Gave her a heavy defoliation! She's growing very strong, and needed a little thinning out!
The defoliation promotes the lower buds growth, by allowing more light penetration!
The defoliation also ensures that airflow throughout the plant is strong!
@frogDUDE, The hooks go almost to the bottom of the pot. Their shape is more of a "?" shape - the underground portion simply goes straight down into the dirt. Hmmm, could probably make them in the shape of and upside down "U" shape - with two stems that go into the ground.. I have not though.. Happy growing! :)
@Basementganja How deep do you bury the wires in the soil? Are they basically U shaped and go straight down or do you add an additional bend at the ends of the wires to keep them in place? Thanks in advance! Cheers π
Great grow and a beautiful plant! I am actually planning on following this diary of yours with my last GSC because I'm blown away by your results.
One question here: Did you top her only once or did you top multiple times to produce more main colas? I'd say topping her once is the max, considering they're autos after all, right?
@Ankhseramun, Awesosme!! Thank you for sharing! :) I need to get on top of updating my diaries too hehehe... I seem to be able to take pictures, but getting them online can take 3 weeks of procrastination at a time...
@Basementganja, Yeah I kinda screwed up with the diary and forgot to make any pictures for the first 8 weeks. Next time I'll try to think about it, but can't promise anything ^^
Just a short summary:
I'm halfway through week 10. I LST'd them, no topping this time around. Defoliated about 4 times now, around every two weeks as they are crazy stress resistant.
Just got finished defoliating again after reading your comment, they seem to really like it.
Pot size is 18L, watering every now and then when the soil is dry with 3-4 Liters tap water with 100% BioBizz nutrient schedule for Light Mix (Had to stop giving them BB Grow, as the leaves on two girls got slight signs of P-toxicity, nothing wild, it stopped after stopping the BB Grow and I have no Top Max anymore around and didnt have time to buy a new bottle yet).
Light schedule is 18/6 with a 400W HPS bulb, but I'm switching my equipment to a smaller tent and a SpiderFarmer SF1000 or SF2000.
They grew to be around 60-70 cm high with at least one main cola and multiple side colas per plant.
Mainly thanks to your diary and the tips you gave people in the comments!
@Ankhseramun, I don't see a diary under your account, I would have to see the plant to be able to give my opinion.
Can DM me pictures on Instagram, or make a diary to share with me! :)
I never find defoliation during flower to ever be a problem. Thinning out a canopy can really improve the quality/health of a trained plant, by providing the budsites with more optimal light + airflow.
Untrained plants may not benefit as much from defoliation, because with a single stem, most leaves wont be blocking budsites from light.
@Basementganja, Hey awesome info! Just wondering if you can clarify somethings for me. Are you watering in between feedings? For example it says, "Days 21-28 - 1 gallon dosage of 750ppm, every ~4 days." Are you watering in the days between feedings or 4 days is how long your medium takes to dry out and needs to be water/fed again? Sorry, am newb trying to learn!
@Bud_Spencer, This is likely, they're very powerful lights! My SF4000 is dimmed to 333watts total, and is hung 107cm (42") from the soil line for seedlings. Vegetating plants will generally be around 89cm (35"), and flowering plants will stretch up to around 61cm (24").
@Odin9, I keep my sf4000 at 333watts (75%) at all times. (drivers + top of light are cooled by a 9" fan (set to low)).
The light is hung 42" from the soil line, for seedlings.
The top of a flowering canopy is around 24" away from the light.
Happy growing! :)
Hello. Terrific diary! What size is that pot? Do you happen to know the diameter?
I'm trying to estimate the width of that plant! It's dense structure and size is just what I'm looking for.
@effexxess, Thank you! The pot is 16" diameter, 10.5" tall. Just over 6 gallons.
My tent is 36"x36", so the 16" diameter pots perfectly fit inside with 4" to spare - that 4" is taken up by the walls of the tent; since there is negative air pressure on the tent, that pulls the walls inwards!
@jeremyb616, I've always counted "Day 1" as the day that the shell is off, and seedling leaves open.
I've seen many other growers do this too; I thought it was common practice.
Should "Day 1" be the instant the seed touches water for germination?
That seems almost the same as if a human child should be called 1 day old, the day of insemination; "Day 1" is the day the child is born (seed hatches from shell).
This diary has a detailed representation of what I do (but with using a Jiffy Puck, instead of planting seed directly in soil):
growdiaries.com/diaries/68030-fastbuds-strawberry-pie-auto-grow-journal-by-basementganja
Wooooo, Que Potencia Y Verdadera Obra La Que Ejecutaste , Estos Son Los Diarios Que Valen La Pena Ver Y Aprender De Ellos.
Ella Fue Una De 4 No? Que Paso Con Las Otras?
Bonito Grow, Respeect Master.
@DigiDom, This diary is referring to only one plant (1/4) of my 3x3 tent. My SF4000 is always dimmed to 333watts.
(333watts / 4 = 83watts per plant). 42" from seedlings, ~35" veg, ~24" flower.