LED Trinity Grow - Round 1

[KingJohnC]

Last little thing was a question for anybody who might know. I was wondering about my PH being so stable (not that i'm complaining, just curious) The PH is only going up .1 or less in three days, the PPM's are going up by about 200-300 so I know the plant is taking up nutrients just not sure why the PH is so steady. I thought as nutrients are taken in by the plant, the PH would go up accordingly.

your plants are using more water then nutrients that you are supplying, 200-300 PPM more. this is why your pH is not rising. you have 2 choices 1) decrease your PPM by 200-300 ppm so that the amount of water and nutrients used by your plants are in balance. 2) leave your current PPM and wait for the plants to increase their nutrient uptake. if your PPM's are 200-300 PPM higher then your plants are using and no signs of nutrient burns are observed it is safe to use your current PPM's.

 

[stealthgrow]

your plants are using more water then nutrients that you are supplying, 200-300 PPM more. this is why your pH is not rising. you have 2 choices 1) decrease your PPM by 200-300 ppm so that the amount of water and nutrients used by your plants are in balance. 2) leave your current PPM and wait for the plants to increase their nutrient uptake. if your PPM's are 200-300 PPM higher then your plants are using and no signs of nutrient burns are observed it is safe to use your current PPM's.

Thanks KJC I was hoping you would shout out to that question. I think I'm gonna try and lower my PPM's just a little on their next feed.

 

[AfricanGrower]

I'm very late on this journal Stealth, and I wish I had more time for everyone on this great community. I've bookmarked my progress on pg 15 of your journal and shall be continuing the read after work! So far the two ladies are looking very bushy, especially that white widow. It looks like it wanted more node space than was available haha!

Don't give me any spoilers as I am determined to get through the rest of your journal tonight! AG

 

[Spazz1]

Man your plants are looking awesome. I gotta say you may have me sold on one of these closets.

 

[stealthgrow]

Man your plants are looking awesome. I gotta say you may have me sold on one of these closets.

Hi spazz, been a while, thanks for dropping in and for the compliments.
I'm very impressed with the closets overall, a couple of things to consider before you buy. Although the closets grow plants very well, they are not as stealth as a stealthgrow person like myself would like them to be. Obviously they make noise with the fans and carbon scrubbers and air stones bubbling away etc, etc, etc...
The smell is pretty much a non-issue, as long as the doors are closed there is no smell, however when the doors open it stinks up the whole floor, Its like the smell was waiting in hiding for a chance to escape. Something to consider if relatives coming over the same day you change the reservoir.
There are small light leaks in the closet, not enough to cause a problem during night time for the plants, and supercloset does provide extra weather stripping you can apply to any areas where light leaks out. I'm just lazy and its not required for my grow, so I didn't do it.
You also will need to get a second 4 inch fan to help with air flow in the closets, Its not required but certainly recommended. If you have any other questions regarding the closets feel free to ask.
I'm personally saving for 5 x 9 grow tent and new LED's now and plan on using the closets as clone and mother closets.

 

[Scarfinger68]

Last little thing was a question for anybody who might know. I was wondering about my PH being so stable (not that i'm complaining, just curious) The PH is only going up .1 or less in three days, the PPM's are going up by about 200-300 so I know the plant is taking up nutrients just not sure why the PH is so steady. I thought as nutrients are taken in by the plant, the PH would go up accordingly.

I will take a stab at this. I grow in soil so I am only guessing about your PH.

From what I understand plants in VEG produce slightly alkaline environment, and plants in flower produce a slightly acidic environment.
My guess is the "Ecology" or the changing environment is being balanced out by the micro organisms in your fertilizer. As long as you have a clean environment with beneficial microbes you will have a stable ecology.

But.... If things get out of wack for what ever reason, and you get a dirty environment and bad bacteria take over then things will go to hell fast. Too warm of water for one will encourage root rot for example and I bet the PH takes a dive. Don't know... just guessing.

That's my speculation on the subject

 

[stealthgrow]

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you are all having a good weekend and are nicely medicated.
As advertised, its time for an update. The ladies are doing great, they are four weeks into flower today, day 28 since flipped.

The girls are all looking really bushy above the screen, and many bud sites are getting little to no light, so after some research and journal reading, I decided to take the plunge and defoliate. I was only going to do the Blue Mystic closet Kush but thought "F#*k it" and dove into the deep end with both grows.

Both closets are dialed in with the nutes and PH etc, and from what I've read and seen, this defol can only help my overall yield. I took out most large fan leaves with stems of 2 inches or longer, I left a few large leaves at the bottom cause they aren't blocking light to anything.

Overall I think I did an OK job, I could have taken a few more leaves but didn't want to go nuts, I took a lot as it is. Before the defol it was very dark under the trellis, no light at all hitting the reservoir, after the defol its much brighter. The plants are really opened up to the light at the bud sites now, and the defol should also help with the high humidity issues I've been having lately.

Today's stats.
Day 28 since flip (4 weeks)
PPM= 890
PH= 5.8
Air temp= 70F
Water temp= 62.7F
RH= 54%

The ladies before the defol.

After the defol.

The Stats.

The closets after defol.

That's it for another update, the plants got roughed up this afternoon for sure but in a few days will be stronger than ever, and looking healthy again. My girls are fighters.
If anyone has any questions or comments, don't be shy, until next time, stay medicated my friends.

 

[rdooski3]

Wow lookin great stealth! Nice defol! Im curious are you concerned that you are going to run of of room height wise?

 

[b.real]

Oh no.. what a shame

 

[AfricanGrower]

Whew! That was a great read Stealth! +reps for you man! I don't even know where to start; you've gone through everything from those power surges to your clone experiments to that trippy print artist Mr. Grey! Your closet is superb and as you said you will definitely be reaping your investment in it over the next couple grows! I am really curious on how well you ladies bounce back form that 'defol', as I have always refrained from pulling off that many leaves. I will definitely be observing this closely and may apply it when my girls get to that point!

Well I don't have much to chime in on as everything has basically been covered here .

Thanks for keeping my bean bag warm Stealth, I'm just in time to join the the crowd in this 'waiting-game' until harvest.

 

[stealthgrow]

Wow lookin great stealth! Nice defol! Im curious are you concerned that you are going to run of of room height wise?

I'm not concerned about room in this closet because the stretch is done. My other closet is another story, its part of the reason I decided to defoliate.

Oh no.. what a shame

I take it you don't agree b.real? I was sitting on the fence also for a while but found some good examples of this method and it really seems to work well. I was kinda stuck because the plants are getting overcrowded in the smaller closet and have grown well above the trellis net. Also the Kush in that closet is much taller than the Blue Mystic's and was shading them. Time will tell if I made the right decision, I hope I did.

Whew! That was a great read Stealth! +reps for you man! I don't even know where to start; you've gone through everything from those power surges to your clone experiments to that trippy print artist Mr. Grey! Your closet is superb and as you said you will definitely be reaping your investment in it over the next couple grows! I am really curious on how well you ladies bounce back form that 'defol', as I have always refrained from pulling off that many leaves. I will definitely be observing this closely and may apply it when my girls get to that point!

Well I don't have much to chime in on as everything has basically been covered here .

Thanks for keeping my bean bag warm Stealth, I'm just in time to join the the crowd in this 'waiting-game' until harvest.

Thanks for taking the interest and time to read through it all my friend. I've got a good feeling about the defol, I think it will help overall. Again, time will tell, and If I have to make adjustments next grow I will.


Thanks to everyone for their interest in my grow, I hope I made the right decision. Worse case, I'm gonna be the poster boy for what NOT to do to a perfectly good grow. lol

 

[rdooski3]

Don't be discouraged, I've done it when mine needed it like yours did and they bounced back great. I cant remember where it is but you should see if you can get kingjohn to post those links to that thread that was focused on defoliation. It has some great examples.

 

[stealthgrow]

The main journal I looked at, and that has been in discussion around the forums lately is Bassman59's defoliation journal. He has a couple of very good journals where he uses the defol method and its done nothing but help and increase his yields. Your supposed to defol right from beginning, and I have but mainly under the canopy...until today. It also might be a couple of days later than the prime time to do defol but within a week, so i'm not to worried.
Thanks for the encouragement dooski.

Here is a link to one of Bassman's articles about defoliation.

Increasing yield with defoliation indoors - What's it mean? How to do it?

 

[rdooski3]

Thats the the one I was referring to. I'm glad you've seen it

As bushy as they were and in that tight of a space made them need it badly in my opinion. I bet 2 weeks from now they will be nice and filled in with lots of nice big bud sites

 

[905 sean]

I like the LED lights. Nice system very clean.

 

[AfricanGrower]

The main journal I looked at, and that has been in discussion around the forums lately is Bassman59's defoliation journal. He has a couple of very good journals where he uses the defol method and its done nothing but help and increase his yields. Your supposed to defol right from beginning, and I have but mainly under the canopy...until today. It also might be a couple of days later than the prime time to do defol but within a week, so i'm not to worried.
Thanks for the encouragement dooski.

Here is a link to one of Bassman's articles about defoliation.

Increasing yield with defoliation indoors - What's it mean? How to do it?

Thanks for that link, as I too have been searching for it. Time for some reading

 

[Crazycarl]

Looking good stealth gave my girls a trim today also

 

[stealthgrow]

Looking good stealth gave my girls a trim today also

Thanks Crazycarl, I've been doing the round on and off all day, but don't remember seeing yours yet. I'm going to check it out now.

 

[stealthgrow]

Thats the the one I was referring to. I'm glad you've seen it

As bushy as they were and in that tight of a space made them need it badly in my opinion. I bet 2 weeks from now they will be nice and filled in with lots of nice big bud sites

Thanks for the encouragement, was second guessing myself just a tad.

I like the LED lights. Nice system very clean.

Welcome to the grow Sean, you made it just in time for the buds!

Thanks for that link, as I too have been searching for it. Time for some reading

Its a good read for sure. Bassman has completed 7 grows with this method I think now, and each one is better than the last.

 

[ronnie6690]

great job +reps