GuardianRager's First Grow RQS Autos LED Soil Grow Journal 2024

Day 17 Update: Tropf-Blumat Irrigation System Installed

Howdy, Buds! :ciao:

Here’s the latest on my grow—17 days in since sprouting.
IMG_6114.jpeg

I finally got the Tropf-Blumat irrigation system up and running. @Gee64 mentioned not knowing anyone who’s tried it before, so I guess I’m the guinea pig here! The kit I bought was designed for 12 plants, but since only one of my 10 seeds sprouted, I had to get creative and rig up a smaller reservoir just for my lone survivor.
IMG_6115.jpeg

The cool thing about this system is that you can tweak the water flow based on the plant’s moisture needs. But that’s the tricky part, right? Finding the sweet spot. So, I’m looking for some advice—how much water do you all give your autos in a 5-gallon fabric pot under an 18/6 light cycle?
IMG_6113.jpeg


I’ve got an IR thermometer to fine-tune the VPD differential, and I’ve got a humidifier on the way that will integrate with the system to help keep the humidity and VPD in check.

Any tips would be appreciated! I’ll keep you all posted on how this setup works out.

Stay tuned for updates!
IMG_6116.jpeg

P.S. every time I see all that empty unused space I’m wasting money conditioning makes me wanna cry…. It’ll be alright got some companion plants on the way. White clover, yarrow, etc.
Peace :ganjamon:
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GuardianRager said:
Day 17 Update: Tropf-Blumat Irrigation System Installed

Howdy, Buds! :ciao:

Here’s the latest on my grow—17 days in since sprouting.
IMG_6114.jpeg

I finally got the Tropf-Blumat irrigation system up and running. @Gee64 mentioned not knowing anyone who’s tried it before, so I guess I’m the guinea pig here! The kit I bought was designed for 12 plants, but since only one of my 10 seeds sprouted, I had to get creative and rig up a smaller reservoir just for my lone survivor.
IMG_6115.jpeg

The cool thing about this system is that you can tweak the water flow based on the plant’s moisture needs. But that’s the tricky part, right? Finding the sweet spot. So, I’m looking for some advice—how much water do you all give your autos in a 5-gallon fabric pot under an 18/6 light cycle?
IMG_6113.jpeg


I’ve got an IR thermometer to fine-tune the VPD differential, and I’ve got a humidifier on the way that will integrate with the system to help keep the humidity and VPD in check.

Any tips would be appreciated! I’ll keep you all posted on how this setup works out.

Stay tuned for updates!
IMG_6116.jpeg

P.S. every time I see all that empty unused space I’m wasting money conditioning makes me wanna cry…. It’ll be alright got some companion plants on the way. White clover, yarrow, etc.
Peace :ganjamon:
image.jpg
Click to expand...
Sweet! This should be good. 👍👊

Don't worry, all that free space won't last long🤣
 
GuardianRager said:
Day 17 Update: Tropf-Blumat Irrigation System Installed

Howdy, Buds! :ciao:

Here’s the latest on my grow—17 days in since sprouting.
IMG_6114.jpeg

I finally got the Tropf-Blumat irrigation system up and running. @Gee64 mentioned not knowing anyone who’s tried it before, so I guess I’m the guinea pig here! The kit I bought was designed for 12 plants, but since only one of my 10 seeds sprouted, I had to get creative and rig up a smaller reservoir just for my lone survivor.
IMG_6115.jpeg

The cool thing about this system is that you can tweak the water flow based on the plant’s moisture needs. But that’s the tricky part, right? Finding the sweet spot. So, I’m looking for some advice—how much water do you all give your autos in a 5-gallon fabric pot under an 18/6 light cycle?
IMG_6113.jpeg


I’ve got an IR thermometer to fine-tune the VPD differential, and I’ve got a humidifier on the way that will integrate with the system to help keep the humidity and VPD in check.

Any tips would be appreciated! I’ll keep you all posted on how this setup works out.

Stay tuned for updates!
IMG_6116.jpeg

P.S. every time I see all that empty unused space I’m wasting money conditioning makes me wanna cry…. It’ll be alright got some companion plants on the way. White clover, yarrow, etc.
Peace :ganjamon:
image.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks good Amigo.
I found nutrients in a clear jug under a light will warm up and get bacteria inside.
Just something to watch for.
Take care.



Stay safe
Bill284 😎
 
Update: Ditching the Tropf-Blumat for Simplicity

Howdy Buds :ciao:

After waking up to @Bill284 ’s (Thank you Sir) solid advice about bacterial growth in clear containers—and seeing droopy leaves two days in a row—I decided it was time for a change. I couldn’t find food-grade hydrogen peroxide anywhere, so I figured I’d step things up with a more “high-tech” solution. And by that, I mean… I bought a watering can.
IMG_6130.jpeg

Turns out, it was a bit awkward to use, so I ended up switching back to my trusty one-gallon jug with holes poked in the top to finish the job. Sometimes, simple is better, and for now, I think I’ll stick with the jug until I feel more confident in what I’m doing.
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After watering until runoff and giving the plant a light misting before her sunrise, she’s looking much happier. As for the Tropf-Blumats? I think they’ll be better suited for watering blueberries come next spring.

That’s all for now. Peace!:ganjamon:
 
Update: Dialing in VPD & Starting New Seeds

Howdy Buds, :ciao:

Things are really starting to come together! Since the humidifier arrived, I’ve been able to fine-tune my baby’s VPD,
IMG_6151.jpeg
and I’ve got to give a huge shout-out to @Gee64 for the suggestion. It’s already made a noticeable difference in her overall health and appearance. I also switched back to hand-watering, following the advice from the community. These small changes have worked wonders—no more extreme droopy leaves, and the heat stress symptoms I was seeing (like wilting) have disappeared.
IMG_6137.jpeg

To tackle some little white pests I noticed crawling on her, I’ve been spraying a neem oil mix every few days. It’s helped a lot, but I haven’t completely wiped them out yet, so any advice or guidance on that front would be much appreciated.
IMG_6150.jpeg

On a separate note, I’m starting to wish I had jumped on the Vivosun bandwagon with Bill. I love my VPD/UIS controller and lights, but the tent I’m using has its quirks. Whenever the exhaust fan kicks into high gear to cool things down, the tent flexes like there’s a black hole inside! It’s funny, but not ideal—especially when the flex is so strong that it pops off the clip fan near the charcoal filter. I’m looking into support rods to help, but I’ve got to admit, Vivosun’s design seems superior.
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IMG_6143.jpeg

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After 9 out of 10 seeds failed to sprout last time, I’ve been carefully babysitting my lone survivor. But I decided to give it another shot and started germinating some Hulkberry Autos. This time, I’m using cotton pads with mycos in plastic bags. I started on Wednesday night, and one sprouted and was planted on Friday in a coco pod. Another one sprouted today, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the last one tomorrow.

This time around, I’m planning to plant the coco pod directly in the final pot. But I’m going to use a modified version of @Bill284 ’s layering method, carving out a spot in the final pot for the layers. We’ll see how it goes!

Peace!:ganjamon:
 
GuardianRager said:
Update: Dialing in VPD & Starting New Seeds

Howdy Buds, :ciao:

Things are really starting to come together! Since the humidifier arrived, I’ve been able to fine-tune my baby’s VPD,
IMG_6151.jpeg
and I’ve got to give a huge shout-out to @Gee64 for the suggestion. It’s already made a noticeable difference in her overall health and appearance. I also switched back to hand-watering, following the advice from the community. These small changes have worked wonders—no more extreme droopy leaves, and the heat stress symptoms I was seeing (like wilting) have disappeared.
IMG_6137.jpeg

To tackle some little white pests I noticed crawling on her, I’ve been spraying a neem oil mix every few days. It’s helped a lot, but I haven’t completely wiped them out yet, so any advice or guidance on that front would be much appreciated.
IMG_6150.jpeg

On a separate note, I’m starting to wish I had jumped on the Vivosun bandwagon with Bill. I love my VPD/UIS controller and lights, but the tent I’m using has its quirks. Whenever the exhaust fan kicks into high gear to cool things down, the tent flexes like there’s a black hole inside! It’s funny, but not ideal—especially when the flex is so strong that it pops off the clip fan near the charcoal filter. I’m looking into support rods to help, but I’ve got to admit, Vivosun’s design seems superior.
IMG_6140.jpeg


IMG_6143.jpeg

IMG_6141.jpeg

IMG_6144.jpeg

After 9 out of 10 seeds failed to sprout last time, I’ve been carefully babysitting my lone survivor. But I decided to give it another shot and started germinating some Hulkberry Autos. This time, I’m using cotton pads with mycos in plastic bags. I started on Wednesday night, and one sprouted and was planted on Friday in a coco pod. Another one sprouted today, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the last one tomorrow.

This time around, I’m planning to plant the coco pod directly in the final pot. But I’m going to use a modified version of @Bill284 ’s layering method, carving out a spot in the final pot for the layers. We’ll see how it goes!

Peace!:ganjamon:
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So glad everything is improving :thumb:
Good work buddy. :high-five:



Stay safe
Bill284 😎
 
Update: Learning as I Grow with Northern Lights Auto

Howdy Buds, :ciao:

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, but things are moving along nicely over here. Growth on my Northern Lights Auto is progressing, and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to laugh at my mistakes as I gain experience—trial and error is a great teacher. Thankfully, with all the support from y’all, I’ve managed to avoid any major disasters.
25 Days Old 1st Time Doing the Limbo
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One thing I realized is that I was rushing my poor plant, thinking she was further along than she actually was. Once I figured that out, I adjusted the lights to suit her needs and got a better handle on the watering—still doing it by hand for now. Since she hit her stride in veg, she’s been growing fast. That’s when I noticed what looks like nute burn, likely from making the soil a little too “hot.”
Day 27
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I hadn’t used much fertilizer—just a light mix of Down to Earth Vegetable Garden 4-4-4 at 1/4 strength in the soil. But it seems like the soil organisms are alive and kicking, producing more nutrients than she can handle. As soon as I noticed the burn, I stopped adding any supplements, even though I hadn’t used much to begin with. Better safe than sorry, right?
Day 31
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On the bright side, she’s still growing strong, and I’ve started experimenting with some LST (low-stress training). Let me tell you, it’s been a blast, even though I have no clue what I’m doing! I’ve been bending, clipping, and adjusting, and she just keeps growing right along with me.
Day 34
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Day 35-Today
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We’ll see how it all turns out! As always, any tips or advice are welcome.

Peace!:ganjamon:
 
You're getting early signs of a mag issue and maybe K as well.
 
GuardianRager said:
Thank you. Is that a deficiency or an overdose?
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Could be either. Or a lockout caused by an excess of something else. Given you are at 1/4 strength I'd assume a deficiency. Why are you feeding so lightly? Cannabis is a very hungry plant.
 
Your nute burn on the tips, and your funk creeping into your leaves look like 2 seperate issues to me.

The burnt tips are from events from 2-3 weeks ago, and probably too much light in overly wet soil, so they are scars now, and the mottling, almost mag deficiency look, strikes me as your pots need a heat mat underneath them and set to 78-79.

It looks like your soil biology is a little cold and sluggish.

They have grown a lot!👍🥰👊
 
Gee64 said:
Your nute burn on the tips, and your funk creeping into your leaves look like 2 seperate issues to me.

The burnt tips are from events from 2-3 weeks ago, and probably too much light in overly wet soil, so they are scars now, and the mottling, almost mag deficiency look, strikes me as your pots need a heat mat underneath them and set to 78-79.

It looks like your soil biology is a little cold and sluggish.

They have grown a lot!👍🥰👊
Click to expand...
Thank you, @Gee64 I had a feeling something like that was going on, but I wasn’t entirely sure. That’s why I mentioned pushing her a bit too hard a few weeks ago—thinking she was older than she actually was. I had the lights cranked up too high and placed too close to her, which might have been part of the issue.

Around that same time, I also found those creepy little bugs crawling all over her, so I treated with neem oil (as I mentioned in a previous post). That might explain part of what I’m seeing, though I’ve been super cautious with nutrients and kept things minimal.

Another challenge has been the tent design. Every time the exhaust fan kicks into high gear (level 5-6), the negative pressure causes the tent to deform, knocking the clip fan off. I ended up moving the fan lower, aiming it at the ground to keep air circulating—but now I’m thinking that may have caused the bottom of the pot to dry out too fast, leaving the root zone too chilly.

Watching her grow is so rewarding, though—otherwise, it would feel like a wild goose chase! For now, my plan is to reposition the fan to help warm up the lower part of the pot and get those temps just right. I’ve been using Growganica nutrients exclusively so far, this is it.
IMG_6208.jpeg
My soil pH is hovering around 6.5, so it seems within a healthy range for soil.

Thanks again for the insight—always learning!
 
GuardianRager said:
Another challenge has been the tent design. Every time the exhaust fan kicks into high gear (level 5-6), the negative pressure causes the tent to deform, knocking the clip fan off. I
Click to expand...
How about hanging a piece of pipe, pvc maybe, between the tent supports to help counter the negative pressure?
 
Azimuth said:
How about hanging a piece of pipe, pvc maybe, between the tent supports to help counter the negative pressure?
Click to expand...
I think you might be clairvoyant! I’ve been going back and forth with AC Infinity about my fan situation. They’ve been helpful enough—they even sent two replacement clip fans and recommended I buy their High CFM kit (cue the eye roll). I also found a guy who 3D prints corner clips that work with 1/2” PVC, so I’m still weighing my options. AC Infinity also gave me a discount code for their fancy fan, so I’ve got a few directions I could go.

IMG_6210.png


Just got back from the hardware store with some landscaping fabric and a kiddie pool—getting ready to build a SIP, SWICK, or wick-based sub-irrigation system. Based on what @Gee64 and you, @Azimuth , suggested, do you think I should grab some cal/mag? I’ve been using Growganica products so far, so I was considering picking up some Vitamin Sea Magnesium to supplement.
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I’ll let you know how everything turns out, and I really appreciate all the guidance along the way. Thank you both!

Stay tuned!
 
GuardianRager said:
Based on what @Gee64 and you, @Azimuth , suggested, do you think I should grab some cal/mag?
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Yes. You should have some on hand at the very least and you'll likely be adding some to your grow regularly. Calcium seems to be almost magic in the things it helps fix. Dolomite lime (prilled if possible) can be a handy substitute and we make a dolo water out of it and use that regularly.
 
Update: Growth, Loss, and the Magic of Companion Planting

Howdy Buds! :ciao:
It’s been almost two weeks since my last post, and life has kept me on my toes. I lost my best friend, Kakashi, my loyal border collie. He was by my side for so many of these adventures, and his absence is deeply felt.
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On a brighter note, the lady in the tent is thriving. Without a control to compare her to, it’s hard to say for sure, but I think there’s something almost magical about growing basil and green onions alongside cannabis. It just feels like they’re bringing some extra good vibes to the grow.
Day 59
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To address the yellowing, curling tips, I added some dolomite lime. It hasn’t gotten any worse, but it’s still present. If life hadn’t been so hectic, I would’ve tested the soil by now—picked up a test kit but haven’t even unpacked it yet. Despite that, she’s coming along nicely, with lots of decent-sized bud sites that are growing strong and smelling oh-so-dank and delicious. Just a few more weeks, and then it’ll be time to cure. I’m keeping an eye on those trichomes, waiting for that perfect amber hue.

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Thinking about picking up Rev’s book soon for some new insights. Hope everyone’s doing well—update coming soon!
Peace :ganjamon:

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Sorry to hear about your dog. They can be such a special friend.

I don't harvest white pistils but wait until they have all darkened and crinkled in before even checking trichomes. By that standard you've got a ways to go. Right now they're still building and bulking up for you.
 
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