Brightlight's Strain Fest: Organics & LED

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Dude, you're a one and only.
The combination of vast experience and artistic vision conveyed by your calm voice makes for an amazing read. Right on.

I can't wait to see Strawberry Banana do it's thing.

Hello Ranger. I think your complimentary words are how I would describe you, but thanks anyway. Thanks for dropping in.

Nice, small but compact. In my experience too big bud always lacks quality of high. Like the natural fading too, I guess you keep nitrogen levels low

Hello Con. I've only used 2 gal. pots indoors & keep them directly under the 8 sq. ft. footprint of light so I'm getting fair idea of plant & bud size with 3 runs. This light consistently produces very firm, dense buds. Interesting what you say about big bud quality...hadn't heard that before. Yes, I always like the fade...I think it boosts end taste & appearance. But I still remember & keep in mind your words about how more N is needed during flower, which differs from what is often said. This fade was accentuated by Fe shortage (2nd time already) that appeared in late veg to transition. While an organic grow, I had to work on lowering the pH for the Fe problem. The coco mix had lots of N through veg as plants were almost too dark green. I always add good doses of N at transition & then very little after that with hopes that it is used up by the end. Would like to hear how you use N in bloom. Thanks for visiting.

Thanks to all for dropping by.

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I usually prepared a mix rich in compost, 50-70%, and that was really enough. Maybe I boosted two-three times that plant with a stinging nettle tea, and that's it. Now, since I've changed the approach, I use no compost, and I boost it with compost tea Yeah, taking the goodies in different proportions. You know, I cannot really say it doesn't work, but cause I grow all different strains, and their patterns of growth are so different I just cannot say anything for sure For example this Grape Ape of mine just quadrupled in size almost since I forced flowering, and Grape Dog (her offspring) just stays there, not much vigour in foliage department, just slowly growing buds. I just wish I could figure it all out

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I just cannot say anything for sure :

What a great comment....I agree completely!

 

[Ranger275]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I make some pretty good compost, is that enough Fe? I can't think of any organic amendments that have significant amounts of Fe. Blood and/or bone meal? Anybody know any good ones?

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

With compost you'll be fine if there were some leaves or weeds composted.

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I make some pretty good compost, is that enough Fe? I can't think of any organic amendments that have significant amounts of Fe. Blood and/or bone meal? Anybody know any good ones?

With compost you'll be fine if there were some leaves or weeds composted.

Thanks Ranger & Conradino. Some dairy cow compost was used in mix. There's enough iron in mix but pH got to upper 6's range. When pH brought down to low to mid 6's, new leaves were ok, & minor leaf twist on one plant went away.

 

[Radogast]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Thanks Ranger & Conradino. Some dairy cow compost was used in mix. There's enough iron in mix but pH got to upper 6's range. When pH brought down to low to mid 6's, new leaves were ok, & minor leaf twist on one plant went away.

It's always better to get things back under control - than to NOT get them worked out.

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Thanks Ranger & Conradino. Some dairy cow compost was used in mix. There's enough iron in mix but pH got to upper 6's range. When pH brought down to low to mid 6's, new leaves were ok, & minor leaf twist on one plant went away.

I never used poo of any kind actually, too rich for cannabis I always thought. Iron is good though, it improves the taste and overall strength of the plant.

 

[Graytail]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Back in the 80s, I grew it in aged (4+ years old?) horse poo mixed with about half gardening topsoil. The horsepoop was really nice! It had all that fiber from the hay still in it - you could take a turd in your hand and crush it, and it would crumble just like a gorgeous clump of earth - smelled like rich dark loam.

 

[NorCaliwood]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Sweet plants. Looks like one of them was a 'lighter' feeder............... But looks like your going to get a nice little harvest....
Keepem Green

 

[CareStaker]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Love a fully faded plant - just beautiful. Flowers look superb. Should be some outstanding smoke.

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I'm harvesting the 6 plants started back in January. This is the "shoulder grow" that changed a few things up....plants stayed in tent for a 2+ month stretch, only one defoliation. I also watered way more at each watering than usual. Maybe the lone defol & more H2O helped keep the stress down, as I've harvested 5 & have only seen 2 single male pollen sacs in the cut herb. No seeds at all so glad to avoid any hermy plants that I saw a bit of in my 1st two indoors tries. Maybe I should learn something here.... water deeply & leave them alone.

TH Seeds Critical Hog
Critical Bilbo x HOG. Harvested at 63 days. Breeder flowering time said 56 days. I've let a few plants go to far by waiting for trichome changes and decided to factor in bud appearance more. Throw back to earlier days. Since this is mostly indica, I was looking at ~50-50 clear & cloudy so ended up waiting a little too long based on bud appearance. Smelled like rubber, skunk, industrial factory all the way & added some sweetness toward the end. A balanced, combined "up" & stony effect that is quite likable. Reminded me of BF Red Cherry Berry, which I grew much of in years past. Not the strongest of the grow, but useful & enjoyable. But no slouch as strong enough & ok by me to have some herb like this. No problems firing it up at any time of the day or night. Plants got some outdoor sunshine on harvest day so I could get some natural color pictures.

DNA Kosher Tangie
DNA has renamed this 24K Gold. The Tangie side is likely from Central CA breeder Crockett who developed it from California Orange. California Orange & KO Kali-O were great sativas that I haven't seen much of for over 5 yrs. Picked at 63 days surprisingly matching the DNA flower days. A tall, lanky lady with slender buds. A subtle smelling plant that was a funky citrus all the way. Not a crisp, sharp citrus scent but still very citrusy. The yield on this plant surprised me...even though buds weren't the fattest, they went up & down the branches. A very nice sativa dominant hybrid but maybe the Kosher power negated some of the sativa qualities. Will need to vape it a few more times but darn good initial impression. A promo seed that wasn't a disappointment.

3 more strains coming up soon. Thanks for visiting!

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

I never used poo of any kind actually, too rich for cannabis I always thought. Iron is good though, it improves the taste and overall strength of the plant.

Back in the 80s, I grew it in aged (4+ years old?) horse poo mixed with about half gardening topsoil. The horsepoop was really nice! It had all that fiber from the hay still in it - you could take a turd in your hand and crush it, and it would crumble just like a gorgeous clump of earth - smelled like rich dark loam.

Hi Con & GT. I've not often used a lot of poo of any kind but this was a bag of dairy cow manure compost called Bu's Blend Biodynamic Compost from Malibu Compost. Organic, non GMO, all that good stuff. Got a free large bag from company Prez who wanted me to try it. Initially I thought I used too much but after some dairy cow manure research, discovered it is fairly mild & good stuff. I like 1st time results & plan to continue using it.

Sweet plants. Looks like one of them was a 'lighter' feeder............... But looks like your going to get a nice little harvest....
Keepem Green

Hey NCW. My problem is growing many strains at once so I feed them all pretty much the same. The light feeders gorge out whether they need it or not. I like growing new strains like you so haven't concentrated on any single strain grows for a long time.

Love a fully faded plant - just beautiful. Flowers look superb. Should be some outstanding smoke.

Thanks CareStaker. I'm partial to faded plants....for taste & appearance. Seems like the older growers stick more to it. Just saw where a couple good 420 growers say that they like full on green right up to the end. Interesting for me to see these new techniques.

Thanks to everyone who visited!

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

 

[NorCaliwood]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Nice looking plants you get to cut up. I wanted to try the 'Hog' myself. Maybe next go around. Hope the smokes as sweet as the plant look. Keepem Green

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

A little more on Kosher Tangie. This was one sticky lady to trim....used 6 shears/oz. when usual is 2 or 3. What I mean is when a pair gets too gummed up, I just grab another clean one. Who doesn't like them sticky but really hard to trim. Crazy. The funky citrus scent became a pungent, sharp, clean lemon lime citrus after drying. Great smelling buds. Sweet, astringent citrus flavor. Damn, that Kosher packs a punch. The Tangie part is real enjoyable...I'd like this strain with more Tangie & less Kosher but just thinking out loud.

DNA LA Chocolat
Recommended to me by a good friend so I bought a single. I've grown LA Confidential & its mom LA Affie, but this was 1st Chocolope strain. Thai hybrids are almost like a siren call for me. Love them & always willing to grow a new one. LA Chocolat is good...real good. Round golf ball style buds...hard as heck. Smelled like melons all the way. Great combo of sativa uplift euphoric energy with LAC power. A potent herb. Some hybrids work well together & for me this is one of them. I liked it all the way around so went & bought a 6 pk.

Thanks for visiting!

 

[SoilGirl]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Your plants and strains look and sound so freaking amazing bright. That LA Chocolat especially.. I've gone through my fair share of Chocolope and I'll never forget the sweet hashy chocolate flavor. I think Chocolope has the same chocolate thai in it. I want to try something with that in it some day.

Wow I really need to trim my buds more like you do haha. I waste so much time getting all the sugar leaves usually..

just spent like an hr cleaning up my Diesel reveg today... all the fun of trimming, without the payoff of buds in the end. hahaha. Thanks for sharing bright its always awesome to come by and see your shining plants.

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Nice budz, compact and resinous. These were done outdoor or indoor?

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Your plants and strains look and sound so freaking amazing bright. That LA Chocolat especially.. I've gone through my fair share of Chocolope and I'll never forget the sweet hashy chocolate flavor. I think Chocolope has the same chocolate thai in it. I want to try something with that in it some day.

Wow I really need to trim my buds more like you do haha. I waste so much time getting all the sugar leaves usually..

just spent like an hr cleaning up my Diesel reveg today... all the fun of trimming, without the payoff of buds in the end. hahaha. Thanks for sharing bright its always awesome to come by and see your shining plants.

Thank you SoilGirl. Glad you're back as you've been missed by all. Since these are smaller indoor plants I don't have the heart to trim off all the coated sugar leaves...I look at buds with magnifying glass to see how much to trim or leave. On outdoor plants that aren't as heavily crusted, I'll trim more towards "naked bud".

Nice budz, compact and resinous. These were done outdoor or indoor?

Thanks bro. con. Indoor plants. I took them outside on harvest day after taking off remaining fans for a few pictures & a quick blast of natural sunlight. I like to see what plants & buds look like in natural light...gives me a better idea of leaf & bud color. Just an old longtime personal practice. I have some outdoor plant pictures coming up.

 

[Radogast]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Buzzalicious plants, Brightlight. With your excellent photos and description, I can almost taste them