Steppenwolf's High Brix Grow

I realized this thread is 5 stars. Thanks to whoever did this! Thats pretty awesome, I am just following directions though. I wanted to put a few more pics up today taken in lights off.

All plants have gotten energy last feedings, over the last few days. Sprayed Stress last night and no new PM. That fact alone is pretty significant. I havent defoliated at all yet, but I will if I have to. The plants all seem to be getting healthier, if that is possible. I really feel if a guy stays on the sprays with the kit, the plants really respond.

3 Liberty Haze's have popped and 3 Tikal's have popped all growing in Doc's soil. Round 3 on the way.

Large Critical Kush no new PM
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Large CK
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Large CK
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Tangerine
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Tangerine
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Large Laughing Buddah
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Large LB
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Small CK, No new PM
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Small Laughing Buddah. Super waxy and shiny leaves, buds look like they are exploding. Already some frost showing.
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Small LB
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Small LB
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Real happy so far!
 
Damn.

Speechless.
 
Hey Steppenwolf!!! Your ladies are looking amazing. I'm sorry to hear about the PM issue. I had one a few grows ago and it wiped my whole crop out except for my blackberry kush which seemed resistant. PM is definitely one of those thing that strikes fear in my eyes, and I am glad that you were able to manage it. I did notice In my grow that the plants with lower brix (10-14) suffered first and the plants that were in the 18-22 range were able to withstand the initial PM infection, but also later suffered, with the exception of 1 plant which had a brix of 22, and it did not get affected by the PM. I also read that 12 hours of 91F or more temps will kill pm, but I would also caution that method with cannabis because it would probably promote hermies and stress.

I did read that for grapes, a brix of 15 or higher will disable the PM's ability to reproduce. Not sure about what "number" that would happen with cannabis, but seemed that it is also strain depended as my experience showed. I tried all the natural methods including cinnamin, garlic, milk/water, baking soda/water, lowering leaf acidity and none of those things worked to kill it but rather controlled it slightly where sprayed, but the PM survived where the plants didn't get sprayed (the buds).. Glad that you got it under control though and your other plants look like model high brix plants!! vivid, colorful, shiny and leafs jumping upwards at the light looking happy!
 
Steppenwolf said:
No, I dont have one of those fancy refractometers. I am only judging brix based on leaf shininess and overall plant health (real scientific). How could a brix reading help diagnose future problems? I appreciate your insight.
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i was curious whether the powdery mildew attacked the plants with lower brix readings or whether it was strain dependent. good to know you have it under control now.
 
Icemud said:
Hey Steppenwolf!!! Your ladies are looking amazing. I'm sorry to hear about the PM issue. I had one a few grows ago and it wiped my whole crop out except for my blackberry kush which seemed resistant. PM is definitely one of those thing that strikes fear in my eyes, and I am glad that you were able to manage it. I did notice In my grow that the plants with lower brix (10-14) suffered first and the plants that were in the 18-22 range were able to withstand the initial PM infection, but also later suffered, with the exception of 1 plant which had a brix of 22, and it did not get affected by the PM. I also read that 12 hours of 91F or more temps will kill pm, but I would also caution that method with cannabis because it would probably promote hermies and stress.

I did read that for grapes, a brix of 15 or higher will disable the PM's ability to reproduce. Not sure about what "number" that would happen with cannabis, but seemed that it is also strain depended as my experience showed. I tried all the natural methods including cinnamin, garlic, milk/water, baking soda/water, lowering leaf acidity and none of those things worked to kill it but rather controlled it slightly where sprayed, but the PM survived where the plants didn't get sprayed (the buds).. Glad that you got it under control though and your other plants look like model high brix plants!! vivid, colorful, shiny and leafs jumping upwards at the light looking happy!
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Thanks Ice. That's great info there. I wa following along with you during your PM battles. PM can be pretty bad and it has really effed me around in the past. Your scrog and a little PM is a bad combo. The ability to pull the plants out and inspect them while applying foliar sprays will help me out a lot. I should be able to stay on top of it. It is interesting to me that the healthiest plants with shiniest leaves have not gotten PM yet. Those plants probably have higher brix. As long as I keep on the sprays every other day, and keep the PM from blooming and sending spores everywhere, I think the others will be free of infection.

You always have thoughtful and informative posts, Ice. I appreciate your perspective.
 
KingJohnC said:
i was curious whether the powdery mildew attacked the plants with lower brix readings or whether it was strain dependent. good to know you have it under control now.
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It could be either case. The Critical Kush seemed to have higher brix levels, although I never measured it. The large CK was one of the healthiest plants. If I had to guess I would say PM attacked the CK because that strain is more succeptable to the disease. It's interesting that both CK's got it. Also, Doc stated that (if I recall correctly) that landrace sativas respond better to the high brix soil and kit. It seems that the more sativa dominant plants (tangerine and laughing buddah) are higher in brix and don't have PM yet.
 
You shouldn't have much trouble with PM as long as you keep your plants looking like that.
 
Doc Bud said:
You shouldn't have much trouble with PM as long as you keep your plants looking like that.
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Funny you say that Doc, It seems your prediction is coming true. The first few days after noticiing PM and spraying every other day, I could look at the leaf veins and see the PM trying to bloom. I mean it was barely noticeable. Now, after about a week of steady every other day spraying. No PM. I mean absolutely nothing. And I am pulling leaves away from plant to see if it is anywhere. I concentrated on spraying the tops of the leaves pretty heavy, especially the leaves where PM was. This kit and sprays are awesome. I am pretty confident in a successful harvest and possibly curing the PM for good. Amazing.

Look at the veg room.
Topped CK clone
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Tangerine clone
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Tikal and Liberty Haze
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Great White Shark Freebie (Just showed female)
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Another topped CK
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Laughing Buddah topped clone
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Three topped CK clone
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I hit everything with Brix today and watered the clones 1.5 gals apiece. This was the first water since transplant. I also removed/cleaned up the lower branches on all the clones. I will have 8 good sized plants to flower in a few weeks.
 
Looking good! Just make sure you don't over water!

What you've got now, are plants healthy enough to have an immune system.....pretty neat eh? They also repel mites when they're like this. Keep 'em happy and they're nearly bullet proof.
 
Doc Bud said:
Looking good! Just make sure you don't over water!

What you've got now, are plants healthy enough to have an immune system.....pretty neat eh? They also repel mites when they're like this. Keep 'em happy and they're nearly bullet proof.
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I wont overwater Doc. I let em get good and dry before waterings.

So, I had to leave town for a couple nights for work. I watered everything before I left, and I knew they could make it a couple days. I was a little worried I would come back to a surprise (mainly a PM surprise). I didnt need to worry. No PM on any of the large plants. This fact is pretty amazing because I hadnt sprayed the plants in a couple days. I am very happy with the Kit plants ability to fight PM. PM has been a pain in my ass forever. I came back to one of the Tikal's (12/12 from seed) showing balls. One ended up a female, so I transplanted her into 5 gal with root zone and transplant water. I am interested to see how big she gets.

Large CK bulking up nicely already
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Large CK foreground
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Large Laughing Buddah (starting to bulk up as well)
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Large LB
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Small TD, now the tallest plant. She just keeps stretching that top cola.
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Tikals
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Small CK, almost no sign of burning all the pistils off a week and a half ago. Super healthy.
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Small Laughing Buddah. This plant is something else. 8 weeks to go??
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Small LB
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Small LB
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Small LB
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Small LB
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Small LB
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To put this in perspective, these plants are bigger at week 4.5 from the flip, than some plants I harvested at week 8 last grow. The small LB is going to be massive. I fed the small LB energy tonight. Hit everything with stress. I picked up a new 4 X 4 tent dedicated to veg space. I am pretty happy about that. The plants in veg are exploding with growth.
 
Start to back off on Stress just a bit....it's skewed to the growth side a bit, which is great for bulking up and such....but Brix will get some of those pistils to suck back in and get the calyx's swollen. Also helps with resin.

Weekly spraying of Brix, no more than 2 times a week with Stress....less if you can get away with it, now that the PM is sorted out.

I'm actually happy you got the PM and saw for yourself what I've been saying/seeing in my garden. High Brix plants fight hard! Mites hate 'em.....I haven't seen a fungus gnat in months, never had PM, Bud Rot or anything like that since the kit.

One other tip: Could take a week or two longer than usual to harvest.....they just don't go amber with high brix....just get more and more sticky and the triches seem to stay clear and cloudy.

My Champagne is now on week 14.....still clear, 10% cloudy.....I'm harvesting.
 
paw-paw said:
they just keep looking better & better.
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Thanks Paw-Paw. I am glad you are checking in on me.

shottafire said:
F'IN A. Sweet brix goodness. plus reps steppen.
I am taking notes
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Thanks Shotta! That means a lot. I need to be taking notes from you. You definitely are an accomplished grower.

Curso said:
F'ing incredible bro!!! Good job :)
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Thanks Curso! I am trying to keep up with you and Doc!

Doc Bud said:
Start to back off on Stress just a bit....it's skewed to the growth side a bit, which is great for bulking up and such....but Brix will get some of those pistils to suck back in and get the calyx's swollen. Also helps with resin.

Weekly spraying of Brix, no more than 2 times a week with Stress....less if you can get away with it, now that the PM is sorted out.

I'm actually happy you got the PM and saw for yourself what I've been saying/seeing in my garden. High Brix plants fight hard! Mites hate 'em.....I haven't seen a fungus gnat in months, never had PM, Bud Rot or anything like that since the kit.

One other tip: Could take a week or two longer than usual to harvest.....they just don't go amber with high brix....just get more and more sticky and the triches seem to stay clear and cloudy.

My Champagne is now on week 14.....still clear, 10% cloudy.....I'm harvesting.
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Thanks Doc! I will back off the Stress to once a week and brix once a week. Hitting all the plants twice a week with stress really made them blow up. I am confident the PM wont be much of an issue. It is amazing to me the affect the sprays have. A week or two longer to harvest is not a big deal. I will be looking to you and everyone else as to opinions on when to harvest. They will take as long as they take.

Doc your Champagne is insane. I am blown away by it, I keep looking at your pics. When I first saw the pics, I thought I was looking at them wrong and the buds couldnt actually be that big. I thought you had held them close to the camera or something. Then I realized, they were just huge. I mean really huge.

I am curious to see how big the laughing buddah will get. I am not running CO2, so I am curious to see what happens. All your help is greatly appreciated.
 
Hey Doc, I got a question for you. During the last week, I have noticed some of the lower fans yellowing a falling off (just the ones shaded from light). I figured that was no big deal. Well, I noticed some of the upper fans turning a lighter shade of green as well. It is more noticeable on the Tangerines. I hit them all with Brix a couple days ago and they all got fed a couple days ago. After the Brix, they greened up some, but they are still a little off.

I cant put my finger on whats going on. They still look great, but they look almost like they need a little nitrogen? They are a little off (slightly) from where they were after the recharge and epsom water.

Maybe another round of epsom water? I will throw a couple pics up soon. And these still look 10 times better than anything I have grown yet...
 
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