The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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She is jumping out the gym sorry couldn't get a shot of her alone my tent is a little crowded shoving her ass into flower tomorrow so excited 😆
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@Ninjabuds
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The Bubble OG plants are looking awesome! My tallest one is stacking up with super dense buds. It's crazy to think that the other one is almost ready to chop – the colors are so vibrant. And then there's that short and squat one with the purple leaves. It's definitely the oddball of the bunch, but I kind of like it. The past few weeks have been so beautiful, watching the plants grow and change. It's amazing how something so small and fragile can turn into something so strong and vibrant. Now that they're getting ready to bloom, it feels a little bittersweet. I'm so excited to see the finished product, but I'll definitely miss having them around while they're growing.
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@Dunk_Junk
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Wow look at that bush!!! I've not seen that much bush since Debbie Does Dallas! 😂 😍 She's grown another 18cm this week vertically too. Hope she enters flowering soon 😬 😎
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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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This week things seem to be progressing normally. Although not knowing what to expect, I can't say for sure, but no mishaps so far. I think they have stopped stretching, and are starting to get bigger buds, but that may be wishful thinking. Watching the time lapse I am noticing that during certain parts of the day, the leaves are drooping still. At first I manually turned on the pump for their nutrients when I saw the leaves starting to sag, which was generally when I got up in the morning, but then watching the video, I decided to start doing it earlier. After watching last weeks video, I decided to set the pump to go on even earlier, and now I think I might do earlier still, or even perhaps set it to run twice a day. Time will tell... literally.. 😃 As you can see, I dropped the amount of Medi One this week, and upped the Bloom formulation with no big change in the results that I can see, but they do look healthy with green leaves and no unusual tips.
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@Natrona
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Frostbanger Plants 1-6 First thank you if you actually look at all these pictures that I photobomb with each week. Documenting six plants on a tester strain to provide ample information regarding the new strain characteristics takes a lot of time, work, and effort. I am so frustrated with Grow Diaries system doesn’t load pics or videos without error. When I load pictures, I am systematic and load every picture on that plant together, each video that I load first on the pictures identifies the plant pictures that follows. However, Grow Diaries puts the videos first, moving the picture out of order. I know which pictures of plant parts go with each plant, but with GD shuffling my pictures around good luck everybody else. This week I had so many errors uploading simple pictures that I had to go back and reload them. You may see multiple duplicate pics this time due to these system errors. Sorry about that but at least they are there. I will not do this level of photographs and diary support again. Week 11 June 1-7 FLOWER 6 Nutrients : 3 gal GH Micro 7,5ml GH Gro 0ml GH Bloom 23ml CalMag 7.5 ml Elm Bloom 15ml 6/1 PH 6.62 PPM 646, temp 67 2 ltr each 6/3 PH 6.6, PPM 493, temp 68 2ltr each 6/5 PH 5,84, PPM 580, temp 68.5 2ltr 6/3 Defoliation 6/4 weekly pics & vid As aways, thanks for visiting, for the likes and most of all growers’ love and support because I surely haven’t gotten any from @Fast_Buds on this grow. Stay green, growers love 💚🌿my friends. 💫Natrona💫
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@Noeynoe
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Shes looking ok, but again I wish I would have let her veg more and did more manicuring, lsting. The next run will be nicer from what I’m seeing with the cuttings I took. Thanks to all of you following and commenting. It gives me confidence in what I do, ✌️🏼❤️🙏🏼
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Gelato #33 is preparing for Beast Mode and topping almost every top and trimming the füEK out of this Lady 👒 She is going to be 🎨🦄🧑‍🍳💨 I also got an extra friend in the tent Mr Super Lemon Haze 😎🍋🍋🍋🍋 haha I'm trying to make a Sorbetto al Limone is simple and the best. Feed with @emeraldharvestau Under a few @viparspectra_global P600 94W And my ninja Flash Led 300W Be kind
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@HighKing
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I dried them for 9 days and now they are in jars with bovedas ready to cure for 1 month. Very strong and sticky weed. I love it ! Another great thing : they are not hard to grow. Make sure you wont train them too much and they will be fine. Big and strong plants.
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Hola de nuevo familia, dejamos la última semana de playa power plant xL. Aquí si vemos cómo la carencia de Nitrógeno afectó las hojas bajeras, pero nada serio. Solución: alimentar más . Lo demás lo podéis observar en las fotos y videos. todo va bien a excepción de una pequeña carencia .
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Top Dressed with my dry amendments and topped 3 nodes down with of all branches. Trying to really bush it out under a scrog. The nutrients kicked in within the week on the Acapulco Gold. - Changed the light from about 15% to about 35% at the same height on the ES180 - By using the mixture of Bio Tone and Earth dust I am introducing symbiotic microorganisms into the soil, mostly fungus. From what I understand these mycelium help the plant uptake the food grow healthier roots. - My goal is to use the increased nutrient availability to help the plants handle more light intensity and meet it vigorous growth. -Turned both fans on for stem strength -
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@AsNoriu
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Day 29. Girl is going , a bit slower than Ice, i was hoping Chocolopez will be same big runner, still very nice plant is forming. Mars TS1000 - Light is solid and does job. For last week output is on max . Still rotate a lot, but am happy with development. I miss more good wind inside, but i live in shared house ;)))))))))))) even really silent air system is still loud on desired speeds ... Hope next week ill send her to flower. Will top up with Worm Castings and Mycorrhizae during training in few days, when girls will be watered next time. Rhythm is good, every 3 days pots are light. 1.5 liters to each went straight in after photo shoot. Day 31. Applied BioBizz Leaf Coat when lights went off. Loads of training was made today too. Day 32. Now girls are trained daily. Top shoot twisting, leaf tucking, rotation around axis , changing positions inside of tent and so on. Always wash hands before any training, it is a must. Still havent made mind, scrog or lst ... Think tomorrow will be watering day and i have to decide which way to go , i am fliping them at next watering 100%, otherwise again rush to harvest before late spring holidays ... Happy Growing !!!
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@Hommero75
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The first 7 days were good the plant is growing nicely. She just got fed for the first time with Goldleaf feterlizer. I had to raise the light higher because she is a little sensitive to the light.
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Quite a few are finishing up I’m gonna start the flush in around a week then harvest few days after that, incredible thc on this strain and buds are really dense I couldn’t recommend a better autoflower then this is best I’ve ever done 💪🌱😜
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Another week closer.... So glad we are almost to the end, the heat out lately has been a killer, added another fan to the room it helped a little .... The girls are drinking alot ..they are at the point were the ppms dont drop but raise as the water goes down.. do to not taking up nutrients as they were when growing earlier, so in turn the last few weeks I start to drop in ppms ...I never have noticed a difference by keeping them high all the way to the end I like to drop the last few weeks ....if they are not using it why feed them it...... everything else is going great Until next week, smoke a fatty , help out your fellow grower.
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@valiotoro
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I want this monster to turn purple so im gonna drop the night temp to 13• degrees for one week!
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@Tagadatek
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Petite brûlure pendant la Flo mai ça va elle s'en sort pas mal