Cola Monster's Perpetual Rock 'n' Roll Grow Journal

[Major PITA]

Well, they say misery loves company, so I'm going to pull up a chair.

I went down this morning to water the crop. I've noticed a lower branch on GG4 was lower that it used to be but I thought it was just weight the branch couldn't support. Then I remembered a couple of weeks ago I had found a hole in the ground near the center of the garden. At the time I didn't notice any damage. I threw some dirt in the hole and placed a rock over it. I took a closer look at the branch that is now not looking nearly as good as the rest of the plant. You guessed it. It had been gnawed part way through, along with other branches.

It appears the varmint sampled three of the five plants but only did significant damage to GG4. It will survive but is going to be lopsided going forward with a reduced yield. In my case the rodent is almost certainly a ground squirrel. All damage is old and healed over so I don't think it is still getting in. I did a thorough search of the ground inside and around the perimeter. POOP!

 

[Light Addict]

One small step back and then two strides forward

 

[Growlow]

I can't blame rodents or vermin. But my girls are hurting from my wifes heavy handed watering. She was only trying to help. It's amazing how over watered plants can get so badly damaged! Even with that mongrel gopher your girls look fantastic! Hope all is well my mate CM

 

[Heirloom]

I would have blown up the golf course trying to kill the golfers...I mean gophers.

Jeez Cola. My heart hurts.

Yours too Major. I hate that feeling when it's discovered.

 

[Cola Monster]

I would have blown up the golf course trying to kill the golfers...I mean gophers.

Jeez Cola. My heart hurts.

Yours too Major. I hate that feeling when it's discovered.

Ah, that's nothing Heirloom. I lost three huge plants to gopher damage and two more to stock rot last year plus another six or so plants full of gorgeous flowers in my 2nd greenhouse since I had no one to help me harvest which makes losing one or two girls acceptable in my book.
It's all part of the gardening game in my thinking & who can outsmart who when it comes to the many critters I have to deal with on a daily basis.

 

[Major PITA]

I lost three huge plants to gopher damage and two more to stock rot last year

Stock rot? That's a new one.
Off to research...

 

[Heirloom]

Ah, that's nothing Heirloom. I lost three huge plants to gopher damage and two more to stock rot last year plus another six or so plants full of gorgeous flowers in my 2nd greenhouse since I had no one to help me harvest which makes losing one or two girls acceptable in my book.
It's all part of the gardening game in my thinking & who can outsmart who when it comes to the many critters I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Stock rot? That's a new one.
Off to research...

Watering to close to the stalk and keeping it wet?

 

[Cola Monster]

Watering to close to the stalk and keeping it wet?

Excellent call Heirloom & why you are on the short list for M.O.T.M. I see. Good luck mate, you got my support!

 

[Cola Monster]

Hey there mates!
For this weeks update I have a double shot tour of both my legal gardens in which it's hotter than blaze's out in the greenhouses with it reaching a little over 100 degrees. Enjoy the shows and have a great evening folks!

 

[Mr. Krip]

Absolutely beautiful plants, Brother! +REPS!

I can not tell you how jealous I am of your grow space!

 

[bobrown14]

wait .. wow

Hey there CM - nice looking greenhouses there mate - reps .... as usual yer killin it. I volunteer for waterboy duties !

Gophers:

If you drink coffee try spreading the spent coffee grounds around the bases of your plants. That should help. Pellet gun, but there's a lot of negativity there, best to try and persuade those critters to go elsewhere.

I'd have a French Bull Dog... not only do they look cool, they HATE rodents of all sorts. Then you can move the dog crap to the outside of the greenhouse walls and that will repel most all 4 legged pests sans another dog of course.

You can also plant other plants like comfrey and alfalfa - they both have REAL deep roots and will attract rodents and the critters wont be able to kill them and will prefer that easier prey/food source.

We plant alfalfa its a perennial and it 100% attracts rodents. They will eat the alfalfa and prefer that over Cannabis. We used to have issues with rodents going after seedlings, now I have a potted alfalfa plant next to the seedlings - they graze on the alfalfa and leave the seedlings alone.

 

[Cola Monster]

Morning mates!
Just posting a few shots of today's challenges from the garden in which this beautiful lady posted below has developed stock rot that may or may not slowdown its growth and flower production depending on how far it spreads. I stopped watering next to the stock itself and am now just feeding around the perimeter hoping it dries out a bit which is all I can do really or replace it with another plant although its a little late in the season to be doing that. Again, decisions, decisions!
Anyhow, that will do it for now. Have a good day all!

 

[Major PITA]

Sorry to see that CM. When it rains, it pours.

 

[TheBlaze]

I've never even heard of stock rot. Hoping it sorts itself out for bud. What a beautiful plant though.

How is your indoor stuff looking?

 

[Major PITA]

Cola, Is this the same thing as fusarium rot/wilt? If so, I'd get rid of it ASAP. Hopefully it isn't that kind of fungal disease that can spread.

 

[Cola Monster]

Cola, Is this the same thing as fusarium rot/wilt? If so, I'd get rid of it ASAP. Hopefully it isn't that kind of fungal disease that can spread.

I don't think so after looking at some pics. online but feel it's more of an over watering thing with the stock just staying moist to the point where mold/fungus starts to grow at the base. It's most likely my fault for planting the poor girl to deep in the ground or watering to much and I'm trying to fix by letting her dry out a bit hoping she won't wilt on these hots days we're having. It's a trial and error thing hoping for the best as always!

 

[Mr. Krip]

I don't think so after looking at some pics. online but feel it's more of an over watering thing with the stock just staying moist to the point where mold/fungus starts to grow at the base. It's most likely my fault for planting the poor girl to deep in the ground or watering to much and I'm trying to fix by letting her dry out a bit hoping she won't wilt on these hots days we're having. It's a trial and error thing hoping for the best as always!

Hey Brother! I'm dealing with a whole different set of fungus problems right now (not the grow!) but thought this tip from Ed Rosenthal might help:

Tricoderma harzianum is a fungus that protects roots from attacks by pathogenic fungi including the agents causing different root rots and stem diseases such as Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctionia, which all affect cannabis. The Trichoderma fungus sends hyphae out that pierce through the pathogenic organisms and suck their vital juices for food.

Tricoderma harzianum is harmless to humans, pets, fish and other organisms. Usually it is used as a soil drench to protect roots, but it is also used as a foliar application to protect leaves from fungal attacks.There are a number of products that use this organism as a fungicide. They include Plant Shield, Root Shield, Promot® MXM and MycoMaximum

How cool is that?

 

[Cola Monster]

Hey Brother! I'm dealing with a whole different set of fungus problems right now (not the grow!) but thought this tip from Ed Rosenthal might help:

How cool is that?

Thanks Mr. Krip! I'll read up on it and the products also when getting the chance.

Now for a massive photo update from greenhouses #1 & #2 which will be the last for a while as I get the girls ready for flowering by tying up branch after branch so they break under the future weight. Enjoy and have a good night mates!

Greenhouse #1:

Greenhouse #2:

 

[GhettoGro]

Damned Nice! Can I have your stems/lumber when you're done. I want to build a cabin.

 

[Mr. Krip]

Awesome, Brother! +REPS!