Grow #1

July 10, 2020 Day 36: I’ve been waiting for this day. I Installed the trellis and took the opportunity to test the 4 new 3000K T5HO tubes I had delivered yesterday. I also ordered 4 AgroMax Pure Bloom tubes that will be delivered next week. Probably flipping to flower phase in three weeks, that should leave plenty of time to veg out and fill the trellis. Woohoo! We’re ScrOGgin’, baby! Day 37: Hot, 98°F outside. I’m glad the lights are running on a nighttime schedule. Day 38: Hot again. Although, I think I’ve finally figured out the airflow to keep the temperature in the grow chamber from getting too high. Day whatever: It’s just . . . fucking . . . COVID-19. . . quarantine . . . Groundhog Day. Day 40: The scrog is filling out, also lots of new growth. Day 41: Every day I drain, water/feed at wake up time—that goes for me as well as the plants. Both plants in the 5 gallon buckets are consistently drinking one liter per day. Once a week I flood each bucket to the top of the media with approximately one gallon of water while the spigots are closed, then an hour later I drain all but what remains in the reservoir. Not only does it provide a thorough flushing, but also allows all of the roots and media to get well hydrated. I don’t think the roots will drown or rot from one hour of being completely under water. I don’t know of anyone using spigots. Everything I’ve read while researching Hempy buckets, the drainage hole is left open. With the reservoir level being right at the bottom of the open hole, it seems that the slightest jostling of the bucket would cause a spill. I’m sure we can all agree that spillage is certainly undesirable in any indoor grow. I’m a home-brewer, so when I decided to do Hempy buckets, I naturally thought to use spigots for the convenience and I already had them on hand. With the spigots I have had zero spillage. Spigots allow me to hold the liquid, move the buckets to other locations, drain liquid via the drain tube into the drain pan and never spill a drop. Day 42: Yesterday there were four new AgroMax Pure Bloom T5HO tubes delivered. I tested them and one burned out in five seconds. I hope to get a replacement soon. The plan is to make the flip to flower in two weeks.