DeaneR's 1st Cross

VEG WEEK 5 My Base Nutrient Inputs: I will be using a powdered nutrient 5-12-25 by MasterBlend, plus Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate), and Calcium Nitrate. This is essentially the Jack's 3-2-1 method ( for those of you who are familiar with it ), except I'm using MasterBlend, a more readily available manufacturer in Canada. I mixed up two concentrated stock solutions to make a Part A and Part B (see photo above), for fast, easy mixing. The formula is 3 parts MasterBlend, 2.08 parts Calcium Nitrate, and 1 part Epsom Salt, all measured by weight. To Make Part A - Start with a 4 Liter bottle of distilled water. Remove about 2 liters and set aside. Mix in 720 grams of MasterBlend and stir until fully dissolved. Then mix in 240 grams of Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) and stir until fully dissolved. Now add back enough distilled water, that was set aside earlier, to make 4 liters of stock solution. Store in a cool, dark place. To Make Part B - Start with a 4 Liter bottle of distilled water. Remove about 2 liters and set aside. Mix in 500 grams of Calcium Nitrate and stir until fully dissolved. Now add back enough distilled water, that was set aside earlier, to make 4 liters of stock solution. Store in a cool, dark place. Part A gets mixed into the water first, followed by part B. Equal amounts of Part A and Part B are used. These stock solutions will make several hundred gallons ( depending on your dosage strength ) of mixed nutrients, inexpensively. This was a busy week getting these girl's on track. I focused on getting their environment dialed in to a VPD of 1.0kPa. They were up-potted from solo cups to 3.0 quart / 2.84 L plastic pots and watered in well as noted above. I used 100% Canna coco with diatomaceous earth mixed in and Great White sprinkled in the hole and on the root-ball. Looking at the roots, they were slightly over watered (still trying to dial back my watering😩, I'll get it right eventually, lol), but ready for transplant. 5 Days after transplant, new roots are poking out the drainage holes, and vegetative growth is going strong. On the final day of the week (Sunday) these girls were named Laverne & Shirley (damn...now I have to remember how to spell Laverne for the rest of this diary😀). They were topped in preperation for flux training (variation of Main-lining) . Both ladies were topped just below the 5th node (leaf growth pattern - node 1 single finger leaves, node 2 triples, node 3&4 five finger leaves). I leave the stem long, as I find it shrinks back and forms a strong junction point. For Laverne I pruned off the cotyledon (seed leaves) and the 1st node leaves (first true leaves) leaving her with nodes 2, 3 , and 4. I plan to flux Laverne to 12 main cola sites. For Shirley I pruned off the cotyledon (seed leaves) and the 1st and 2nd node leaves (true leaves) leaving her with nodes 3 , and 4. I plan to flux Shirley to 8 main cola sites. Next week the training begins. Thanks for Viewing, Stay Safe & Grow Strong💪 Peace, DeaneR😎