First Time Growing Anything - OG Kush

Introduction - Week 08 Summary - Another week of stunted growth and disappointment.. Great. A bit of root growth but recovery was overall slow (if any at all)... Things just kept getting worse. So midway through the week I planted yet another seed in a rockwool cube.. Even removed some of the dying bottom leaves too, but that didn't help. At the end of the week I received a watt meter. Dimmed the light to the lowest setting to prevent any future seedling light burn. Also decided to skip on the reservoir change this week since it'd just be a waste of nutrients (which are getting noticeably lower now).. Damn it... Well this new seed will be my last attempt at this strain for now (may order more seeds later). If this fails, then going to have to end this grow log and call the mission a failure (but a learning experience none the less). Keep in mind that I went straight to hydro. Before this, I have never grown anything. Not outdoors nor in coco or soil. This is literally my first attempt at growing anything so I guess failure was pretty much inevitable.. As much as I want to succeed, I also understand that DWC is meant for experienced growers and not really recommended for complete and utter newbs like myself. And hey, even if I do fail at this journal, I still have two more feminized OG strains from the same seed bank (purchased the OG 3-pack from ILGM). So would then start a new grow diary using one of those (either Skywalker OG or Fire OG). Plus have feminized seeds from Seedsman too (Amherst Sour Diesel, two different kinds of OG Kush, and White Widow) which I can also consider for the next run. With all this being said, still not giving up on this run of OG Kush! [START OF WEEK 08] Day 01 - Monday - 09/21/20 - Total Days: 050 ----------------------------------- - [0930]: Oh no! What the... Really yellowing now. --- Okay so maybe it's not nutrient burn/toxicity? --- Could it be a deficiency? --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was 6.7 --- PPMs were at 541 --- PH'd down to 5.2 --- New PPMs were at 563 --- Top fed about 10mL outside the bucket before placing her back in. - [0945]: Okay so this is freaking me out. What am I doing wrong? --- I could be experiencing a deficiency and have been making it worse by cutting the nutrients? --- Going to add more CalMag along with beneficial bacteria/enzymes to solution to help. I think. --- Added 1mL of CaliMagic --- Added 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- Added 1mL of Sensizym --- Added 2mL of Hydroguard --- PH was at 5.3 --- PPMs was at 590 --- Top fed again about 10mL --- Feel better. Please. - [2100]: Okay so looking really bad now. Damn it.. --- After researching a bit more, I now really think I've been wrongfully diagnosing the situation. I am now pretty sure she is suffering from a deficiency. More specifically, a nitrogen deficiency. --- Going to test this theory by adding more CaliMagic. This will increase the PPMs, but that should be okay. If she has been suffering a deficiency and not a burn, then the higher PPMs should be okay. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 6.0 --- PPMs were at 593 --- Hmm. One of the air stones was not bubbling. I thought it was clogged, but the bucket was sitting on the airline (Damn it Ensign). Fixed the issue, but there are some slight signs of slime again. Adding a bit more Hydroguard to make sure it doesn't get worse. --- Added 2mL of Hydroguard --- Added 2mL of CaliMagic --- Checked the bucket solution again. --- PH stayed the same at 5.8 --- New PPMs were at 731 --- Top fed about 20mL before placing her back into the bucket. --- So PPMs are higher but the amount of available calcium, magnesium, and more importantly, nitrogen, has been increased as well. --- I really hope she shows some sign of recovery. Any sign that I'm doing something right.. This whole grow has been one challenge after another... --- All I can do now is hope for the best. Day 02 - Tuesday - 09/22/20 - Total Days: 051 ----------------------------------- - [0645]: Damn... --- Unfortunately I think this seedling is toast. There is no root growth. I've referenced DWC grows at similar stages of development and by now there should be more roots. --- I think the week 2 nutrient strength toasted the root zone.. Damn.. --- Going to try again... Okay! --- But this time not going to tray feed as long and will try to transplant as soon as possible. --- I will use the same week 1 nutrient strength that was working well plus a bit of silica. Then have her grow for a week or two at this level before even considering any kind of increase. --- Also will try not to damage early leaf growth... (Damn it) --- If I start now, I hopefully can get a transplant by the end of the week. --- Not going to remove the current seedling until the new one pops. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 6.2 --- PPMs were at 734 --- PH'd down to 5.5 --- New PPMs were at 757 --- Flushed the hydroton with a half gallon of distilled water. Then top fed 10mL of the bucket solution. --- Okay down to 2 more seeds.. --- One is a bit damaged, so I'll go with the healthier looking one (the darker one). - [0730]: Filled a measuring cup with 500mL of distilled water --- Added 1 drop of CaliMagic --- PH'd the solution down to 5.1 --- PPMs were at 48 --- Soaked the rockwool cube --- Cleaned and prepped the tray/dome. - [0800]: Checked the rockwool cube solution. --- PH was at 5.4 --- PPMs were at 60 --- Removed the cube from the solution making sure not to squeeze or shake any water out. --- Flipped the cube upside down and planted the new seed just above the surface. --- Sprayed both the tray and dome with distilled water. --- Temperature was at 78 °F - [2000]: Checked the bucket solution. No slime so that's good. --- PH was at 5.6 --- PPMs were at 734 --- Top fed 10mL of the solution. --- Dome and tray were mostly dried. Sprayed both with more distilled water. Day 03 - Wednesday - 09/23/20 - Total Days: 052 ----------------------------------- - [0930]: Leaves are yellowing pretty badly. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.8 --- PPMs were at 761 --- Top fed about 10mL before placing her back into the bucket --- Both the dome and tray were dry. Sprayed both with straight distilled water. - [2215]: Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 6.0 --- PPMs were at 732 --- PH'd down to 5.6 --- New PPMs were at 756 --- Mixed up some flushing water. --- Filled a measuring cup with 400mL of distilled water --- Added 1 drop of B-52 --- Added 1 drop of Hydroguard --- Added 1 drop of Voodoo Juice --- Flushed the top of the hydroton with the entire solution before placing her back into the bucket. - [+0100]: Okay so the bottom leaves were freaking me out. They were more than 75% yellowing and crisp. So decide to trim them off. --- Sterilized a pair of hand trimmers with isopropyl alcohol. --- Then very carefully clipped the leaves at the base. I ended up clipping her bottom 4 leaves. I was a bit surprised to see that the cotyledons were still green and healthy looking. --- Now she looks smaller, but taller. Day 04 - Thursday - 09/24/20 - Total Days: 053 ----------------------------------- - [0945]: Nice! Without the dying bottom growth, she's at least looking better. --- I just hope that her remaining leaves don't get worse. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.8 --- PPMs were at 781 --- Both the dome and tray were dry. Sprayed both with fresh distilled water. - [2215]: Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 6.0 --- PPMs were at 739 --- PH'd down to 5.4 --- New PPMs were at 768 --- Mixed up a stronger flushing solution with a bit of CalMag. --- Filled a measuring cup with 500mL of distilled water --- Added 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- Added 1mL of Hydroguard --- Added 1mL of Sensizym --- Added 10 drops of CaliMagic --- PPMs were at 652 --- PH was at 5.6 --- Flushed the top of the hydroton with the entire solution before placing her back into the bucket. Day 05 - Friday - 09/25/20 - Total Days: 054 ----------------------------------- - [0945]: Looking a bit better. But leaves are still yellowing from the tips. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.5 --- PPMs were at 730 --- Did not adjust anything. No top feed. --- The tray/dome were dry. --- Mixed up some Voodoo spray water. --- Filled a measuring cup with 50mL of distilled water --- 2 drops of Voodoo Juice --- 2 drops of Hydroguard --- Did not check PPMs but were probably pretty low. --- PH'd down to 5.3 --- Sprayed both the dome and tray. --- Also foliar sprayed the seeding in the bucket along with the top of the hydroton. - [2145]: Looking about the same. If not, a bit more yellowing on the leaves. --- Dome and tray was dry. Sprayed both with the Voodoo water. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.8 --- PPMs were at 742 --- Added 1mL of CaliMagic --- PPMs went up to 837 --- PH dropped to 5.7 --- Top fed about 10mL before placing her back into the bucket. Day 06 - Saturday - 09/26/20 - Total Days: 055 ----------------------------------- - [0800]: Yep looking pretty stunted now. --- Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.7 --- PPMs were at 832 --- Did not adjust anything. --- Sprayed dome and tray with more Voodoo water (everything was dry already). - [2000]: Still no growth progress.. --- At this point, I probably won't be doing a reservoir change this week and will just wait until the new seedling sprouts. If she sprouts.. --- Mixed up more Voodoo water to flush the roots. --- Filled a measuring cup with 500mL of distilled water --- Added 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- Added 1mL of Hydroguard --- Added 1mL of Sensizym --- Then I used the entire solution to flush the hydroton in the basket. --- Mixed up more Voodoo spray water for the dome and tray. --- Filled a measuring cup with 50mL of distilled water --- Added 2 drops of Voodoo Juice --- Added 2 drops of Hydroguard --- Added 2 drops of Sensizym --- Then I poured the solution into a spray bottle and sprayed both the tray and dome. - [+0100]: Dome and tray were partially almost dry. Re-sprayed both again. Day 07 - Sunday - 09/27/20 - Total Days: 056 ----------------------------------- - [0900]: Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 5.7 --- PPMs were at 832 --- Added distilled water to drop the PPMs. --- PH went up to 5.8 --- PPMs dropped to 768 --- Tray and dome were dry. Sprayed both with more Voodoo water. --- Going to end the current seedling probably today or tomorrow anyways.. - [1200]: Nice! Okay so ordered and received a wall outlet watt meter! --- Going to be able to dim the light down tonight. --- Thus the new seedling will be growing under a less intense light. This will hopefully eliminate the need for the hanging screen shader. I'll keep the shader on for now because the tray and dome are resting on it, but I'll remove it after germination. --- Couldn't find a lot of information on specific dimmer settings for the Mars Hydro TSW2000 so I'll have to wing it. Probably will take readings at both the maximum and minimum settings. Then I'll dim the light accordingly making further adjustments as needed. --- I did find light schedules and hanging height recommendations on the Mars Hydro's site, but without any specific dimmer settings. Going to have to assume the heights are based on factory settings: --- During seedling: --- schedule: 18/6 or 20/4 --- hanging distance: above 30'' --- During veg: --- schedule: 18/6 or 20/4 --- hanging distance: 18~24'' above canopy --- During flowering: --- schedule: 12/12 --- hanging distance: 12~18'' above canopy --- The confusing thing is that I'm already hanging the light 53" inches away from the top of the bucket (this is the highest I can raise the light in the tent and is already way more than 30") so I should already be at a safe enough distance/intensity. I haven't adjusted the dimmers so everything should be at the default light intensity. --- I think I'm going to leave the light height where it's at and just dim the intensity down. - [1615]: Time to dim things down a bit! --- Plugged in the watt meter and cranked up the each side to the max (there's a controller for each side of the light).I didn't have to crank them much, but had to use a screw driver, and had to go very slow because the screw doesn't stop at 100% and continuously loops from the lowest to the brightest (so as you increase the brightness, once it reaches 100%, a little bit more will drop it back down to the lowest setting). --- The meter was at 364.9W --- I then lowered both sides to the lowest setting --- The meter dropped to 102.4W --- I unplugged one side of the light and the meter read 50.6 (so about 51W for each side). --- I decided to leave it at this low setting for now. --- Tent temperatures already seem to be lower at this new setting. Plus the lower intensity is way easier on the eyes. Now I hope this setting is not too low. - [1645]: The dome and tray were not completely dry, but sprayed both with more Voodoo water. - [2130]: Checked the bucket solution. --- PH was at 6.0 --- PPMs were at 739 --- PH'd down to 5.4 --- PPMs went up to 768 --- Did not top feed. [END OF WEEK 08]