Meesta's Grow

[MeestaFeesha]

Alrighty, watered all the ladies and took some fun pictures. More importantly actually photo'd my little ladies individually as they start their new cycle. Had meant to water yesterday evening, but they were still reaching for the stars so I let them dry out a little more. Choosing today to start watering before, and then finishing during the heat of the day. I normally prefer mornings or evenings, however with the heat and their black pots I don't want them to cook!

This morning and afternoon has been so active with life. There are birds actually going into the larger WW! I ended up scaring one out earlier! (WW#2)...which does help me recognize why I had to triage a woody branch that had not fully repaired itself from supercropping, and started wilting 😢. (WW#3)

Everything considered, things are wonderful here! All the ladies entering flower within a short time of each other should be fun. More exciting as the weeks will go by, I'm sure. Will be releasing the last round of ladybugs I have this evening, it seems as though the type of fly I had is much more scarce. As always, thank you all for stopping by or taking a peek at the happenings here!

🤘😎
-Meesta

 

[MeestaFeesha]

One can only hope! And that is too true!

 

[alltatup]

Oh wow, Meesta, I can really see how they've taken off over the past two weeks since you repotted, just in time for flowering!! They look so incredibly happy, lush, green and energetic; seriously, I can practically see them vibrating, you dig? I KNOW you are totally picking up on their energy, and they on yours and the cat's. All that incredible energy circulating among you, cat, plants, insects, all the other flora around. Super good vibes; I can feel the spirit of the place from your pictures. You are a wizard!!!

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Ha! Don't know about wizard, but I appreciate that! It's turned into my happy place.

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Foliar fed my dahlias yesterday, the marks from leaf miner became clear as day. No other areas or plants affected. (Am I wrong in being a Tron fan and thinking a garden infested by leaf miners under blacklight could be a display?)... Anyways...There are two mantids (out of I don't know how many anymore) who have molted and are now a lighter green than the plants...their color is that of new growth, and they're sneaky buggers! It's looking like I'll find them once they, and the plants, are more mature.

Used a delivery service recently, wanted to compare Zkittlez to my Forbidden Fruit (FF is 1.5yr+ since bought locally)...well, this Zkittlez is not that great. Smell/Look A+, High B, taste, ehhh not there at all (for a strain known for it). I could probably save it for a while and give it a proper cure after rehumidifying a little and see. Gives me a taste of the massive undertaking I will have when I reach post harvest.

 

[alltatup]

Meesta, did you use the delivery service for buds or seeds? Are you saying you've had the FF for 1.5 years? Is it still potent?

 

[MeestaFeesha]

First time using a delivery service since around 3-4 years ago, was the zkittlez purchase as well as one of those PAX Era thingies. These days I still prefer to avoid using them as costs are so high. If memory serves, the FF came from an older gentleman who comes to the area seasonally.

The FF was a little wet and fluffy way back when, I actually thought I had finished it! Found a few little nuggets in my pipe bag while in SF, gave it to my sister's neighbor/garden buddy. He commented saying it was great...I then found the remaining buds in my large glass jar as I rotated stocks. It's on the menu for me this afternoon, as I finished the ground up zkittlez last night.

 

[alltatup]

Bon appetit!

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Was able to find a few mantids today, only had my phone for two 🤘😅. Then a couple pictures of WW#3. The mantids are quick! I had moved near an insect that then went towards the undercanopy, Larry Mantis here then dove from the top of the plant down to the middle!

I had been feeding each watering, while increasing the amount of Tiger Bloom and decreasing the amount of Grow Big slowly over the process. I was giving them 4gal per 25gal pot. Fabric pots create a fair amount of runoff on their own, so it's tough to judge. However, yesterday I switched back to 6gal per, also only used plain water. They're a very happy bunch today!

Things are looking good. I really just wanted to make a post about the cool mantis photos, but figured I'd fill y'all in on the happenings. Thanks for stopping by. 🤘😎
-Meesta

 

[alltatup]

Look at those buds grow!!! Mantids getting bigger!

 

[SoOrbudgal]

Really nice colas going to be fat, your doing great job Meesta. We are still getting about 14hrs of sun here. I don't see hairs yet on mine but there builds the bud sites. I've been cleaning the small stems out with the little bud sites really thinning a lot. Some plants will have 8 arms some up to 12. I want those primary sites to get really thick to hopefully hold foot long ummm colas

 

[MeestaFeesha]

🤘😂, SoOrbudgal Yes, I too long for foot long...colas 😏. Uhh, I may try counting for one plant today, I'm curious as to how many there are.

I have been noticing, the first WW outside is staying behind the other two. Which leads me to believe that the change in lighting from my indoor box (6am-12am) may be my leading cause in my progressed flower. I had initially planned to adjust to regular hours(daylight) over time, that damn Electric Timer is a nightmare though. Think I'll go mechanical next time.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I have not used any artificial lighting since they were seedlings. They have been inside a unlighted unheated greenhouse from April to last part of May.The seeds were started in March. It slowed them down i'm sure they have fought through environmental flux since. Definitely affected the autos, photos are simply slow grower outdoors. I use no special booster nor have I considered forcing bloom. I am patient grower, I will use the GH in fall as needed. Hopefully WW and the higher indica strains will show flower before mid Aug.

 

[MeestaFeesha]

I think I'd like to try my hand at a greenhouse, it's a maybe for next year at least. The time is getting closer..🤘😋

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Alright, another interesting nature moment. Had a friend by, who pointed out to me the "bees fucking on my plant". Didn't realize until afterwards taking this picture how they do. It appears one bumblebee lands on the larger female's wings, where another then, well, yes.

*I might have wandered around the nursery before buying ladybugs..🤘😎

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Gonna get an update going here today, started work at 5:30am and left a little early, nice to have this afternoon for myself and my ladies.

We'd been on a 3day(every 3rd day) water schedule, just recently bumped up to every 2. Feeding every other watering with the full FF trio. Big Bloom+Tiger Bloom at full strength, Grow Big at half. I'm seeing a few leaves bending (90*) at the tips, so gonna cut Grow Big out for the time being on all future waterings. I also recently ordered 'Beastie Blooms' and 'Cha-Ching', both FF products. Only opting for the two, as the women have been in flower for long enough and are not needing 'Open Sesame', the third product in that line up.

Strange summer here in the Bay Area, CA...hot weeks in April and May. June through now has had warm weather, being close to the coast we've had a considerable amount of strong winds as well. Actually waiting on the wind to die down a little to take some pictures. I'll try to get one of the "gentle breeze", 🤘😂.

The mantids are slippery buggers! That, or the majority were males. Once they molted for their wings, they might have flown away..I'm more of the belief that you can never find them while searching. It's only when I admire the ladies from a distance that they become clear as day. If that's the case though, I may only have two adult mantids who stuck around.

Aaaaalrighty! I'll be adding some photos here as the day goes on. Throwing a few on here from another day. As always folks, thank you for stopping by!

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Pictures of the lovely ladies.

 

[MeestaFeesha]

Here we have the three White Widows. Strangely seems they're about a week apart on when they started flowering, younger ladies behind them as well. A cascading harvest could be interesting, a lot less work at once so I might not need a trimming army. Still gotta get to that point though, starting to get occasional fits of anxiety to be honest! Mellow the mood and keep on truckin'.

 

[alltatup]

Love the shots, Meesta! Beautiful pink sunset, handsome skinny male mantis in profile, some absolutely delicious looking goodies for your family member!! Remember Meesta: just the presence of the mantis in the grow, even if temporary, is such an auspicious sign of a good grow.

 

[alltatup]

I think I get anxious moments on every grow, but they pass and I accept what's happening now. Your plants look magnificent.