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!