AKGramma's Perpetual Grow

[AKgramma]

The two CBD Yummy seeds I planted on 11/19 emerged from the soil today. That makes 6 days. So I assume it will take 6 days fro the third seed to pop, since I planted it a couple days later. These Auto seeds sprouted a lot later than previous autos I've had. Must be because I stored them for so long.

I have a light burn issue in the shelving I'm using for flower. I must find a way to raise the top shelf another foot. The only other posts I have are smaller in diameter than those on this unit. OR I need to switch out the LED for a few cfl's, until I can solve the problem.

 

[AKgramma]

I turned off the LED in my too-short flower unit and added 4 CFLs to the array I already had in there. I also ordered a taller unit from Amazon. It will be here in a couple weeks. Then I can remount the LED at its proper height.

My last post has an error. Too late to edit it now. I said CBD Yummy instead of Cream Caramel Auto. One of the seeds rotted as it was raising its head. Hoping the other two emerge healthy. I will plant more Autos in the next few days.

The two CBD Yummys are going strong. Once I have something worth showing, I'll upload some photos.

 

[AKgramma]

I did a bit of research and discovered why my seedlings are rotting at the soil line. Damping off disease, caused by non-sterilized medium. I have not had this problem until recently. I need to use fresh (aka sterile) vermiculite, Perlite, or peat moss to start them in.

Normally one would then transplant them from their plugs into their baby pots. But I'm growing autos, using the collar method, so I am going to have to make sure the solo cup collars are filled with one of the sterile, soil-less media, so the seedlings have a couple of real leaves before their roots hit the mixed soil.

I am also going to have to cut my soil mix once again with fresh Perlite. I'm guessing 50%. What I have in the mixing bin must be too "hot".

I don't use plugs for autos because their roots grow so fast, they hit bottom within a day of sprouting, and we don't want that. So a modified collar method is my next plan of attack.

 

[NorCaliwood]

Damping off sucks.. I've had it happen even in new soils. I think sometimes it can be a genetic thing also. Bummer Hope these do better,
GL and Keepem Green

 

[AKgramma]

All righty, folks! Here we go again!

I have not used the paper towel method of sprouting seeds in well over a year, so here goes.

These 5 seeds are Jock Horror Autos, stored in the fridge for about 6 months. This time I'll know if a seed is viable. I'll plant them just as soon as the root tip emerges.

Placed on one-half the damp paper towel, so I can fold up the lower half.

Paper towel folded and slipped into a small baggie, salvaged from a recent purchase online. Those little baggies are really handy for a number of grow items.

I placed the baggie under a CFL to keep it warm, and near my workstation, so I can check on it every couple days.

I have prepared a gallon of 50/50 coarse Perlite and vermiculite (new out of the package, Perlite rinsed of dust) to plant the sprouts in. I'll use clear 12 oz plastic cups so I can keep track of the roots. They will have to be up-potted before the taproot hit bottom, which will, if everything goes well, within a week. By 2 weeks, it will be too late, as I found out last year. Once the flower forms, it will progress on to harvest, regardless of size.

 

[AKgramma]

I pinched off the dying lower leaves from the CBD Yummys and the scent on my fingers was very mild, subtly sweet, unlike any other cannabis I've grown. This is a heavy-Indica strain with an average 1:1 THC/CBD profile.

So far both CBDY ladies are growing strong. I gave them a mild mix of seaweed extract, Bloom nutes (because it was handy) and Epsom salts yesterday.

The clones still are not showing any root buds after 10 days. I lost three to fungus (yes the medium is sterile) had to trim off the bottom of the stem on 3 (basically starting over), and left the rest alone. All I did was add some moisture, as the vermiculite was a tad too dry to stick to the stems.

Not sure if I mentioned this. Apologies if I did. I ordered another tall wire-shelved coat rack from Amazon, since they were offering free shipping, and a price about half of what my local Freddies asks for. I already have two of these tied together for my 3 x 3 veg area, because it has the headroom required for use with LED panels.

This one will replace a shorter regular wire-shelving unit, which has suddenly become too short for flowering. This is the one that I scorched my last two AK48's in. I had to switch to all CFLs to save them. So, looking forward to a new-improved grow unit in a couple weeks.

 

[AKgramma]

Day 2 SUCCESS! Three Jock Horror Autos sprouted! I will have to prepare their buckets and collars today, so the taproot has room to do its thing. Autos grow VERY FAST, so I can't put it off till tomorrow.

Below is a picture of the collar method. The "collar" can be filled with a lighter-weight soil to get the sprout off to a good start. The Collar is a solo cup with its bottom cut out, and 2 or more slits cut from bottom, up to the rim, (to make their removal much easier when the plant is a month old).

This is a diagram of the collar method. Once the plant is well-established, there is no need for the collar, and you can remove it. What it does initially, is allow you to concentrate the water just to the developing roots (prevents root rot), and use a lighter soil to encourage the new roots to grow.

 

[AKgramma]

12 hours later the taproots of the 3 seeds were approx 1/4 inch long and reaching for food. The other two seeds have just begun to sprout, too, so I have enough time to put together enough bins to accommodate all 5.

The last Autos I sprouted were just as fast, popped within 36 hours, and showed 1/4" taproot growth per day. Once the plant got a coup[le pairs of leaves, the roots grew much faster.

Because of the Ruderalis genes that make it an Auto, the seed is in a hurry to grow up and be ready to bloom when its taproot hits bottom (or a hard layer of clay if outdoors). So seed to harvest is only about 8 to 10 weeks.

I have gotten lazy with fems, not tending them every day. With the Auto grow, I have to check the "tent" twice a day, until the first real leaves emerge. Just like babies, I have to monitor seedling stretch, moisture levels, temperature and distance to light bulb.

At least I don't have to move them to the flower unit, just leave them in veg.

 

[AKgramma]

My batch of AK48 clones is 12 days old and no sign of roots. Over half of them were decimated by fungus, so I only have 7 left.

All 5 Jock Horror Autos are planted and put in the veg unit.


Cross-posted in Sue's cannabis dosing journal:

As I have mentioned a number of times, I dry and grind to powder the leaves, trim, and mini-buds to use as an herb when I cook. The last few days I have kept a small jar of said herb next to the stove, and have added a healthy pinch or three to my omelette in the morning, my soup/stew in the afternoon, and have a dozen meat loaf muffins in the freezer for that before-bed dose of cannabis. None of this is decarbed ahead of time, but is cured naturally in the fridge.

The way I use cannabis, it builds up in the body, but I don't get high. I know that the cooking partially decarbs it, but also keeps most of the other healing, pain-relieving compounds.

The cannabis finally built up in my body enough that today I had minimal pain getting around with my osteoarthritis. The only other pain meds are OTC's: acetaminophen and naproxen sodium, taken whenever the joints start to ache.

This is the first day in many months that my pain was at 2, instead of the usual 8 - 10.

It WORKS, folks!

 

[AKgramma]

5 AK 48 clones left. The rest wilted. I have them in their soil and bag under a low-wattage CFL to raise the temp a bit. I cut them on Nov 19, so we are 2 weeks into it. I'm holding out hope until the last clone dies.

Of 3 Cream caramel seeds, only one has sprouted. I did not use the paper towel method to sprout them, and now I wish I had done so. I will use the paper towel method to sprout the seeds from here on out, so I know which seeds are viable.

All 5 Jock Horror Auto seeds broke soil last night. The cotyledons on these are tiny. I hope the first leaves don't some in tiny, too!

The two AK 48s in flower are looking better, now that I switched back to CFLs. No more light burn. Monday the new, taller shelving arrives, and so the ladies will be moved to the new setup, with one Mars 300 panel and 4 - 8 supplemental 23w CFL bulbs, both soft white and daylight.

Won't be much to do until tomorrow, except monitor the seedlings.

 

[AKgramma]

Down to three AK 48 clones left on day 15 since cutting. I've gotten the humidity in the bag down to 55 to try and stop the killer fungi.

All 5 Jock Horror Auto babies are above soil, their cotyledons open and drinking in the light. I check them twice a day to make sure their soil is moist and they are responding well to the light. Can't allow them to dry out till their roots enter the bin and I can remove the collars.

Not much change in the CBD Yummies. I have only topped them once, as I don't know if they are Autos or just fems.

I did read that I could create auto seeds with colloidal silver, and that seems to be the quickest way. I just dont have the room to back cross a photo-auto to another auto for 5 generations to get stability. So, I'll have to get myself across town to the natural food store for the CS. Their website says they have the strength I need.

I'm expecting my wire shelving to arrive today (according to tracking), and I have help to set it up and transfer the ladies from the shorter unit. So, all is good right now!

 

[AKgramma]

Well, the shelving got stuck in KY because of weather, then continued on in the wee hours of the night. It got delivered today. But the white canvas cover designed for it wont be in till Friday.

I'm going to try the cover instead of wrapping the unit in white poly. If the ladies flower well with the store-bought cover, then I wont have to use the tarps anymore. The covers are under $20 and look a whole lot nicer than taped-together tarp. LOL!

 

[AKgramma]

A couple nights ago, I came across a H2O2 recipe for eliminating fungus. One strength is for preventative purposes and the higher concentration is for plants and soil that are already infected.

I sprayed my last 3 clones and their soil, and they still look good today. Still can't see any roots at 19 days.

The dosing chart for Hydrogen peroxide at both 3% (what you find in the grocery store) and 35% concentration. Copied off a general gardening site.

 

[TheMadDabber]

Yes indeed. H202 and rubbing alcohol are 2 things I always have hand in the grow room. What does the fungus look like gramma?

I had some white fuzz and the h202 ate it right up on my first grow years back. No I'll effects! Stay villigant. I see many roots in your future ✌

 

[TheMadDabber]

Down to three AK 48 clones left on day 15 since cutting. I've gotten the humidity in the bag down to 55 to try and stop the killer fungi.

All 5 Jock Horror Auto babies are above soil, their cotyledons open and drinking in the light. I check them twice a day to make sure their soil is moist and they are responding well to the light. Can't allow them to dry out till their roots enter the bin and I can remove the collars.

Not much change in the CBD Yummies. I have only topped them once, as I don't know if they are Autos or just fems.

I did read that I could create auto seeds with colloidal silver, and that seems to be the quickest way. I just dont have the room to back cross a photo-auto to another auto for 5 generations to get stability. So, I'll have to get myself across town to the natural food store for the CS. Their website says they have the strength I need.

I'm expecting my wire shelving to arrive today (according to tracking), and I have help to set it up and transfer the ladies from the shorter unit. So, all is good right now!

All great news there gramma!

The CS will only create pollen sacs. I would suggest starting spraying 1 week prior to the flip to 12 12. And rember you shouldn't smoke the sprayed areas. I cut off the bottom of a milk jug and placed it over the branch I am spraying with cs.

Also since you mentioned it. A photoperiod plant crossed with an auto will not yield auto flower seeds. But they will all contain the recessive ruderalis gene. So I would suggest only using auto pollen on other autos ( this will guarantee auto flowering seeds) and photo with photo. Just keeps things simple.

Hope your Friday is going well! This heat wave is too weird 30° in Dec wtf?!

 

[AKgramma]

Yes indeed. H202 and rubbing alcohol are 2 things I always have hand in the grow room. What does the fungus look like gramma?

I had some white fuzz and the h202 ate it right up on my first grow years back. No I'll effects! Stay villigant. I see many roots in your future ✌

It was the white fuzzy stuff. And it went away on contact! Maybe the last 3 clones have a chance now.

 

[AKgramma]

All great news there gramma!

The CS will only create pollen sacs. I would suggest starting spraying 1 week prior to the flip to 12 12. And rember you shouldn't smoke the sprayed areas. I cut off the bottom of a milk jug and placed it over the branch I am spraying with cs.

Also since you mentioned it. A photoperiod plant crossed with an auto will not yield auto flower seeds. But they will all contain the recessive ruderalis gene. So I would suggest only using auto pollen on other autos ( this will guarantee auto flowering seeds) and photo with photo. Just keeps things simple.

Hope your Friday is going well! This heat wave is too weird 30° in Dec wtf?!

I wasn't aware till very recently that one could buy auto males. What I have are Auto fems.

 

[AKgramma]

OH WOW! I took the bowl I used to clone the AK48's out of the bag and looked at the bottom, hoping to find a few signs of roots. The bottom is COVERED with roots!



Now I have to gently separate the 3 clones and give each her own pot!. Running out of room, so may dig out the gallon garden pots.

 

[Arctic Bowl]

OH WOW! I took the bowl I used to clone the AK48's out of the bag and looked at the bottom, hoping to find a few signs of roots. The bottom is COVERED with roots!



Now I have to gently separate the 3 clones and give each her own pot!. Running out of room, so may dig out the gallon garden pots.

Way to go AK, that’s so awesome!! Love it when a plan comes together for our favorite lil girls

Blessed Buds our friend and be well

 

[TheMadDabber]

Great news gramma!!! You got this. Making moves