Day 83 - 03/06/23 - Harvested Northern Lights #1

🌱 Sour Diesel — Week 8 (Flower Week 3) — Strategic Reset Week ⸻ 🔁 Quick Recap — Where We Are • Genetics: Sour Diesel • Timeline: Week 8 from seed • Flowering: Week 3 • Height: ~60–70 cm (compact structure) • Room Temp: 28°C • RH: 65% • Feed EC: 2.9 • pH: 6.5 (kept above 6.0 intentionally) • Lighting: LED • Action this week: Strategic defoliation This plant is not tall — she’s compact, dense, and structurally tight. Which means airflow and internal light penetration become critical early. And that’s exactly why this week mattered. ⸻ 🍃 The Defoliation — Not Aesthetic. Architectural. This was not cosmetic trimming. It was: • Removing large fan leaves blocking interior bud sites • Cleaning inner congestion • Opening airflow channels • Resetting light distribution across the canopy • Helping the entire room environment (not just this plant) The room needed air — this plant was advanced enough to handle stress. That’s key. Week 3 of flower is the transition window: • Stretch is slowing • Bud sites are set • Energy shifts toward stacking At this stage, a strategic defoliation: • Improves transpiration efficiency • Reduces microclimate humidity pockets • Prevents internal leaf-to-leaf condensation • Encourages bud site activation below the top canopy This was structural architecture. Not haircut vanity. ⸻ 🌡️ 28°C in Flower — “Too Hot?” Let’s Go Deep. People panic when they hear 28°C in flower. But here’s where most growers confuse: 🔥 HPS vs LED Heat Behavior Under HPS: • Radiant heat warms leaf surfaces directly • Leaf temperature often equals or exceeds room temp • 28°C air under HPS can mean 30–32°C leaf temp • That pushes VPD dangerously high Under LED: • Less infrared radiation • Leaf surface temp is typically 1–3°C LOWER than room temp • So at 28°C room temp, leaf temp might be 25–26°C And VPD calculations depend on leaf temperature, not air temperature. ⸻ 🌿 What Is Leaf VPD? VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit) measures the difference between: • Moisture inside the leaf • Moisture in the surrounding air But if you calculate VPD using only room temp, you’re missing the real transpiration dynamics. With: • 28°C air • ~25–26°C leaf surface (LED) • 65% RH Leaf VPD sits in a very workable mid-flower zone. Not extreme. Not stress-inducing. Not shutdown territory. We’re driving metabolism, not cooking terpenes. ⸻ 💧 Why 65% RH Isn’t Dangerous Here Context matters: • Good airflow • Opened canopy • Compact but cleaned structure • Early-mid flower (Week 3, not Week 7) At this stage: • Pistils are forming • Bud density is still moderate • Transpiration is active High humidity becomes dangerous when: • Bud mass is dense • Internal airflow is poor • Late flower resin traps moisture We’re not there yet. And we just improved airflow with defoliation. ⸻ ⚡ EC 2.9 — Aggressive but Intentional That EC is strong. But: • Plant is compact, not oversized • Sour Diesel can eat • pH 6.5 keeps availability wide (Ca, Mg, P balance) The key will be: • Watching leaf tips • Monitoring runoff behavior • Watching for clawing or salt stress Right now, if she’s praying and stacking, she’s handling it. ⸻ 🔍 What To Expect Next Week (Flower Week 4) After defoliation: You may see: • Slight pause (24–72 hours) • Increased vertical bud push • Better lower-site activation • More defined pistil clustering • Stronger apical dominance response If recovery is clean: • Buds begin early stacking phase • Internodes tighten • Resin production initiates at bract level If stress appears: • Slight leaf droop • Tip burn acceleration • Reduced upward leaf angle But based on structure and timing — this looks calculated, not reactive. ⸻ 🧠 Why This Week Matters Long-Term This week determines: • Airflow pattern for late flower • Mold resistance later • Bud density uniformity • Final trim efficiency • Light-to-bud conversion efficiency This wasn’t about now. This was about Week 7 and 8 survival. ⸻ 🙏 Appreciation Section To: • The OGs here since seed • The new followers discovering the journey • The silent readers • The critics • The skeptics • The lovers • The haters • The platform • The sponsors • The community • Grow Diaries itself Everyone has a place here. Growth happens in public. And that takes courage. Respect to all of you. 📡 Please stay tuned they can try and take us down but we never quit https://www.youtube.com/@DOGDOGTHEDOCTOR NEW 🙏 Thank you for your patience and continued support. FOR DISCOUNT CODES AND MORE JUST FOLLOW THE LINK https://website.beacons.ai/dogdoctorofficial 📲 Don’t forget to Subscribe and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @DogDoctorOfficial for exclusive content, real-time updates, and behind-the-scenes magic. We’ve got so much more coming, including transplanting and all the amazing techniques that go along with it. You won’t want to miss it. GrowDiaries Journal: https://growdiaries.com/grower/dogdoctorofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial Deleted by Youtube Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/dogdoctorofficial Under construction stay tuned ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: 🔆 Lighting & Environmental Control • Future of Grow — Advanced LED lighting technology https://www.futureofgrow.com/ DISCOUNT CODE: DOG20 • Lumiflora — Under-canopy LED lighting https://lumiflorade.com/ • TrollMaster — Environmental controllers and automation gear (past collaboration) ⸻ Genetics • Zamnesia Seeds — Genetics used in this project https://www.zamnesia.com/ ⸻ 🌱 Soil, Substrates, Boosters & Root Support • Plagron — Substrates, bio mixes, and supportive products https://plagron.com/en/ ⸻ 🎒 Storage, Curing & Preservation • Grove Bags — Curing and storage solutions https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ 📸 Photography Equipment & Tools (Not sponsors, but part of my creative toolkit) • Sony A6700 • Sony full-frame macro lens + few more • Stacking photography workflow - learning • iPhone (for behind-the-scenes shots) We’ve got much more coming as we move through the grow cycles. Trust me, you won’t want to miss the next steps, let’s push the boundaries of indoor horticulture together! As always, this is shared for educational purposes, aiming to spread understanding and appreciation for this plant. Let’s celebrate it responsibly and continue to learn and grow together. With true love comes happiness. Always believe in yourself, and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart. Be a giver, and the universe will give back in ways you could never imagine. 💚 Growers love to all 💚 📸 P.S. – The Eye Behind the Lens All photos in this diary (for now — except for the ones showing the camera, which I took with an iPhone) are taken with a Sony A6700 paired with a Sony full-frame macro lens and a few more. Photography is part of the story — it’s how we share the fine textures, the glow, and the quiet details that words can’t always capture. I’ve also started experimenting with photo stacking — a technique where multiple images, each taken at a slightly different focus point, are layered together to create one perfectly sharp image from front to back. It’s not digital enhancement or AI; it’s pure photography — a way to reveal the plant’s beauty in microscopic depth, from trichome to petal. You’ll even see a few shots of "ghost me" capturing the shots — camera, lens, setup — because every grow deserves not just to be cultivated, but documented like art. FOR DISCOUNT CODES AND MORE JUST FOLLOW THE LINK https://website.beacons.ai/dogdoctorofficial NEW DISCORD - Official Server Invite Link : https://discord.gg/ksjAkA5T74

Colheita no 60º dia de flora.

Nothing too exciting still. Growing a little smaller than I'd expect but the roots seem great. Swapped the lights. Cranked the sf1000 to 100% and put it up to 25". Hung the t5 on the side. Will probs pull it out when it goes to flower.

Finishing up week 1 all of them but one have made it above soul except lot o bear by fox genetics .. germinated fine but just a late bloomer .. water with very little water not nutrients at all yet

Skywalker putting on tons of frost and seems to be happy with the status quo so no more compost teas for her. Starting to have a distinct Kush scent filling the tent now. In the future I’d probably LST this from the start to increase yields but other than some defoliation throughout, I haven’t done any training which has been nice. Blueberry impressed me with the size of the buds starting to form. Signs of frost for sure. Not very aromatic yet at this point. Stem rub is a different story. She has been showing some signs of calcium/mag deficiency in some of the leaves which seemed to improve with top dressing/Recharge. Been drinking a steady liter minimum daily Glueberry OG continues to explode in growth. I’ve done quite a bit of defoliation to keep tops exposed and it has bounced back quick each time. I can see why this would be a fun strain outdoors, as it is slowly taking up a solid 4 square ft of the tent. I may end up finishing this outdoors depending on its desire to consume the canopy space. Due to the longer flower period, I’ll keep up with compost teas to support all that growth. So far, it seems to be working Week ended 7/20

@twenty20mendocino Ateam R&D Update ~ Let’s Go day 77 for these girls an we are looking amazing! The Sangria Auto got her last flush today, 14 days flushed and will be going in the dark for 48 hrs a get her ready for the chop! ~ the Queen of Diamonds and VSOPs are looking like beasts ! These girls got massive , an we will continue to let them get bigger an veg out for another week or 2 and we will get em ready for the flip! Keep them eyes peeled for next week’s update yall! Hope y’all have an amazing productive day as well as a great safe weekend! Peace love an positive vibes to all y’all Cheers an Happy Easter weekend to y’all Blaze on 😶‍🌫️💨💨💨💨💨🤙🏻

Week 7 - Second Week of Flower The Donutz squad is deep into the stretch phase, and the tent is buzzing with energy. The plants are loving the Greenhouse Feeding Bloom nutrients, responding with healthy, vibrant growth and an impressive stretch. The SOG canopy is coming together beautifully, and adjustments are being made to keep everything dialed in for maximum light penetration and efficiency. Key Updates: Stretch in Full Swing: The plants are stretching aggressively, shooting upwards and making their presence known. The increased height is filling out the tent and setting the stage for a dense canopy of colas. Strategic Defoliation: Early in the week, I took a close look at the plants and spotted plenty of leaves and lower growth around the net level that would never get sufficient light. Those unnecessary leaves and weak shoots were removed, allowing for significantly better light penetration and airflow. The difference was immediate — the canopy now looks cleaner, and light is reaching the lower sections more effectively. Nutrients & Care: Flowering Nutrients: The Greenhouse Feeding Bloom continues to work its magic. The plants are showing no signs of deficiencies or stress, and their growth is vigorous and healthy. Watering: Still keeping it chill with reverse osmosis (RO) water, ensuring clean and balanced hydration. Observations: The canopy is filling out evenly, with strong, uniform growth across all plants. The lollipopping and defoliation have paid off, creating a clean and efficient canopy where every bud site is getting its share of light. Looking Ahead: As the stretch continues, I’ll keep monitoring the plants closely for any additional defoliation needs. The second net is on standby for when the nugs start stacking to provide support and maintain an even canopy. With the light intensity gradually increasing, the plants are poised for explosive bud production in the coming weeks. The Florida Gang vibes are strong — this tent is on its way to producing some serious heat!

This weekend i did the probably last Defoliation, there were so many leaves like blocking light to the lower parts of the plants. I might get some to put under the smaller plants since the height difference is quite huge between the strains. The Shiskaberrys and the Papaya Frosting stay relativly small compared to the Lemoncherrygelato. I also had to add quite a bunch of the yellowsticky things cuz i saw a couple of flies cruisin around ^^'

Se nos fue un poco de altura pero intentaremos arreglar el error farmers... al final quedo simplemente en podas apicales y de momento ramas muy finas. Iremos comentando el proceso Farmers!

5/8/2023 - Day 71: Start to week 11, and this will be the final week. Watered again today with 4 gallons mixed with Coconut Powder. I'm getting close to 5% to 10% amber, so I am just about where I want to be. I plan to chop them this weekend, which will put me at day 76 or 77. The two Grand Prix could probably go I bit longer, but the Ice Bath and Frozen White Runtz need to come down. 5/12/2023 - Day 75 Flower: chopping in two more days. Dropped the temps a bit more and turned the light down one more. Normally I'd be watering, but I'm just going to let them ride it out until the end.

Day 82 - 12/12/19 So harvest is here and what a journey this has been :) This plant took much longer than the others but paid off at the end with huge colas! Wet weigh was around 400g so im expecting about 60g from this once dried :) Has a slight fruity/spicy taste to it. i wont be able to honestly tell until fully dried and cured though :) Big thanks to RQS for thier amazing genetics and a big thanks to all who helped out along the way! Il update the dry weight when dried and the bud report all throughout curing :) Day 85 - 16/12/19 All buds have been dried and damn it really filled up this 68g jar! i got 64g dry weight of prime buds probably another 10g of popcorn buds that i threw in with the trim. coming into heavy flowering i expected an ounce, after i started adding calmag and pk13/14 the buds exploded. and my expectations raised to about 45g. for it to be 64g at harvest from a 43cm tall plant thats something. A few experienced growers reckoned the high yield was because of polyploidy which i believe is a genetic mutation. i looked it up and i cant say if this is what happened or not. The bud has been dried fully and slower than last time, ive tried to have airflow somewhat around the buds but not too close to avoid drying too quick. Ive only been curing for a day but its so smooth already. ive never tried anything like lowryder which is the makeup of this strain so il have to honestly rate it once cured for a week or so :) but until then i will say its been getting me quite stoned and couchlocked. i definitely harvested near the end of the harvest window. il add a final update once cured for a week so u guys know what this strain is like as a final product. Day 89 - 19/12/19 Ive cured for around a week and ive been smoking the buds and watching christmas movies alot! :'D The curing has developed a nice hit on the throat and more flavour along with burning better in joints and bongs :) ive smoked some exotic strains but i honestly feel this is among the best grown smoke ive had. it just feels so well grown with a smooth burn! i definitely harvested on the later side of the harvest window as buds have mostly amber pistils and smoking them gets me pretty stoned and sleepy! this is great as i have trouble sleeping and relaxing. i havent had this much sleep in a while. while i would say this is fairly average bud i still would rate it a solid 7, sure it might not have a strong exotic smell or flavour but it gets the job done well! and the high yield really impressed me. considering i need to be growing enough to stay medicated the 64g dry weight really made my day! Its very relaxing to know you dont have to struggle to get your medicine! I added a few photos of the best buds in the jar and im really impressed with myself for growing some fat buds! Have a good christmas folks and hope you enjoyed the diary, im gonna add it in to the newbie christmas draw so keep an eye out for it on there :) Finally i added a video of the little cayenne pepper plant featured in week 4 of this diary, its 78 days old now and is growing nice green waxy peppers :) I cant wait to makesome chilli flakes and some soup to keep me warm over the winter as soon as the peppers ripen! Take care folks and have a happy new year!

Well I ended up having to break down my grow this week. Long story but I took some clones of these to do again in a few months. Sucks big time but only a minor setback. This was the last pictures I have of the grow before I chopped them down to break down the tent.

Doin what it do

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Hello guys😍😍 We have reached the sixth week of flowering All phenotypes are now visible😍 The color of some plants has completely changed due to the temperature difference I observed between night and day. The very dense and snowy buds are the result of my genetic cross (OGcream) of course the real result in my opinion is obtained after drying😈 This week I used feeding and advance fertilizers. Thank you for following and commenting😍 "farah4weed"

I will be focusing this diary on the smoothie strain but you’ll be seeing some other plants in the tent that are not the same strain. I only have room in this tent so bare with me. There are 2 Smoothie, 1 CNC, and 1 Stardawg (dog). The smoothie are the two bigger ones in the back of the tent. Now, the Smoothie from FastBuds is just killin it right now. Since I popped the beans they have done nothing but show signs of greatness. I don’t think this one is gonna slow down much either. I’m going to push these plants harder than my last harvest. I had a really really amazing harvest last time. I was even able to pull sap out of all 4 plants. 2 Zkittles and 2 LSD-25. This was all done by feeding at the right times and keeping a “moist” soil. Also I want add that I ran pretty much the entire line of Nectar for the Gods at a little less then the recommended ratios. This time I plan on going a tiny bit over the recommended ratios just to see what these plants will do. Trust me, if the plants have a bad response I will go back to the recommended ratios. The reason I want to do this is because I really think these auto strains can handle a lot more than a regular flowering cycle plant would. They can handle more stress, that’s for sure. When do you think I should add a compost tea into my regimen? Soon or wait till the plant is a little larger?

Last week of veg, starting 12/12 tomorrow as I'm starting to worry about space.. hopefully stretching isn't too much of an issue.. we shall see. I'm still not happy with my defoliation, I've been mostly removing large/damaged leaves and sucker branches off the bottom of the plants. I've been experimenting with the fan and scrog placement, placing one large fan oscillating below the canopy and two clip on fans above the tops and mostly using the scrog as a support for branches during flower as I somewhat failed to actually scrog.. Once again, any advice much appreciated and happy holidaze!