'Northern Lights' by i49

Hello all and welcome to Week 7, Bloom w/ NL #1 and #2. The deets (**special note on flushing test at end of entry**): The Good: -Colors! I'm not good at taking pictures but I'm hoping to show it a little better with update photos this week or just do a better job next week. Purple hues are starting to take over all the mains and I'm very pleased to see this. I'm sure that this will only get more profound and colorful as they start to turn in. -Caryo on these two girls is extremely strong now and just about all I smell when I open up the tent. BC still smells great, but she lost the terpene battle...for now. -I'm happy with both plants, but NL #1 has become an absolute unit and is just pushing further and further outwards as she swells and pushes. She has so many substantial tops a great amount of bud on each. Looking forward to her yield. (Quality first! but ya, a larger yield over my first grow is one of my main goals) The Bad": -Just like the others, both NL's had a great week and didn't' show me any concerning symptoms, nor did they react to any defo or environmental changes👍 The Meh: -Not really any meh's either. The only concern was really where to dry them, but that problem has been solved and I feel very confident moving forward with their final days and when I plan to chop. -Had to re-brace NL #2...again. She's too damn tall and I'm going to have to continue to work with her to mitigate her cola weight. More on this in Notes of the week with both NL #2 and BC. Notes of the Week: -Both NL #2 and Blue Cookies are both getting top heavy and I'm working to keep them in shape and away from one another. I'm having an easier time moving them, at least. Grow number one, at this point and time, were already strung up with plant yoyos because they couldn't hold their new weight. I couldn't move them because of this and it was a pain. Happy I don't have to do that again. Yoyos were great! and served their purpose when I really, really needed them. But with the changes and stronger plants, I don't need them! This a good thing👍 -Ocimene is out as the dominant terpene in the tent (Blue Cookies) and Caryo has officially taken over now. Tent is niiiice and pungent with a thick peppery aroma. Fun watching them compete for dominance, haha. -From the new trich pics, it looks like the breeders notes are going to line up quite well. The NL's are wrapping up and I can see them ready for the chop around March 12th (8ish weeks Bloom). DSD and BC are looking like they're at the same pace and should be wrapping up around March 20th-ish (9-10 weeks). -Set up drying tent and she's ready to go. Moved the little tent right by the big girl and jury rigged all my equipment through splitters and timers. Did a test run with x2, 1 foot tower fans and two computer fans w/ makeshift hangers and tea towels to maintain a decent and constant RH. During the test, the unit held about 18-19 degree Celsius and 50% RH. Pretty much what I was looking for. -Trying to get better pictures of the plants without the obnoxious flash of my camera blurring all the trichs and colors. I feel these are a little better...but I still have some work to do and maybe pick up some decent, used lighting equipment to achieve the results I'm looking for. I love so many of the pictures on here. The extra effort really makes them pop and I'd like to try to do the same with the tips I've been receiving from other users. Some of you folks are an absolute inspiration and I appreciate the extra time you put into your photography👍 (I still suck at trich pics...I don't think that's going to get better any time soon, ha) Thanks all for stopping by and checking out these two monsters. I truly hope you all have a great week with your projects and things go dandy for you all's👌 Cheers! **Flushing Procedure**: -Firstly, thank you to everyone and their advice. It was nice to see so many competent growers validate my thinking when it comes to flushing and the discussions we had pertaining to the procedure was extremely informative and helped me plan this flush/chop accordingly. **Disclaimer** The results of this small experiment pertain to this grow and these two plants, only. Please do not take the results of this test as a blanket statement for all plants when it comes to the flushing procedure. There are parameters to be aware of when deciding whether or not to flush and for how long. I will list all of my parameters for this test and if they align with yours (if I have positive results), only then would I ask you to consider this procedure. Thank you! On to the details** Start Date: The 5-7 day flush will commence on March 5th, 2020 when they will receive their first "wash"/flush through. The first flush will be "Day 1". Second flush on "Day 5". Third and final flush on "Day 7". Estimated chop will be on Day 8-9 (Roughly March 13-14th) Parameters: -Both NL #1 and #2 have been on the exact same feed schedule from day one of germination. There has been no deviation or separate feedings of these two girls. They have both received the same everything, throughout this grow. -Nutrient schedule used was manufacture recommendation, throughout the entire grow. This schedule was GHE's Floragrow series, advanced schedule for "Drain to Waste" applications. Nutrients used are all listed above in "Nutrient" section of this entry. I won't beat a dead horse and repeat it here as I used more then one company/brand/product throughout this grow. (But all compatible) -Besides height, both NL's are almost identical in terms of product, health and stage of life. Both have been turning in on themselves and show the same pheno's, top side. They are both ready to go and both started to show me the little bit of amber trichs I was looking for, before the flush. Final RO #'s before procedure: -NL #1 @ 6.0pH and 1320 PPM -NL #2 @ 6.1pH and 1009 PPM Procedure: -I will be running a 5-7 day flush (instead of the 10-12 day flush) on both plants, starting at the same time. -One NL will receive "Flawless Finish" as it's chelator throughout the flush. After the first two gallons w/ a chelator, this NL will receive a basic feeding schedule of Humic Acids and Molasses in it's second 2 gallon wash through. The other NL will be strictly! balanced tap flushes starting at the same time. This NL will not receive any micro-dosing or chelator. -NL #1 has been chosen as the plant that will receive the chelator and micro-dosing as her PPM readings are higher then her sister. NL #2 will receive the balanced tap flush and tap flush only. -After each flush/flush through, I will update the new RO #' s to track pH and PPMS of the soil. -I will be taking 2 samples off of each plant. One will be mid flush (Day 5) and one at the end (Day 7). Will expedite dry time and test. -If the final sample, taken on the final wash through, is acrid or impure I will simply extend the flush cycle to save the product quality. -If the final product is serviceable and clean, both will be chopped and dried with a decently long review b/t the two afterwards. Does the smoke taste the same, is it acrid, should I have gone longer, which is more potent, which is more flavorful, did the chelator work or is it a gimmick, does a tap flush serve the same purpose, etc...etc...? **The Goal** The goal here is to refine my flushing procedure and find what works best for me and the plants. Seems everyone that demands a long flushing period has never gone without one or at the very least, a reduced flush schedule... so what are they basing their results on? That's what this tiny experiment is about. I don't want a black and white answer to this question. What are the parameters that need to be met in order to acquire the most optimal and quality product by end game? If I can reduce my flushing schedule without consequences, fit more feedings in for the final swell and avoid starving my plants, why wouldn't I? **Final Note Before Continuing with flush** I do not have any reservations or expectations about this experiment. I'm open minded and will accept the results as they come in. I could be completely wrong about all of this and I may still have to extend and flush further. But if I'm correct and prove some things to myself, I can optimize my grow and grow experience in future. That, in my mind, is worth the risk and worth the time to test my theories (and yours). I really do hope something good comes out of this and maybe we can start discussing/debunking more myths about cannabis propagation. It was only 4 weeks ago that I thought pruning in flower was an absolute NO-NO, only to find out this stoner science is largely false and should be ignored (pending on parameters, again, however). With the help of the community and further tests like this, I'm sure we can collectively crush these myths and it will lead us to far more fruitful harvests and knowledge. **Update #1, First Flush, March 5th, 2020** Both plants take roughly 2 gallons of water w/ 10% run off. Any more and it runs through. This is the soil retention for both NL's. The deets: NL #1, March 5th: -First two gallons applied w/ Flawless Finish. RO #'s: 5.6pH and 1584 PPM's -Second two gallons applied after 35 minutes without Flawless Finish and with a dose of Humic Acids and Molasses. RO #'s: 6.1pH and 745 PPM's (Already see the massive drop in ppm's) -Dose of Humic (Diamond Nectar GHE) and Molasses (Floralicious Plus GHE) were manufacture recommendations for late flower. 1.5ml/gallon Diamond Nectar. 1.5ml/gallon Floralicious. NL #2, March 5th: -First two gallons applied w/ balanced Tap at 6.1ph and 205 PPM's. RO #'s: 6.1/6.2pH and 825 PPM's -Second two gallons applied w/ balanced Tap at 6.1pH and 205 PPM's. RO #'s: 6.1/6.2pH and 838 PPM's (No discernible change in RO readings) **Update #2, Second Flush, March 9th, 2020** NL #1, March 9th: -First two gallons applied w/ Flawless Finish. RO #'s: 6.1/6.2 and 825 PPM's -Second two gallons applied after 35 minutes without Flawless Finish and with a dose of Humic Acids and Molasses. RO #'s: 6.1pH and 627 PPM's (Another decent drop) -Dose of Humic (Diamond Nectar GHE) and Molasses (Floralicious Plus GHE) were manufacture recommendations for late flower. 1.5ml/gallon Diamond Nectar. 1.5ml/gallon Floralicious. NL #2, March 9th: -First two gallons applied w/ balanced Tap at 6.1ph and 200 PPM's. RO #'s: 6.2/6.3pH and 720 PPM's -Second two gallons applied w/ balanced Tap at 6.1pH and 200 PPM's. RO #'s: 6.1/6.2pH and 570 PPM's (Good Drop with NL #2 w/ just tap) March 9th Notes: -May not run a third wash and allow the girls to go into drought before I chop them. Samples had been taken before the second flush. These samples have been dried and tested. All clean, all good to go, already. I don't see a need for the 3rd and final flush, now. I'll weigh my options when I get there, but it looks like this is a wrap after only two flushes. If I don't perform a 3rd flush, they will be coming down this Saturday/Sunday (March 14th/15th). Until next time, have a good one!👍 Thank you for your time. Happy grows till next time👍