Space Grow 2022: Skywalker OG, Romulan, Jack The Ripper & DV

[TwelveCoffee]

Are you thinking of using it to tie branches down, or to make hooks?
@Stunger had some issues with wire cutting into branches when he did LST on his balcony grow this summer (our winter). I'll see if I can find the post to link it. Here we go, post #120.

Stunger's Organic Soil Stealth Balcony: Landrace Mulanje & Other Sativas

Yep. About to hit stretch here in SA. The pure sativa are getting massive already and will likely double or triple in the next month and a half. We get smashed with wind here too. They get to 100km/h at times. Found strapping them down on to a net like a scrog works the best and the plants...

www.420magazine.com

Was thinking to make hooks if I use it to tie branches down I’ll have to probably wrap them in some craft felt or something so they don’t dig my fiancée is all arts and craft so I know she has something

 

[Melville Hobbes]

Great job Mel. I can see exactly what you are doing there. Would soldering wire work? That's nice and bendy isn't it? What should I ask for at the hardware store?

Normally I would stick with the rubber coated gardening wire. It's not as much of a consideration for your indoor grow, but it keeps the branches from getting damaged in winds. We can get it in the Dollar store here in Canada, but I don't know where it would be in SA, or if it would be expensive.
Isn't there a high level of lead in soldering wire, or did they remove it? If so I wouldn't want it in direct contact with anything I'm going to ingest. Maybe baling wire since you're indoors, you'd just have to make sure you didn't wrap it around any branches.
When I used Carhooks in my winter grow the plant lifted them right out of the ground a few times, so I would think that would happen before it could dig in enough to damage any branches if you use it for hooks.

 

[Stunger]

Normally I would stick with the rubber coated gardening wire. It's not as much of a consideration for your indoor grow, but it keeps the branches from getting damaged in winds. We can get it in the Dollar store here in Canada, but I don't know where it would be in SA, or if it would be expensive.
Isn't there a high level of lead in soldering wire, or did they remove it? If so I wouldn't want it in direct contact with anything I'm going to ingest. Maybe baling wire since you're indoors, you'd just have to make sure you didn't wrap it around any branches.
When I used Carhooks in my winter grow the plant lifted them right out of the ground a few times, so I would think that would happen before it could dig in enough to damage any branches if you use it for hooks.

Cheers Mel, the plastic coated wire that I had issues with this grow was fiercely strong, even when wrapped loosely around a stem, when I thought the stem's natural growing expansion would push the wire 'more open', but it didn't, where it was wrapped the stem grew around the wire which cut into it causing some damage in places.

The later part of training in my grow, I avoided any direct contact with that wire on the plant, and instead used some rubber coated gardening wire (as you suggest) to make a loop around the stem that I then fixed the training wire to, much safer that way. Some people have used cloth ties, but I once had some stem rot occur when I was using cloth ties and I wondered if the fact that in rain that they can stay soggy for long periods, whether that contributed to the stem rot, so since then I have avoided using cloth ties for that reason even though they appear to be nice and kind to the plant for softness.

 

[Bill284]

Since I'm a little tired I forgot that I have a pic or two from uppotting, so they'll be here too.

These are both Jacinda

I decided to use Jacinda for the training pics because her open structure makes things a little easier to see.
First step is to make the Carhooks (a creation of @Carcass ). I used to wait a little longer to start training the top branches so that I could just attach them straight to the dowel/rod (which will come up when I continue training them into shape, not today), but after @Trala introduced me to them I realized they could be used to get started a bit earlier

The next step is to pull the top two branches down with the hooks. If you spin the pot 180 degrees after putting the fist one in, you would e putting the second hook in the same way as the first, so they actually end up on opposite sides of the branches.

Step 3, do the same thing with the next set of branches.

As you may notice, I screwed up here. I fixed it later, but as usual, I did it by moving 3 of them, instead of just one, lol.

You want these hooks as close to the stem as possible, so it is protected from being torqued in the next steps.

Step 4 is to bend the next set of branches against the skewer holding the Carhook above, and to place another hook holding the branch so that it will be growing up into an open space afterwards.

And continue doing so with all the remaining branches

And that is how I begin training my plants.

And here is a pic from above.

If there's anything you're not clear on, or if you would like me to upload a pic or two edited to highlight a step just let me know. If you would like to see a step in more detail I will be training Lucille on Thursday morning, and I will be training Jacinda sometime around then too (I've already done Donatra).

If you have any questions just let me know.

Nice tutorial M.H, good morning btw hope you had a nice weekend.
Sunny for a change.
We have black flies now though , no fun
Well I guess you and T.C. have the girls outside at night down there.
I have 2 flats on the dinning table now staying warm , " it's 3 am" still a little chilly here at night.
Good thing Stacey has patience with me.
Your off to a great start outside don't know if I can catch up but I'm going try.

Stay safe
Bill

 

[Krissi Carbone]

Phew! Holy outdoor beans!

DONATRA is my girl. Not that the others don't deserve the most love but this one is special, I feels it!

Good luck on this grow Mel! Happy to watch!

 

[HashGirl]

Your ladies look great, Mel and for the tutorial. You sure make it look easy.

Was thinking to make hooks if I use it to tie branches down I’ll have to probably wrap them in some craft felt or something so they don’t dig my fiancée is all arts and craft so I know she has something

I use the Carsticks™ with pipe cleaners. Lots of other growers use them, too.

 

[Melville Hobbes]

Cheers Mel, the plastic coated wire that I had issues with this grow was fiercely strong, even when wrapped loosely around a stem, when I thought the stem's natural growing expansion would push the wire 'more open', but it didn't, where it was wrapped the stem grew around the wire which cut into it causing some damage in places.

The later part of training in my grow, I avoided any direct contact with that wire on the plant, and instead used some rubber coated gardening wire (as you suggest) to make a loop around the stem that I then fixed the training wire to, much safer that way. Some people have used cloth ties, but I once had some stem rot occur when I was using cloth ties and I wondered if the fact that in rain that they can stay soggy for long periods, whether that contributed to the stem rot, so since then I have avoided using cloth ties for that reason even though they appear to be nice and kind to the plant for softness.

Thanks for the info!

Nice tutorial M.H, good morning btw hope you had a nice weekend.
Sunny for a change.
We have black flies now though , no fun
Well I guess you and T.C. have the girls outside at night down there.
I have 2 flats on the dinning table now staying warm , " it's 3 am" still a little chilly here at night.
Good thing Stacey has patience with me.
Your off to a great start outside don't know if I can catch up but I'm going try.

Stay safe
Bill

Had a great weekend Bill, thanks for asking.
Just busy getting the garden into shape!
Until today we've been importing weather from down south. Sunny and in the mid 20s.
I'm bringing the girls inside at night for the next couple of nights, just have to keep the cat from nipping a few leaves off.
I'm sure you'll catch up quick!

Phew! Holy outdoor beans!

DONATRA is my girl. Not that the others don't deserve the most love but this one is special, I feels it!

Good luck on this grow Mel! Happy to watch!

So am I, that's why she's the Commander!
Thanks for joining in!

Your ladies look great, Mel and for the tutorial. You sure make it look easy.



I use the Carsticks™ with pipe cleaners. Lots of other growers use them, too.

Thanks HG!

 

[TwelveCoffee]

Thanks for the info!

Had a great weekend Bill, thanks for asking.
Just busy getting the garden into shape!
Until today we've been importing weather from down south. Sunny and in the mid 20s.
I'm bringing the girls inside at night for the next couple of nights, just have to keep the cat from nipping a few leaves off.
I'm sure you'll catch up quick!

So am I, that's why she's the Commander!
Thanks for joining in!

Thanks HG!

Ya this morning was crazy brought them in mid down power they were under a umbrella anyways but I figured they wouldn’t get anymore sun today. And now they are back out Friday is supposed to be a high of 26 but with thunder storms

 

[InTheShed]

Lovely plants, great transplants, and love the aerial view of the CarHooks® with the bends to fill in the spaces. I do the same thing but with pipe cleaners and bamboo poles because my plants are taller.

 

[Melville Hobbes]

Had a few periods of sun after the morning's rain.

Lucille Skywalker

Jacinda the Ripper - She's recovered from yesterday

Commander Donatra - I was hoping she would lift those leaves off the soil, but she wouldn't, so they've been snipped

Ebony

I'm glad I managed to clear a space for them to spent the night indoors. I'm sure they could handle 5C, but I'd prefer not to risk slowing them down.

Have a great evening everyone!

 

[Stunger]

What a lovely addition to your outdoor space Mel!

 

[TwelveCoffee]

Looking good my man Donerta looks so skinny now but she will bulk up in no time!

 

[HashGirl]

Had a few periods of sun after the morning's rain.


Lucille Skywalker

Jacinda the Ripper - She's recovered from yesterday

Commander Donatra - I was hoping she would lift those leaves off the soil, but she wouldn't, so they've been snipped

Ebony



I'm glad I managed to clear a space for them to spent the night indoors. I'm sure they could handle 5C, but I'd prefer not to risk slowing them down.

Have a great evening everyone!

What are you feeding them, Mel? The first 3 girls posted look a little pale in the centres.

 

[Melville Hobbes]

What are you feeding them, Mel? The first 3 girls posted look a little pale in the centres.

3 are getting MC at 1g per litre, and one is getting Remo nutrients at the week 2-4 dose. They were getting hungry, but since I uppotted 3 of them they're digging into new soil, and it's still fairly moist. I fed Lucille today, so she should be good until she goes into the soil in a couple of days.
They're growing fast, and most of those leaves were under fan leaves until I topped them.

 

[Trala]

Your Carhooks look so good! I’ve been making them for over a year and mine still look like shite! Lolllll

 

[Melville Hobbes]

I'll have to bring them in tonight. The Weather Network says the temp will be 5C, but will feel like 2. There's enough room in the front hall for them, and the hot peppers too. I'll be happy when that won't be necessary anymore.

Lucille Skywalker

Jacinda the Ripper

Commander Donatra

Ebony

What a lovely addition to your outdoor space Mel!

Thanks Stunger! I have a couch out there in the perfect spot to sit and vape while just enjoying the sight!

Looking good my man Donerta looks so skinny now but she will bulk up in no time!

Thanks! I'll be shifting her carhooks around a bit to get the positioning right soon.

Your Carhooks look so good! I’ve been making them for over a year and mine still look like shite! Lolllll

Thanks Tra!
I think yours look fine! I just let my OCD take charge of making them, lol.

 

[InTheShed]

Beauties, and plant schlepping for the win!

 

[Melville Hobbes]

Hmm. Think I'll break this one up into 2 posts.
First, yesterday was a crappy, rainy day, so I didn't take any pics.
This morning started out the same, but it cleared up, and now it's sunny again.

Lucille Skywalker

Jacinda the Ripper

Commander Donatra

Ebony

Beauties,

Thanks!

plant schlepping for the win!

Not for much longer thankfully! These pots aren't heavy, but with the hot peppers there are a lot of them!

 

[Melville Hobbes]

So I had to go to get more gardening wire, and since it was such a ice day I decided to walk. It gave the plants time to dry out a bit after the wet morning.
When I got back, I did some further training of Jacinda, and started training Ebony. After that I transplanted Lucille into her spot in the garden, and started her training. Unfortunately this means you won't be seeing her in these updates much longer unless I set something up to block out the background in her pics. It's just a little too distinctive.

Jacinda the Ripper

Ebony

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[Trala]

Hi Mel

Omg they are growing up so quick!

Your girls look lovely! I don’t know about you, but for me every time I Carhook, I look down at her bent and miserable and think “she’s never going to forgive me…” and I’m literally shocked each morning that she has!