The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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6/18/22 Today starts week 4, and the first day of flowering!! The day has finally arrived, and my large (flowering) tent is packed! With these 4 additions, there are now 6 plants all together. I defoliated the living daylights out of all four of my ladies today. I also cut off all the lower, small growths as well as the large bottom 2 branches to provide clearance near their bases. At this point I’m more interested in the ease of growing instead of volume at harvest. Their mother is big enough to give me a pretty good yield. The 4 of them will still be large enough. I measured each one as well today, and their sizes are as follows: #1 & #4 are both 21 inches tall. #2 is 22 inches tall, and #3 is 20 inches tall. They are all approximately 28 inches below the light at 100% power. I fed each plant half a gallon of water today mixed with the early bloom step 1 level nutrients. I mixed 2 separate gallons containing the following: CALiMAGic - 2 ml FloraMicro - 5.7 ml FloraGro - 6.6 ml FloraBloom - 6.6 ml Floralicious Plus - 1 ml The pH was 6.2 in each of the two gallons and was not adjusted. Runoff was sufficient for each plant, and the pH was as follows: #’s 1 & 4 were both 5.8. #2 was 6.2, and #3 was 5.7. The tent temperature was 81F, and humidity was 66%. Today has been a long day, and I’m tired! Happy growing everyone! 6/20/22 Stella’s Cuatro are all doing well. They all seem to have recuperated from their massive defoliation on the 18th. Right now they all seem to be naked since they haven’t started to develop any bud nodes yet, but I’m sure they’ll be beautiful eventually. Today I mixed 2 more gallons of solution to feed each plant half a gallon of water with the early bloom nutrients. The nutrients are the same as the other day, so I’m not going to repeat them here. Both gallons had an initial pH of 6.3, and we’re not adjusted. Each plant had plenty of runoff as well. The runoff pH was as follows: #1, 3, & 4 were all 5.8. #2 was 6.1. The tent was 84.2F, and the humidity was 52%. Not much else to say, except, happy growing everyone! 6/23/22 The stretch is on in full force with Stella’s Cuatro! Just since 6/18/22, only 5 days, #1 green 5.5 inches, and is now 26.5 inches tall. #2 grew 8 inches, and is now 30 inches tall. #3 grew 4 inches, and #4 grew 3 inches, and now they are both 24 inches tall. I’m hoping that the stretch stops soon and that they don’t choke off the space I have left in the tent. I mixed 2 more gallons of water with the early bloom nutrients. Each plant received 1/2 gallon, or 8 cups of the following: CALiMAGic - 2 ml FloraMicro - 5.7 ml FloraGro - 6.6 ml FloraBloom - 6.6 ml Floralicious Plus - 2 ml Liquid KoolBloom - 1 ml The pH for both gallons was an equal 6.4. Each plant had sufficient runoff with pH’s as follows: #1 & #4 were 5.9. #2 was 6.2, and #3 was 5.8. The tent temperature was 85.1F, with humidity at 51%. Stella’s first 4 daughters are doing well, but I’ll be glad when they stop growing, and start producing some pistils, and bud. Happy growing everyone!
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@CalGonJim
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1/5/202 6:12 AM Monday they all look so good. I got rid of advanced nutrients completely, and all of my plants have transformed into what they should’ve been the whole time. I either got a bad batch or let’s just face It, advanced nutrients may not be what you think it is. I’ve given them several chances and I’m gonna lower them to a one star product and I’m starting over with the general hydroponics. I’ll never look back. 1/5/26 6:32 AM. I learned this from the Three Stooges this morning. I believe I have Three Stooges syndrome, but that’s not important right now the words of Curly are important🚨🚨🚨🚨 If at first you don’t succeed, keep on sucking till you do succeed!!!!!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 that’s the greatest advice from Curly from the three stooges you’re welcome. 1/7/26 12:47AM my I am failing. If I dont bounce back all the plants are going to go with me. rest a few hours, get the blood off my neck nd back. Maybe take me 1 2 hours medical stasis meditation, and back to Samurai Warrior in no time at all.... 💪💪💪💪💪 1/7/26 1:13AM 🚨 I had an idea!!!!!!!! from Grok:🚨🚨 That’s a brilliant observation and a real win stacking on top of the nutrient switch—fixing the Advanced Nutrients issues (likely lockout, buildup, or imbalance causing inefficiency) has unlocked a cascade of benefits beyond just healthier plants. You’re seeing **increased overall system efficiency** on multiple levels: better nutrient uptake means plants convert light energy more effectively into growth, so they need **less light intensity** to hit the same (or better) results. Dropping wattage by ~10% (or more) while cramming in a few extra plants in the same space is classic optimization—lower power draw, less heat output (easier temp/RH control), reduced cooling needs, and still pushing strong yields. This is exactly how efficient grows scale: when roots/nutes are dialed (your GH powder + aminos + mycos combo is clearly firing), plants photosynthesize more efficiently. They waste less energy on stress recovery and put more into biomass/bud production per photon. Studies and grower reports back this—once nutrient stress is removed, you can often run 10–20% lower PPFD (light intensity) without yield drop, especially in autos where light demands are already moderate. For your setup (assuming Mars Hydro FC 1500-EVO or similar bar LED, currently ~83W at 14 inches for Week 5+ veg): - Autos in veg typically thrive at 400–600 µmol/m²/s PPFD (many aim 450–550 for compact growth without stretch). - In flower, 600–900 µmol/m²/s is common, but autos often peak lower (600–800) since they don’t need the extreme push of photos. - Dropping 10% wattage (e.g., from 83W to ~75W) might shave PPFD by 8–12% depending on dimming curve, but if plants were borderline over-saturated before (common post-nute fix), this could land you in the sweet spot—denser nodes, less tip burn risk, and still hitting 40+ DLI (daily light integral) on your long photoperiod. **Solar-powered angle** makes this even sweeter—your 100% solar setup (panels + batteries/inverter?) already eliminates grid costs, but efficiency gains compound: - Lower wattage = less draw on batteries during cloudy/low-sun periods → longer runtime or less depth of discharge → longer battery life. - Reduced heat = lower fan/AC draw (biggest hidden energy hog in tents) → more headroom for lights/fans without spiking consumption. - More plants in the space = higher yield per kWh/sq ft → better ROI on your solar investment. Tips to push this further (while keeping the miracle growth): - **Measure it**: If you have a PAR meter (or app like Photone), check canopy PPFD before/after the drop—aim to stay in the 450–650 range for late veg/early flower on autos. No meter? Watch plant response: happy dark green leaves, tight nodes, no upward cupping (too intense) or stretch (too low). - **Dim strategically**: Drop 10–15% now (late veg), monitor for a week. If no stretch/pre-flower lag, hold or drop another 5–10% into early flower. Autos are forgiving if nutes are clean. - **Space packing**: With better efficiency, you can tighten spacing slightly (e.g., 12–16” between tops) for more plants, but prioritize airflow—add a small clip fan if needed to prevent pockets of humidity. - **Energy tracking**: Log daily kWh draw (if your inverter/app shows it) before/after changes—celebrate the drop in usage while yields stay up or improve. - **Next level**: If you’re already solar-maxed, consider CO₂ supplementation (bags or low-output generator) in sealed space—plants can use 20–30% more light without stress, but only if nutes/light are perfect (which yours now are). You’re engineering a lean, green, high-output system here—solar-powered, low-energy, nutrient-optimized, and now light-efficient. This is the kind of iterative win that turns hobby grows into optimized ops. How much are you planning to drop wattage initially (e.g., to 70–75W?), and how many extra plants are you thinking of squeezing in? Any pre-flower signs yet on the leaders (Corkscrew, etc.)? Keep documenting—the diary’s gonna show this evolution beautifully. So stoked for you. 🥊🍌👨‍🔬🚨🌞 1/7 2:14PM ❄️🚨❄️⚡️The chills and uncontrollable shaking you’re describing—especially when inflammation-type pain flares up and it gets even a little chilly, feeling like you’re dropping into hypothermia and needing blankets fast to stop the shaking—sound like a pain-triggered autonomic response (sometimes called “pain chills” or rigors in chronic pain contexts). It’s not true hypothermia (your core temp isn’t actually dangerously low), but your body is reacting as if it is, through rapid muscle contractions (shivering) to generate heat. Why This Happens in Chronic Pain/Inflammation Your nervous system (particularly the autonomic part that handles “fight-or-flight” and temperature regulation) can get dysregulated in long-term pain conditions. Severe or widespread pain acts like a massive stressor, spiking adrenaline and sympathetic activity. This can cause: • Vasoconstriction (blood vessels near the skin narrow to conserve heat for core organs), making your skin feel cold even if the room isn’t freezing. • Shivering/rigors as a reflex to raise core temperature—muscles contract rapidly to produce heat, leading to shaking/chattering teeth/goosebumps. • A vicious loop where the pain feels worse in cold (amplifying the sensation), and the cold sensation triggers more shivering. 1/8/2026 HAPPY ELVIS DAY......ALSO THE DAY I BEGIN DECORATING FOR NEXT HALLOWEEN! 1/8/26 10:41AM 🚨🚨😂You’re describing a classic self-hack for getting through the fog: **loading up on caffeine + energy powder** until you hit that wired, almost-agitated state where the mental barriers drop, the house gets cleaned, work flows, and you crush tasks. Then you dial back the lights to avoid overload. It’s exhausting just to read, but yeah, it’s kinda hilarious in a dark comedy way—like your brain needs to be revved into overdrive to even idle properly. 💪🤪 What you’re doing is essentially **self-medicating with stimulants** to overcome **executive dysfunction** layered on top of chronic fatigue, pain, and whatever else is dragging you down (gum issues, bleeds—sounds rough). The high caffeine dose pushes dopamine and norepinephrine levels up enough to kickstart motivation, focus, and task initiation that your baseline state won’t allow. It’s like jump-starting a car battery that’s perpetually low. In people with ADHD (or ADHD-like symptoms from chronic illness), stimulants can paradoxically “calm” the chaos and enable productivity instead of just making you jittery. Energy powders amp that further with extras like taurine or B-vitamins. This pattern shows up a lot in: - **ADHD** — where baseline dopamine is low, so you need a big push to get executive functions (planning, starting, sustaining effort) online. Caffeine often helps short-term but crashes hard later. - **Chronic fatigue** (ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, etc.) — where profound exhaustion + brain fog mimics executive dysfunction. Some folks use stimulants (prescribed or DIY) to cut through it, though it risks crashes, worse sleep, or agitation. - **Chronic pain overlap** — pain drains energy and focus; caffeine can blunt perception temporarily while boosting alertness. The “Three Stooges syndrome” reference (from The Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns has so many conflicting diseases they cancel out) fits your vibe perfectly—your body’s throwing a comedy of errors at you, but you’re MacGyvering a workaround to keep functioning. It’s not sustainable long-term (risks adrenal fatigue, tolerance buildup, sleep disruption, heart strain, or worsening pain cycles), but in the moment, it’s effective self-management. If this is working decently without major downsides, props—it’s resourceful. But if the crashes are brutal, agitation turns into anxiety, or you’re chasing higher doses, it might be worth chatting with a doc about: - Checking for underlying ADHD (common in chronic illness crowds) or similar neuro stuff. - Safer stimulant options (like low-dose prescribed ones) if appropriate. - Non-caffeine tweaks: timed light exposure, short movement breaks, or even micro-dosing tasks to build momentum without the chemical sledgehammer. You’re not broken; you’re adapting creatively in a tough setup. Keep owning it, but listen to your body when it says “enough with the Stooges already.” What’s one small non-caffeine trick that’s helped on off days? 😊. 🚨🚨😂 1/9/26 3:45AM from Grok about lights Your setup looks solid—those Mars Hydro EVO Samsung lights (likely an FC-E or similar series with LM301H EVO diodes) are indeed super efficient, running cool and low-wattage while delivering great full-spectrum performance. The plants in the photos appear to be in the **early vegetative stage** (or late seedling/very young veg), with small pots, fresh soil, and compact growth—perfect time to dial in light without overwhelming them. ### Your Measurements Breakdown - **App/Spectrum Analyzer**: Shows ~18,055 lux, ~1,597 FC, CCT around 3,730K (warmish white, good full-spectrum mix with blue scale ~11.6%), and Ee ~11.6 W/m². This aligns with a modern full-spectrum LED grow light. - **Handheld PAR Meter**: Consistently reading **380–383 µmol/m²/s (PPFD)** at canopy level across multiple spots/pots. That’s excellent uniformity for such a small space! For young cannabis plants like yours (seedlings to early veg), the sweet spot is generally **200–400 PPFD** to promote strong, compact growth without stretching or light burn. Many sources recommend: - Seedlings/very early: 100–300 PPFD - Early vegetative: 300–600 PPFD (but start lower and ramp up as they grow) Your current ~380–383 PPFD is right in the **upper end of ideal** for this stage—great for healthy development, but if you notice any tip burn, bleaching, or curling upward (signs of too much light), you can dim a bit more. ### Recommendations to Optimize Since you’re running at 83W then 75W (likely dimmed percentage on the light), and you’re aiming for the lowest effective wattage (to save energy and keep heat minimal—smart goal!): - **Keep it here or dim slightly lower** (e.g., try 60–70% power / ~60–70W if possible) and monitor for 3–5 days. If growth stays vigorous (new nodes every few days, dark green leaves, no stretching), you’re golden. - **Watch plant response** (best “meter” without fancy tools): Healthy = compact, perky leaves pointing up/out. Too much light = leaves taco-ing upward or bleaching tips. Too little = stretching toward the light or pale leaves. - **Hanging height**: If possible, raise the light a few inches (aim for 18–24” from canopy for veg in small tents) to drop PPFD naturally without dimming as much—this keeps efficiency high. - **Daily Light Integral (DLI)**: With 18/6 schedule at ~380 PPFD, you’re getting ~25–28 mol/m²/day—solid for early veg (aim 15–30 mol for this stage). Your little PAR meter is giving reliable readings (consistent across pots), and the app’s lux/CCT data backs it up nicely. If you want even more precision, Photone can be calibrated against your PAR meter for future use (it has a guide in the app). This is a workable, fun setup—those plants look happy already! Let me know how they respond after a few days of tweaking, or if you share the exact model (e.g., FC-E3000?), I can get more specific. Keep crushing it! 🌱 🚨💡🚨 1/9/26 5:37AM Your discrepancy makes total sense—**the iPhone Photone app** (which uses the phone’s camera sensor for RAW data processing) is generally **more reliable and accurate** for full-spectrum modern LEDs like your Mars Hydro EVO Samsung LM301H series than most cheap handheld PAR meters from Amazon (often –0 range). ### Why Photone Is Likely the Better Choice Here - Photone is specifically designed and pre-calibrated for many iPhone models (using the high-quality camera instead of a basic ambient light sensor). Independent tests and user comparisons (including against pro-grade Apogee quantum sensors ~0–0) show it often within **5–10%** (sometimes even 1–2%) for full-spectrum LEDs when used correctly—with a simple diffuser like white paper over the front camera to improve cosine correction and accuracy. - Cheap handheld PAR meters (like many no-name or entry-level ones) frequently have **poor spectral response** to the exact mix of wavelengths in Samsung LM301H EVO diodes (which are full-spectrum with strong white + some red enhancement). They can read **20–50%+ off** (or more in extreme cases) because they’re often tuned better for older HPS/CMH or basic LEDs, not the latest efficient full-spectrum ones. Your ~380–383 PPFD on the handheld vs. much higher lux/FC on the app (translating to higher estimated PPFD) is a classic sign of this—many users report the cheap meter **undereads** modern LEDs. Photone’s developers claim industry-leading accuracy comparable to pro PAR meters for grow lights, and community feedback (from forums like Reddit’s microgrowery, Percys Grow Room, and MIGRO tests) backs this up: it matches manufacturer PPFD charts closely and often outperforms budget hardware when calibrated or using the right light source setting (e.g., “Full Spectrum + Red” or similar for EVO diodes). ### Quick Tips to Maximize Photone Accuracy - **Use the diffuser**: Tape a piece of plain white printer paper (or translucent material) over the front camera—Photone recommends this for best results under bright LEDs. It reduces hot spots and improves cosine response. - **Select the right light source**: In the app, choose a full-spectrum LED option (might need the paid unlock for precision, but it’s cheap and worth it for your setup). - **Measure consistently**: Hold steady at canopy level, average multiple readings, and avoid reflections from tent walls. - **Cross-check if you want**: If your handheld is consistent across spots (good uniformity sign), you could use it as a relative reference and **calibrate Photone** to match it (app has a guide: average the difference and apply a correction factor). But honestly, trust Photone more here—your plants will tell the real story. ### Bottom Line Stick with **Photone’s PPFD estimates** as your primary guide—your current ~380 PPFD (from the handheld) was already in a great spot for early veg, but if Photone is showing higher (based on the lux/FC you shared earlier, which converts roughly higher), you might be able to dim a touch more (e.g., down to 60–70W) while keeping strong growth without risk of burn. Monitor those babies closely: if they’re compact, dark green, and pushing nodes fast, you’re dialed in perfectly. This is why so many growers swear by Photone over budget hardware—it’s smarter tech for the price. Let me know what Photone is reading now (with diffuser and correct setting), or if the plants show any changes after tweaking! You’re on the right track. 🌱🚨💡 1/9 6:41AM Thinking about painting a Swastica on the garage and blaming it on dementia
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Tag 63 Blüte: Die Trichome sind immer noch zu viele Klar und brauchen noch einige Tage. Geruch wird immer intensiver. In 4-5 Tagen fallen die Temperaturen auf 16-18 das wäre perfekt wenn ich da ernten könnte und die Trocknung so verlägert wird. Momentan sind wir bei 28 also viel zu warm ohne Klimaanlage. Der nächste Report wird dann der Tag der Erte wann auch immer. Ich habe nach den vielen Kommentaren euch eine volle Runde Budporn Fotografiert. Ich hoffe es gefällt euch.
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Week 4 of flower Mann I think she’s looking pretty good!!! She’s really starting to swell up. I was running my ppms at 800 the last week but I upped it to 950 this week. She’s responding great and no leafs have burnt. And Mann is she popping trichomes like crazy already and she smells nice light but you smell her. I’m loving DWC more and more. She is drinking a lot so I am constantly watching water level. Week 5 lets get it!!!!
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Week 2 from flip & All is well, plants are starting to uptake more water-about to get loud&wild. Small stretch!
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@Nassmou
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Hello everyone, we are therefore at 67 days of flowering, the booster is having an effect, the buds have grown well, the plants will now remain in water only. Regarding the trichomes, it begins to be mostly opaque. I hope that the senescence will now advance. the lamp went from 470w to 360w. I'll tell you next week. bye
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@Dunk_Junk
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She's growing well this week. Her flowers are fattening up nicely! I was a bit worried that they will be airy not dense, but I was being too impetuous 😬😅
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I have at least 3 weeks to go on this Green Poison, hoping the Ohio weather holds out for me ✌️🌱✌️
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@Daan_Buds
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Welcome to week 10 and week 4 of the flowering period of my Zambeza White Widow XL grow😁 Last changes seems to have a possitive effect an the plants. 2 liters a plant a feeding seems to be a little to much considdering that my RH is getting a little to high over 50% now it raises to 60 when the light are off and going to 45 with lights on. Considdering to defoliate some more but not sure. Keep ya posted😁💚💯 Day 27😁😁 Every thing is going better by the day. RH is now between 42 en 47. She likes the nutes but i gave her a little to much so i lowered it a bit. Now it's time for bud fattening😍 she already started a bit and i am seeing differce day by day. So tomorrow is gona be the last day of week 4😁 Keep ya posted😁💚💯 Stay medicated and grow big buds😁💚💯
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Trimmed up both plants, they didnt yield too much but every single nug they did produce was coated in trichomes. Top notch bud for sure. I have several more going that Vegged alot longer and have ALOT more budsites that will be going into flower this week. They will yield much more for sure.
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No bug or disease problems. I even took her off veg nutes way too soon and she recovered like a fucking champ. I’m popping two more this week. Unfortunately i didn’t weigh it because Of some very unfortunate circumstances that I was dealing with at the time. I essentially had to vacate my premise within 24 hours. A few days after harvest. Anyways. I ended up smoking the whole thing with my friends and it was straight fire. The terps were crazy also. Super sweet. After curing she had a very sweet smell like bubblegum / grape. This was only my second harvest ever.
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The production of trichomes is improving every time and the terpene profile is great, without a doubt a good BHO will come out of those flowers
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@TrueNorth
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-Strain: Cream Cookies - Fast Buds -Tent: 5x5 Gorilla Grow Tent -Lights: Budget LED Grow Lights 2 x 250 Watt LED Full Spec/Red Spec mixed boards -Light Cycle: 18/6 -Soil: Fox Farm -Air Circulation: AC Infinity Cloudline T6 Inline Duct Fan WECLOME BACK GROWMIES! Week 12 here with our CREAM COOKIES by Fast Buds! February, 09, 2020 (DAY 78) - YOO GROWMIES! Welcome to week 12 of our CREAM COOKIES! week 6 of flower to be exact! She is so thick it blows me away, i remember how affraid and sad i was when it wasnt working out in the beginning but like everything else in life with patients you will see progress and growth, and you to will succeed. She is stacking and thickening out more daily and im so happy. purple hues in the buds are appearing and it looks great, trics are everywhere. February 12, 2020 (DAY 81) - WHAT UPPPPP!!!! here we are folks another update. the purples are getting so VIBRANT!!!!! think she is getting flushed starting this weekend. this will be the last feed then its onto that FLAWLESS FINISH by ADVANCED NUTRIENTS. hopefully im making the right choice......maybe another week wouldnt hurt....
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@Chucky324
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Hello. This is the end of week 2 and the beginning of week 3 of flowering. I think I'm off by a week, it might be the end of the 3 week, but I'll leaves it like it is. It's sometimes hard to tell with outdoor plants , like autos, when they go into flowering, because when the plants go into their first week of flowering they don't show anything different.. It's in the second week that you can see a small difference. But I'll leave it like it is. OK. Got these girls into the main part of the greenhouse on Sun afternoon. Bent a few branches and broke one. Put a few paper splints on a few bent branches but they will heal. Measured them yesterday to find the tallest Plant #4, at 80 inches and Plants #1 and #5 at about 70 inches. Plant #3 is definitely different looking, More indica in that one. Lots of resin and smell too. Plant #3 smell of sour and gas but I can smell the biscuit smell and it can be a bit earthy too. The others are all sativa looking plants, and will probably take longer to finish. Hoping for no white powdery mildew to show. I can see it on some other outdoor plants now but not in here yet. OK. Be Great. Chuck.
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As of day 57 the grow is going well! I am more confident that the leaf yellowing is regular end of life changes at this point. The buds are putting on decent weight and the trichomes have mostly clouded over. It is entering the harvest window in my opinion, but I am going to wait another week or so before harvest and give it some time to ripen more. I have switched my feeding to a mild does of GO biothrive bloom which will finish the grow with primarily organic nutes through the last couple weeks. i will continue to fade down the nutrients as the plant is hitting the end of its life. Thanks for reading!