Grandaddy Black

Started the seed about a week ago. Soaked in spring water over night and then put her into a pete plug in the Root Farm with PH balanced water - cracked within 24 hours. Transferred the seedling into a 6"net pot and a 5 gallon DWC bucket today (about a week since sprouting). Upgraded my air pump as I'm running two buckets and growing two strains this time around. The old single outlet pump was only 2 watts, pushing 2.3 lpm. The new Vivosun I picked up is 14 watts and pushes 21 lpm! Surprisingly quiet too. Bubblicious! Using a 4"x2" airstone (as opposed to 2"x2") for this grow too. Looking forward to this strain - got it as part of a bean trade with my buddy.

Grandaddy Black seems to be loving life in the bucket. Growing strong with roots starting to break through the basket. Upped her feed this week and mixing them with filtered water this time around - using a GrowRite carbon filter that just attaches to a garden hose. I used tap water throughout my last grow - curious to see if this makes any difference. 🤔

Another pretty care-free week - nothing more than monitoring PH and watching her grow. I guess my only concern at this point is that the leaf ends some somewhat wilted/limp. Not sure what that's about. Any advice/thoughts would be welcome. Upped her vitamins this week with the change of water. Seems like she's destined to be quite a bush. 💪🌲 UPDATE - OCT. 7: Thanks to the insight from some wise experts on this incredible community, over feeding is what those limp leaves are all about. I changed out the water tonight with the new, lighter mix.

She looks to be recovering after the early bout of overfeeding I gave her and is becoming quite the beast - her fan leaves are massive. I think I'll have my work cut out for my me keeping things contained. Tried my hand at topping for the first time yesterday (day 21) - snipped both her and her Cream Caramel companion. These photoperiod plants are so much different than my first auto flower grow - I can't get over how big these plants are after only 3 weeks. Hoping to top at least once more before I send things to flower - don't know that I can veg for long given how big she's getting already. Already a faint smell in the tent much to my surprise - and delight. This is going to be an interesting grow.

Trimmed out some of the lower level along with some of the leaves that were damaged due to my earlier overfeeding and opened things up a bit. Started some LST to get things ready for the stretch. Flipped lights to 12/12 today and added a little more juice in the mix for the start of flowering. Looking forward to the next stage 🤞🌳

Day 35: Things are growing great and she's really filled in since I started defoliation and LST I last week. I think she'll need some thinning out again soon. Have been going pretty light on the nutes - making minor adjustments every day or two ]. She's definitely drinking more than eating at this point, but she seems happy. Day 36: PPMs rose to 668 and PH 6.8. Added about 3/4 gallon filtered water and added PH down. Brought PPMs down to 613 and PH to 6.1. Day 37: In the happy zone - PPM 584 and PH 6.3, Gave her and her bunkmate a pretty extreme haircut - RH was running at 75% with all that growth in there. Day 38: PPM/605; PH/6.5. Topped her off with 3/4 gallon filtered water PH 5.5. Levelled things out at 479 PPM; PH 6.1. She's looking to be recovering nicely after her trim - also happy that humidity in the tent has lowered to a more friendly 65%. Day 39: PPM/521; PH/6.4. Added some PH down - reduced to 5.7. Filling out and stretching after the trim. Day 40: PPM/511; PH/5.9. Top her up with 3/4 gallon of tonic: PPM/511; PH/5.5. Balanced out at PPM/511; PH/5.8. All good. Day 41: PPM/479; PH 5.7. She's happy. Left her alone.

Bit the bullet a few days ago and gave both plants in my tent a pretty significant haircuts. As you can see they both hated it 😏 Incredible how quickly they bounce back. Also a modest upgrade to the lighting with the arrival of the Mars Hydro TS 1000 this week. Looks like things are setting up to pop. Can't wait. --------- Day 44: PPM/616; PH 6.5. Thirsty girl since res change yesterday... added 3/4 gallon filtered water/nutes. PPM now at 605; PH 5.9. Day 45: PPM/616; PH 6.0. Steady as she goes. Thinned her out one more time. Day 46: PPM/616; PH 6.2. Added 3/4 gallon filtered water with light dose of nutes - PPM/500; PH/5.8. PPM now at 595; PH/6.1. Day 47: PPM/574; PH 6.2. Add 1/4 gallon filtered water with a dose of nutes - PPM 626; PH 6.0. Sitting at 605/PPM; PH 6.2 Day 48: PPM/595; PH 6.2. Left her alone. Day 49: PPM/563; PH 5.9. Add 2/3 gallon filtered water with nutes - PPM 595; PH 5.7. Sitting at PPM/584; PH 5.9

No actual flowering yet but am hoping for that to change any day - I was a bit heavy handed with another round of defoliation last week and am wondering if that may have delayed flowering. I also noticed that I had foolishly left open two vent flaps at the bottom of the tent so I suppose light leak could be a factor as well.😲 In any case, she's filled out again and recovered and looking much prettier than she did a few days ago. Her tent mate, the Cream Caramel, has just started showing pistils so I'm optimistic she'll get going any day now too. She's been drinking and feeding good. Still keeping nutes light and following a 1/2 strength regiment. She's seems fine with that. I'll also be locking my scissors away for a few weeks 😉 ------------- Day 51: PPM 689; PH 6.2. Add 1/2 gallon of filtered, PH balanced water. PPM down to 595; PH 6.2. Day 52: PPM 637; PH 6.3. I think her drink is still a bit strong. Added 1/2 gallon filtered water and some PH down - resting at PPM/542; PH 5.9. Pistils finally showing. Day 53: PPM 584; PH 5.8. Let her be. If PPMs continue to rise tomorrow I'll water down the mix a little more. Pistil formations more widespread now. Day 54: PPM 595; PH 5.8. Topped her off with just over 3/4 gallon of feed: PPM/553; PH 6.3. Balanced out at PPM/574; PH 6.0. Day 55: PPM 574; PH 6.3. Let her be.

She's finally pushing out some buds and is really starting to stretch out. Getting pretty tight in my small tent with she and her Cream Caramel room mate starting to fight for elbow room. It's getting to be like a game of tetris to situate them after reservoir changes. Other than space issues, everything seems to be going fairly smoothly. ---------- Day 58: PPM 563; PH 6.7. Added some PH down - PPM: 574; PH 6.0 Day 59: PPM 553; PH 6.1; Added a gallon of filtered, nute enhanced water. PPM 563; PH 6.1 Day 60: PPM 563; PH 6.2. Pretty stable and growing strong. Left her alone. Day 61: PPM 562; PH 5.8. She was thirsty. Added a gallon of filtered water with nutes: PPM now 542; PH 6.2. Day 62: PPM 532; PH 6.2. Left her alone for now. She's showing signs of calcium deficiency - some brown spotting on a few of the larger fan leaves. Will increase her cal-mag with the next feed. Day 63: PPM 511; PH 5.7. Eating and drinking. Did the rez change a day early as I wanted to address the calcium deficiency. With the exception of adding tsp/gallon of Cal-Mag Xtra the rest of the nute concentrations remain the same. PPM now 668; PH 6.1.

Well, the old girl was showing signs of calcium defciency (some spotting/rust on some of the leaves) so she got her rez change a day early this week with some added Cal-Mag. She did some stretching this week and grew about 5". Cleared out some undergrowth and small branches under the canopy to keep things neat. She seems to be setting up to produce some nice buds. 🤞 -------------- Day 65: PPM 658; PH 6.2. She was thirsty but watered down her drink as her PPMs were increasing a bit. Fed her a gallon of filtered water with a tsp of Cal-Mag. PPMs now at 563 with PH 6.2. Day 66: PPM 553; PH 6.2. Left her alone. She seems in a bette place after having her drink watered down yesterday. Day 67: PPM574; PH 6.2. Topped her off with a gallon of filtered water and light nutes. She's sitting at PPM 574; PH 6.2. Day 68: PPM 584; PH 6.2. Left her alone. Day 69: PPM 563; PH 6.2. Topped her off with a gallon of filtered water/nutes. Sitting at PPM 595; PH 6.1 Day 70: PPM 595; PH 5.4. I've suspected for a while that my PH meter has not been giving accurate readings (even after calibration). Bought a new meter and was proven correct - PH has been running much lower than readings have been showing. Corrected her to 6.1 today - maybe now she'll start sucking up some of that calcium she's been missing out on.

She's been looking a bit better over the past couple of days and I think the calcium deficiency has been addressed - did't help that my old PH meter was reading much higher than actual. Hopefully, I can take her to the finish without further issues. I stripped out some of the larger, damaged fan leafs and a few others that were blocking light to bud sites. I think she should be near the end of her stretch soon - growth wasn't so dramatic this week but she did put on a couple of more inches. ----------- Day 72: PPM 605; PH 6.9. Added some PH down and took her down to 6.0. Day 73: PPM 605; PH 6.9. Gave her a gallon of plain filtered water and add some PH down: PPM down to 532; PH 6.0. Day 74: PPM 553; PH 5.8. Let her be. Day 75: PPM 584; PH 6.2. Gave her a gallon of filtered water with a slightly weaker mix of nutes. PPM now at 563; PH 6.0. She seems happy. Cruising along. Day 76: PPM 574; PH 6.2. Good enough. Day 77: PPM 574; PH 5.9. Topped her off with a gallon of filtered water/nutes. The mix was a bit strong but I'll let her ride and see what she says tomorrow - rez change day. PPM 637; PH 6.0 now.

She's cruising along happily now that her PH/Calcium issues have been addressed. She seems to have stopped stretching and her bud sites are getting a little plumper each day. A little extra Bloom in the bucket with the rez change today, other than right, running the same course of nutes. ----------------- Day 79: PPM 647; PH 6.2. Discovered I forgot to turn the air pump back on after rez change yesterday. Ugh 😕Gave her 3/4 gallon of plain filtered water - and turned the pump back on. PPM 574; PH 6.2. Day 80: PPM 574; PH 6.55. Gave her a few drops of PH down - now at 6.2. She's much happier with the air pump turned on - sadly, the leaves that were previously damaged due to the calcium deficiency look much worse now after the air pump incident - not sure if this is cause and effect or whether these damaged leaves were destined to degrade anyway. I'm hoping the next few weeks go more smoothly. Day 81: PPM 574; PH 6.2; Gave her a gallon of filtered water/nutes: PPM 637; PH 6.2. Sitting at PPM 616; PH 6.2. Plucked off a few more leaves that were degrading due to the earlier calcium deficiency. Day 82: PPM 647; PH 6.4. Gave her 1/3 gallon filtered water to level her out: PPM 563; PH 6.3. She's looking like a much happier girl today. Day 83: PPM 574; PH 6.4; Gave her a couple of drops of PH down - she's now at 6.0. Day 84: PPM 574; PH 6.0. Gave her 3/4 gallon filtered water/nutes - holding steady at PPM 574; PH 6.1.

After a rough start to the week (air pump was off for 24 hours - duh) she's looking much better and the limited number of colas she has seem to be setting up for a nice finish. Upped the bloom this week and stopped the Gro. I had to take off one of the lower branches that got accidentally broken and the calcium deficiency was certainly confirmed by the hollowness of the branch i took off. It's been 'would of, could of, should of' with this plant and I wish I'd done a lot of things differently - it it has been a learning experience. I definitely want a crack at growing this strain again - but I get ahead of myself. Hoping to stay out of her way and watch her finish strong. 👊 ---------- Day 86: PPM 679; PH 6.7. Gave her some PH down and levelled her out to 6.0. Cleared out some of the bigger fan leaves to let more light through and optimize air flow. Day 87: PPM 727; PH 6.3. Gave her a gallon of filtered water/nutes: PPM 605; PH 6.1. Sitting at PPM 689; PH 6.2. Day 88: PPM 727; PH 6.3. Gave her half a gallon of filtered water. Now PPM 668; PH 6.0. Day 89: PPM 741; PH 6.4. I'll let her ride til tomorrow and adjust accordingly. Day 90: PPM 755; PH 6.3. I gave her a gallon of filtered water/nutes: PPM 700; PH 6.0. She's riding easy at PPM 727; PH 6.2. Day 91: PPM 713; PH 6.3. Happy girl. Nothing to do til rez change tomorrow.

No tragedies befallen or torture inflicted upon Grandaddy Black this week - what a nice change 😉 Rez change today - some extra bloom in the mix. She seems to be doing o.k. Certainly not as many bud sites as the Cream Caramel in the tent but looks like she'll have a couple of nice fat stacks. ----- Day 93: PPM 796; PH 6.4. Gave her 1/2 gallon filtered water: now PPM 727; PH 6.3 Day 94: PPM 782; PH 6.2. Gaver her 1/2 gallon filtered water: now PPM 700; PH 6.2 Day 95: Christmas. I took the day off. Day 96: PPM 755; PH 6.3. Gave her 1/2 gallon of plain filtered water: now PPM 689; PH 6.2. Day 97: PPM 713; PH 6.0. Gave her 3/4 gallon filtered water/feed: now PPM 755; PH. 6.0

She seems to be cruising along o.k. A couple of weeks to go I think. Took out a handful of nasty, curling leaves that were near the tops of the main colas - hangovers from the previous calcium deficiency. She looks much prettier now - I know, it's not a beauty contest. 😉 Getting very fragrant in the tent between her and the Cream Caramel. Piney and sweet. I received a cool little digital microscope for Christmas so I've included some sciencey trichome shots for your enjoyment. -------- Day 100: PPM 860; PH 6.5. Gave her 1/2 gallon filtered water: now PPM 755 PH 6.3. Day 101: PPM 768; PH 6.3. Gave her 1/2 gallon plain filtered water: now PPM 700; PH 6.2 Day 102: PPM 810; PH 6.3. Gave her 3/4 gallon plain filtered water: now PPM 689; PH 6.2. Day 103: PPM 679; PH 6.4. I think I finally have her drink mixed the way she likes it. Thirsty girl - gave her another 3/4 gallon of juice. Still at PPM 679; PH 6.0. She's getting plumper every day. Day 104: PPM 713; PH 6.3; Gave her 1/2 gallon of filtered water - now PPM 658; PH 6.2 Day 105: PPM 689; PH 6.2. Let her be. Will decide tomorrow whether to start the flush or feed her one more week.

Day 106: Rez change today. Will let her go a few more days and may start to flush mid week. I'm a still a little alarmed to see the rusty leaves throughout this plant - I'm assuming still signs of the of a calcium deficiency/PH problem. I can't seem to get it under control and perhaps it comes down to the needs of this plant and she just wants more calcium than I've been giving her. Any thoughts on this are most welcome. Glad to be nearing the end on this one. ---- Day 107: PPM 584; PH 6.6. Realized I underfed on the FloraBloom yesterday so gave her a little boost today in her 1/2 gallon top-up. Now riding at PPM 605; PH 6.0. Day 108: PPM 616; PH 6.2. Flush day. Gave her 4 tsp./gallon Dutch Nutrients Clear with filtered water. Away we go. Day 109: PPM 335; PH 8.0! Gave her 1/2 gallon filtered water with PH down: PPM 299; PH 6.0. Day 110: PPM 333; PH 6.7. Gaver her some PH down - sitting at 5.7. I think a day or two more and she's done. Day 111: PPM 378; PH 5.9. Gave her 3/4 gallon filtered water. Now at PPM 302; PH 5.8. Tick-tock. Day 112: Chop-chop... Tim-ber! Trimmed her out and hung her too dry. Harvest report in a few days.

With this being only my second grow ever and my first experience growing photoperiod plants, I was more than pleased with the end result - despite the little glitches and missteps along the way, including: - Overfeeding out of the gate: I really pumped the nutes early on and she started to claw - way too much nitrogen. Thanks to the advice from members of this incredible community I was quickly set straight and have since learned to listen to my plants more and pay less attention to feeding charts. - Light leaks - doh!: I think it was 2 weeks into my light switch to 12/12 (and no flowering action) that I realized that I had left two vent flaps at the bottom of the tent open. Plant started flowering within 2 days of me closing them. Lesson learned. - Calcium deficiency: her calcium needs may have been greater than what I was giving her or my PH was so off that she wasn't taking it in (see faulty meter tale below). Regardless, didn't spot the decency until too late. - Toasted PH meter: had faulty PH readings for a number of weeks before discovering my meter was toast - this lead to a calcium deficiency that she never quite recovered from. You can see evidence of that in the hollow branches in the photo above. I gave her a pretty tight wet trim and dried the plant whole. It dried quicker than I would liked in about 4 days at 35-40% RH. Chopped her up today and and gave the buds a little cleanup. Curing in glass mason jars with a Boveda 62% pack to get some moisture back into those slightly crispy buds. Part of me still can't help but think what could have been with this grow, but II can't wait to take another crack at this strain! I know I can do better. Starting a new grow in a few days. Thanks for tuning in!