1st Grow: Jumping Into The Deep End, DWC

[Rexer]

@Rexer I have the Botanicare Cal-Mag plus. Is it worse to have too little cal-mag or too much? What is too much? How far until I lock out other things? I added 10ml to 3.5 gal. My water is 80-100ppm, mostly calcium carbonate. With the cal-mag it is around 200.

In that case, some unscented Epsom salts might be a good call. But @FelipeBlu -might be able to confirm or suggest a starting point?

Your Botanicare Cal mag plus is a 2-0-0 NPK.
There's a balance between calcium and magnesium that needs to be maintained. I'm sorry- I'm just wiped out (some flu bug) and don't think I can give you the correct answer that you need.

 

[LKABudMan]

In that case, some unscented Epsom salts might be a good call. But @FelipeBlu -might be able to confirm or suggest a starting point?

Your Botanicare Cal mag plus is a 2-0-0 NPK.
There's a balance between calcium and magnesium that needs to be maintained. I'm sorry- I'm just wiped out (some flu bug) and don't think I can give you the correct answer that you need.

Thanks @Rexer for all your help on this grow. Feel better soon.

 

[FelipeBlu]

Holá LKABM


Too much Cal-Mag can throw off the K:Ca ratio and possibly result in K def - even if there normally would be enough K present - the excess Ca affects K uptake.

That being said, ~200 ppm of Ca (130) and Mg (70) isn’t out of line - as long as the K is up around 250-260 ppm. But I would not go higher than that - K over 300 ppm has resulted in some fried plants.

 

[LKABudMan]

Thank you @FelipeBlu that helps a lot. I am using AN nutrients for this grow. I am currently at 4-1-4 with the micro-grow-bloom. Since I have around 80ppm ca in my base water, should I be adding magnesium? Epsom salts? Should I apply foliar?

 

[FelipeBlu]

I have AN in my database - warming up the spreadsheet right now..

4-1-4 are ml/L? Is it the AN pH Perfect line?

BTW, what I am seeing in the photos looks more like Mg def than Ca def. Necrotic spots in Ca def typically have pronounced dark brown perimeters. There is also some interveinal fading, which is characteristic of Mg def.

 

[LKABudMan]

I have AN in my database - warming up the spreadsheet right now..

4-1-4 are ml/L? Is it the AN pH Perfect line?

BTW, what I am seeing looks more like Mg def than Ca def. Necrotic spots in Ca def typically have pronounced dark brown perimeters. There is also some interveinal fading, which is characteristic of Mg def.

Correct on both. Mg deficiency makes more sense to me, since I have more Ca in my water, and almost no Mg. Also, I think there is Mg in the GROW, which I am cutting back. I really appreciate your help @FelipeBlu

 

[FelipeBlu]

So, 4-1-4 ml/L with the pH Perfect line (without Cal-Mag) looks like this:

179 ppm N
67 P
212 K
110 Ca
5 Mg (this is indeed the problem!)

For 110 Ca, 0.5g/L of Epsom will provide another 55 ppm Mg, which should be sufficient.

edited to correct ml/L to g/L

 

[FelipeBlu]

Except for the Mg, your mix looks pretty good. If you wanted to bring your N down a bit, you could just use 4.5ml/L Micro and 4.5ml/L Bloom, which provides:

163ppm N
76 P (also lower)
196 K (also lower)
125 Ca (higher)
5 Mg (still need 0.5g/L Epsom)

 

[LKABudMan]

Except for the Mg, your mix looks pretty good. If you wanted to bring your N down a bit, you could just use 4.5ml/L Micro and 4.5ml/L Bloom, which provides:

163ppm N
76 P (also lower)
196 K (also lower)
125 Ca (higher)
5 Mg (still need 0.5ml/L Epsom)

Thanks @FelipeBlu for your help. I really want a look at your database now
How should I add the Epsom salts? How do I measure .5ml of dry salts?

 

[FelipeBlu]

My apologies - I meant 0.5 g/L and have since edited my post.

 

[LKABudMan]

My apologies - I meant 0.5 g/L and have since edited my post.

@FelipeBlu You ROCK!

 

[Rexer]

Thanks @Rexer for all your help on this grow. Feel better soon.

I don't think I did much other then call in FelipeBlu (seems to be becoming a habit , but while I can give approximates to get things going, he's able to give specifics).
I think I passed out for a bit after tagging him, my wife found me snoring - phone in hand.

So, 4-1-4 ml/L with the pH Perfect line (without Cal-Mag) looks like this:

179 ppm N
67 P
212 K
110 Ca
5 Mg (this is indeed the problem!)

For 110 Ca, 0.5g/L of Epsom will provide another 55 ppm Mg, which should be sufficient.

edited to correct ml/L to g/L

Thank you FelipeBlu! You never cease to amaze me. Glad I tagged you-

@FelipeBlu You ROCK!

He does doesn't he? He's incredible when it comes to the finer subtleties of hydro.

 

[FelipeBlu]

Aw shucks..

 

[LKABudMan]

Friday will be 7 weeks since the switch to 12/12. 420 says the kush should flower for 7-8 weeks, and the white widow for 8-9 weeks. Is that from 12/12 or start of flower. Any clues as to how much longer? What indicators should I be looking for? Here are a few pics from last night.

20211207_193337.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Lorraine bud pic 12/7

20211207_193320.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Lorraine 12/7

20211207_193352.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Tent side view 12/7

 

[Bill284]

Friday will be 7 weeks since the switch to 12/12. 420 says the kush should flower for 7-8 weeks, and the white widow for 8-9 weeks. Is that from 12/12 or start of flower. Any clues as to how much longer? What indicators should I be looking for? Here are a few pics from last night.

20211207_193337.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Lorraine bud pic 12/7

20211207_193320.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Lorraine 12/7

20211207_193352.jpg

• LKABudMan
• Dec 8, 2021

Tent side view 12/7

Good morning @LKABudMan garden looks amazing.
Some members count from flip some when pistols show.
I go from 12/12 and use their prediction as a bit if a guide not gospel.
You want all the white pistols to crinkle in.
Then she is done flowering and building for you.
Probably be a week-2 longer than predicted.
Then its up to how you want your trics?
Clear/Cloudy energetic feeling.
Cloudy/amber relaxed feeling.
You have a while yet.
Are you prepared for harvest and cure?

Stay safe
Bill

 

[LKABudMan]

Thanks @Bill284 I am still amazed at how these plants keep going. I am actually hoping they take a few more weeks for the buds getting bigger and fatter! For the White Widow, I am looking to harvest with mostly cloudy trics for more of an energetic feeling. For the Kush, I am looking at 30-40% amber for more of a sedative effect. Of course, this being my first time, I will harvest a little of both at different stages and compare (for science).

As for my harvest/cure plan, see this post. Being my first grow, I will try different drying methods, to include freeze drying. For the cure, I mostly plan on using Grove Bags. I also have some bubble bags for all the trimmings. I am hoping for a very merry Christmas indeed

 

[Bill284]

Thanks @Bill284 I am still amazed at how these plants keep going. I am actually hoping they take a few more weeks for the buds getting bigger and fatter! For the White Widow, I am looking to harvest with mostly cloudy trics for more of an energetic feeling. For the Kush, I am looking at 30-40% amber for more of a sedative effect. Of course, this being my first time, I will harvest a little of both at different stages and compare (for science).

As for my harvest/cure plan, see this post. Being my first grow, I will try different drying methods, to include freeze drying. For the cure, I mostly plan on using Grove Bags. I also have some bubble bags for all the trimmings. I am hoping for a very merry Christmas indeed

Good.
I'm glad your prepared and have a plan.
Some people forget that it's not just growing that counts.
Keep up the good work.

Stay safe
Bill

 

[LKABudMan]

Good.
I'm glad your prepared and have a plan.
Some people forget that it's not just growing that counts.
Keep up the good work.

Stay safe
Bill

Understood @Bill284 . As a home brewer, I saw a lot of people that took great care when brewing their beer, to then just stick it in a closet to finish. It really made me understand that the end product is only as good as the weakest link in the entire process. I would hate to go through 3 months of growing only to mess it up with the dry/cure!

 

[LKABudMan]

Thanks again @FelipeBlu This morning I added 6g of Epsom salts to each of the white widows that were showing issues (for around 12L of water in each). I will keep an eye on it, but this certainly sounds like it should fix the issue. I will add some Epsom to the other two kushs tonight with their regular watering.

I like the 4.5-4.5 feed schedule with just the Micro and Bloom (along with Epsom) you recommended and will move to that for the last few weeks. Along those lines, at what point should I reduce the nutrients being given coming into harvest? I have gradually increased the nutrients through this grow, starting at 30% of AN recommended dosage. Right now I am at 100% of the AN 4-1-4 for Lorraine, and between 80-90% for the other plants. I have noticed in the past week or so that the pH has been trending lower than usual. Is this expected? Are the plants starting to eat less or more? I am not talking about 'flushing', which I plan to do at the end. I am just wondering if I need to adjust the ppm of nutrients heading into the last couple of weeks.

For flushing, my plan now is to flush around 24 hours before harvest with Flawless Finish for 4 hours to clean the roots, then let the plant sit in pHed water the rest of that day and night until harvest. Depending on whether I harvest together or separately, I may let them sit an additional 24 hours in the dark.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. This is my first time, so I do not even know what questions to ask. Anyone else, chime in! Thanks.

 

[FelipeBlu]

Thanks again @FelipeBlu This morning I added 6g of Epsom salts to each of the white widows that were showing issues (for around 12L of water in each). I will keep an eye on it, but this certainly sounds like it should fix the issue. I will add some Epsom to the other two kushs tonight with their regular watering.

I like the 4.5-4.5 feed schedule with just the Micro and Bloom (along with Epsom) you recommended and will move to that for the last few weeks. Along those lines, at what point should I reduce the nutrients being given coming into harvest?

They will start to slow down drinking near the end - you could reduce the nutrients at that point, or just decide to do it about a week before harvest.

I have gradually increased the nutrients through this grow, starting at 30% of AN recommended dosage. Right now I am at 100% of the AN 4-1-4 for Lorraine, and between 80-90% for the other plants. I have noticed in the past week or so that the pH has been trending lower than usual. Is this expected?

Yes, the pH will fall if the plants are consuming more cations (K, Ca, and Mg) than anions (NO3, P, and S). At this point, they are probably eating a lot of K.

Are the plants starting to eat less or more? I am not talking about 'flushing', which I plan to do at the end.

No need to flush. Studies have shown that it isn’t possible to remove nutrients from the flowers. Just look in @InTheShed ’s signature.

I am just wondering if I need to adjust the ppm of nutrients heading into the last couple of weeks.

For flushing, my plan now is to flush around 24 hours before harvest with Flawless Finish for 4 hours to clean the roots, then let the plant sit in pHed water the rest of that day and night until harvest. Depending on whether I harvest together or separately, I may let them sit an additional 24 hours in the dark.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. This is my first time, so I do not even know what questions to ask. Anyone else, chime in! Thanks.

You’re doing very well - there’s just a few things to learn when you start lol