Preparing for the Bloom

[Gjourney101]

I've decided to let this plant go for another week. After all, that is the difference, and it gave me some time to prep the medium and environment.

I've decided not to transplant, but have devised a way I can transplant with minimal shock if problems arise in flower.

Currently we are a month or so into veg with amazing growth and structure - I plan to flip on Thanksgiving and also introduce my first feeding of bloom macros (almost like a little Thanksgiving plate for the lady at hand!)

In the mean time, I installed 2 micro-USB fans and hooked my carbon filter up with it running fine - intake, exhaust, and scrubbing systems are ready.

I also cut some fresh 2x4's to make a lincoln-log style system to lower the plant canopy as it stretches instead of messing with the light - its in its finally position.

In addition to dialing in the environment and atmosphere, I flushed the soil with 3 gallons of pH'd water to remove any excess salt buildup and drain the medium of nitrogen and other macros. While I've heard mixed opinions of flushing at bloom, I believe it'll provide a fresh slate for my bloom cycle and also allow any salts to leave the system - good pH and maximum uptake was my justification. She took it well and is loving the weather.

I defoliated all 4 colas, everything below node 4, and have plenty of room for LST if it stretches more than I intend.

Other than that, there has been minimal problems arise and she has been extremely resilient.

I'll be initiating flowering on Thanksgiving, with these next 6 days being dedicated to her "Me" time so to say. All flags are green for go!

All and any pointers/tips/advice for a seamless and explosive bloom cycle is much appreciated. Thanks guys!

[Bluey]

What nutes are you using in this grow, veg & bloom please? Pot size?

Rather than transplant during flower (this has disaster written all over it) have you considered using mineral based nutes? These are available to the plant immediately as opposed to organic based nutes, or perhaps using a fully composted tea that will also mostly be available immediately?

I'm glad your flush went well. I wouldn't flush soil unless I had stuffed it up from the start or were using nutes with it as well or over did a tea or top dressing. My soil grows were outdoors and the rain would flush it weather I wanted it to or not.

Edit. If you haven't flipped it yet you may find you flushed a bit early. It needs mostly N during the first two to three weeks after flipping as your plant will try and double/triple in size during this phase. It will take up lots of N and deplete the soil ready for flower.

[Rootsruler]

IME, high salt in soil is, for the most part, a myth. Can it happen? Certainly but I would imagine you'll see signs of nutrient lockout way before you need to be concerned with salt build up. I'm a soil/salt farmer and I've gone through successive runs with the same soil without flushing any of it and have NEVER had an issue with soil alkalinity. As long as you aren't dumping ungodly amounts of fertilizer into your pots you should be more than fine. Salt buildup, IMO, is because the grower is using too high a concentration of fertilizer that the plant can't take up fast enough. Salt buildup can also occur when the grower isn't giving enough light energy slowing the uptake resulting in a higher percentage of ions in the soil every time the grower waters. Too slow an uptake will most certainly raise the soil alkalinity especially if the grower doesn't monitor the uptake PPM or EC.

I really wish people would stop thinking that flushing will remove bad things when in reality, IMO, you are hurting more than helping in almost every instance.

I would also agree with Bluey that nitrogen in flower is essential to maximizing the growth potential of your plant. i understand it seems counterintuitive to be adding more nitrogen when conventional wisdom says grow base is for veg and bloom base is for flowers but that is way too simplistic a way to define it. The 2 - 3 weeks that your plant will be transitioning to flowering mode along with the accelerated growth in stretch would suggest that N is necessary in building all that structure. Reducing N will deprive the plant of one of its most basic building blocks to cellular growth.

What I do is a blend of both Grow and Bloom base, 50/50, a week before flip. I'll continue this blend into week 5 - 6 after most of the flower structure has been established. After that I remove the grow portion and go straight Bloom to finish.

Your manifold looks good although I would have gone with at least 12 arms rather than 4 but the plant looks healthy and that is what is most important.

Bluey Looks like a 3 gallon nursery pot.

[Bluey]

As to when I start mixing in bloom depends when I flipped or intend to flip and how much N is in the plant. Last grow, actually most of them, my plants typically are so packed with N that I can get a blue tinge on the ends of the leaf which is the start of N toxicity. When that happens I start bloom and PK suppliments prior to seeing flowers. It seems to work well going by leaf color as to when to transition all things considered.

[shadycon]

I agree with Bluey: Learning to read leaves is what makes a good crop. The more I read about plant problems, look at pictures, really helps me growing. I'm on my 2nd grow since I started back, I'm learning that leaves will tell you what your plant needs or doesn't need. Also helps finding bugs! This grow has been way easier and more productive,improved grow room is working good and I feel I have less problems than a tent. Temp this morning 27*/out and 60*/ in, one oil heater on med. Enjoy the holidays..................

[Bluey]

What makes it difficult is no grow is the same, even two clones from the same mother beside each other in the same room can have slightly different nute requirements and levels. And different strains will show slightly different symptoms with the same deficiency.

It's all part of the challenge and makes it more rewarding when we put in the work, connect with our grow and get it right