COCO COIR New grower grow blog

[MrMotion]

So, last night after work I took a look at the plants and felt like it was time for some LST, the first node on each side of the manifold was getting relatively long.

What I've done, is instead of 8 total growth tips, ive done 10 total, 5 per side. From the main shaft, ive done the usual node 1 and node 3 (both with two tips). Node 2, which is rotated 90 degrees from the other 2 nodes, I removed the growth tip that was facing down towards the coco but left the one that was facing up.

Two of the photos I've included mark the growth tips, one photo is from last night right after I secured them, the other was this morning after they turned up. Thoughts?

Ignore the little green things in the bottom right corner, those were left over tobacco starts that I initially trashed but a buddy wanted to stick some in his back yard. So im attempting to revive them.

 

[MrMotion]

Just shy of 60 hours of growth.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

Looking happy Mr.Motion.

 

[MrMotion]

Thought I'd do a little update on the random extra plant I planted outdoors. It get direct sunlight for about 7 hrs, and partial for about 4, and mild mild the rest of the day. Plus its been pretty cloudy lately. But she's hanging in there!

 

[SoOrbudgal]

She looks good to me maybe could use some grow fert. like guano or fish for a little N but she'll do fine. Have fun with her

 

[MrMotion]

I've been pouring my left over water from my indoor plants, only when it hasn't rained in a while though. Might find some good fertilizer thanks!

 

[MrMotion]

I've determined the burnt tips to be nutrient burn, also appeared to have a little pH fluctuation. Ive been using a 5 gal buck to measure and mix my water/nutes, turns out I wasn't filling it up enough, was about 3/4 gal short of 5 gallons but I was mixing nutes for 5 gals.

I went ahead a flushed the plants with plain pH'd water last night, ill mix up new water (properly) either today or tomorrow.

I think I caught it pretty early on, doubt it'll have an noticeable effect. Also it was all only on one plant.

 

[MrMotion]

So, its probably over kill, but here is how my set up is going. All in my 2 car garage.

3x3x6 grow tent. 600w HPS light w/ timer. 3 plants in 5 gallon fabric buckets in coco/perlite. GH nutes. pH'd water. 8in in line vivo sun 720cfm fan/filter

Before, I had a normal circulating fan inside of a tub outside of the tent. From there, I fabricated a cone to force air, using the circulating fan, into the tent from the outside. I used the tub to keep light from bouncing through the ducting and causing a light leak, probably paranoid I'm sure.

I designed, soldered, and programed an Arduino stand alone computer to monitor the temp and humidity and control the main fan. Basically, it kicks on at X temperature, stays on till X temperature then shuts back off. Save me power in the long run, as earlier in the year, the fan would only need to be on when the light was on, now its getting to were the fan is on 24/7 because it's so hot outside. Another problem is the humidity, due to the spring weather, when the light is off, the humidity goes nuts.

My solution? Well I have a window AC unit, good for 300sqft in a home, gathering dust in storage. I ordered a mini dehumidifier, a small humidifer, and an inline 4 inch duct fan (100cfm).

The plan? I'm going to rig up the AC so it only cools the tent. Basically, I have a blue tub that fits directly over the face of the AC unit, I will attach the 4in inline fan to the tub, and the 4in ducting to the fan, then to the tent. The AC will be controlled by the Arduino as well. The large fan will be programmed in conjunction with the AC and will react to temperature only. The dehumidifier and humidifier will also be controlled via the Arduino and react only to whatever humidity parameters I set. We will see I guess. This is a test for that mini dehumidifier honestly, im not sure it'll keep up.

Photos to follow

In this photo you can see the dehumidifier in the tent, mid level, circulating fan has been repositioned to the floor, and the 4in ducting inlet. The 8in ducting feeds directly into the HPS, does a really good job of removing the heat when the light is on. AC is on the bottom shelf were it remain.

A mild mock up of the AC and tub.

 

[MrMotion]

So the tub idea was great, except it also covered the sensor, so the AC would automatically shut off when it reached 61 degrees inside the tub instead of when my program tells it to. So, a little thinking and looking around at my garage, I was able to rig up some apple juice bottles so it wouldn't cover the sensor, worked out pretty well. On to the next issue though, after the AC and large fan kick off once the designated temperature has been reached, the humidity SPIKES. Im assuming because of condensation in the AC. I had the 100cfm drawing air directly out of the AC after it shuts off, ive since opened the other end of the juice bottle set up so try and pull in outside air instead.

I need a large dehumidifier, bad. My mini one helps but nothing significant.

Progress photo, did some LST last night, then took a pic this morning 12 hrs later showing the difference. These plants are remarkable.

 

[MrMotion]

Not much to report. Update photos, just letting them get bigger, trying to fill the space up and bit more before the switch.

Having a small issue with humidity, can't afford a large dehumidifier right now,, the mini helps but not a ton. Problem is my tent is in the garage, every time it opens it introduces new humid air to the tent, i dont really have a solution for that right now. Anyone else have an issue like that?

these were taken this morning.

 

[MrMotion]

Update photo, they are really going quite well. 4 plants would have been perfect for this space.

 

[9fingerleafs]

Looking great my friend. They look absolutely perfect. Sorry if you already said it but can I ask what strain are those plants?

 

[9fingerleafs]

Never mind I just saw it’s hemp. No wonder the plants look so strong. You using the regular formula for feeding or the Lucas formula ?

 

[MrMotion]

Is hemp inherently stronger? My understanding was its basically insanely low level THC marijuana. Im using the formula from this sight, i have very very mild nutrient burn occasionally, im slowly back down the nutes.

 

[9fingerleafs]

yes, it has been genetically modified for thousand of yeas (like any other crop) to produce the strongest most fibrous plants that make the biggest and most nutritious seeds. this translate into way stronger faster growing plants that can grow in more severe conditions. this whole process happened because humans used the fiber to make rope and fabric and the seeds are edible. hemp must not be confused with CDB plants, which are hybrids between hemp and regular cannabis to produce plants with regular cannabis structure (hemp makes only one branch) but without the thc, some modern breeding and you have those super tasty and fragant 20:1 CBD to THC ratio. where did you got your seeds from?

 

[MrMotion]

Yeah I grow high CBD hemp flower, this strain is good for 18% to 20%ish CBD while staying under 0.3% THC. I have another strain that can reach 25% ranges.

I've been using the same exact training techniques and nutrient schedules that folks use for straight marijuana and its been working great. This strain does grow quite large it seems, but it grows very well (again.. so far).

I think im going to keep it on the veg cycle for another 4 or 5 days then switch it.

 

[MrMotion]

Figured I'd throw in an update on the random outdoor plant. I bent it n over 90 degrees a while back, yesterday morning I topped it, the trimmed all the fan leaves except the top set and the third to top set. Everything below that is growth tips pretty well exposed to the sun.

 

[9fingerleafs]

What nutrients are you using? Looking great

 

[CaptainWiese91]

This is Really some fine work you already made with these plants 👍🏻
Totally love what you have going here. Good job, and very well HST on these plants also 👍🏻

 

[MrMotion]

I actually just use left over nutrient water from my indoor grow. And only like once a week or so.