GDB's Auto Array

[Grand Daddy Black]

Sweet harvests, GDB!- 12oz should keep you stoned for a little while...


That is funny!

...next thing you know, you'll be touching your face or hugging someone.......yep- livin' on the edge....

The new normal here, Carcass. It pains me to see little kids wearing masks, but that's the world we live in at the moment.

12oz might not last as long as it used to.

 

[Rickstertp]

Great harvest!

Your Lemon AK is like my CBD, sips water and can't take a heavy feed. Hopefully things will get back more to normal soon.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

SEEDLING CONSPIRACY

I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but...

These damn auto seeds seem to be working against me. Either they won't push out tap roots, or they do and then die in the dirt, or they arise from the dirt and then die, or they arise from the dirt and then don't grow. I can help but wonder what the hell is going on and what's behind all this?

Last week I buried an Onyx and a Blueberry. The Onyx arose from the soil a few days ago, but the Blueberry is still hiding in the dirt 6 days later. The Glue Gelato that was paper-toweled with those two, remains on the paper towel after almost 2 weeks with no tap root in site.

The Californian Snow seedling that came out of the dirt but then required toothpick surgery to open up (done 8 days ago) remains about the same size today as it was 8 days ago. It just developed a second set of fan leaves after about 12 days above soil. I'm counting today as her day 1.

I'm not making this stuff up.

Here's the Snow next to a penny:

Here is the Onyx:

So 3 days ago I dropped 3 more auto seeds. An Afghani Mass, a Colorado Cookie and a Dark Devil.

The CC and DDA have popped tap roots. I'm leaving them on the paper towels to allow the roots to lengthen a bit. No tap root yet from the AM.

I've said in the past that I was anxious to quickly get through some of my auto seed collection, but this is not what I had in mind.

Lemon AK

The LAK is on day 59. She's getting 4.5g of Mega Crop and is trying to flex but not very much.

I am seeing now why some of you don't care much for autos. They can be a pain in the neck. They are hit or miss, with too much miss. Photos, by contrast, seem to be a lot less stress-inducing.

Still autos are fun to watch when they cooperate because they grow so fast. And the smoke can be just as good as photos, IMO.

I'll just wait and see what this last group of new seeds is conspiring to do.

 

[DutchinAB]

Either they won't push out tap roots, or they do and then die in the dirt, or they arise from the dirt and then die, or they arise from the dirt and then don't grow.

Bummer, GDB. Sounds like some damping off. Could be from old seeds or soil is running too cold/wet which promotes the fungus growth that leads to an early demise.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

Bummer, GDB. Sounds like some damping off. Could be from old seeds or soil is running too cold/wet which promotes the fungus growth that leads to an early demise.

Dutchin, when is a seed considered old?

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

Hello again grow gang.

I'm bored today so you get 2 posts.

A close-up of the Lemon AK:

 

[MrSauga]

Are you soaking your seeds first GDB? The seed needs to crack and it does that by building up moisture. Once it cracks the tap emerges. If the seed is in soil directly, or even paper towel for that matter, without soaking for at least 24 hours then it could be some time before it does emerge if at all.
I'll let mine sit in water for up to 48 hours and once I see it has cracked I go to soil or a paper towel. Lately I go straight to soil after it cracks.

Here's a great video to watch. It talks about good genetics for the first few seconds as a sales pitch. RQS.

I don't wait for the tap root to appear (glass of water method) as the video shows only because I don't want it to stick to the glass or damage it while handling.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

Are you soaking your seeds first GDB? The seed needs to crack and it does that by building up moisture. Once it cracks the tap emerges. If the seed is in soil directly, or even paper towel for that matter, without soaking for at least 24 hours then it could be some time before it does emerge if at all.
I'll let mine sit in water for up to 48 hours and once I see it has cracked I go to soil or a paper towel. Lately I go straight to soil after it cracks.

Here's a great video to watch. It talks about good genetics for the first few seconds as a sales pitch. RQS.

I don't wait for the tap root to appear (glass of water method) as the video shows only because I don't want it to stick to the glass or damage it while handling.

Mr.S, thanks for weighing in. I don't think there's anything wrong with my method. I soak the seeds for about 36 hours in 5 parts distilled water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. I don't want the tap root to appear while it's soaking and it seldom does. (Although once, the entire root came out of the shell in the water.) I put them into sandwich bags on a moist paper towel (moistened with fresh distilled water, no hydrogen peroxide), seal them up and put them on a heated starter mat. I put a towel on the mat because they get too warm if laid directly on the mat surface.
Most of the time I get tap roots within a few days, bury the seed and a plant comes up 3-4 days later. If I don't get a tap root, no biggie. I know all seeds don't work out. But, I bury them anyway, in a 3 gallons pot that I've got set aside just for non-tappers. I think there are 3 seeds in that pot now and I keep the soil damp. If there ever come up, whooo-weeee!!

Anyway, what I am going through is not that bad. I may have made it sound more dire than it really is.

Just some bad luck, I believe. And, I'm starting to think, nothing unusual for an auto grower.

 

[MrSauga]

Anyway, what I am going through is not that bad. I may have made it sound more dire than it really is.

Just some bad luck, I believe. And, I'm starting to think, nothing unusual for an auto grower.

OK I gotcha. My apologies for going over stuff you obviously know.

 

[DutchinAB]

Dutchin, when is a seed considered old?

Viability starts to reduce at 3 years old. They of course can stay fresh longer depending on breeding quality and storage methods, dark and cool (in a light proof container in the fridge) is best for them. Who knows how long the seeds sit with the breeder before being shipped as well. This is not to say old seeds don’t germinate at all, it’s just more probable to encounter issues at 3+ years.

I hope you find some gems to turn loose here, I’ll be watching!

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

OK I gotcha. My apologies for going over stuff you obviously know.

No apology needed, Mr.Sauga! I appreciate your input no matter the topic, whether it's something I know or not.

I do have a question about soil for you though. I use FFOF sometimes and Promix sometimes. I've got a big tub that I've been dumping the used FFOF into, hoping to re-use it.

First question, what do I have to do to the soil to make it like new, or almost new?

Second question, can I start dumping the used Promix in with the used FFOF and amend it all for re-use mixed together?

My gut tells me I can, but my brain is saying, "You don't have a clue. Ask someone who knows."

 

[MrSauga]

I've got a big tub that I've been dumping the used FFOF into, hoping to re-use it.

If the soil that you have been dumping in there was only used once then there's no need to do anything with it. I add a tablespoon of dolomite lime per 5 gal of soil and mix it in well for a boost of Ca and Mg along with tweaking the buffering capabilities.
With new FFOF I cut it with 25% vermiculite(perlite works too) so if you haven't done that then I would recommend it although again not necessary. Vermiculite provides silica that perlite does not.

First question, what do I have to do to the soil to make it like new, or almost new?

I put that into the answer above.

Second question, can I start dumping the used Promix in with the used FFOF and amend it all for re-use mixed together?

I wouldn't. Both these substrates have buffering agents but also have the same peat. By mixing them it could throw the NPK ratios off in the FFOF or make the base too acidic with the excess peat.

My gut tells me I can, but my brain is saying, "You don't have a clue. Ask someone who knows."

No I think you were on the right track. I'm sure people have done it but IF they had issues they may never have related it to mixed substrates. Why risk an issue if you can use one or the other? I'll be running recycled FFOF for a third time next grow because I have no reason now to believe my soil is lacking anything or has too much of something.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

If the soil that you have been dumping in there was only used once then there's no need to do anything with it. I add a tablespoon of dolomite lime per 5 gal of soil and mix it in well for a boost of Ca and Mg along with tweaking the buffering capabilities.
With new FFOF I cut it with 25% vermiculite(perlite works too) so if you haven't done that then I would recommend it although again not necessary. Vermiculite provides silica that perlite does not.

I put that into the answer above.

I wouldn't. Both these substrates have buffering agents but also have the same peat. By mixing them it could throw the NPK ratios off in the FFOF or make the base too acidic with the excess peat.

No I think you were on the right track. I'm sure people have done it but IF they had issues they may never have related it to mixed substrates. Why risk an issue if you can use one or the other? I'll be running recycled FFOF for a third time next grow because I have no reason now to believe my soil is lacking anything or has too much of something.

Thanks so much, Mr.Sauga. My gut said it all looks like dirt, just mix it together. Glad I asked.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

Hello grow group!

I'm jumping down the seedling hole again.

Today, I was satisfied with the length of the tap roots on the Afghani Mass and the Dark Devil. I buried them in Promix this morning, the AM in a 3 gallon pot, the DDA in a 2 gallon. Despite my recent travails, I remain optimistic about what will happen next.

Now, back to the seedling conspiracy.

I reported the other day that a Colorado Cookie that I had paper-toweled had popped a tap root (along with the DDA). I let the seeds remain on the towels for a few days to allow the tap roots to lengthen a little.

Well when I checked the CC seed this morning, the tip of the tap root had broken off, leaving just a tiny nub of the root visible from the crack in the seed. It almost seemed as if the shell had starting closing back up on the tap root and snapped part of it off.

I had to laugh. Theses damn Deep State operatives are really after me. Have been all along. No grower has been sabotaged as much as I have.

I left the CC on the towel but it's already been circumcised so who knows?

Finally, the Californian Snow (day 2) looks like she's starting to grow. The Onyx also looks like a survivor and, amazingly, exhibits traits of being a normal seed!

I still need to start 2-3 more plants in order to fill the 4x4 tent like I want to. But I'm starting to think there is too much seedling drama in this journal. So I may just report on the new plants after I get them started (meaning germinated, buried and arisen from the dirt). I will say I'll be trying another Strawberry Cheesecake, a Green Crack and yet another Northern Lights.

Hope everyone is living their best lives!

Later.

 

[MrSauga]

But I'm starting to think there is too much seedling drama in this journal.

lol, no not at all, in fact it's becoming more like a comedy now. Sorry GDB but part of the fun is the seedling stage and getting past it. It can be frustrating, but really satisfying when you do bat a thousand. Maybe some Barry Manilow in the background might scare them out.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

lol, no not at all, in fact it's becoming more like a comedy now. Sorry GDB but part of the fun is the seedling stage and getting past it. It can be frustrating, but really satisfying when you do bat a thousand. Maybe some Barry Manilow in the background might scare them out.

I certainly thought what happened to the CC seed was sorta' funny. I thought, "Damn. What next?"

I think Barry in the background would make the seeds want to stay buried. Maybe I'll try some jazz.

 

[Sunnyskies]

congrats on the harvests GDB!! I’m inspired by that harvest on the Brooklyn Sunrise!! Idk I don’t think I get really good lucK with DP strains. Everything looks amazing!! I hope you like the black cream as much as I do. Have a blessed day my friend!

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

congrats on the harvests GDB!! I’m inspired by that harvest on the Brooklyn Sunrise!! Idk I don’t think I get really good lucK with DP strains. Everything looks amazing!! I hope you like the black cream as much as I do. Have a blessed day my friend!

Thanks, Sunny. I was pleased with the BS too. The BC smells great. I've got it drying in the fridge and every time I open the door it smells a little better than the time before!

 

[Sunnyskies]

I’m gonna try that slow and low method on my next harvest! Good morning my friend!

 

[PCaddict]

I’m gonna try that slow and low method on my next harvest! Good morning my friend!

Once you try it that's how you will want to dry from then on. I know I do