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My first time with a hydroponic system - using two individual Oxy Pots to grow Expert Haze, side by side, one a week older than the other. One pot is Hy-Pro A+B hydro feed, the other Ionic Hydro Grow (and Bloom, later).
Initially struggled to get a decent root system. Once they got going, though, there was no stopping them. Roots now filling the pots, 5 weeks from germination.
Main problem is deep mottled browning of the large leaves, and some mild edge curling. Several lost already.
Based on advice received here regarding severe and rapid browning of leaves, cleaned out DWC Oxy Pots and started again with a considerably weaker nutrient solution.
EC down from 2.0 mS/cm to about half that. Also brought PH down from the level of local water, ~6.3, to 5.9, using a few drops of PH Down (acid).
Swapped to a more powerful 4-hose air pump, one air stone in each DWC Oxy Pot, the other two in a run-off reservoir I use for four coco/pebble grows.
Now let's see if the browning stops, and whether there is a noticeable effect on growth rate...
Plenty going on this week, again. Lost a handful more large leaves to the browning - see photo - but this issue seems less problematic than last week.
Without intervention, the PH seems to naturally tend towards that of the local water, about 6.3. Last week I brought it down to 5.9, with PH Down, but now it's back at 6.2. I will leave it at 6.2, because plausibly stress due to these PH variations is the cause of the leaf browning.
EC has been steady at around 1.1 mS/cm, give or take 0.1. Seems enough for the plant at this stage, although the Ionic Hydro Grow guidelines suggest I should be at 1.5-2.0.
A commenter said the recommended dilution for Ionic Hydro Grow is 5-7ml per gallon, but on the bottle and on the Ionic website it says 5-7ml per litre, so I'm confused. 5-7ml/gallon would give an EC of 0.3 mS/cm, which seems far too low, but who am I to say? (This is my first hydro grow...)
Gone to an 18/6 light schedule, since we'll soon be heading to 12/12 and going directly from 24 to 12 seems likely to cause stress.
A much healthier week, with lush green growth and less browning. Lights back to 24hr - cold outside (-10C) and lamp is only source of heat in growroom.
Maintaining a very low EC (920 uS/cm), well below the Growth Technology recommendation.
Shocked to see PH had climbed naturally from 5.9 to 6.7 (even higher after a shot of Liquid Silicon) - well above the recommended PH=5.5-6.2. I'm wondering whether to intervene more, or just accept that my PH is going to stay higher. Arguably, pushing it down every week will cause more harm than leaving it high, where it seems to spend most of its time.
In the end, I used PH Down to bring all the pots to PH=5.7. Need to be careful! Severely overshot with the first attempt.
We'll see now for sure whether PH variations were the primary cause of the leaf browning, or whether it was the nutrient burn/lock-out.
Outdoor temperature up 15C. Indoors, in grow room, 5C up on last week. Epic week of growth - lush, green canopy.
Finally understand the bouncing PH issue. Weird that no-one talks about it for the beginners. Your DWC needs daily attention. In any 24hr period, the PH rises from 5.5 to 6.5, and must be brought down again with PH Down. Thus in any one day the roots span PH=5.5-6.5 and are capable of absorbing a range of nutrients, which are absorbed into the plant at various different PH levels.
Currently feeding 13l pot with 5-10ml of Ionic Hydro Bloom daily (EC=1050-1150), 5-10ml of Liquid Oxygen daily, 1l of water daily. On Sundays, they also get 15ml of Liquid Silicon. PH adjusted daily.
No sign of buds developing yet.
Haze sisters are looking lush. Masses of vibrant fresh clean growth, though no sign of buds yet, as we enter second week of 12/12 light cycle and first week of PK boost feeding.
This week, chopped away a lot (dozens) of shoots lower down the plants, leaving around 6-8 main stems.
Daily feeding increased markedly: well over a litre of water, 5-10 ml of Liquid Oxygen, 5-10 ml of Hydro Bloom feed, few drops of PH Down. Plus, once per week: 13ml of PK Boost, 13ml of Liquid Silicon.
EC levels a bit higher now: 1400-1550 uS/cm. I've let the PH rise a little, usually 5.8ish rising to 6.2ish through each day.
Buds formed this week, on around 10 main stems, each with main bud and half a dozen secondary buds.
Once per week: Ionic Liquid Silicon 13ml; Ionic PK Boost 13ml; PH Down, ~20 drops.
This is in addition to what she receives daily: Ionic Liquid Oxygen 10ml; Ionic Hydro Bloom 10ml; occasional few drops of Ionic PH Down.
EC=2000 uS/cm, PH=5.5 (will rise to 6.3 through week).
This is close to the EC level that caused nutrient lockout/burn earlier, during veg; fingers crossed we don't see a repeat.
Raised light twice this week, but still a bit of leaf bleaching; plant grew a further 25cm.
Another week of epic growth: the Haze sisters put on 20cm, and their myriad buds grew considerably, though I worry that I have allowed far too many buds to form - each plant has several dozen, which I suspect may stunt their growth?
Buds filling out rapidly.
Had a near miss with accidental over-feeding this week. Burnt some leaves. Recovered quickly with a quick flush of the system, but may impact yield. Half a dozen leaves frazzled.
Most lower leaves have now yellowed.
Pistils still white though.
Stinks!
Epic crops. Probably 10x more than I've ever managed before. Lord knows what I'll do with it all... ;-)
Hoping she's ready to harvest soon because the electricity bill is starting to hurt :-/
Finally, she's coming to the end of the road. Pistils are less white this week. Lots and lots of tiny white globules. Big lush buds. And boy does she stink. Will be an epic harvest from this girl. Lord knows what I'll do with it all!
No extra nutrients given in the last week or so, but no flushing as such.
Harvested this week, since the smell was discernible from outside the house ;-)
Now drying, in a remote shed.
My first harvest using DWC technique, and with a powerful lamp.
In retrospect it has been a straightforward grow, and I've learned heaps along the way, especially about nutrients and PH.
Her buds are fabulous.
First smoke suggests it's going to be more chatty than giggly.
Made half a pound of cannabutter a few weeks later - extraordinarily powerful stuff, where half a teaspoon is *plenty*. Chatty, with a bit of paranoia. WIll make cookies and test further ;-)
curious_jules
