The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
Likes
Comments
Share
Likes
2
Share
Trichomes are filling up. There are amber ones here and there. Next week I start flushing.
Likes
4
Share
The plants are doing beautifully after two waves of bug attacks. The first wave was spider mites that I located in my greenhouse before they had a chance to spread to my canibus.I had to spray two days in a row to kill them all. Than 5 days layer I see thrips, so I gave it another spray. I foiler fead my nutrients.
Likes
34
Share
Week 5 Flower — Sundae Driver Five weeks from seed, Week 5 of flower. The girls are tall, frosty, and carrying real weight. Supercrop results are showing: the knuckle site on the main top is packing beautifully and producing extra fruit around the bend. Photo sessions continue while they’re still mobile, but they’re quickly approaching the point where moving them will be risky. ⸻ From seed to here — short recap • Very short veg, early flip (11/13) to encourage a quick transition. • Strong genetics: both phenos established great branching early and then stretched in flower. • Early training: leaf-tucking and one deliberate supercrop on Pheno #2 to control a “moon-shot” top, the plant has recovered and is producing strong bud sites. • Feed strategy evolved from light steering (low solution EC) while relying on the active living soil, to a slightly stronger, targeted push now that the plants are bulk-building. ⸻ This week’s snapshot (numbers you gave) • Solution EC: ~1.78 mS/cm (after adding All-in-One Liquid) • Solution pH: ~5.87 • Water temperature: ~19.6 °C • Substrate EC (measured): ~5.75 mS/cm • Plants: ~heavy, visibly bulking, good frost and early trichome coverage; leaves lush and green. ⸻ Nutrition this week — what you added and why You’ve blended the Aptus baseline with the Plagron bloom stack and added the All-in-One Liquid this week to “boost things up a little.” The working recipe (as you’ve been using it) is: • Plagron Power Buds / Power products — PK and bloom stimulators to push flower initiation and fruit set. • Plagron Green Sensation — complex bloom stimulator (PK, micros, and biostimulants) to compact and feed flowers. • Plagron Sugar (Sugar Royal / Sugar Oil) — carbohydrate/amino support to feed microbes, aid terpene/aroma production and increase bud sugar availability. • Aptus Regulator — stress resistance, cell wall strength, improved uptake. • Aptus CalMag Boost — to prevent Ca/Mg shortages under heavier uptake. • Aptus All-in-One Liquid (added this week) — a balanced liquid feed to raise available macros and micros slightly and bring the solution EC up to ~1.78. Why this mix now: the plants are in active “bulk and stack” mode. The living soil is still providing a heavy base (substrate EC is high at ~5.75), so the water feed is being used as a steering input rather than the sole nutrient source. The Plagron items are targeted to maximize flower growth and aroma development while Aptus products protect tissue integrity and uptake efficiency under higher demand. ⸻ Soil & EC notes — some important observations • Substrate EC 5.75 is high. If the plants are clean (no tip-burn, no slowed uptake, good turgor), and runoff/pH are stable, you can continue carefully. The living soil is likely holding a lot of available ions. • Solution EC 1.78 is a meaningful step up from the earlier very-low steering feeds. Because the substrate is already rich, keep monitoring plant response closely. • Actionable checks: measure runoff EC and pH after a couple of normal waterings. If runoff EC is very high and plants start showing nutrient burn/leaf edge bronzing, consider: • reducing solution EC, and/or • performing a controlled flush with target pH water to bring substrate salts down, then back to a gentler feed. • If plants remain clean and uptake is quick, the current regime is probably supporting their needs as they bulk. ⸻ Watering & environment (practical reminders) • Keep using your moisture cues (weight or probe). Don’t overwater — allow the root zone to breathe between feeds so the microbiome stays active. • Heavy bud development brings higher transpiration and nutrient demand. Expect faster run-to-run uptake. • Support heavy colas: start planning stakes, soft ties or a light trellis now. Buds are forming weight quickly and the supercropped area can benefit from light support as it fattens. ⸻ Supercrop update — why it worked and what you saw • The deliberate bend on Pheno #2 created the classic healing “knuckle” and redirected auxins to many lateral sites. • Response: a fast curve-up, faster side-site development, and an especially productive top where the bend is located. • Recovery timeline you reported: the branch started to re-orient and carry load in just days — this is ideal. • Keep an eye on the knuckle site for any signs of localized stress or moisture build-up, but good airflow and light will reduce issues. ⸻ What to expect next (and what not to expect) Expect: • Continued bulking and calyx swelling over the next 1–3 weeks. Flower stacking accelerates as plants move past the stretch. • Increased trichome production and stronger terpenes/aroma as sugars and PK feed the resin pathway. • Faster water uptake and higher potassium/magnesium demand under heavy LEDs. • Need for physical support as colas get heavy. Don’t expect (yet): • Final resin peak or full density — that usually shows from mid to late flower (weeks 6–9+ depending on strain). • Large changes overnight — bud density and terpene maturation are gradual. • No problems automatically — a high substrate EC means vigilance; problems show first in lower leaves. ⸻ Practical tips & checklist for Week 6 planning • Measure runoff EC & pH. Log changes. If runoff EC substrate EC and plant symptoms appear, step in with a mild flush and a gentler feed after. • Keep airflow and RH optimized around flowers: small increases in RH can invite mold as buds thicken. Adjust RH downward stepwise if stacking accelerates. • Maintain CalMag and Regulator levels; they’re supporting strong cell walls and uptake under heat/light stress. • Prepare support (stakes/trellis) this week so you can gently secure colas when weight increases. • Continue light, selective defoliation only if it opens important bud sites — avoid heavy stripping now. ⸻ Thanks, community and sponsors Thank you to everyone following the diary, commenting, and sharing energy with these girls. Special nods to the brands and gear that helped make this possible — your tent ecosystem, lighting, nutrients and monitoring tools are all part of the outcome. Grateful for every like, read and watch that keeps the GrowDiaries momentum going. ⸻ Closing — a short reflection Week 5 is where “shape” becomes “substance.” The plants have carried themselves through stretch and are now filling hard. The supercrop paid off: more usable sites, better light distribution, and a stronger, fuller canopy. With a measured push in solution EC and continued respect for the living soil beneath them, these Sundae Drivers are on a clear path to a heavy, fragrant finish. 📲 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 ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: • Genetics, gear, nutrients, and more – Zamnesia: https://www.zamnesia.com/ • Environmental control & automation – TrolMaster: https://www.trolmaster.eu/ • Advanced LED lighting – Future of Grow: https://www.futureofgrow.com/ • Root and growth nutrition – Aptus Holland: https://aptus-holland.com/ • Nutrient systems & boosters – Plagron: https://plagron.com/en/ • Soil & substrate excellence – PRO-MIX BX: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en-us/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae • Curing and storage – Grove Bags: https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ 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 💚
Likes
3
Share
@metlotter
Follow
Two of the seedlings were showing some really marked chlorosis. A little odd, because all 4 buckets should be the same mix, but... I checked the EC of all the buckets and they were consistent. pH was a smidge high on those two, so I dropped it from about 5.8 to closer to 5.4/5.5. After a couple of days, I decided to just remix those two buckets. I didn't want to spend a lot of time trying to fiddle with a nutrient deficiency with autos. After a couple of days the meristem areas were coming in green again, so hopefully it's fixed! The other two plants looked fine. Edit: Immediately after writing this entry, I was like "Oooh, it's nute burn." so I dumped 1/2 of the reservoirs and replaced with filtered water to get the ppm down. pHed it to 5.5 again, and we'll see!
Likes
11
Share
@Chubbs
Follow
420 Fastbuds FBT2303 Week 4 Weekly update for these two beautiful plants. Both seem about the same height though one is definitely more stacked. I did do a major deforliation on both taking off most bigger fan leafs, even though you can't tell. I'll probably do another mild one as they transition into flower as I'm starting to see pistols forming. I did up the water/feeding to 2000ml every other day alternating from nutes to just ph'd water. All in all Happy Growing
Likes
41
Share
DAY 28 : Hi all , hope your past week has been a positive one with lots of love and affection. I am at the point now where flowering should be starting to show throughout the plants usually. Their are many tiny white pistil hairs showing their female genetics across the bracts of them all now so it looks like flowering has begun !!!! The FC3000 has really given them plenty of light on their perfect spectrum to develop those nice fat fan leaves and now will no doubt take them through a great flowering period. It doesnt produce much heat at all and you can touch it for a while and still not feel too much heat. Ideal for stealthy gardens.. The Tip Spreading has been continued up to this point and it is clear to see how it works on keeping the heights down. By using additional l.s.t that wont slow growth down like the leaf tucking and threading the growing tips above the larger fan leaves that are still being used like solar factories producing copious amounts of food for the developing growth tips. The stems on the majority are nice and thick from the close stacking of the nodes and their is very little popcorn to remove from lower down. I will be keeping them all as open as I can now that we are going into the stretch periods pre flower. The potential is there now to create very chunky bud stacks but I think the Strawberry Pie have ideas of bursting out more . ! They are certainly all a lot more happy than the bonsai Mexican that has emerged in #1. Still very short and half the size ( or less!) than her sister in the next bed. She looks happy and healthy now but her initial shock at the soils make up had a negative impact very early on. Overall it has been a good week for their tip spreading l.s.t and setting them up for flowering and I hope that our next update will be the bud porn early stages. Be well and prosperous growmies
Likes
Comments
Share
@Batista
Follow
As you can see, our macro lens arrived, we were able to take several photos and see the trichomes, we had never seen them so close before. We also noticed that many pistils have turned brown in the last days of this week but the trichomes are clear yet. The smell is getting stronger, reminds us of fresh fruits, mango and a little citrus. We are excited, she is healthy and smells good, but a little concerned with the development of buds and if they are within the standards for this week. Despite having many trichomes and the pistils turning brown, we are not noticing a significant fattening of the flowers (correct us if we are wrong). hahaha, noob stuff =)
Processing
Likes
7
Share
This lady is chugging along chasing the strain next to her and has been having a bit of a hard time against this slowed growth.. I've tried less water but still it hasn't really helped yet will watch and wait for that explosion.. cheers
Likes
6
Share
@Nonem420
Follow
Day 105 The Pinus Contorta Purple Matcha is going crazy with the smell, 1 or 2 more weeks for more trichomes to turn amber. The Fresh Pressed Runtz is doing good too but she's far from being ready (on paper 10 weeks vs the 8/9 of the purple matcha).
Likes
390
Share
Doctors Choice = Cali Crasher Hello 👋 guys, I took the pictures the other day and never did my update on here 😆 🤣 I apologize I'm in the middle of C treatments right now and things get so messed up for me 😆 These ladies are still swelling up and stinking up the growroom, it's a good sweet smell I still say they smell like Dr Pepper. I did some defoliation on the left plant it's like days from the chop 😁 ✂️ the other one has a little more to go Thank you Doctors Choice and Mars Hydro Mars-Hydro.com and doctorschoice.farm coupon code "Cyrus"
Likes
9
Share
Likes
10
Share
@TheSTRAFF
Follow
Grow them out a little. topped, tied down. defoliated. Plant now has 8 colas. feeding low PPM / EC as a flush from Veg - PreFlower
Likes
9
Share
She has performed very good with the lst method, nice plant, fast growth, quality flowers, it's a very good choice for everyone who's looking for a good quality strain at affordable prices. Very nice genetic, this phenotype concretely has a very sweet and floral terps. You can check the other 2 phenos of ak420 here at my page
Processing
Likes
17
Share
@HVACBOY88
Follow
Week 7 baby, ok so what's new this week well I upgraded to a new grow light and all I can say wow, it's hard to tell by pics but the sugars leaves are showing trichomes all over and growth has exploded , this light is not playing! Anyway on to week 7 will continue to feed and and monitor keep you guys posted thanks alot
Likes
23
Share
Given her a feed tonight, grow and bloom and molasses. See how things go.