QUICK UPDATE, A COUPLE PICS, & A GOOD HYDRO TIP
Happy Sunday, everyone! I think I need another weekend!
For the update, I did the res changes today. This will be the last week for the Blue OG on the Big Bud. Next weekend we switch that out for the Overdrive for two weeks, and, that should be good timing to start flushing.
The bag seed was put into 12/12 a week after the Blue OG, but looks like its at least 2-3 weeks behind and hasn't really started putting out the trich's, yet, but you can just see the glands starting to form on the sugar leaves, so it should start soon. The Blue OG, on the other hand, is putting out trichomes like mad, as you'll see from the pics.
The Cal-Mag seems to have done the trick on that deficiency that was starting to show, so I guess it's good to know that my water filter (NOT RO!) is doing a good job!
Heirloom had asked the following regarding the AN PH Perfect nutes I've been using:
What's your experience with the PH Perfect aspect? There is some debate as to whether it actually buffers to an acceptable range, or if the chelating is such that the nutrients are available outside a 'normal' PH. Some claim it's both.
I wasn't ignoring you on that one, Brother, I just didn't have a good answer at the time because, I'm ashamed to say, aside from checking the res PH the very first time I used it to fill a res, I've basically stopped checking PH!
I do NOT recommend not checking PH in hydro, but until this recent Cal-Mag deficiency, the plants haven't warned me of any issues, so I just let them go.
However, on a fresh res change, the PH is right at 5.5, and, after topping off with non ph-adjusted tap water all week (although, I do add some add'l nutes once or twice during the week), the reading today before dumping the old nutes was right at 6.0. So, I'd say the PH part of the question is answered.
I don't have any scientific data on the chelation other than the chelation itself should extend the minerals availability outside of the ranges they are without chelation, but I don't know if the upper/lower limits are any more or less than anyone else's chelation. I just know the plants haven't complained!
OK...Here's a quick tip for the hydro growers out there, before I get to the pics...
If you have issues with salts building up on your equipment, reservoirs, drip lines, etc., you know how tough it can be to clean. Many people suggest bleach, but bleach is more of a disinfectant than a cleaner, and it's a chemical I don't like to use on anything that comes in contact with the plants or nutrient solution.
We can apply a little science we already know as growers to make it easier...
All of those "minerals" we feed our plants (potassium, magnesium, etc.) are essentially salts. Salts are a base (high PH) and the way to "neutralize" that base is by adding an acid (low PH).
So, next time you need to get rid of the salt build-up, try some vinegar! It's non-toxic and the worst any residue will do is lower the PH of your nutes slightly (don't worry, it won't be noticeable!). With the stuff that's really caked on and too big to soak in vinegar, soak a paper towel in the vinegar and wrap the soaked towel around the item you want to clean. Let it sit overnight and the next day, the build-up will wipe away pretty easily, although, sometimes it can take more than one soaking to get it "new".
Cleaning vinegar is even better since it's the same as regular white vinegar, it's just distilled down to a higher acidity. Just make sure you don't use any of the "scented" cleaning vinegars.
OK...now for a few pics...
I don't know if it's an "old wive's tale" but I've heard when the girls start pushing out 9 and 11 fingered leaves, you know they're happy. If it's true, she looks happy
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And, here's some more tichome shots. Posters will be made available in the gift shop!
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The poster of this one is going on MY wall!
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Happy Harvests!
K
