Metalpoet - 1st Grow - Northern Lights Auto - Soil FFOF - CFL - Indoor

[MetalPoet]

She's really taking her time, eh? Looking like she's going to be like my Maria. A 120+ day plant. At this point unless your in a hurry to harvest I'd just watch as she fills in those pistils with buds. Like Dirt suggested I'd say at least 14 more days.

KiG cheers

Howdy Howdy Howdy, Snid! So! "Our" Leialoha finally won POTM and about damn time, too! That was the journal that made me give growing a shot. I wanted me a short, fat, thick and sexy plant like Leialoha... But I guess I will settle for a less beautiful but always interesting Matilda!!!!
It occurs to me that I had planned on harvesting NOW (September 5-7). Ha! And I agree, needs a bit more time. Because there are ALWAYS situations that force harvest I am fairly certain she has to come down by 9/24...so 19 or 20 more days may be the best we can do. Note to newbies and learning lurkers: These plants can be a big responsibility---- they need a fair amount of tending and attention ... and they don't always meet YOUR deadline.
Thanks for stopping by, Snid!

 

[MetalPoet]

Mini woo-hoo, Sheldon Cooper woo-hoo! Man she really turned out great, not too sure about those leaves hope it isn't too bad. Positivity and safeness to you

Sent from my ALE-L02 using 420 Magazine Mobile App

Ha! Love the Sheldon Cooper reference! 《《《 I have been compared to Sheldon 《《《 for being smart not wierd.. well, okay, a little wierd, too! 《《《 I have social anxiety that disappears when I smoke cannabis.... I see the same anxiety in Sheldon... have always thought he would be a better more rounded person if someone would get him on a proper mmj regimen.
I am absolutely salivating, wanting a sample. Got a few raggedy immature buds from inside the plant drying. 20 days + 5 days to go right!

 

[MetalPoet]

Day 103 Ph Problems- Fixed?
Hi, everyone. Need to do a quick but functional update.
Keep in mind my method of ph testing is limited to paper test strips at this time. I measure the water going in and then measure what flows out. As I have read, the reading of the outgoing liquid should be halfway between what goes in and the actual soil ph. (Cheap, inexact method alert!) So I have been seeing 6.0 at runoff. Which means (I think) with water at 7.0 the soil is less than 6.0!?!? So. Flushed with straight water last time. After some experimentation it turns out that Fox Farms Tiger Bloom pulls ph down while Fox Farms Big Bloom (organic) pulls ph up. Had considered going straight water but added some of the Big Bloom anyway and am hopeful on that note. That was probably the last fertilizer feeding. And hopefully the ph is better.
I've said before that I am a container grower (tomatoes, flowers) and I always just considered soil as "spent" when the containers would start to fail near autumn... always fought back with nute adjustments but never considered it from a perspective of ph... This may make me a better grower of other plants!
Just a single pic:

 

[dirt mcgert]

She's looking great MP. Are you using the just the trio on her?

 

[MetalPoet]

She's looking great MP. Are you using the just the trio on her?

Just the trio, that's it. I didn't want to complicate issues the first grow. And I think if I had balanced it right the ph may not have dropped.... I think I overestimated the ability of the FFOF soil to keep the ph steady... Oh. And the SNS gnat-kill also pulled the ph down but I haven't done that since pre-flowers.
I am constantly considering changes for the "next grow" including amping up the nutes so any suggestions is much appreciated.

 

[dirt mcgert]

Just the trio, that's it. I didn't want to complicate issues the first grow. And I think if I had balanced it right the ph may not have dropped.... I think I overestimated the ability of the FFOF soil to keep the ph steady... Oh. And the SNS gnat-kill also pulled the ph down but I haven't done that since pre-flowers.
I am constantly considering changes for the "next grow" including amping up the nutes so any suggestions is much appreciated.

I just picked up the ff dirty dozen pack + the wholly mackerel and kelp me kelp you for my 1 gallon and less start to finish girls to see how they do with it. For my bigger girls, they get the good stuff lol, my recycled reammended soil mix, with nice teas. I used just the trio before with decent results, but I'll let you know how they do with them

 

[MetalPoet]

Wait.
Did I miss something? You have plants growing in less than a gallon? Just for veg right? or straight thru? Huh! I like a challenge. I've read thru some of the red solo cup grows... someone has a raggedy plant growing in a shot glass.... Fascinating stuff!
Edit: Checking out the dozen from FF.

 

[dirt mcgert]

My small C99 is in about 3/4 gal, but I just call it 1.I've got a solo cup scrog attempt going, 1 in a 6oz juice bottle, and germin a thunder bloody Mary auto now to put in a solo cup. All start to finish. Just harvested a redpurps that was in a 1 gal, she's still hanging though. Rifleman went 90+ days in a shot glass, pretty impressive to me.

 

[Stinky Snid]

Howdy Howdy Howdy, Snid! So! "Our" Leialoha finally won POTM and about damn time, too! That was the journal that made me give growing a shot. I wanted me a short, fat, thick and sexy plant like Leialoha... But I guess I will settle for a less beautiful but always interesting Matilda!!!!
It occurs to me that I had planned on harvesting NOW (September 5-7). Ha! And I agree, needs a bit more time. Because there are ALWAYS situations that force harvest I am fairly certain she has to come down by 9/24...so 19 or 20 more days may be the best we can do. Note to newbies and learning lurkers: These plants can be a big responsibility---- they need a fair amount of tending and attention ... and they don't always meet YOUR deadline.
Thanks for stopping by, Snid!

Overwhelming to hear that from my number one biggest fan. I would say I'm very happy to hear about how my grow was influential for them. My whole goal was to show that any Joe shmoe could scrape together a setup and grow some decent buds. But as you know, that's never enough... All I can say is it only gets easier, bigger and better. For me, It was a shot in the dark at first, but once things start happening and you need back up, the 420 fam was and is always there for you.

You've got my humbleness level to a crescendo of karmic jubilation. So glad you have a Matilda of your own to share and show others it can be done... No sweat!

​

KiG Cheers MP

 

[MetalPoet]

Day 109 Temptation
Whoo! I really want a sample. I have sampled some of the immature buds from the interior. I let them dry for 4 days or so but they just tasted "green" and gave me a 10 minute headache rush. Meh! But some of these buds are looking delicious now.
Ph- It's a problem. Soil, after a major flush is about 6.5. I did add some Epsom salts to the water ( 1 tsp per gallon). Doesn't really change ph but might give a mag boost. Still hopeful to get out and find some bone meal or some thing to boost ph and add calcium. Will that work? With other plants I have found bone meal takes about 2 weeks to break down and become effective but this girl only has 2 weeks left.
She is still slow. If it weren't for the pics in this journal I would wonder if she was growing at all.
She is still tight and in these pics I haven't realigned her canopy so she looks a bit more crowded than she actually is.

 

[Stinky Snid]

I found a list of ph up nutes and down nutes. I can't upload pics at the moment... Hopefully get it edited in this pot before 420minutes is up.

KiG cheers

Edit:
Notice the list of cations and anions in the right second from top paragraph. That may help you Ph your solution without using Ph up. I knew I'd seen it somewhere, it was an advanced nutrients magalogue. Very good little bit of info there.

 

[MetalPoet]

Day 112 Decisions
Finally got my magnifier. Granted I'm seeing trichs up close for the first time so I tried to do comparison between the most mature and youngest buds. I think some of this is ready to harvest. She's still scrawny. The mature buds are mostly cloudy with a few amber...maybe 3 percent. How long for that to change to say 7-10%? The inner buds still have time. I am losing the battle with whatever deficiency she has. Ph lockout? Maybe. Soil is at about 5.9 dry and 6.4 wet, I don't think that should be too horrible but the plant seems to struggle now. Funny none of the leaves seem to be yellowing.
Anyway. While not really being concerned with yield, I have to say I would be disappointed with the total as it stands now... but I also wonder if that deficiency will work it's way into the buds and affect flavor or potency.
Pondering.... what do you all think?

 

[Stinky Snid]

I don't see much of a deficiency on her maybe just a nutrient solution splashing on the leaf. It doesn't look widespread. Also all you leaves are still green, you have one healthy plant there. Most of the weight/mass is created in the last couple weeks of flower. And it looks to me that you're going to out do my first harvest. keep up the good work and...

KiG cheers

 

[MetalPoet]

Thanks, snid. I think I'm going to let it ride for now. The center buds seem to be gaining weight.

 

[MetalPoet]

Day 119: Too Close to Crash & Burn
We had one more 2 day trip. Here is where we are at:

So. The soil ph is kind of low 5.5. I don't have calmag st the moment, not sure if I could get it at all but probably not quickly. Been watering with straight water (ph 7). Should I try to get PhUp and raise the water ph??? I really don't know what to do here. Should I go ahead and harvest some or all of this?
I pulled some on the inner stuff last week and it was dry enough to sample this am and it wasn't bad. Taste was a 4, smell was a 6, and buzz was a short-lived, slightly uplifting buzz. Considering immature buds, barely dry and uncured, I was quite pleased actually. Even if she were perfectly healthy I have to pull her mid next week. But she is definitely still fattening up those buds... but some of those buds are looking a little ugly.
Thoughts?

 

[solareclipse]

good job,metal...i didnt hrck it out coz my pc have problem and i have to fix it.sundenlly all the usb ports doesnt work...3 of them..once iit works and 5 minutes laer didnt wok...i will check it out later...nice job ..great looking plants..subs

 

[MagicJim]

Day 119: Too Close to Crash & Burn
We had one more 2 day trip. Here is where we are at:

So. The soil ph is kind of low 5.5. I don't have calmag st the moment, not sure if I could get it at all but probably not quickly. Been watering with straight water (ph 7). Should I try to get PhUp and raise the water ph??? I really don't know what to do here. Should I go ahead and harvest some or all of this?
I pulled some on the inner stuff last week and it was dry enough to sample this am and it wasn't bad. Taste was a 4, smell was a 6, and buzz was a short-lived, slightly uplifting buzz. Considering immature buds, barely dry and uncured, I was quite pleased actually. Even if she were perfectly healthy I have to pull her mid next week. But she is definitely still fattening up those buds... but some of those buds are looking a little ugly.
Thoughts?

You're too close to harvest to worry about pH. Any harm to the plant is already done and the plant looks healthy. If you have to harvest in the middle of next week for whatever reason, I'd let it go until then. Do it all at one time, hang it to dry and cure it properly....if you can wait that long.

I think I remember that you have a magnifier or a loupe. Just watch the trichomes until you have some amber. Then it's all preference. Good job and good luck with the harvest.

 

[infiniteJuan]

Ooooohhhh.. getting really close MP! Looking good. Both of mine had some of that nutrient/light burn as well. Once it's all trimmed up you'll probably be happy with how it looks.

Sent using the 420Mag mobile app.

 

[solareclipse]

if i was in ur position i think its time to harvest...if it worth to wait more then do it ...but i would harvest it a few days ago..lol....looks fantastic even this leaves problem.....
lets start a new grow now...hahhah...lol..

 

[solareclipse]

i just realise something...is this auto?do u have an auto for over 120 days?or i miss something?