Bubble Auto

This is a DIY Recirculating DWC built to function on a small scale. It uses 2 gallon pots for the plants and a 5 gallon main res. It has a 5 gallon supply res feeding it.

Added foam insulation around the pots to decrease light penetration and insulate the pots so the nutrient solution stays cooler. I also added a cooling fan to the main res. I also topped the plant. 1/22/2020

After topping plants are starting to get bushy. Started to do extremely minimal defoliation. removing 2 leaves at a time to open up the canopy.

Doing minimal defoliation. Bubble Auto is a dwarf plant and only expected to reach 18" to 24" in height. It is dense and bushy but i have removed the leaves at the base for air flow and to encourage top growth. I raised the nutrient level to 1050 and have started the transition over to bloom nutrients. I will continue the transition over 2 weeks but depending on response may extend it to 3 weeks.

Keeping with extremely selective defoliation, the majority of which is at the bottom of the plant. She is showing her pistils at the base of the branches and I decided to keep a stronger mix of veg nutrients than originally planned but to also introduce more bloom nutrients at the same time. I expect her to start the stretch any day now.. I am keeping the nutrient solution at about 1/4 strength through the entire grow and the plant seems to be very happy. not showing any signs of deficiencies. I did have a few leaves with the tips showing a little nutrient burn but it was at the end of a week right before a water change and my PPM had climbed a little above where i had been keeping it.

Week 6 and I'm going to say FLOWER. I have noticed the plant starting to stretch and the bud sites are starting to form and become dense with leaf growth. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a dwarf plant and is only supposed to get 18" to 24" tall. At its current 13" it only has between 5" and 11" left to grow. I am betting it will hit closer to the 11" or possibly beyond mark, but only time will tell. I am keeping the nutrient solution at 1/4 strength, doing weekly water changes and maintaining a 1250 ppm with a PH of 5.9.

Week 7 and this little dwarf is reaching the low end of her projected height. So I am guessing it will end up closer to the 24" mark when the stretch is all said and done. Buds are starting to form and they are going to be dense and compact. Starting to get a normal smell to it that is sweet and very pleasant. I did a complete flush of the system and washed the roots because she is drinking so much so quickly that the PPM was getting higher than I wanted (around 1475) and I am trying to keep the nutrient levels at about 1/4 strength especially as it starts into flower and becomes more susceptible to fluctuations. Still have to adjust PH daily mainly because it is a micro recirculating using a total of 4.5 gallons of water with a 150 gph pump. There is no algae in the water at all and the leaves praise the light and the plant loves its environment. I am really curious to see what she produces, I think if its close to 112g that's a pretty good run for this little girl.

The stretch is real and must be coming to near an end. She is now at 22" and reports to max out at 24" so she is almost there. I have been a little disappointed in the amount of time she has taken to get this far. I have her growing with another strain and she is about 3 weeks behind. I do think that she will start budding but there is no way that she is going to finish in near the time that she was reported to. I would expect that it will take her probably at least 6 more weeks if not 8 to finish. I am seeing some bud formation but the plant is not going into full focus on budding and is primarily still focused on growth. Only time will tell what the finished product will produce but as of now i am leaning that the Sativa traits of this Auto are more predominate in this plant than the Indica. If you have any thoughts I am open to listen.