FFT8 2020 (I)

Here we go, another FastBuds fast flowering photoperiod tester. This is the eighth in the line, FFT8, which is sativa and around 9 weeks flowering. My previous grows (FFT1-5) were plagued with early low temperatures, and then just wasted sea of green failures. I am committed to doing better. I germinated in a peat pod in a small cup of HP Pro Mix. My veg tent is 4’ x 4’ DIY construction. I have a 300 actual watt full spectrum LED and 1/6th of the same light, another 50 watts. This is day 4, hoping for a good one.

Day 12 for FFT8, the eighth of the fast flowering photoperiod line from FastBuds. Just water as it dries out. No issues so far. I turned on my output ventilation and temps seem fine.

Day 19 for the eighth of the Fastbuds photoperiod testers. I nearly bit myself taking too long to transplant. It was getting annoyed with the super small germination container. I had no room in my veg. tent. Now that I’ve transplanted things should be good. I used 10 parts HP Pro Mix: 5 parts worm castings: 1 part Fox Farms Happy Frog soil. Sorry, took a blurry root photo so no looks.

Day 26 for the eighth Fastbuds tester: FFT8. Everything is looking good, better maybe, now that it has a larger container and new soil. Temperatures are picking up in general. I have a new veg. tent setup which has two 300 actual watt full spectrum LEDs but they are a bit higher.

Day 33 for FFT8. Trimmed everything just prior to updates, took all the fan leaves off. Just growing. I also irrigated with 24-8-16 Miracle Grow All Purpose and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). I may get a little excess but it will clear in time especially if I watch closely and water.

Day 40 for FFT8, the eighth of the FastBuds testers. Vegging away and using up the nutrients. I have allowed the batch to really dry out so I haven’t watered much. Things may be slow as this tent isn’t overly warm and needs some touch ups. Overall not concerned, and things look good.

Day 47 for FFT8. It was going to be the full week before I was able to buy soil, so I top dressed early on with blood and bone meal, mineralized phosphate, worm castings, in a mix of HP Pro Mix. I did finally transplant using a mix of 30 parts HP Pro Mix: 5 worm castings: 1 ASB Greenworld Sheep Manure Compost: 1 ASB Greenworld Black Earth: 1 ETI Greenhouse Gold Seafood Compost: 1 Green Gaia mineralized phosphate (guano): 1 alfalfa meal compost: 1 pulverized egg shells. BudXs was giving me a hard time for slacking so I tried to seal the top of my tent a bit better, I am hoping to see a degree or two in increase in the coming days.

Day 54 for FFT8. I think I’m on the verge of too much phosphorous, as sealing my tent has warmed things and made nutrients available. I will continue to irrigate and will flush if necessary. My flower tent is infested with mites and so in trying to treat that I added some ladybugs in my veg. tent for some peace of mind. I’m going to try to be preventative from here on. The ladies don’t like the 24/7, but they can be found hiding out in the corners and under leaves. Now I need to maintain until my flower tent is all cleared out.

Day 61 for FFT8. Continued warm temperatures, *generally* pest free thanks to lady bugs. I turned total annihilation and preventative and sprayed with Safer’s potassium based insecticide soap, I read this is also beneficially absorbed. Things look good I think, finally!

Day 66 for FFT8. Things are looking good so its time to engage flower. My extra preventive treatment is delayed, so I went again with the Safer’s Insecticide Soap. I also cleaned out the flower tent. I’m switching the HPS to come on at night time, I expect minimal benefits because my tent is in my basement. Last shot is the group in the new tent with my flash on.

Day 73 for FFT8. One week of flowering complete, eight weeks to go. Of FFT6 through FFT11, which I have on the go at the moment, this is my favourite in terms of leaf shape. Love the fingers. I did eventually get my order and did a light treatment with neem oil, mixing with the potassium soap and water. This is preventative and only sprayed a thin layer on the underside. Immediately after the weekend last week I mixed a compost tea which steeped overnight. I took 2 cups blood and bone meal, 2 cups of alfalfa meal compost, 2 cups worm castings, one cup Myke Flower mycorrhizae, 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses, and mixed it all with 20 liters of water. I pulsed it with a concrete mixer/drill periodically all day and left it overnight. The next day I diluted and watered, aiming for 10:1 water to tea. This was a general veg. mix and perhaps was a bit strong based on the new leaf and colour, but thats okay I’ve already given water as the pots dry out fast. My lighting is a 600 Watt Vivosun HPS setup. Throw some likes over to BudXs and Hellishjam as they encourage me and mentally ‘get me on my feet.’

Day 80 for FFT8. Two weeks of flowering complete, seven weeks to go. It seems like a long time compared to some of the other testers haha. This plant is unlike 6 through 11, and is my favourite in terms of leaf structure and uniqueness. It is the shortest of this bunch. I have given water and so it will be more food soon. Before the last irrigation I fed 0-10-10 Alaska Morbloom, with a popsicle stick dip of blackstrap molasses and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag).

Day 87 for FFT8. Three weeks of flowering complete, six weeks of flowering remain. My love affair with the leaf structure is quickly ending as its just much stouter and smaller than this batch of testers, and it will take the longest on top of that. Jeepers. We shall see. I fed 0-50-30 Fox Farms Beastie Bloomz with a popsicle stick dip of blackstrap molasses and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). I’ve irrigated with water since then and now it will be ready for food again. I treated yet again for mites, not convinced everything is clean and I know better now. I sprayed potassium soap with neem oil. I’ll be cutting this off now that the buds are popping. I replaced my thermometer which was clearly broken. On top of that, we’ve been experiencing a bad heat wave that has my basement at higher than room temperature, let alone the tents.

Day 96 for FFT8, number eight of the fast flowering photoperiod testers from Fastbuds. Four weeks of flowering complete, five weeks to go. As a majority sativa, its clearly going to take longer than its neighbors. Still, nothing huge yet. Buds still developing and growing. I’m able to alternate between feedings and water often. Food is still 0-50-30 Fox Farms Beastie Bloomz, and I add a popsicle stick dip of blackstrap molasses, and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). Patience, I guess, with this one.

Day 103 for the eighth of the FastBuds photoperiod testers, FFT8. Five weeks of flowering complete, four weeks to go. Feedings are still regular alternating water and 0-50-30 Fox Farms Beastie Bloomz with blackstrap molasses and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). I’m not so sure about this one, not much of a crown bud five weeks in, and still leafy. There is time left and so with the ruderalis genes maybe it will have a huge spurt.

Day 110 for FFT8, the eighth fast flower. Six weeks of flowering complete, three weeks to go. Starting to come along now, you can see how sativa the eighth is. Taking a long time, very thin. Still three weeks left! I won’t be giving anymore Beastie Bloomz, but it will get one more feeding or so, Alaska Morbloom with a popsicle stick dip of blackstrap molasses and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). Then it will be water.

Day 117 for FFT8. Seven weeks of flowering complete, two weeks to go. Last feeding today, 0-10-10 Alaska Morbloom, blackstrap molasses, and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). I have moved the last of the generation outside to finish up and collect frost. I am surprised by this one, it is truly sativa. Still, not bulky. Tons of white pistils still emerging. I don’t expect much but lets see where we are at in two more weeks.

Day 124 for the sativa heavy FFT8. I can see I’d be advised to go an extra week at least so I’m going to treat this as two weeks to go. I actually then decided to give one last dilute feeding of 0-10–10 Alaska Morbloom with blackstrap molasses and Plant Prod MJ Spike (CalMag). Flush will be upcoming soon. Each morning is getting colder and colder which should help finish things out.

Day 131 for FFT8. This is the FastBuds projected harvest time (nine weeks) but I recognize their listing it as sativa, and my recent building personal stock, I want to go one more week of flushing and finishing up before harvest. No rush. The nights are getting cold so there should be continuous trichome development. Not much in terms of strong smell, or any specific aroma. Just continuing with water.

Day 136 for FFT8. This is more then enough as I’m past FastBuds projected time. I dunno, I just didn’t grow it that well. Not much plump though it did somewhat progress outside and I got leaf fade over time. I have regularly flushed and things are ready to go. Harvest will likely come soon if not tonight.

The standard ending for my grows: try to time the night cycle with harvest the best I can, hopefully a nice dry night, and then a mild two step bud wash before hanging to dry. 1) trim and then dunk the bud into a container of lemon juice concentrate, baking soda, and water. 2) rinse the bud off with just plain water and then hang as normal.