I am conducting this journal because I like to experiment and during the course of my experimentation I had a very successful grow, and I had no record of how I achieved it. Nothing to share with others. Quite frankly it was an ugly plant that delivered what I considered big results. And because it was an ugly duckling I kept no records, no photos for records.
What do I consider a big harvest? 10 ounces of solid GG#4 grown on a 2'x2' footprint under a ViparSpectra XS 1500 light. 2.25 ounces a square foot, 1.9 grams a watt.
I have been a stealth grower even when things were legal for medical patients like myself. As a result I do have some peculiar growing habits, which include nutes.
Currently I am experimenting with 100% perlite in 2.7-gallon buckets using the High-Frequency Fertigation technique. Also I'm experimenting with the canopy level and penetration efficacy of the ViparSpectra XS 1500 lights. I suspect that the increase in bud density and length of cola using the ViparSpectra XS 1500 over my previous light was a significant reason for my big, bountiful harvest. The White Widow strain in my experience gets really leggy after the stretch, so it makes a good plant to do this experiment.
My biggest regret at the moment is that my largest plant, the one I call Gravel Gertie may have been defoliated a bit too much 2 weeks after flip. To a degree that is the character of the strain, and in that light I may have overdone it. Good for the light penetration, though.
Other issues I'm investigating are salts buildup in such a small pot with a large plant using HFF, and there is a current issue with ph. slide with my current nutes. Nothing that was a problem when mixing up gallons for hand watering, but seems to have changed with the larger mixes used over a longer period of time.
Grow Room: Is an old coal room, 9’ W x9’6’ W x Sloping 5’11” to 6’2” T
Ambient Temperature: 60ºF Winter to 72ºF Summer
Box Temperatures:
Winter: 60º F Evenings to-75ºF Days
Summer: 75º F Evenings 85ºF Days
The grow room consists of three 2'x2'x5' cabinets for plant propagation and early vegetation, and one 2'x4'x6" for late vegetation and flowering. The system was designed for maximum fun and minimum heavy lifting.
Of significant importance, the room was designed so my grows and harvests conform to all Michigan statutes. I am a confirmed micro grower and proud of it.
Each of four boxes was built for a specific stage of plant growth. Although there is some use flexibility built into each cabinet, for example my 2'x2'5' early veg box has been used successfully for flowering.
Each box is fitted with cleats fitted to their interiors that allow for the suspension and adjustment of plant height by adjusting shelf height; 2x4s and 1x4s are used as risers to fine tuning.
Here is a bit of a tour:
The Room:
Breeding Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 4, cheap, 25-watt blurple flat-panel LED lights.
Germination Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 2 cheap, 25-watt, blurple fllat-panel LED lights and 3 standard 14-watt, daylight, 14-watt bulbs.
Vegetation Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 1 ViparSpectra® XS1000 100-watt LED grow light.
Finish Cabinet: 2x4x6 with 2 ViparSpectra® XS1500 150-watt LED grow lights.
Additionally a few convenience items:
Shelves are kept elevated to help make flushing and draining easier.
Large saucers sit on turntable bearings for aiding pruning and inspection.
Connection nipples for each pot allow me to move pots without removing the drip irrigation emitters.
And now a couple of closer looks at Gravel Gertie and Seed Queen, Week 5 after flip.
Hope you follow and enjoy the experience!
MGM
What do I consider a big harvest? 10 ounces of solid GG#4 grown on a 2'x2' footprint under a ViparSpectra XS 1500 light. 2.25 ounces a square foot, 1.9 grams a watt.
I have been a stealth grower even when things were legal for medical patients like myself. As a result I do have some peculiar growing habits, which include nutes.
Currently I am experimenting with 100% perlite in 2.7-gallon buckets using the High-Frequency Fertigation technique. Also I'm experimenting with the canopy level and penetration efficacy of the ViparSpectra XS 1500 lights. I suspect that the increase in bud density and length of cola using the ViparSpectra XS 1500 over my previous light was a significant reason for my big, bountiful harvest. The White Widow strain in my experience gets really leggy after the stretch, so it makes a good plant to do this experiment.
My biggest regret at the moment is that my largest plant, the one I call Gravel Gertie may have been defoliated a bit too much 2 weeks after flip. To a degree that is the character of the strain, and in that light I may have overdone it. Good for the light penetration, though.
Other issues I'm investigating are salts buildup in such a small pot with a large plant using HFF, and there is a current issue with ph. slide with my current nutes. Nothing that was a problem when mixing up gallons for hand watering, but seems to have changed with the larger mixes used over a longer period of time.
Grow Room: Is an old coal room, 9’ W x9’6’ W x Sloping 5’11” to 6’2” T
Ambient Temperature: 60ºF Winter to 72ºF Summer
Box Temperatures:
Winter: 60º F Evenings to-75ºF Days
Summer: 75º F Evenings 85ºF Days
The grow room consists of three 2'x2'x5' cabinets for plant propagation and early vegetation, and one 2'x4'x6" for late vegetation and flowering. The system was designed for maximum fun and minimum heavy lifting.
Of significant importance, the room was designed so my grows and harvests conform to all Michigan statutes. I am a confirmed micro grower and proud of it.
Each of four boxes was built for a specific stage of plant growth. Although there is some use flexibility built into each cabinet, for example my 2'x2'5' early veg box has been used successfully for flowering.
Each box is fitted with cleats fitted to their interiors that allow for the suspension and adjustment of plant height by adjusting shelf height; 2x4s and 1x4s are used as risers to fine tuning.
Here is a bit of a tour:
The Room:
3-2x2 Growing Stations Exposed.jpeg
From left to right: 1 Clone and Seed Production, 2 Germination, 3 Vegetation
Veg & Flower Station with Work Chair.jpeg
The system is built with shelves that move, instead of lights, that keeps chores conveniently...
Breeding Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 4, cheap, 25-watt blurple flat-panel LED lights.
For cloning and creation of feminized seed.
Currently Hosting: empty.
Clone and Seed Production Station.jpeg
Designed for very little headroom, cheap, 11"x11" Blurple lights, each with their own switch...
Germination Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 2 cheap, 25-watt, blurple fllat-panel LED lights and 3 standard 14-watt, daylight, 14-watt bulbs.
For seed germination and early vegetation.
Currently Hosting:
Top shelf: Amnesia Trance strain seeded today
Bottom Shelves: 5-gal. nute bucket for the adjoining veg cabinet.
Germination Station.jpeg
Seedling cup with frosted cup cloche. Note nute pail with cheap drip irrigation timer/pump.
Vegetation Cabinet: 2x2x5 with 1 ViparSpectra® XS1000 100-watt LED grow light.
For mid-stage and finish vegetation.
Currently Hosting: “Mildred,” Do-Si-Dos by Pyramid seeds, sold through current sponsor Seedsman®. Germinated August 25, 2023
Veg Station.jpeg
Veg station with current strain -- Do-Si-Dos under ViparSpectra XS1000 light
Finish Cabinet: 2x4x6 with 2 ViparSpectra® XS1500 150-watt LED grow lights.
For finish vegetation and flowering.
Currently hosting: “Gertrude” (aka Gravel Gertie) on the left, and “Seed Queen” on the right. Both are White Widow genetics acquired from Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds (AMS), grown from standard seeds. Germinated on July 15, 2023.
Gertrude and Seed Queen, White Widow Strain.jpeg
Gertrude is 36" tall, Seed Queen 24" tall. Grown under ViparSpectra XS1000 Lights
Additionally a few convenience items:
Shelves are kept elevated to help make flushing and draining easier.
Flush Drain Setup.jpeg
Tray with pour spout with plant tray set on cabinet shelf helps make flushing very easy.
Plant Ready for Flushing.jpeg
Plant is hooked up to drip irrigation system and pumps out anywhere between 1 to 3 gallons of...
Large saucers sit on turntable bearings for aiding pruning and inspection.
Aluminum Turntable Bearings.jpeg
All 22" drain trays sit on turntable bearings making entire plant easy to access.
Connection nipples for each pot allow me to move pots without removing the drip irrigation emitters.
Connect/Disconnect Nipples.jpeg
These nipples make it easy to move plants from one station to another, or for when I am doing a...
And now a couple of closer looks at Gravel Gertie and Seed Queen, Week 5 after flip.
Hope you follow and enjoy the experience!
MGM