretch: Charlotte (C Flag) Status & Structure: Charlotte is looking incredibly healthy and compact. Her leaf color is a vibrant, rich green, and she’s taking full advantage of the spacious fabric pot to establish her root footprint. Training: Sticking strictly to the game plan—no topping for this lady. She’s naturally staying low and dense, perfectly suited for the deck setup. Michaela (M Flag) Status & Structure: Michaela is right on pace with her sister, exhibiting great node spacing and robust fan leaves. The early morning light hitting the deck is giving her exactly what she needs to push out steady new growth. Training: Keeping it purely to gentle Low Stress Training (LST) to pull back the canopy and let the light penetrate the lower nodes without stressing her auto lifecycle. Garden Notes & Environment Container Setup: Both sisters are loving the room to breathe in their large fabric pots. The aeration is keeping the root zones pristine, which is critical out here where the environment can shift fast. Soil & Nutrition: Riding high on the organic soil blend, supplemented with a clean organic nutrient regimen to keep the microbiome thriving. Watering has been targeted to encourage the roots to stretch out to the edges of the pots. Overall Vibe: The staggered "relay race" plan is shaping up perfectly. While the photoperiods continue their massive veg run, these two autoflower sisters are locked, loaded, and coasting right on schedule for their mid-summer finish. Grower's Note: No major pests or issues to report. The leaf margins are clean, the stems are thick, and the sisters are proving exactly why this classic genetic holds its legendary status. Keeping the focus on steady moisture control and letting that Colorado sun do the heavy lifting.

bkickstand The Oasis Project | Week 7 Strain: Northern Lights Autoflower Sisters (Charlotte & Makayla) Container: 10-Gallon Fabric Bags (Elevated on PVC Risers) Method: Organic Soil / DIY Automated Halo Irrigation Overview & Environment We are checking in for Week 7 with the Northern Lights autoflower sisters, Charlotte and Makayla. They are sharing the deck with the big Durban Poison photoperiods, soaking up that high-altitude Colorado sun, and stepping right into their own spotlight now that the new deck infrastructure is fully operational. Key Milestones This Week 1. Dialed In with the New Halos Just like the photoperiods, Charlotte and Makayla got their first taste of the newly completed DIY automated irrigation manifold this week. The Treatment: The green hose irrigation halos coiled inside the rims of their 10-gallon bags worked flawlessly. The Impact: The sisters received a thorough, uniform 15-minute soak. Getting that edge-to-edge moisture spread across the containers is going to be a game-changer for keeping the organic living soil evenly charged, especially as the summer wind starts to pick up on the plains. 2. Height Check & Structure (Featuring Charlotte) Autoflowers move on their own rapid timeline, and keeping them tight, stocky, and structurally sound is the main goal out here on the exposed deck. Current Height: Pulled the tape measure out to check on Charlotte today, and she is sitting perfectly compact right at the 7-inch mark. Architecture: She is displaying that classic, rugged Northern Lights indica heritage—short internodal spacing, broad fan leaves, and a sturdy main stalk. The top growth tip is perfectly centered and pushing up healthy new growth right above the irrigation line. Wind Readiness: Keeping her this low and close to the soil at Week 7 is a massive advantage against the Eastern Plains gusts. She’s building a thick, solid base rather than stretching out thin. 3. Root Environment & Airflow (The PVC Advantage) Unlike the massive 25-gallon bags on wheels, Charlotte and Makayla are dialed in on custom PVC risers. This gives the 10-gallon fabric bags a rock-solid, stationary foundation while maintaining that crucial air gap underneath. The 360-degree airflow ensures that the bottom roots are air-pruning beautifully, forcing the plants to concentrate a dense, fibrous root mass right where the organic nutrients and halo-delivered moisture are richest, preventing any pooling or stagnant zones at the bottom of the bags. Next Steps Now that the soil is fully charged from their first automated run, we’re going to let Charlotte and Makayla coast for the next couple of days to monitor how quickly the elevated 10-gallon bags dry down in our arid climate. Charlotte is entering a crucial window, and with her and Makayla's roots completely happy, they are primed for steady development.

bkickstand Week 8 Update: Northern Lights Autoflowers Garden Overview & Environmental Notes: The deck setup is handling late May on the Eastern Plains beautifully. The intense high-altitude sun is perfect for fueling quick development on these autoflowers. The atmospheric action has been classic Colorado—watching some spectacular afternoon storm build-ups, localized rain shafts, and distant lightning patterns out across the plains while the garden stays secure. Plant Metrics & Development (The Transition to Flower): The biggest news for Week 8 is that the Northern Lights sisters are officially shifting gears! We are moving past pure vegetative growth and stepping right into the early transition to flower. Both plants are showing pre-flower development at the nodes and the tops are starting to bunch up as they prepare to stretch. * Charlotte (C Flag): She is clearly displaying early flower development along her main stem and side branches. Her main top is stacking tightly under the sun, holding a stocky, well-spaced structure. * Makayla (M Flag): She is also pushing hard into the transitional phase. Her top growth is distinctively bright green and clustering into early bud sites, showing a healthy vertical profile with a thickening main stem and fan leaves perfectly fanned out to catch the high-altitude rays. Feeding & Maintenance: We are keeping things strictly organic on the deck, running the FOOP nutrient line—including the Veg, Bloom, and Sweetener components—to feed the active microbes and support robust root development. Now that the transition to flower is fully underway, the upcoming feeding schedules will begin leaning into those bloom and sweetener components to support early bud development. The custom halo rings are keeping the root zones perfectly satisfied during this crucial developmental pivot. Looking Ahead: With the sisters officially transitioning, the next couple of weeks should bring some noticeable vertical stretch. They will continue to anchor the deck rotation as we prepare for the late-June relay race strategy to bring the next batch of plants into the mix. Update 5.30.26: Charlotte and Makayla are starting their bloom! First pistils I've seen this year. Always an exciting day.

bkickstand 📋 Grow Diaries: Week 2 of Flowering – The Northern Lights Auto Sisters The Northern Lights Autoflower sisters, Charlotte and Makayla, have confidently stepped into Week 2 of true flowering. The initial transition phase is settling, and both girls are busy stacking up distinct pre-flower clusters on the deck. Because these are autoflowers tracking on a fixed schedule, this week clearly illustrates how a complete divergence in training strategies can entirely alter the plant's architecture and budding profile. 🎀 A Study in Contrast: Natural vs. Pinned Down While sharing the exact same indica-dominant genetic backbone, the structural contrast between the two sisters is night and day right now: Charlotte (The Natural Tree): Training: Left completely alone to do her own thing, Charlotte has been allowed to grow naturally. Structure & Flowering:** She is exhibiting a textbook, upright Christmas tree shape with a strong apical dominance. Her primary central cola towers over the rest of the plant, heavily stacking clusters of white pistils along a single vertical pillar. Her side branches gracefully skirt the main trunk, catching excellent sun from her upright stance. Makayla (The Pinned-Down Canopy): Training: Placed under intensive low-stress training, Makayla has been meticulously pinned down closer to the soil. Structure & Flowering: By forcing her main stem down horizontally, her natural apical dominance was broken. As a result, her side branches have been thrown into the spotlight, rising up to create a much flatter, bushed-out tabletop canopy. She sits significantly lower to the pot than her sister but features multiple evenly distributed budding tops across her wider footprint. The Mid-Bloom Menu: Dialing in FOOP Organic Bloom To fuel this rapid flower production without stalling their internal clocks, the girls have been transitioned onto a premium organic bloom regimen: FOOP Bloom 1 & Bloom 2: This core base duo is delivering a highly bioavailable punch of organic phosphorus, potassium, and fish-based micronutrients to accelerate calyx stacking and strengthen stem development. FOOP Sweetener: Infused into the feed to load up the root zone with complex carbohydrates, driving up microbial activity in the soil and giving the sisters the raw fuel they need to crank up early resin and trichome synthesis. Irrigation Setup The green automated drip rings (1000003513.jpg) ensure this organic blend is evenly distributed across the entire surface of the fabric pots, feeding the root zones consistently without creating dry pockets. Pistil Development: White hairs are actively grouping up at every node site, most prominently on Charlotte's dominant main tower Foliage Check: The fan leaves on both plants remain an incredibly vibrant, healthy green (1000003325.jpg), showing that the FOOP nutrient uptake is smooth and perfectly balanced for this stage of life. Grower's Note: Watching a single strain express itself in two totally distinct structural shapes because of a simple twist in training is what makes grow diaries so rewarding. Charlotte is maximizing her main vertical column, while Makayla is converting her flat footprint into a broad field of tops. Next week, the bud swelling truly begins!