Growing the Dream - Silverman Farms

First week of my first grow! Each week I will have updates, comments about what I did and what I think I could have done differently, etc. I welcome any and all feedback, questions, comments or laughs at my expense! I have listed a bunch of the core components of the grow below. Sprouted the seedlings using the paper towel method. Placed the seedlings in the RapidRooters (which had been soaked in PH balanced water and then squeezed to remove excess moisture) and turned on the light when I started to see the tops of the seedlings. I initially placed the light about 36" from the seedlings and they looked like they were stretching so turned down the light further and placed it closer to the plants. In my excitement, I should have let them grow longer in the Rapid Rooters or better yet put them in Solo cups with some coco around it to allow additional growth before transplant. In any event, I soaked my Coco and Perlite mixture in a light nutrient solution 24 hours before transplant and moved the seedlings into their final home on day 5 (see final two pics). Setup: Seeds: ILGM Blue Dream (sativa dominant hybrid) & California Dream (indica dominant hybrid) Growing Medium: Mother Earth Coco w Perlite (70/30 PH balanced) Tent: Secret Jardin DS 120 Lights: 2 x CF Grow Cree COB 200W LED Exhaust Fan: TerraBloom ECMF 150 w Programmable Thermostat Internal Fans: 2 x Holes 12" Blizzard Fan Hydro: AutoPot Easy2Grow 6 Pot System w AirDomes Air Pump: General Hydroponics Dual Diaphragm Air Pump Smart Sensor for Humidity: Aqara Homekit Hub w/ Thermometer & Hydrometer Sensor & Smart Plugs Humidifier: Homech Cool Mist Humidifier Dehumidifier: GE 30 Pint Dehumidifier Filter: AC Infinity 6" Carbon Filter

Started feeding the ladies this week, probably premature in hindsight. I paired back the GH recommendations by about 50%, but still think with the Rapid Rooters I could have waited till the third week to feed. I would be interested to see what people have to say about starting nutrients in an autopot style setup where they are going from seed and transplanting. I top-fed until the 3rd week as the roots were not able to access the bottom of the setup at this early stage. Really growing quickly and expanding in width very rapidly. Seemingly off to a good start!

Ladies were growing nicely, almost too wide for the their environment. Next grow I think I am going to perhaps grow 3 plants to give them a bit more space. I would welcome any input as to how to keep the plants 'contained' initially to their environment. I decided to top the Blue Dream which was growing faster than the Cali Dream (note that creating a canopy with two different strains was difficult, if not impossible for the newbie). I topped it at the 5th node. Tune in next week for the update ;) Note that I cranked up the nutrients a bit this week, probably premature again. The blue dream seemed to love it but the Cali Dream was not as happy. I did a water flush after the first feed and then everything seemed ok. The leaves were tacoing a bit which you can see in the pictures with all the plants in them. I also turned down the light a bit.

Top fed for the last time a day after topping and switched over to the the hydro system (autopot easy2grow). The plants bounced back nicely from the topping, the Blue Dream was well ahead of the Cali Dream as it was topped about 3 days before. I did notice that I was getting some curvy or wavy leaves as they were forming. You can see these in the photos of the BD. You will also note the size of the fan leaves, again, larger than I expected. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

After seeing the continued curvy growth and continued tacoing of leaves (see photos above), I decided to pair back a bit further on the nutrients for week 5. Blue Dream is outpacing the growth of the Cali Dream and it is becoming clear to me that I will need a second light for flower in order to cover both sets of plants effectively. I may have needed a second light regardless to get the light levels I desired.

The ladies are stretching like crazy!

The Blue Dream has more than doubled in size in the last 10 days ... very good i stopped vegging at 12 - 14". Continued trimming bottom leaves and new growth moderately to keep plants focused on top buds.

The stretch has been nothing short of miraculous. The Blue Dream is 2.5x the height it was in the week prior to flower and the Cali Dream is about 2x. I continue to trim dead and dying leaves that are not receiving enough light towards the bottom of the plant but this is about all in the trimming category as I don't want to stress the plant during flower. As it is my first grow, I have taken a fairly light hand in terms of trimming and avoided LST except trimming. All in all I am happy with the way the plants are progressing. The second light arrived at the beginning of the week with not a moment to spare! Much better coverage and intensity across the canopy.

It appears the stretch has finally finished late in week 4 of flower. The Blue Dream tripled in height and the California Dream doubled. Anyone out there have similar experience in terms of the magnitude of stretch? I have read about a 1.5 or 2x but not much more than that. Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Growth looks really healthy and nutrient and PH balance seems to be good. Keeping my fingers crossed I can take this over the finish line!

Flowers really starting to take shape, pistols are shooting out all over and sugar leaves are poking through as the buds expand. So much fun to watch this process take place especially after having enjoyed the flowers of this plant and not having understood the anatomy whatsoever. Changed the orientation of the two fixtures in order to better suit the two different heights of the canopy. Found that one of the Blue Dream plants looked like it was a hermie. It only has grown a couple male parts, but I immediately ripped it out of the tent and am finishing it outside. I figure I may or may not have success with it, but rather be safe than sorry with respect to the other plants in the tent. I have to imagine this was genetics as I have been very consistent with my light schedule, nutrients, ph, etc. I would welcome anyone's input as to why they thought this plant may have hermied. As an aside, it was one of the most sizable and seemingly strong plants in the tent. Undeterred, I journey on!

Buds are really starting to thicken and produce trichomes! The 'indoor 5' are doing great, again you will note that there is one taller plant in the mix this is Blue Dream. It's counterpart looked to be hermied around week 3 of flower. I may have been overly cautious but decided to put her outside rather than risk her being in the tent with the ladies. These two plants overshadowed the third Blue Dream plant which is in the forefront of the first photo on the right. Because of this, the lighting setup is not ideal, but I have the two sets of COBs hung at different heights to accommodate as best I can. 3 weeks till harvest (give or take)! I noticed a little bit of what looks like CalMag deficiency, you can see clearest on the second BD pic ... I believe the PH balance had not been creeping into the higher end of the range (6.2+) and have corrected. It appears after a few days that the issue is resolving itself. My plan is to simply feed PH balanced water to the plants for the final 5 days. Anyone have other thoughts? I am using AutoPots, so a top down flush is not possible.

Buds continue to ripen, despite consistent nutrients and corrected ph range, the biggest cola on one of the BD plants continues to show signs of cal deficiency. I am assuming I have stopped any further issues but that the plant will not be able to repair the affected leaves. Pistols are turning reddish brown. More so on the BD than the CD but the trichome progression seems in line. I would love to hear anyone’s experience with a sativa vs indica ‘readiness’ indicator. I have started monitoring the trichomes and of course will use all of the less scientific methods as well. Happy growing and G-d bless!

Another strong week of flowering. It appears the PH is in balance and while there has been some cal deficiency damage, this late into flower I am not overly concerned given my research and feedback. All in all, feeling good. I think I am about 2 - 2.5 weeks from harvest! Going to harvest progressively given that I have two strains and I am growing from seed (different phenotypes). Nutrients will begin to be paired back next week a bit and then gradually reduced until 7 days before harvest when the plants will be getting ph’d water.

Last week before initial harvest. I will be doing a progressive harvest due to the staggered maturity of the plants and it will allow a few more days for the buds just below the canopy and one of the BD plants to mature a bit more before I cut them as well. Calcium deficiency has done some damage to the larger Blue Dream plant, but hasn't progressed to such a point that there is concern since they will be cut down in at most 14 days. Trichomes are mostly cloudy on the initial harvest buds and I couldn't be more excited to begin the dry and cure! I have a climate and humidity controlled room near the tent ready for the drying and 2 gallon glass airtight jars for the cure ... feeling good, fingers crossed!

Last day before harvest! I will update once the entire harvest is complete as I will be doing it progressively allowing the lower buds to get some light before they are chopped as well. Waited until the trichomes were just about 100 milky as I am looking for peak potency.

Was able to get just over 6.5 ounces out of the 2 plants. Really suffered from CalMag deficiencies in the late flower stage, but otherwise grew well and was healthy. While not quite as dense or as potent as the Indica that I grew with her, for a daytime smoke it's hard to beat!

For my first grow, I don't think I could be more pleased with this particular strain. She tastes and smells amazing. A very heady high with a clean and enjoyable smoke. I can't wait to see what she's like in another month or two!