Nirvana Northern Lights Autoflower - First Grow - CFL - Indoors

[Rifleman]

so much potential.

 

[MrWigles]

LOOKING GOOD IL be waiting for Saturday lol

 

[paintedbudman]

Thanks everybody The girls seem healthy and happy so far. I am planning on using Fox Farms nutes and following their schedule (for the most part) throughout this grow. I am planning on starting at 1/2 strength the first week a new nutrient is introduced. I also am going to feed one plant a day early to test for nute burn and if I see no evidence then going ahead and feeding the other girls. If I see them burnt then I will revert to the previous weeks levels or adjust as I estimate is needful. If no issues during the 1st week then I will increase the nute to full strength and repeat. Any opinions on the plan??? I'd love to hear them. Thanks

 

[MrWigles]

I think you are doing everything right so far ! But I never even grew yet lol.. sorry for my input. I've got one question what's your lighting schedule ?

 

[paintedbudman]

I think you are doing everything right so far ! But I never even grew yet lol.. sorry for my input. I've got one question what's your lighting schedule ?

Right now I'm running 18/6. I think I will just leave it there unless i have issues.

 

[nightsmokerG]

the girls looks fine good job

 

[paintedbudman]

I was looking at the girls this morning and I noticed something ... well, several somethings. Am I correct that I have a calcium deficiency? see pics below. If so what do I do, I have been pHing my water and nute solutions. They all were ~6.5. I just checked my soil and it is below. I am using fox forms ocean forest soil. I was reading that with this soil maybe my water and nutes should be adjusted to maybe 6.8-7.0 to contract a somewhat low pH in the soil. I just measure the soil and it has a pH of 5.7 to 5.8.

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 19 – Day 17 – Started a cal mag treatment. Decided to flush/feed #4 as a test. Fed her on a gallon of water with 2 T of Big Bloom, 1 t of Grow Big (1/2 the recommended dose) and 1 t cal-mag+ as a test to see if I should do this to all my plants tomorrow.

Nov 20 – Day 18 – After 24 hours #4 looks very just the same, the “calcium” deficience isn’t any better or any worse. Looking at pH and I think this may be the issue. pH in the effluent is down 5.5-6. On their feeding I will adjust the nute pH up to ~7 in the hopes of counteracting the low pH of the soil. I should have mixed in dolomite lime before planting to ameliorate this problem. Fed the little darlings on 1 gallon nute/calmag flush. Checked the effluent pH towards the end of the flush and although the pH isn’t exactly where I want it to be it is much closer than it was previously. I’ll just have to keep an eye on the babies and make sure they are alright. Can't help myself. I have to post pictures of my little ladies since I had to take them out of the grow box to do the flushing today any ways.

 

[nightsmokerG]

No 4 looks dynamite.well done.

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 21 – Day 19 – I do see significant growth in the plants today, well if not growth they seemed at least “perkier”. No discernable nute burn, not sure if the cal-mag is helping, but so far I haven’t noticed any new brown spots. Checked the soil in a couple pots with the pH meter. Again, not all of them were 6.5 but they were all above 6 this time on the surface. I think I will continue to flush with pHed (to 6.75-7.25) nute water with calmag+ in it until I get initial runoff that is in the mid 6’s. Anybody out there got any suggestions? I’d love to hear ‘em.

 

[WOLFtick3t]

Nothing productive to add as far as possible nute concerns but looking pretty good from here! #4 especially

 

[paintedbudman]

Thanks for the input WOLF. Things still look good this morning. No new spots, maybe I've got this beat. Measured their Height for the first time this morning. #1-4 are all 2.25-2.5" tall. #5 is 3" tall. No stretch that I can see just a lot of spreading out in width, must be getting plenty of light. If I can just keep the nute thing in check I think everything will be good.

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 22 — Day 20 - Things still look good this morning. No new spots, maybe I've got this beat. Measured their Height for the first time this morning. #1-4 are all 2.25-2.5" tall. #5 is 3" tall. No stretch that I can see just a lot of spreading out in width, must be getting plenty of light. If I can just keep the nute thing in check I think everything will be good. This evening the little girls are looking fine (except #4 who looks much better but a bit mottled on the leaves). All of the plants have bushed out and grown even noticeable since I measured their height this morning. All of them are at least ½" taller with #5 being at least ¾" taller. At this rate I will have to remove the one gallon buckets sometime during this next week.. Still no nute problems evident after my mini-flush on Friday. Can't help myself, gotta post a pic here is #5

 

[WOLFtick3t]

She's looking beefy! giving me something to shoot for with my next NL batch

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 23 – Day 21 – They still continue to grow and bush out. All of them look good except #1 (a little small and less developed) and #4 (mottled appearance probably the worst for pH out of wack). I have started trying a foliar spray on #4 (flower kiss from fox farms as directed) mbh , just to see. Also gave a small drink (~12 OZ) of water to #3 and #5 because they were dry.

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 24 – Day 22 – Nothing new. Growth continues. I am still of the opinion I may have to remove a bucket as of this weekend. The top of one of the plants is within an 2 inches of the plexi. When it reaches 1 or less I will lower the planter by 7 inches. Watered the plants pH adjusted water (with cal/mag +) as no they all looked a little parched and some seem to exhibit a look I saw just before they started showing brown spots before figured.

Nov 25 – Day 23 – They grow, looking good. I mixed up the next mininutrient flush/ I plan to put a gallon through pot#1 tomorrow morning (this is the smallest plant so far just). This is to test if my nutes are too strong. If #1 looks good by the following morning, I will assume no problem and feed them all on this mix. Adjusted pH to 7.01 TDS 1210

Nov 26 – Day 23 – HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY> I hope you all had a wonderful turkey day. Put the mini-flush through #1. pH of nutes this morning was 6.99 and the tds was 1140. The initial effluent ph was 5.99 and after 10-15 minutes checked again was 6.02. Will continue to flush with pH 7.00 nutes and water to try to keep pH up and avoid lockout. Pictures below of #1 before I ran my mini-flush.

Am I right and I see very early stages of pistols in a couple of thes e picture. Being my first grow, I'd like someone elses opinion. Thanks.

Update: checked the pH of the water that continued to weep from my planter after I placed it back in my grow box. It is now up to 6.28 So that's good, at least in the short run.

 

[paintedbudman]

Nov 27 – Day 25 – Yesterday I was looking at #3 and #4 and decided in the late evening when after seeing no nute burn evidence on #1 from early that morning to feed them as well. Adjusted pH to ~7.3, initial effluent was 6.0 on these. The same is true for #2 and #5 that I fed this morning. They all are still showing pH problems. But the pH on the effluent has come up. Again I will continue the practi9ce of feeding (and watering) the little darlings with slightly elevated pH until I see the effluent closer to 6.5-6.8. In a couple weeks I’m planning on a full flush with Sledgehammer and maybe this will help with the pH problems. Removed 1 gallon bucket from plants as #5 was within an inch of the Plexiglas ceiling, This moved all the plants 7” further away from the lights. It also made them easier to photograph. Other than the pH problems the plants seem to be thriving. Although they are shorter than I expected at this point (ranging from 4" to 5.5" tall), but from what I have read these will show a significant growth spurt in the next week or 2.

I just spent about 30-40 minutes just staring at the plants in my grow box watching the fans make the leaves flutter and shake. It was mesmerizing. I wasn't even stoned when i did it either

 

[breezy12]

Nov 27 – Day 25 – Yesterday I was looking at #3 and #4 and decided in the late evening when after seeing no nute burn evidence on #1 from early that morning to feed them as well. Adjusted pH to ~7.3, initial effluent was 6.0 on these. The same is true for #2 and #5 that I fed this morning. They all are still showing pH problems. But the pH on the effluent has come up. Again I will continue the practi9ce of feeding (and watering) the little darlings with slightly elevated pH until I see the effluent closer to 6.5-6.8. In a couple weeks I’m planning on a full flush with Sledgehammer and maybe this will help with the pH problems. Removed 1 gallon bucket from plants as #5 was within an inch of the Plexiglas ceiling, This moved all the plants 7” further away from the lights. It also made them easier to photograph. Other than the pH problems the plants seem to be thriving. Although they are shorter than I expected at this point (ranging from 4" to 5.5" tall), but from what I have read these will show a significant growth spurt in the next week or 2.

I just spent about 30-40 minutes just staring at the plants in my grow box watching the fans make the leaves flutter and shake. It was mesmerizing. I wasn't even stoned when i did it either

You plants look amazing man. I will sub in on this (if I can find the sub button lol). I think my two girls are behind yours in size but I hope they get as nice and bushy as yours soon! Funny how we both decided to start our first grow with the same strain at the same time. It will actually make a good comparison of LED and CFL's and of the two seed companies strains (all things kinda remaining constant)

Awesome work buddy!

 

[paintedbudman]

Im doing the exact same grow and pretty much at the same stage - Have set out my plans below based on a really good schedule I got from a knowledgeable guy on here:

The life cycle of auto flowering cannabis.

Another common question I see is when to switch autos from veg to bloom. Many people are under the impression that as soon as they see the first flowers it's time to switch. Perhaps a little explanation of the life cycle of autos will help to clarify this.

Weeks 1 - 3

November 1st — November 21st

Day 1 = November 1 (approximately when popped)
From 14th onwards — potential of mild vegetative nutrients
21st of November — sex may be showing.

Once you've started your seeds and they break the surface of the soil, they are in their seedling stage. The first set of leaves to appear will usually single fingered, followed by a second set that may still be single fingered or perhaps 3 fingered. Once that second set appears growth will start to accelerate as the new leaves provide more photosynthesis. This process will continue, more new leaves, faster growth. Depending on the type of soil in use, mild vegetative nutes can be introduced at week 2. By week 3 most plants will start to show their sex. Males will start to produce pollen sacks and females will display pistols.-


Weeks 4 — 6

November 22nd — December 12th

November 22nd — 28th — this is when the plant will enter the Pre-flowing stage = explosive growth therefore monitor space and lights.
Purchase — an oscillating, atami bombastic, molasses if you can, plus an emergency ona block.
Continue vegetative growth nutrients until vertical growth stops! This should be around about the 5th-12th December.

The plants are now entering a pre flowering stage. During this time the plants should exhibit explosive growth, often as much as a new set of nodes and 1" vertical growth a day. This is the time when they will gain most of their vertical height. Many people make the mistake of switching from vegetative to flowering nutrients at this point, assuming that since they see flowers it must be the proper time. This is incorrect. If the switch to flowering nutes is made at this time the vertical growth will stop and the plant will put it's energy into producing buds. If you need to keep your plants small, or want them to finish earlier, they by all means switch nutes at this point. But if you want to get the most out of your plants continue feeding vegetative nutes until you see the vertical growth slow and stop. Depending on the strain that will usually be sometime during week 5 or 6.-


Weeks 7 — 9

December 13th — January 2nd

About 13th December — Switch to Flowering Nutrients
Buds will start filling out — Smell potential — keep ona near.

By now vertical growth has stopped and the switch to flowering nutrients has been made. The buds will start to fill out and put on weight, becoming hard and tight. Pistols will start to change from white to brown, orange, red, etc. By now the plants will also have developed a strong smell. Toward the end of this phase the large primary and smaller secondary fan leaves will begin to turn yellow. This is an indication that the plant is moving toward the end of it's life.

Weeks 10 — 11

January 3rd — 16th

Weeks 10 - 11. At this time flowering nutes should be discontinued and only plain pHed water fed to flush the remaining nutrients from the soil and improve the taste. Yellowing of the fan leaves will continue as the plant draws the stored energy from them. Eventually they will die and fall off. By the time that the smaller leaves that come from out of the buds will also start to turn yellow. Then it's time to harvest.-

I know that many of you are thinking that the seed bank said the plants will finish in 8-9 weeks, so why are you saying they take 10-11? The claims made by the seed banks are somewhat deceptive. If you switch to flowering nutes at week 3 or 4 the plants can finish in the times the seed banks say but they will remain small and not reach their full potential yield. Years of growing by myself and others has shown that autos do best if you follow this time line.

Of course, there will always be variations depending on the strain, the environment, nutrients, etc. This information is meant to only serve as a general guideline.

Hope you get something from it.

Cheers

A lot of my success can be attributed to some good advice given to me in the first reply I think i received in this grow journal (see above). So far every word of it has rung true. I appreciate the information very much. It has been very helpful in judging how things have been going in the grow and when to expect others to begin. I didn't realize it until I reviewed my entries, my plants have doubled in height in the last week. So Breezy some of that success is thanks to you

 

[breezy12]

A lot of my success can be attributed to some good advice given to me in the first reply I think i received in this grow journal (see above). So far every word of it has rung true. I appreciate the information very much. It has been very helpful in judging how things have been going in the grow and when to expect others to begin. I didn't realize it until I reviewed my entries, my plants have doubled in height in the last week. So Breezy some of that success is thanks to you

haha thanks pal but its the people that pointed me in the direction of that advice.

Loving hearing the plants are well! All the best!