Emmie's 6 Plant, True Living Organic, LED Grow Journal

[Emilya Green]

Thank you for your help Emilya, I appreciate you looking through the journal.
This plant has so many lessons to teach us. I am a bit conflicted about starting container sizes. I know how you feel about upcanning and I’ve not read one bad word of advice from you yet.
Doc Bud, another extremely respected member of the community, has advised that seeds be started in one gallon containers.
I know you start smaller and get them drinking every 24 hours before transplant. I am fairly comfortable in solos. I think I need more time with these new pots to get used to the weight when they are thirsty.

I have a lot of respect for @Doc Bud and when I grow commercially I will most likely follow his lead and also start in 1 gallon containers, but only because I know what I am doing. What I do here however is try to instruct those having problems getting started how to most easily get a good result, and the most important lesson that I teach is how to recognize and work with the wet/dry cycle. It is simply easier to get a good handle on this wet/dry concept when dealing with a small starter container such as a beer cup, but technically, if I strictly followed the lessons I learned as a little girl I should be advising people to start in 1 inch starter cups, and they sell wonderful little domed units designed to easily start 50-200 plants at a time in little hardware store wonder kits complete with starter soil. These kits are for the really hands on people who want to assure a fast start on a lot of plants and who look forward to transplanting a fast rooting seedling after a week above soil directly into their outdoor garden. I actually consider the solo cup to be a compromise on this basic gardening technique. Just go to a walmart some spring and look at how many plants they have ready for you to buy in these 1-3" starter containers and realize that it is done this way for a good reason.

 

[HiddenGrow]

The proof is in the pudding. It looks to have 384 diodes which sounds like a great spread.

 

[Archiweedies]

I have a lot of respect for @Doc Bud and when I grow commercially I will most likely follow his lead and also start in 1 gallon containers, but only because I know what I am doing. What I do here however is try to instruct those having problems getting started how to most easily get a good result, and the most important lesson that I teach is how to recognize and work with the wet/dry cycle. It is simply easier to get a good handle on this wet/dry concept when dealing with a small starter container such as a beer cup, but technically, if I strictly followed the lessons I learned as a little girl I should be advising people to start in 1 inch starter cups, and they sell wonderful little domed units designed to easily start 50-200 plants at a time in little hardware store wonder kits complete with starter soil. These kits are for the really hands on people who want to assure a fast start on a lot of plants and who look forward to transplanting a fast rooting seedling after a week above soil directly into their outdoor garden. I actually consider the solo cup to be a compromise on this basic gardening technique. Just go to a walmart some spring and look at how many plants they have ready for you to buy in these 1-3" starter containers and realize that it is done this way for a good reason.

Yes I agree with your thoughts on starter size containers. They are, as you say, easier to water for new folks. This may just be one of those crossroads for me in my cultivation journey. I’ll have to try and start some in solos next go around and see what happens. We all have to do what works for us ultimately. Do you see any reason to not start smaller than 1 gallon? Thank you and apologies for derailing the journal!

By the way, I’m curious about your environmental situation for your garden. You have great success in your garden, I’m certain environment is something you have addressed.

 

[Emilya Green]

Yes I agree with your thoughts on starter size containers. They are, as you say, easier to water for new folks. This may just be one of those crossroads for me in my cultivation journey. I’ll have to try and start some in solos next go around and see what happens. We all have to do what works for us ultimately. Do you see any reason to not start smaller than 1 gallon? Thank you and apologies for derailing the journal!

By the way, I’m curious about your environmental situation for your garden. You have great success in your garden, I’m certain environment is something you have addressed.

Other than just not having time to deal with it, which seems silly to me on the surface since this is a hobby that relaxes people, I see no reason to start in larger containers, even at the 1 gallon level, in our micro tent gardens. If I was dealing with 100+ plants, I don't want to deal with all that, and will save time by starting at 1gal, but then I am going to be very particular about not uppotting until the rootball is ready. I did try one time to start seeds in those little plastic shot cups that you can get these days, but I found they were not tall enough to support this plant well and I went back to starting in solo cups. I always had good luck in the taller 1" cluster pots that you get for starting tomatoes too.

Environment:
I grow in a spare basement bedroom in a house that has central air and heating. I have closed off that room from this system and I use the tent operation, an outside fresh air duct in the window next to a window air conditioner and a space heater in the tent to control climate in this area and I keep it at 79°f. When it gets cold outside and the humidity drops into the teens, I run a vaporizer in that room also. I also have a computer, a ham radio and a bed in that room so I am ready for any possible emergencies and there is a half bath/shower adjoining that room for any watering needs.

 

[Archiweedies]

Other than just not having time to deal with it, which seems silly to me on the surface since this is a hobby that relaxes people, I see no reason to start in larger containers, even at the 1 gallon level, in our micro tent gardens. If I was dealing with 100+ plants, I don't want to deal with all that, and will save time by starting at 1gal, but then I am going to be very particular about not uppotting until the rootball is ready. I did try one time to start seeds in those little plastic shot cups that you can get these days, but I found they were not tall enough to support this plant well and I went back to starting in solo cups. I always had good luck in the taller 1" cluster pots that you get for starting tomatoes too.

Environment:
I grow in a spare basement bedroom in a house that has central air and heating. I have closed off that room from this system and I use the tent operation, an outside fresh air duct in the window next to a window air conditioner and a space heater in the tent to control climate in this area and I keep it at 79°f. When it gets cold outside and the humidity drops into the teens, I run a vaporizer in that room also. I also have a computer, a ham radio and a bed in that room so I am ready for any possible emergencies and there is a half bath/shower adjoining that room for any watering needs.

I was certainly planning to keep my current plants in those 1 gallons until they are drinking daily. We are watering every four or five days right now so I have a ways to go.

Ahh thanks for explaining your environment. I’m quite a student of environmental influences especially VPD. I know where you live it gets humid as hell at times, I’m from Nashville originally. Living in SoCal I struggled for a long time with regards to properly regulating humidity.

 

[Emilya Green]

I was certainly planning to keep my current plants in those 1 gallons until they are drinking daily. We are watering every four or five days right now so I have a ways to go.

Ahh thanks for explaining your environment. I’m quite a student of environmental influences especially VPD. I know where you live it gets humid as hell at times, I’m from Nashville originally. Living in SoCal I struggled for a long time with regards to properly regulating humidity.

Yes, there is no choice but to regulate the environment around here, especially in late summer. Missouri is known for 100+ degree days with 100% humidity. If it were not for air conditioners, no one would live here. The climate here makes it almost impossible to dry a crop without a dehumidifier of some sort during that time. Winter is a lot easier to deal with, but the changing conditions requires input ducting and venting to be flexible during the various seasons.

 

[BlueGreen]

I’m using advanced nutrients ph perfect 5.5 ph with a fresh tank of nutrients

I've been using advanced nutrients too, and I have been trusting their claims on the pH perfect: this latest grow, i have not checked the pH even once, and everything is green and growing. Last grow, i did not trust the technology, I used pH down, and I think that particular chemical additive contributed to my nearly killing the whole crop. I know it's hard to accept, but give it a week: use the sensi grow or whatever you have, equal parts a&b, put away your pH pen, and let your plants thrive.

 

[Emilya Green]

I've been using advanced nutrients too, and I have been trusting their claims on the pH perfect: this latest grow, i have not checked the pH even once, and everything is green and growing. Last grow, i did not trust the technology, I used pH down, and I think that particular chemical additive contributed to my nearly killing the whole crop. I know it's hard to accept, but give it a week: use the sensi grow or whatever you have, equal parts a&b, put away your pH pen, and let your plants thrive.

You pay a lot of money for this luxury... might as well use it.

 

[BlueGreen]

You pay a lot of money for this luxury... might as well use it.

I agree, although I didn't find it all that pricey. At 1.5 ml per liter, the nutrients last quite some time. I grew organic under hps years ago, but one day I came home from work to find a giant slug climbing the wall in my closet. Haha, gross.

 

[Archiweedies]

I agree, although I didn't find it all that pricey. At 1.5 ml per liter, the nutrients last quite some time. I grew organic under hps years ago, but one day I came home from work to find a giant slug climbing the wall in my closet. Haha, gross.

Haha yuck! How are ya BlueGreen? Sorry man I must’ve missed the notifications on your journal and it got buried. I’ll get caught up ASAP.

Yes, there is no choice but to regulate the environment around here, especially in late summer. Missouri is known for 100+ degree days with 100% humidity. If it were not for air conditioners, no one would live here. The climate here makes it almost impossible to dry a crop without a dehumidifier of some sort during that time. Winter is a lot easier to deal with, but the changing conditions requires input ducting and venting to be flexible during the various seasons.

Oh yea Nashville’s the same way. Feels like a damn sauna outside. I don’t know how I was able to stand sports and playing outside as much as I did as a youth.
I deal with changing conditions daily so it’s a little more challenging as I need a dehumidifier sometimes but mostly my humidity is sub 40%RH usually.

 

[BlueGreen]

Glad to hear your lights are living up to your expectations. If they continue to do well I'll have to get some for my next grow. I don't know if my vipraspectres 450's have enough power for flowering but they do a nice job vegging.

I used two viparspectra 450s last grow. The plants all got to be about 3 feet tall, with many colas between 10 and 15 inches long.

 

[BlueGreen]

Haha yuck! How are ya BlueGreen? Sorry man I must’ve missed the notifications on your journal and it got buried. I’ll get caught up ASAP.

Oh yea Nashville’s the same way. Feels like a damn sauna outside. I don’t know how I was able to stand sports and playing outside as much as I did as a youth.
I deal with changing conditions daily so it’s a little more challenging as I need a dehumidifier sometimes but mostly my humidity is sub 40%RH usually.

hey Archie, glad you found it again ! Lots of change in the last month. Autoflower grow journal is coming along as well

 

[Archiweedies]

hey Archie, glad you found it again ! Lots of change in the last month. Autoflower grow journal is coming along as well

I’m caught up on one lol I’ll hesd over to the other next chance I get.

 

[CannaNoob]

Some of mine running under a 3000w led
Jack herer and nyc diesel feminized autos
Planted 12/14/18

 

[Archiweedies]

I ended up with a couple Jack Herer seeds during the Seedsman Halloween special. I’ve heard they can grow pretty big. Was planning to give a few to the neighbor this spring and let him grow a magic beanstalk lol

 

[Killian]

I used two viparspectra 450s last grow. The plants all got to be about 3 feet tall, with many colas between 10 and 15 inches long.

Was there much weight to the co!as or was they airy. Do you have a journal on that grow. Thanks

 

[BlueGreen]

Was there much weight to the co!as or was they airy. Do you have a journal on that grow. Thanks

They are good nugs, yep, not airy at all. Good weed. I didn't get a huge yield, but then again i nearly killed them by overfeeding! And that was before I discovered this forum, so no I don't have a journal for it. The lights did very well, and I'm sure the yield would have been better if I knew more what I was doing.

 

[Killian]

They are good nugs, yep, not airy at all. Good weed. I didn't get a huge yield, but then again i nearly killed them by overfeeding! And that was before I discovered this forum, so no I don't have a journal for it. The lights did very well, and I'm sure the yield would have been better if I knew more what I was doing.

glad to know. Sounds like they work for flowering. Thank you.

 

[Big Sparks]

Sounds like a plan! Wish i had cool neighbors like you. All i ever get is empty and broken beer bottles.

 

[Emilya Green]

Good evening everyone! Please excuse the blurry picture, but it will serve for tonight's update. The girls are at 42-52 days old and vegging up a storm in their new containers. The are sitting at 4 and 5 days since transplant and still not needing water and not looking like they are going to in the next few days. This told me that the light was probably still too far away and I have dropped both lights about 2 inches and after 6 hours, everything still looks good in there. Hopefully the added PAR will get them moving even faster... we are still planning on going to 12/12 [or at least 18 hours of darkness first] on the 15th or whenever the 2nd watering is, whichever comes last.
The last 4 days have been boring and with not much to do in the tent. Today I played whack-a-mole on 4 or 5 dominant growth tips around the tent, but other than that there was nothing much to do. I have been rotating the planters 180° each morning, but under these lights I am not convinced that is doing anything helpful. Old habits are hard to break though.
I hope everyone is well and the holidays were not too stressful.
M