The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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Skywalker rounding the corner. Harvested 8/7 @ Day 76 from sprout Blueberry bulking up. Glueberry og done stretching and bulking up now
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@CalGonJim
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1/12/26 4:18AM MONDAY.....💪💪💪💪👌 1/12 CANNAKAN DAY MEDICINAL SLAVERY WOULD MAKE HARVEST A BREEZE!! ABOUT THE LEDS Yes, the **Samsung LM301H EVO diodes** in your Mars Hydro lights (likely an FC-E series like FC-E3000, FC-E4000, or similar) are among the most efficient horticultural LEDs available right now—individual diodes hit **3.14 μmol/J** efficacy, pushing the whole fixture to around **2.85–2.9 μmol/J** PPE (photosynthetic photon efficacy) in manufacturer specs and independent tests. That's top-tier for full-spectrum grow lights, meaning they convert more electrical power into usable plant photons than older diodes or cheaper LEDs. If they "seem more efficient than the PPFD meter says" (your plants thriving at lower wattage/height adjustments), that's actually common and not a contradiction—it's often the **real-world efficiency** shining through once nutes/stress are fixed. Here's why this happens and what your recent wattage drop (a few more watts lower) likely means: ### Why Samsung LM301H EVO Can "Seem" More Efficient Than Raw PPFD Readings Suggest - **High PPE + Uniform Distribution**: These diodes excel at producing photons in the PAR range (400–700nm) with minimal waste (heat/loss). Mars Hydro FC-EVOs achieve strong average PPFD (e.g., 750–1000+ μmol/m²/s in tests at recommended heights/power) with even spread—no hot spots wasting energy. When your nutes were suboptimal (Advanced Nutrients issues), plants couldn't fully use the light (wasted photons → stress, stretch, lower efficiency). Now dialed in (GH powder + aminos + mycos), they convert more of that PPFD into growth—making the light "feel" stronger/more efficient even if meter numbers stay the same or drop slightly. - **Meter Limitations & Calibration**: - Handheld PAR meters (especially cheap/older ones) can under-read full-spectrum LEDs like LM301H EVO (strong white + red enhancement). They often have poor spectral response to the exact mix, reading 10–30% low compared to pro tools (Apogee SQ-500) or calibrated apps. - If you're using an app like Photone (mentioned in your diary), it's generally more accurate for Samsung full-spectrum lights (especially on iPhone; Android varies but often close with diffuser/paper). Many growers report Photone matching or exceeding cheap handhelds on LM301H setups—sometimes showing higher effective PPFD than a basic meter implies. - Bottom line: Your plants are the ultimate meter. Thriving (miraculous growth, no burn/stress) at lower wattage means the effective usable PPFD is higher than a potentially under-reading meter suggests—efficiency win. ### Your Wattage Drop & What It Means Lowering by a few more watts (on top of the earlier ~10% drop) is smart and aligns with the efficiency gains: - Dimming on Mars Hydro FC series is **very linear**—tests show PPFD percentage tracks close to (or slightly above) the dimmer % because diodes run more efficiently at lower currents (less heat/loss). - Example: Dropping from 100% to 90% might only reduce PPFD by ~8–10%, not full 10%, due to that efficiency curve. - Your plants handling it (still "miraculously better") without stretch or pale leaves confirms the sweet spot: likely 450–650 μmol/m²/s veg/late veg range now, with room to push if pistils emerge. - Solar bonus: Every watt saved = less battery drain on cloudy days, cooler tent (less fan/AC draw), and more headroom for extra plants without spiking consumption. **Practical next steps**: - Recheck PPFD (if using Photone/handheld): Average multiple canopy spots at current height/power—aim 450–600 for late veg autos, 600–800 early flower. - Watch response: If nodes stay tight/dark green/no cupping, you can drop another 5% or lower height slightly for denser canopy. - Log kWh if your inverter shows it—track the drop to celebrate the savings. - If meter still "under-says" vs. plant performance, trust the plants more—Samsung EVOs are proven beasts when the rest of the grow is dialed. This is textbook optimization: nute fix → better photon use → lower power for same/better results → solar efficiency skyrockets. You're building a truly lean system. How low are you at now (e.g., 70–75W total?)? Any pistils or new growth explosions today? Keep the momentum—it's paying off big. 🥊🍌👨‍🔬🚨🌞💪💪💪💪💪 1/15/26 12:36AM L-Phenylalanine: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/L-Phenylalanine#section=Crystal-Structures That’s your Mars Hydro bar-style LED grow light setup in a compact grow tent (looks like a 2x2 or similar Spider Farmer tent branding on the mylar walls), running super efficiently right now! Breaking down what I see from the photos: • The light is a multi-bar LED fixture (probably from Mars Hydro’s FC series, like FC3000, FC4000, or a smaller EVO variant) with Samsung LM301H (or similar LM301B/H EVO) diodes—these are high-end, efficient chips known for uniform distribution, low heat, and great full-spectrum output (warm white + red/IR boosts for veg/flower). • It’s hung at 19 inches (measured from the light bars to the canopy or sensor plane, with that white dotted line marker). The tent shows a hygrometer/thermometer combo reading 76°F / 53% RH (nice stable veg conditions—cooler side helps prevent stretch). • Your PAR meter app is showing 327 μmol/m²/s PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) at that spot/height—solid reading for where you’re at. • Plants look like young cannabis in veg stage: multiple small pots (fabric or repurposed buckets like Krøger cottage cheese tubs—classic budget move!), healthy green canopy with some colorful accents (maybe early purpling or strain traits), topped or in early training, sitting in coco coir or similar media. • Power draw: ~50W current (from the energy usage screenshot), averaging super low over time (0.48–0.76 kWh daily average). That’s impressively efficient—likely dimmed way down or a lower-wattage model (e.g., 150–300W rated, but running at partial power). Total consumption over 30 days at ~14.5 kWh is pennies on the electric bill. This aligns perfectly with your earlier plan to target ~500 PPFD but getting great results at lower wattage/intensity. Right now at 19” and 327 PPFD: • That’s in the sweet spot for early-mid vegetative stage cannabis (typical recs: 300–600 μmol/m²/s for veg, starting lower ~300–400 for young plants to avoid stress, ramping up as they bush out). • Bar-style lights like this excel at even spread (no hot center like older quantum boards), so your canopy is getting consistent light without bleaching or stretch in spots. • Low power (49.6W) means minimal heat buildup—fans and passive cooling handle it easily, keeping temps/RH dialed (76°F/53% is golden for veg; prevents mold and encourages compact growth). Why it feels “great results at lower than recommended”: • Samsung diodes are top-tier efficient (often 2.8–3.1 μmol/J), so you hit usable PPFD without cranking full power. • Many Mars Hydro FC models recommend 18–24” for veg at 50–75% dim (your 19” fits right in). • Your plants are responding well—lush, no obvious deficiencies/stress, and you’re feeling physically ready to top/fill pots after the delay. To push toward your 500 PPFD goal without overdoing it: • Lower the light a few inches (try 16–18”) incrementally—PPFD scales roughly with the inverse square law, so dropping height boosts intensity noticeably (could jump 20–50% depending on spread). • Or bump dimmer % if it’s not maxed (your 50W draw suggests plenty of headroom). • Retest PPFD at multiple canopy spots for average (center often higher, edges lower in bars). • Watch for tacoing/upward leaf curl (too much light) or stretch (too little). This setup is dialed for low-energy, healthy veg growth—perfect for your “lower wattage wins” approach. Plants are happy, tent’s stable, and you’re crushing it efficiency-wise. If you drop the height or dim up, snap another meter reading/pic—I can help fine-tune further. How old are these ladies (weeks from seed/clone)? Any specific strain notes, or planning to flip to flower soon? Keep the momentum—today’s a win! 🌱💪😂
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Hi legends, Day 47 of week 7 This week has seen a massive difference, 3 of the plants have started turning purple which I find strange as all the cutting were taken from the same mother plant. we also have a leaf with seed pod the same as Bnc grower, not sure what causes this anyone? but my guess is that she just wants to get germinated any way she can.. Have started to flush with pre RO water at ph 6.3, this is near impossible to ph with a meter at 0 CF, So I have to PH the water with PH 6. 7.6 colour chart. Also this week the buds are much more resinous and the aromas are fantastic, especially fruity with a very distinct peach smell. I also noted that IMO many smaller buds have not been receiving enough light and therefore not ripening as well, these will be used for making hash looking at the trichomes most still clear but on the purple plant they are mostly cloudy. Ttfn Greenies 😍
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@Ferenc
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Day 96, 15th of December 2020: Wao and wao... this is what I can say. A bit late I was on holiday I usually start the week with the first day but now with the last one. So let's start with the "black sheep" of this group as she is alone here RQS Wedding Gelato. Easy growing issue free little bushy lady. Absolutely great choice of grow. Pretty much ready for Christmas but she can be cut even now lol.... And now let's speak about the Original Sensible Seeds' girls... Well Black Ghost OG similarly to RQS Wedding Gelato is calm little bushy and issue free lady.... no problem all good ready for Christmas.... Runtz Gum the thick chick with heavy big buds and excellent appearance is really amazing. I placed a stick there and fixed her to look better... It was not necessarily but i have done it. She needs more time pretty much done ny Christmas or a bit after.... Gelato from Original Sensible Seeds is similar in terms of acting such as streching and all that ... The same situation applies not much to really say we wait ;) I am really happy to have these ladies.... Well, Do-Si-Dos OG is the craziest one ever... lol.... not only due her crazy kind of streching style but the trichome developement that comes along to the fan leaf "holder" stem is pretty crazy.... Those buds are like a diamonds sticky and she would be ready to harvest but need to wait because I need to go.... I really had to fix her by placing a stick there I broke one stem but fixed as it did not come off... so crazy especially now because of the weight of the buds... now she looks even more beautiful... I think she is the most challenging grow ever. Original Sensible Seeds genetics is unique really high quality just look at them. Royal Queen Seeds as well but this is my second grow from them my first was a Green Gelato which is the same calm littlw bushy plant. Amazing very good for newbies ;) I am going on holiday again and back on 28th of December so after harvest starts. Girls will be cut after. The 7th weeks starts with tomorrow 16th of December.... Only flushing and no more nutritient will be used. Soon full report comes. Lamp is the same 11 hours on and 13 off.... The last 4 days they will get 4 days darkness and only ventilation will be working no even more water ;)
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@simps
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Shoog from BulletProof genetics this little plant is growing fast strong happy with the girl who’s gonna be a big plan I can tell both Plants are growing pretty well s Shoog one It’s growing faster than shoog 2 put both plants are doing pretty wellShoog one is really taking off One of my favorite plants this year so far just like haw fast it grows and how strong and healthy this plants are I have high hopes for theses phenos trying to find some amazing strains to work with on my breeding projects bulletproof genetics has some amazing genetics if you get a chance go check them out on Instagram or bulletproofgenetics.com
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Processing
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SUNDAY 5/5: Rearranged the gardens..have 17 plants in the 4 x 5 now...yowsa! MONDAY: Plucked some dead leaves and did a trichrome check on them both...about half cloudy now..👌 TUESDAY: I observed some white spots(maybe powdery mildew) on a few leaves here and there, so I sprayed them today with Trifecta Crop Cure, a concoction of a bunch of natural plant oils. I already decreased the humidity in the room to 45% with my new 70L dehumidifier, so I think they'll be fine. I'll spray them again tomorrow and the next day, then I'll have to hope that did the trick, because they are entering the harvest window. WEDNESDAY: I watered them today and included a bunch of terpinator, bud candy, bembe, and cha ching. It was their last dose of any nutes...flushing with spring water from here on out. THURSDAY: Took a couple of photos and tried installing my new Solacure FlowerPower UVB light, but it was dead on arrival.😢..back to the 15.0 reptile UVB lights for now I guess... FRIDAY: The guy at Solacure is awesome! He immediately Fedex'd a replacement!👍 SATURDAY: I took a few photos and inspected trichromes...I guess that's it for them both! I'll start flushing tomorrow.
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Info: Unfortunately, I had to find out that my account is used for fake pages in social media. I am only active here on growdiaries. I am not on facebook instagram twitter etc All accounts except this one are fake. Flowering day 15 since the time change to 12/12 h. Hi everyone 😀. This week there was a lot of stretch. The flowers begin to form and stretch the whole plant 👍. I actually wanted to remove the bottom shoots last week, but I won't do that until the next week. The tent was cleaned and all containers filled. Have fun and stay healthy 🙏🏻 You can buy this Strain at https://www.barneysfarm.com/blue-cheese-34 Type: Blue Cheese ☝️🏼 Genetics: Blueberry X Original Cheese 👍 Vega lamp: 2 x Todogrow Led Quantum Board 100 W 💡 Bloom Lamp : 2 x Todogrow Led Cxb 3590 COB 3500 K 205W 💡💡☝️🏼 Soil : Bio Bizz Coco ☝️🏼 Fertilizer: Green House Powder Feeding ☝️🏼🌱 Water: Osmosis water mixed with normal water (24 hours stale that the chlorine evaporates) to 0.2 EC. Add Cal / Mag to 0.4 Ec Ph with Organic Ph - to 5.5 - 5.8
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Day 16-27/12/21 all plants are good!!! Day 20-31/12/21 all looking good just need space in other tent to move half of them!!!!
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@WEEDOOR
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hello! We are nearing the end, the flowers look good and feel like they are getting fatter towards the end. I'm still fighting the heat and trying not to exceed 30 degrees in the closet. Compared to the previous plant I harvested, the current plant has less pollen but is more compact .. I wonder how the differences will feel to me. The pH of the water ranges from 5.8-6.2 and in addition to relieving the heat I cool the water to 20-25 degrees. The lighting is on maximum (250W) and I lowered it to a distance of 45 cm from the top.
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holy sweet lord. these things are beasts. so i heard all about it.. and i thought .. has to be markleting.. no.. these 420fastbuds are true beasts. I put more into my unit to really test it.. will start that diary next week. also enjoy the overall summary
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@Andres
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she grows. good and healthy ... let's hope she does not stay small ... and show all the potential ... the light is no longer as strong as summer .....
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Going very slow! I don't think she likes the LST I'm going to put them into flower at the end of this week.
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She is plumped, ready for flush. Will start to feed plain ph water this week to deplete remaining nutes.
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Rains came. Plants protected as flowering was about to start. Mesh to prevent moths from laying eggs. They are a big problem were I live and I amb not a big fan of foliar spray during flowering as we live in a very humid area. Some defoliation was done.
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Das ist Weltklasse. Damit könnte ich international an Cups teilnehmen.
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@Salokin
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Hi Growmies, I'm excited to share some big news today! Although there have been some unexpected twists, it's all part of the incredible journey of gardening. I've just completed the harvest, a tad earlier than initially planned, due to finding a bit of mold in one of the buds. Despite this minor hiccup, the trichomes were already at a decent 10% to 15% amber. So, all things considered, the timing ended up being pretty spot-on. The harvested weight was a solid 609 grams after trimming, which is quite a feat! A lesson learned for next time: perhaps I let her grow a few too many buds, leading to a denser canopy than ideal. But on the bright side, the aroma is absolutely divine. I sampled an airy bud that had dried a bit, and wow, it packs a stronger punch than its clone mother. And the flavor? Pure, unadulterated cheese – no hint of pineapple here! Now, the anticipation builds for the final dry weight, which I should know in about 3-4 days. It's always exciting to see the fruits of our labor fully realized. A huge thanks to everyone who's been following along on this journey. Your interest and support mean the world. And now, the adventure continues! I've started on Epic Buzz by Anesia Seeds. The diary for this new chapter is up and running, and the seedlings have already sprouted, marking the beginning of another exciting phase. (https://growdiaries.com/diaries/185718-grow-journal-by-salokin) I can't wait to share more updates with you all. Here's to the continued growth and learning in our gardening adventures!