Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 2017

[Canada Guy]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

That sucks. I'm sure it will end up fine. Your very good at coming up with solutions!

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 54 -- Drain, rinse, & refill reservoir

The plant looks great, with no sign of problems after yesterday's pH crash, but I know from experience (or suspect anyway) that the damage caused by big pH swings can take days to appear as brown spots on the older leaves.

Saturday is reservoir drain and refill day.

I used the same mix as last week, but did not dilute it from 5 gallons to 6 this time (so it's 550 PPM), nor did I adjust the pH from the 6.2 level it arrives at without adjustment. Rather than shooting for fairly exact level of 5.8, I'm going to be OK with it in a nominal range of 5.5 to 6.5. I'm also wondering if I don't adjust the pH if it has will work better. (That is, I'm wondering if a solution that is engineered and buffered to a certain level by the manufacturer should be left be rather than trying to change it.) GH says adjusting the pH is OK, but I have read of a couple of cases now of people running into weird results when adjusting Advanced Nutrients' "pH Perfect" system. In short, my latest thinking is that if the mix comes out at a pH that's in the acceptable range, leave it and see how it does.

After draining, I rinsed the hydroton and reservoir with about a gallon of fresh media, then refilled the reservoir.

There are 18 bud sites. The ones at the "top" of the plant (which was pulled over 90 degrees) like this one are the most mature. The ones coming off the bottom of the plant are about a week behind, so it looks like it will be a phased harvest when that day comes (in roughly 11 days, given a 6 week flowering time).

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Thinkin' 'bout pH Management

After watching my reservoir pH change (and crash), I have been wishing that I understood pH dynamics better in hydroponics. I have read various explanations for pH variations, but I think it's complicated, and nothing I have read so far has led to the "Ah ha!" moment.

Remembering the old rule, "If all else fails, read the instructions," I looked for advice at General Hydroponics' website and found "Advanced Nutrient Management for Hydroponics Growers." I think it's a good article. It says not obsess about pH level because changing it too much and too quickly can do more damage than good, so just let pH drift between pH 5.5 and 7.0. (They also say not to change the temperature of the water too quickly, something I have been lax about when doing media changes.)

These are also helpful:
Understanding pH in Hydroponics – Part No.1
Understanding pH in Hydroponics – Part No.2

I have been guilty of what I'm not guessing is a common rookie mistake of chasing pH 5.8 way too aggressively, first squirting pH Up/Down right into the reservoir (What was I thinking!), then adding it in more dilute form. My slowly evolving understanding is that it's best to leave well enough alone, so I'm trying to do that now. Man, my next grow is going to be so much easier on my poor plant...

If you have comments or suggestions about pH management, I'd certainly like to hear them.

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 60 -- Building bigger buds

I must of course post photos 60 days from seed! She's drinking a gallon of 550 PPM "Mid bloom" nutrients a day, but the only leaves she's producing are coming out of buds, so I'm guessing that most of her energy is going into bud building. Her flowers are 2" to 3" long now and not as dense as the ones you see in bud porn shots but they're getting bigger and denser every day.

pH has stabilized (and I've stopped micromanaging it)
I did not adjust the pH of the nute solution when I mixed it (I just left it at 6.2), and I have not been adjusting pH other than by topping off with a lot of pH 6.2 nutrient mix. pH for the six days since the reservoir refresh six days ago has gone as high a 6.5 and as low as 6.2. I think this is MUCH better than chasing a magic pH number with a bottle of pH Up in one hand and pH down in the other.

Chelated nutrients
I looked at the label of the General Hydroponics FloraMicro micronutrients bottle and noticed this time that most of the nutrients have EDTA, which is a chelating agent (very cool chemical and process--worth looking up if you haven't seen it before: EDTA at wikipedia), so I'm more comfortable now with a broader pH range because chelated nutrients should be available across a greater range of pH.

Harvest when?
Based on what I have read from others and CropKing's information, harvest is about a week away?

Dwarf Low Flyer in full flower 60 days from seed

Buds formed and matured at slightly different times and are getting different amounts of light.
This bud's pistils have darkened, but most are still frosty white.

 

[Canada Guy]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Looking good!

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 61 -- Switch to "Late Bloom" Nutrients

Reservoir refresh
Today was the weekly Saturday reservoir flush, rinse, and fill.
I switched to a "Late Bloom" low nitrogen, high phosphate ratio of 0 Grow, 2.5 Micro, 5 Bloom. pH 6.1 and 530 PPM (no pH adjustment to my 28 PPM water).

A moment's inattention and bad things happen...
When I measured the pH and PPM of the second 2.5 gallon batch, it was way off, so I poured it down the drain and did it again. On the next batch I got the same values as the first batch. I'm methodical to a fault, but this is the second time I have caught myself goofing up a simple mixing and measuring process. Ya gotta pay attention!

Another pH crash
The pH this morning was 5.0 after having stayed between 6.5 and 5.8 all week. I don't understand why these pH crashes keep happening. (They do seem to happen at the end of the week.) PPMs were 440 last night, and they have been that low on a number of nights before. So is it an imbalance? That seems unlikely given that I top off the nutes daily or even twice daily with fresh stock. I wish I understood this better. The only real change has been that the reservoir water was up to 83 degrees after some warm weather.

40% humidity for the bloom cycle
I have read enough horror stories about bud rot and mildew that I want to make sure the humidity is low as the buds get denser. I also have two small fans for good air circulation and my grow area is not all sealed off like some tents seem to be.

3" long bud (fingers in background for scale) is the biggest of them all. It is getting denser as more calyxes fill in.

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 62 -- Can I Use Duct Tape to Mount My Lights?

Her buds are filling in nicely, not like some monster growing under a 1000 watt light, but not bad for a dwarf strain under CFLs and LEDs.

Burn Baby Burn
When the little voice in the back of your head says, "That's probably not a good idea," you should probably listen. Like holding a light in place with duct tape. Dumb. Fortunately it just fell and burned some old fan leaves at the bottom. From my readings, it seems like dropping lights on plants is fairly common. This was my turn I guess.

Warm weather=lots of drinking & eating
We are having sunny and warm weather. The reservoir temperature is in the 80s. The plant is drinking like crazy and consuming lots of nutes. You'd think that since she's not really growing vegetatively anymore that the nutrient consumption would be less, but she reduced the tank PPMs but 25 last night, and that's a lot.

She continues to do well. I'm just taking care of her needs and waiting for her to get done flowering!

Burns from fallen LED light bulb getting intimate with the leaves

 

[fabzster]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 61 -- Switch to "Late Bloom" Nutrients

Reservoir refresh
Today was the weekly Saturday reservoir flush, rinse, and fill.
I switched to a "Late Bloom" low nitrogen, high phosphate ratio of 0 Grow, 2.5 Micro, 5 Bloom. pH 6.1 and 530 PPM (no pH adjustment to my 28 PPM water).

A moment's inattention and bad things happen...
When I measured the pH and PPM of the second 2.5 gallon batch, it was way off, so I poured it down the drain and did it again. On the next batch I got the same values as the first batch. I'm methodical to a fault, but this is the second time I have caught myself goofing up a simple mixing and measuring process. Ya gotta pay attention!

Another pH crash
The pH this morning was 5.0 after having stayed between 6.5 and 5.8 all week. I don't understand why these pH crashes keep happening. (They do seem to happen at the end of the week.) PPMs were 440 last night, and they have been that low on a number of nights before. So is it an imbalance? That seems unlikely given that I top off the nutes daily or even twice daily with fresh stock. I wish I understood this better. The only real change has been that the reservoir water was up to 83 degrees after some warm weather.

40% humidity for the bloom cycle
I have read enough horror stories about bud rot and mildew that I want to make sure the humidity is low as the buds get denser. I also have two small fans for good air circulation and my grow area is not all sealed off like some tents seem to be.

3" long bud (fingers in background for scale) is the biggest of them all. It is getting denser as more calyxes fill in.

Looking nice and frosty

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Day 64 -- End of sixth week of flowering, pH management, when to harvest?

Crop King Seeds says Dwarf Low Flyer has a six week flowering time, and today is the end of the sixth week from when preflowers appeared. Most of the pistilate hairs on the buds are still white and sticking straight out, though, so it's too early to harvest. I'm not sure, but it seems like even bud development has slowed, though? (I could very well be wrong about that.)

Scoping the trichomes
Macro shots seem to show a mix of clear and slightly cloudy trichomes. I need to use a tripod (a trichome tripod ) for closer and steadier shots or to use a different, better magnifier.

pH management -- add another gallon!
pH dropped from 5.8 to 5.2 overnight. My working hypothesis is that the 2.5 gallons of nutes I have in the reservoir are just not enough to dilute and thus stabilize the effects of a mature plant with a huge root mass, so I'm adding another gallon of nutrient mix to the reservoir, increasing the capacity by 40%.

As I write this, it occurs to me that I have been measuring the volume in the reservoir with a dipstick (a ruler). As the volume of the root mass has increased, the amount of fluid for X millimeters of depth has been getting lower and lower. That is, effectively, as the volume of roots has grown, the volume of fluid has decreased! That was dumb. I'm hoping that significantly more volume will mean significantly better pH stability.

Adding an extra gallon of Late Bloom mix to the reservoir

Dwarf Low Flyer bud at the end of the sixth week of flowering. Still not ready.

Edit:A few hours later: Three quarts of pH 6.2 nutes have only raised the pH to 5.4, so I'm adding 1 ml of pH Up to the last quart to try to get my reservoir's pH out of the basement.

 

[fabzster]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

As I write this, it occurs to me that I have been measuring the volume in the reservoir with a dipstick (a ruler). As the volume of the root mass has increased, the amount of fluid for X millimeters of depth has been getting lower and lower. That is, effectively, as the volume of roots has grown, the volume of fluid has decreased! That was dumb. I'm hoping that significantly more volume will mean significantly better pH stability.

How exciting!!!! you are almost there! Do you see any amber ones yet?
I do think that the dipstick method could cause you some issues, I will post a pic of what I did on mine to make sure I can see what level the water is at, maybe this will be much better for you, hope it helps.

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

How exciting!!Do you see any amber ones yet?

Thanks! There are some amber ones, but I think those are mostly from the lights being too hot and my banging into them? Most are still virginal white.

I will post a pic of what I did on mine to make sure I can see what level the water is at, maybe this will be much better for you, hope it helps.

A sight glass! Just like on a steam locomotive's boiler! Cool. Definitely a lot less fussing than sticking a millimeter ruler into the tank twice a day and then trying to read it with a flashlight.

 

[fabzster]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Most are still virginal white.

She lied to you.....lol
So still a way to go then, I also have read it depends on what type of stone you prefer, the amber ones give more of a couch lock indica stone, but you have to harvest before they all degrade.

A sight glass! Just like on a steam locomotive's boiler! Cool. Definitely a lot less fussing than sticking a millimeter ruler into the tank twice a day and then trying to read it with a flashlight.

Wahahahaha that sounds like a major mission and balancing act in the dark.

I must say I never thought about the root mass before regarding the water level. That would mean less water and all Calculations for nutrients would be off, that's probably why ppm an ec are so important.

 

[Gbmore Grow]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Love what you got going on! I have a Dwarf I'm doing as well.....check me out if you get a chance

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

So still a way to go then, I also have read it depends on what type of stone you prefer, the amber ones give more of a couch lock indica stone, but you have to harvest before they all degrade.

That's what I have read too. (I was just reading the fabulous Nebula Haze's commentary and advice on that this morning at her site).

I often wonder how much of the various different types of high that are attributed to different strains and different levels of maturity are real and how much are just subjective interpretation. I look forward to someday getting marijuana off the Class 1 substances list so we do some real science on this. For now, though, I'm definitely aiming for maximum potency (although Dwarf Low Flyer is not a very potent strain).

I must say I never thought about the root mass before regarding the water level. That would mean less water and all Calculations for nutrients would be off, that's probably why ppm an ec are so important.

Yeah, right? I mean root mass is at least 10% of the reservoir now (and they also limit circulation, though I have two water pumps and one air pump going in there). PPM/EC are extremely useful, but you don't know what the various ions that are driving it are. And as I said, I have a relatively big plant with its feet in a small reservoir now, so its absorption and excretion can really throw off the pH. It will be interesting to see if I get better stability at 4 gallons. I might even go up to 5, though it's awfully close to harvest to be fooling around...

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Love what you got going on! I have a Dwarf I'm doing as well.....check me out if you get a chance

Hi GG -- I enjoyed going through your DLF grow log. I thought I was all up to date on reading the other DLF logs here, but I missed yours. I'll be following along now.

I think those air pots are brilliant. I just wish they weren't so stupid expen$ive (says the guy who has dropped hundreds of dollars for weed-related stuff in the past few months...).

Flash from the past: I remember seeing the black light poster in your grow room hanging in The American Dream head shop in 1970! That really took me back. I could almost smell the vanilla incense!

Thanks for dropping by!

 

[Gbmore Grow]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

Appreciate ya! I think I gave it too much molasses, thus the curl, so I plan on giving it a few JUST RO watering's...I have of a Candy Cane that wasn't supposed to stay, that I may have to make room for...she is currently outside and looking good but I feel she will come along too slow.....And YES! Airports are rather costly. I lucked up and got that one for $20! Homeboy hookup....to be honest, I kinda like the fabric smart pots better.

 

[Gbmore Grow]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

And the pic is indeed from the 70s...got it off of Ebay...I love it.

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

I kinda like the fabric smart pots better.

It's fun to try different technologies. I love the pictures of the patterns that roots grow into with those things. Why is it that no one thought of grow containers that breath better earlier. (Kinda like wheels on suitcases--so obvious once you see it.)

 

[Gbmore Grow]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

So obvious! But really, if you put well placed holes in a regular pot throughout the whole pot and not just the bottom...I imagine it may work the same.

Question??? How did you link my journal using the words "your DLF grow log"...Im still trying to figure this site out???

 

[Scientific]

Re: Scientific's Hydro Dwarf Low Flyer 24/7 Illumination Fireplace Grow Journal - 201

How did you link my journal using the words "your DLF grow log"

1. Copy the URL of the page you want to link to.
2. Highlight the text where you want the link (e.g. "your DLF grow log").
3. Click the icon with the blue globe and chain link.
4. Paste in the copied URL.