The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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🌱 Week 3, Day 7 Update: Buds Are Blooming! 🌿 Hey Grow Fam, We're cruising through Week 3, and my girl is really coming on—buds are starting to form, and it's a sight to behold! The girl is growing so fast now, drinking 4.5L a day. She could even do with in-between waterings, in my opinion. She's aiming for the stars and shooting for the moon, getting bigger every day and stinking out my room. I had to tie my light higher up with some rope as it wouldn't go any higher, and shoots were getting way too close! I did SCROG when flipping, and I should've been a bit more strict on it (did it longer), but now I realize why SCROG is used. Imagine if I never used it—she would be way too tall. Overall, I'm so happy with how she is growing and can't wait to see the final product. :) But, as with any journey, we've hit a little bump in the road. Despite keeping our feeding consistent at 850ppm, the runoff readings have been creeping up. Last check-in showed a runoff of 1400ppm. It's got me thinking we might be dealing with a salt buildup in the root zone. To address this, I'm sticking with our feeding routine at 800-850ppm. If the runoff ppm keeps climbing or if our plants start showing signs of nutrient burn, I will adjust accordingly, but as of right now, I'm sticking to the same feed as she looks great! ( If I do begin to notice signs of nutrient burn (excess), I will try to water with a lower EC/PPM, like 700ppms, to bring it down. But if I don't get the results I'm hoping for, I will just flush the plant with 3x the media size of water (just plain pH water) to wash out any old salts and reset the medium. You don't really want to do this with coco depending on what stage your at in flower, veg on the other hand flush.? Sure!, if you really need to reset that medium go for it, (i do see tiny signs of burn but thats fine if it gets worse then i have a problem) Let's stay focused and keep our eyes on the prize—beautiful healthy buds. We've got this! #GrowUpdate #Week3 #BudsBlooming #KeepGrowing 🌱🌿
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Going steady this week! Gonna go a couple more weeks and then flip to 12/12. Added 2 new clones to the tent as well, 2x Indian Rhino x The Matrix. Curious to see the differences between strains and also differences in growth between seed/clone. I won’t be keeping track of those 2 in this diary though. Thanks for reading, happy growing!
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@Khalico20
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Hoy es el primer día a 12/12 La e nutrido con estimulante de flor Antes de dejarla a oscuras la he trasplantado a la maceta definitiva de 18L Se va a hacer hermosa muy contento con los resultados no le he dado un cuidado muy excesivo es muy agradecida pedía ya está última sena el trasplante la maceta de 7L al mes y medio se le quedaba pequeña Un saludo buenos humos!
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@84ruk
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Primera semana en un sustrato malo del cual fue trasplantada la siguiente semana
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So pheno #2 is already done some how way before the others the rest have a couple of weeks left till chop got 3 different phenos but probably won’t run this one again tbh but everyone’s different and likes different things!
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Well the plant has been growing tremendously very easy to control the stretch with the scrog method. The plant should only experience it’s final stretch this week although very hard to say considering the FFT strains have yet to be disclosed. Overall very happy with this grow, great genetics to work with. Looking forward now to see the rewards!!! ✌️
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Just finished week 6 and I have to say she is looking so healthy and started to fill out lovely now 😀 gave her a couple of leaves trim as they was starting to overgrown the leaves below and wanted to give the plant much more light to help her grow to her potential. My earlier worry about being stunted with early progress issues has well and truly disappeared as you just continues to grow from strength to strength! Happy days happy growing !
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Hey there, fellow plant enthusiasts! It’s time for another exciting update on our magnificent P.C.R.s as they journey through their second week of flowering. Buckle up, because things are getting wild in the grow room! Our P.C.R.s are on a growth spurt like no other! They're reaching for the stars and filling up the entire room with their lush foliage and budding flowers. It's like a jungle in here, and I’m loving every minute of it! The energy in the room is electric, and you can practically feel the excitement buzzing in the air. With all this growth, our grow room is bursting at the seams! These plants are not messing around—they’re taking up every inch of space and demanding attention. It's like they're saying, "Look at us, we're the stars of the show!" And let me tell you, they're stealing the spotlight with their beauty and vigor. As we approach day 21, the anticipation for defoliation is real. But our P.C.R.s have other plans—they're playing hard to get! Despite their reluctance, I’m keeping a close eye on them and patiently waiting for the perfect moment to give them a little trim. After all, a little pruning goes a long way in ensuring optimal light penetration and airflow, leading to healthier and happier plants. Defoliation is like a mini makeover for our plants—it removes excess foliage, allowing more light to reach the lower buds and promoting better airflow throughout the canopy. This not only improves bud development but also reduces the risk of mold and pests. It's like giving our P.C.R.s a spa day—they come out looking refreshed and rejuvenated! Week 2 of flowering has been nothing short of exhilarating! Our P.C.R.s are growing like champs, filling the room with their vibrant energy and undeniable charm. While we wait for the perfect defoliation moment, we'll continue to shower them with love and attention, nurturing them every step of the way. Shout Outs A big shout out to @aptusholland for their incredible products that keep our plants thriving. And to the amazing community at Grow Diaries and all our followers, your support and enthusiasm fuel our passion for growing. Let's keep the green revolution going strong! Until next time, happy growing, and may your gardens be abundant and bountiful! Genetics - P.C.R. @Art_Genetix_Team https://artgenetix.world/ Nutricion @aptusholland https://aptus-holland.com/ LED Power @Lumatek and @viparspectra As always thank you all for stopping by , for the love and for it all, i fell blessed to have you all with me for one more love journey Thank you Thank you Thank you , you guys are great and have been amazing , thank you for everything ! #aptus #aptusplanttech #aptusgang #aptusfamily #aptustrueplantscience #inbalancewithnature #trueplantscience #dogdoctorofficial #growerslove
 With true love comes happiness , Always believe in your self and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart , be a giver and the universe will give back to you in ways you could not even imagine so ! Growers love to you all
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@BodyByVio
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This week I Supercrop all the plants and spred them out over both lights. One more week of Veg and they are ready to explode Check me out on Instagram @growmorestressless
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@Elpicor
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No stretching this week, just buds fattering from now
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Flowering day 23 since time change to 12/12 h. Hey everyone ☺️. The plants develop beautifully even if they are very small in this experiment, especially the front ones 😂👍. Compared to the grow before when I did a scrog with the same genetics in the same system, there is of course much less leaf mass here. But this time I wanted just such little trees for testing purposes 😃👍. This week the entire water is changed again like every 12-15 days approx. From then on I will also go up to EC 1.3 because the flowers are starting to form well :-). More follows in next update. Stay healthy 🙏🏻 and let it grow 🍀🍀 You can buy this Strain at : www.Zamnesia.com ☝️🏼☝️🏼☝️🏼☝️🏼☝️🏼☝️🏼 Strain Gelato clone from mother (Zamnesia ) ☝️ Genetics: Wedding Cake x Gelato x Gelato 33 👍 Vega lamp: 2 x Todogrow LED CXB3590 COB 55 W 1 x Sanlight S2W 62 W 💡 Flower lamp : 2 x Todogrow LED CXB3590 COB 55 W 1 x Sanlight S2W 62 W 💡 ☝️ Grow Aero System : Growtool 0.8 ☝️ Fertilizer: Canna Aqua Vega A + B , Canna Aqua Flores A + B , Rizotonic, Cannazym, CANNA Boost, Pk 13/14, Canna Cal / Mag, Canna Ph - Grow, Canna Ph-Bloom ☝️🌱 Water: Osmosis water mixed with normal water (24 hours stale that the chlorine evaporates) to 0.2 EG. Add Cal / Mag to 0.4 Ec Ph with ph- to 5.2 - 5.8 💦 💧
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@AsNoriu
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Day 92. Girl is at 170-180 cm height already ;))) Need to buy longer bamboos, tied to the highest place and hope for no hurricanes ;)))) Think to visit now in couple weeks, they have food, UK weather back to rainy side, so i don't need to do anything ;) Day 96. We had ridiculous hurricane, went to check are all girls ok and they ARE ;))) Last visit for 2 weeks 4sure ! Happy Growing !
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@CalGonJim
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1/12 4:14AM MONDAY!!!!!!!! CBG IS GOOD!1 LOWERD THE WATTAGE, EFFICIENCY IS GOOD. GREAT WHITE MYCO HAS INCREASED UPTAKE AND AND!!!! PHOTOSYNTHESIS EFFICIENCY ......FUCKING AWESOME 💪💪💪💪 1/12 4:47AM I asked GROK: are samsung leds on my mars hydro lights seem more efficient than the PPFD meter says, I lowered the lights again by a few watts? 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. 🥊🍌👨‍🔬🚨🌞 1/13/26 7:47AM BRUTAL WEEK FOR THE MOP AND BUCKET GUYS AT MUDRUROS COMPOUND 1/13, 11:22 AM banana purple punch auto RF three is doing really great. I haven’t really needed to do anything. I decided not to top. I didn’t want to do anything except light stress training. I think she’s gonna turn out just great. Her stock is one of the thickest. She’s just perfect.😍😍😍
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