Aberration Goes Ker Bloom! - Perpetual

[Aberration]

I have pictures!

Not the whole garden, just the TRICH SHOTS I PROMISED! Woot!

These are all taken at roughly 150x magnification. I guess. Picture display size or the inaccuracy of this silly scope may alter that value.

To be fair, I performed the same exact procedure on all four of the plants that are about to be harvested:

1. Using a hemostat, grasp the tip of a small bud leaflet on a representative bud top. Be very careful you don't just rip the tip off.
2. Using the precise trimming scissors, cut the leaf off without causing damage anywhere and leaving a clear undisturbed area between scissors and hemostat.
3. Place leaf piece topside up onto the desk in the veg room, always in the same place.
4. Find a shot that gives a clear view of as many trich heads as I can and take it.

The veg lights are all very white, and the LED light on the scope is pretty white too, so color is fairly decent (as compared to when in the presence of HPS for example). All plants are at 47 of 56 days. Here are the results:

This is "lavender" indica (L), which is known for being a heavy sleepy stone at 49 days. She'll be utterly devastating at 56:

Here is Green House Cheese (CH). I have never grown her, but the literature says 7-9 weeks. I'm shooting for 8:

This is BigBud x BlueMagoo (BBX). She's usually good at 56 days:

This is Grape Kool-Aid (GKA). This is another I have never grown. I've set her at 56 days as well, but I have no idea really. I'm scoping her to see, and trying to alter the plan (or not) as conditions warrant:

I did discover that there may be a flaw in my procedure. I scoped the backside of that GKA bit, and wonder of wonders. Maybe I need to look on the backs of more of them:

Last, here is a random bit of beauty I stumbled on while looking at the Lav:

So toss in your opinions. Which, if any or all, will be ready in 9 days?

More pictures later this weekend.

 

[Tacomang]

Pics are looking great as usual. Woul love to see some bud shots when you can! What are those black dots in that last pic near the base? Not mite poo right?

 

[Tricks]

To me the BigBud x BlueMagoo (BBX) looks almost ready...am I right? could you post pics of not ready, almost ready and ready? great Journal, thanks for letting us follow along

 

[Aberration]

Wherein I try to interpret my own trichome shots...

Pics are looking great as usual. Woul love to see some bud shots when you can! What are those black dots in that last pic near the base? Not mite poo right?

I'll try to get some bud shots. Be prepared though. The pH issues I was having have really tore up the fan leaves on those four plants, which has shorted the size of the buds and pretty much stopped the plants. That's why I intend to take them as soon as they are viable.

As for the black dots, I do not know, but they don't look like debris, plus I have not seen any signs of mites on these. The black looks like a part of the plant that turned black. I'm assuming from some early damage that has given them time to break down quite a bit.

Thanks for dropping in.

To me the BigBud x BlueMagoo (BBX) looks almost ready...am I right? could you post pics of not ready, almost ready and ready? great Journal, thanks for letting us follow along

Unfortunately, I don't have other pictures to go by - I just got the scope and hadn't thought to do that yet. I was going to wait to see what others say, but I'll go ahead and give my assessment.

Disclaimer: I'm no pro. I usually take mine when the trichomes are getting cloudy, like frosted glass. I don't mind letting my plants go long when needed, but I mostly like 'up' stones so waiting for a lot of amber is too late for my taste. A little is great though. That is all my personal preference of course.

Note that all the lighting was white and there is nothing amber, yellow, or even tan or brown nearby. Amber in these pics is honest amber color. As for cloudy vs. clear, I let the focus rove a bit from foreground to background before snapping the pic and then try to stop somewhere that not only shows a large number of trichomes, but I try to make sure that the few in good focus are representative of the ones that are not. Don't be fooled into thinking that the ones in focus look cloudy but the ones out of focus are all likely clear for example. I was careful to make sure I didn't do that. Finally, while I refer to one state of the trichomes as 'cloudy', 'smoky' would probably be a better word for what I am seeing and what I equate with 'cloudy'.

The 'lavender' indica is done. She's a heavy indica at 49 days, so 56 will make her oppressive. It's great for pain though. It's perfect bud for when you need the pain in your knees to just shut up so you can go to sleep. I smoke about 1/2 gram and then go to bed. I last a couple minutes tops and I'm snoring. Several of the trichs show amber starting, especially on the upper left:

Cheese is an unknown so far for me, but I think enough of those look frosted-glass to warrant harvesting next weekend. I see no amber, but it does have another week to advance, and I added the MH back into the room recently, which gives off more UV and should accelerate the degradation of the cannabinoids in the trichomes, so maybe I will see some amber in the next week. I can let the next one go longer and see if I like it better. Besides, I don't see this girl going much farther due to that pH issue. So I expect I'll be taking her next weekend as well:

The BBX is done. I see amber there. I see cloudy mostly. I know from experience that she will be a very popular stone if I take her this next weekend. Enough said:

The GKA is still not ready. Too much clear for me even for a first test-grow. Which is a shame, because it is the most bedraggled of the four. It has almost no fan leaves that haven't turned yellow then red in the last couple weeks. Her leaves are rarely erect. I'm not sure how long she will last honestly:

However, I believe the progression of the trichome readiness will happen without any input from the plant - it is simply the cannabinoids cascading from product to product though the cannabinoid chain. We like a spot near the end of that process where the THC is abundant, but there is more natural cascade after that point, which is why pot can get too done and lose potency. All it needs is usually already in the trichome head except maybe a little heat and/or light. Either adds energy to the equation, speeding it all up.

So I am going to see how GKS does. If she is looking like she'll fail soon I'll harvest her this next weekend too, but for now my plan is to keep her alive and play it by ear, hoping I can get the trichs on the bud that already exists to mature them into better pot, even if there likely won't be any more bud production and I think the plant may already be sliding off into senescence.

I am not the most experienced trichome reader though. For a large part of my growing experience I just grew them to a known bloom duration that I knew from prior experience would give me great bud if there had been no significant delaying events. For instance, I know with certainty that the 'lavender' indica is a great heavy stone at 7 weeks exactly as long as there were no problems. I know this because it has been so every time I have grown her. So I didn't bother scoping a plant like that for a long time. I've only harvested about 12 plants based on actually scoping the trichs so far. I'm a noob.

So let's hear your comments. Do you think I'm wrong? Speak up - I won't bite.

I'll try to get some shots of the buds so you can see how sad they are.

(whoa, that went long)

 

[Aberration]

I am stretching GKA on bone meal and what is already in the soil. That is why it gets pre-feed flush and nothing else.

I doubt I'll string her along much more than a week like this. Maybe less.

==> Bloom - Pre-harvest flush (3)

BBX.3F (48/56 days) : 2.00 gal ea
CH (48/56 days)
L.5Q (48/56 days)

-Mix (6) gallons.
-Per gallon:
1 oz Clearex
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.28 @ 21.1 C

==> Bloom - Pre-feed flush (3)

GKA (48/56+ days) : 1.50 gal
MTP.3D (13/63 days) : 0.50 gal
MTP.3E (13/63 days) : 0.50 gal

-Mix (3) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 T liquid steamed bone meal
1 T Yucca
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.27 @ 20.6 C

==> Bloom - Feed (2)

MTP.3D : 0.75 gal
MTP.3E : 0.75 gal

-Mix (2) gallons - EARLY
-Per gallon:
1 T liquid steamed bone meal
1 T Biggest Bloom
1 t PGE
1 t Silica Blast
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
2 t Notrozyme
2 t Organic Supplement
2 t Soil Nute
--- t Big Foot (ord)
1 t Calcium Syrup
1/2 t Carbon sweet
1 T Amino Blast
1/2 t TM-7
Natural @ 1010 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.26 @ 20.6 C
1/2 t Companion

==> Mature Veg (13):

BBX.4C, BBX.4F : 0.50 gal ea
GKA.1B
SLH.1A
TDR.1B

SLH.1D : 0.25 gal ea
AH1.0A, AH1.0B
QLR.0A, QLR.0B
WW.0A

L.6A, L.6D : water to saturation

-Mix (5) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 T Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 780 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.27 @ 20.7 C
1/2 t Companion

==> Young Veg (6):

BD.7C, BD.7F, BD.7J : water to saturation
CH.1A, CH.1B, CH.1C

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
1 t Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 480 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.21 @ 19.9 C
1/2 t Companion

 

[Aberration]

Today I transplanted everything out of the two clone domes into 3.5" pots (20 plants) and took 45 new cuttings, trimming up all my larger veg plants along the way.

==> Transplanted (20):

GKA.1J, GKA.2A
TDR.2A, TDR.2B, TDR.2C
BBX.5A, BBX.5B, BBX.5C,
BBX.5D, BBX.5E
MTP.4A, MTP.4B, MTP.4C,
MTP.4D, MTP.4E
SLH
Transplanted from clone dome to 3.5" pots
Watered to saturation

-Mix (3) gallons.
-Per gallon:
2 T Organic Supplement
1 t Big Foot (1st)
2 t PGE
1 oz. Yucca
Natural @ 490 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.05) Actual: 6.16 @ 21.1 C
1/2 t Companion
1/2 T Myco powder
1 t Bt-i

==> Took 45 cuttings and placed them in coco plugs to root under domes:

10 x Arjan's Haze #1
5 x BigBud x Blue Magoo
5 x Grape Kool-Aid
5 x Tangerine Dream
7 x Super Lemon Haze
3 x White Widow
10 x Qleaner

 

[Aberration]

Here come the pictures:

First, a shot looking in the bloom room door. Notice that the four center and left are all purple and have dying leaves all over and the two on the right are green and healthy? That's what happens when the pH meter calibrates successfully and then gives readings that are way off immediately after. Yeesh:

In the above picture, that is the 'lavender' indica (L) front and center. Here are some closer shots of her. Of the three that really got purple, this one is actually in the best shape and it looks like she will produce great buds at a normal quantity (about 4-6 oz):

Next up is Cheese (CH). She didn't purple but she lost a lot of leaves to the bad pH:

I think she will do rather well too:

This next one is Grape Kool-Aid (GKA). She is the worst. Just awful. She needs to go a little longer really, but the more I look at her, the less I think she'll be able to last:

Closer:

Last of the four plants that took the pH hit is BigBud x BlueMagoo (BBX). She's in a bad way too, but better than GKA. She is ready, too:

The sordid BBX details:

Last in bloom are the two Matanuskan Thunderfu@k (MTP) girls. They are healthy at 2 weeks into bloom and are starting to flower nicely:

Here's the state of veg. Everything on the right needs to be potted up for bloom soon:

Here are the Blue Dream and Cheese clones that survived:

Here are all the rooted clones I put into soil today. You will notice that three have already given up in the first pic. That's what happens when you empty a tray of plugs from a dome ready or not:

Finally, here are the 45 cuttings I took today. The hope of tomorrow:

 

[darkpiece]

o yes i just refreshed and see pic update!! going to grab my bowl, and toke up for this one

 

[KeepitTRU]

WOW!!!! I love this site... ....lol
Great growing bro

 

[MSquared]

Good morning Abe! I love the updates. I think your trich assessment is spot on.
I have measured trichs since my very first grow and I am a big believer in the quality of the type of high you get based on trichs. I don't think it should be end all in doness however. You have a great handle of this, trust your instincts!

 

[Aberration]

o yes i just refreshed and see pic update!! going to grab my bowl, and toke up for this one

Well? What do you think?

WOW!!!! I love this site... ....lol
Great growing bro

Thank you and welcome. If you have questions or suggestions, please chime in.

Good morning Abe! I love the updates. I think your trich assessment is spot on.
I have measured trichs since my very first grow and I am a big believer in the quality of the type of high you get based on trichs. I don't think it should be end all in doness however. You have a great handle of this, trust your instincts!

Thanks, MSquared.

I've decided to go ahead and flush the Grape Kool-Aid too. It won't last too long. I need to take it down. So hopefully all four can be harvested this weekend.

I tore out the dryer today, like I said I would. It's a shame to dismantle such a nice setup, but it can't stay here and the supporting structure can't go anywhere because it holds up the A/C.

==> Bloom - Pre-harvest flush (4)

BBX.3F (50/56 days) : 2.00 gal ea
CH (50/56 days)
L.5Q (50/56 days)
GKA (50/56 days)

-Mix (8) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 oz Clearex
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.24 @ 20.3 C

==> Bloom - Pre-feed flush (2)

MTP.3D (13/63 days) : 0.50 gal
MTP.3E (13/63 days) : 0.50 gal

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
1 T liquid steamed bone meal
1 T Yucca
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.27 @ 20.6 C
1 t blackstrap molasses

==> Bloom - Feed (2)

MTP.3D : 1.00 gal
MTP.3E : 1.00 gal

-Mix (2) gallons - EARLY
-Per gallon:
1 T liquid steamed bone meal
1 T Biggest Bloom
1 t PGE
1 t Silica Blast
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
2 t Notrozyme
2 t Organic Supplement
2 t Soil Nute
--- t Big Foot (ord)
1 t Calcium Syrup
1/2 t Carbon sweet
1 T Amino Blast
1/2 t TM-7
Natural @ 1050 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.24 @ 20.4 C
1/2 t Companion

==> Mature Veg (13):

BBX.4C, BBX.4F : 0.50 gal ea
GKA.1B
SLH.1A
TDR.1B

SLH.1D : 0.25 gal ea
AH1.0A, AH1.0B
QLR.0A, QLR.0B
WW.0A

L.6A, L.6D : water to saturation

-Mix (5) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 T Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 800 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.25 @ 20.7 C
1/2 t Companion

==> Young Veg (6):

BD.7C, BD.7F, BD.7J : water to saturation
CH.1A, CH.1B, CH.1C

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
1 t Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 490 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.27 @ 20.5 C
1/2 t Companion

 

[Tricks]

Aberration, Again bro thanks for the time you devote this this site, you are helping out NewB's like myself, or I guess I'm a retread, but it been years since I have grew anything indoors LOL when the time comes if you have time, I'd like to ask for some advise, it seems we have a lot in common with pain issues, sleep etc. I like the idea I can harvest some of my plants late for a sleepier effect, but for the most part I like a more bright, awake effect, but there are times when I can't sleep because of pain the other would be helpful. I'm just a bit nervous judging the trichomes, though it seems I was right about the BBX you may even be able help me figure out what strains to try for the pain, I know it comes down to personal preference, but sadly I don't have access to seeds at this point, but when I do, I need to choose wisely, again thanks for the journal, it rocks!!

 

[fncg]

Thanks so much for the incredibly detailed journal, as always. I don't read all the numbers, but the explanations and pictures are invaluable.

+reps!

 

[Aberration]

Thanks, Tricks and fncg. It is fun. I wish I could retire and just grow pot for the fun of it. Maybe in 20 years it'll be legal and I can do just that.

As for helping, I'm happy to offer any advice I can as long as you promise to remember I may be wrong.

A note about my pains so you can relate them to yours: I have bad knees and bone-on-bone rubbing pain. It could be worse, but it's bad enough. The pain is rarely shooting because I know how not to move after all these years. It's a constant ache that grows throughout the day. By evening I'm not in tears or anything, but sleep is nearly impossible. Without something to help me out, I will lay awake until I finally sleep from exhaustion. It's no way to live life, but cannabis freed me from that. The specialists say the bone is too far reshaped by years of bad knees and that none of the 'miracle' new knee fixes will work for me. I need replacements. I also have arthritis in my hands, back and hips. It's not fair that my body is this old when I'm only 45-ish, but I am not sad about it and I'm not looking for sympathy. I live my life unbowed.

Actually, I just know the basics, but it's enough for me. Indicas will have a heavier stone that is more likely to have a heavy sedative affect. Sativas will tend more toward an 'up' high. I grow one sativa dominant strain (Blue Dream) that I can't smoke in the evening if I want to get to sleep. Indicas, in my experience, are more likely to relieve my pain to a greater degree. Sativas work for pain, as long as you have something to do. Strains let bloom long will tend more toward an indica-type high. Strains taken early will often have a more fleeting, Sativa-ish up high. Go too far either way and you won't like it and may get a headache from smoking it.

You can use the info on strain types to choose likely strains for what you want. You can then 'adjust' them by taking them a little earlier or later as desired. You can also adjust by making a salad of two strains. Maybe one with an up component and one with a down, or one with power mixed with another that tastes magnificent.

As for judging the timing based on trichomes, as the trichomes age on the plant, the cannabinoids in the sacks at the ends age as well. They start crystal clear, then become smoky, then they start to turn amber. Opinions on what constitutes 'done' vary, but the middle-of-the-road opinion seems to be that they really aren't mature until they are uniformly cloudy. After that they decay further to amber, altering the proportions of the cannabinoids toward the indica side. After all, the high and effects are pretty much dependent not just on what cannabinoids are present, but also based on their concentrations relative to each other (beyond that, I get lost pretty fast). There is a faction that holds that waiting until some threshold percentage of the trichomes have gone amber is the best route. I think pretty cloudy with a smattering of amber is usually what I want. You may find your taste varies, but that's probably a good starting spot.

But then, I'm still learning all of this.

 

[Stoned4daze61]

Wow those colors are just beautiful ! subbed

 

[Aberration]

Thanks, Stoned4daze61. Welcome to my grow.

 

[Aberration]

Only the 8 youngest plants in veg need watering. Everyone else needs another day I think.

==> Mature Veg (2):

L.6A, L.6D : water to saturation

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
1 T Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 770 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.24 @ 20.6 C
1/2 t Companion

==> Young Veg (6):

BD.7C, BD.7F, BD.7J : water to saturation
CH.1A, CH.1B, CH.1C

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
2 t Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 650 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.18 @ 20.7 C
1/2 t Companion

 

[Aberration]

So I've been thinking again. I see a lot of failures in the "rooted clone to potted plant" transition. I need to start taking better notes on a per-plant basis during that process. Then maybe I can spot patterns that might help me improve.

Also, the new veg table will drain to sewer. That was decided a while back. Now I think I should rig a flush for the table that flushes the channels with fresh water, but doesn't get up high enough to reach the plants. Then I can set it to do that automatically after "X" minutes. Then I can feed them and start it, and "X" minutes later when most of the drainage is done it will clean the messiest part of the table and ensure that enough water flows through the sewer line that it doesn't get silted up. Just a random thought.

 

[Aberration]

Harvest of the four oldest bloomers is scheduled for Saturday (one day sooner) now. This is their last water.

==> Bloom - Pre-harvest flush (4)

BBX.3F (53/55 days) : 2.00 gal ea
CH (53/55 days)
L.5Q (53/55 days)
GKA (53/55 days)

-Mix (8) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 oz Clearex
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.26 @ 21.7 C

==> Bloom - Pre-feed flush (2)

MTP.3D (18/63 days) : 0.50 gal
MTP.3E (18/63 days) : 0.50 gal

-Mix (1) gallon
-Per gallon:
1 T liquid steamed bone meal
1 T Yucca
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.29 @ 21.1 C
1 t blackstrap molasses

==> Bloom - Feed (2)

MTP.3D : 1.00 gal
MTP.3E : 1.00 gal

-Mix (2) gallons - MID
-Per gallon:
2 T liquid steamed bone meal
2 T Biggest Bloom
2 t PGE
1 t Silica Blast
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
2 t Notrozyme
2 t Organic Supplement
2 t Soil Nute
--- t Big Foot (ord)
1 t Calcium Syrup
1/2 t Carbon sweet
2 T Amino Blast
1/2 t TM-7
Natural @ 1100 ppm
pH target: 6.40 (±.10) Actual: 6.23 @ 21.5 C
1/2 t Companion


==> Mature Veg (13):

BBX.4C, BBX.4F : 0.50 gal ea
GKA.1B
SLH.1A
TDR.1B

SLH.1D : 0.25 gal ea
AH1.0A, AH1.0B
QLR.0A, QLR.0B
WW.0A

-Mix (4) gallons
-Per gallon:
1 T Pure Blend Pro Grow
1 t Cal-Mag
1 T Yucca
--- t Big Foot (ord)
--- t TM-7
Natural @ 810 ppm
pH target: 6.20 (±.10) Actual: 6.24 @ 21.7 C
1/2 t Companion

 

[MSquared]

That is just great, good luck on Saturday I know you have trimmers, but hoping for the most excellent smoke!
Are any of these that are getting harvested new to you? If so hoping it will beat all expectations for you.

and have a great weekend.