Icemud's Organic SCROG! Grow 3.0

[Icemud]

Here is the soap that I have been using in my foliar feedings and sometimes in my tea's.

I noticed it also had rosemary extract which is good for keeping away spidermites and other pesties

 

[Icemud]

Today is day 17 of flowering and the ladies are looking really good today...

So I decided it was time to topdress with the 6-5-3 today so this is what I mixed

2 shotglasses of calcium carbonate
1.5 shotglasses of soft rock phosphate
.75 shotglasses of gypsum
1 shotglass of greensand
1 shotglass of lava sand
1 scoop of myco maximum
1/2 mosquito dunk crushed..

This was evenly placed on the topsoil of each plant and worked into the top 1" of soil.

I also have my next feeding bubbling and should be ready for feeding within the next 2 days...

My mix

5 gallons R/O water
30ml europonic humic acid 1/2 dose
30ml Humboldt nutrients humic acid 1/2 dose
1 TBSP molasses
20ml Advanced nutrients carboload
20ml hygrozyme
a few drops of organic soap
1 medium scoop of alaskan forest humus

This feeding is primarily going to be for sugars/carbs for the soil and a boost of microlife

I also spent some time under the canopy trimming off any tiny branches (lollipopping) as well as pulling away any dead leaves to help prevent disease as well as to help let more air penetrate under the canopy.

Here are the photo's for today

 

[Icemud]

Well as promised I decided to check the brix levels and I am really puzzled.. It seems that my 2 lowest brix plants went up about 4+ brix but my higher brix plants went down slightly like -2 brix. This pattern has seemed to carry on for each of the times I have tested where the higher brix plants act opposite the lower brix plants??!!

My 2 lowest brix plants are both very short, stock and bushy plants (sour bubble and blackberry kush). The both have tons of very large fan/water leaves, did not stretch much at all during the first 2 weeks of flowering.

My 2 highest brix plants are my OG's, very lanky with large distances between internodes, very fast growing plants, which took up most of my garden (silverback og and holy grail og). Both of these plants stretched a ton into flowering, and both have smaller (palm sized) fan/water leaves with thinner blades..

My platinum Bubba's are right in the middle... they have smaller thinner leaves like the OG's, but much tighter internode growth. They also stretched good during the first 2 weeks of flowering, but not like the OG's did... the brix levels of this plant have slowly risen throughout the grow... no relation to the others brix levels that I have noticed...

HMMM...

I wonder once we start testing more strains, if this pattern will continue, or if it is just a random observation I have had??
Do thinner leaved, faster growing plants have higher brix capability?
Do the fatter leaved, bushy slow growing plants have lower brix range?
Why are some of the refractometer readings more diffused and some are more clear?
With the same regiment, why do some plants uptake more mineral density and how to we make this more broadrange??


Since my plants have all been treated exactly the same, so far these are my observations that I have noticed...

Also it seems that the last foliar spray mix seems to have helped quite a bit for the blackberry kush and the sour bubble...

Here are tonights results....

All samples were taken about 4-6 nodes down from larger cola's

Platinum bubba Kush

Holy Grail OG

Silverback OG

Sour Bubble

Blackberry Kush

 

[Doc Bud]

Hey Ice! As usual, you're looking really good....no, not good.....freakin' amazing is better.

OG is a very unusual strain. They're hogs. They just gobble up everything. On the other hand, some Indica's are moderate feeders, especially ones that tend to purple up.

So, perhaps you've been ever so slightly over feeding the blackberry and at the same time not pushing the OG as hard as you might? I bet everything evens out after the mineral recharge.

Even so, the plants look exquisite and anyone would be very proud to have them in their garden, including me!

 

[Icemud]

Hey Ice! As usual, you're looking really good....no, not good.....freakin' amazing is better.

OG is a very unusual strain. They're hogs. They just gobble up everything. On the other hand, some Indica's are moderate feeders, especially ones that tend to purple up.

So, perhaps you've been ever so slightly over feeding the blackberry and at the same time not pushing the OG as hard as you might? I bet everything evens out after the mineral recharge.

Even so, the plants look exquisite and anyone would be very proud to have them in their garden, including me!

Very much appreciate the compliments Doc!!!

I was sort of thinking the same thing... either overfeeding some and underfeeding others, or maybe it was the foliars sprays that have more of an effect... either way I am extremely happy with how things are growing so far and can't wait to see how they form up. I can't believe how right now my blackberry kush is frosting up everywhere. Even the fans are starting to develop trichomes.

 

[Easeedoesit]

Just looked over your journal. 2 thumbs up. I hope to get to that level (expierience, knowledge and space) in the future. Looking good!

 

[Icemud]

Just looked over your journal. 2 thumbs up. I hope to get to that level (expierience, knowledge and space) in the future. Looking good!

Thanksk Ease!!! much appreciate you stopping by and for the compliments! Experience and knowledge will come with time...there is soo much good information here at 420 Mag, you will be a pro in no time!!

 

[Hash Hound]

Ice

I'm trying to understand this whole Brix thing.

I am wondering why you are taking readings from the leafs instead of being more concerned when the buds show up.

Do the wine guys worry about the leaf or wait until the grape shows up? I don't know and I'm just askin. Are you looking to use the brix to harvest at a certain level, or you still going to go by the tris? I have trouble reading all those long detailed brix studies a few guys post. I am a very bad reader. And my HS permanent record card says so. I actually got to see it a few years back.

And typing this is going on an hour. and that has absolutely nothing to do with the one hit of Blueberry I did about an hour ago.

ANYway, great job.

 

[Icemud]

Ice

I'm trying to understand this whole Brix thing.

I am wondering why you are taking readings from the leafs instead of being more concerned when the buds show up.

Do the wine guys worry about the leaf or wait until the grape shows up? I don't know and I'm just askin. Are you looking to use the brix to harvest at a certain level, or you still going to go by the tris? I have trouble reading all those long detailed brix studies a few guys post. I am a very bad reader. And my HS permanent record card says so. I actually got to see it a few years back.

And typing this is going on an hour. and that has absolutely nothing to do with the one hit of Blueberry I did about an hour ago.

ANYway, great job.

Hey Hash Hound!!! glad to have ya stop through and man, I love blueberry...haven't had it in a while but still can remember the taste

To be completely honest, all of us High Brix Growers are kind of pioneering the use of this method with Cannabis so I really don't know if I will be able to answer all of your questions but I will try my best. I myself am still learning all of this as well, and there really isn't any marijuana related resources for growing high brix... so really were taking the available knowledge of high brix agriculture and incorporating it into a sort of "high brix experiment".

As far as the leaf readings that I have been taking, I took this method from various sources, videos, forums and websites and kind of sorted the knowledge and did my best to apply it to cannabis. There are 2 different things to test with brix in agriculture so far that I have read. Growers of fruits and vegetables seem to be more concerned with the brix level of the final product (like a tomato or grape) as a overall rate of there grow... so more or less that is what you would be testing if you brought your refractometer to the grocery store to test produce.

The other way that brix readings are used is to diagnose, chart and observe there plant growth during the growing process, and this is done at the leaves. So for instance if you want to see if a particular foliar spray is effective on your plants... you check the levels in a few leaves, spray your plants with your test foliar spray, and a few hours later check the brix levels again. Depending on if you see a rise or lower reading will tell you if your plants like what you are feeding them. This is important with high brix grows so that you can see trends in feedings, and from this data, adjust your plans for future grows to reach higher levels or deal with plant health issues.

So how does all this apply to marijuana... well, that is really what we are pioneering here at 420 magazine, Docbud has an incredible amount of information and is the "godfather" of high brix growing here at 420 mag, and me and a few others are all working alongside trying to "create" the best path to high brix for cannabis.

This is why it is important for anyone that wants to have some extra fun growing and has an extra 50$ laying around to order a refractometer. Its like a live look into what makes your plants happy, and the more data we all share, the better and more dialed in this process becomes.

As far as you being a bad reader...there is a video that I posted about 1 or 2 pages back in my journal that covers High Brix growing rather well, is very easy to understand and will help you get a much better grasp of the whole idea that is being explored here. I am very happy to see you interested in High brix growing and I very much encourage you to give it a try... I have never in my life seen such healthy plants...

 

[Icemud]

Actually I don't know if I posted the video in here or another thread, so here it is again..

[video=youtube_share;Jeesn2FQgYw]

[/video]

 

[Icemud]

and here is the one I created on how I have been checking brix

[video=youtube_share;QvRSKiCabJo]

[/video]

 

[Curso]

Just got my info packet from Ag Labs, can't wait to send out my soil and get rolling

 

[Icemud]

Just got my info packet from Ag Labs, can't wait to send out my soil and get rolling

Very nice, hopefully next round I will be doing the same. We should start 2 different threads, one for High brix soil tests, and the other for high brix refractometer test results...

 

[Doc Bud]

Very nice, hopefully next round I will be doing the same. We should start 2 different threads, one for High brix soil tests, and the other for high brix refractometer test results...

Very good idea! Taxes kicked my butt this month, so I haven't been able to order the tests as fast as I'd like. But I'm getting back on my feet now, so I should have the refactometer the end of next week.

I'm really liking the pro-mix right now. It's too early to tell how it will work overall, but it sure drains well.

 

[Icemud]

Very good idea! Taxes kicked my butt this month, so I haven't been able to order the tests as fast as I'd like. But I'm getting back on my feet now, so I should have the refactometer the end of next week.

I'm really liking the pro-mix right now. It's too early to tell how it will work overall, but it sure drains well.

I feel you on the financial pinch... I am also feeling the economy and finances hard lately.. I can't remember where I heard it, I think it was a video, but it was saying that Oklahoma has excellent soil to start with as a base soil, because its very plain and light on most things, so its easy to rebuild. I don't know if there is any soil companies based there, but figured I would mention it.

 

[Doc Bud]

I feel you on the financial pinch... I am also feeling the economy and finances hard lately.. I can't remember where I heard it, I think it was a video, but it was saying that Oklahoma has excellent soil to start with as a base soil, because its very plain and light on most things, so its easy to rebuild. I don't know if there is any soil companies based there, but figured I would mention it.

We're gonna get there with the Promix. Just a matter of a short time, and I'll know exactly what to add. It's really just peat moss and perlite.

I think on Int. Ag Lab's website he says something like the dusty clay soil in Oklahoma is so poor, it's easy to work with because nothing is in excess so it can be brought to spec by simply adding things.

I really love your passion with this, bro. High Brix growing is the way to go, as it brings out the genetic potential of the plants. What will be fun is seeing what differences there are doing High Brix with mostly fish, vs. with composted chicken manure, etc.

Variations in the organic matter present in a high brix environment could produce very different terpene profiles. And now, all of a sudden we're in a situation where it's a given that the plants we grow will be superb, and the real talent is in how to feed the soil to get subtle changes in taste, smell and effect. Like different vintage from the same vinyard....the same but different.

Anyways, I smoked more weed today than in a very long time! Before lunch blasted some Lemon Thai and Columbian.....went wine tasting and hung out with a super cool grower-couple. Talked growing, politics, kids, great time...

Then, smoked some Purple Jack.....excellent flavor, very fuity, and great effect. I followed that up about 20 minutes ago with some Lemon Paki, from my first High Brix harvest.....damn, I'm put right now. I'm so stoned I don't think I'm stoned....but I know I will feel differently if I read this post tomorrow!

 

[Icemud]

For anyone with a refractometer that is testing there grows....please post your results here..

High Brix Refractometer Results Log & Data Thread - Post Your Brix Levels Here

 

[Curso]

I feel you guys on the financial pinch, looks like I will have to wait until my 2 mom's are ready to clone to get the brix rolling. Insurance deductible's really blow!! So the piecing things together at a slow rate is still happening.
Doc I totally agree with the Pro-Mix, I really like that stuff, and it does drain very well, and retains the water well too. Should I send the soil to get tested in with the Pro-Mix already mixed in?
Ice your grow looks amazing can't wait to see the massive cola's.
I gave a friend of mine a couple of the seeds I have (blueberry gum) to compare his dwc v high brix. He hasn't started them yet, he's moving today. Once I have it together I will for sure start a journal just to compare

 

[Icemud]

Thanks for the compliments Curso!!! I think Doc would be better at answering the soil question but I would probably say get it tested raw, because it may already come with too high in certain areas, and you wouldn't want to add to it not knowing. The test then will tell you exactly what you need to add to the soil to get to the "ideal" brix mix.

It will be awesome to see a comparison of the same strains run differently, awesome idea !

 

[Icemud]

Hey everyone, today is day 20 flowering and things are looking great, except for my Silverback OG, which is showing some heavy yellowing on some of the older larger fan leaves. I believe this may be due to a slightly high soil ph locking out ZN and N so I will be adding my next feeding at a slightly lower than normal ph to try to help balance out the soil. I was reading that the best way to help correct a soil issue is to use a 1/4 to 1/2 dose nutrient feedings so I just started my earthjuice tea brewing, right now ph at mixing is 3.9ph so I will wait until tomorrow to add, where it should be around 5.5ph at that time..

My last watering was a plain feeding of R/O water to help leach any salt buildups that may have accumulated as well as I gave a good foliar spray of water, micronutrients, and my botanicare cal mag with added N and iron, which are the two symptoms that my plant is showing. So far a day later after the treatment she is looking better so I will keep a close eye on her.

Other than that the ladies are looking great and showing excellent bud development.

Here are today's photo's

Silverback OG

Platinum Bubba Kush

Sour Bubble

Holy Grail OG

Blackberry Kush