Blueberry Muffin – Pheno A | Week 3 The Awkward Start Is Officially Behind Her Welcome back to another week of the 8×8 Adventure, where twelve cultivars are being documented individually from seed to harvest under a strict 12/12-from-seed schedule. Each phenotype receives its own diary so development can be followed independently, allowing subtle differences in structure, vigor, and expression to reveal themselves over time. This week marked one of the most significant environmental changes since the project began. The lighting intensity was increased from approximately 370 µmol/m²/s PPFD to 700 µmol/m²/s PPFD at canopy level. Rather than easing into the increase slowly, the decision was made to provide the plants with a much stronger light source and observe their response carefully. The result? They loved it. Alongside the increase in light intensity, feeding volumes and nutrient strength were also adjusted to support the accelerating growth rate. Week 3 Environment 🌡️ Temperature: 27.4°C 💧 Relative Humidity: 55% 💡 PPFD: ~700 µmol/m²/s 🌱 Medium: Plagron Lightmix ? Growing Method: 12/12 From Seed 💦 Water Consumption: ~0.9–1.2L per day Feeding Schedule Days 18 * EC 1.0 * pH 5.99–6.0 * Approximately 1L Day 21 * EC 1.3 * pH 6.0 * Approximately 1.2L As always, the objective remains simple: provide stable conditions, observe carefully, and allow each plant to express its own personality. ⸻ Blueberry Muffin Pheno A I have to admit, this one is becoming increasingly enjoyable to watch. If you’ve been following this diary since germination, you’ll remember that this phenotype showed a few odd characteristics during its earliest days. The first leaves arrived with a slightly unusual appearance and briefly raised some questions about how she would develop. Fast forward to Week 3 and those concerns feel very distant. The new growth is absolutely beautiful. Leaf structure has normalized completely, color is rich and healthy, and the overall plant has developed into a compact, vigorous young specimen with excellent symmetry throughout the canopy. One of the first things that stands out is the internodal spacing. Despite the substantial increase in PPFD, the plant continues to stack nodes tightly, creating a dense structure that suggests strong genetic vigor and efficient use of the available light. Rather than stretching upward, she is focusing her energy on building a solid framework. Looking closely at the canopy, the branching is already beginning to establish itself naturally. Side shoots are emerging confidently and there is a clear sense that this plant is preparing for the next stage of development rather than simply adding height. At this point she is already pushing into the seventh to eighth node range, which is impressive considering the timeline and the 12/12-from-seed approach being used throughout the project. The foliage itself is another highlight. Large, healthy fan leaves radiate outward from the center of the plant, creating a broad solar panel that is capturing every available photon. Color remains a lush, vibrant green from top to bottom, with no signs of stress despite the environmental changes introduced this week. The newest growth is particularly exciting. The central growth tip is expanding rapidly and showing the kind of vigor that makes a grower eager to check on the plant every day. There is a feeling that this phenotype is only beginning to reveal what it has planned. For now, she sits comfortably among the stronger performers in the room, combining healthy structure, excellent color, strong branching, and compact growth habits into a very promising package. Most importantly, she simply looks happy. And happy plants tend to tell the best stories. ⸻ Looking Ahead The coming week should be very revealing. With the root zone continuing to expand, nutrient levels increased, and lighting now operating at a much higher intensity, the pace of development is expected to accelerate noticeably. The main points of interest moving forward will be: * Continued internodal spacing * Branch development * Overall vigor compared to her sister phenotype * Early indications of Blueberry Muffin structural traits * Response to the elevated PPFD levels If this week’s momentum continues, Pheno A could become one of the more interesting plants to follow as the project progresses. ⸻ Thank You A huge thank you to everyone following along and supporting these diaries week after week. Thank you to the entire GrowDiaries community for creating a place where growers from around the world can learn, share, and improve together. Thank you to Plagron for the nutrients and cultivation support that help power this project. Thank you to Zamnesia for providing the genetics, equipment, and the opportunity to explore these cultivars from seed to harvest. And thank you to every grower who takes the time to stop by, leave a comment, share advice, or simply follow the journey. The adventure continues. 🌱💚🍇?Growers Love and see you next week.