DWC - ILGM - Fire OG

Introduction - Week 07 Summary - As far as growing, this week was a bit uneventful. Started the week with one cube and ended the week with 3 cubes. I'm still trying to get one of them to sprout.. I'm not sure if these seeds are duds (or old?), or it's my lack of experience (most likely the latter), but I can't seem to get anything to germinate. The first cube was started at the end of last week, but has yet to sprout. Midway through this week, I planted a second seed. Throughout this week, I tried to keep temps at what I normally had them at (around the 80s) but later found that I may have been trying to germinate my cubes at temps that are a too high. On ILGM's website, they stated that the ideal temps are 68-72°F. So I adjust my tent conditions to try to keep temps around that level. On previous attempts, I've germinated at higher temps (80-85°F), but at this point, I just want one to sprout so going to give the lower temps a try. At the end of the week, I planted a third seed. I also switched my light to an 18/6 cycle. Maybe the added darkness will help in germination. Days are getting colder so this is the first time I'm using a heat mat to help control temperatures. I don't have the thermostat for the heating mat so been dissipating the heat to try and keep the temps at a reasonable level. Maybe this could also be why nothing is germinating. On the positive side, I contacted Advanced Nutrients via email and received a lot of useful information on feeding and I hope to implement what I've learned as soon as I can get a seed to sprout. I'm going to hold off on running a sterile reservoir and will try AN's recommend feeding regiment. Not going to check PPMs anymore and will focus only on PH at a wider range (4.0-8.0). To not interfere with the 'PH perfect' technology, I won't be adjusting PH anymore. As for feeding, I'll be using the recommend feeding schedule via AN's online nutrient calculator (I already have an approved week one nutrient recipe too which is great). Not sure if this will work, but if it does, then feeding will be a lot simpler. I've also been looking into growing in coco coir. Advanced Nutrients assured me that all of their products are fully compatible with coco. Also from what I've researched, once the medium is properly cleaned and buffered with CalMag, growing in coco is similar to DWC. Instead of reservoir changes every week, I'll be hand watering nutrient solution on a daily bases. Also, for the most part, I already have everything I need and would only need a coco brick, a bag of perlite, and a few fabric pots. I only have one more seed for this strain, but I may try coco for the next journal (Skywalker OG by ILGM). Otherwise I may try growing in coco for the strain afterwards (which would most likely be Sour Diesel from Humboldt Seeds or OG Kush from Phoenix Seeds). I'm still researching, so I'll most likely wait to try coco, but I'm glad it's viable alternative to what I've been doing. The last strain I tried to grow (OG Kush by ILGM), only 2 out of the 5 seeds sprouted (2 did not germinate and the 5th one was cracked and damaged). This time my germination rate seems to be worse. Only 1 out of 4 seeds has germinated (still haven't planted the 5th seed yet). Until recently, with all these seeds failing to pop, an alternative to seeds I didn't consider are clones from cannabis nurseries. I found a few locally and they seem to offer deliveries and in store pickups! If none of these 3 pop by the end of the week, I may reach out to one of them and get a clone or teen. If so, then I'll end this diary as another failure and start a new one with a freshly rooted clone or (depending on price) a teen that's been vegging for a few weeks. This way I can skip the germination process all together. Seems like a good way to make up for a bit of lost time and may be a viable way to get to my first harvest. Also this way I can save the seeds I still have and try can again later when I have more experience. As for now, I'm still hoping for a sprout and will germinate for another week. Just have to keep trying. [START OF WEEK 07] Day 01 - Monday - 11/16/20 - Total Days: 045 ----------------------------------- - [0945]: Good morning! --- Room temps are holding steady at around 75°F --- A bit cold but dome temps are looking solid at 81°F --- There doesn't seem to be a need to water anything. Neither the tray nor dome is dry so going to leave everything alone again. --- I'll check again tonight. - [2130]: Looking good! --- The dome is still wet and temps inside the dome are still holding at ~81°F so great! --- It's nice that I haven't need to add any since she was planted. --- Hoping that this method works. If she doesn't sprout by mid week, then I'll start another seed using the way I usually do and not use the heat mat. --- But everything is looking good so going to leave everything alone for now. Day 02 - Tuesday - 11/17/20 - Total Days: 046 ----------------------------------- - [1015]: Checked the dome and everything looks the same. --- Dome temps were at 83°F at 99% RH. --- I'm a bit concerned that this seed is a dud. --- I'll check again tonight. - [2115]:Checked the cube and the tray and dome were almost dry. --- The cube still looks the same. --- I added some distilled water into the tray. --- Temps in the dome were a bit high at 85°F --- I'd prefer them to be around the high 70s to low 80s. --- I think the heat mat is making the dome too warm. So I unplugged and removed it. --- Instead I raised the tent temperature to 85°F and will try to germinate using the room to control the overall temp. This has worked before and should keep the dome temps from getting too high. --- Since the days are getting cooler, to hopefully help keep the tent temps a bit higher, I also turned the oscillating fan off. --- Without the heating mat, the dome temps usually are a few degrees cooler than the outside temperature so I expect it to drop to the low 80s. --- Of course now with the higher tent temperatures, I'll probably need to spray the dome more often. --- I really hope I don't need to, but if she doesn't sprout by Thursday night, I'll plant a new seed. --- Going to still hope that she'll sprout soon. --- I'll check again tomorrow. Day 03 - Wednesday - 11/18/20 - Total Days: 047 ----------------------------------- - [0930]: Checked the cube and still no change. --- I did not need to spray the dome again. --- Dome temps were at 76°F at 99% RH. --- A bit cold, but going to leave it alone. --- Going to check on her tonight. - [2215]: Checked on the cube again. --- Nothing has changed, I think she may be a dud. --- Dome temps were at 80°F at 99% RH. --- If there is no sign of sprouting by tomorrow night, going to plant a second cube. --- On a more positive note.. --- Throughout the week, I've been in contact (via email) with AN's customer support team and learned quite a bit about their nutrient line. --- So going to yet again, change the way I feed. --- Apparently, I've been feeding my girls all wrong. --- I sent a few questions about the way I've been feeding during veg and they responded back with a lot of useful information. --- "Our pH Perfect base nutrients will contain enough cal/mag for your needs and you will not need to buffer your water with cal/mag first." --- "When using our pH perfect line of nutrients there tend to be many other components besides dissolved fertilizer in the water. (eg. pH buffers, humic and fulvic acid, amino acids etc…)" --- "Because of this an electrical conductivity (EC, TDS, PPM) reading can be difficult for the grower to properly ascertain." --- "Instead of reading the PPM/EC we recommend following our nutrient calculator, starting off at 1/4 strength of your base nutrient for small clones and seedlings, gradually working your way to full strength as the plant matures over a period of 3-4 weeks." --- "The pH Perfect technology not only works to adjust your nutrient mix pH but also makes the nutrition available at a wide range of uptake from pH 4.0-8.0; you should not require further adjustment after mixing. If you find you are drifting extremely to either 4.0 or 8.0 please reach out to us and we can address any underlying issues." --- "Make sure your reservoir is changed weekly, topped up at 50% strength of the shown amounts in the Nutrient Calculator in between changes." --- "Week one of the vegetative phase schedule begins when a seedling has it's second set of two leaves or a clone/cutting has it's second set of new growth leaves." --- I later asked a few more questions about PH levels, DWC transplanting, and pre-veg feeding and they helpfully responded back with more useful info. --- "It is worth checking pH once in a while to ensure everything is ticking along well and if the pH does begin to sway to one extreme or the other it is usually a sign of an underlying issue that we should address. However, our pH Perfect technology takes a lot of the work out of growing! If you do encounter any pH swings or have other questions reach out to us at that point in time." --- "You do not have to wait until the second set of true leaves form before transplanting, however, you do have to wait until they have appeared to begin feeding." --- "Before that point straight distilled water is fine. The seed itself will have enough within itself to get to it's second set of leaves." --- This is a lot of useful information which is going to change few things I feed my next girl. --- First, I'm cutting CaliMagic from my feeding regiment. --- I'm also going to continue to use beneficial bacteria (holding off on using UC roots and will continue to use Hydroguard). --- Next, as per AN's instructions, I'm going to ignore PPM levels. I'm not even going to check them. But I'll continue to monitor PH levels daily. This one is going to be a bit difficult for me, but I'll give it a try. --- Also, I will no longer use any form of PH up or down and will have a larger PH range (4.0-8.0 instead of 5.5-6.3). If the PH drifts close to either extreme, I'll dump the res and remix a new batch of nutes (I'll also contact AN's support team). Again, this one is going to be a bit of a challenge to do. --- Finally, I'm going with the instructions on AN's online calculator for feeding dosages. --- I actually sent my week one feeding dosages and got approval from AN's support team. --- So for week one of veg, for 3 gallons of water (11 liters), I'll be using: --- 22mL of Rhino Skin --- 11mL of Sensi Grow A --- 11mL of Sensi Grow B --- 22mL of B-52 --- 22mL of Voodoo Juice --- 4mL of Hydroguard --- Just for my own curiosity, after mixing this brew, I'm going to check the PPMs, but will not alter the ratios throughout the week. --- As for Rhino Skin, I asked about adding it for week one of veg and AN's support team helpfully responded back. --- "Although Rhino Skin is not shown on the vegetative phase schedule it can be used in the first three weeks at a rate of 2 mL / L given to the plants." --- Also, whenever I add distilled water to top off the res, I'll be mixing in half of the recommend dosage for that week. --- So if I need to add more water during week one, I'll mix a liter of distilled water with: --- 1mL of Rhino Skin --- 0.5mL of Sensi Grow A --- 0.5mL of Sensi Grow B --- 1mL of B-52 --- 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- 1mL of Hydroguard --- I would then use this solution to top off the res. --- I will continue to transplant as soon as a tap root pokes out the bottom of the cube. --- As for pre-veg feeding, I'm only going to feed her straight distilled water (PH adjusted to 5.5-5.8). --- To prevent pythium (root rot) and depending on her root development, I may also add Voodoo Juice and Hydroguard during pre-veg. But no grow nutrients. --- Only after her second set of true leaves form, I'll start the week one nutrient feeding. --- A lot of changes, but I'm hopeful again and can't wait to give this a go! --- Now I just need her to sprout! --- I'll check the cube again tomorrow. Day 04 - Thursday - 11/19/20 - Total Days: 048 ----------------------------------- - [0915]: Checked on the cube. --- Tent temps feel colder than I'd like at 75°F --- As expected, the cube looks the same.. --- I think the erratic temps throughout the week did not help with the germination process.. That or she's a dud. --- Dome temps were at 75°F at 99% RH. --- There is still a bit of water in the dome so not going to do anything. --- I'll clean the tray and start another seed tonight.. - [1145]: Sprayed the dome with more water. --- Because days are getting cooler, the tent temps are staying a bit cooler than I'd like for germination (current temp is 75°F). --- Even though my exhaust fan temps are set to 85°F, the tent itself is not getting that hot. This wasn't an issue during the warmer days a month or so ago. But days are now getting considerably cooler. --- Plus the cube itself is feeling a bit cold which can't be good. --- I need more heat. --- I could have tried to lower the light or increased the wattage. --- But instead I decided to add the heat mat back. --- But this time, to hopefully dissipate the heat better, I used the heat mat's box along with some cardboard and foam. --- This basically made an air gap between the tray and the heat mat. --- This extra air gap provided by the box and foam, along with the cooler tent temps, will hopefully keep the dome temperature between 75-85°F (ideally at 80°F). --- I wish I had the thermostat for the heat mat, but since I don't, going to try again with dissipating the heat. --- Since there's a bit of down time, I decided to clean the oscillating fan. It was getting a bit dusty, so cleaned and re-greased to the motor with a bit of 3-in-1 oil. --- Afterwards, I decided to use the oscillating fan again. --- This will hopefully help to cool the underside of the table that the heat mat is resting on. --- I'll check later to see what dome temps stabilize at. --- Regardless, I'll be planting yet another seed later on today. - [1630]: Okay time to add another cube to the dome! --- Filled a measuring cup with a cup of water. --- Added 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- PH'd the solution down to 5.4 --- Dropped in a rockwool cube to soak for a bit. - [1700]: Okay! time to plant a new seed! --- Checked the rockwool water and the PH was at 6.0 --- PH'd the water down to 5.0 before removing the cube from the water. --- I did not shake any water out. --- I flipped the cube upside down and placed it in the tray to the right of the first cube. --- I made a small shallow hole in the center. - [1710]: I dropped the new seed in and pinched it closed. --- Tray temps looked good at around 80°F with 69% RH. --- I had the dome off for a bit while planting the new seed, but once the dome is back on, I expect the relative humidity to eventually max out again at 99%. --- I added a bit of the rockwool water (which has a bit of Voodoo Juice) to the tray and poured the rest into a spray bottle. I sprayed the dome with the same solution and covered the tray. --- To allow for better air flow, I made sure that the air vents were all the way open. --- Now there are two cubes! The first one to sprout and has roots poking through the bottom will be transplanted into the bucket. --- The cube on the left has been germinating for about 5 days and I think has suffered due to unstable room and dome temps. --- My previous germinations were in warmer conditions, But I think I've dialed it in for these colder days. --- I'm hopeful for the one on the right. --- Will check temps and RH later tonight. - [2115]: Checked up on the cubes. --- Tent temps are now at around 79°F. --- Dome temps were at 82°F at 99% RH. --- Conditions within the dome look and feel great! Humid and warm. --- Also the tent feels nice and warm too which is good. --- The extra air gap between the heat mat and tray seems to be dissipating the heat a lot better than just using layers of cardboard. --- Plus the oscillating fan is both cooling the table while dissipating the heating into the tent, thus increasing the overall tent temperature. --- I'm liking these new tent conditions so adjusted the exhaust fan and dropped it from, 85°F to 80°F --- I'll check in the morning to see if the temperatures hold steady overnight. Day 05 - Friday - 11/20/20 - Total Days: 049 ----------------------------------- - [0945]: Good morning! --- Cold morning, but everything in the tent is nice and warm. --- Tent temps are at 74°F --- Dome temps were at 78°F at 99% RH --- The dome was dry, so sprayed it again with more of the Voodoo water. --- I'll check again tonight. - [2115]: Checked on the cube. --- Tray and dome were pretty dry. --- Tent temps were at 79°F --- Dome temps were at 82°F at 72% RH. --- I added more Voodoo water to the tray and sprayed the dome. --- I'll check again in the morning. --- Grow well little ones! Day 06 - Saturday - 11/21/20 - Total Days: 050 ----------------------------------- - [0745]: Checked on the cubes. --- Tent temps were at 74°F --- Dome temps were at 77°F at 80% RH --- Sprayed the dome again with more Voodoo water. -- Going to leave everything alone and check again tonight. - [1915]: Did a bit of research on ideal temperatures to germinate in rockwool and I think I've been setting temps a bit too high. I found that the ideal temperature is 68-72°F (ILGM's site). --- In the past, I've germinated at higher temps (80-85°F), but I guess this could explain the low germination rate I've been recently experiencing.. --- I checked on the cubes. Still no visible change. --- Tent temps were at 79°F --- Dome temps were at 83°F at 71% RH --- I re-sprayed the dome with more Voodoo water. --- I also sprayed the cubes a bit to cool them down. - [0800]: I increased the gap even more from the heat mat to the tray with two pieces of foam. --- I also lowered the tent temps down to 72°F --- Okay so if neither cube pops, by tomorrow night, I'm going to plant yet another one.. Damnit Ensign. --- Going to try to maintain this new temperature range of 68-72°F with 75-80°F as the maximum. --- I only have two more seeds of this strain and have had one sprout. Not a good germination rate. Day 07 - Sunday - 11/22/20 - Total Days: 051 ----------------------------------- - [1045]: Checked on the cubes. --- Tent temps are at 72°F --- Dome temps were at 74°F at 87% RH --- The dome was dry, so sprayed it again with more of the Voodoo water. --- Temps seem to be holding steady at the new settings. --- I'll check again tonight and will most likely plant another seed as well. - [1215]: To save on electricity a bit, and to see if it even makes a difference on temperatures, I tuned the light off and set it to 18/6 (so lights off between 10am-4pm). --- I'll plant another seed tonight. - [1615]: Checked on the cubes and still no sprouting.. --- Tent temps are at 72°F --- Dome temps were at 75°F at 99% RH - [1620]: Time to add yet another cube to the dome. --- Filled a measuring cup with a cup of water. --- Added 1mL of Voodoo Juice --- PH'd the solution down to 5.2 --- Dropped in a rockwool cube to soak for a bit. - [1630]: Okay! time to plant a new seed! --- Checked the rockwool water and the PH was at 5.5 --- PH'd the water down a bit to 5.2 before removing the cube from the water. --- I did not shake any water out. --- I flipped the cube upside down and placed it in the tray to the far right of the first two cubes. --- I made a small shallow hole in the center. - [1635]: I dropped the new seed in and pinched it closed. --- Tray temps looked steady at around 72°F with 83% RH (this should go back up to 99% once the dome is back on). --- Now there are 3! --- The one on the far left has been in her cube for 8 days. I don't think she's going to sprout, but have no reason to remove her. --- The middle one has been in the cube for 3 days. Not too sure on this one. --- I really do hope that one of these 3 sprout soon. --- The cooler germination temps along with the extra hours of darkness, should hopefully help. --- Hmm. Not sure on this one, but what I originally thought was a product number on the bag of seeds, could be a date that the seeds were bagged? If the number on the bag of seeds is indeed a bin date (in my case, 03-03-07), then maybe these seeds are too just too old? --- Anyways, I'll check on the girls tomorrow morning to see if anything has changed. [END OF WEEK 07]