funtogow
New Member
Okay, so I decided to start a journal for my next (fourth) grow in an effort to better my knowledge and how-to on growing. Looking to get some helpful hints or tips to better quality and yield of my plants. I’m a guy with a horticultural background to begin with but am always open to new and innovative ideas to better myself and my abilities. I pride myself on growing 100% organic weed for personal and friend use only. So rewarding sometimes and a lot of fun!
Like I said, I’m fairly new to growing Mary Jane and am now working on my fourth crop. I have been growing the variety ‘White Castle’ exclusively but want to venture out and try new varieties. I started with feminized seed purchased from Nirvana for my first crop and have used vegetative cuttings from that plant for the remaining crops.
The first three crops were successful but had their own individual issues/flaws along the way. What crop doesn’t have challenges? Right? My first crop, (one plant) went great. I got the “eager beaver” syndrome and harvested way too early but the quality was very nice. My second crop, (one plant) was a challenge. She got spider mites and that greatly affected the quality and yield. My third crop, (two plants) are in their fifth week of flower and are doing awesome! One is a little behind the other though. Can’t wait to harvest but willing to wait till it’s time.
This is the set-up/practices I utilized with the first three crops:
Use an indoor 3’ x 6’ closet lined with metallic silver emergency blankets.
Soil is a 75%/25% mix of Garden Bloom soil building compost and Black Gold all purpose potting soil.
Pot size began at 2” then transplanted to 6” then 3 gallon then 7 gallon.
Use one ballasted lighting unit capable of a 400 watt bulb but I’ve been using a 150 watt high pressure sodium bulb.
Not sure what the average relative humidity or soil pH has been. I haven monitored either of these.
Pests include spider mites on the second crop and some occasional fungus gnats but not a real problem. I use a “No Pest Strip” in the grow room to ward off any lurking bugs that may want to feast on my girls.
I try very hard not to over/under water. I let the soil dry out thoroughly then I water evenly and deeply.
I’ve been using bat guano as my sole fertilizer to stay within my organic mindset. I incorporate it into the soil at planting/transplanting then top dress before each watering during the vegetative stage. I haven’t been fertilizing during flowering.
I don’t use any air cooling or fans. I leave the door open during the day to allow air exchange and movement. The room stays at about 80 degrees during the day when the light is on, slightly cooler at night during flowering.
During the vegetative stage I pinch my plants about four or five times to get more main stems. My final plants are about 3 to 4 feet tall at flower.
I have been heavily grooming the plants during flowering, removing most of the large leaves to try and encourage bud production.
Here are a couple recent photos for my third crop:
Alrighty, enough with the background information…on with my journal...
My fourth crop is two plants. One White Castle (White Widow x Ice, an F1 Hybrid) and the other is Raspberry Cough (Sativa F1 cross) both are supposed to be about 15-24%. Both are from feminized seed.
On 2/28/10: I placed one seed of each variety into separate glasses of lukewarm water. I allowed these seeds to soak for 3 days in order to germinate. Using a clear glass the process is easy to monitor.
On 3/3/10: Filled two sanitized 2” pots with Black Gold seed starting soil then watered the soil well. After the pre-watered pots drained I made a ¼” hole in the center of each pot. Using mosquito forceps I gently removed each seed from their glass of water and placed it into the hole in the soil with the root pointing toward the bottom. I then gently covered the seeds with soil. Placed the two pots into a plastic container to catch any excess water then I placed that apparatus onto a heating pad (set on low) in a west facing window sill.
On 3/10/10: I took the following photo.
As the grow progresses I will continue to post updates and photos. Looking forward to any and all pointers and hopefully making some new 420 friends here.
Cheers!
Like I said, I’m fairly new to growing Mary Jane and am now working on my fourth crop. I have been growing the variety ‘White Castle’ exclusively but want to venture out and try new varieties. I started with feminized seed purchased from Nirvana for my first crop and have used vegetative cuttings from that plant for the remaining crops.
The first three crops were successful but had their own individual issues/flaws along the way. What crop doesn’t have challenges? Right? My first crop, (one plant) went great. I got the “eager beaver” syndrome and harvested way too early but the quality was very nice. My second crop, (one plant) was a challenge. She got spider mites and that greatly affected the quality and yield. My third crop, (two plants) are in their fifth week of flower and are doing awesome! One is a little behind the other though. Can’t wait to harvest but willing to wait till it’s time.
This is the set-up/practices I utilized with the first three crops:
Use an indoor 3’ x 6’ closet lined with metallic silver emergency blankets.
Soil is a 75%/25% mix of Garden Bloom soil building compost and Black Gold all purpose potting soil.
Pot size began at 2” then transplanted to 6” then 3 gallon then 7 gallon.
Use one ballasted lighting unit capable of a 400 watt bulb but I’ve been using a 150 watt high pressure sodium bulb.
Not sure what the average relative humidity or soil pH has been. I haven monitored either of these.
Pests include spider mites on the second crop and some occasional fungus gnats but not a real problem. I use a “No Pest Strip” in the grow room to ward off any lurking bugs that may want to feast on my girls.
I try very hard not to over/under water. I let the soil dry out thoroughly then I water evenly and deeply.
I’ve been using bat guano as my sole fertilizer to stay within my organic mindset. I incorporate it into the soil at planting/transplanting then top dress before each watering during the vegetative stage. I haven’t been fertilizing during flowering.
I don’t use any air cooling or fans. I leave the door open during the day to allow air exchange and movement. The room stays at about 80 degrees during the day when the light is on, slightly cooler at night during flowering.
During the vegetative stage I pinch my plants about four or five times to get more main stems. My final plants are about 3 to 4 feet tall at flower.
I have been heavily grooming the plants during flowering, removing most of the large leaves to try and encourage bud production.
Here are a couple recent photos for my third crop:
Alrighty, enough with the background information…on with my journal...
My fourth crop is two plants. One White Castle (White Widow x Ice, an F1 Hybrid) and the other is Raspberry Cough (Sativa F1 cross) both are supposed to be about 15-24%. Both are from feminized seed.
On 2/28/10: I placed one seed of each variety into separate glasses of lukewarm water. I allowed these seeds to soak for 3 days in order to germinate. Using a clear glass the process is easy to monitor.
On 3/3/10: Filled two sanitized 2” pots with Black Gold seed starting soil then watered the soil well. After the pre-watered pots drained I made a ¼” hole in the center of each pot. Using mosquito forceps I gently removed each seed from their glass of water and placed it into the hole in the soil with the root pointing toward the bottom. I then gently covered the seeds with soil. Placed the two pots into a plastic container to catch any excess water then I placed that apparatus onto a heating pad (set on low) in a west facing window sill.
On 3/10/10: I took the following photo.
As the grow progresses I will continue to post updates and photos. Looking forward to any and all pointers and hopefully making some new 420 friends here.
Cheers!
