Flowering looks awesome on the ChemDog! Lots of bud sites and they're growing at a respectable rate. ATF's are running 3 plants in 3 diff stages- one's a couple weeks into flower, one's just starting,and one's still the holdout. Meanwhile, I've got flowering on the Night Nurse and one of the Viper Cookies. The rest are close but I can't say for sure they've transitioned. Weather's getting into a hot and humid phase, gotta watch that ChemDog. Think it's got a decent structure for ventilation but I've read horror stories on how the Dog loves mold. Further training of the branches has been fruitful, I'm seeing a lot more topside bud sites than usual. I'm working on irrigation-- I set up a 30 gal container and it works for drip, but without a pipe system it's still one at a time, although I have to admit it's worth it to save my back. Plus, I have to have a supply ready for use in case my buddy needs to fill in for me and water the ladies.
Been checking the cameras regularly ( I have them all throughout the property, game cameras with IR flash), and to date haven't seen anything that would constitute a threat. Just some curious raccoons and one really ugly opossum. Even the skunks don't bother them this year, which is nice but a little strange considering they dig in them every year. It's really just the animals I'm watching for, people aren't as much of a concern. Mostly because I don't know any. Aside from that, I sleep with my head feet away from my babies, so somebody would have to have big brass ones to even try. Yes, I know, a little overprotective.
Fingers crossed it'll be one hell of a harvest (by my standards).
8/11 Update:
Been lucky still with the weather, but it's turning really humid. Fed the girls this morning, a mix of 1C molasses and 1/2C epsom salt in 20 gallons. Just a little supplement to the tiger bloom they've been feasting on. Speaking of the Tiger Bloom, I can't help but think I'd do just as well mixing my own nutrient solution, since the cost really adds up quick. For his year, however, it'll be fine. My watering gizmo is working well, just leaks a tiny bit and that's fine for the remainder of the year. Now that I have an idea of what works for me I can spend the off-season setting up something right.
Had to thin out the Lamb's a bit, it wasn't getting anywhere near enough air flow. Also took a few on the ChemDog as I'm expecting mold/rot conditions for a while and she's prone. Shouldn't have much problem, wind blows almost constantly here, but you can never be too careful. Training is taking well, overall they look pretty good. Next year-- bigger grow bags, better soil, and much pickier seed choices. I think I may even abandon the idea of topping them in the future-- it just slows them down and you can get the same end results with training. Granted, my ladies are kinda sparse and ugly, but that's the learning curve. Next time around I think I have a pretty good idea of what to do and when to do it, based on what worked and didn't work this year. Another big thing is nutrient timing-- I def jumped the gun on flower power for a few of them and it just stunted them wicked-- shoulda continued veg food a couple weeks into flower even for the early bloomer, she'd be a monster.