📆 Week 9, 7-13 December 2023 7-13 December - Continued with simple adjustment of branches to receive maximum light. There was no defoliation of any leaf this week. Her growth rate has slowed and I believe she is heading in to the bulking stage. I’m satisfied with her size at this point. 8 December - Turned light power from 50% up to 75%, and raised lights from 18” to 21” from top of plant to facilitate the bulking phase of flowering. 📑 Let’s briefly discuss light and umol/m2/s or PPFD. First of all its all about numbers. Is there an agreeable starting point on these figures - the cannabis plant requires between 100-300 PPFD in seedling, 400-700 PPFD in vegetation, and 800-1000 PPFD in flower. It can go up to 1500 PPFD with certain C02 concentrations. I believe this may be generally accepted. Never being much of a numbers person, in ways I avoid it. I’ve grown indoor weed for a long time without a fancy device to tell me what this number was, the plant did that. A quality light and the plant itself will talk to each other in a matter of hours sometimes, days in others, I just need observe. But what I have come to realize the past few years is that these numbers, found in simple instruments (apps for smart phones) give us a very specific area of where she is within all these spectrums. It allows us more precision and insight to what would otherwise be a possible weak or vulnerable spot within our grow. I’ll use mine on a new strain, and to verify any questions. They are easily accessible tools for the common gardner. When we adjust our lights we can measure what will be optimal for our plant. Using my case in point; from: 50% power or 890 PPFD at 18” to: 75% power or 1080 PPFD at 21” **if not raised 3” - that number would have been 1320 PPFD - likely damage the plant - or raised any higher there would be no real benefit in what I’m attempting to achieve - likely waste of power** The 2023 ViperSpectra XS2000 lights (the ones I use) come with a new switch now that go from 25, 50, 75, 100% power and no option in between. So that kind of put a kink in a week or two during my grows I have to work around. Going from 50-75% power is a big shift in light intensity, and these lights are bright. Knowing what that number is and being able to adjust the height precisely to avoid damage is reassuring. I appreciate advancements that make growing a little easier. In most personal grows during flower I’ll go well over 1000 PPFD depending on the strain tolerance, without C02. Here are my experiences why: 1) my set-up allows it, 2) that number only reflects the greatest reading at the highest point on the plant - my reports, 3) when the plant is budding it is absorbing much more photons than when in the leafy only stage - everything is accelerated - this is a totally different discussion, 4) the additional light provided will proportionally increase a higher yield, and finally, 5) some of todays theories on light will change in 5 years, as it has from 10 years before, we still have a lot to research. LEDs are definately cream of the crop, but there is something new to learn I’m sure. Until then I can only tweak what I have in search for a tighter bud, higher in THC. I said I would briefly discuss this subject. Everything is possible with lights. It is science that says the cannabis plant does not have to produce secondary metabolites (trichomes and cannabinoids), in some cases it may not. It produces them based on its environment. She returns to you what you dedicate toward her. Something to keep in mind when deciding what kind of light to use to while trying to grow quality cannabis. 🍽️ Nutrient change on 7 December 🐲 Feeding schedule updated 7 December 🌊 Using reverse osmosis water with EC/TDS at 0 🐉 Nutrient Solution EC 2.1 at 65 degrees F 💡 Light power at 75% That is it for this week. Thanks for the look, read and stopping by.