๐ฟ Lava Cake โ Week 5 (First Week Flower) | Pre-Bloom & Heat Talk ๐ฟ
The Lava Cakes have officially stepped into their flowering tentโฆ though, to be fair, theyโre still enjoying a little extra veg time before showing pistils. Both phenos are healthy, lush, and stretching beautifully, clearly ready for the show ahead.
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๐ธ Photo Studio Glam
We took them out for another studio shoot, bright lights, clean background, and every angle showing off their deep greens and perfect branching. Soon, their beauty will be dressed in flowers, but for now, the leaf structure alone is worthy of the spotlight.
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๐ก๏ธ Current Conditions
โข Room Temp: 31ยฐC
โข Humidity: 50.3%
โข VPD: 2.23 kPa
โข PPFD: 766 ยตmol/mยฒ/s
โข Soil EC: ~2.0
โข Soil Temp: 25.6ยฐC
Yes, the temperature is running hot โ AC unit is on the way to lock it back into our ideal zone.
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๐ฌ Heat in the Grow Room โ Risks & Benefits
Potential Risks:
โข Faster substrate drying = more frequent irrigation needed
โข Higher transpiration rates can stress plants if roots canโt keep up
โข Slightly increased risk of light stress at high PPFD without proper cooling
โข Possible reduced terpene retention if sustained into late flower
Possible Benefits (short term in veg/pre-flower):
โข Accelerated metabolism โ plants grow and stretch faster
โข Increased water/nutrient uptake (if well-fed and watered on time)
โข Can improve COโ usage efficiency if levels are high enough
Bottom line: As long as theyโre hydrated, fed, and ventilated, short bursts of high temp are manageable. But for flowering, we want to keep daytime temps closer to 24โ28ยฐC for optimal quality.
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๐ง Watering Strategy
We water when the soil dries to about 25% moisture remaining, this encourages:
โข Stronger root growth searching for water
โข Better oxygenation of the root zone
โข Less risk of root rot in warm temps
Right now: Theyโre drinking daily due to the heat, so weโre feeding daily as well.
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Current Feeding (per L of water)
โข Aptus Regulator โ 0.15 ml
โข Aptus CalMag Boost โ 0.25 ml
โข Aptus All-in-One Liquid โ 1 ml
โข Aptus Top Booster โ 0.25 ml
With the increased drinking rate, nutrient uptake has increased โ meaning no signs of deficiency, just steady lush green.
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๐ Looking Ahead
โข AC installation will stabilize temps, allowing tighter VPD control
โข First signs of pistils should appear within the next 7โ10 days
โข Weโll begin adjusting feed ratios for early bloom once flowers set
โข Light intensity will climb further as stretch continues
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๐ Closing Note:
This week is all about momentum, heat or no heat, the Lava Cakes are pushing upward, prepping themselves for a heavy flower load. The environment tweaks are on the way, and weโre building them the perfect stage for their bloom performance.
๐ฒ Donโt forget to Subscribe and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @DogDoctorOfficial for exclusive content, real-time updates, and behind-the-scenes magic. Weโve got so much more coming, including transplanting and all the amazing techniques that go along with it. You wonโt want to miss it.
โข GrowDiaries Journal: https://growdiaries.com/grower/dogdoctorofficial
โข Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/
โข YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial
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Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow
If youโre curious about the tech Iโm using, check out these links:
โข Genetics, gear, nutrients, and more โ Zamnesia: https://www.zamnesia.com/
โข Environmental control & automation โ TrolMaster: https://www.trolmaster.eu/
โข Advanced LED lighting โ Future of Grow: https://www.futureofgrow.com/
โข Root and growth nutrition โ Aptus Holland: https://aptus-holland.com/
โข Nutrient systems & boosters โ Plagron: https://plagron.com/en/
โข Soil & substrate excellence โ PRO-MIX BX: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en-us/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae
โข Curing and storage โ Grove Bags: https://grovebags.com/
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Weโve got much more coming as we move through the grow cycles. Trust me, you wonโt want to miss the next steps, letโs push the boundaries of indoor horticulture together!
As always, this is shared for educational purposes, aiming to spread understanding and appreciation for this plant. Letโs 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.
๐ Growers love to all ๐