The Grow Awards 2026 🏆
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Greetings from Russia to my comrades! I was busy with work for a long time and could not deal with my diaries. Now I'm free and ready to devote every day to my plants. I have a lot of plans. My mom is coming to the end of 6 weeks. She feels great and cheerful, develops well, visible progress. While I do not train him, and give him free growth. I gave my plants the enzymes, together with the chief stimulator and the main force, Then I fed the plant folic acids under the root and on the leaves. Soon I will make my girl an intimate haircut. And in a few weeks, I'll be making the third tier of the pot.
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@Mrd1ez
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Comienza el riego de solo agua hasta cosecha. La semana pasada ya bajé la dosis a 1.5 ml/lt para que comience a comer lo que le quede de comida y comiencen a comerse ellas mismas
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Last week before cutting. I eliminated all fertilizers and only gave the flawless finish fertilizer. The smell of the buds is truly that of watermelon - I can't believe it! The plant never suffered and the result was exactly what I imagined. What do you think? In the next few days I will post the photos of the harvest!
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@MephistoGenetics, Hi all the happy people here in GrowDiaries. This is my second cultivation ever and it will be fun to try a bigger space than my closet grow. First, I'm just going to say I'm done with the construction of my new growroom. The room is 2.14 meters by 1.7 meters and has a ceiling height of 2 meters. It provides a floor area of ​​3.6 square meters. I use a 54 Watt Lightwawe T5 for germination and 2 Pcs 400 Watt HPS lamps. I have a channel fan that replaces the room air about 40 times an hour to get a comfortable environment in the room, the air enters a fresh air intake from the outside. The air is purified through a carbon filter to then leave the room to the rest of the basement. Then I use that heat to heat the rest of the basement. I will use 10 pcs 15 liter Autopots to grow with and a 100 liter water tank that supplies the pots of water and nutrition. I will grow completely organically in soil and will watercure my buds to get the best possible medicine for me. But there are no cultivation rooms to be displayed here, so I continue with what is most important. Today I have put my seeds in paper towel and hope the seeds have germinated within a few days. I am very excited to see how the new growroom will work and how this Stilton Special will turn out. Strain Name: Stilton Special F1 Genetic heritage - Sour Livers F3 x Northern Cheese Haze F3 Strain behaviour - Stilton grows well from the off, and develops into a stout but branchy specimine that leads to a fine yield of awesome flowers. She's not too stretchy but also is sizeable enough with good growth, to train and shape to your liking. Flowers develop pretty fast and grow to a good size, it may to advised to clear out some undergrowth and if needs be a very gentle defoliation mid-way through the grow, although leaf tucking may suffice well enough.The end product is of top shelf quality and she doesn't lack in yield either.Give your garden, nose, and body a treat and be sure to indulge in a slice of Stilton this year, You won't regret it. Size - 50 - 70 cm Structure - Medium height but bushy Flower Density - 9/10 Indica/Sativa - 65/35 Cycle Time - 65 to 70 days from sprout Yield - 90 to 140 grams as a single plant Best Method for overall high yield - 9-12 per 1,2m x 1,2m sq in 10-15 Liter pots (Soil) Aroma - Very strong, Cheesey/fruity/sour/spicey/ with a dash of coffee. Taste - Dank berries Effect - Good hybrid powerful but balanced effect Medicinal Benefits - TBA Best Grown - Indoor/Greenhouse Cannabinoids - TBA Extract information - Ideal extract candidate - High in resin, oil and terps. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2017-08-21. Started to germinate the seed. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2017-08-23. Seed germinated and put in small pot in the humidity dome. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2017-08-27. Slow and steady she grows. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-08-28. Transplanted to the 15 liter autopot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-08-29. New movie of the girl and a new pic of the grow room from now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-08-29. Hello to you who read my diary, I just want to say that I am pleased that you have chosen to check in with me and in my diary. I just want to say that I do this for myself and for a steady flow of my medicine. Everything you read and see in my diary is 100% honest and I will never distort or beautify anything here. I document my crops so that I can learn from my mistakes and also to look back at those different crops. I try to update with pictures every day and with text if something special has happened in the garden. This is my strainhunt for the best medicine and the beginning of my journey with cannabis and the cultivation of it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-08-30. Cleaned the room this morning, just vacuuming and cleaning with chlorine solution. Im testing the fan to control temp and humidity, it works great. Added a movie. Everything is looking great right now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2017-08-31. 3 new pics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-09-01. New pics and a video of the room from today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-09-02. New pic ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2017-09-03. Video of the girl this morning. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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@Hashy
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Week 7 Light cycle=12/12 Light Power=196w Extractor controller settings High temp= 25c Low temp= c Temp step=0c High Rh= 56% Low Rh= % Rh step=0% Speed max=10 Speed min=2 Fri 2/2/24 #3 (Day 43)(Day 5 flower) 📋 raised camera, nearly touching the roof. Sat 3/2/24 #3 (Day 44)(Day 6 flower) 📋 Defoliate a lot of lower leaves. Sun 4/2/24 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 Method= automatic Feed=bloom nutes. Neutralise=0.1ml/L Silicon=1.0ml/L Calmag=1.0ml/L Terra Bloom=4.0ml/L Sumo Boost=1.0ml/L Roots=0.2ml/L Easy Ph down=0.115ml/L Ec=1.9 PH=6.1/6.5 Time start=12.00pm Finish time=13.45pm (11×5 minute runs with 5 minute gaps) Total flow rate=190ml/min Flow rate per plant=47ml/min. Total volume made=13L Total volume left=2.5L Total volume used=10.5L Volume per plant=2.62L (Est) Runoff. Total runoff=1.75L Ec=2.4PH=5.9/6.2 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 #3 (Day 45)(Day 7 flower) 📋 Mon 5/2/24 #3 (Day 46)(Day 8 flower) 📋 H=49cm D=50cm DLI=33.0 Raised the pot a little. H=49cm D=43cm DLI=35.5 Tue 6/2/24 #3 (Day 47)(Day 9 flower) 📋 Looks like the weather is turning cold again over the next few days. Wed 7/2/24 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 Method= automatic Feed=water Neutralise=0.1ml/L Roots=0.2ml/L Easy Ph down=0.ml/L Ec=0.2 PH=6.6/6.5 Time start=12.00pm Finish time=13.45pm (11×5 minute runs with 5 minute gaps) Total flow rate=190ml/min Flow rate per plant=47ml/min. Total volume made=13L Total volume left=2.5L Total volume used=10.5L Volume per plant=2.6L (Est) Runoff. Total runoff=1.5L Ec=1.74 PH=6.6/ 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧 #3 (Day 48)(Day 10 flower) 📋 H=53cm D=39cm DLI=42.0 Thur 8/2/24 #3 (Day 49)(Day 11 flower) 📋 H=55cm D=37cm DLI=45.0 Raised light 5cm. Lowered power from 200w to 180w H=55cm D=42cm DLI=37.0 This one is progressing OK. A little bit smaller then the others in the tent by about 20cm. She has lost the battle for space and is the runt of the grow at this moment in time. Back soon. Take it easy.
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@BLAZED
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Week 16 (Harvest) 30-1 First day of darkness. Temperature: 27.9 degrees (lights on) 18.8 degrees (lights off) Humidity: 65% (highest) 48% (lowest) 31-1 Second day of darkness. Temperature: 24.5 degrees (lights on) 19.5 degrees (lights off) Humidity: 65% (highest) 50% (lowest) 1-2 Drying day 1 The Saparot is ready to be harvested! Before chopping her down, i took a lot of pictures. I was able to remove most of the soil to see the rootball. I hang plant as a whole to have a slow dry. The exhaust fan is on setting 4. 2-2 Drying day 2 Temperature: 19.1 to 17.5 degrees Humidity: 62% to 57% I changed the exhaust fan to setting 2 because setting 4 was a bit high in my opinion. 3-2 Drying day 3 Temperature: 19.9 to 18 degrees Humidity: 62% to 59% I changed the exhaust fan to setting 1, as someone told me that it was enough air movement for drying. 4-2 Drying day 4 Temperature: 19.8 to 18.5 degrees Humidity: 62% to 59% 5-2 Drying day 5 Temperature: 19.9 to 18.8 degrees Humidity: 62% to 59% Today i checked on the drying plants and the buds are shrinking a bit, they are getting a little bit crispy on the outside aswell, I hope they wont dry as fast, and i aim for a 12/14 day dry. Cant find the temps for 6-2 to 2-13. I do have a video when she was at the half of the dry process. 14-2 Trim day, yay! She was easy to trim, the buds are nice and dense, and there was not a too high bud/leaf ratio! She dried for 14 days. End results: Dried buds: 81 Grams. Dried Trim: 18.5 Grams. I am really surprised how good these genetics are! If you like CBD, i really suggest trying JYM Seeds out! The Saparot smells very fruity almost like a fruity coctail. The buds are super dense, and very bag appealing. After some months of curing the sweet fruity smell changed to a more sour smell, but still smells amazing! To be honest, i cured her a bit poorly, burped too less, and because the buds are so compact she holds moisture better then normal, so she tastes harsh, but thats on me. I have a pack of JYM's Sour Fruit aswell, so i will for sure try it out again! And my hope is already very high :D Thanks for following my diary, and feel free to check my others out aswell! See you at the next one!
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It's really hard to get started with conditions and insufficient knowledge. but i did it. OG Kush really hard to grow, but it's really worth. ill grow this girl again I added more pictures of Super silver haze, she's baby and only 3 weeks to veg. Just showing
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@AsNoriu
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Day 29. Girls grow slow, but most important .... Could be i overwatered with 2.5 liters of water or i stonly watered them twice ;))) Girls didnt drop pot weight till day 31, on days 32 morning ill do new round of lst. Will feed them hard, will defoliate all bigger old leaves which are covering new grow, plants are strong enough to take pain now ;))) Its sad situation a bit, i got flue and with that corona madness my mood was very down and i didnt work with plants at all, anyway, they made to that stage where harm can be done and its time. Gorillas looks okeish even without work, really good strain at least for now. Cookies are very picky, its hardest to veg strain from all i ever tried, lets see, maybe food and heavy training will make them fit ;) Day 32. Girls are finaly light, so heavy training and huge feeding. I dont know what hapend, but they refused to drink for 8 days almost, one cookie has obvious sighns of overwatering and if to be honest all cookies are crap, gorillas grow amazing, especially self toped one, she made natural mainlining and covers space perfectly. Guess in next 2-3 days they will blast off, but i cant feed silica till more branches will grow up, cookies too small, lets wait and see... Day 33. Girls loved food, plenty new grow, all tops are facing sun again , they will bush up in next few days. Next watering - silica and cal mag and next after - fish mix. Day 34. Girls are drinking again, so i gave 1ml/l fishmix. Cookies show strange colours and on fresh grow you can see cal mag def. Next feed will give them extra, normaly TopMax should be enough... I dont like Cookies genetics so much, that i planted last 5th bean ;)) Want to check two things : 1. Are my lights strong to grow something not under direct light 2. Are those Cookies such crap, that i should never try any seeds from RQS. I planted 4 new girls, no work,no top - nothing will be done to them. Hope to see last Cookie bean growing beter than almost two years old Incredible Bulk x2 and last StrawberyCough bagseed bean, otherwise its sad quality for such big house. Cant find why all 4 Cookies grow so slow compaired to all 4 perfect Gorillas. Was using new worm castings, too ritch ?? maybe thats the answer in test grow i put pure BIOBIZZ AllMix soil, nothing extra. Had to top one Cookie, new grow was all damaged and didnt want to develop, will harm them even harder next time before silica and cal mag, which i thought not to use in this run ... Lets see .... Happy growing !
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One plant had a big stretch late this week. But I believe it was due to me placing the middle plant in the back right because my middle light is an older model without bloom switch. And I wanted the nicer plant under the red leds, but over night that next night, it grew like 4 inches above my canopy :/ but i think I'm going to tie the 2 middle stretchers on her to the middle opposing stalks. I started the besties because the buds are formed nicely on top so now I want to start giving some size focused mid bloom nutrients. Going by the schedual so far for flower on my nutrient chart. Oh and when I started using the bud candy I noticed some AMAZING smells that I've never smelt on a strain before. The new tricomes smell like a cotton candy/gummyworm, and the water leaves when cut off smelt like straight gas/diesel. But the 2 smells are not present together. Its weird. Forgot cal mag this week
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@Broffel
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She is doing amazing, already can see she will become a purple girl.
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Summer isn’t officially here and the heat is still kicking my ass, the girls are loving it though. 3rd topping completed in the 4x4, the FX3 3x3 both phenos are doing phenomenal! Taking clones next week to secure the bank, looking forward!
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Bewässerung: 2500 ml jeden 3 Tag in der Dreizehnten Woche pH-Wert: 6.3 EC-Wert: 1,6 mS/cm Temperatur: 28ºC Luftfeuchtigkeit: 50% Schädlingsbekämpfung: Wir haben seit ein paar Tagen die Nematoden in der Erde und es sind schon deutlich weniger Trauermücken unterwegs. PPFD: 600 µmol/m²/s DLI: 38 mol/m²/Tag Düngemittel: Sie bekommt ab jetzt nur noch Wasser. Besonderheiten: Müssen jeden Tag Gießen durch die hohen Temperaturen. Haben wieder Raub Milben gekauft und sie an die Pflanze gehängt falls sich irgendwelche Schädlinge ins Zelt Trauen. -Tag 85 Heute haben wir bei ihr die Trichome Kontrolliert, man kann erkennen das sie noch nicht alle milchig sind, es gibt noch ein paar Durchsichtige und fast keine Amber. sie braucht noch eine bisschen mehr zeit. -Tag 89 Heute wieder Wasser gegeben.
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It's time to dive into the exciting world of my Purple Lemonade FF in week 6 of vegetation. This gal continues to shine and perform like a true champion, making me proud with every passing day. Last week, I introduced the scrog net, and oh boy, did she respond with enthusiasm! It's like witnessing a botanical ballet, as her branches gracefully weave through the net, creating a lush and even canopy. I sometimes catch myself humming "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" while tending to her. The scrog net truly is a masterpiece, guiding her growth and ensuring maximum light penetration. It's like a support system for her budding ambitions. Now, let's talk about IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, because every grower knows that prevention is key. I noticed some unwanted visitors in the form of thrips and fungus gnats, so it was time to take action. But hey, I prefer a natural approach, so I called upon some tiny allies to join the battle. I introduced nematodes to the soil, those microscopic warriors who feast on the unsuspecting pests. It's like having a secret army of predators ready to defend my precious plants. But that's not all! To further bolster the defenses, I invited some other beneficial insects to the party. Spical Ulti Mite and Swirskii, the mighty protectors, joined forces to keep those unwanted critters in check. It's like an epic showdown between the good, the bad, and the buggy. Who needs a superhero movie when you have a living ecosystem fighting the good fight? In a way, the scrog net and the IPM predators are like my own version of the Avengers. They work together, each with their unique skills, to create a harmonious and pest-free environment. It's a sight to behold, and I can't help but feel like the proud commander of this green army. So, my fellow growers, remember the power of the scrog net and the importance of an effective IPM strategy. Together, they ensure a thriving canopy and a fortress protected from unwanted pests. Let's continue this journey with enthusiasm, love, and a touch of humor. Stay tuned for the next update, where we'll unravel more tales from the flourishing world of my Purple Lemonade FF. Until then, keep dancing with your plants and let nature's superheroes be your allies! As always thank you all for stopping by and for supporting me on this journey, i am super passion about growing and fell blessed to have you all with me on this new journey <3 <3 <3 Genetics - Fast Buds Purple Lemonade FF Ligth - Lumatek ZEUS 465 COMPACT PRO 
Food - Aptus Holland #aptus #aptusplanttech #aptusgang #aptusfamily #aptustrueplantscience #inbalancewithnature #trueplantscience #fastbuds #dogdoctorofficial #growerslove With true love comes happiness <3 <3 <3 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 <3 <3 <3 
All info and full product details can be find in can find @ https://2fast4buds.com/ wen released 

https://aptus-holland.com/
 
https://autopot.co.uk/ 

https://lumatek-lighting.com/ <3 <3 <3 Growers love to you all <3 <3 <3 " Arising from a cross between purple and citrus Cali genetics, Purple Lemonade FF (Fastflowering) offers a complex high made up of perfectly balanced cerebral and body effects that are ideal for daytime use. Expect an extremely enjoyable high that boosts your mood while deeply relaxing your whole body and getting rid of muscle pain. This meticulous cross produces up to 550 g/m2 of some of the most beautiful purple buds, with pinkish and reddish hues that will catch everyone’s attention. The beautiful purple buds are ready for harvest in 7-8 weeks and come hand-in-hand with unbelievably sugary citrus terps that are just as refreshing as a cold lemonade on a hot Summer day. It’s the ideal variety for the sweet-tooth stoner seeking strains that deliver both in quality and quantity of resin. Bud Description Purple Lemonade FF grows chunky, spade-shaped buds that boast a whole range of pinkish-purple hues with rich, dark orange pistils shooting out of every direction. This variety stands out for the, oftentimes, lilac trichomes that give them a gorgeous pink tint and make for outstanding purple concentrates. The buds give off a delicious tart lemon aroma that reveals a sweeter, more fruity scent as you break the buds open. Definitely a must for flavor chasers and those looking for pungent terpene profiles. Smoke Reports Purple Lemonade FF offers an effect that’s just as unique as the flavor. Expect a potent uplifting high that gives you that energy boost you need to get things done while 100% happy and stress-free. The effect gradually transforms into a wave that works its way along the limbs and through the muscles, deeply relaxing your body and putting you in the right mindset to go through a busy day with a huge smile on your face. This is an excellent all-day smoke as it not only increases energy but can also help combat chronic pain, migraine and stress. Plant Appearance This feminized photoperiod variety develops a thick and strong structure, growing a medium-sized main cola with multiple shorter side branches, typical of hybrid strains. Purple Lemonade FF develops fairly short internodal spacing with gorgeous purple buds growing stacked on top of each other, making it the perfect choice for growers of all levels looking to get lots and lots of top-shelf purple weed, as this variety can produce up to 550 g/m2 in a 7-8 week flower cycle. Grow Tips This is a super fast feminized photoperiod version that takes approximately 7-8 weeks to flower with a 5-week vegetation cycle,, this means you can have faster harvests by shortening the veg cycle or have a longer veg cycle for bigger yields. Purple Lemonade FF (Fastflowering) makes for a great candidate for growers of all levels as it’s a vigorous strain that will thrive with basic maintenance both indoors and outdoors. This is a resin powerhouse so make sure to have your trim bin close by as all the resinous sugar leaves will make for the most mouth-watering hash and extracts. Flavor Expect a long-lasting citrus zest that taste just like it smells. Purple Lemonade FF reeks of a delicious blend of sweet fruits and tart citrus that’ll make your mouth water. On the inhale, expect sour flavors that taste just like lemon candy with hints of orange and a really subtle earthy background. And on the exhale, the citrus flavors open up, giving place to a more sugary berry fruitiness that leaves your whole mouth tasting like an extremely sweet weed-infused lemonade.
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Week 3 has been great! We topped 2 Pre 98 Bubbas and 2 Dirty Blondes so far , 2 other Pre98 Bubbas will also get the topping but just gotta give them a few more days and they will be ready for it ! Once we have a little time of recovery, we will be topping all these ladies at least 2 or 3 more times so you all keep them eyes peeled! I hope you all enjoy an have an amazing productive week ! Peace love an positive vibes to all my Growmies out there Cheers 😶‍🌫️💨💨💨💨💨🤙🏻If there’s any questions, please ask I’ll be happy to answer ✌️🏻
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I really like the colors coming out in these buds. They are getting more purple every day. Looks like they are going to stack up pretty fat too. I spread the plants out a little this week so they get better light and air flow. Other than that I haven't done anything besides keep the reservoir full. Still pumping nutrients 1 minute on 20 minutes off. They are getting .5 tsp maxibloom per gallon. Not going to run any boosters this round. They dont look like they want or need it.
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Flower week 3 successful. Feeding every watering with nutrients and once a week calmag. Next week I start with Aptus K Boost in a lower dose and then let's see how they react. Till now I am super super happy with Aptus 🌱. Big big thanks that I can use the good Stuff💚💛❤️. But we know all the good Stuff comes from Holland 🇳🇱
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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