The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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@CalGonJim
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1/12/26 4:18AM MONDAY.....💪💪💪💪👌 1/12 CANNAKAN DAY MEDICINAL SLAVERY WOULD MAKE HARVEST A BREEZE!! ABOUT THE LEDS Yes, the **Samsung LM301H EVO diodes** in your Mars Hydro lights (likely an FC-E series like FC-E3000, FC-E4000, or similar) are among the most efficient horticultural LEDs available right now—individual diodes hit **3.14 μmol/J** efficacy, pushing the whole fixture to around **2.85–2.9 μmol/J** PPE (photosynthetic photon efficacy) in manufacturer specs and independent tests. That's top-tier for full-spectrum grow lights, meaning they convert more electrical power into usable plant photons than older diodes or cheaper LEDs. If they "seem more efficient than the PPFD meter says" (your plants thriving at lower wattage/height adjustments), that's actually common and not a contradiction—it's often the **real-world efficiency** shining through once nutes/stress are fixed. Here's why this happens and what your recent wattage drop (a few more watts lower) likely means: ### Why Samsung LM301H EVO Can "Seem" More Efficient Than Raw PPFD Readings Suggest - **High PPE + Uniform Distribution**: These diodes excel at producing photons in the PAR range (400–700nm) with minimal waste (heat/loss). Mars Hydro FC-EVOs achieve strong average PPFD (e.g., 750–1000+ μmol/m²/s in tests at recommended heights/power) with even spread—no hot spots wasting energy. When your nutes were suboptimal (Advanced Nutrients issues), plants couldn't fully use the light (wasted photons → stress, stretch, lower efficiency). Now dialed in (GH powder + aminos + mycos), they convert more of that PPFD into growth—making the light "feel" stronger/more efficient even if meter numbers stay the same or drop slightly. - **Meter Limitations & Calibration**: - Handheld PAR meters (especially cheap/older ones) can under-read full-spectrum LEDs like LM301H EVO (strong white + red enhancement). They often have poor spectral response to the exact mix, reading 10–30% low compared to pro tools (Apogee SQ-500) or calibrated apps. - If you're using an app like Photone (mentioned in your diary), it's generally more accurate for Samsung full-spectrum lights (especially on iPhone; Android varies but often close with diffuser/paper). Many growers report Photone matching or exceeding cheap handhelds on LM301H setups—sometimes showing higher effective PPFD than a basic meter implies. - Bottom line: Your plants are the ultimate meter. Thriving (miraculous growth, no burn/stress) at lower wattage means the effective usable PPFD is higher than a potentially under-reading meter suggests—efficiency win. ### Your Wattage Drop & What It Means Lowering by a few more watts (on top of the earlier ~10% drop) is smart and aligns with the efficiency gains: - Dimming on Mars Hydro FC series is **very linear**—tests show PPFD percentage tracks close to (or slightly above) the dimmer % because diodes run more efficiently at lower currents (less heat/loss). - Example: Dropping from 100% to 90% might only reduce PPFD by ~8–10%, not full 10%, due to that efficiency curve. - Your plants handling it (still "miraculously better") without stretch or pale leaves confirms the sweet spot: likely 450–650 μmol/m²/s veg/late veg range now, with room to push if pistils emerge. - Solar bonus: Every watt saved = less battery drain on cloudy days, cooler tent (less fan/AC draw), and more headroom for extra plants without spiking consumption. **Practical next steps**: - Recheck PPFD (if using Photone/handheld): Average multiple canopy spots at current height/power—aim 450–600 for late veg autos, 600–800 early flower. - Watch response: If nodes stay tight/dark green/no cupping, you can drop another 5% or lower height slightly for denser canopy. - Log kWh if your inverter shows it—track the drop to celebrate the savings. - If meter still "under-says" vs. plant performance, trust the plants more—Samsung EVOs are proven beasts when the rest of the grow is dialed. This is textbook optimization: nute fix → better photon use → lower power for same/better results → solar efficiency skyrockets. You're building a truly lean system. How low are you at now (e.g., 70–75W total?)? Any pistils or new growth explosions today? Keep the momentum—it's paying off big. 🥊🍌👨‍🔬🚨🌞💪💪💪💪💪 1/15/26 12:36AM L-Phenylalanine: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/L-Phenylalanine#section=Crystal-Structures That’s your Mars Hydro bar-style LED grow light setup in a compact grow tent (looks like a 2x2 or similar Spider Farmer tent branding on the mylar walls), running super efficiently right now! Breaking down what I see from the photos: • The light is a multi-bar LED fixture (probably from Mars Hydro’s FC series, like FC3000, FC4000, or a smaller EVO variant) with Samsung LM301H (or similar LM301B/H EVO) diodes—these are high-end, efficient chips known for uniform distribution, low heat, and great full-spectrum output (warm white + red/IR boosts for veg/flower). • It’s hung at 19 inches (measured from the light bars to the canopy or sensor plane, with that white dotted line marker). The tent shows a hygrometer/thermometer combo reading 76°F / 53% RH (nice stable veg conditions—cooler side helps prevent stretch). • Your PAR meter app is showing 327 μmol/m²/s PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) at that spot/height—solid reading for where you’re at. • Plants look like young cannabis in veg stage: multiple small pots (fabric or repurposed buckets like Krøger cottage cheese tubs—classic budget move!), healthy green canopy with some colorful accents (maybe early purpling or strain traits), topped or in early training, sitting in coco coir or similar media. • Power draw: ~50W current (from the energy usage screenshot), averaging super low over time (0.48–0.76 kWh daily average). That’s impressively efficient—likely dimmed way down or a lower-wattage model (e.g., 150–300W rated, but running at partial power). Total consumption over 30 days at ~14.5 kWh is pennies on the electric bill. This aligns perfectly with your earlier plan to target ~500 PPFD but getting great results at lower wattage/intensity. Right now at 19” and 327 PPFD: • That’s in the sweet spot for early-mid vegetative stage cannabis (typical recs: 300–600 μmol/m²/s for veg, starting lower ~300–400 for young plants to avoid stress, ramping up as they bush out). • Bar-style lights like this excel at even spread (no hot center like older quantum boards), so your canopy is getting consistent light without bleaching or stretch in spots. • Low power (49.6W) means minimal heat buildup—fans and passive cooling handle it easily, keeping temps/RH dialed (76°F/53% is golden for veg; prevents mold and encourages compact growth). Why it feels “great results at lower than recommended”: • Samsung diodes are top-tier efficient (often 2.8–3.1 μmol/J), so you hit usable PPFD without cranking full power. • Many Mars Hydro FC models recommend 18–24” for veg at 50–75% dim (your 19” fits right in). • Your plants are responding well—lush, no obvious deficiencies/stress, and you’re feeling physically ready to top/fill pots after the delay. To push toward your 500 PPFD goal without overdoing it: • Lower the light a few inches (try 16–18”) incrementally—PPFD scales roughly with the inverse square law, so dropping height boosts intensity noticeably (could jump 20–50% depending on spread). • Or bump dimmer % if it’s not maxed (your 50W draw suggests plenty of headroom). • Retest PPFD at multiple canopy spots for average (center often higher, edges lower in bars). • Watch for tacoing/upward leaf curl (too much light) or stretch (too little). This setup is dialed for low-energy, healthy veg growth—perfect for your “lower wattage wins” approach. Plants are happy, tent’s stable, and you’re crushing it efficiency-wise. If you drop the height or dim up, snap another meter reading/pic—I can help fine-tune further. How old are these ladies (weeks from seed/clone)? Any specific strain notes, or planning to flip to flower soon? Keep the momentum—today’s a win! 🌱💪😂 1/18 11:58AM. BRAM STOKERS TRAILER PARK DRACULA........I SHOULD BE WORKING ON THE PLANTS BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD. MINA AND HER DAD ARE RUNNING PROPETY SCAMS, SHE CONVINSES THESE LOSERS THEY HAVE MAGIC DRACULA POWERSS....AND WE STEAL THEIR TRAILLER. REINFEILD RANDY , JULIANFIGURES IT OUT AND BLACKMAILS BOTH OF THEM. AND MUSICAL GUEST KISS!! A GREAT HALLOWEEN EPISONDE.... OH I FORGOT I AM SUPOSSSED TO BE GRWOING PIT.
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@Canadian
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Everything seems to go very good with this plant it's growing very fast is a monster in growth looks like it is on steroids fantastic genetics. The smell is very powerful now definitely give you a preview of things to come thank you for reading I will continue to update a happy grow
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Van creciendo muy deprisa al igual que el proyecto A , gracias a la buena genetica y a la tabla de elicitación y nutrición de terranabis, se nota la mejoria y la buena salud de la planta despues de cada riego ! A seguir dandole y a ver como crecen las semillas test !
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@DonKrika
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Plants growing extremely well, the only problem I think I'm having is too many nutrients. Plant A is showing some strange signs. a few big fan leaves are becoming "crispy" I can see a bit of nutrient burn, but a minimal amount I finally set up the drip system this week. I started LST this week, I bent both plants pretty hard, they are almost parallel to the soil. On plant A I did super cropping by mistake, I was tieing a branch and I put too much force on the bend, but palnt didn't seem afected at all by this. DAY 29 - Nutes PH - 5.96 Solution Temp - 21.5 PPM-1600 Watering Volume per plant - 4L DAY 32 - Water PH - 6 Solution Temp - 21.2 PPM-560 Watering Volume per plant - 4L Next week I will add the second ligh to the tent
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@Paultemp
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Hi all! 👊😊 Another week started ohh yeaahhh I do foliar 3 times this week and i see pistil white change in orange Smell very good pine and citrus :)
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The Apple Betty girls have performed very well this week! The LST began, and there was some great growth in side branching. I also started this week off with introducing them to some nutrients ❤️ Start of week 4, the girls had responded well to transplanting, so I decided to start with some LST. My main method is to use soft wire wraps (dollar store purchase!) I poke one hole in the side of the pot near the top, and then go directly opposite that hole and poke through to make another. The first hole is for a wire wrap to secure the base of the seedling from pulling right out or over too far. The other hole is for the direction you want to bend your plant to. I start by slowly working the stem between my fingers at the point where I want it to bend. Twisting and pinching slowly so not to snap. *wait a day or two after your last water, or it will be easier to snap* once it’s ready to flop, I use the wire tie to hold down the top of the plant as close as I can to the nearest shoots. I’ll usually leave the plant like this for a couple of days, adjusting the ties, and then take them off to let them recover . Watered with a small dose of the full line of Advanced Nutrients I will be using for this grow. The girls got about 500 ml at the beginning of the week, but 2 days in I could tell they wanted more. By the end of the week they are taking nearly 1/2 gallon (which will give me 10% runoff) At the end of the week I increased the intensity of the BP2500 to 190 watts at the wall and the girls did show a few wrinkles as they adjusted, but have quickly recovered. I haven’t topped these girls, and I’m not sure if I am going to… thoughts? Happy Gardening 🇨🇦❤️🌱😎💨
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@Tazard
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Wow what a beautiful monster she has become. I think (hope) she is done stretching. I have had to support most of the colas this week. A few had lain over towards other plants and if they were not blocking them then I left them lain over. The buds are really looking great and they are getting fatter on the daily. Thanks again for following me on my adventure with making my own seeds.
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@StarLorr
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Welcome to my Pablø Escøbar diary. In this diary: Seeds: sponsored by Ðivine Șeeds Media: Promix HP Nutrients: Advanced Nutrients, Diablo Nutrients. Light and Weather: Şun☀️and Mother Earth.🌎 ___________________________ Feeding: Mon 03Jun: 2L water not pH'd in bottom saucer only. Tue 04Jun: 2L water not pH'd in bottom saucer only. Wed 05Jun: 4L nutrients pH'd 6.5 Fri 07Jun: 2L water not pH'd in bottom saucer only. Mon 10Jun: 2 L water not pH'd in bottom saucer only. ___________________________ We had very warm weather and by the end of the week rain pouring. Did spray the girls with Safers insecticide after sunset for good measure after discovering spider mites nests on june 3rd. ___________________________ Thanks for stopping by, likes and comments are appreciated!👊🏻😎 Keep on growin! Keep on tokin!!! 😙💨💨💨💨💨
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With one away I thank god for the space as you will see from pics and videos the one on the right doesn’t look so great but hopefully with the space thinks will get better onto next week ✌️🏻
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Some nute burn but I’m not worried, very very minor and she seems happy regardless. Branches are starting to get heavy and really develop amazing buds.
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@winn420
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so its been a steady week growth has been amazing especially on my OG kush and the auto-colorado Cookies. Unfortunately while doing some lst on the colorado cookies i snapped branch. I was able to duct tape it back and hook it to the main branch as a form of botany sling. ill be taking clones in 2 days (waiting for freaking amazon) i plan to take arond 3-6 from the og kush and 2-5 from the g zkittlez(about 8 total) from there i will begin a perptual 2 week harvest. Once the roots take place i will put them all in soil and after about a week or two i will be placing 2-4 into a flower tent, arriving soon as well. Following 2-3 weeks later place another 2 into the flower tent, and do this while cloning every 5 weeks. This is a rough draft idea. I will need to ensure the essential space is available, the veg tent doesnt get too crowded, and the smell can be contained. But all is looking good as of now! update 09-04 took clones today. took too many the goal was 6-8 total and i did 8 per plant, 16 total. The OG kush has been such a stronger strain in ways i did know plant could vary. What i am specifically speaking to is when cutting the og kush cuts stayed up right with leaves still in the up/"praying" position and stayed that way until placed in the tent. the G zkittlez IMMEDIATELY started drooping and i could feel how weak the cuts were. Regardless i took 8 from each and am very excited about some of these cuts. I still have high, yes pun intended, hopes for the gorilla zkittlez, some strains in my experience do shit during veg but come alive during flower and vice versa, that being said if the same routine occurs during flower i do not expect to keep this strain in my line up. i have Amherst sour Diesel (humboldt) and Skywalker Kush (emerald triangle) seeds sitting waiting to be used, 3 of each fem.
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@OVERFLOW
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The beginning of the full flowering phase But there are some species that have not yet bloomed. GORILLA ZKITTLEZ (Week 0–>1) 4 plants SUPERHERO (Week 0->1) 4 plants PURPLE PUNCH COOKIE (W0) 2 plants WATERMELON ZKITTLEZ (W0) 1 plants CAKES N CREAM (W0) 1 plants
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@Eyeduno
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One thing after another with This grow lol first a fan went on me and then a light blew just annoying things really
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@MG2009
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09/06/2018 The Cherry Pie pollen did not look very good however, there was some residue which could be viable. On the other hand the Mystery cookies pollen looked perfectly fresh! I would like to also mention that I pollinated Cherry Pie branch first, and very carefully so as to have no cross contamination,plant was misted with water before pollination with the exception of pollinated branch. Mystery Cookies done the same way.
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Getting bigger and bigger... haven’t been feeding her very heavily but her leaves are darkening like the heavily fed mother plant. I think I figured out my problem finally, my pH meter was off and the pH of the water was way too low(4pH rather than the 6pH I thought I was watering). Buds popping up everywhere; ScrOG’ed her to have a bit more control over the grow. She takes up almost an entire 2x2 area of the tent by herself. I have four other plants in with her that I have to flower out. Plants in the flowering tent right now: Pineapple Express, two bag seeds(one I think is berry white and the other is either white widow or purple trainwreck... I mixed the bud up in the grinder so I don’t know which seeds came from what bud... I wasn’t expecting seeds at all since it was dispensary stuff but ended up with seeds in all three strains I bought that day)... I also have this purple trainwreck plant and one white widow plant all in varying weeks of flower.
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@Hawkbo
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This one stretched a good amount, I thought it got lightly pollinated by a moonshine cookies male but I havnt found any seeds yet. The Marge Simpson nugs are pretty cool lookin. I had one bad feed that burnt the tips in flower i wish i could take back but the ph meter got confused. This shit is top shelf.
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Week 8 Veg – Go Big or Go Home! 🌱💪 Hey, Grow Fam! 🌿 What an intense week it’s been in the grow room! This was one of those “go big or go home” moments, and I decided to take it to the extreme. I’m holding off on flipping to flower for just one more week because the plants are filling up the space beautifully—I can’t help but push things to their limits and see just how much these ladies can give! 😎✨ This week was all about maximizing growth and creating the best canopy I can. I did a light defoliation, just here and there to open things up a bit, and then came the bending—LOTS of bending. 🌱 I’m working hard to create an even canopy, though with all these different genetics, we’ll see how close I get! 🤞 Regardless, I’m giving it my all, and I’m super pumped to see how everything will respond in the next stage. The final touch this week? I ended it with a bold 36 hours of darkness to prepare for the big flip next week—flower mode, here we come! 🌸 What Went Down This Week: 1. Canopy Work – Bending and training all over the place to try and keep things even. It’s a real challenge with different genetics, but the payoff is going to be worth it! 2. Defoliation – Just a little bit of leaf removal here and there to help with airflow and light penetration, prepping them for that final veg stretch. 3. 36 Hours of Darkness – Closed out the week with a full day and a half of darkness. The 36 hours of darkness is a technique I like to use to help signal to the plants that it’s time to transition from veg to flower. 🌒 By giving them an extended dark period, I’m mimicking the natural shift from summer to fall, when daylight hours start to shorten. This kick-starts the plants’ flowering hormones (phytochrome), helping them shift into flower mode more smoothly and quickly. In my experience, this method helps speed up the flip, reduces early flowering stress, and often leads to a more uniform bloom across the canopy. It’s like giving the plants a little nudge to let them know, “Hey, it’s time to bloom!” 🌸 This technique is especially useful for growers like me who want to maximize the efficiency and performance of their plants. 😊 4. TrolMaster + App Love – As always, the TrolMaster app continues to blow me away. We’re going to dive deep into it below, but trust me, this app makes managing everything a breeze! 👇 Next week, we’re flipping to flower! I’m beyond excited for what’s to come, and I can already tell these plants are ready to explode with growth in flower mode. Stay tuned, because we’re about to see some serious action in the grow room! 🌸🔥 Thank you all for the continued support! 🙏 Don’t forget to check out my social media accounts for real-time updates, behind-the-scenes magic, and all the details on how this journey unfolds. Whether you’re new or have been here from the start, I appreciate every one of you. Let’s keep pushing the limits of indoor horticulture together! 🌱💚 Growers Love 💚🌱 #TrolMasterChronicles #ThinkGrowLED #SeedToHarvest #DogDoctorOfficial #AptusPlantTech #Autopots #IndoorHorticulture #ControlledEnvironment #GrowTech #PositiveVibesOnly DogDoctorOfficial P.S. – Let’s Talk TrolMaster + App If you haven’t explored the TrolMaster App yet, you’re missing out! This app gives me complete control and real-time feedback on my entire setup, from the environment to CO2 levels, humidity, light, and beyond. Every parameter is at my fingertips, and it’s all synced with the controllers. I love how easy it is to dial in the details, especially during these crucial stages. But what really gets me is the precision. 🌡️📲 With the app, I can track trends, get alerts if anything is off, and make changes on the fly—whether I’m in the room or halfway across the world. This kind of power and convenience has totally transformed how I manage my grow. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, having this level of control is a game-changer. And as I dive deeper into flower, it’s going to be my best friend in keeping everything dialed in. Discount Codes so you can save big on your next check out 💚💚💚 Kannabia - DOGDOCTOR 30% off SeedsmanSeeds - DOGDOCTOR 10% off CannaKan- DOGDOCTOR 15% off terpyz.eu - DOCTOR 15% off The Neutralizer - PORKIT5-DOG 15% off As always thank you all for stopping by, for the love and for it all , this journey of mine wold just not be the same without you guys, the love and support is very much appreciated and i fell honored and so joyful with you all in my life 🙏
 With true love comes happiness 💚🙏 Always believe in your self and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart , be a giver and the universe will give back to you in ways you could not even imagine so 💚 Friendly reminder all you see here is pure research and for educational purposes only Growers Love to you all 💚💚💚
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early cut pinepple ... bloom with some problems the low leaves fall as if in nitrogen deficiency but it does not seem possible ... could be the ph but I always measure it and it turns out 5.5-6.5 ... can you help me? in your opinion, how do things proceed? I put in bloom too early?
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Green House Feeded one is enjoying life and keeps stretching. Advanced Nutrients one moved to left top corner and she seems to be doing better than last week. Light intensisty is at 90% in 50 cm distance.