BCNL Producer & DIY Cabs 3 Strains

[WeednFeed]

Very nice info on the ducting and the back of the box, btw. Looks familiar except for the CO2 - are you planning on using that at some point during the grow - or not this time? Just curious.

Thanks. The Co2 will come into play only if the plants progress well and have well developed root mass.

 

[WeednFeed]

They still look a bit stalled today with a little more root growth. There are still plants whose roots have not emerged from the pots although they have clean, healthy looking root balls. Time will tell I guess. I'm pulling for them.

Today I gave the moms a much needed trim and setup a batch of insurance clones in the event the current crop should disappoint. All ww's this time... 16 from one and 7 from the other.

I may make a judgement call on the 2 Euforia moms later today. Not only am I leaning more toward the ww's for their robustness and reliable cloning ability, but a friend has come up with a need and it's an opportunity to help out. She is interested in repotting them to 3-gal pots and flowering asap. I know the 2 ww moms would really appreciate the increased airspace.

 

[WeednFeed]

Hey Weed!

Overall they look pretty good to me. Are there some dead or dark brown roots there? If so you should trim them off best you can - you could end up with root rot, "Pythium", if you're not carefully removing any dead roots. It was tough to tell in the pictures - but I didn't want you to end up pythium.

How do I identify and prevent Root Rot?

Progress in the beginning can be slow, but I usually start from seed so I'm not as knowledgable regarding clones. I wouldn't worry too much yet, though, from what I can see - they didn't look too bad to me. In a couple of weeks they should start really progressing I'd think.

I'd be auto-watering by now unless it's a bad idea due to difference with rockwool that I'm unfamiliar with... I don't use rockwool so I'm not sure how it compares to hydroton (what I'm using). Having said that, with my set-up I auto-water very early with pretty young seedlings and it works great (better!). I'd do it now if I were you, it seems to always boost growth for me. Just a thought.

I still think they look good!

I just caught this post. Thanks for the point on Pythium. I am aware of it and will cut off any brown roots. That's kind of a funny thing. There are a couple instances of the roots not doing well toward their top while they are full and bright down below.

As far as progress, things just seem slower than expected. I thought things went very quickly from starting the seeds to full moms.

I haven't started auto watering as I'm going by BCNL's instruction at this point:

After the roots have grown out of the 1" rockwool cubes and are transplanted into the 3" cubes, they might not be ready for the full watering schedule. You can mix up your vegetation solution in the Hydro18 tub, and plug in your pump clip and hit the water rocker switch to the up (manual) position for 5-10 minutes, then unplug your white pump clip until the next time they need feeding. This is the crucial time in which your plants will need some extra TLC. In order to train a more aggressive plant and to not water log the root ball, it is recommended that you manually water when the 3-inch rockwool feels almost dry. If you are going out of town you can always keep the water pump plugged in, but if you can be there to offer the extra care (unplug pump from white clip and hand water) until roots start flourishing out the bottom of the 3.5" pots, then you will have a higher success rate. Once the roots are coming out of the pots then you can plug in the water pump and leave the rocker switch in the down position for the twice a day watering.

Have you begun auto before the roots are poking out?

 

[Xlr8]

I just caught this post. Thanks for the point on Pythium. I am aware of it and will cut off any brown roots. That's kind of a funny thing. There are a couple instances of the roots not doing well toward their top while they are full and bright down below.

As far as progress, things just seem slower than expected. I thought things went very quickly from starting the seeds to full moms.

I haven't started auto watering as I'm going by BCNL's instruction at this point:

After the roots have grown out of the 1" rockwool cubes and are transplanted into the 3" cubes, they might not be ready for the full watering schedule. You can mix up your vegetation solution in the Hydro18 tub, and plug in your pump clip and hit the water rocker switch to the up (manual) position for 5-10 minutes, then unplug your white pump clip until the next time they need feeding. This is the crucial time in which your plants will need some extra TLC. In order to train a more aggressive plant and to not water log the root ball, it is recommended that you manually water when the 3-inch rockwool feels almost dry. If you are going out of town you can always keep the water pump plugged in, but if you can be there to offer the extra care (unplug pump from white clip and hand water) until roots start flourishing out the bottom of the 3.5" pots, then you will have a higher success rate. Once the roots are coming out of the pots then you can plug in the water pump and leave the rocker switch in the down position for the twice a day watering.

Have you begun auto before the roots are poking out?

Yes, with no problems - frankly I think it speeds things up. I think I tended to under water given the relatively high drainage capability of my medium (hydroton). I just don't have any experience working with rockwool, but it seems to "hold" water more from what I can see so you are probably smart to wait as they suggest.

As far as hydroton, I once called BCNL about using it because at the time they didn't mention it at all in the manual. The guy I spoke to there told me he actually preferred hydroton in the bloombox for his own grows, and I think he also gave me the idea for starting in rapid rooters before going into hydroton. I know that you're doing the rockwool now right? But for future experimentation, the hydroton medium works great too if you ever want to try something different.

 

[WeednFeed]

Yes, with no problems - frankly I think it speeds things up. I think I tended to under water given the relatively high drainage capability of my medium (hydroton). I just don't have any experience working with rockwool, but it seems to "hold" water more from what I can see so you are probably smart to wait as they suggest.

As far as hydroton, I once called BCNL about using it because at the time they didn't mention it at all in the manual. The guy I spoke to there told me he actually preferred hydroton in the bloombox for his own grows, and I think he also gave me the idea for starting in rapid rooters before going into hydroton. I know that you're doing the rockwool now right? But for future experimentation, the hydroton medium works great too if you ever want to try something different.

That's all good to hear xlr8. My concern right now would be in overwatering. You're right in saying that wool holds water. In fact it seems to have no problem with that.
Long before I spent a cent on anything I had done considerable reading and I was really split between rockwool and hydroton. They both had their +'s and -'s for me. I'm using rockwool because the box came with it. You obviously have had great success with hydroton and I will certainly not exclude it from consideration in the future.

 

[WeednFeed]

The ww's are growing slowly but steadily, most with roots in the rez. The euforias are still at a stand still and have had some root growth but not into the rez yet. Two have roots that have not left their pots.

I took xlr8's advice and turned on auto watering today. He's got the experience so I'm yielding to it.

The insurance clones are doing well. Everything received a weekly Green Light fungal spray tonight. As PM hasn't been seen for a while now I'll be switching to twice monthly. With a little luck PM will henceforth be known as preventive maintenance.

 

[Xlr8]

The ww's are growing slowly but steadily, most with roots in the rez. The euforias are still at a stand still and have had some root growth but not into the rez yet. Two have roots that have not left their pots.

I took xlr8's advice and turned on auto watering today. He's got the experience so I'm yielding to it.

The insurance clones are doing well. Everything received a weekly Green Light fungal spray tonight. As PM hasn't been seen for a while now I'll be switching to twice monthly. With a little luck PM will henceforth be known as preventive maintenance.

I'm hoping it works as well with the rockwool, too. I think you'll be fine.

Nice news on the PM improvement!

 

[Mr. Krip]

WnF, they're all looking good to me!

I think as long as you have some root growth out of the rockwool cubes, you should be fine with the autowatering. If the roots haven't made it out of the cube yet, I'd be careful the rockwool doesn't get waterlogged, but if I read correctly, you have roots coming out of all cubes just not all in the res.

 

[WeednFeed]

I'm hoping it works as well with the rockwool, too. I think you'll be fine.

Nice news on the PM improvement!

Me too. The more I thought about your suggestion the more sense it made to me. Thanks Brother!

 

[WeednFeed]

WnF, they're all looking good to me!

I think as long as you have some root growth out of the rockwool cubes, you should be fine with the autowatering. If the roots haven't made it out of the cube yet, I'd be careful the rockwool doesn't get waterlogged, but if I read correctly, you have roots coming out of all cubes just not all in the res.

Thanks Mr. Krip. Looking good, perhaps. Running behind the curve, definitely. I'm still pleased though as things are at least moving forward. At the time I wrote that there were still 2 plants whose roots hadn't left the pots... now there's 1. You're right, waterlogging is a concern but I'm keeping a watchful eye.

 

[WeednFeed]

Little change from yesterday. Still some reluctant roots. Foliage is looking well and minor tip burn seems to have run it's course. Doing a water change later today and moving to week 2 veg nutes.

As it turned out it would have been a bad idea for my friend to have taken the 2 Euforia moms but I still liked the idea of giving the 2 ww moms more light and space.

So I put the two euforias into the other diy cab and put them into flower for the fun of it. Not certain of the results I'll get under 4-2' flouros but it was better than tossing them.

The cuttings are looking comfortable today.

 

[Xlr8]

Looking good - I'm with you, don't toss healthy plants if there is something somehow you can do with them...

 

[WeednFeed]

Looking good - I'm with you, don't toss healthy plants if there is something somehow you can do with them...

Yeah, they've never looked so good. I think they wanted to grow up and get their own place. Teenage girls... you figure 'em.

We'll just have to see what the flouros can do for them now.

 

[Siscokid]

Exiting stuff WeedNFeed, those girls look like they'll produce some thick and tasty flowers

 

[WeednFeed]

Basically the same in the producer today. The ones with no extended roots continue to look healthy enough above the surface. I'm not encouraged by the reluctant (at best) root progress on two very similar to this:

This is typical of the the well-rooted ones.

Typical clone. All are doing similar.

This is looking through the center intake fan up top. Ballasts to the left and right, relay and air pump center and the machine's brain furthest. On the far end you can see illuminated perforations to either side. Once the air is drawn in over these components it moves through those perfs where the lamps are located. The air is then exhausted through fans that lead into the evacuation ducting.

 

[WeednFeed]

Exiting stuff WeedNFeed, those girls look like they'll produce some thick and tasty flowers

It is pretty exciting sisco and I hope you're right. Had to buy a bag of grass yesterday and in little ways it killed me to do it.
I'm ready to smoke some success!

 

[Mr. Krip]

Lookin' really good WnF. I'm sure those other clones will root fine, since they haven't wilted at all...they're probably just taking their sweet time!

Thanks for the tip on the CO2, but I don't really have any room for the CO2 tank without sacrificing the stealth aspect, which so far, is working out real well. We'll see how much stealth I can maintian when the girls are in full bloom and stinking up the house!

At some point, I'll probably decide I need to go with CO2 and put some time, work & money into it, but for now I'll just keep sticking my head in the cab and exhaling!

How are you liking that producer? Do you find it easier or lower maintenance?

 

[WeednFeed]

Thanks kindly Krip. If they're going to root they better get to it soon. I don't want any weaklings around here. Survival of the fittest! Still tend to think they were beaten up a little too much by the pump failure in cloning.

NP on the CO2... if you ever do, the cylinder could be placed pretty far away and the only thing you'd have to deal with would be snaking the tube.

As for the producer, being new I don't have anything to compare to, but I can say that it's left little to do. All I've done so far are rez change, ph adjustments and take pics. I think it's making a tourist of me.

 

[WeednFeed]

Today has shown improvement in size of the well rooted plants. The lesser rooted (not having left the pot for more than 1/2") are rooting within the cubes... just not dropping. The airstones are properly placed and the other plants confirm that. As it stands, 4 plants are still far behind the curve while the balance could be put into flower. Decision time is fast approaching and that will find me choosing between:

1. Settling for 7 or 8 decent plants and nixing the bad.
2. Wait further for the retarded ones to catch up (risking excessive height for the healthy ones).
3. Toss the whole batch and wait for the clones so I can run a full load of known-good cuttings.

I'm favoring option 1, save for the fact that all these plants were shocked pretty bad by receiving no water for what must have been several hours as cuttings. The threat of hermies could loom I think, and that could reduce an already small crop.

Example of the hardiest...

...and the weakest.

 

[Mr. Krip]

Today has shown improvement in size of the well rooted plants. The lesser rooted (not having left the pot for more than 1/2") are rooting within the cubes... just not dropping. The airstones are properly placed and the other plants confirm that. As it stands, 4 plants are still far behind the curve while the balance could be put into flower. Decision time is fast approaching and that will find me choosing between:

1. Settling for 7 or 8 decent plants and nixing the bad.
2. Wait further for the retarded ones to catch up (risking excessive height for the healthy ones).
3. Toss the whole batch and wait for the clones so I can run a full load of known-good cuttings.

I'm favoring option 1, save for the fact that all these plants were shocked pretty bad by receiving no water for what must have been several hours as cuttings. The threat of hermies could loom I think, and that could reduce an already small crop.

Example of the hardiest...

...and the weakest.

WnF, It's all looking good to me and I would go with option #2 EXCEPT for the possibility of waiting too long. If the runts don't catch up soon, I'd just go ahead and flip the switch and see if they can survive and catch up at any time during the grow. You can always cull them later if they don't make it, or if you just want to make more room for the better-developed plants. You won't get any less of a yield by holding on to them a while longer and with any luck, one or two of them may surprise you.

Like XLR8 pointed out, there's no reason to toss the plants if there's something you can possibly do with them.

Definately do NOT go for option #3! I would keep moving forward to get thru a complete harvest (assuming it's not a money-losing proposition based on your costs vs. possible yield) and "tweak the technique" for the next grow.