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My 1st Grow Journal - 3rd crop, coco grow.
- Thread starter MadMike
- Start date
Shelving my lighting questions. I think I get it now. 
Looking at the ladies more closely I see we are getting closer to the end than I thought. Using photos is better than a hand lens I now think, and this forum has really pushed me to photograph more. Nice!
I'm seeing amber trichs in a bunch of areas and after looking at the photos for a third time... I think it's time to flush.
I also did some defoliating yesterday. Mainly to open up the canopy so lower buds can get some light. Pulled a handful of leaves from beneath the canopy that were yellowing as well. I think it looks even more productive now. This is going to be a much, much better harvest than last crop.
Took a photo of the White Widow auto in the lonely corner and I think she's about ready to pull so everyone gets flushed this week. She has never shown a problem with tip burn, deficiencies, or anything. Just some foxtailing and going about her business. I haven't touched her for defoliating since started because she's hard to get to being lower than the others. It's a bit of a bush back there from what I can tell.
Looking at the ladies more closely I see we are getting closer to the end than I thought. Using photos is better than a hand lens I now think, and this forum has really pushed me to photograph more. Nice!
I'm seeing amber trichs in a bunch of areas and after looking at the photos for a third time... I think it's time to flush.
I also did some defoliating yesterday. Mainly to open up the canopy so lower buds can get some light. Pulled a handful of leaves from beneath the canopy that were yellowing as well. I think it looks even more productive now. This is going to be a much, much better harvest than last crop.
Took a photo of the White Widow auto in the lonely corner and I think she's about ready to pull so everyone gets flushed this week. She has never shown a problem with tip burn, deficiencies, or anything. Just some foxtailing and going about her business. I haven't touched her for defoliating since started because she's hard to get to being lower than the others. It's a bit of a bush back there from what I can tell.
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Campesino
Banned
Looking very nice!
I am thinking the same about my girls... closer than I thought just a couple days ago.
What day are you at and what are you thinking? How long do you plan to flush? Just water?
I still haven't tackled your Lights post...
Trying to update my journal but having trouble posting pics -
I am thinking the same about my girls... closer than I thought just a couple days ago.
What day are you at and what are you thinking? How long do you plan to flush? Just water?
I still haven't tackled your Lights post...
Trying to update my journal but having trouble posting pics -
@Campesino
I think the lighting issue is maybe more moot. I'm seeing amber trichs on sugar leaves on many buds and perhaps the brighter areas were just advancing them more quickly. I'm going to keep the issue in mind for the next grow and see what is consistent or changes. Still, it puzzles my mind.
On harvest date... I think I'm starting flush (yesterday) and so in a week -- so I guess that is around the 7th. I think that might actually be a little late for some of the top buds but I'm aiming for an average overall. Just water ph'd to 6.0 unless I see some big swings. I don't think I will though.
And when I harvest I tend to do it in stages since sitting down for 20+ hrs in a go feels onerous. I usually pull a few branches, trim them and hang them and repeat next day. So harvest can extend over a week itself. Not a bad thing since I can take the most ready buds first. I haven't flushed for a week before so that means some branches will have a longer flush. Interested to see how that looks.
Like I said on your post, I feel like my plants are pretty ahead of yours -- maybe by two weeks. But things seem to be changing quickly now so I could be wrong on that. *shrug* But I didn't see any amber trichs in your photos. I say let yours ride for a while longer if you can. (I know there are new recruits ready to take their place.) I really think my plants are putting on some heavier weight over the past week. That third photo above really shows that bud putting out some dense new growth. It's the highest above the canopy and in a good place light-wise so it's the champion of the room.
I'm really curious to pull the white widow though. It's going to be a mess to trim, and I'll likely pull it first all in one go. But maybe not first since it doesn't show any yellowing at all or tip burn. Hasn't dropped a leaf the whole grow. It's really a mystery plant since I can't see 60% being tucked in the back corner. Suspense!
I think the lighting issue is maybe more moot. I'm seeing amber trichs on sugar leaves on many buds and perhaps the brighter areas were just advancing them more quickly. I'm going to keep the issue in mind for the next grow and see what is consistent or changes. Still, it puzzles my mind.
On harvest date... I think I'm starting flush (yesterday) and so in a week -- so I guess that is around the 7th. I think that might actually be a little late for some of the top buds but I'm aiming for an average overall. Just water ph'd to 6.0 unless I see some big swings. I don't think I will though.
And when I harvest I tend to do it in stages since sitting down for 20+ hrs in a go feels onerous. I usually pull a few branches, trim them and hang them and repeat next day. So harvest can extend over a week itself. Not a bad thing since I can take the most ready buds first. I haven't flushed for a week before so that means some branches will have a longer flush. Interested to see how that looks.
Like I said on your post, I feel like my plants are pretty ahead of yours -- maybe by two weeks. But things seem to be changing quickly now so I could be wrong on that. *shrug* But I didn't see any amber trichs in your photos. I say let yours ride for a while longer if you can. (I know there are new recruits ready to take their place.) I really think my plants are putting on some heavier weight over the past week. That third photo above really shows that bud putting out some dense new growth. It's the highest above the canopy and in a good place light-wise so it's the champion of the room.
I'm really curious to pull the white widow though. It's going to be a mess to trim, and I'll likely pull it first all in one go. But maybe not first since it doesn't show any yellowing at all or tip burn. Hasn't dropped a leaf the whole grow. It's really a mystery plant since I can't see 60% being tucked in the back corner. Suspense!
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Flowering - Day 56 (I think)
Looking at them, I wonder if I should have started flushing earlier. Then I remembered that I harvested early last time. So I must be in the right spot right now.
Last nutes was on the 25th and still they look pretty green. I think flushing to the 9th or so might be in order.
For the next crop, my seeds have sprouted -- all within about 10hrs from first. Pretty consistent.
Purple Kush
Blueberry
Purple Bud
Girl Scout Cookies
Negra 44
Diesel Berry Cough
I have them in an 'AeroGarden', though I am not using it as intended. It was a gift from a friend who it was gifted to originally and she never used it. It's basically a table top version of a DWC. It has a water reservoir with an air-stone and cones, with concordant peat plugs, that sit just at water level when inserted into the top. I have serious doubts about the air-stone being sufficient but I think it's a decent cloner since once the roots breach the cones you can transplant them up. I haven't done that however.
So I have the cups under it since it has a fair cfl output if the light is close. Interestingly, the height shown is the lowest it can go. Woe to the little sprouts that get their start under those lights.
Sprouts in cups just fit perfectly and there is room to raise the light. I plan on shrouding it in mylar to boost the light levels and to help keep in the humidity -- a bonus of the air-stone reservoir!
Oh, you can also see that I have numerous holes in the cups. I'm always worried about root rot in sprouts so getting O2 to the soil and letting it dry out a tad lower while I keep the upper surface wet is the goal.
Also, I started the seeds in Miracle Gow Potting Mix soil - their sort of all-in-one 20-11-16 soil. I wouldn't grow in it but I had one seedling in miracle grow soil in the last start as I had run out of coco. It out performed my coco seedlings and was pretty much a 'don't worry about it' seedling. Interesting considering it's nute ratio isn't ideal. So I decided to go with Miracle Grow Soil for all the starts this time.
Looking at them, I wonder if I should have started flushing earlier. Then I remembered that I harvested early last time. So I must be in the right spot right now.
Last nutes was on the 25th and still they look pretty green. I think flushing to the 9th or so might be in order.
For the next crop, my seeds have sprouted -- all within about 10hrs from first. Pretty consistent.
Purple Kush
Blueberry
Purple Bud
Girl Scout Cookies
Negra 44
Diesel Berry Cough
I have them in an 'AeroGarden', though I am not using it as intended. It was a gift from a friend who it was gifted to originally and she never used it. It's basically a table top version of a DWC. It has a water reservoir with an air-stone and cones, with concordant peat plugs, that sit just at water level when inserted into the top. I have serious doubts about the air-stone being sufficient but I think it's a decent cloner since once the roots breach the cones you can transplant them up. I haven't done that however.
So I have the cups under it since it has a fair cfl output if the light is close. Interestingly, the height shown is the lowest it can go. Woe to the little sprouts that get their start under those lights.
Sprouts in cups just fit perfectly and there is room to raise the light. I plan on shrouding it in mylar to boost the light levels and to help keep in the humidity -- a bonus of the air-stone reservoir!
Oh, you can also see that I have numerous holes in the cups. I'm always worried about root rot in sprouts so getting O2 to the soil and letting it dry out a tad lower while I keep the upper surface wet is the goal.
Also, I started the seeds in Miracle Gow Potting Mix soil - their sort of all-in-one 20-11-16 soil. I wouldn't grow in it but I had one seedling in miracle grow soil in the last start as I had run out of coco. It out performed my coco seedlings and was pretty much a 'don't worry about it' seedling. Interesting considering it's nute ratio isn't ideal. So I decided to go with Miracle Grow Soil for all the starts this time.
Attachments
Thanks on the shape comment. They are starting to fill out in a way I want to have people chime in on but I'm too tire to shoot a dedicated photo. Soon though.
On the Miracle Grow, I really like the buffer it gives me. With seedlings, they seem so fragile. The small amount of the Miracle Grow - 8 oz in a 2.5 gallon pot doesn't have any real impact on nute management down the road.
On the Miracle Grow, I really like the buffer it gives me. With seedlings, they seem so fragile. The small amount of the Miracle Grow - 8 oz in a 2.5 gallon pot doesn't have any real impact on nute management down the road.
Day 59 of flowering...
I haven't given them any nutes since the 25th and damn it all if they don't want to just keep growin'. I'm starting to see some yellowing of the leaves but I'm surprised it isn't advancing faster. I was planning on beginning harvesting on the 9th, but I think that will be pushed back to the weekend -- so maybe the 10th or 11th. I don't harvest all at once since sitting down to trim the room is too much for me. In the past, I have been pulling a handful of branches, 5-7 or so, and then repeating the next day. It takes me a handful of days to go through the room. That means some will go an extra 4-5 days.
Tonight I went in a did some more mild defoliating. I'm targeting any leaves that aren't really encrusted with trichs. This is opening up the canopy to let more light fall on the smaller buds below which feels right to me. Plus, it's kind of doing some trimming early.
I do this while I am watering. I water them by bailing out water with a solo cup and making a pass on all the plants and then letting that sit. Look around the room, give 'em another cup and repeat. I believe watering them slowly helps let the water fully wick into the medium preventing really strong channeling. I'm not sure about that, but the science sounds right to me and experience with watering plants over the past 30+ yrs supports that. So I have time to muck around the room as watering takes me 30-45 minutes. Lots of time to pull leaves that strike me as 'ones to go'.
Couple of observations -
the pH of the plants hasn't moved during the flush. Strikes me as odd since absorbing nutrients is the main driver for pH changes. I've been watering them at 6.0 since the 25th and the pH has stayed at the 5-5.5 range with one of the skunks in the scary range of 4.5. *shrug* I expected them to move towards 6.0 pretty quickly.
I've also noticed that the leaves have become quite brittle. They are a bit 'crinkle-y' if that makes sense. I noticed this trend in the Herer with it's Mg deficiency but it is pretty consistent across the room now. Not sure if that is an anomaly or par for the course. It seems a bit too brittle to my eye however. Not too worried about it at this point but it's pretty curious to my minds eye.
Oh, on the seedling front...
The aero garden cfls look at bit tired to me. Seeing grey fringes at the ends. Surprising since I didn't think it got any real use. I don't plan on replacing them since they are pretty high cost for what you get in terms of output. Haven't made the mylar shroud yet. Been too busy. And... too busy to check on their water I guess. Today they looked a touch dry. Yikes! They don't need any wilting! I caught it in time but it's poor growmanship. Will be staying on top of them better.
They are so tiny. So delicate. So calling out for gentle care...
I hear you little sprouts! I won't abandon you in my times of distraction!
I haven't given them any nutes since the 25th and damn it all if they don't want to just keep growin'. I'm starting to see some yellowing of the leaves but I'm surprised it isn't advancing faster. I was planning on beginning harvesting on the 9th, but I think that will be pushed back to the weekend -- so maybe the 10th or 11th. I don't harvest all at once since sitting down to trim the room is too much for me. In the past, I have been pulling a handful of branches, 5-7 or so, and then repeating the next day. It takes me a handful of days to go through the room. That means some will go an extra 4-5 days.
Tonight I went in a did some more mild defoliating. I'm targeting any leaves that aren't really encrusted with trichs. This is opening up the canopy to let more light fall on the smaller buds below which feels right to me. Plus, it's kind of doing some trimming early.
I do this while I am watering. I water them by bailing out water with a solo cup and making a pass on all the plants and then letting that sit. Look around the room, give 'em another cup and repeat. I believe watering them slowly helps let the water fully wick into the medium preventing really strong channeling. I'm not sure about that, but the science sounds right to me and experience with watering plants over the past 30+ yrs supports that. So I have time to muck around the room as watering takes me 30-45 minutes. Lots of time to pull leaves that strike me as 'ones to go'.
Couple of observations -
the pH of the plants hasn't moved during the flush. Strikes me as odd since absorbing nutrients is the main driver for pH changes. I've been watering them at 6.0 since the 25th and the pH has stayed at the 5-5.5 range with one of the skunks in the scary range of 4.5. *shrug* I expected them to move towards 6.0 pretty quickly.
I've also noticed that the leaves have become quite brittle. They are a bit 'crinkle-y' if that makes sense. I noticed this trend in the Herer with it's Mg deficiency but it is pretty consistent across the room now. Not sure if that is an anomaly or par for the course. It seems a bit too brittle to my eye however. Not too worried about it at this point but it's pretty curious to my minds eye.
Oh, on the seedling front...
The aero garden cfls look at bit tired to me. Seeing grey fringes at the ends. Surprising since I didn't think it got any real use. I don't plan on replacing them since they are pretty high cost for what you get in terms of output. Haven't made the mylar shroud yet. Been too busy. And... too busy to check on their water I guess. Today they looked a touch dry. Yikes! They don't need any wilting! I caught it in time but it's poor growmanship. Will be staying on top of them better.
They are so tiny. So delicate. So calling out for gentle care...
I hear you little sprouts! I won't abandon you in my times of distraction!
Attachments
@campesino
I have been pH-ing the water to 6.0. But your 'counter-productive' comment seems to support my current sitch. I'm thinking I will move the water to 7.0 for the next two runs and see. Probably moot, but it's easy to do and I'm curious.
Good to hear about the brittle leaves for you. I suspect it might be a symptom of the finish of the grow, but I'm glad to hear other's experiences to confirm it's not an anomaly.
I have been pH-ing the water to 6.0. But your 'counter-productive' comment seems to support my current sitch. I'm thinking I will move the water to 7.0 for the next two runs and see. Probably moot, but it's easy to do and I'm curious.
Good to hear about the brittle leaves for you. I suspect it might be a symptom of the finish of the grow, but I'm glad to hear other's experiences to confirm it's not an anomaly.
Campesino
Banned
Well, one of the reasons it is counter-productive is that pH up and down are actually taken up as "food" by the plant, so you aren't fully flushing. But the larger point I think is that we pH adjust to allow plants to absorb nutrients and this is no longer desired during final flush.
I start with water that is 6.8 and will give it to them straight or with molasses. If your water starts somewhere close to OK, I would just give it to them untreated.
I start with water that is 6.8 and will give it to them straight or with molasses. If your water starts somewhere close to OK, I would just give it to them untreated.
@campesino
On a total side tangent, since my posts on experiments and my diatribe on lighting, commenters have narrowed down to you.
Of course, that is correlation and not causation (the skeptical science head rises once again), but it did strike me as funny -- as in a comical way, rather than a weird way. Not an issue since I only noticed just this minute. But I am glad you're following my grow so closely.
On a total side tangent, since my posts on experiments and my diatribe on lighting, commenters have narrowed down to you.
Of course, that is correlation and not causation (the skeptical science head rises once again), but it did strike me as funny -- as in a comical way, rather than a weird way. Not an issue since I only noticed just this minute. But I am glad you're following my grow so closely.
Campesino
Banned
My pleasure, I always appreciate your input on my grows!
Can't account for the rest... I doubt that you scared them off with any diatribes though.
Re pH, I am certainly not a chemist, but I have been reading a lot about flushing techniques and that certainly seemed to fit my understanding. The only problem with 8.0 water is plants can't absorb many nutrients, but we don't want them to, so yeah, I think that's the way to go.
Can't account for the rest... I doubt that you scared them off with any diatribes though.
Re pH, I am certainly not a chemist, but I have been reading a lot about flushing techniques and that certainly seemed to fit my understanding. The only problem with 8.0 water is plants can't absorb many nutrients, but we don't want them to, so yeah, I think that's the way to go.
Day 61 Flowering -- Time to start havesting
I was going to wait a couple of more days but looking at them, I feel I need to start pulling them. It's going to take me a few days to finish so better start now.
Of note:
Cut a couple of branches (not the main cola) from the White Widow Auto. Plant still doesn't show any sign of yellowing and nary an amber trich to be found. I've been worried I had let it go way, way to far but looks o.k. Not being able to reach it for trimming and more training, it's a bit shaggy underneath with fairly airy buds.
Looking over the several skunk branches I took, I'm seeing enough ambers to make me not want to wait a week to finish pulling them.
The AK 47... The smell is so strong it almost makes my eyes water when I am trimming it -- literally... I've never experienced that before. Sort of almost ammonia in feel with a sour-ish odor. Hard to explain but whoah! What a powerful smell.
I've decided to try to leave some of the lower buds on some branches and spread out my harvesting among the plants to give them a few extra days. Not sure it will make a difference but I'm curious.
Excitedly, these buds feel dense and heavy. A big improvement over the last crop, which was the exact same line up of strains sans White Widow. I've been trimming them a little closer than I have before.
I haven't made a dent in the room yet, even with staying up a few more hours to trim. Lots of work ahead.
God, I have to use a different pen for scale next time. Amazon should be sponsoring me for these photos.
"Amazon Basics Markers -- The choice of independent cannabis growers the world over!"
I was going to wait a couple of more days but looking at them, I feel I need to start pulling them. It's going to take me a few days to finish so better start now.
Of note:
Cut a couple of branches (not the main cola) from the White Widow Auto. Plant still doesn't show any sign of yellowing and nary an amber trich to be found. I've been worried I had let it go way, way to far but looks o.k. Not being able to reach it for trimming and more training, it's a bit shaggy underneath with fairly airy buds.
Looking over the several skunk branches I took, I'm seeing enough ambers to make me not want to wait a week to finish pulling them.
The AK 47... The smell is so strong it almost makes my eyes water when I am trimming it -- literally... I've never experienced that before. Sort of almost ammonia in feel with a sour-ish odor. Hard to explain but whoah! What a powerful smell.
I've decided to try to leave some of the lower buds on some branches and spread out my harvesting among the plants to give them a few extra days. Not sure it will make a difference but I'm curious.
Excitedly, these buds feel dense and heavy. A big improvement over the last crop, which was the exact same line up of strains sans White Widow. I've been trimming them a little closer than I have before.
I haven't made a dent in the room yet, even with staying up a few more hours to trim. Lots of work ahead.
God, I have to use a different pen for scale next time. Amazon should be sponsoring me for these photos.
"Amazon Basics Markers -- The choice of independent cannabis growers the world over!"
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Campesino
Banned
Nice looking Buds! Excellent work... I thought we might be closer than you suspected.
I gave 5th dose of FloraKleen tonight, so am technically ready to start harvesting Skywalkers when I want. I may pull a couple as you have done on Friday night, but I am leaving until then. I am going to start the flush on one of the GG4s on Friday as well, the others are still shooting out white pistils (happily, they are going to be the best I think).
I hope you have a big smile on your face! You did a great grow!! The rewards are coming soon!
I gave 5th dose of FloraKleen tonight, so am technically ready to start harvesting Skywalkers when I want. I may pull a couple as you have done on Friday night, but I am leaving until then. I am going to start the flush on one of the GG4s on Friday as well, the others are still shooting out white pistils (happily, they are going to be the best I think).
I hope you have a big smile on your face! You did a great grow!! The rewards are coming soon!