Went out this fine morn, just before the cold storm gets here, and found a bit of bud rot on the Shock Trauma, milky with some amber. And the Mazar Vtwin is not happy so,
Time for a rootopsy, the Vtwin Mazar is younger and the roots are smaller (she dont like wet feet and i think her soils stays a bit wet) her roots look healthy (shown unwashed and washed). But look at the roots on that shock trauma, much bigger, but the twisting, thats from to small a pot to start them in to begin with. Another dif is the ST had only perlite on top (so no one would say anything about no perlite). Edit Look how the roots are grown out through the fabric and through the fabric into the ground!/Edit
Perlite, for me has been a mistake, it will be removed from the soil and feed to the chickens, they have been picking it off the top already. First issue with perlite is I use water soluble powdered sulfur (PH down), with the perlite it makes sulfuric acid way to fast! The second issue and the one I cant have is it kills earthworms, whatever type you use.
Another thing is 6 feet apart has been ok, but I need more room, 8-10 feet next year.
I have someone thats going to cut trees (firewood) for me, and more than 100 will be removed, the sun will shine on my girls more hours per day. This will also increase air flow through the garden to help with WPM and bud rot.
Pics in no order, the GG4 is on the racks, Mazar is in a box, the rest is now hung behind the ST. A pic of the burping station as it is this morning.