Brightlight's Strain Fest: Organics & LED

[Twilight LED]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

NICE!!! It looks pretty hight~

Outdoor plants all in early flowering. Average height 5'+ & still growing. I germinated seeds 2 wks. later than usual to control height & size, but didn't make a difference.

From L to R, Lost Coast OG, Cheesedog, & Jamaican OG.

818 Headband on L, a smaller Cheesedog on R.

Soil Mix
I buy commercial bags of soil & add ingredients to it. One that I use regularly is Royal Gold Mendo Mix. Each yr. I try a couple of new ones. The new ones this year are Santuary's Empire Builder, Dr. Earth's Motherland Mix, & E.B. Stone's Recipe 420. Outdoors I find peat based soils are best, some peat/coco blends are fine, pure coco mixes are least preferred. The Recipe 420 was a free sample from E.B. Stone rep. Tried it with a new strain & a familiar strain. I can tell this soil is a keeper except it's mostly sold at regular nurseries who jack up prices & seldom discount.

I add most/all of the following to the bagged mixes:
Dolomite lime
Gypsum
Soft Rock Phosphate
Bone Meal
Greensand
Azomite
Sul Po Mag (langbeinite)
Alfalfa meal
Cottonseed meal
Feather meal
Mycorrhizae
Azos (N fixing bacteria)
Bat guano
Worm castings
Perlite
Kelp meal

Other optional ingredients:
Manteca River Loam (rich native soil from Central Valley)
EB Stone Bulb Food
EB Stone Sure Start
EB Stone Ultra Bloom
Humic Acid (solid form)
Insect Frass

Water
I use tap water, but through a hose end charcoal filter. Additionally, I add drops of dechlorinating liquid to further remove chloramines. Tap is ~pH 7.6, fairly hard.

pH
I rarely test pH. In this outdoor grow I first tested pH when plants were entering transition stage. A couple showed early N depletion at plant bottoms so I wanted to check to see if pH was within acceptable range. A major 10 day heat wave had me watering every day so I wondered if daily hard water might drive up pH? A couple were a little high...nearly 7. Most were ok at usual 6.6-6.8 range. Since it was time for a good N hit for all plants, I used cottonseed meal, a slow release N source that also reduces pH. Rechecked today w/ good results as all were lower, between 6.5 to 6.8.

I can understand the greater importance of pH in hydro or even soils when using synthetics, but still chuckle a little when I see so much well intended advice to check pH when a leaf is this or that. To each his/her own but I believe healthy plants can be grown without ongoing pH checking or fussing.


NLxBB auto
So so looking bud, not beautiful, not ugly. 12+ grams. Creeper mellow indica effect. Decent. Would like it more if it wasn't harvested on heels of recent indoor plants, which were better looking & much stronger. Still fun to grow my 1st. auto.

 

[grimmreefer]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Great looking girls man!
I'm doing my first real outdoors this summer. It's been the opposite over here, we've only hit 90 one day this summer.
I just read through, did you say they are in two gal.?
My bit@#s are in 5 and they got nothing on yours.
I haven't been home in a week or so, I'm gonna do an update in the AM I could use a little critique.

 

[SoilGirl]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Looking really bright for your plants Bright! I liked your soil post last page, I know I'll learn a lot watching your grow, love your style keep it up

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Great looking girls man!
I'm doing my first real outdoors this summer. It's been the opposite over here, we've only hit 90 one day this summer.
I just read through, did you say they are in two gal.?
My bit@#s are in 5 and they got nothing on yours.
I haven't been home in a week or so, I'm gonna do an update in the AM I could use a little critique.

Hi grimm. Thanks for dropping in. Glad you did! The outdoor planters are 7 gal. The 2's were used inside. I've been meaning to ask you what happened to the plants in the tree?

Looking really bright for your plants Bright! I liked your soil post last page, I know I'll learn a lot watching your grow, love your style keep it up

Well, if SoilGirl likes a soil post I made, then I know I'm on the right track. Thanks!!

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

The plan to start another indoor grow was delayed since I needed a break & hot temps outside & inside. Who said LED's don't crank out heat?

Temps down a bit so cleaned the room & got new batch started. Here are pics 12 days after germination. Doing better w/ light intensity & distance from light to plants this time. 1st time I struggled some on this.

Some strains I've been kinda excited about growing & trying:

Cali Connection Chem 91
Said to be selfed from original Chem 91. Chemdog's handle of SK VA part of name to lend authenticity. I hope so.

OG Raskal White Master Kush
Krome's White x SoCal Master (the purple pheno). I had to battle/scrap for these as customs took 1st shipment.

HSO Emdog
Cypress Hill's B Real's (aka Dr. Greenthumb) collaboration with Kief Sweat. KS' Clasick OG (a Snoop fav) x Chem 4

Paradise Belladonna
1st got into Paradise due to its Sensistar, a personal favorite. Led me to 2 of its sativas...Jacky White & Delahaze. Now trying this Belladonna freebie, another sativa. Paradise breeder Luc is ultra secretive of his strains' genealogy, but Belladonna is known to be half Super Skunk. Worth a shot.

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Welcome nhteatime. Glad you "visited" me & my plants here on the West Coast.

 

[nhteatime]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

HI Brightlights - Just following along and taking pointers - Your plants look Great!

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

All plants in full bloom, budswell stage. Last year was an early flower year, this year is more like normal. I think the indicas finish late this month, maybe the early girl Jacky White (70% sativa) too. Rest of sativa types will finish in Oct. One by one starting to smell. Man, the fresh terpenes are like growers' soul medicine. Trichomes gradually showing up.

Jamaican OG
Only plant that was topped, main stem & 2 laterals. Several fims. A tall lanky girl from the get go. Early Cali version... Jamaican dad x Tahoe mom. Gaining some weight & just starting to give off fragrance. Can't say what it smells like yet.

Lost Coast OG
Emerald Triangle 60/40 I/S. Great genes....Pakistani x Lemon Thai X Chem4. Said to prefer cooler temps. Hahaha, wrong strain for my place, but I put her in what used to be the premier hole. Now it's not as good because the neighboring redwood is blocking pm sun. So it's a little cooler since spot gets early sun 'til ~2:30 only.

Jacky White
Paradise 75% sativa. I usually have a hard time saying exactly what fragrance I smell, but JW is easy. Citrus, grapefruit for sure. Paradise won't divulge genetics adding to the mystique. 2nd yr. for her, I already love this strain.

LA Affie
100% indica. Selfed from legendary clone only strain. Hard bud, not much fragrance. Slightly fruity. Indica darker green color, leafier bud & stout 4.5' height. Can already tell that she won't be yielding much. From LAA mom came the famous LA Confidential offspring.

Enemy
This has been a record good year for bugs. IDK exactly why, but happy for sure. Drought, good luck, stronger plants? I hatched 2 praying mantis cases but never saw any of these pals all summer. But the usual leafhoppers, whiteflies, others were gladly not seen. Then last wk. these grasshopper/catydid types showed up. 420 member dogno described buds that had a "haircut". Great description!. I get some every year, but this was first appearance. Immediate Spinosad spray. So far so good.

 

[B A R]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Nice update BL...

 

[SoilGirl]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Yeah that was a great update bright.. tons of info, great pics, +reps. I actually have seen pretty much those SAME grasshopper/catydid things on my plants, starting a week or two ago. We must be in surprisingly similar climates >.< I tried to grab one off and its leg popped off in my fingers and it still hopped right onto another bud... (shudders)

it is that wonderful time of year though for the terpenes on natural outdoor plants, mine are all starting to smell great too. I can't pick a favorite, they all smell so different but amazing. I hope you're having a great week over in Cali ttyl!

 

[Lester Freeman]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Beautiful update!

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Great selection of strains, man! Time to harvest soon, whaddaya say?

 

[daTenshi]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Great update !!! I love the girls, can smell them from here

 

[Radogast]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Magnificent. I'd be stoked.


Beautiful photos.

 

[grimmreefer]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Absolutely stunning pics! There is something to be said for that Cali climate. Its easy to tell that you are in touch with your plants.
And oh yeah.... let's just say I need to do a little engineering before I put anything else 25' in the air.

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Nice update BL...

Thanks. Good to see you BAR!

Yeah that was a great update bright.. tons of info, great pics, +reps. I actually have seen pretty much those SAME grasshopper/catydid things on my plants, starting a week or two ago. We must be in surprisingly similar climates >.< I tried to grab one off and its leg popped off in my fingers and it still hopped right onto another bud... (shudders)

it is that wonderful time of year though for the terpenes on natural outdoor plants, mine are all starting to smell great too. I can't pick a favorite, they all smell so different but amazing. I hope you're having a great week over in Cali ttyl!

Thank you SG! Bugs are always slower, half sleeping maybe, in the morning so I sprayed one right in the face. A couple more spray hits & he drops off. Like a woozy boxer.

Beautiful update!

Thank you Lester. Always good to see you.

Great selection of strains, man! Time to harvest soon, whaddaya say?

Thanks Strain Bro. A couple more to share with ya soon.

Great update !!! I love the girls, can smell them from here

Thank you daTenshi. I really love it when the fragrance starts & to see what that strain smells like. Not good at labeling what I smell though....wouldn't hack it as a cannabis sommelier.

Magnificent. I'd be stoked.


Beautiful photos.

Thanks Rad my friend. -Oh yeah...flower time stokes me every time.

Absolutely stunning pics! There is something to be said for that Cali climate. Its easy to tell that you are in touch with your plants.
And oh yeah.... let's just say I need to do a little engineering before I put anything else 25' in the air.

How ya doin' grimm. I think that's the best compliment a grower could receive. Thank you man.

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Bright, I meant to ask you that. How long is summer in your part of NorCali? You can tell what the county is if yu can? What's the real RH around August-October? What kind of natural soil you have? And I know it's gonna sound stupid, but do they have any other cash crops than pot down there?

 

[brightlight]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Bright, I meant to ask you that. How long is summer in your part of NorCali? You can tell what the county is if yu can? What's the real RH around August-October? What kind of natural soil you have? And I know it's gonna sound stupid, but do they have any other cash crops than pot down there?

Hey Conradino. I'm at 37º N. "Summer" weather pretty much from early May to end of Oct. Don't pay much attn. to rH outside, but after your question, checked it today....46. Tropical moisture raised it now & then more often this year than usual. Natural soil is kinda clayish. Not so good as is. I buy & truck over native Manteca River Loam from Central Valley, but it is not what it used to be. Used to look like med. brown ground up coffee (soft & rich), but now too much gravel & sand. Time to find something better.

Hahaha, I'm south of Emerald Triangle & other well known CA grow areas. Orchards, livestock, grain, wine grapes around here. Pot vigilantes in helicopters raiding grows with fake police uniforms around Laytonville (Mendocino Cty). Destroying not stealing crops. Residents think maybe cartels. In story 90% of Laytonville population said to be in pot trade. Few other cash crops up there.

 

[Conradino23]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Sounds like a cool place to grow You obviously have a lil' bit longer summer than me and a lil' bit lower humidity, but I'm at 45N, so you cannot expect that much

 

[NorCaliwood]

re: Brightlight's Strain Fest - Organics & LED

Don't ya just love this time of year.................. I see the girls are starting to pack on alittle weight. You got some pretty girls going out there. Sensie Star is one of my favorites also, but the last couple times I went to order they were sold out. I always work with the single seed shot. Not really the best way to find a mother but the last S-Star I had I'm still kicking myself for not keeping her. Acouple bud shots I seen look like they might come out early Oct? It's kind of hard to slow them girls down if they have 6-7 weeks veg they sure take off. I've had to get out the 'hedge clippers' to keep some under the fence before. Keepem Green