Once again, this week starts where the former one ended. With the exception of all the cables you can see in the first picture. I dared to install a minimalized version of the Raspi control only controlling the self-built humidifier and one blower/fan combination. I was very pleased to see how easily the simple diffusor can hold optimum VPD as long as temperatures are high and humidity tends to fall below optimum VPD. A single 10 seconds evaporation can hold the level for about 2–3 minutes.
I am not pleased to see the Monsanto blowers rather underperform. It’s impossible to reduce humidity or temperature with both running on full speed, while a lifting of the tent door will bring immediate changes. With the Raspi/Arduino success so far*, I am thinking about using old Power Mac fans which are WCM controllable and use 12 V. At least one to increase air intake, and maybe even the blowers.
* It wasn’t any problem at all to have the Arduino collect CO2 and soil moisture data, so after some more cable manufacturing (aka helpless soldering), I could extend the Raspi control. I’m still uncertain about the camera module (@trelorny impressed me with his time lapse videos). I don’t want to put the hardware into the tent with its not so electronics friendly climate, already risking some rare outages of the temp/hum sensor. But the camera module cannot be placed far away. So maybe I’ll use the 3A model I own as a spare part as a camera driver. Any maybe, if it works, invest in a better camera module. Mine is generation 1.
Oh, and the ladies! Gave them slightly fertilised water yesterday, and even it or the better VPD yesterday or a combination of both make me believe bud growth is a bit more visible today. The smell in the morning when I open the tent to release accumulated humidity is outstanding.
They were already thirsty on day 57 again, so pure RO + a bit of tap water until it spilled out of their pot’s bottoms. Many fan leaves turning autumnally now, and the smallest Sherbet suffered a bit from over-fertilisation as I wrote. But it this stage I don’t go for leaf beauty anymore. Just another learning: Don’t use differently sized pots anymore. Hard to feed them individually this way.
VPD was mostly in best range yesterday, and I have the feeling it really supports their bud growth. I added an "Evening time" option to my Raspi control that allows the humidity to sink a selected time before lights shut down. That made it possible to have humidity in best range for most of the night time too.
They were even dry again on day 58 morning. Another time just water. The blowers cannot cope with the flowers’ smell anymore, and so sometimes my flat cannot hide who shares it with me.
Day 60 presents me with a problem: I’ll leave on Friday for a few days. Considering the microscope pictures are not from the tops buds: Would you say it’s safe to give them another week?
Problem solved on day 61. Only clean water from now on, and next week will be their last.
You won’t see any new pictures for some days now. Me too …
Something I wanted to share with you before I leave: I just finished to update my grow box control with a new PWM fan hat that keeps the Raspi cool, while at the same an infrared sensor can now measure real leaf and additional ambient temperature. Setup is much cleaner and more robust now, but I wish my flux would not make the solder stick to the tip of the machine instead of making it flow and stick at the tiny tiny spots I have to hit …