The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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@Messypies
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Buds are now looking ripe. The trichomes are mostly milky and senesance has set in nicely. Pushing until i start seeing 1 or 2 Amber's and then will induce 48hours of darkness to attempt to increase thc production before harvest
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08/11: La troisième semaine de floraison commence enfin on devrait les fleurs prendre forme. J'espère que le stretch est fini car elle est assez grande et doit laisser un peu de place au autres. 08/12: la troisième semaine débute sur une note un peu amer. Certaines feuilles se détériore à une vitesse folle, ainsi que des tâches brune. Premier réflexe GHE essential et cal-mag agent de Canna ce matin. Espérons que les prochains jours seront plus cool et que cela vas arranger mon problème. 08/13: après avoir fait plus de recherche je suis enfin tombé sur un article sur le blog de pevgrow et mon problème correspond en tout point à une carence en magnésium. Je devrais voir voir des améliorations dans les 4 à 7 jours. Et bien-sûr continuer à donner du calmag. Le problème viendrai du fait que je tourne en 24/7 avec les auto's enfin c'est ce que je pense après avoir croisé les conseils et avis des "growers" de GD et certains articles. 08/14: c'est dernier jours ont été intense pour moi, lors de mon premier diaries j'avais déjà eu le même problèmes avec une purplequeen auto à l'époque je n'avais pas de calmag... enfin tous ça pour dire merci à la communauté growdiaries.com qui m'a conseillé et supporter. Maintenant cela c'est stabilisé et n'atteint aucune autre feuilles, les nouvelles feuilles sont belles et viguoireuses. Me voilà rassurer et surtout j'ai encore appris de nouvelles chose sur la cannabiculture 😎😨🤓 08/15: elle a créée une belle masse de feuilles entre temps, je vais appliquer une grosse defoliation après le prochain engraissâge histoire d'être que les carences ne sont plus d'actualités. À part cela je me contente de couper deux feuilles par jours. #46 08/16: tout est rentré dans l'ordre ouF :D - la production de trichromes à bien commencé, une légère odeur typique à la weed qu'elle que soit la variété en début de flo. se dégage de la growbox. je suis enchanté! Maintenant j'epère que le switch d'engrais càd changer "BioBizz bloom/topmax" pour "Canna PK13-14/Boost Accelerator" vas lui plaire à la jolie dame #47 08/17: apres une de nuit de réflexion: arrosage/engraisser (canna calmag (.6ml/L)/BB blom-topMax (1.2ml/L chaqu'un)/ AN BigBud-BudCandy (1ml/L chaqu'un) ce matin. J'essayerai canna pk 13 14 et boost accelerator sur mon prochain plant. #48
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welcome to Day 29 15/1/21 she would be very tall if I was not doing SoG she is doing very well and is recovering from what looked like cal/mag diff coco is bas for causing that to happen. I really should get the stuff for coco lol. well that's all for this week drop a like and comment if you like. As always happy growing and keep your stick on the ice
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@Lumberdog
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Chugging along. Have had some moisture issues in the tent- pooling water on the floor. Added another fan to keep things moving plus reduced the temp at which the exhaust fan blows one degree. That seemed to help. I’m a little worried that the buds seem so small this late in the game. I’ll officially ask a question about this later, but I have been having a lot of condensation inside my tent. That’s because it is in a cold part of my house. And though I do have two fans running and the temp is set low, the condensation is running down my walls and under my floor tray. Not a huge issue except I tried wiping down the walls today and bent a pretty good bud stalk. Not sure if it will keep growing or if it will be an early sacrifice. But, bummer all the same. Also, I figured out that I was a week off. So, just starting week 8.
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@SooSan
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Dans l'ordre : Blueberry Dutch Passion Blueberry 00 Seed Blueberry PEV Seed Blueberry Bulk Seed Animal Cookies x Blue Monkey Exotic Seed Red Hot Cookies Sweet Seed DoSiDos x Purple Punch PEV Seed Purple Shot Exotic Seed
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@GrowGuy97
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All of the ladies are now starting to flower except the NHL I think it’s a little behind but all in all they are growing great! Day 31 - Everything seems to be going great, fed the ladies yesterday havnt had any more issues yet (Thankfully) thanks for following & happy growing friends✌️🏼🌱 Day 33- A few of the ladies have some dead leaves not sure if it’s normal or if something is wrong.. they all seem pretty healthy other wise!
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Es ist vorbei, jetzt wird geerntet. Zwei sehr unterschiedliche Phänotypen werden sehr bald im Vaporisator auf ihren Geschmack, Duft und Wirkung getestet werden. Auch wenn die kleinere der beiden Pflanzen vielleicht noch etwas länger hätte stehen können. Es war kein Platz mehr im Zelt und der oberste Bud der großen Runtz fing an zu verbrennen. Für ein SOG halte ich solch unterschiedliche Phänotypen nicht geeignet, anders sieht es allerdings mit Stecklingen von ihnen aus. Insgesamt unkomplizierte Pflanzen, nur die Thripsen bekam ich nie vollständig in den Griff. Dies war mein erster Indoor Grow und ich stelle fest, daß meine Grow Box nur Platz für eine Pflanze hat wenn es eine Schönheitskönigin werden soll. Immerhin habe ich es noch geschafft eine paar schöne Blattverfärbungen an der größeren Pflanze zu erreichen. Auf den Bildern kann man das wilde, ungestüme gut erkennen. Danke an Zamnesia, dass ich diesen Strain ausprobieren konnte! Ich habe ja noch ein paar Samen für weitere Grows. Vielen Dank auch an Plagron für den Blütendünger. Das solch dicke Blütenkolben möglich sind hätte ich vor diesem grow nicht geglaubt. Ich wünsche allen anderen Teilnehmern dieses Contests einen erfolgreichen Abschluss und eine gute Ernte! P.S. Wenn ich mir so in der Verößerung die Frostigkeit der Buds ansehe, wird mir etwas Bange... --- It's over, now it's time to harvest. Two very different phenotypes will soon be tested in the vaporizer for their taste, aroma and effect. Even if the smaller of the two plants could perhaps have stood a little longer. There was no more room in the tent and the top bud of the large Runtz started to burn. I don't think such different phenotypes are suitable for a SOG, but the situation is different with cuttings from them. All in all, uncomplicated plants, but I never got the thrips completely under control. This was my first indoor grow and I realize that my grow box only has room for one plant if it is to be a beauty queen. At least I managed to get some nice leaf coloration on the larger plant. You can see the wild, impetuous growth in the pictures. Thanks to Zamnesia for letting me try this strain! I still have a few seeds for further grows. Many thanks also to Plagron for the flower fertilizer. I would never have believed that such thick flower bulbs were possible before this grow. I wish all the other participants in this contest a successful conclusion and a good harvest! P.S. When I look at the frostiness of the buds as they grow, I get a bit scared...
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@MrJones
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MrJones Cream Mandeiran Auto XL - ViparSpectra XS2000 240W Infrared Full Spectrum LED Grow Light ´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪 WEEKLY GOALS 🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪 🏡Indoor - 3"x4"x8" Custom Built Grow Closet 🌞Environment - 80F and 60%Humidity - using Humidfyer as needed. 🌾LST and Defoliation - this strain likes to stretch! 🗓️Week 6 Flower ⚱️5-Gallon 📊5.8/6.2 PH 💧 Feeding / Using Dr. Earth Dry Organic Amendments - Home Grown & Bud / Bloom Booster 🌞ViparSpectra XS2000 240W x2 Infrared Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 🕷️ IPM - Will be using Green Cleaner" 1 OZ per Gallon, and CannControl from Mammoth alternating between products each month for Integrated Pest Management. ´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪 PLANT UPDATES 🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪 📝 Notes - Week 9 is here, the buds are just getting PHAT, should be the last week before harvest, so let's say we are looking at Next Saturday, the ViparStrectra XS-2000 lights are just blowing up on these ladies, just amazing! ╰⊰🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪⊱╮ 🔶Sunday 08.08.21/ Just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2 🔶Monday 08.09.21/ Just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2, taking a few of the fan leaves, keeping the buds lean, they are fat, wet, and sticky and have a hell of an aroma! 🔶Tuesday 08.10.21/ Just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2 🔶Wednesday 08.11.21/ Just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2 🔶Thursday 08.12.21/ Just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2 🔶Friday 08.13.21/ These ladies are looking great, just watering with H20 PH to 5.8/6.2, looking to harvest tomorrow or sundsay. 🔶Saturday 08.14.21/ ╰⊰🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰´🍪⊱╮🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪╰⊰🍪⊱╮ Cream Mandarine XL Auto®️ Information Tall-stemmed auto-flowering strain. This high-yielding 4th generation auto-flowering strain is the resulting hybrid from the cross between selected specimens of our Cream Mandarine Auto®️ (SWS29)) and a Super Tai’98 elite clone. The genetic coming from the Super Tai’98 elite clone contributes with interesting Sativa characteristics to this hybrid, such as bigger size, but also subtle aromatic and spicy tones with hints of wood and nuts. The so much appreciated Cream Mandarine Auto®️ genetic contributes with traits from the Indica side, such as high flower and resin production, but also sweet and fresh aromas with tones of citric fruits of the mandarin orange type. DATA SHEET Variety SWS55 Indica: 35% / Sativa: 63,4% / Ruderalis: 1,6% THC: 18-23% · CBD: 0,6% Indoor Yield: 450-650 g/m2 Outdoor Yield: 50-300 g/plant Indoor/Outdoor Harvest: 9 weeks from germination Height: 110-150 cm
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@Neo4422
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This girl is really something. It smells fruity or floral(imo, sweet guava) mildly, however, suddenly, shows her nature, diesel, chemical and strong explosive smell once crushed. She grew great, was not picky, strong, resilient, and developed resin good enough. The taste also is pretty great. My friends describe like its euphoric. For me, i feel that cold-ish and buzzing sense in the head which is pretty lovely. Her sister is abt to finish too! Hope she comes out fine like this girl or maybe even better!!!
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@Adam22
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Picked up some rhizotonic and had the fan on the past few days and all is looking well! They have been rotated as they started leaning towards the light and bending in one direction..My last veg light was 200/250w blue CFL however didn't notice at the shop I got a 125w I will pick up a bigger veg light for a slightly higher warmth and a bit more light coverage. Using the canna Coco range nothing else.
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@14she
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No much to tell just wite 3 weeks more and see what I end up
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@PapaNugs
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Great week inside this tent. The girl got her topping and then recovered over the week. There were already some good side branching and now they are being trained even more. Flipping to flower now. Lights at 40% power. Here are the lights details: Medic Grow Mini Sun-2 150W LED Model: MN150-022 Spectrum mode: V1 Efficacy: 2.8 umol/J Thanks for stopping by! You can find the light on Grow Diaries: https://growdiaries.com/grow-lights/medic-grow/mini-sun-2-150-watts You can find the light on Medic Grow's website: https://medicgrow.com/
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@Dabking
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Smells of STRAIGHT GAS. Bit of a skunk smell but the gas smell is overwhelming. Can't get enough of it. 143 grams (roughly 2.55 ounces per plant of good buds). Hoping the quality is amazing..
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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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Same old same old have been on 12/12 for just over 10 days now and starting to really see good signs of flowering. Plants are growing great look nice and healthy. Still feeding and alternating watering straight ph water. Last feeding I really switched to the bloom nutrients and hit one more run of great white. I’ll update again soon as always 🍻
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Day 42 Flowering: Hi all. These girls are motoring along so nicely now and using every available lumen that this wicked little beast of a light can throw out. The Northern lights #1 has spent the week putting new pistils out to join the nice fresh ones from the previous week. There are only one or two pistils that are turning orange so a long way off her final flush of flowers and ripening. This is a good sign of possible things to come. With a longer flowering period , we get a bigger bud !!. Lol There are numerous mains that have now become long bud spikes so should produce a nice yield too. Still sparkling white and a slight tackiness if touched. Smell is just beginning to be evident with a slight hint of sweetness. Grandaddys mimosa is beginning to colour up all over now and her bids are looking more developed in ripeness than the other last too. She does have a lot of leaf to bid it seems but as she swells , this should look less compacted. She is only a small lady in height with around 7 mains developing as spikes. Her smell is a nice juicy fruit aroma so far and I can feel her sticky thc when I rub the stems. They are really developing well now and I am so pleased with the performance of the XS1500. A great light . The other surrogates that are elsewhere are all going well too with the 2 Gorilla cookies really pushing some nice bud sizes out. Nice sized ,stacked colas are all over their structure of both plants and even the lowers are beginning to look good. The #2 Northern lights ( mutant) is catching up with her sister and friends now but is about a week behind in size development. She is a long limbed lady with cluster buds so a lot less productive looking than her sister but she looks nice and healthy with it.. I am noticing a slight mottling on the leaves of a few plants now so I will be adding calmag to the next feed to stop this getting too far and losing energy from photosynthesis. I expect a little yellowing off of older leaves to begin showing now too but the use of coco and L.E.D usually includes adding calmag as they both leech mg from the soil and plants. Hopefully I can catch it before it gets an issue. Temps are more reasonable now the heatwaves are done here so any extra co2 from the exhale bag can now be used as a booster and not to survive. Another good week for the ladies and the xs1500. Keep smiling growmies. The deception is falling apart now !!
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@Mr_Maes
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Nothing but colas on all 3 this is going to be a big harvest. Another 2 or 3 weeks max.