What fertilizer are you using? All I have used so far was chicken manure from a local farmer. It was not processed. It is raw and I cut it 50/50 rain water and chicken manure. I feed once a week with the bottom of my pot open to drain out excess water. Then I recycle the water everyday and add more if needed. I believe I am doing right by the way the trichomes show. I am still new to growing and anybody who has better information. Please inform us. Thank you.Hi everyone, can you give me some tips for this stage? It looks like I'm transitioning from a seedling to the vegetative stage. Should I trim anything, or do any topping or fimming, or should I just relax and wait? If you could provide tips for the future, I would really appreciate it. I'll send a photo. This baby is a photoperiod Gelato in the last days of the 4th week. I'm very grateful! I could only get to this point with your help.
A short summary
Germinated in coco with perlite and transplanted to peat with perlite.
I plan to use rooter in the first 6 weeks.
In a 5-gallon pot, I water with 1.5L to 2L when dry, carefully monitoring pH 6.0, EC, and ppm (EC and ppm depend on the week).
After the first 6 weeks, I'll start using a tea made of Bokashi with molasses and algae, with a bit of GH fertilizer and Cal-Mag only if needed. Before that, I'm using a solution with a little bit of nutrients.
The light is now around 385-400 PPFD.
Look at this beauty! I'm looking for some tips :) I'm very anxious
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newfarmeragain
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I'm new too, and I use a mix of organic and mineral fertilizers.What fertilizer are you using? All I have used so far was chicken manure from a local farmer. It was not processed. It is raw and I cut it 50/50 rain water and chicken manure. I feed once a week with the bottom of my pot open to drain out excess water. Then I recycle the water everyday and add more if needed. I believe I am doing right by the way the trichomes show. I am still new to growing and anybody who has better information. Please inform us. Thank you.
Your trichomes look well-developed, what a beautiful plant!
If I had to guess, I’d say that using molasses and seaweed, along with the purple light, might yield results regarding trichomes... but that’s just a fantasy in my head, I’m not sure what really impacts that.
I'm still struggling to keep it alive
I haven't reached those advanced topics yet.I wish I had a purple light too!
But I believe there are several experts in this forum who can help you with that.
@Azimuth and @Bill284 have helped me a lot, they seem to have a deep knowledge in this area.
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newfarmeragain
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Thanks, @Bill284! I don’t have a lot of space, LOL. Any hacks for making the most of my 1x1m grow tent?I cut individual branches and wet trim.
Stay safe
Bill284
Quick question: Are thicker branches at the bottom and thinner ones at the top related to air density? Shouldn't it be the opposite since thinner branches dry faster? And does warmer air stay at the top, or does that not matter?
Well regarding the purple light I got off Amazon for I believe it was $50. I figured it would be something small to just do one girl. With keeping it alive only fertilize once every two weeks. And just keep on adding water. I did not use a fan until she was about three nodes high. Do not point the fan directly at your girls because it could harm then. What are your girls? Autos or photos?I'm new too, and I use a mix of organic and mineral fertilizers.
Your trichomes look well-developed, what a beautiful plant!
If I had to guess, I’d say that using molasses and seaweed, along with the purple light, might yield results regarding trichomes... but that’s just a fantasy in my head, I’m not sure what really impacts that.
I'm still struggling to keep it alive
I wish I had a purple light too!
But I believe there are several experts in this forum who can help you with that.
@Azimuth and @Bill284 have helped me a lot, they seem to have a deep knowledge in this area.
Raw chicken manure is said to be "hot" and can easily burn your plants. Best is to compost it first though, that said, looks like it's working out well for you.
Rabbit and worm manure are the only ones I know of that are recommended to be used raw. Maybe also Llama/alpaca but @StoneOtter can weigh in there.
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newfarmeragain
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@Snowman1, some people even make stove gas from chicken manure. They leave it in the sun, and that stuff generates some pretty intense gases. But if you don’t handle it correctly, it can explode in a closed space! 
"HOT" it is not! I get the manure in a sealed container(that would be considered "HOT MANURE". I have a sealed container that I put 50% manure 50% water and seal it up. I put it in my shed for about one week. After that I separated it one more time 50/50 manure and water in my my feeding container. The rest I put away for further use. So it is not considered "HOT"
Fenderbender
Well-Known Member
There's like a cool dry net you can get with 8 90cm round nets that fits nicely in a 100x100 tent and that gives up to 5 square meters of drying space. But just putting some wires up and hanging weed is better, if the buds are big they get squished by their weight when you dry them on a net.
Ah, sounds like you start to do a bit of an initial ferment with it a la Jadam, though those usually take a few months to fully break down, at least for the plant matter versions I do.
I make one with comfrey leaves and, although it starts to be usable a week or two after adding water, it definitely gets better with age. I've found after about the three month mark that the comfrey at least is mostly broken down.
The version I make using worm castings is broken down much sooner so I assume the same would apply to your chicken manure.
But, as I said above, it seems to be working for you so
.
No particular order, just the way it worked out.
Buds all dry at the same rate regardless of where they are in the drying room.
I have a small fan on the floor pointing away from my buds for air circulation.
I monitor the room.
If rh is high I vent it.
Once it’s at 62 I seal the room.
Just a little air movement inside is all you need.
Stay safe
Bill284
It’s good to feed until you get runoff.What fertilizer are you using? All I have used so far was chicken manure from a local farmer. It was not processed. It is raw and I cut it 50/50 rain water and chicken manure. I feed once a week with the bottom of my pot open to drain out excess water. Then I recycle the water everyday and add more if needed. I believe I am doing right by the way the trichomes show. I am still new to growing and anybody who has better information. Please inform us. Thank you.
Reusing runoff is not best practice though.
Runoff contains debris that the girls didn’t eat or can’t use.
Giving it back to them will just recontaminate the soil with unwanted debris.
Eventually it causes issues.
Stay safe
Bill284
Thank you for your advice. Using the runoff I also add in my chicken manure with it so it continues to feed my girls. I have not had any burnt tips, Dead leaves, pest problems, growth problems. My next run I will try new water and just fertilizer....
This is before drying. How much do you think I'm going to lose?
This is before drying. How much do you think I'm going to lose?
They do but if done the way I explained with a 50/50 mix then store it in a dark place, and when you are ready do your mix out side due to the CRAP smell. Then you won't be worried about the gases.....@Snowman1, some people even make stove gas from chicken manure. They leave it in the sun, and that stuff generates some pretty intense gases. But if you don’t handle it correctly, it can explode in a closed space!
Unfortunately a large percentage of weight is moisture.Thank you for your advice. Using the runoff I also add in my chicken manure with it so it continues to feed my girls. I have not had any burnt tips, Dead leaves, pest problems, growth problems. My next run I will try new water and just fertilizer....
This is before drying. How much do you think I'm going to lose?
Once it drys I think you loose something like 75% of the weight.
Just a rule of thumb I use is to never harvest white pistils.
It usually signifies an immature bud.
Waiting for the final swell after all the pistils turn red and crinkle in will maximize weight and thc content.
Beautiful bud though, great job my friend.
Stay safe
Bill284
Thank you . I truly appreciate your opinion. I am trying to figure out how I can grow my girls tops super long like I see on here. Where the top point is about 7 to 8in Long if not longer. Does that have to do with trimming when in veg?
it's mostly about light and nutrients. genetics help, some full sativas develop different, but most plants will do it with some help.
As @bluter
Mentioned there is several factors that effect final size.But you need a strain predisposed to big colas to start with.
Begin with some research on strains and find one that meets your criteria.
Then it's environmental factors after that to maximize size.
Light, temp, rh and nutrition need to be fairly close to optimal to max your colas.
And correct harvest and cure will be paramount.
What you have done so far is great with beautiful results.
Your on the right track
Stay safe
Bill284
My lighting setup is pretty crappy. Believe it or not. I got two for the price of one from Amazon. It Said full spectrum and also I hang 2 regular light bulbs in there. I want a spider farm light or something in that nature. I guess in the future, I can be up to par with a better setup.
But I guess it's make do with what you got right?
Would you lower your light to get bigger yield during flower or raise your light for better yield?
But I guess it's make do with what you got right?
Would you lower your light to get bigger yield during flower or raise your light for better yield?
Generally speaking 30-35 watts per square foot is a good rule of thumb.
I'm using a @VIVOSUN 650w in my 5x5.
It's a brilliant light, I've had fantastic results with it.
It's only 26-W./sq/ft.
You can do a lot with less than 30.
But that is a good starting point.
Always buy the best you can get , I recommend.
I see people with something smaller than they want all the time.
Buy the right one the first time.
Light requirements in flower increase.
But plants grow up into the light usually reducing the height from canopy level.
Usually this is enough.
Unless you have a 10 foot grow room most lights are stuck at the top with the plants close , by harvest.
So usually not much room for adjustment.
There is something called DLI,, daylight integral that will tell you how much light she is getting.
You read light par and multiple it by duration of light.
That will give you a better idea of light intensity.
That's a lot of math I don't do.
I read my canopy and can tell if I can increase my strength.
But as a rule of thumb I have my lights at 100% before I go to flower.
Then I keep my lights close as I can without adverse effects.
Stay safe
Bill284
give yourself a break. you're doing fantastic for a first grow. everyone upgrades their equipment as they can afford it while their growing skills improve. every grow helps.