Otto Gelato’s First Grow: Gelato, Granddaddy Black, Blueberry & Northern Lights 19/20

[Otto Gelato]

I think the burned bud is healing. More pistils are coming out. Don’t know if it will be a viable bud. We’ll see.

 

[Otto Gelato]

A little teaser for the next grow journal!

 

[Backlipslide]

You’ve got an all star lineup coming up!!

 

[Otto Gelato]

Any educated guesses as to how far from harvest I am?

To me, these trichromes still look mostly clear and I don’t see any amber. So I’m thinking 2 more weeks or so. Thoughts?

 

[Backlipslide]

Hard to tell from the pics provided, it’s always so difficult to actually see the trichs through a photo. Remember when checking the trichs, to check the calyx over a sugar leaf. They seem to mature faster on a sugar leaf. Just from the pics provided, I would say week in a half, to two weeks.

 

[Otto Gelato]

So, I think I’m about a week or two from harvest, give or take. I’m interested to hear folks’ opinions on flushing at the end. I know that there are varying schools of thought on this.

 

[Backlipslide]

Yes you can flush, but hit them with nutrients after as well. Check out sheds no flush club he has in his links. They will explain it easier then I can @InTheShed

 

[InTheShed]

I’m interested to hear folks’ opinions on flushing at the end. I know that there are varying schools of thought on this.

Great question Otto and congratulations on being open to hearing opinions! That can be rare when it comes to flushing .

One thing to clear up is what you mean by flushing, because it's used to mean two different things. The way it mostly seems to be used is when someone wants to feed plain water for the last x weeks because they've heard that it's the way to make the buds taste better, clear the "nute taste," and get rid of excess nutrients from the flowers before harvest.

That is a physical impossibility based on plant science, and it's explained in the two #noflushclub links in my sig, which are all science, no bro-science.

The other use of the word "flushing" relates to clearing soil or soilless (peat) media of excess salts and unused ions that can build up when feeding any synthetic nutrient, regardless of brand. In that instance, a one-time flushing of plain un-pH'd water through the pot, at a rate of 2-3x the pot volume, will reset the substrate and allow the roots clean access to the nutes they need. It is usually done around 3 weeks from expected harvest, and is immediately followed by full-strength nutes (plain water, then nute water, all in the same session). You would then continue feeding what the plant needs right up until harvest.

One word, two meanings. One complete myth, one complete fact.

I hope that helps!

 

[Otto Gelato]

Great question Otto and congratulations on being open to hearing opinions! That can be rare when it comes to flushing .

One thing to clear up is what you mean by flushing, because it's used to mean two different things. The way it mostly seems to be used is when someone wants to feed plain water for the last x weeks because they've heard that it's the way to make the buds taste better, clear the "nute taste," and get rid of excess nutrients from the flowers before harvest.

That is a physical impossibility based on plant science, and it's explained in the two #noflushclub links in my sig, which are all science, no bro-science.

The other use of the word "flushing" relates to clearing soil or soilless (peat) media of excess salts and unused ions that can build up when feeding any synthetic nutrient, regardless of brand. In that instance, a one-time flushing of plain un-pH'd water through the pot, at a rate of 2-3x the pot volume, will reset the substrate and allow the roots clean access to the nutes they need. It is usually done around 3 weeks from expected harvest, and is immediately followed by full-strength nutes (plain water, then nute water, all in the same session). You would then continue feeding what the plant needs right up until harvest.

One word, two meanings. One complete myth, one complete fact.

I hope that helps!

Thanks. I’ve been doing periodic flushes to clean out salt buildup when I have high output EC. Usually any time output EC is .4 higher or more than input. I just run the auto system manually with straight water for a few minutes, vaacum out the ensuing water and go back to the normal nutrient regime.

I was more asking about final flush. Many swear by it, I know, but it seems counter intuitive to starve your plants right before harvest. On the other hand, I used to be in the wine business and I know that grapes can pick up aromas from their environment, like Australian Shiraz that grows next to a Eucalyptus forest and picks up that Eucalyptus or French wines made from grapes grown with lavender picking up that scent. So I’m looking for more info.

I’ll definitely check out your posts on the subject. Thanks.

 

[InTheShed]

I have no problem with people feeding plain water to their plants if they want to, I just want to let folks know that doing it to clear nutes from the buds for a better taste is alchemy.

 

[Otto Gelato]

Hard to tell from the pics provided, it’s always so difficult to actually see the trichs through a photo. Remember when checking the trichs, to check the calyx over a sugar leaf. They seem to mature faster on a sugar leaf. Just from the pics provided, I would say week in a half, to two weeks.

Here are some better pictures, using a jeweler’s loupe. I’m still seeing mostly clear here. But I’m not sure of my ability to read that. There does appear to be a tiny bit of amber starting too. What do you think?

 

[InTheShed]

I don't spend much time looking at the sugar leaves, and your first and third pic show different ripeness. First pic looks about half and half with a few ambers, third looks like a lot more clear.

 

[Backlipslide]

Here are some better pictures, using a jeweler’s loupe. I’m still seeing mostly clear here. But I’m not sure of my ability to read that. There does appear to be a tiny bit of amber starting too. What do you think?

Great photos, yes for best results, it’s best to look at the calyx’s not the sugar leaves. I didn’t look at all of the photos, but I’m going off the first photo. I do some amber, but there are still a lot of clear. They’re close, but not close enough! Your looking for more of a couch lock high yeah?

here’s a photo to help you judge better.

 

[Otto Gelato]

We’re going to start harvesting the Granddaddy in the next couple of days. The Gelato still need a bit of time I think, but the buds are huge:

I’ll be putting up my veg tent in the next couple of days. Using the tent that collapsed and making a PVC frame for it. It won’t need to support much weight, so should be good.

 

[Backlipslide]

Looking fantastic

 

[Otto Gelato]

So I have been sitting in front of the TV trimming all week...definitely investing in a trimmer next go. Lol.


Hopefully it will get finished over the next couple of days. Once everything is weighed, dried and in jars, I’ll take some for potency testing at my local grow store. They use a CannaDX, which I know is imperfect, but will give me an idea.

Anyways, here’s a couple of pictures of one Gelato top cola that I believe ranks as the biggest bud I have ever held.

 

[InTheShed]

Congrats on the harvest Otto! You have some great meds there, and that spear is a sight to behold.

 

[Backlipslide]

Man!

 

[Otto Gelato]

Most of the weed is curing in jars now. There’s still one GrandDaddy in the tent that will get chopped tomorrow and some Sativas that I put in the tent later to flower - they have
3 or 4 more weeks.

All told I managed to harvest a couple of pounds of quality medicine that’s way better than any of the mass produced store stuff here in Canada.

I’ll post a description of the high once the curing is done.

 

[Pennywise]

Great job on this run!