The offical 2016 solo cup challenge

[insomniaczzz]

So how is the photo girl doing?

[rockman]

Gordo, this has been quite interesting to say the least! Great way to learn what restricted roots can do to cannabis. Thanks for sharing! 🌻

[Gordo41]

You are most welcome. Just paying it forward, like the people that came before me.

[rockman]

Question Gordo. With your wealth of experience with autos, would you say that 24/0 is preferable over any other light schedule? I've only grown autos so far (one at a time), and was curious if I would speed things up or increase yields with lights on all the time, or stick to my 20/4 schedule. So far I've been quite pleased with my harvests, but who wouldn't want something better. Thanks! 🌸

[Gordo41]

So how is the photo girl doing?

Glad you asked about that. Ive been meaning to post a pic of her but didn't get around to it till now, my apologies. After 30 days i put her into 12/12 and left her outside with the other photos so far she looks a lot like her auto sister that i just harvested. She might be ready by christmas but i think she will go longer.

[South Sierra Dude]

Nice looking solo. I need to do a few

[Gordo41]

Why? I only did this on a bet.

[South Sierra Dude]

I'm following several on multiple forums.

[insomniaczzz]

I cannot believe how healthy she looks. Any one else who kept their plant in a solo cup would have drooping, yellowing leaves. Why did my girls get rootbound and start to suffer in their 2 gallon buckets. Makes no sense.

[Gordo41]

Yeah, i'm kinda surprised myself. But there she is. She vegged under T5 lights 24/0 for 30 days, and has now been under 12/12 (outside) for 17 days. There have only been a few lower leaves that turned yellow which is to be expected now that she is not getting any N. As far as your plants go, it would make sense if you have them in solid pots, that leads to plants being root bound if there isn't enough room for the roots to grow. There are probably other factors involved in why your plants are turning yellow, that i can't speak to. But i would definitely use fabric pots if i had a choice. You can order them from HD cheap.

[Gordo41]

Question Gordo. With your wealth of experience with autos, would you say that 24/0 is preferable over any other light schedule? I've only grown autos so far (one at a time), and was curious if I would speed things up or increase yields with lights on all the time, or stick to my 20/4 schedule. So far I've been quite pleased with my harvests, but who wouldn't want something better. Thanks! 🌸

Thats a great question, and thanks for the compliment. As for as light schedules go,, thats a very subjective subject. Ive read that 18/6 or 20/4 is best for auto.. i dont know how someone came up with that figure considering that different seeds from the same mother will grow so different from each other even under the same conditions, it would be difficult to say one light schedule is better than any other when it comes to auto. Of course i could be totally wrong about that,, but I haven't seen anything scientific to the contrary. What i do know from my growing experience is that the more light time you give a plant the bigger it will get especially during flowering.
When i say bigger, i dont mean taller.. i mean better stem and leaf growth, more and bigger flowers, more yield, heavier, tighter and better smoking buds.
all that being said,, i personaly like to have my lights on 24/0. Ive only been doing that for the last two grows but i see a difference from when i use to do 18/6.
again, that depends a lot on pot size, nutrients, and strain. But it seems logical to me that more light = better grow.
Also i put the girls outside during the day to get even more light from mother sun.
now, anyone that has some information that 18/6 works better, please jump on in here and tell us about it. I'm alway open to other opinions.
Pot size: when it comes to pots,, size does matter. I've grown a lot of autos in 2 gal air pots (more like 1 gal if you ask me) thinking "it's only going to be in there for 70-90 days, how much root can it grow" well i was wrong about that. The roots of an auto will more than fill a 2 gal pot in less that 65 days. If it's in a fabric pot, it will fill the pot with a massive root ball well before harvest. Now 3 gal is the smallest pot i use and even that might be on the too small size. I dont think 5 gal would be TOO big.
I just dont have room in my tent for 5gal pots. But if i was going to grow only one plant at a time, i would try a 5 gal pot. What have you got to lose?

[rockman]

Really appreciate your opinions on this Gordo! I think you are correct about more light equals better growth, but can't prove it yet until I do a controlled experiment. And the fact that yours are able to get some real sunshine does factor in. 🌻 As far as pot size, I think you also have that correct concerning autos. My grows have all been in 5 gallon smartpots, and when they are finished, the root system has completely filled the containers. Those were in coco/perlite, so my current grow in Kind/Ocean Forest will give me an indication of how they behave in soil, though I'm not expecting much difference. Again, your thoughtful reply is appreciated...there is much to be learned about cannabis from sharing experiences! 😊

[Gordo41]

I forgot to mention that i use only coco + perlite exclusively.
I've tried different forms of soil mixes but dont like the idea of not being able to flush out the nutes if needed.
With coco, its a simple process to flush and start over if you have to.

[Gordo41]

I am definitely going to plant my autos in my two gallon buckets after seeing this. I think 5 gallon buckets would be overkill.

please see what i wrote about that above.

[insomniaczzz]

Well there goes my theory that my 2 gallon buckets will be big enough for an auto. LOL

[Gordo41]

When you say "buckets" do you mean plastic buckets? I grew some very nice autos in 2 gal fabric pots. But 3-5 is even better.

[Gordo41]

Just wanted you all to see here all decked out for Christmass before i harvest her.

[Gordo41]

And now this and this.

[insomniaczzz]

Gordo, yes I have about 20 of the 2 gallon plastic ACE buckets with drainage holes drilled in right above the floor of bucket. Same goes with the 5 gallons, have about 8 of those. I know fabric pots are preferable. Would really like to get another grow or two out of the ACE buckets before investing in something different.

[Gordo41]

I'm not a fan of plastic pots BC they dont breath and the roots can't get the air they need. If you can afford to change to fabric pots i would recommend doing so. HD has nice ones cheap. Also 2 gal pots are too small no mater what they are made of.

[insomniaczzz]

Just wanted you all to see here all decked out for Christmass before i harvest her.

So freaking adorable!! I would love to use that picture for my Christmas cards this year. A few would know what it is, but I think most would not.

[Gordo41]

You have my ok if that helps you.

[Gordo41]

I know this pic looks very much like the one above but its not the same plant. The Chrismass one was an auto that i had going the same time as the original cup grow photo plant.
So here is the original plant i started with. It's been growing outside in it's little cup all this time and now it's time to wish her a happy new year, before i cut her down tomorrow. She looks so much like the auto and will probably yield about the same 4.5g that the auto did.
i hope you all got something out of this grow.. it will be my last one.

[Gordo41]

Oh no Rockman,, is is not my last GROW,, it's just the last time I'll do a solo cup grow.
Growing is what I do.
Thanks for the comment.

[rockman]

You scared me Gordo...can't imagine anyone in their right mind not wanting to play with cannabis cultivation! 😊

[Gordo41]

Fear not my friend,, i will be growing till the day i die.

[Tika]

Downright delightful Gordo!!! Good science!

[bobsakamoto]

mcrud, i was just reading this thread and thought the exact same thing!!

[Weasel]

Cool thread. I have to respectfully disagree that a solo cup grow is a waste of time. I mostly grow in ten gallon pots, but the inconvenient truth is that one of my solo cup plants, grown 12/12 from seed, far outyielded my regular plants when factoring in the size and especially that it only took 101 days from sprout to harvest.
I haven't quite got my head around that. Makes it seem like, in yield terms, I should be growing all solo cups- I just don't want to!
Mine was in coco perlite, under an autowatering system. I've been trying to take it to the next level by doing the same thing but in one gallon pots, -keep failing to replicate the magic though.