Grow Journal

[LadyK]

Ok so I think I put my notes together best I could. Sorry this is so long, I got carried away. This would probably have been about 50 posts Updates and changes will be shorter and more under control lol I couldn't even remember what some of my own notes meant. I feel unsure about everything! The closet is 40”L and I made the shelf 14”W to hold larger pots. I stressed them the hell out with getting environment dialed in, few times temps were 85-90 the heater didn't auto turn off, and RH 35%, to almost killing them from not watering because I'm a watering person, so I went to the complete opposite end with these poor girls. Was gifted a clone, so that started this ride for me lol. Of course open to any help and suggestions as I have never had a little grow like this before. I do garden though. Still not sure about so many things I put questions and thoughts in the notes on photos as I went along. I am sure I missed things, or got some timelines mixed up. Yes its a bit mixed up with a photo and autos together, but for now its fine, if I flip the photo over I will put in a different tent but I would like to keep it short. So lights now are 18/6. I am a flower girl from way back and would really love to grow my own smoke. I could only upload 15 photos per post and I wanted to get them all up, so sorry for how long it will be to get the first part up will make a note when its the last one! So appreciate any help!

[LadyK]

9/28 Was gifted a clone of Mendo Breath was under 2 extra lights I had 30w ea 2ft led T8 led shop light 6500k 18/6 checked roots

9/30 getting closet ready and looking at environmental readings with clone now under my outdoor vegetable garden seedling light VIPARSPECTRA 2024 XS1500 Pro for a few days tried to keep at about 400 ppfd 18/6, using Photone app with homemade 22lb paper difuser as suggested. Trying to dial in temps/RH around 75-78 and 45-55RH etc watered maybe 2x using 3 gal fabric pots (will move clone 5 gal eventually) Clone transplanted sprinkled roots with Mycorrhizal Inoculant, dont remember which I used as I have both DYNOMYCO and Myco Bliss Powder I think it was the Bliss

– Got seeds at local hydro store and soils. Soil mix is bottom 50% FFOF (higher Phosphate for roots later?) (fox farms ocean forest I know it can be hot) and top half is 50/50 mix of FFOF and FFHF (fox farms ocean forest and happy frog) Was trying to not make it too hot for the Auto seeds with and then about a 2in x2in center for the seeds in only seed starter no nuits.

10/1 6am dropped auto seeds in water Dutch passion Orange Bud and Fast Buds Gelato then at 8pm put in paper towel

10/2 8am starting to open Orange Bud ahead of Gelato, Clone starting to show yellowing on lower leaf, other leaves showing lighter color around edges ( looks like interveinal chlorosis?) tops curling and taco/canoe? And didnt notice “clawing”? Also thought light was ok but was around 8 inches from top, not sure how that happened so im sure WAY more exposure even though I thought I was at 400 ppfd moved to 22 inches away LOL not sure I was watering oops gave like 1 cup So with all my concerns what did I do? F'd with her. Added insult to injury and topped it. I wanted to at 5 nodes and she had 6. tried to leave a bit of a nub could have left more was trying to avoid it splitting as it grew


10/3 Orange Bud tap root out and Gelato still behind but now out a bit and put into 3 gal pots with cut off water bottle for humidity dome, wont keep them on maybe few days? I know some dont even bother to use

10/5 Put up new Spider Farmer SF2000 tried again to keep at 250-300 ppfd even for clone until seedlings pop. Water clone about 1-2 cups? 8pm Orange Bud popped up yellow adjusted light now Day 1

10/6 5am Clone worse on bottom leaves, Orange Bud Day 2 greening up looking good, and Gelato Day 1 decided to join the party looking a bit rough and cotyledon leaves bent but both came up with no shell attached. Trying to keep light on 24 hrs then back to 18/6

10/7 Clone spacing between nodes looked at im sure its stretching as 300ish ppfd not enough for it

10/8 Going to use same day count for both autos Day 3 as Gelato is only about 12 hrs behind autos both looking good. Clone still not looking great, clawing I thought was over watering, but im sure I was under, tops still curling I think she was dry and I didnt know. So what I do I do? Tried some LST and didnt know what I was doing LOL

[LadyK]

10/10 Clone took lst off, she looks terrible, I had not watered for 5 days leaves clawing and took lst ties off. Day 5 for Autos true leaves looking a bit curled (not as much on Gelato) not sure if water PH issue or lights still? got PH meter, I was using my filtered water and when tested it was bout 5PH! Tap ruGH ph down. So prob locking out pretty much ALL nuits? Now boiling water first night before then watering with 6.5ish clone about 3 cups water (some run off I think bc soil was so dry even though I tried to mist soild surface to break water tension? And watered extremely slow to soak in and not find easy way to run out)autos like 2 tablespoons, dont ask me why lol

10/13 Poor clone girl not looking great with older bottom leaves but tops are more green! so what do I do to her? Bend her over of course! Easy bc she was so dehydrated? Lol used same ties. clone is taller so I think the ppfd on clone was about 500ish before? Now all about the same height autos round 300ish? Temps 75-79/80 RH 50-60% days and nights 45-50RH and temps around 65. Should I keep heater on at night at least around 70-75?? Water – clone about 700 ml, autos about 350 mls (rin off)

10/15 they are all greening up, getting water now lol, Clone took off ties and put on some small tent stakes. I have other 9gauge wire coming may make some of my own and 12 in garden stakes to look at. I still want to cut all those yellowed older fan leaves off, but not sure there is enough green on the new tops to sustain her? Day 10 Autos more true leaves and liking the watering of course! Moved light at around 22 inch per mfg and 50% ish now all about same height and 350-400ppfd? Still using the photone app but also a Lux reading (converting to ppfd I know not same thing or exact but with conversion it was with in about 50+- ppfd so I think it helped me dial in lighting? and trying to go between using both. I have a the VIVOSUN 6 Mil Mylar Diamond Film Roll but had trouble putting it up in one sheet as I didn't want it tight in the corners and tried to make it rounded and had trouble. Walls are not flat white more a warm color, so I know it would give better reflection, I think? May put it up or just paint flat white

10/16 Clone old leaves are terrible, I am tucking to give tops best light, but they are also touching soil which I dont want, still just want to clip them. New growth enough to sustain clone? Do it all at once or just take a few at a time? Day 11 autos, they are looking good I think? Node spacing good I think? First got the APERA AI209 then got the APERA AI316 Premium Series PC60 5-in-1 Waterproof pH/EC (Conductivity) /TDS (ppm) /Salinity (ppt) /Temp still learning it, didnt calibrate it just started using it, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point. but first set of results didnt even take all measurements I could so these may not be the best numbers but will grab all of them next time: Tap water ph around 8.2 down to 6.5, tds/PPM 210, Sal .13 Run off from auto if I did this right as the tds I just have pushed something so reading was ppt in lieu of ppm but seems WAY high? - cond 2.3, tds ppt 170, Sal ppt 1.18 and ph 6.58 from what I read FF soils come adjusted at about 6.3-6.8ph, but does it buffer? Still confused if it buffers ph but still learning!

Still have all those questions and not sure what nuits I want. I do have Gaia Green 4-4-4 and 2-8-4 a I think both are a slow the 4-4-4 esp and also depend on soil microbes which I have no idea how mine are. And also have FF Big Bloom and Grow Big (from summer veg garden seedlings) I do have Recharge use it? I wanted to start additional nuits around week 3-4 for autos to give more but I also think they are SO small they ave not tapped into any of the nuits in soil but I want to top dress? Gaia? Worm castings? Liquid fert watering? I do want to keep this organic.

[LadyK]

[Bluey]

Your clone/s look 10 times better than mine....but I tend to neglect mine re pH and blocked nozzles for weeks at a time

[LadyK]

Appreciate that! She looked better when I got her compared to what I did to her. Hoping she will be ok in the end.

[LadyK]

[LadyK]

[LadyK]

Ok is all of them to finish getting grow journal up, again sorry to long!

[Bluey]

Note your temps (night and day) RH EC pH PPFD suppliments amount of water. This will give you a baseline for future changes or improvements.

Try and stay conservative with all of them. It makes for less problems

[LadyK]

Yes I need to be better at taking, recording and tracking everything for sure. Valuable information. They fluctuate so much, may get a different heater that one is YEARS old and pulled it out from the back of my other closet. have a very small humidifier showing up today, I literally have been either just distilled water in there or a wet towel draped over the small curtain rod (not in photos) I was hoping it would kind of just wick up but didn't work. I got the AC Infinity one and sent it back only because this is a small closet I got carried away lol , I will get it and automate everything when I change my grow site.

[Bluey]

As the plants grow you will be trying your hardest to lower humidity, and temps as lowering himidity pushes up temps, and the lower in late flower the better the quality of your buds.

This will likely be your biggest challenge

[LadyK]

I wanted to get an update posted but totally getting discouraged. I feel like they look like crap and always trying to read them for something wrong. I know welcome to it right? lol

Temps days 75-79 few times 80ish, RH has been 45-55 got new humidifier today trial it was too much turning down to track but run at night? attached chart I know its not great trying to understand numbers and tracking. using photone app with dli it is showing low along with lux and ppfd's still have no reflective up and walls are not fat white but more warm color. looking at numbers best they show, going to turn up tomorrow?

I still think I am underwatering as when I do water the leaves flatten out more. autos I am only giving 2 cups with no run off at 20 days I need to increase(increasing to 3 cups next water) Tips browning look like nuit burn? yes they in ff soil mix in signature have not given anything additional yet. Still trying to be better about taking them. chart attached of what I have right now. not sure why it took some in ppt and ppm. I am going to water tomorrow with a bit of run off so I can check numbers.

Even though I think the tips look like nuit burn I more feel they are hungry by now 30 days in soil and need more? I am going organics either Gaia Green or Dr Earth. Thoughts on either? I know they take 1-2 wks to be broken down and avail? so I was going to top dress Sunday when I water next to get it started to break down.

And speaking of breaking down I have no idea what the bio life is like so I wanted to give a watering of recharge in hopes it would be there to begin the process when i get the drys on maybe with Sundays water? Am I thinking wrong about this??

I will try to Any help or input or anything appreciated!

[Bluey]

I think you're seeing a couple of problems, minor and easily fixed.

One appears your soil is a tad hot or your adding too many nutes, showing some minor nute burn.

The other I think is pH related. Get yourself a top quality meter and pH your inputs to suit your grow medium, the stage of growth and to address some signs of deficiency.

Growing in a large pot with heaps of soil doesn't require pH'ing of inputs as the soil will buffer it, but small pots that doesn't happen to the extent you may need, if at all sometimes.

[LadyK]

Yeah its sad to see.. discouraging - I'm trying.

I noted it looked like nuit burn. I have not added anything yet. 3 gal top half is 50/50 FFOF and FFHF, bottom half is FFOF. I know its been noted as being hot while also some its fine. Was my first soil use. Do I overwater once to try to get some out? I know that can increase also or just stay the course? I noted it looks like nuit burn on the Gelato, but the spots on the OB nuit burn also? Didnt think it looked as nuit issue for the OG.

I have a good PH meter, or I thought was a decent one APERA INSTRUMENTS AI316 Series PC60 I was thinking since the bit of run off I get pH 6.3-6.4 so far, maybe not ph to 6.5 for water going in? and use maybe 6.8-7 to see the run off numbers? I understand what you are saying to pH input to suit medium (I read FF does buffer a bit and other things said it doesnt so not sure what to do with that) For stage of growth I thought I was in the proper ph , but now I have no idea. For addressing signs of deficiency are they showing that now? I thought it was too much nuits?

I know the 3 gal pots are not a large pot, I do see the soil buffer it down a bit. Should I bring it down even more to TRY to lock out nuits if its too hot right now?

I'm glad to read that you consider them minor and easily fixed. Sorry for all the questions, but just how do I do that? What steps do you suggest? Do you mean by ph mainly? I thought I was doing the ph right sigh

They really dont seem to need watering today, thought they would by 4th day. UGH please tell me what steps you think I should take with this mess.

I'm lost.

[Smallgrow]

I’m not going to comment on your plants much because you have a lot going on, but I am going to offer support.

To me it looks like you’ve got just about everything you need, just be patient we all start where you are at. It can be discouraging in the beginning, but just keep growing and you will improve.
As usual the biggest rookie mistake is too much love.Either too many inputs or over water. I would encourage you to focus on your watering practice and not add too many other inputs, as you can make things worse just as easy as better. If you have the cash I would recommend a Bluemat moisture sensor to help you learn the proper moisture levels, I use them and they are great. The ones with the metal probes from the garden store are not the same and in my experience don’t work.

Hope that helps a bit, my first grows struggled too, and after five years I’m still focused mainly on watering as a solution to my problems. Just keep on growing and I bet after 2 or 3 grows you will find your way. Remember 2 or 3 tries at something is not very much practice, it’s just hard when it takes 3-4 months per try.

Grow on grasshopper

[LadyK]

Testing to see if this posts to your comment, I tried to click the 10.1 box

[LadyK]

ok guess that did it, I thought I replied to you but it made it as a post and not a comment!

[LadyK]

Also reading with FFOF it doesn't give much in the potassium needs and some suggest to add Down to Earth Langbeinite. Thoughts on that?

[LadyK]

Also now I am wondering if it is Septoria leaf spot on the OB auto. Of course I am looking at and reading probably everything and maybe way too much! I am sure you all recognize newbie panic lol 🤣

[LadyK]

Apparently I am commenting to myself haha the craze has begun. I should probably start a new post if I have a specific question or additional concern/thought!

[LadyK]

Appreciate your reply. Yeah I was actually underwatering in fear of all that I read of usually someone overwatering and feel I locked everything out in the beginning as it was DRY and my ph I started using was WAY too low around 5ish. and only after I watered did the leaves level out and green up. I have not added any inputs yet.. they have been in the FF soil for about 3 weeks. I looked at the Blumat you suggested, and is on sale now on Amazon, and have no problem spending the money on it as my Apera cost almost double that. Sure I could get one to keep in a pot but cant get one for 3-4 plants. They are fairly large and I see that you put them in your pot and leave there as it would disrupt the roots if moving it around. I do have the ones with the metal probes which I use a bit. Appreciate the encouragement!

[Smallgrow]

Yes this is the draw back of them they need to stay in place for a period of time.
I just got a second one as they are costly.
The way I use it is stick it in a pot, I’m in 7 gal so there is a bit more space and leave it, and just use it to judge the weight of that pot and feel of the soil then apply that knowledge to the other pots.
I do move it from pot to pot despite the root damage , in veg I don’t worry about it , in flower I try not to smash through the roots too many times, but I’ve never really seen any problems there.

[LadyK]

Thoughts if Septoria? day 23 I am obsessing now I know

[LadyK]

Update, really only wanted to once a week but HELP! any help or suggestions please feel free Feel I am just watching them die in front of me and not sure how to help them. Day 26 for both. Orange bud faded leaves and spots and Gelato looking terrible and has pistols on this poor thing. Day temps 75-80 , Night temps 66ish, Day RH 45 - 55ish, Night RH low 40's, Watered 10/27 thought I could water today pots do not seem to need it. Run off cond is high 1200-1600 few days ago. I do not get much run off and those reading are in 2 diff pots just take reading if they run off. of but are high, I'm sure due to hi nuits still in soil.

10/24 water pH in 6.48 cond 273 run off pH 6.37 cond 1157 (from clone no run off from autos)
10/27 water pH in 6.89 cond 371 run off pH 6.82 cond 1354 (from Gelato no run off on others)
10/30 was going to water they seem ok?

@Bluey could you please expand a bit on your suggestions? I did reply, not sure you saw. I am only pH'ing my tap water and not giving any nuits yet.

[Bluey]

I think your soil is a bit to hot for seedlings but it looks like the plant is now tolerating it better. Keep doing what you are doing and I think you should be fine.

[LadyK]

Ok will do, thanks for your reply!