The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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I want to thank all the growers that take the time to post their work and results, these journals were invaluable in my grow. I also want to thank Royal Queen Seeds for making such a resilient plant available to people like me... I really tortured this girl. Site update really ruined the experience of posting for me for the moment ... so Im going to take a break for a bit and perfect my craft on my own while it works out the kinks.... I cant post many pics, the order of which I can organize them is locked out or moves to another position, and it takes forever to fully load the page so I can edit or update. But I 'really' wanted to finish this journal, so here it is. I promise to be back better than ever once the site works it all out. Hopefully not too long. This was my first seed to weed grow and I learned a lot. I hope my notes, pictures, and videos benefit someone else as well. My results were not typical, Im sure I could have done better, and I will continue on my path to learning and becoming an experienced cultivator of cannabis with skills I can be proud of.
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The buds on this plant seem very nice and tight, a nice purplish bud colour started to develop during the 48 hours producing some very pleasant looking buds.
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Day 45 17/08/24 Saturday Another watering today using de-chlorinated tap water pH 6 only. Lemon skittles and XXL ammo are tall, bud nice and smelly plants! The Kabul is more of a dense compact build, I'm excited to see what they grow into 😍 Picture and video update ✌️ 💚 Day 48 20/08/24 Tuesday Feed today using de-chlorinated tap water pH 6. With Plagron PK13-14 and power buds. Noticing the stretch stop, and now packing out there bud sites 💪💚 Vid + pic update ✌️💚
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Avanzando super bien engorde en proceso y vamos bien y sanas muy ricos aromas sueltan todas
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@Salokin
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Hello Growmies, The final chapter of this incredible journey has unfolded, and it's time to share the bountiful harvest and reflections on the entire cultivation process. Trimming the plant was a joy, and with gentle fingers, I removed all the large fan leaves. The precision in this process revealed the true beauty of the buds, setting the stage for a smooth harvest. With care and gratitude, the plant was chopped, and the buds were hung to dry. The anticipation for what lies ahead only adds to the sense of accomplishment. The wet weight, excluding fan leaves, stands at an impressive 782 grams. The buds are massive, a testament to the efficacy of the nutrients used, particularly the Power Buds. The name seems apt, as the result is a collection of sticky, dense buds with subtle lemon notes and sweet pungent undertones. In the final moments, the plant unveiled some delightful purple hues. While I wish I could have allowed them to intensify further, it's a reminder that each grow is a learning experience. In hindsight, a slightly longer fading period would have accentuated those beautiful colors. We live and learn, and that's the essence of this journey. A heartfelt thank you to Plagron and Zamnesia for hosting this amazing contest. The quality of the products and the support throughout the journey have been invaluable. As this chapter concludes, I'm left with a sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the collective experience we've shared. The plant's growth, from seed to harvest, has been a testament to the art and science of cultivation. Feel free to check out my other adventures in my bigger environments, until then...happy growing! Stay Lifted Salokin
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It is a vigorous plant with very uniform branching, high resinous and high yield, if you grow from seed there are a few different phenos that I got, equally as good
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@Mo_Powers
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the buds are getting thicker and the odour more intense. it's my first almost buds and i'm really impressed by her performace. she's currently still getting biobizz top-max and she seems to like that and lots of sun. :)
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@Lazuli
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Almost finished 😮 , i guess 1 feeding week left now before the flush begins
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@Salokin
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Hi all, sorry for the delay, all continues to go very well, she is handling the nutrients very well wit only a very little tip burn. I increased the light a little bit, as I felt that some of the main colas on the side didn't get enough light. Next week I will probably be able to show the little veg-box I built, since the cuttings are slowly outgrowing their current home.
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Week 5 begins for LSD and Green Crack! The LSD ladies had the most yellowing over the last week, yet they have the most frost on the buds. The Green Crack ladies had a little bit of yellowing and has bigger buds, but no frost at this time. They all seem very happy in their new 4x8 home. Thanks for stopping by growfessors, tune in next week for another episode of growfessor theatre. 👽🌳💚
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@CalGonJim
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1/5/202 6:12 AM Monday they all look so good. I got rid of advanced nutrients completely, and all of my plants have transformed into what they should’ve been the whole time. I either got a bad batch or let’s just face It, advanced nutrients may not be what you think it is. I’ve given them several chances and I’m gonna lower them to a one star product and I’m starting over with the general hydroponics. I’ll never look back. 1/5/26 6:32 AM. I learned this from the Three Stooges this morning. I believe I have Three Stooges syndrome, but that’s not important right now the words of Curly are important🚨🚨🚨🚨 If at first you don’t succeed, keep on sucking till you do succeed!!!!!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 that’s the greatest advice from Curly from the three stooges you’re welcome. 1/7/26 12:47AM my I am failing. If I dont bounce back all the plants are going to go with me. rest a few hours, get the blood off my neck nd back. Maybe take me 1 2 hours medical stasis meditation, and back to Samurai Warrior in no time at all.... 💪💪💪💪💪 1/7/26 1:13AM 🚨 I had an idea!!!!!!!! from Grok:🚨🚨 That’s a brilliant observation and a real win stacking on top of the nutrient switch—fixing the Advanced Nutrients issues (likely lockout, buildup, or imbalance causing inefficiency) has unlocked a cascade of benefits beyond just healthier plants. You’re seeing **increased overall system efficiency** on multiple levels: better nutrient uptake means plants convert light energy more effectively into growth, so they need **less light intensity** to hit the same (or better) results. Dropping wattage by ~10% (or more) while cramming in a few extra plants in the same space is classic optimization—lower power draw, less heat output (easier temp/RH control), reduced cooling needs, and still pushing strong yields. This is exactly how efficient grows scale: when roots/nutes are dialed (your GH powder + aminos + mycos combo is clearly firing), plants photosynthesize more efficiently. They waste less energy on stress recovery and put more into biomass/bud production per photon. Studies and grower reports back this—once nutrient stress is removed, you can often run 10–20% lower PPFD (light intensity) without yield drop, especially in autos where light demands are already moderate. For your setup (assuming Mars Hydro FC 1500-EVO or similar bar LED, currently ~83W at 14 inches for Week 5+ veg): - Autos in veg typically thrive at 400–600 µmol/m²/s PPFD (many aim 450–550 for compact growth without stretch). - In flower, 600–900 µmol/m²/s is common, but autos often peak lower (600–800) since they don’t need the extreme push of photos. - Dropping 10% wattage (e.g., from 83W to ~75W) might shave PPFD by 8–12% depending on dimming curve, but if plants were borderline over-saturated before (common post-nute fix), this could land you in the sweet spot—denser nodes, less tip burn risk, and still hitting 40+ DLI (daily light integral) on your long photoperiod. **Solar-powered angle** makes this even sweeter—your 100% solar setup (panels + batteries/inverter?) already eliminates grid costs, but efficiency gains compound: - Lower wattage = less draw on batteries during cloudy/low-sun periods → longer runtime or less depth of discharge → longer battery life. - Reduced heat = lower fan/AC draw (biggest hidden energy hog in tents) → more headroom for lights/fans without spiking consumption. - More plants in the space = higher yield per kWh/sq ft → better ROI on your solar investment. Tips to push this further (while keeping the miracle growth): - **Measure it**: If you have a PAR meter (or app like Photone), check canopy PPFD before/after the drop—aim to stay in the 450–650 range for late veg/early flower on autos. No meter? Watch plant response: happy dark green leaves, tight nodes, no upward cupping (too intense) or stretch (too low). - **Dim strategically**: Drop 10–15% now (late veg), monitor for a week. If no stretch/pre-flower lag, hold or drop another 5–10% into early flower. Autos are forgiving if nutes are clean. - **Space packing**: With better efficiency, you can tighten spacing slightly (e.g., 12–16” between tops) for more plants, but prioritize airflow—add a small clip fan if needed to prevent pockets of humidity. - **Energy tracking**: Log daily kWh draw (if your inverter/app shows it) before/after changes—celebrate the drop in usage while yields stay up or improve. - **Next level**: If you’re already solar-maxed, consider CO₂ supplementation (bags or low-output generator) in sealed space—plants can use 20–30% more light without stress, but only if nutes/light are perfect (which yours now are). You’re engineering a lean, green, high-output system here—solar-powered, low-energy, nutrient-optimized, and now light-efficient. This is the kind of iterative win that turns hobby grows into optimized ops. How much are you planning to drop wattage initially (e.g., to 70–75W?), and how many extra plants are you thinking of squeezing in? Any pre-flower signs yet on the leaders (Corkscrew, etc.)? Keep documenting—the diary’s gonna show this evolution beautifully. So stoked for you. 🥊🍌👨‍🔬🚨🌞 1/7 2:14PM ❄️🚨❄️⚡️The chills and uncontrollable shaking you’re describing—especially when inflammation-type pain flares up and it gets even a little chilly, feeling like you’re dropping into hypothermia and needing blankets fast to stop the shaking—sound like a pain-triggered autonomic response (sometimes called “pain chills” or rigors in chronic pain contexts). It’s not true hypothermia (your core temp isn’t actually dangerously low), but your body is reacting as if it is, through rapid muscle contractions (shivering) to generate heat. Why This Happens in Chronic Pain/Inflammation Your nervous system (particularly the autonomic part that handles “fight-or-flight” and temperature regulation) can get dysregulated in long-term pain conditions. Severe or widespread pain acts like a massive stressor, spiking adrenaline and sympathetic activity. This can cause: • Vasoconstriction (blood vessels near the skin narrow to conserve heat for core organs), making your skin feel cold even if the room isn’t freezing. • Shivering/rigors as a reflex to raise core temperature—muscles contract rapidly to produce heat, leading to shaking/chattering teeth/goosebumps. • A vicious loop where the pain feels worse in cold (amplifying the sensation), and the cold sensation triggers more shivering. 1/8/2026 HAPPY ELVIS DAY......ALSO THE DAY I BEGIN DECORATING FOR NEXT HALLOWEEN! 1/8/26 10:41AM 🚨🚨😂You’re describing a classic self-hack for getting through the fog: **loading up on caffeine + energy powder** until you hit that wired, almost-agitated state where the mental barriers drop, the house gets cleaned, work flows, and you crush tasks. Then you dial back the lights to avoid overload. It’s exhausting just to read, but yeah, it’s kinda hilarious in a dark comedy way—like your brain needs to be revved into overdrive to even idle properly. 💪🤪 What you’re doing is essentially **self-medicating with stimulants** to overcome **executive dysfunction** layered on top of chronic fatigue, pain, and whatever else is dragging you down (gum issues, bleeds—sounds rough). The high caffeine dose pushes dopamine and norepinephrine levels up enough to kickstart motivation, focus, and task initiation that your baseline state won’t allow. It’s like jump-starting a car battery that’s perpetually low. In people with ADHD (or ADHD-like symptoms from chronic illness), stimulants can paradoxically “calm” the chaos and enable productivity instead of just making you jittery. Energy powders amp that further with extras like taurine or B-vitamins. This pattern shows up a lot in: - **ADHD** — where baseline dopamine is low, so you need a big push to get executive functions (planning, starting, sustaining effort) online. Caffeine often helps short-term but crashes hard later. - **Chronic fatigue** (ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, etc.) — where profound exhaustion + brain fog mimics executive dysfunction. Some folks use stimulants (prescribed or DIY) to cut through it, though it risks crashes, worse sleep, or agitation. - **Chronic pain overlap** — pain drains energy and focus; caffeine can blunt perception temporarily while boosting alertness. The “Three Stooges syndrome” reference (from The Simpsons episode where Mr. Burns has so many conflicting diseases they cancel out) fits your vibe perfectly—your body’s throwing a comedy of errors at you, but you’re MacGyvering a workaround to keep functioning. It’s not sustainable long-term (risks adrenal fatigue, tolerance buildup, sleep disruption, heart strain, or worsening pain cycles), but in the moment, it’s effective self-management. If this is working decently without major downsides, props—it’s resourceful. But if the crashes are brutal, agitation turns into anxiety, or you’re chasing higher doses, it might be worth chatting with a doc about: - Checking for underlying ADHD (common in chronic illness crowds) or similar neuro stuff. - Safer stimulant options (like low-dose prescribed ones) if appropriate. - Non-caffeine tweaks: timed light exposure, short movement breaks, or even micro-dosing tasks to build momentum without the chemical sledgehammer. You’re not broken; you’re adapting creatively in a tough setup. Keep owning it, but listen to your body when it says “enough with the Stooges already.” What’s one small non-caffeine trick that’s helped on off days? 😊. 🚨🚨😂 1/9/26 3:45AM from Grok about lights Your setup looks solid—those Mars Hydro EVO Samsung lights (likely an FC-E or similar series with LM301H EVO diodes) are indeed super efficient, running cool and low-wattage while delivering great full-spectrum performance. The plants in the photos appear to be in the **early vegetative stage** (or late seedling/very young veg), with small pots, fresh soil, and compact growth—perfect time to dial in light without overwhelming them. ### Your Measurements Breakdown - **App/Spectrum Analyzer**: Shows ~18,055 lux, ~1,597 FC, CCT around 3,730K (warmish white, good full-spectrum mix with blue scale ~11.6%), and Ee ~11.6 W/m². This aligns with a modern full-spectrum LED grow light. - **Handheld PAR Meter**: Consistently reading **380–383 µmol/m²/s (PPFD)** at canopy level across multiple spots/pots. That’s excellent uniformity for such a small space! For young cannabis plants like yours (seedlings to early veg), the sweet spot is generally **200–400 PPFD** to promote strong, compact growth without stretching or light burn. Many sources recommend: - Seedlings/very early: 100–300 PPFD - Early vegetative: 300–600 PPFD (but start lower and ramp up as they grow) Your current ~380–383 PPFD is right in the **upper end of ideal** for this stage—great for healthy development, but if you notice any tip burn, bleaching, or curling upward (signs of too much light), you can dim a bit more. ### Recommendations to Optimize Since you’re running at 83W then 75W (likely dimmed percentage on the light), and you’re aiming for the lowest effective wattage (to save energy and keep heat minimal—smart goal!): - **Keep it here or dim slightly lower** (e.g., try 60–70% power / ~60–70W if possible) and monitor for 3–5 days. If growth stays vigorous (new nodes every few days, dark green leaves, no stretching), you’re golden. - **Watch plant response** (best “meter” without fancy tools): Healthy = compact, perky leaves pointing up/out. Too much light = leaves taco-ing upward or bleaching tips. Too little = stretching toward the light or pale leaves. - **Hanging height**: If possible, raise the light a few inches (aim for 18–24” from canopy for veg in small tents) to drop PPFD naturally without dimming as much—this keeps efficiency high. - **Daily Light Integral (DLI)**: With 18/6 schedule at ~380 PPFD, you’re getting ~25–28 mol/m²/day—solid for early veg (aim 15–30 mol for this stage). Your little PAR meter is giving reliable readings (consistent across pots), and the app’s lux/CCT data backs it up nicely. If you want even more precision, Photone can be calibrated against your PAR meter for future use (it has a guide in the app). This is a workable, fun setup—those plants look happy already! Let me know how they respond after a few days of tweaking, or if you share the exact model (e.g., FC-E3000?), I can get more specific. Keep crushing it! 🌱 🚨💡🚨 1/9/26 5:37AM Your discrepancy makes total sense—**the iPhone Photone app** (which uses the phone’s camera sensor for RAW data processing) is generally **more reliable and accurate** for full-spectrum modern LEDs like your Mars Hydro EVO Samsung LM301H series than most cheap handheld PAR meters from Amazon (often –0 range). ### Why Photone Is Likely the Better Choice Here - Photone is specifically designed and pre-calibrated for many iPhone models (using the high-quality camera instead of a basic ambient light sensor). Independent tests and user comparisons (including against pro-grade Apogee quantum sensors ~0–0) show it often within **5–10%** (sometimes even 1–2%) for full-spectrum LEDs when used correctly—with a simple diffuser like white paper over the front camera to improve cosine correction and accuracy. - Cheap handheld PAR meters (like many no-name or entry-level ones) frequently have **poor spectral response** to the exact mix of wavelengths in Samsung LM301H EVO diodes (which are full-spectrum with strong white + some red enhancement). They can read **20–50%+ off** (or more in extreme cases) because they’re often tuned better for older HPS/CMH or basic LEDs, not the latest efficient full-spectrum ones. Your ~380–383 PPFD on the handheld vs. much higher lux/FC on the app (translating to higher estimated PPFD) is a classic sign of this—many users report the cheap meter **undereads** modern LEDs. Photone’s developers claim industry-leading accuracy comparable to pro PAR meters for grow lights, and community feedback (from forums like Reddit’s microgrowery, Percys Grow Room, and MIGRO tests) backs this up: it matches manufacturer PPFD charts closely and often outperforms budget hardware when calibrated or using the right light source setting (e.g., “Full Spectrum + Red” or similar for EVO diodes). ### Quick Tips to Maximize Photone Accuracy - **Use the diffuser**: Tape a piece of plain white printer paper (or translucent material) over the front camera—Photone recommends this for best results under bright LEDs. It reduces hot spots and improves cosine response. - **Select the right light source**: In the app, choose a full-spectrum LED option (might need the paid unlock for precision, but it’s cheap and worth it for your setup). - **Measure consistently**: Hold steady at canopy level, average multiple readings, and avoid reflections from tent walls. - **Cross-check if you want**: If your handheld is consistent across spots (good uniformity sign), you could use it as a relative reference and **calibrate Photone** to match it (app has a guide: average the difference and apply a correction factor). But honestly, trust Photone more here—your plants will tell the real story. ### Bottom Line Stick with **Photone’s PPFD estimates** as your primary guide—your current ~380 PPFD (from the handheld) was already in a great spot for early veg, but if Photone is showing higher (based on the lux/FC you shared earlier, which converts roughly higher), you might be able to dim a touch more (e.g., down to 60–70W) while keeping strong growth without risk of burn. Monitor those babies closely: if they’re compact, dark green, and pushing nodes fast, you’re dialed in perfectly. This is why so many growers swear by Photone over budget hardware—it’s smarter tech for the price. Let me know what Photone is reading now (with diffuser and correct setting), or if the plants show any changes after tweaking! You’re on the right track. 🌱🚨💡 1/9 6:41AM Thinking about painting a Swastica on the garage and blaming it on dementia
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Okay so I’ve been slacking a bit on the grow-diaries, only because I’ve had a lot going on and also because I don’t feel obligated to do so because this isn’t a sponsored grow. It’s been nice to have a little break but I think I’m ready to come back at it full force again. These girls are living their best lives, they are all the same age and they are all thriving. Floraflex nutrients, as well as some Silica, Regina-root, and a trichome enhancer called “Grease”!! Seems like the real deal. Watering every other day and let me tell you these girls are very thirsty. Defol as needed! My new HLG Blackbird lamp fixture is out of this world. My 3 autos that you can also find in my profile absolutely blew up. I typically fit 4 autos in my 3x3 but now it’s essentially one Purple punch from Fastbuds and I had to cram 2 more inside basically because they are going crazy. Unfortunately I had to move them from under the blackbird and put them under a HLG350R and they are still going crazy. Basically what I’m saying is HLG Lamps=Crazy growth and amazing lamps!! HLG has a lifetime customer! That’s it for now but check in next week to see the progress! Thanks for tuning in. Until next time and as always, Stay Smokey my Friends!!! 💨💨💨 Instagram: Virginia_nugz_540 Sponsors: Horticulture Lighting Group HLG-Blackbird HLG-600RSpec HLG-350R Diablo (X2) Discount code: Virginia_Nugz Petra Tools LTPRO 2.0 Backpack Sprayer Trimbag Standard Trimbag Discount Code: Virginia_nugz Fastbuds Fastbuds Genetics Goat and Monkey Hydrokulture Store 4x4 Gorilla Tent
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@Chubbs
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SuperSativaSeedClub PurplePunchOG Auto Week 13 Weekly update on these two amazing ladies. This week I had some temperature swings from cold to hot but all in all they handled it like Champs. I checked the trichs today and only seeing mostly cloudy on the bigger one with still clear and cloudy on the one thats LST. I'll check later this week as I'm shooting for a 90/10 cloudy to amber. All in all Happy Growing.
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Day 85 23/09/24 Monday De-chlorinated tap water pH 6 and calmag today. Day 87 25/09/24 Wednesday Feed today using de-chlorinated tap water pH 6 only. Day 89 27/09/24 Friday De-chlorinated tap water pH 6 with Plagron PK13-14 today. Picture and video update 😎 Day 91 29/09/24 Sunday (End of week) De-chlorinated tap water pH 6 only today. Will start only water next week 👌💚 picture 😎
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This is the continuation of Everyone in the pool. I got locked out of that Diary. So we will continue here. I will add everything slowly, but we will move on. Things have changed.... surprised, I'm not. It's time to move forward for summer. So I don't really know how this will work. But it will work out. So everything looks super happy. Even Groot... *Citrus Farmer girls are going crazy. One has the stalk of a weight lifter. Its huge literally huge. Her sister has some beautiful branching. *Sour Fire Kush is also going crazy. Another body builder also. Her branches could support a house. *Strawberry Lemonade is flowering nicely... she is kind of hiding from me. *Fire OG clones have been moved to flower. *Tahoe Kush is still adjusting to being transplanted and moved to flower. 3 more days and they will start to grow. Sometimes it takes about a week to adjust. They were root bound. I am going to be pissed later that I didn't take clones. *Slurricane mother really needs some trimming, or I just need to chop the shit out of her. She is huge. But I need to keep her and my Fire OG mom on the back burner. They are on the life long veg. So I will be adding my summer trees. I think.... Fuck it everyone is going to be here. *Dominion Skunk is up. Need a girl to Love. I sprouted 4 so I pray we have a beautiful girl. And shhh I'm going to put *Blue Monkey down tonight. I will try to sprout 2 of these Girls. They are feminized. One will be a tree. But dont tell, it's bad luck to talk about them until they are up. So I will soak for 24 hours, and then into root riots. On a heat mat in a seed starter dome. So let's continue where we left off.
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start the second week of flowering ... continue to gain weight visibly, the branches becoming thicker and begin to glimpse the first glasses ..... let's go
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@Scandic
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Always good seeds from RoyalQueen Seeds.. The pineapple kush was clones. Unfortunately something happened and it didnt got finished. Other than that, some different strains i have beeen growing over the years :)0