LSD - Cream Mandarine XL (Auto-DWC-Led)

Welcome to my first DWC Grow! To grow I use a DIY setup. Cream Mandarine XL Auto in this diary will be CMXL Lights: - x2 CXM-22-30-90-54 (3k) - x1 CXM-22-50-80-54 (5k) - x1 HLG-240H-54B (Power Source) DWC: - x2 Round Blue AirStone 5cm - x1 Eheim Acquarium Air Pump 400 l/h - x1 Submersible Water Pump 12V 800l/h - Tubing As alternative to Top Feed DWC: I put some 3/8 tubing around the top of the inner edges of the tote, made some little holes in it and connected the hose to the pump. In this way should be easier for the roots to grow the first weeks as the pump sprays the nutrient solution directly on Rock Wool. This idea is from "Growing Answers" YT Channel: https://youtu.be/MvXtu7BmSr8 I started with 36L of water in a 50L tote with a 10% streght solution (except for "Root Stimulator" and "Enzymes" that was 20%) To measure pH I use GH Kit with drops. 11/10/19 Seeds in towel 13/10/19 Germed 14/10/19 Seed in Rock Wool and I put it in pots just under the white 5k COB 17/10/19 Sprouted from Rock Wool, I consider this as first day of the first week 20/10/19 When the first node completely developed, I powered on also the 3k COBs and set the LED Driver to half power 24/10/19 LED Driver set to full power and published photos taken ;) 1st Week Report 17/10/19 - 24/10/19 The water pump sprays water solution from the tote directly on the Rock Wool. The watering schedule is 5 seconds every 30 minuts. Roots are growing well and both of them achieved the 2nd node. CMXL is growing a little faster, but i think is normal due to sativa dominance. I plan to FIM LSD since is having a slower root deveIopment than CMXL. As CMXL grows faster i plan to top it and I will try to clone the topping. Both will get LST. I will try to root clone with a piezoelectric disc fogger inside the main tote (a DIY fogger that goes at 113 kHz and could be considered low frequency, so it doesn't "burn" the nutrient solution) and probably I will leave one piezo next to the plants to increase humidity. The nebulized solution will be useful also for root propagation of CMXL and LSD, like a small aeroponic integration Any advice will be highly appreciated 👍 See you guys ;)

2nd Week Report 24/10/19 - 31/10/19 25/10/19 I didn't flushed, but I filled the reservoir with 3l of 10% strength solution. Added to the current solution the same nutrients quantity as the first week (except for "Root Stimulator" and "Enzymes" that the first week were 20% strength and now got back to 10%). Now the reservoir should be filled with a 20% strength solution 29/10/19 - CMXL is 10cm height and it is growing really well along with his roots. - LSD is 6cm height and it is growing a little slower like his roots, but both of them look healty. I think in some days should start growing fast like CMXL Added 2 low frequency (113kHz) Ultrasonic Piezoelectric Discs: - One for the root chamber that should help with root expansion as it nebulize solution and the fog carries nutriments (like a small aeroponics integration) and will help my attempt of cloning. - One will stand in a 20% solution next to the plants to increase Humidity (and maybe feed them a little). I'll try to set them running 24/7 Switched water pump that sprays Rock Wool from 5sec every 30min to 6sec every 60min. Next week I plan to stop using the pump as "Top Feed" if roots will be well developed and probably I will use it as "Recirculation Pump" to keep nutrients in reservoir mixed better 30/10/19 Roots exposed to air inside reservoir got a little yellow after inserting the small fogger, so I will try to keep it 30/30 seconds ON/OFF. I will check next day if it's helpful to existing root o as root propagator for clone trial Topped CMXL and did a little of LST just by bending the main stem to expose the small growing next to fan leaves. The cutting was immediately dipped in a solution made by honey and Root Stimulation (the same I use for reservoir solution as it should contain rooting hormone), hoping it covers the cut like a gel and don't let the oxigen get in the cut until there will be some new growing. After that I put the cutting on the lid without any pot, as you can see in the picture some tape is covering the hole and it holding the topping. I covered it with a small jar to maintain humidity, hope to see some roots next week ;) I plan to fim LSD tomorrow if tonight grows enough 31/10/19 Filled the reservoir with 6L 20% strength solution and after that added 10% nutriment for 36L directly into the tote (like I did last week). Now nutrient solution inside reservoir should be 30% strength and it's ready for the 3rd week Pinched LSD Top with my fingers and applied LST by bending a little the main stem. Hope this FIMming works and returns better yield ;) Cloning trial didn't worked (I was expecting nothing, just a test), the cut part of the topping is already dry. I knew the topping was too short, next time if I try to clone his stem will be at lest 2cm Last Update 31/10/19 Next Update 03/11/19 with the next week See you guys ;)

3rd Week Report 31/10/19 - 7/11/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 04/11/19 Last time checked them was 31/10/19 when I increased nutrient solution strength to 30%. Today I found some brown spotting on the lower leaves of CMXL. I searched on "growweedeasy.com" and I found this disease should be causes pH fluctuations, so I checked it and it was 6. This mean I have to pay more attention when I add nutrients directly in reservoir, probably when I added them in the tote they hit directly CMXL roots and and she got a little stressed. New growing tops look healthy in both of them, you can see the excellent results of CMXL Topping in the side view as the higher cola is the new growth. Even if LSD looks healthy I don't know if FIM gone well as it's the first time I tried it, I will check the next days after a little of stretching the results. Both had a good lateral growth so LST was applied and removed a couple of big fan leaves that were covering the new growing colas. Stopped using the pump for top feed as root developed well in both of them, next days I will take some photos. Now the water pump is used for water recirculation inside the tote 8 Seconds ON every Hour (the pump has a filter for preventing roots getting in). Switched light to 20/4 and I will check and fix/add LST almost everyday Last Update 31/10/19 Next Update 06 or 07/11/19 See you guys ;)

4th Week Report 07/11/19 - 14/11/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 07/11/19 Flushed the the water, rinsed a little the tote with tap water and filled it with 36L of 35% strength solution (increased from 30%). Stopped using root stimulator as there is a good root development and started to add "Growth/Bloom Excellerator" No preflowers signs for both, but LSD looks like at the end of the week or at the begging of the next she will show preflowers. LSD showing new growth after FIMming, but it looks a little strange and fatty, I think the cause is the stress. It's still growing, so I think she will recover well. 08/11/19 Built a small DIY evaporative cooler (https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-baby-swampy-small-evaporative-cooler/) too keep lower temperature while adding humidity. Now it's stopped and it will be used just if needed 11/11/19 LSD showing first preflowers! It seems FIMming didn't worked because LSD is growing like a not trained plant, maybe the stress just increased a little the lateral growth 15/11/19 Moved the temperature sensor from inside the tote since the temperature stays 19-21 °C and placed it on LSD main cola next to the top to measure air temp. Updated the main program so now it automatically regulates the light intensity basing on air temperature (if the air temperature is over 30°C the microcontroller will automatically decrease light intensity to reach again 30°C, otherwise the lights will be at maximum power). To achieve this goal was used a PID Library (https://github.com/br3ttb/Arduino-PID-Library/) Sorry but this week I have been busy, so I didn't took too many pics. However both of them are growing healthy. Now I'm training CMXL doing just some small defoliation removing 1-3 big fan leaves every 2-3 days. No more stress for LSD! Last Update 15/11/19 Next Update 17/11/19 or 18/11/19 See you guys ;)

5th Week Report 14/11/19 - 21/11/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 14/11/19 From 09/11/19 (just 5 days) both of them had an explosive growth and increased their height by more than 10cm. CMXL is extremely bushy and shows many new side colas. Didn't changed the 35% strength reservoir and neither added more solution as I plan to change it in 1-2 weeks. 15/11/19 Tried to remove the pots from tote's lid for some LST, but I realized they won't move till harvest as roots mixed up together, they are tied up. 17/11/19 CMXL showing first preflowers! 19/11/19 LSD Growing really fast and starting to enter flowering stage! The next week will officially be the first flowering week! CMXL Still growing strong and next week she will be at the beginning of flowering like LSD Now I'm training CMXL doing just some small defoliation strictly needed. For both of them I won't apply anymore LST, but I will simply move big fan leaves under the side colas to give them more light and also to achieve a better cola spacing QUESTION: I just have a doubt and probably I will ask your help also through the "Grow Question". Do you suggest me remove some o the lower growth? (Like lollipopping) If you can help me please answer on comments and if there are needed more photos I will be happy to post them! Last Update 19/11/19 See you guys ;)

6th Week Report 21/11/19 - 28/11/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 22/11/19 Both of them are going well just LSD showed a little of light stress, so I chose to rise LED lights, now the distance to the higher top is about 90 cm. Didn't changed the 35% strength reservoir and neither added more solution as I plan to change it on the last day of the week (28/11/19) 25/11/19 I took the decision to Lollipop and Defoliate both of them since there are too many tiny side branches or fan leaves covering branches that could easily begin new colas. While working I noticed a little of Calcium/Magnesium deficiencies, a general tiny leaf tip burn and a couple of leaves with white patch in the middle, but them were still looking good so I thought them won't fell so much the stress and decided to go on with the process. However when the reservoir will be changed the nutrient strength solution will be increased to 70% and I will add some "Metrop CAL GREEN" to avoid Cal/Mag deficiencies (it should help also to increase yields and fatten the buds). I'm satisfied about Lollipopping result since there light reaches many new grow sites and there is also less humidity, next week hope to have good results 28/11/19 Changed reservoir solution, more info about it at the beginning of the next week (this because I changed the solution streght). For today you get just some photos about progresses and main colas flowering ;) Last Update 28/11/19 See you guys ;)

7th Week Report 28/11/19 - 05/12/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 28/11/19 Changed the reservoir and filled with a 70% strength solution of 30l. Increased from 35% to 70% as both of them are in flowering and probably will need more nutrients. Initially the solution was 36l, but roots are occupying too much space and I had to reduce it. Added also a small 0.5ml/l of grow to be sure there is enough Nitrogen. Added 0.4ml/L of Calgreen as remedy to Cal/Mag deficiencies. Most of the grow shops where I live have this product and they said it should also give fatter buds and more resin, hope it works ;) 02/12/19 Applied LST on most extern colas that could grow and be a new bud site 05/12/19 Applied a moderate defoliation to CMXL and removed 4/5 tall and small branches without any preflower. As you can see there are many new colas exposed to direct light. Removed a couple of leaves and 2 branches without any preflower from LSD. As you can see from photos, LSD is in full flowering, she is starts to getting a little darker and she smells like earth. Probably this week CMXL will get into full flower and since she overtook LSD in height I hope she will be enormous and yields a lot and she smells like sweet and fruits Last Update 05/11/19 See you guys ;)

8th Week Report 05/12/19 - 12/12/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 05/12/19 Didn't changed reservoir as is more or less half capacity full. I plan to change it on the beginning of the next week(12/12/19). 09/12/19 Added a small and cheap diy dehumidifier kit built with a Peltier module (search on Amazon Peltier dehumidifier) 10/12/19 CMXL got a light defoliation where I removed bigger fan leaves covering lower bud sites 11/12/19 Even if they look healthy I added a small Humidity and Temperature sensor to be sure humidity doesn't get too high and let the mold form. However you will get an average humidity level the next week after some tests/readings. 12/12/19 I plan to change reservoir solution and increase its strength to 90% tonight, but diary will be updated with new values with the next week ;) For tomorrow (13/12/12) is also planned a stronger defoliation to CMXL before she gets in full flower, I hope it helps to achieve a better light penetration into the canopy and also it could give an extra stretch to the plant since I noticed that even after a small defoliation she stretches a little faster for a while. As you can see from photos/videos LSD is just doing good and probably she won't need extra training. Her sugar leaves are getting frosty as ice ;) Last Update 12/12/19 See you guys ;)

9th Week Report 12/12/19 - 19/12/19 In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 12/12/19 Unfortunately humidity at 80% and since is too high from next week I will try to give them more aeration. Hope there won't be mold. Changed solution and raised its strength to 90% and unlikely the last change I didn't added a small quantity (0.5/L) of "grow" nutrient as both are in full flowering 13/12/19 CMXL got a bigger defoliation and now you can see even more bud sites! 😁 Just waiting for her ;) Looking to LSD I guess next week we probably will be ready to harvest. As you can see she almost has no more space, CMXL is giant (and beautiful) and she is starting to cover LSD, but hopefully LSD will be harvested soon and consequently CMXL will have all the space she needs. CMXL was defoliated every couple of days, the quantity of leaves that were removed during every defoliation session is more or less like in the photo uploaded. However it looks like CMXL is not anymore stretching and just fattening up, so from the next week will get light defoliation just when needed (if she will cover everything again like last week probably will get one more last stronger defoliation). Any comment or suggestions is appreciated, especially if you have tips about LSD time to harvest! Thanks in advance dudes 😁👊 Last Update 19/12/19 See you guys ;)

10th Week Report 19/12/19 - 26/12/19 I was away from home for 1 week and everything was done on 26/12/19 because I will stay away from home 1 more week. In photos CMXL is on the left and LSD on the right 26/12/19 Luckly there is no mold and humidity now is stable at 60%. Filled the reservoir with 12L of 90% strength solution (the solution inside the reservoir is still more or less 30L) and fixed pH a little higher than 6 (last week was a little lower than 6 and wasn't optimal for flowering stage) CMXL got an extra defoliation and now you can see even more bud sites! 😁 Hope she will yield so much presents! 🎄🎅🎄 I took the decision to cut LSD' bigger and mature colas since I will stay away from home 1 week and it probably would be too late. I will try to leave lower and undeveloped branches to fatten up for at least 1 week and try to have a second harvest even if is just an auto, because now they would be useful just as trimmings for butter or hash. Hope se won't get Hermie and she won't spread her "male" pollen on CMXL. As you can see the wet weight is 62g, and if it results a dry weight of about 20-30g I will still be happy, because my hopes go to CMXL as she is a monster. Another reason that makes me happy is that they are growing in a really small place 40x55cm (0.22m²) and 20-30g final weight should already be enough for this space 😅😅 They are drying at 50-60% humidity inside my wardrobe in full darkness CMXL isn't stretching anymore and is just fattening up, there is a big difference in developing buds from last week. Any comment or suggestions is appreciated, especially if you have tips about LSD second harvest! Thanks in advance dudes 😁👊 "LSD Harvest Week" will be published when the buds are dry or later of there will be a second harvest. Last Update 26/12/19 See you guys ;)

Unfortunately she was covered by CMXL height and she didn't got much light, I'm pretty sure if she grows alone and in a bigger space, she will give the best. Easy to grow, she was a little stressed after fimming. Buds tastes earthy and they give you a relaxing effect She was harvested on 26/12/19 and ready to smoke on 07/01/20, after 13 days of drying a 50% humidity and 20 °C. I remember you that she growth in a 55x45 cm (0.25 m²) closet, and more than half space was taken by CMXL, for this reason I put 0.12 m² as grow room space 😅 Unfortunately the undeveloped buds were covered by CMXL after harvest and in 2 weeks there were no changes! I took the decision to cut her off and use all this undeveloped growth to make Hash or Butter! This harvest week will be updated when Hash/Butter will be ready 😉

11th Week Report 26/12/19 - 02/01/20 I was away from home for 1 week and everything was done on 31/12/19 because I will stay away from home 1 more week. In photos you can see CMXL in her majesty, on the right side there is still the lower and undeveloped branches of LSD. I was hoping these buds would get fatter, but unfortunately CMXL took all the space and covered LSD from getting light and if there won't be changes soon, she will be fitted next week 😒 31/12/19 Luckly there is no mold and humidity now is stable at 55%. Filled the reservoir with 12L of 90% strength solution (the solution inside the reservoir is still more or less 30L) and fixed pH a little higher than 6. CMXL got good results from last defoliation and now you can see even more bud sites! 😁 This week I removed just a couple of leaves that were covering bud sites and she won't get anymore defoliation as she completely stopped stretching and is just fattening LSD bigger colas are still drying and will be ready for next week. (I already smoked a couple of pop corn buds that were already dry and it tastes earthy, waiting for bigger colas to review them). Buds are still at 50-60% humidity at 20 °C. "LSD Harvest Week" will be published when the buds are dry or later of there will be a second harvest. Last Update 31/12/19 See you guys ;)

12th Week Report 02/01/20 - 09/01/20 I was away from home for 1 week and everything was done on 07/01/20. 07/01/20 Luckly there is no mold and humidity now is stable at 55%. There is more or less half reservoir and I'm waiting to fill it, probably CMXL is almost ready to be flushed. Now CMXL is just fattening. As "planned" LSD got the final cut and from her undeveloped branches were trimmed just leaves without any pollen. When she will be dry, she will be used for making Hash/Butter. Last Update 07/01/20 See you guys ;)

13th Week Report 09/01/20 - 16/01/20 16/01/20 Filled the reservoir with just 4L solution since probably this will be the last week before flush. Now CMXL is just fattening and I can see differences in thickness from last week! You can also see some color changing in her pistils, she's getting beautiful! I'm checking trichomes color to be sure to harvest at the right time, I tried to take pictures at magnifier, but it doesn't look clear. However there is any Amber trichomes and there are a lot of clear "mushrooms". They will be checked day by day to harvest when more or less is every trichome is cloudy and to be sure about buds potency. Hope to harvest next week 😉🍀 Last Update 16/01/20 See you guys ;)

14th Week Report 16/01/20 - 23/01/20 Filled the reservoir again with just 6L solution since probably this will be the last week before flush. Now CMXL is just fattening You can also see some color changing 🔍 Buds are getting some 🍇🍇purple🍇🍇 tones!! 23/01/20 Most of the trichomes are cloudy and i can spot some Amber Heads, but they are still less than 10% 🔍 This means tonight reservoir will be changed with a mild solution (probably half strength) and I will also add some "Final Solution" Additive (maybe full strength) I don't like the idea to give her just plain water with some Final Solution at the end, in my opinion she would be just stressed before the cut. I've read a lot about flush before harvest, and after many contrastanding opinions, I think flush is useless if you use hydro, especially if you don't overfeed your plants, there won't be any salt buildup inside reservoir (unlikely soil). However 3 days before harvest of a mild solution shouldn't hurt her. I do it to be sure about taste😋😋 Last Update 23/01/20 See you guys ;)

15th Week Report 23/01/20 - 30/01/20 24/01/20 Filled the reservoir with 12L half strength solution since I don't think a plain water flush would help, but just stress the plant. Even if it's written on the bottle to avoid mixing "Final Solution" and "Enzymes" I did it since the solution is just at half strength. Final solution was added at full strength 29/01/20 Harvest day! First Harvest Wet Weight Is 350g! 💦💦 Nothing particular to say, trichomes are 5-10% 🔍 Amber and while I was trimming them I sniffed the best weed flavour I ever felt in my life! I left a couple of colas and the lower growth by looking at trichomes because they aren't mostly cloudy, but clear. For the second harvest I will look exactly like now to trichomes, probably they need 1 or 2 more weeks 💪💪 "Harvest Week" will be published when buds will be dry 😋 Last Update 29/01/20 See you guys ;)

16th Week Report 30/01/20 - 06/02/20 Had a look to trichomes and she was almost ready, consequently I didn't filled/changed reservoir from last week 06/02/20 Harvest Day! 2nd Harvest Wet Weight Is 440g! 💦💦 All the lower growth yielded more than the bigger colas from first harvest (350g Wet Weight) Nothing particular to say, trichomes are 5-10% 🔍 Amber, even the lower buds got some purple tones and while I was trimming them I sniffed the best weed flavour I ever felt in my life! The 2nd Harvest day was a week away from the 1st Harvest day! "Harvest Week" will be published when buds will be dry 😋 Last Update 06/02/20 See you guys ;)