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This is a newly built small scale Recirculating DWC system. It uses 2 - 2 gallon buckets for the plants, a 5 gallon bucket for the main and a 5 gallon bucket as the supply res. a vivosun 130 gph pump and 1 inch return. the systems holds 5 gallons and the supply res tops at 4 gallons. prior to converting to RDWC harvests were yielding 4 - 6 oz per plant both Auto and Photoperiod.
Started 01/02/2020 seeds.
Seeds popped 01/04/2020
Placed in pots 01/07/2020
Insulated plant res. and added a cooling fan to the main res. to bring solution temps down and minimize the light penetration.
Topped White Widow x Big Buds Auto 01/20/2019- topped at 6th node.
After topping the plants are really starting to get bushy.
I don't think that what I've done can really be considered defoliation since I have only taken 2 fan leaves off of the White Widow x Big Buds Auto but call it what you will. Thank you all to everyone who has been answering my question. I plan on doing defoliation in moderation to open up the canopy to light, very little trimming.
Hi BigShegergan
She looks healthy and vibrant so defoliation is on if you like to do it.
Autoflowers prefer slight defo every few days then one heavy defoliation at once.
I use pucking ( bending the leaves slightly away from bud sites) the leaves down to to save removing a lot off Growth at the time.
Only a few things to keep in mind
Hi I done Autoflowers a few grows now. And with out slightly defoliating I won't be able to keep up. Whit all the LST I am putting in.
Most important thing is to start slowly a few leaves at the time.
And only remove leaves covering bud sites and for better light penetration in the beginning.
Then in middle stage off flowering I clean the under canopy.
And you are all done.
Definitely Not recommended during heavy Flowering. Only if you need better air circulation around buds but be careful again.
Defoliation It has always worked for me on Autoflowers with out trouble.
I don't recommend heavy defoliation.
Hope this helps and good luck with your grow.
Plants get used to
This is end of Week 4. Started doing minimal defoliation so that light can penetrate the canopy. White Widow x Big Buds is exploding, its doubling in size every 3 to 4 days. I have also raised the nutrient PPM from 650 to 1050 and started to introduce bloom nutrients into the solution as the plants are reported to finish very quickly. I will go through at least another week of transitioning the nutrients depending on how they respond to the transition I might be in this transition for a 3rd week.
Update: 02/07/20
She has begun early flower. Seeds popped 01/04 and 35 days later starts flower. Nice time line for a fast growing auto.
Week 5 and I'm calling it flower. In the second week of transition to bloom nutrients and I have increased the bloom strength and decreased the veg strength. She has been stretching for a couple weeks but I plan on keep the lighting in veg for a week before I flip it. Might be longer. This has been a vigorous growing strain and I have been doing defoliation here and there but it has stretched nicely and the plant is getting good light in all parts. The topping has caused 4 branches to shoot to the the top canopy. I expect the plant to almost double in height still. Also continuing to keep the nutrients about 1/4 strength through the grow. Plant is loving its environment.
Week 6 and the smell is very strong. The plant is 27" tall and is stretching very well and allowing lots of light to hit all parts of the plant. I am not doing any more training to the plant because its an auto and i just want to let it grow. Still keeping the nutrients at about 1/4 strength but it is drinking water so fast that the PPMs are staying around 1250. Still doing weekly water changes to control the PPM levels and keep the water fresh but with the res covers and the size of the plants there is no light penetration and temps stay very steady in the nutrient solution so there is no algae growth at all. The system runs very clean and no matter how much I try to lower and keep PH around 5.5 to 5.6 it always comes back to and holds at 5.9, so thats what I am going to stay with.
Any and all suggestions / comments are always welcome.
Week 7 and the stretch seems to be slowing down. She is reaching her top projected height of 36". bud sights are becoming very prominent and her smell is very strong. I did a complete flush of the system and washed the roots because the ppms were getting to 1475 and thats higher than I wanted. I am keeping nutrient levels at 1/4 strength for the grown and the plants are loving everything they are getting. She drinks like a sailor and I am pleases with her progress. Being crossed with Big Buds this White Widow is looking to be very productive. I had to tie her back in a few spots because she would have taken over the tent if she had the chance. It might make for a bit of a jungle during harvest but she is looking to be worth the extra effort it will take. Very impressed for a micro recirculating system of 4.5 gallons.
Big, Bushy, Beautiful and Budding. Thats how I describe her. The buds have yet to ripen and about a month to go so plenty of time. There are lots of them all over and they are producing sugar leaves loaded with trichomes. I have been very impressed with this plants growth and how well it has performed according to is projected schedule. I think she will be a big producer and she has a strong pungent smell so i am sure she will be a potent little temptress. I also think she will produce lots of kief and hash. I will defiantly grow again.
@BigShegergan, a I know what you mean , you can really get addicted to the growing and I just love it👍 , also likes to partake in a dub occasionally LOL😎, I'm gonna start my next grow in March when the weather warms up a little in my little nook in canada 🙏, I can't wait 😉, I'll keep my eye on your grow ,if in anyway I can help ,let me know and I'll do my best 👌 ,Good Luck
@raptor65, thank you. I really do enjoy the growing part, really more than the smoking part. My wife on the other hand enjoys the smoking and appreciates how much the growing keeps me occupied. HA!
This is a newly built small scale Recirculating DWC system. It uses 2 - 2 gallon buckets for the plants, a 5 gallon bucket for the main and a 5 gallon bucket as the supply res. a vivosun 130 gph pump and 1 inch return. the systems holds 5 gallons and the supply res tops at 4 gallons. prior to converting to RDWC harvests were yielding 4 - 6 oz per plant both Auto and Photoperiod.
BigShegergan
