Gaiety Grows - Tuna God (1st Grow)

So after the first fail with my Seedsman Blue Ice OG (Heat stress), I decided to try again. So this becomes my actual first successful germination and (hopefully) grow. I dipped the the seed in Explogrow and then germinated using the water in glass method. I might change this, as I feel there is to much handling of the fragile seed. Wish me luck. (Try two, but actually one😌)

This week the germination can officially be seen as a success as the cotyledon leaves spread and the roots started pushing through the jiffy pod. I transplanted this one into a 1L seedling bag filled with supersoil. The jiffy pod will keep the main roots protected as the plant transition into its new home. Excited to see what happens next.😁

This week the seedling started settling. Seems to enjoy the new home. It is placed next to the window for time being until it is strong enough to go outside.

The wind increased during the week, howling past these babies. Theri a bit battered and bruised but seem to be able to take the beating like a champ. While inspecting the plant I found small hole on the leaves. I first thought it might be nutrients, but then saw a line cut almost through the one leaf. I applied a couple of squirts of Kirchhoff's Ludwig's Insect Spray + (15ml/L). It has garlic, canola oil, chrysanthemum extract, and it appears to have worked very well. Will keep a better eye for the insects that might try their luck on this little one.😊

The wind was still blowing hard this week. I noticed some discolouration on the bottom leaves. Colour seemed to reduce from the tips towards the stems. I assume nitrogen deficiency? I decided to give some plant food. Wonder Kelp and Wonder Wondersol All Purpose plant food. I mixed it into 1 litre jug and gave the plant 200ml. I am keeping an eye on the recovery process.

Steady as we go... No new insect marks or de-colouration on this little one. I added a water stick, to slowly release the water during the day. We are pushing air temps of 36°C. This one is nice and strong. I gave a bit of extra water on the surface during feedings. I saw some gnat larvae in the water stick while filling with water. They need free standing water to survive so I overfilled the stick pushing them out. Sprayed some insecticide again. 😊

This week the plant was showing good colour size and strength. Decided now was a good time to transplant to final home. It is filled with super soil consisting of compost, vermi-compost and perlite. I did not see much worms in the vermi-compost, so I added some extra ones. They loved the soil, went in easily and digging about easy to find. The plant has enough room to grow in the self-made 100L pot. Now the next step will be to sort out a watering system.

This weeks's mission is to dial in the watering system. I decided to go with Blumat Tropf-Maxi's as the principle behind them is ingenious. Using capillary forces to regulate the water need in a medium, is using knowledge to its fullest. I will still check it daily, as I have heard of run-away. I will feed the plant of extra kelp, using a watering can. Do not want to block the lines so early. We are expected to recieve some rain this week. Keeping fingers crossed, and would like to see how well the Blumats respond to it.

I was getting ready to go on holiday and wanted to ensure this young one was ready for the time I would be gone. I gave a friend instruction on how to check the water, as the system was dialled in with the Blumat Maxi's doing their thing. I noticed some insect bite marks on two of the leaves, immediately sprayed it with Uncle Ludwig's Insecticide Plus. I asked my friend to check my plants, and see if the bugs spreads. Fortunately the spray worked, however some damage was done.

I was on holiday for this week. Keeping fingers crossed. The coriander companion plants started to show their leaves. Temperature keeps climbings though.

On returning from holiday, I find the plant has grown significantly. The two stalks are long enough to tie-down effectively. I noticed some insect bites again, and spray with insecticide. Also some deficiencies, so added extra plant food. The heat and wind really drains the reservoir tank, I sometimes need to add extra water to ensure the tank doesn't run dry. The large leaves show signs of potassium deficiency, or possible nutrient burn?

It looks like signs of potassium deficiency, or possibly nutrient burn? Any comments will be appreciated. The last photo, is it a girl or a boy?

I was out of town for the weekend, came back to a plant that seems like it needs help. Any advice would be appreciated. Temperatures has been hectic these last couple weeks, but I have tried to ensure there is enough water for the plant. So far it is quite resilient to these sometime 35°C+ degrees plus winds. Should I do some more LST?

This week was a wet one. We had over 120mm (4 3/4 inches) of rain. Loved it but was afraid for this one. Luckily all is well, and as soon as the sun was out, this one was praying again. Had a bit of an accident, one of the stems broke off during some crazy wind storm. Plant didn't seemed to phased, and it opened up the bottom of the canopy. I tied down another branch to fill the space. I also trimmed and pruned all the damaged and dead leaves, some larger leaves that was blocking light. I will try and find a loupe to go through the plant, as @Chronic420 suggested. After seeing that red spot under the one leaf, I sprayed the whole plant with uncle Ludwig's spray. I think the previous bites where due to rain washing off the organic insecticide allowing an opening for some bugs. I've started adding some liquid fertilizer into the Blumat reservoir, just to add some extra nutrients. I'm working on half the suggested strength. With a bare minimum humic acid (3ml/20L), just to help dissolve the solid nutes in the living soil.

So this week was a bit more of the same. Had a bit of rain and wind and sun and high humidity. I sprayed the leaves on Tuesday with the Kelp, and just topped up the organic insecticide. Once it rains, it's washed away. I'm a bit concerned that this one might be a male. I truly hope that this is not the case, and that I'm just over eager. It is just that 3 of my other plants already have 1 or 2 white pistils making their appearance. Any advice would be appreciated.

Today was a sad day. 100 days and it all ended. Unfortunately this one turned out to be male plant. Unable to harvest. Therefore this dairy will no be abandoned. Luck of the draw using regular seeds. I am not ready yet to experiment with breeding, so this plant was removed. I will take a cutting and do a straight 12-12 to determine sex of the plant with the next grow. Thank you for all the valuable advice, it will be implemented in the new growing season.