420 Magazine's Official Girl Scout Cookies Comparative Grow By Brett Blaze

They look amazing! I hope I can get mine to look half that good man. Congrats on a smooth transition to flower.
Thanks Baked.

It's a lot of work or has been. I'm hoping I have a few weeks with just regular watering to worry about. Because my output is looking pretty good I can go a few days without measuring output levels. I expect the watering amount is going to change a bit for 12/12. And I just got it figured out for 18/6.
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 2 - 53 days above ground


The lovely ladies are in their second day of flower and are still growing rapidly. I am seeing a few small branches peaking from below the canopy that most likely won't make it to the top. I may do a little trim just to keep these branches from taking away nutrients from the rest.

Another 120° F day here in the desert. Looks like a cold front coming in next week that will being temps down to a chilly 107° F.

I watered just to where they started to run off. Each took over a liter of solution this morning after 600 ml last night. With a 3.6 gallon container they should saturate at around a liter of solution.

Today's Photos:









:peace: :passitleft:
 
I watered just to where they started to run off. Each took over a liter of solution this morning after 600 ml last night. With a 3.6 gallon container they should saturate at around a liter of solution.
Should saturate with a liter of solution because you don't let the coco dry out, right? So, that's about what they are drinking between waterings??
 
Should saturate with a liter of solution because you don't let the coco dry out, right? So, that's about what they are drinking between waterings??
The practice is called high frequency fertigation where you water at least once during a 24 hour period. With coco this will be at least twice a day and as many as 5 times per day depending on the size of the container. A 5 gallon container can get away with 2 waterings a day but if you go smaller expect 3 or more waterings a day.

You need to keep the coco between 90% and 100% saturated at all times. My containers are 3.6 gallon and hold about 1.8 gallons (6.8 liters) of water when totally 100% saturated. When they get down to 90% saturation it will take around 680 ml to fully saturate. I calculate whether I am maintaining 90% by measuring the amount of runoff versus input. If I put 850 ml in and get 170 ml out that means around 680 ml saturated the pot and I was at 90% when I watered. If it took more water I went below 90% saturation.

Last night after 12 hours of dark it took 400 ml to saturate (600 in 200 out) while this morning after 12 hrs. of light it was almost a liter. This tells me they went below 90% during the evening keeping in mind my 12 hours of light starts at 9:00 PM due to the heat. The only way to continue to water manually and maintain above 90% is to get up at 3:00 AM. The disproportion of water used during light versus dark is why I am working on an auto watering system for the evening.
 
The practice is called high frequency fertigation where you water at least once during a 24 hour period. With coco this will be at least twice a day and as many as 5 times per day depending on the size of the container. A 5 gallon container can get away with 2 waterings a day but if you go smaller expect 3 or more waterings a day.

You need to keep the coco between 90% and 100% saturated at all times. My containers are 3.6 gallon and hold about 1.8 gallons (6.8 liters) of water when totally 100% saturated. When they get down to 90% saturation it will take around 680 ml to fully saturate. I calculate whether I am maintaining 90% by measuring the amount of runoff versus input. If I put 850 ml in and get 170 ml out that means around 680 ml saturated the pot and I was at 90% when I watered. If it took more water I went below 90% saturation.

Last night after 12 hours of dark it took 400 ml to saturate (600 in 200 out) while this morning after 12 hrs. of light it was almost a liter. This tells me they went below 90% during the evening keeping in mind my 12 hours of light starts at 9:00 PM due to the heat. The only way to continue to water manually and maintain above 90% is to get up at 3:00 AM. The disproportion of water used during light versus dark is why I am working on an auto watering system for the evening.
Looking amazing in their Bret! When you mention saturate are you feeding to a run off every feeding or just keeping moist?
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 2 - 53 days above ground


The lovely ladies are in their second day of flower and are still growing rapidly. I am seeing a few small branches peaking from below the canopy that most likely won't make it to the top. I may do a little trim just to keep these branches from taking away nutrients from the rest.

Another 120° F day here in the desert. Looks like a cold front coming in next week that will being temps down to a chilly 107° F.

I watered just to where they started to run off. Each took over a liter of solution this morning after 600 ml last night. With a 3.6 gallon container they should saturate at around a liter of solution.

Today's Photos:









:peace: :passitleft:
Yeah 107 gonna feel good back down to avg.
 
Looking amazing in their Bret! When you mention saturate are you feeding to a run off every feeding or just keeping moist?
I water to try to produce about 10% to 20% runoff each time which drains to waste. Sometimes I'm close other times it's more. Regardless, I water until I see some runoff forming. If you don't have adequate runoff you can get salt build up and potential lockout.
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 3 - 54 days above ground


I had to do a little trimming last night even though I was not planning to touch them for a while. Plant #1 has many branches not getting equal light so I removed more light blocking leaves. I am also going to train the side branches so it's more even. With only light available until 9:00 AM and then only after 9:00 PM I don't have the luxury of having a lot of time with the plants to train.

Both are looking great but #2 looks more symmetrical. Not a big deal but I do want even spacing for lighting.

#1 continues to have high ppm outputs. Last night, after a 20% runoff of 500 ml watering, the ppm was over 400 ppm higher than the input. Anything above 400 ppm from the input ppm needs attention. This morning's watering included an additional 300 ml to flush out the extra salts.

Today's Photos:









:peace: :passitleft:
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 4 - 55 days above ground


Both ladies grew about an inch (2.5 cm) yesterday so it looks like the stretch may be starting. I put the Demon LED from @Budget LED at 18" above the canopy and cut back the output to give me 950 PPFD, 46K Lux at the top of the canopy. This helps reduce heat. I don't want to get in closer and plan to keep the LED at 18" throughout flower. My last two grows I had issues with plants getting too close to the lights causing stress and bleaching.

Because of the 18" LED distance and growth I have to limit my overhead photos. Even with a 14mm lens I can't get all the plant in the frame and I don't want to lift the lights everyday. Plus it's Sunday morning and I'm feeling lazy.

Today's Photos:





:peace: :passitleft:
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 5 - 56 days above ground


Although I said I wouldn't prune again for a while. Well I lied. There were a lot of small bud sites under the canopy still (mostly on #2) and the density of the brush needed thinning or it was going to inhibit air from flowing through. Counting the good bud sites I have at least 24 on #2 and maybe 20 on #1. Some bud sites on #1 are questionable and may be slow to get to the top of the canopy. I am still training to move some branches to open areas to get more light.

I am seeing about an inch a day of growth on many of the branches. I have a tape measure hanging from the LED so I can easily see the distance. Yesterday it was 18" and today it's 17". I will raise the LED again tonight since lights go out in a few hours.

There are a few runaways starting with the stretch. I'll deal with them a little later.

Today's Photos:







:peace: :passitleft:
 
Diverted a problem.

I went into the grow room at 3:30 PM and all the power was off. :nervous-guy:Checking the breaker I confirmed it had tripped. At this time of day the grow light is turned off and I had the portable AC set at a higher temp than normal so I was no where near 15 amps. When everything is turned on and set to high I draw around 12 amps.

After resetting the breaker and returning to the room the power started going on and off. With the breaker tripping at a low amperage I thought maybe the breaker was bad. Last thing I wanted to do was call to have the breaker replaced. It's 120° F outside and it could be a few days before someone could come out and replace it. I was going to run a 50 ft. power cord from another outlet if needed to use another breaker.

Since all my power was going through a main power strip/timer (for my lights) the first thing I did was swap it out with a new one I had recently purchased. It appears to be working. Easy fix but I'm glad I had a replacement.

Glad I went into the room and glad this didn't happen at night when lights are suppose to be on.
 
Diverted a problem.

I went into the grow room at 3:30 PM and all the power was off. :nervous-guy:Checking the breaker I confirmed it had tripped. At this time of day the grow light is turned off and I had the portable AC set at a higher temp than normal so I was no where near 15 amps. When everything is turned on and set to high I draw around 12 amps.

After resetting the breaker and returning to the room the power started going on and off. With the breaker tripping at a low amperage I thought maybe the breaker was bad. Last thing I wanted to do was call to have the breaker replaced. It's 120° F outside and it could be a few days before someone could come out and replace it. I was going to run a 50 ft. power cord from another outlet if needed to use another breaker.

Since all my power was going through a main power strip/timer (for my lights) the first thing I did was swap it out with a new one I had recently purchased. It appears to be working. Easy fix but I'm glad I had a replacement.

Glad I went into the room and glad this didn't happen at night when lights are suppose to be on.
My power flickered off as well last night during a crazy storm we got hit with around my woods! Luckly I'm still growing with these old school timers that I have and not digital! Good thing you got it fixed Brett! I'm about to flower my ladies out in the next few days so as long as I didn't plan a grow during tornado season(which I have done so!) I should be alright to produce some sort of show for yall!
 
The one I replaced was a manual timer but also a power strip. I have used it for a few years with no problems until now. I didn't replace it because I was feeling more confident with the non-digital timer for the lights. Now all are on the digital one. Same brand but I intended to use it for the watering and not the lights. When I set up auto water it will only be for a minute and the older timers can't do less than 15 minutes. The always on outlets are nice to have. I have several other timers with an individual outlet both manual and digital if this were to fail.

61V1mjvFm6L._AC_SL1500_.jpg
54e6b69b-70b6-4f0f-9d7c-52d08423740c_1.f4efe60ebe07e25cead64860749da9ed.jpeg
 
Diverted a problem.

I went into the grow room at 3:30 PM and all the power was off. :nervous-guy:Checking the breaker I confirmed it had tripped. At this time of day the grow light is turned off and I had the portable AC set at a higher temp than normal so I was no where near 15 amps. When everything is turned on and set to high I draw around 12 amps.

After resetting the breaker and returning to the room the power started going on and off. With the breaker tripping at a low amperage I thought maybe the breaker was bad. Last thing I wanted to do was call to have the breaker replaced. It's 120° F outside and it could be a few days before someone could come out and replace it. I was going to run a 50 ft. power cord from another outlet if needed to use another breaker.

Since all my power was going through a main power strip/timer (for my lights) the first thing I did was swap it out with a new one I had recently purchased. It appears to be working. Easy fix but I'm glad I had a replacement.

Glad I went into the room and glad this didn't happen at night when lights are suppose to be on.

I'm glad it all worked out. What a relief.

the lights. Now all are on the digital one. Same brand but I intended to use it for the watering and not the lights. When I set up auto water it will only be for a minute and the older timers can't do less than 15 minutes. The always on outlets are nice to have. I have several other timers with an individual outlet both manual and digital if this were to fail.

61V1mjvFm6L._AC_SL1500_.jpg
54e6b69b-70b6-4f0f-9d7c-52d08423740c_1.f4efe60ebe07e25cead64860749da9ed.jpeg

Ooohhh... I like the looks that digital timer. I have the manual ones like the one on the left and I hate them because they're so nitpicky.
 
I'm glad it all worked out. What a relief.



Ooohhh... I like the looks that digital timer. I have the manual ones like the one on the left and I hate them because they're so nitpicky.
Thank you HG. So far so good. Power still on so that must have been the problem.
 
Daily Update -

Stage - Flower Day 6 - 57 days above ground


Everything is on cruise control today and there is not much to do but watch. I'm seeing a little stretch but nothing huge. Both @Weed Seeds Express GSC ladies are looking great. Although I pruned a little yesterday, I try to avoid any pruning at this stage so I depend mostly on arranging the branches and tucking shade blocking leaves under others to allow more light to the lower branches.

Although I am still seeing some high ppm on the waste water I am not see any problems with the plants. The nutrient solution from @Prescription Blend is very consistent and is doing a phenomenal job.

During the last two grows I had some serious heat issues I had to deal with. The Demon LED by @Budget LED stays relatively cool as far as lights go. I can keep temps below 80°F without much difficulty. Over the last month my temps have averaged under 77°F.

IMG-1922.PNG


Today's Photos:








:peace: :passitleft:
 
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