Week 5 Flower — Sundae Driver Five weeks from seed, Week 5 of flower. The girls are tall, frosty, and carrying real weight. Supercrop results are showing: the knuckle site on the main top is packing beautifully and producing extra fruit around the bend. Photo sessions continue while they’re still mobile, but they’re quickly approaching the point where moving them will be risky. ⸻ From seed to here — short recap • Very short veg, early flip (11/13) to encourage a quick transition. • Strong genetics: both phenos established great branching early and then stretched in flower. • Early training: leaf-tucking and one deliberate supercrop on Pheno #2 to control a “moon-shot” top, the plant has recovered and is producing strong bud sites. • Feed strategy evolved from light steering (low solution EC) while relying on the active living soil, to a slightly stronger, targeted push now that the plants are bulk-building. ⸻ This week’s snapshot (numbers you gave) • Solution EC: ~1.78 mS/cm (after adding All-in-One Liquid) • Solution pH: ~5.87 • Water temperature: ~19.6 °C • Substrate EC (measured): ~5.75 mS/cm • Plants: ~heavy, visibly bulking, good frost and early trichome coverage; leaves lush and green. ⸻ Nutrition this week — what you added and why You’ve blended the Aptus baseline with the Plagron bloom stack and added the All-in-One Liquid this week to “boost things up a little.” The working recipe (as you’ve been using it) is: • Plagron Power Buds / Power products — PK and bloom stimulators to push flower initiation and fruit set. • Plagron Green Sensation — complex bloom stimulator (PK, micros, and biostimulants) to compact and feed flowers. • Plagron Sugar (Sugar Royal / Sugar Oil) — carbohydrate/amino support to feed microbes, aid terpene/aroma production and increase bud sugar availability. • Aptus Regulator — stress resistance, cell wall strength, improved uptake. • Aptus CalMag Boost — to prevent Ca/Mg shortages under heavier uptake. • Aptus All-in-One Liquid (added this week) — a balanced liquid feed to raise available macros and micros slightly and bring the solution EC up to ~1.78. Why this mix now: the plants are in active “bulk and stack” mode. The living soil is still providing a heavy base (substrate EC is high at ~5.75), so the water feed is being used as a steering input rather than the sole nutrient source. The Plagron items are targeted to maximize flower growth and aroma development while Aptus products protect tissue integrity and uptake efficiency under higher demand. ⸻ Soil & EC notes — some important observations • Substrate EC 5.75 is high. If the plants are clean (no tip-burn, no slowed uptake, good turgor), and runoff/pH are stable, you can continue carefully. The living soil is likely holding a lot of available ions. • Solution EC 1.78 is a meaningful step up from the earlier very-low steering feeds. Because the substrate is already rich, keep monitoring plant response closely. • Actionable checks: measure runoff EC and pH after a couple of normal waterings. If runoff EC is very high and plants start showing nutrient burn/leaf edge bronzing, consider: • reducing solution EC, and/or • performing a controlled flush with target pH water to bring substrate salts down, then back to a gentler feed. • If plants remain clean and uptake is quick, the current regime is probably supporting their needs as they bulk. ⸻ Watering & environment (practical reminders) • Keep using your moisture cues (weight or probe). Don’t overwater — allow the root zone to breathe between feeds so the microbiome stays active. • Heavy bud development brings higher transpiration and nutrient demand. Expect faster run-to-run uptake. • Support heavy colas: start planning stakes, soft ties or a light trellis now. Buds are forming weight quickly and the supercropped area can benefit from light support as it fattens. ⸻ Supercrop update — why it worked and what you saw • The deliberate bend on Pheno #2 created the classic healing “knuckle” and redirected auxins to many lateral sites. • Response: a fast curve-up, faster side-site development, and an especially productive top where the bend is located. • Recovery timeline you reported: the branch started to re-orient and carry load in just days — this is ideal. • Keep an eye on the knuckle site for any signs of localized stress or moisture build-up, but good airflow and light will reduce issues. ⸻ What to expect next (and what not to expect) Expect: • Continued bulking and calyx swelling over the next 1–3 weeks. Flower stacking accelerates as plants move past the stretch. • Increased trichome production and stronger terpenes/aroma as sugars and PK feed the resin pathway. • Faster water uptake and higher potassium/magnesium demand under heavy LEDs. • Need for physical support as colas get heavy. Don’t expect (yet): • Final resin peak or full density — that usually shows from mid to late flower (weeks 6–9+ depending on strain). • Large changes overnight — bud density and terpene maturation are gradual. • No problems automatically — a high substrate EC means vigilance; problems show first in lower leaves. ⸻ Practical tips & checklist for Week 6 planning • Measure runoff EC & pH. Log changes. If runoff EC substrate EC and plant symptoms appear, step in with a mild flush and a gentler feed after. • Keep airflow and RH optimized around flowers: small increases in RH can invite mold as buds thicken. Adjust RH downward stepwise if stacking accelerates. • Maintain CalMag and Regulator levels; they’re supporting strong cell walls and uptake under heat/light stress. • Prepare support (stakes/trellis) this week so you can gently secure colas when weight increases. • Continue light, selective defoliation only if it opens important bud sites — avoid heavy stripping now. ⸻ Thanks, community and sponsors Thank you to everyone following the diary, commenting, and sharing energy with these girls. Special nods to the brands and gear that helped make this possible — your tent ecosystem, lighting, nutrients and monitoring tools are all part of the outcome. Grateful for every like, read and watch that keeps the GrowDiaries momentum going. ⸻ Closing — a short reflection Week 5 is where “shape” becomes “substance.” The plants have carried themselves through stretch and are now filling hard. The supercrop paid off: more usable sites, better light distribution, and a stronger, fuller canopy. With a measured push in solution EC and continued respect for the living soil beneath them, these Sundae Drivers are on a clear path to a heavy, fragrant finish. 📲 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 ⸻ 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 💚