Plato420's Soil Grow - Pure Kush - BD - OG - NL - BlackJack 2011

[Plato420]

Wow I just started doing some research on the BotaniGaurd and good god man I'm not sure if I even want it in my house form what the caution statements are saying. I basically need to be in full coveralls with respirator mask, gloves, eye protection and if this stuff touches your skin its bad news. I was also hoping to be all organic and this is very far from organic because of the petroleum distillates. Plus on top of that this shit is around $99 on line. Oh boy what to do now??? I guess its time to suit up and get biological on their ass. however I am so over budget with this already I was hoping for a much safer and less expensive cure. More research is needed before I purchase this stuff.

Anyone used BotaniGaurd before?

 

[xbox4him]

Some people use Azamax or Bayer Tree and Shrub from what ive seen with a quick google search. Those may be some alternatives.

 

[Plato420]

Some people use Azamax or Bayer Tree and Shrub from what ive seen with a quick google search. Those may be some alternatives.

Okay cool thanks Xbox. I have been using a mixture of warm water neem oil and sm90 as a soil drench. I think if this mix doesn't take care of it I will try the Azamax because it seems much safer. I will leave the BotaniGaurd for a last resort.

 

[Plato420]

So decided I will pick up the Azamax tomorrow and begin a soil drench until I don't see any more signs of these things in the water runoff. Also I'm having second thought if these are really root aphids or not? If they are root aphids I found them in there very beginning stages of development cause from what I have read they can be very bad news. Most of the plants have little to none of these things so its mainly the Pure Kush that I need to watch closely however they will all be receiving the treatment.

They are starting to build a nice fragrance and got some crystals going, looking very beautiful. The Blue Dream has a light smell of fresh ripening berries and the Blackjack has a very fruit like aroma also. The smell is very light across the board currently. I will have to tie up some of the Skywalker and the Pure Kush. lots of long stem with not a lot of support. The blue dream has a very rigid support to its stalk and don't think she will need much in the way of additional support.

I now have a very deep appreciation for this wonderful plant and learning to care for her in soil at my current location is posing quite difficult with all the different variables. I am looking forward to building subcools super soil starting with a base of Roots Organic. This is what I wanted to do for this current grow but I let the grow store guy talk me out of it. Should have stayed with my gut. If I don't mix subcools soil it will be something similar. Doing lots of research now for the next grow.

 

[Plato420]

Root aphids | Cannabis Culture Magazine

this is the best info I have found yet about the Root Aphids.

Will also be picking up some Beneficial nematodes which apparently feast on bugs that are in the soil.

 

[Plato420]

Here is some more info on the Root Aphids. I did see one gnat so I think I might have Gnats because the root aphids with wings it says in this article will not fly.


Root Aphids are small light green or off-white oval-like creatures with or without wings, which live on the roots of plants. Just like their
counterparts above ground, they feed by sucking sap, but from roots instead of stems or leaves. There are several species of Phemphigus
(root aphids), and unfortunately, when they are feeding in the soil there are few, if any, winged adults around to warn you. Many times
root aphids will apear with or without wings, but in either case will not fly

 

[Plato420]

Made the first application of Azatrol yesterday. Went with Azatrol instead of Azamax cause the Azatrol came in a smaller more better priced bottle. Still $70 for a pint though. I took a closer look at the Pure Kush and she has some very serious leaf damage on all levels and is now expressing something like a PH issue and I know that is not the case so I am praying that she hangs in there. I can only assume this issue came from the PK because she has had issues with leaf yellowing since I get here as a clone. I hope and pray. a bit bummed especially since I am still battling the powder mildew on one of the norther lights plants and seems to be isolated to just the one plant. If I can just make it to the end of May I can chop early if I have to but am hoping I can let them fill out to there full potential. Will do another Azatrol root drench in about 4-5 days. Will be taking a short brake after this grow to clean everything and let it set for a few days. I have been tracking my hours and spend around 2-3 hours average per day caring for the plants. I would have to say this has not been easy for me and quite exhausting in fact. Most of you all on here make it look easy... lol Nice big colas hey man no problem.

 

[xbox4him]

Hey brotha, first grows are always a learning experience. Afterwards you basically understand what the plant goes through and you develop your own special touches and quickly it becomes second nature for yah. I personally think going through these headaches on the first grow is beneficial because for future grows you'll know how to handle each situation without building up too much stress over it. Once you get a feel for it, you'll be pro

For instance im on my third grow plant right now and whenever i run into a problem i give it a couple of days to see if she will get worse or stay, and if she gets worse than i look up whats going wrong with the plant and take action from there. On my current grow the big girl was dropping leaves for no reason and i was quite puzzled, but now she has stopped. (im assuming she was self pruning excess leaves lol)

Keep hangin in there man, you'll pull through and have some bomb bud in the end

 

[Plato420]

Hey brotha, first grows are always a learning experience. Afterwards you basically understand what the plant goes through and you develop your own special touches and quickly it becomes second nature for yah. I personally think going through these headaches on the first grow is beneficial because for future grows you'll know how to handle each situation without building up too much stress over it. Once you get a feel for it, you'll be pro

For instance im on my third grow plant right now and whenever i run into a problem i give it a couple of days to see if she will get worse or stay, and if she gets worse than i look up whats going wrong with the plant and take action from there. On my current grow the big girl was dropping leaves for no reason and i was quite puzzled, but now she has stopped. (im assuming she was self pruning excess leaves lol)

Keep hangin in there man, you'll pull through and have some bomb bud in the end

Thanks Xbox! Definitely appreciate the advice and also the support! I'm looking forward to the bomb bud part but still trying to enjoy the process on the way. Thanks again xbox. Your grow is looking dank!

 

[Plato420]

Here are a few photos. the ladies seem to be doing well so will not worry too much about the "things" in the soil just keeping them at bay with the Azatrol treatment. So far have treated 2 times 6 days apart with a 2-tbs Azatrol per gallon of water. Since my living space is very close to the grow I have to leave the house for about 4 hours till the Azatrol vapors disappear. After application I zip up the tent and even with the ventilation in and out it still was not enough and caused slight burning of the nose, dry stinging eyes, and a slight dizziness so now in the future I will leave the house after application. This is day 30 flower

Pure Kush on the far left the center and back right are Skywalker OG in front of that is the Northern Light cola and a view of the Blue Dream in the front.

Northern Light

Blackjack

This seems to be a bit of a different phenotype than the other Blackjack plant

Blue Dream Birds eye view

 

[xbox4him]

Holy!! Your Blue Dream has a HEAVY sativa pheno than mine! DAMN

Pumpin buds like its nobody's business!!

 

[Plato420]

Holy!! Your Blue Dream has a HEAVY sativa pheno than mine! DAMN

Pumpin buds like its nobody's business!!

the tric production is crazy on the BD and has an aroma of fresh berries. I wish we could do scratch and sniff. She definitely has a strong sativa pheno, I think maybe from the haze in her. Looking nicer and nicer every day! thanks

 

[ChicagoJoe]

Just read thru your journal.
Keep up the good work. Good luck on solving the pest problem.
It is better to lose one plant than the whole crop.

 

[Plato420]

Just read thru your journal.
Keep up the good work. Good luck on solving the pest problem.
It is better to lose one plant than the whole crop.

Hey thanks Chicagojoe! I think the PK has stabilized, she has stopped dropping leaves and the weird spots that look like a PH issue have stopped appearing on new growth. Will continue the Azatrol treatment until about 1 week from harvest so looks like the PK is hanging in there. I'm guessing about 3-4 more weeks then 1 week of flush.

 

[Cona]

Hey...you sure they are root aphids? I had thos things float up also when watering. I use worm castings in my soil and they came in on the worm castings. They were called springtails and are harmless. Love your grow by the way. Looks alot like mine. Ive got the blackjack and pure power plant. I recommend the PPP and definitly the ak48....your killen it with that grow dude. Keep up the good work man.

Cona

 

[Plato420]

Hey...you sure they are root aphids? I had thos things float up also when watering. I use worm castings in my soil and they came in on the worm castings. They were called springtails and are harmless. Love your grow by the way. Looks alot like mine. Ive got the blackjack and pure power plant. I recommend the PPP and definitly the ak48....your killen it with that grow dude. Keep up the good work man.

Cona

Hey Cona! Thanks for stopping by! I just did a little research on the springtails and that's what they are!!!! I was definitely suspicious they were something other than root aphids, thank god. Also the plants have such amazing growth and were not stunted like lots of root aphid cases. Glad to know now they are harmless and will stop my Azatrol root drench. Whew...the Azatrol drench was a RPITA. My very first gut instinct told me they were harmless and should of went with it. Thanks again and my guess is the PK just has its own issues its dealing with. Also here is the last paragraph of the info I found on the springtails.

Like so many of the nuisance bugs in our gardens, springtails serve a very beneficial purpose in nature, as decomposers and recyclers of organic matter. They cannot harm us, but become a nuisance when they enter the home or occur in large numbers in our pools or patios. With their ability to produce large numbers of offspring there have been incidents where up to 100,000 springtails were found on a single cubic yard of soil. With these kinds of population outbreaks it increases the chances that you will find them moving into your home, and bouncing around in sinks, on floors, on counters, or on your arms, and moisture management and habitat removal are the keys to their control.

 

[Cona]

Oh good...yea those suckers had me rattled when I first saw em also. I get worm castings right from the farm in 5 gallon buckets. What a deal 5 gallons for 6 bucks of the b grade and 12 for the fine grade...only difference is the fine grade is screened finer by 1/8 inch. I make microbial teas for my veggies and flowers as well as my marijuana plants. They love it.

What other nervana strains have you tried? I just sprouted 2 beans a few days ago. ICE and Raspberry Cough. I will add this to my perpetual grow of Pure power plant, blackjack, superskunk, bluecheese and blueberry.

Cona

From the evergreen state of Washington!!!

 

[Plato420]

Oh good...yea those suckers had me rattled when I first saw em also. I get worm castings right from the farm in 5 gallon buckets. What a deal 5 gallons for 6 bucks of the b grade and 12 for the fine grade...only difference is the fine grade is screened finer by 1/8 inch. I make microbial teas for my veggies and flowers as well as my marijuana plants. They love it.

What other nervana strains have you tried? I just sprouted 2 beans a few days ago. ICE and Raspberry Cough. I will add this to my perpetual grow of Pure power plant, blackjack, superskunk, bluecheese and blueberry.

Cona

From the evergreen state of Washington!!!

Wow that is a great deal! wish I could get worm casting for inexpensive like that. Still building my set up and cant wait to get my Can-O-Worms vermacomposting system! Then I will have fresh worm castings right at home! My only experience with Nirvana seeds is my current Blackjack and Norther Light, which I think are looking nice and sweet. I would like to try several of Nirvana's other strains for future grows. On the list so far is Urban Poison. Everything else is TBD but looking at Wonder woman, NYPD, Venus Flytrap, AK-48, Blue Mystic, Bubbleicious, White Castle, super Skunk, Full Moon, Hawaii Maui Waui, and Chrystal. Still doing some research on what will work best for me.

Cona do you have a grow journal going? Would love to see your blackjack, PPP and other plants in your garden.

 

[Plato420]

I have been having issues controlling my temp in the cab because of the dehumidifier blowing hot air. Before the dehumidifier my temps were only 2 degreees above ambient room temp in cab around 78F now when the dehumidifier turns on it shoots up to 83-86 at peak. This concerns me because it is causing a constant temp swing every time the dehumidifier kicks on. Anyone know of a way I can combat this or alternative? I was thinking if I put the dehumidifier outside the tent near the intake if this might work but don't think this would be as effective as I would like. Any opinions?

 

[Plato420]

Anyone know how to edit your photo gallery? I want to delete a few pics...