The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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Week 4 - It’s Friday again, and that means it's update day! Another week has passed, and as usual, there's plenty to report. A lot has happened, and once again, I’m bringing you along on my journey as a total beginner in the world of growing. Every week is a new learning experience, and I’m excited to share what’s been going on in the tent as my Amnesia Zkittlez and Gorilla Cookies continue to grow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Growing Parameters -Humidity: 43-55% -VPD: Max 1.4 -Airflow: Always active at level 1, auto-adjusts when needed -Day Temperature: 25-26°C -Night Temperature: 22°C -Light Cycle: 20 hours light / 4 hours dark -Lamp: IONBOARD S24 from AC Infinity (240W) Watering Schedule: -Day 24: 1 liter -Day 26: 1 liter -Nutrients are applied with every watering Light Adjustments: -Light distance now at 50 cm -Intensity increased to level 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Growth Update The most noticeable change this week has been the incredible growth of the plants. I’ve uploaded some new photos for everyone to see, and it’s amazing how much they’ve shot up compared to last week. The differences in growth behavior between the Amnesia Zkittlez and Gorilla Cookies are becoming even more pronounced. The Amnesia Zkittlez has more than doubled in height since last week, shooting up and stretching outward. Meanwhile, the Gorilla Cookies hasn’t grown as much in height, but it has become noticeably rounder and bushier, almost like a pufferfish. It's fascinating to watch these plants develop in such different ways. While the Zkittlez focuses on vertical growth, the Gorilla Cookies is spreading out horizontally, forming a dense, compact structure. All around the plant, small flower sites are emerging, extending from within the plant and beginning to take shape. This difference in growth styles really highlights the unique characteristics of each strain, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Training: LST and Defoliation This week, I’ve also focused heavily on training the plants using Low-Stress Training (LST) and some selective defoliation to optimize light exposure and encourage better growth. I applied LST more aggressively over the past few days, using clips to gently bend the stems of individual branches outward, almost to a 90-degree angle. This technique has helped the plants spread out horizontally, allowing more light to reach the inner and lower branches. I’ve been adjusting the clips nearly every day to refine the structure and ensure that the light penetrates deeper into the canopy. The goal is to encourage outward growth and create more space for the lower branches to thrive. In addition to LST, I began selectively removing leaves. I started with the first set of fan leaves, followed by leaves growing inward toward the plant’s center. These were either shading promising bud sites or simply not contributing to the plant’s energy needs. I’ve also removed the lower bud sites, which likely wouldn’t have developed into anything substantial. This way, the plants can focus their energy on the more promising, higher-up buds that are receiving better light. Throughout the defoliation process, I’ve been careful not to remove too many leaves at once. I’ve only taken off leaves that were either blocking key bud sites or were small and shaded, ensuring that the plant still has enough foliage to continue its healthy growth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nutrients and Watering Routine There haven't been any changes in my nutrient schedule or the way I water the plants this week. I’m still using the same BioBizz nutrients at the recommended dosages with each watering, and the watering process itself remains unchanged. Each plant receives a consistent 1 liter of water every couple of days, and so far, the plants are responding well. However, based on some recommendations I’ve received, I’m planning to introduce CalMag from BioBizz into my watering routine over the course of the next week. This will help ensure that the plants have enough calcium and magnesium, which are essential for strong cell structure and nutrient uptake, especially as we move further into the flowering phase. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned As I progress through this grow, I’m realizing how much more there is to learn, especially when it comes to managing light exposure and training techniques. It’s been rewarding to see how the plants respond to LST and defoliation, but I’m still figuring out the perfect balance. Every small change seems to make a big difference, and I’m constantly amazed by how quickly these plants adapt. Being a beginner, this process has been both challenging and exciting, and I can’t wait to see how the flowering stage develops. This journey has been a humbling experience, reminding me that growing plants isn’t just about following steps, but also about observing and learning from the plants themselves. Every day brings new insights and challenges, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see these changes reflected in the health and growth of the plants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking Ahead In the next week, I’ll continue to monitor the pre-flowering phase closely. I expect the water and nutrient demands to increase even more as the plants transition into full flowering, so I’m preparing to increase the watering amount to 1.2 liters per plant soon. I’ll also be keeping an eye on the structure of the plants, especially the differences between the Gorilla Cookies and Amnesia Zkittlez. I may begin defoliating some of the lower leaves to give the plants more room to breathe and allow light to penetrate deeper into the canopy. There’s a lot of excitement ahead as the flowering phase approaches, and I’m eager to see how the plants respond to these new stages of growth. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to drop any advice or questions in the comments—this journey is all about learning together!
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Nothing to report. Looking good to me!?
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@BB_US
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These ladies are solid and filled with tons of orange hairs. The smell is like no other of citrus and fresh cut wood. One week then I am going to flush her.
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@Ninjabuds
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The plants are looking really healthy. I’m still getting used to my new lights. I think I didn’t push enough light in week 2 of flower I’m ramping up the light intensity now. I had to whip out my par meter I was keeping the light to far off the plants. This light has to be closer to the plants than my mini sun. I’m lurking this light a lot I just need to get used to it
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@AustinRon
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LJ4Q23 Flower 10 
HARVEST WEEK _______________________________ Environment Targets (Flower 10 - Harvest) - Scotoperiod: [ 13, h] # Contiguous dark hours daily - TemperatureMax: [ 78, °F] - RH: [57, %] - VPD: [ 1.2, mS] - LightIntensityMax: [ 750, µMol/m2/s] - LightDistance: [ 16.5, “] Fertigation Plan: - RLA Hydro Chart, EC 1.3 - 0.8 - Primer A: [ 6, ml, gal] - Primer B: [ 6, ml, gal] - Silica Skin: [ 2, ml, gal] - Resin Bloom: [ 2, ml, gal] Penultimate 3 Days (before Harvest) - RLA Resin Bloom, EC: 0.8 __ Wed Jan 31, 2024 LJ4Q 64:F:9:1 EC: 1.3 - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 550, ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [ 3.3, mS] __ Thu Feb 1, 2024 LJ4Q 65:F:9:2 - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 650, ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [ 3.2 , mS] __ Fri Feb 2, 2024 LJ4Q 66:F:9:3 Refresh/Dilute Reservoir, EC: [ 1.1, mS] - IF Refresh - Resin Bloom Only @ [ 8, ml, gal] - [x] EC Reservoir, Dark: EC: [ 1.3, mS] - [x] Add 1 Gal, w/ Resin Bloom [ 8, ml, gal], Reservoir EC: [ 1.1, mS] - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 800, ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [ 3.2, mS] __ Sat Feb 3, 2024 LJ4Q 67:F:9:4 - [x] Reduce Feed Duration from 4 Minutes to 3 Minutes (775 ml Runoff is a tad high, yes?) - [x] Trichome Check - Are we Ready to Harvest Tuesday? - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 775, ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [ 2.9, mS] # First Day with Runoff EC Coming Down . . . __ Sun Feb 4, 2024 LJ4Q 68:F:9:5 - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 550 , ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [2.9 , mS] - [x] Dilute Reservoir to EC: [ 0.8, mS] # Resin Bloom: [ 8, ml, gal], EC: 1.0 __ Mon Feb 5, 2024 LJ4Q 69:F:9:6 Add another gallon w/ 8 ml Resin Bloom Only . . . EC Solution: [ ?, mS] EC Reservoir: [ 0.9, mS] - [x] Runoff Amount: [ 75 , ml] - [x] Runoff EC: [ 4.5, mS] __ Tue Feb 6, 2024 # HARVEST DAY 70 !!!! LJ4Q 70:F:9:7
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Sorry for the late update so for that I included a video of my grow room. This week is the last for the horizontal growth and is is now going vertical. Can’t wait for that tall growth going forward.
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@goeser
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Growing much better then expected unter a 100W LED. Think they will start to flower in 5 to 7 Days.
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@Velk1
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All the baby's are in great shape the mbap's are taking to the scrog well loads and loads of bud sites The grape walker kush are getting nice and big I esspesially like the look of the mainlined/folded one structure is nice and open Now the gold glue by topping this seems to have really done it well more open branchy structure much Easyer on training this one is going to be interesting ......... Check out the insta for more @velk_1
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💩Holy Crap Growmies , we are outdoors and in the Ground and there Doing Great💩 👉It's been another full week 42 days from seed and she's doing great , very nice Growth, considering shes been up against the wind and rain 👈 No problems 😊 so far so good 👍And she's now in full on flowering 😁👈 DO TO THE AMOUNT OF RAIN , IVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO TOP DRESS HER😎 I GOT MULTIPLE DIARIES ON THE GO 😱 please check them out 😎 👉THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GO OVER MY DIARIES 👈 👉NutriNPK NUTRIENTS USED FOR FEEDING 👈rain water to be used entire growth👈 👉www.nutrinpk.com right now get 10% off using SPRING2022 as the coupon code👈
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Hey everyone, quick update on my Hulk in living soil! It’s growing like crazy, and I’m starting to get a bit concerned it might get too big once the flowering stretch kicks in 😅. Other than that, I’ve just been watering occasionally and adding some beneficial microorganisms . I’m thinking in about 1-2 weeks, I’ll switch to 12/12.
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@Roberts
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Deep Forest Auto is moving along. Shevhad another ph bottom out. I am not providing enough irrigation and the feed has been too strong is my conclusions. Organic nutrition is high in salts. Hopefully this will be fully resolved by tomorrow. 🤞🏻she finishes up soon. Thank you Medic Grow, Gen1:11, and Doctor's Choice. 🤜🏻🤛🏻🌱🌱🌱 Thank you grow diaries community for the 👇likes👇, follows, comments, and subscriptions on my YouTube channel👇. ❄️🌱🍻 Happy Growing 🌱🌱🌱 https://youtube.com/channel/UCAhN7yRzWLpcaRHhMIQ7X4g
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@Afterglow
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Моя девочка за неделю выросла на 12 сантиметров и начала цвести, при этом еще и расширившись в стороны и заполнив все пространство бокса. Опасаюсь, что она упрется в лампы и все ни как не могу решиться основные ветки еще немного погнуть в бок, чтобы уж неаверняка. Мне нравится как она выглядит: красиво, аккуратно, и погнув станет похожа на уродца. Перешли на предцветное питание в начале недели. В это раз решил не использовать трехкомпонентные удобрения, а продолжить использовать Advanced Nutrients, уж очень хорошо на них растет. За PH не смотрю, только контролирую PPM, который стабильный как константа что на влив, что в дренаже. Да и листья все целые, ни намека на болезнь, так как увеличил фосфор и калий, и убрал Cal-Mag, прошел легкий профицит азота. Спасибо что заглянули.
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The only strain for the red flower from sweetseeds we have grow until know, but after these I will grow sure more of it. Also love to grow the Darkdevilauto because of she's colors, my didn't became so dark but more Violet and green i really love it!!000
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Mango Kush – Week 2 Flower (Week 6 from Seed) Bloom boosters, high temps, new lights, and a little tribute to nature Grower: Dog Doctor Strain: Mango Kush (Pheno #1 & Pheno #2) Environment: 8×8 Grow Room Control System: Full TrolMaster ecosystem (Tent-X brain + WCS substrate sensors and more) Lighting: • ThinkGrow Model One • ThinkGrow ICL-300 (x2 inner canopy lights) • Future of Grow Black Series 600W • Lumatek Zeus 465W Compact Pro ⸻ 🌸 Week 2 Flower – Transition Mode The Mango Kush sisters are looking absolutely stunning, even if this week was busier for me and I only managed a few photos. 🌱 Instead, I recorded a video walkthrough so everyone can see the whole room vibe, happy, lush, and full of energy. Both phenos are pushing beautifully into flower: • Pheno #1: Taller, branchy, already stretching into her flower frame. • Pheno #2: Started later, but catching up fast, morphing gracefully into bloom. The morphology shift is very visible this week, especially with the introduction of new bloom-focused nutrients. ⸻ 💧 Feeding Update – The New Recipe This week we swapped Start Booster → Top Booster and introduced a few Plagron classics to complement the Aptus base: Water Mix (per liter): • Aptus Regulator – 0.15 ml • Aptus CalMag Boost – 0.25 ml • Aptus Top Booster – 1 ml • Plagron Power Buds – 1 ml • Plagron Sugar Royal – 1 ml • Plagron Green Sensation – 1 ml We paused All-in-One Liquid for now, letting the slow-release pellets in the super soil do their work. The idea: less redundancy, more synergy. 💡 Experiment in Progress: I’ve used Plagron successfully in the past, but this is my first time weaving their trio (Power Buds, Sugar Royal, Green Sensation) into an Aptus base. It’s improvisation, yes, but that’s where discoveries are made. Let’s see how the Mango Kush girls respond! ⸻ 🌡️ Environment – Riding the Highs • Temps: Sometimes peaking at 34°C (🌬️ AC unit on the way soon!) • Humidity: 60–70% at times • VPD: ~1.89 kPa • Soil Moisture: Watering when down to 19–20% • Monitoring: TrolMaster WCS Substrate Sensor → feeding me EC, moisture, and root zone data in real time ⚠️ It’s not a “perfect” VPD chart this week, but the Mango Kush girls are handling it like champs. Sometimes stress teaches resilience, and these ladies are showing strength. ⸻ 💡 Lighting the Room The canopy is now supported by a serious multi-light orchestra: • ThinkGrow Model One – Main engine, full spectrum power • ThinkGrow ICL-300 – Inner canopy lights bringing energy to lower branches, helping all bud sites shine • Future of Grow Black Series 600W – Supporting spectrum balance • Lumatek Zeus 465W Compact Pro – Newly added, boosting the footprint and canopy penetration Together, this creates an even distribution of photons across the room, minimizing shadow zones and preparing the girls for heavy bloom stacking. ⸻ 🧠 TrolMaster Ecosystem – Grow Room Brain The Tent-X controller, paired with WCS substrate sensors, has become my right hand: • Live feedback on soil moisture, EC, temp, and RH • Smarter watering decisions (no guessing, just data) • Automation ready → The dream of a fully self-regulating grow room is coming closer For now, I still hand-water, but soon automation will take over. Until then, it’s hands-on love every day. ⸻ 🐝 A Tribute to Bees – Nature’s Pollinators While we manage indoor canopies with LEDs and controllers, let’s not forget the simple magic of nature. Outdoors, it’s the bees that keep the cycle of life moving. One photo I’m sharing this week is of a bee pollinating a flower, a reminder that without them, much of our food (and medicine) would vanish. Bees are not just workers; they are guardians of biodiversity. 🌍💛 Let’s honor them in every grow, even indoors, where they cannot reach. ⸻ 🔄 Recap So Far – From Seed to Now • Week 0–2: Germination & seedling stage, Aptus Start Booster for early vigor • Week 3–4: Veg growth, branching in Pheno #1, Pheno #2 catching up • Week 5: Flip to flower, stretch begins, PPFD raised to 766 • Week 6 (Now): Morphology shift, bloom boosters added, lights upgraded, temps testing resilience The Mango Kush girls have evolved beautifully every step of the way , two different phenos, one journey, one story. ⸻ 🔮 What’s Next • AC installation → stabilize temps into the sweet 26–28°C range • Closer monitoring of Plagron + Aptus synergy → expect denser flowers • Watch for first true pistils and bud formation in Week 3 Flower • More light power on standby as the canopy fills out ⸻ 📹 This week’s highlight: A video tour of the full room (since fewer photos this time). 📸 A few shots are included to show just how happy the Mango Kush girls are. 🌱 Thank you everyone for reading, learning, and growing along with us! Join us on YouTube and Instagram for the full behind-the-scenes journey. 📲 Don’t forget to Subscribe and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @DogDoctorOfficial for exclusive content, real-time updates, and behind-the-scenes magic. We’ve got so much more coming, including transplanting and all the amazing techniques that go along with it. You won’t want to miss it. • GrowDiaries Journal: https://growdiaries.com/grower/dogdoctorofficial • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial There’s a new series blooming and it’s more than just plants. It’s about process, patience, and paying attention. ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: • Genetics, gear, nutrients, and more – Zamnesia: https://www.zamnesia.com/ • Environmental control & automation – TrolMaster: https://www.trolmaster.eu/ • Advanced LED lighting – Future of Grow: https://www.futureofgrow.com/ • Root and growth nutrition – Aptus Holland: https://aptus-holland.com/ • Nutrient systems & boosters – Plagron: https://plagron.com/en/ • Soil & substrate excellence – PRO-MIX BX: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en-us/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae • Curing and storage – Grove Bags: https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ We’ve got much more coming as we move through the grow cycles. Trust me, you won’t want to miss the next steps, let’s push the boundaries of indoor horticulture together! As always, this is shared for educational purposes, aiming to spread understanding and appreciation for this plant. Let’s celebrate it responsibly and continue to learn and grow together. With true love comes happiness. Always believe in yourself, and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart. Be a giver, and the universe will give back in ways you could never imagine. 💚 Growers love to all 💚 P.S.- Why These Plagron Additives? – A Deep Dive I’ve decided to complement the Aptus base with three Plagron boosters. Each one has its own role in the flowering process, and together they form a very balanced support system for the Mango Kush ladies. 🌸 Power Buds (1 ml/L) • Purpose: Early flowering stimulator • What it does: Power Buds encourages the plant to initiate bud development faster. It shortens the “transition phase” from veg into bloom, helping flowers form sooner and more consistently across the canopy. • Why now: We’re in Week 2 Flower, the exact point where we want to signal the plants: “It’s time to build flowers.” Power Buds sends that hormonal nudge. ⸻ 🍯 Sugar Royal (1 ml/L) • Purpose: Enhances resin, aroma, and stress resistance • What it does: Sugar Royal contains amino acids that stimulate the plant to produce more chlorophyll and secondary metabolites. In plain terms: richer terpene profile, stickier resin, stronger smell, deeper taste. • Extra benefit: It also reduces stress from heat or drought, very useful right now since our temps have been spiking up to 34°C. • Why now: As stretch continues, plants need to stay strong and not waste energy on stress. Sugar Royal helps them thrive despite less-than-ideal VPD. ⸻ 💎 Green Sensation (1 ml/L) • Purpose: All-in-one bloom enhancer for the second half of flower • What it does: Green Sensation is a powerful 4-in-1 booster that improves: • Flowering: denser, heavier buds • Resin production: frostier flowers • Nutrient uptake: more efficient feeding • Soil health: stimulates beneficial microbial activity • Why now: Even though it shines brightest in late flower, starting early allows the soil ecosystem and plant metabolism to adapt gradually. By the time we hit peak bloom, the system is fully primed. ⸻ 🌱 How They Work Together • Power Buds → Kickstarts flower sites • Sugar Royal → Enhances resilience + resin quality • Green Sensation → Boosts density and overall flower performance The trio works like a team of specialists: one accelerates the start, one polishes the quality, and one pushes yield potential. Combined with the Aptus base (Regulator for strength, CalMag Boost for structure, Top Booster for bloom push), it’s a balanced, experimental, but very promising recipe. 💚 Growers love to all 💚
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@Hannax
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Last week of flo >> harvest the 29th october This strain is highly resistant of mistakes.
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On top of yellowing leaf problem. Adding some nutrients subtracting some nutrients. Little of leaf defoliation.
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21 day cure… 👃🏽 is insane, it has more of a sweet loud taste covered in Trichomes and I love the pinkish purplish colors 💪🏽🦍👍🏾