Double Grape - HLG QB V2 R-Spec

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==> Comments From Other "Living Soil/Super Soil" Growers Are Always Welcome <== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION I am very excited about this grow as it is the first time with a new setup. I have added a new light and am going to try a super soil grow for the first time. I have a Mephisto Genetics Double Grape between paper towels and waiting to sprout. The space is about 18 inches by 24 inches. The ceiling slopes down, so I don't have much room at the rear of the space. For medium I am using Fox Farms Happy Frog augmented with perlite. The bottom third contains 0.5 pounds autoflower blend of a "super soil" additive from Nature's Living Soil. (https://amzn.to/2PUHc6k) I am using three-gallon cloth pots. The light is a Horticulture Lighting Group 135W QB V2 R-Spec LED kit. NUTRIENTS Tap water pH’d to 6.5. pH lowered using 1.5 TBS unsulfured blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar. One-half TBS of vinegar lowered pH about 0.5 points. The medium was very dry. Slowly watered to allow the moisture to be equal throughout the soil ISSUES My while I have yet to put the seed in the dirt, I am concerned about temperatures. They are currently running at about 86F. I would like to get it down to about 80F. DAILY LOG DAY -2: STARTED SEED * Started seed in my traditional manner. Between paper towels soaked in 5% bleach solution, 0.25 tsp/0.5 Cup water. Temp 82F. DAY -1: ACTION *The smallest of tip has appeared. Will put in soil in a few hours. Day 0: SEED PLANTED. * Refrigerator filtered water. pH 6.5. 1 cup (250ml) added very carefully. * Covered with humidity dome. * Light from Soil: 32.5” * Temperature: 82F DAY 1: SPROUT The sprouted seed has shown itself above the soil. A nice Christmas morning surprise. Now I can start counting the days. * Watered with about 200ml of water at pH 6.5. Used apple cider vinegar to lower the tap water pH. * I was pleased to find that my tap water does not contain chloramine. I was reading bad things about chloramine and "living soil." It can kill beneficial microorganisms. All I did was ask my water company and they replied saying "we found no mention of chloramine use in the system:" Just what I wanted to hear. * After looking at other diaries using 250W LEDs, I moved my light down to 25 inches. DAY 2: NO WATER FOR YOU * No watering today. There is plenty of water in the soil and I want the roots to stretch and work. * Working on increasing the humidity and getting more control over the temperature. DAY 3: WATER PLANT, NOT POT. ADDED MYCORRHIZAE. * Following the GrowWeedEasy watering suggestions for Kind Soil * 500ml water at 6.5 pH, around the plant and not across the full 3-gallon bag. * The fan gently moves the seedling to keep it strong. * Had minor unexpected run-off. I hope to avoid that in the future. * Added 1/8 tsp Great White Mycorrhizae dissolved in 100 ml of 50 ml water/50 ml molasses mix. Did not pH as it is such a small amount of solution compares to the watering earlier today. DAY 4: NO WATER, NO PICTURE * Nothing really new. So no reason for a picture. * The soil is dry on top, but the bottom of the pot is still damp. So I will watch it, but I don't expect to water today. * Adding a small intake fan has dropped the temps to about 82F, I think they can live with that. * A humidifier arrives tomorrow and I think that will be my last step to improve the environment. DAY 5: 500ml WATER, LOOKING GOOD * The plant is looking good. The second set of true leaves has a bend, but nothing to worry about. DAY 6: 500ml WATER. NEW HUMIDIFIER * It wasn't really necessary to water today, but I did simply to stay on the schedule I am using. * Given the lightness of the soil and the moving air, I don't anticipate any problems. * Added a humidifier yesterday evening. It's bringing the humidity up, but I need to keep the space closed and I'm a bit concerned about having to provide it with distilled water frequently. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WEEK ONE IN REVIEW ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Watered with 750 ml pH's tap water. Watered slowly to avoid any runoff. * The plant is looking very healthy. It looks as if the roots are really starting to work as the plant is darker green. * Balancing temperature and humidity is tricky, but I think I will be able to get it stabilized with a bit more work. * Target Relative Humidity: Seedlings - 65-70; Vegging - 40-70; Flowering - 40-50 ==> Beginning Next Week I Will Only Post Twice A Week, Mid-week And End Of The Week. <==