Emmie's Berry D'licious 2019 True Living Organic: No AACT, SCROG, COB, SuperSoil Production Grow & Seed Run

[Emilya Green]

Em, I know full well I'm a no-nothing noob with 4 grow failures under my belt.....
but surely you're pushing on a wee bit hard?

Please let us remain within the sphere of Loving Awareness on this.
Mark.

It is true Mark... I am pushing a little hard on this round, but I have confidence that it is to a good end. I believe our relationship to the roots is a dynamic one, and with needs that change depending on what the plant is doing. I know that to tease out roots and to create a solid rootball we need to be stingy with the water as the plant is building in size. My tools and methods allow me to "see" when the roots have become strong in the containers and when they have met most of my goals of filling out the space available to them, but I also theorize that the stretch period in the first two weeks of flower is also a transition of sorts, where the roots stop seeking as much to fill the empty spaces, but instead try to become bigger and stronger and able to carry more water. I ask myself, how better to exercise and expand this capability than by using it? From this point on I will not let my plants go as dry as I did in veg and I will keep trying to get them to take more water while in stretch, seeing if I can get them to regularly start using more than the 1 gallon every 3 or 4 days... more water used, means bigger buds in the end.

 

[fanleaf]

Transition Stage, Day 3

I watered with Recharge this morning with only about 1/3 as much as it takes for a full watering, but I want to force the plants into the flowering watering mode and to that end I want them to get used to drinking a lot more, a lot faster, as the roots keep developing through the end of stretch. I have 2 weeks after transition to get the final stretch on the roots too, and then the game will be to use those roots to full advantage. I would like to establish at least an every other day watering regime as we go into bloom.

Every other day in 10 gallon pots is a bunch of water.

 

[Emilya Green]

Every other day in 10 gallon pots is a bunch of water.

I know that the soil will hold a little over a gallon from all the waterings to runoff I have done so far. I got them down to a 3 day wet dry cycle, so that is roughly 1/3 of a gallon per day. I waited 2 days, and gave them one day's worth of water. In two more days I plan on giving them another day's worth of water and on the 6th day I expect the containers to be dry enough to take a full watering. On the next round, they will each get a bit more every other day, watching that 6 day cycle carefully. If I do this right, I am still drawing oxygen down deep into the container, still teasing out the roots somewhat, and enticing them to use more water per day by making it available to them if they want it, exercising both the top and bottom roots as much as possible.

I am a big believer in kismet, and just today I was reading another member's thoughts on there being a difference between vegging roots and flowering roots. This convinces me even more that I am on the right track here, and I completely believe that the actual structure and nature of the the roots change when we get to bloom.

I will be doing some careful measurements in the morning when the lights come on and we will start watching this scientifically. It is my gut belief that the plants are ready to start taking more water and on a more regular basis, and that this transition happens during stretch. It doesn't seem strange to me that the roots change in a fundamental way right along with the plant above doing its outrageous things like doubling in size and then stopping that growth in order to develop flowers. Some work over the rest of transition and stretch with the wet/moist meter will tell us a lot about what is going on.

I also have yet to determine how the Vulx in the one container is going to change all of this. Right now I can see that this plant has caught up with the others in all ways except about an inch and a half in height and a bit of girth in the trunk. She has become as wide as the others with a large amount of buds and in many ways she seems stronger than the rest. Time will tell in this experiment, but so far the watering needs seem to be the same across all of the plants. I remember how the soil felt when I mixed it up, sort of slick, and how easy it would be for roots to move around in it. I still yet need to understand the benefits that Vulx has brought with it but so far I am not seeing a need to water less often, the plant uses what it uses. I don't use nutes, so I am not giving less of them either... but something is going on. Also, that soil does not appear to be holding any more water than the rest, as runoff happens at the same point as with the other containers. The plant is thriving though... for whatever reason... this can not be denied.

 

[fanleaf]

I know that the soil will hold a little over a gallon from all the waterings to runoff I have done so far. I got them down to a 3 day wet dry cycle, so that is roughly 1/3 of a gallon per day. I waited 2 days, and gave them one day's worth of water.

Okay, that makes sense of it then. I wondered how on earth they could take up so much water in 2 days. It must be the difference in the soil you are running. In my Promix hp in 10 gallon pots I give 2.25 gallons per pot with very little of any runoff. By your message I thought.....boy, it's a tall order to get them at 1 gallon plus uptake per day hehe.

 

[Emilya Green]

boy, it's a tall order to get them at 1 gallon plus uptake per day hehe.

Yes, that would be a tall order, but I bet I can get them up to 1/2 gal per day by the end of stretch.

 

[Emilya Green]

Transition Stage, Day 4
Early measurements with the moisture meter showed the water table to be down into the lower third of the container already. The scheduled watering tomorrow morning should wet the upper and middle roots and what is left will fall to the bottom. I think I am right that the water table will be down in the lower inch or two by the time we need to water again on Friday, justifying a proper watering. Then I want to see if I can push 1 cup more on each round and still run out at the end.
I measured the plants for reference this morning... egads... they are 32" high, or 81 1/4 cm for the Canadians.... If they double in height there is going to be some excitement in this garden. I am already thinking about just setting the bags on the floor to gain another inch or so. Just wait till flowering starts... I am going to see if I can hit them with about 800 par to see if I can keep that stretch down to a minimum.

 

[SQl2kGuy]

Hi @Emilya ...

Thanks for being bilingual and speaking Canadian

I just started rereading your journal from the beginning again ... it's great to go over what you were doing and then apply it to where you are now.

Quick question ... actually I can't remember if I asked this yet ... Anyway ... I tend to grow my plants pretty flat and wide ... yet yours look more natural and tall. Is there a significant difference? Maybe I should be taking advantage of the vertical for more yield?

 

[Emilya Green]

Is there a significant difference?

Yes, for more airflow and better light penetration. Although short compact plants are easy to work with, if you have good lights, plenty of vertical room and airflow, a slightly taller and wider plant is going to have an advantage. Note that I didn't go crazy with this and have pruned back all growth in the lower third to half of the plants, but I am convinced that the wider, more open and taller stance is the best.... I may change my mind after stretch gets out of hand... but I am banking on the fact that with these lights I have the tool to keep that managed and did let my plants get about 10" / 25cm taller than I usually do because of it.

 

[Emilya Green]

Transition Period, Day 7!
Oftentimes, this day is the first day of bloom. Let's see what the emerging bud looks like:

You can see how on both sides of the growth tip there is a transition going on, and in another day or two those green parts at the 2:00 and 9:00 positions in this picture will actually convert to being the first pistils. Instead of just these points, more pistils will start popping out at 11:00 and 5:00 and then suddenly from all over. We are close.
Stretch is starting... we are now at 18" from the lights. I have them at the max at 245w per side. At the canopy this is between 568-688 PAR, because coverage is not perfect at this height and it is clearly brighter in the center of the tent than it is in the corners, especially on the North side where the canfilter is installed at the top. Without using the reflectors the spread is more even, but I do sacrifice PAR by not directing the light. I am thinking that as stretch continues and the plants get closer the light, a PAR of 800 or so up there is going to stifle the urge to grow taller. If not, I am probably going to do like others have and just let a few of the tall ones grow up through the light or supercrop them to lay sideways across the canopy.

Speaking of the canopy, it is looking pretty good at this point and it appears that it is going to a very productive run. A quick count of the bud sites at the top on M&M is around 38,

and I think Red and Tara are a little ahead of that. Here is Tara:

The bottoms are looking good, we have lost 2 big fan leaves on 2 different plants, but no other signs of anything bad going on. Buddy is helping us check this out... he has a great eye for bugs.

Trunk size is good, but not overly impressive and they are definitely at 3 different sizes. I expect this to expand a bit as we get through stretch also.

Lastly, a confession. I overwatered yesterday. I know I said I was going to only give 1/3 gallon to each of them every 2 days, but I was stoned and being distracted by a very lovely lady, and I went ahead to see how far from runoff I was by attempting to see how much of a second gallon I could get the room to take.
I got another half gallon into it before M&M was the first to show runoff. Her Vulx definitely is holding more water than the other two and now I have an even better idea how much water is being used per day.
Now since I have become an overwatererer, I have to sit on my hands and wait for a few days now, and let them dry out again as we get into stretch. I had to remind myself while meditating on this yesterday that the theory is that the roots are still growing, just like in veg but even more vigorously, right up to the end of stretch. It is a bit too early to go fully into flower watering mode and I need to keep respecting the wet/dry cycle.

Be well everyone... I hope your gardens are doing well also.

 

[MightyMoe22]

They're looking darn good, can't wait until I get to flip lol.

 

[Vulx]

Please more pics of doggo thanks

 

[SQl2kGuy]

Transition Period, Day 7!
Oftentimes, this day is the first day of bloom. Let's see what the emerging bud looks like:

You can see how on both sides of the growth tip there is a transition going on, and in another day or two those green parts at the 2:00 and 9:00 positions in this picture will actually convert to being the first pistils. Instead of just these points, more pistils will start popping out at 11:00 and 5:00 and then suddenly from all over. We are close.
Stretch is starting... we are now at 18" from the lights. I have them at the max at 245w per side. At the canopy this is between 568-688 PAR, because coverage is not perfect at this height and it is clearly brighter in the center of the tent than it is in the corners, especially on the North side where the canfilter is installed at the top. Without using the reflectors the spread is more even, but I do sacrifice PAR by not directing the light. I am thinking that as stretch continues and the plants get closer the light, a PAR of 800 or so up there is going to stifle the urge to grow taller. If not, I am probably going to do like others have and just let a few of the tall ones grow up through the light or supercrop them to lay sideways across the canopy.

Speaking of the canopy, it is looking pretty good at this point and it appears that it is going to a very productive run. A quick count of the bud sites at the top on M&M is around 38,

and I think Red and Tara are a little ahead of that. Here is Tara:

The bottoms are looking good, we have lost 2 big fan leaves on 2 different plants, but no other signs of anything bad going on. Buddy is helping us check this out... he has a great eye for bugs.

Trunk size is good, but not overly impressive and they are definitely at 3 different sizes. I expect this to expand a bit as we get through stretch also.

Lastly, a confession. I overwatered yesterday. I know I said I was going to only give 1/3 gallon to each of them every 2 days, but I was stoned and being distracted by a very lovely lady, and I went ahead to see how far from runoff I was by attempting to see how much of a second gallon I could get the room to take.
I got another half gallon into it before M&M was the first to show runoff. Her Vulx definitely is holding more water than the other two and now I have an even better idea how much water is being used per day.
Now since I have become an overwatererer, I have to sit on my hands and wait for a few days now, and let them dry out again as we get into stretch. I had to remind myself while meditating on this yesterday that the theory is that the roots are still growing, just like in veg but even more vigorously, right up to the end of stretch. It is a bit too early to go fully into flower watering mode and I need to keep respecting the wet/dry cycle.

Be well everyone... I hope your gardens are doing well also.

Always my favorite read!

My gardens are getting a bit better ... and a bit more organized from all your teaching.

You have been instrumental in helping me succeed and I am definitely voting for you as "Member of the Year"!

 

[SQl2kGuy]

Ummm ... when you count bud sites are you counting the growth nodes on the very top ... and maybe some on the sides?

I have been focusing on keeping the canopy flat and only caring about the growth nodes on the very top ,,, I'm thinking this has cost me a lot of yield ...

Here's a side shot of one of my plants ... too much lollipopping maybe?

I need to hire a tutor

 

[Emilya Green]

too much lollipopping maybe?

Well, I did think that was a little excessive... console yourself by knowing that all the energy the plant has available will be put into those remaining buds. It should still be glorious, even though a bit funny looking.
My goal all along was to bring the side nodes up to the top so I could have an even canopy. When I did my final preflower trimming, any nodes that were not at least 2/3 of the way up to the canopy were cut away. While I was training, the top and middle bud sites got trimmed 3 or 4 times while I waited for the side nodes to rise up.

 

[SQl2kGuy]

Well, I did think that was a little excessive... console yourself by knowing that all the energy the plant has available will be put into those remaining buds. It should still be glorious, even though a bit funny looking.
My goal all along was to bring the side nodes up to the top so I could have an even canopy. When I did my final preflower trimming, any nodes that were not at least 2/3 of the way up to the canopy were cut away. While I was training, the top and middle bud sites got trimmed 3 or 4 times while I waited for the side nodes to rise up.

As I reread your journal today ... I will pay attention and look closely for those details.

I will keep plugging away at this, ... and either get that "light bulb" moment ... or hire a gardener

 

[Emilya Green]

As I reread your journal today ... I will pay attention and look closely for those details.

I will keep plugging away at this, ... and either get that "light bulb" moment ... or hire a gardener

The concept is easy... you are essentially playing whack-a-mole with your plants. when you top the plant the first time, the lower nodes all start rising to the top, trying to take dominance. Most times you have to cut the top a second time before the next nodes rise up to canopy to take dominance. When they do, chop them too, and now the next node down tries to rise up. Whichever node the plant thinks is the dominant one, chop it as soon as you can get a clear cut on the growth tip, always making something lower try to gain the dominance that is not being held at the top. One of my plants even got node 1 all the way up to the top using this method, the other two didn't quite get there.
Any light bulbs?

 

[Emilya Green]

when you count bud sites are you counting the growth nodes on the very top ... and maybe some on the sides?

On that count I was mainly at the top, but if I could look down from the top and see a side growth close enough to the top that it was going to get good light, like being in the upper 1/3 of the plant and free and clear of obstructions, then it was counted too... but there were only a handful of those in the entire tent... most of the tops are making up the canopy.

 

[SQl2kGuy]

The concept is easy... you are essentially playing whack-a-mole with your plants. when you top the plant the first time, the lower nodes all start rising to the top, trying to take dominance. Most times you have to cut the top a second time before the next nodes rise up to canopy to take dominance. When they do, chop them too, and now the next node down tries to rise up. Whichever node the plant thinks is the dominant one, chop it as soon as you can get a clear cut on the growth tip, always making something lower try to gain the dominance that is not being held at the top. One of my plants even got node 1 all the way up to the top using this method, the other two didn't quite get there.
Any light bulbs?

Excellent description ... I will try this.

I have only been topping a few times per plant and trying to use bending and ties to control the canopy ...

I have one plant in veg that I can try this on this week.

​

 

[Emilya Green]

Bloom Cycle! Day 1
I almost called it yesterday at day 9 of transition, but day 10 really started the blooming process in earnest. Please take special note that I have waited 10 full days of transition since the flip. I think I can pretty much guarantee that harvest will be when the breeder suggests it will be, and I predict right now that I will be pulling the weekend before Thanksgiving 8-9 weeks from today.

 

[Emilya Green]

As expected, 3 days after the overwatering, we have again reached the end of the wet/dry cycle and see significant first stage wilt in the lower half of two of the plants, and on the Vulx plant, the lower 2/3 is showing a need for water. M&M with Vulx is definitely using more water, also holding more water... therefore her roots are measurably stronger than the rest. You may have heard the rumors, and now you know it is true... Emmie can see the roots through the soil; it is my superpower.
Let me show you some wilt that would scare the uninformed... but those of us who know Emmie's methods know that I am building roots every time I do this, and I am working steadily on getting to a 2 day wet/dry cycle before the end of stretch, that I will use all through Bloom. This is M&M with the most significant droop.

This is how the other two look, still at the beginnings of droop and needing water, but clearly not to the same level as the Vulx plant.

This is all good and expected. Please note the excellent color and lack of deficiencies anywhere on these plants. The revitalized supersoil with added volcanic elements along with the RealGrower's Recharge in the place of Actively Aerated Compost Teas is doing a wonderful job feeding these plants. This watering was also with full strength Recharge, and I will go to an alternating schedule with plain water inbetween probably the next time, now that we have finally established a strong wet/dry cycle.
I am in the middle of watering now. The plants have all gotten 1/3 of a gallon and then I stopped to take pictures, write this update, and let the soil absorb the water so far. I will play around for another half hour or so and then will go back and give them a 1/3 gallon more, and then will see just how much more of a third gallon I can get them to take before lights out in 2 hours.
Speaking of lights... Some of the branches are still stretching a little closer to the lights and to an even higher PAR. So far there are no signs of complaints from any quarter. I may yet have to raise the lights up a bit, but not today. If I do, I am going to have to move my air scrubber that seems to be just a little excessive for this 2x4 tent and may have to set it up on the floor instead of the ceiling. That will be ok because heat has not been a problem with these COBS and we are going into autumn anyway, and setting the air collector down low is not going affect things much at all. I can spare more floor area than I can ceiling area at the moment, and need to set up one of those outside the tent, filter in a bucket systems someday so I don't have to deal with this... or set up the 4x4 again. Decisions, Decisions...