THC Bomb & WW/Skunk - CFL Hood/Veg HPS/Flower

[Skybound]

Thank you for the guidance Capn, it was sorely needed. I assume you mean actual weeks, b/c sometimes I see people not including seedling time in their description. In spite of the evident gains in growth and color balancing, I could see the tips starting to thin and claw. Would you say I am bordering the breaking point or has that already been crossed?

 

[TheCapn]

YW. Since you see the tips curling down, it's already been crossed. But don't sweat it. You're fine... just back off a bit and you'll avoid any leaf tip dehydration. If you looked in my flower room you would see some curled tips too. It can also be a sign of over watering, but unless your cubes are literally sopping wet all day, I doubt it's that.

The crazy thing, is if we follow the nutrient vendor's suggestion, we would burn up our plants. So we 1/2 it, and still sometimes it's too strong! Especially when using the tea.... it makes the nutrients much more available to the plant.

Any luck with your other seed?

 

[Skybound]

Thanks, and no on the other seed. I suspect that after the first no go round, I shouldn't have pulled it and put it in water again b/c after I pulled it from the 2nd cube and examined the inside of the shell, there was only a slightly fibrous white goo. So the 2nd I blame on grower error. I noticed in your blog a germination entry, I will give that a thorough reading before trying again. I will also likely put the clone in RW b/c I am set up for it and I just need it to show me flower and that's it. Might even toss it in some Ocean Forest and mix in some of this Ancient Forest. That would give me a good backup plan in case hydro is a no go on my 2nd try. It would also make for a better gift if I can find a viable taker.

 

[Skybound]

What are your thoughts on mixing Ocean Forest with Ancient Forest? Do you think I'd be able to get away with feeding only water and Heisenberg Tea?

 

[RollingPapers]

Lookin good, Sky!!!

 

[stealthgrow]

 

[AfricanGrower]

I've never used Ancient Forest, but my 60/40 mix of FFOF/perlite CAN easily lasts me for the first month of growth (from seed) , but I still start a 1/8 strength nutrient regime after the first two weeks.

 

[Skybound]

I figure since we already use the AF in the HB Tea that mixing it in the soil will allow the tea to make better progress in the medium when added further allowing the roots to drain the soil of as much nutrient as it can, then add supplemental nutrients when the soil is nearly spent. I'll probably do that anyway in case I need the back up, or I can gift it as is and the next grower would be fine for a while.

 

[Skybound]

Today is one week from being a month since planted, or 10 days till a month above ground. I just topped up the res and brewed some Heisenberg Tea, though I am nearly a day late on the tea. Recipes are as follows;

2 gallons distilled water
8 ml CaMg
1.5ml Silica
5ml Aqua Shield

Grow (3) - 3ml
Micro (2) - 2ml
Bloom (1) - 1ml

440 PPM, PH 5.8

Tea Recipe

1 gallon of distilled water
5 ml Aqua Shield
6.5 TBSP Ancient Forest
1/5 teaspoon Great White
0.6 teaspoon Grandma's Molasses (3ml) <- I've found my 3ml syringe works great and is accurate.

I added the nutes in half doses of my intended numbers after decreasing recommended doses first. I did not want to over shoot my target PPM (of 450) like I always do, especially when adding new amendments here and there. I'm still trying to find a good regimen that first is good for the plant and also that I can afford and gain understanding how to mix for the PPM range. I'm getting there! No pics today, just wanted to update the journal and readers. I am also planning to thin out the flux rack. As of now, I am planning to grow 1.5 plants with the space I currently have. If I am able to make desired upgrades, I will adjust accordingly. So for now I will just cut a board that can elevate 3 different sized pots in the same hole like this set of characters---> ((O)) <---, and extensions to tie down her arms when she grows them.

 

[AfricanGrower]

>>> I'm still trying to find a good regimen....and also that I can afford and gain understanding how to mix for the PPM range.

No need to add Aquashield to the nutrients if you are trying to conserve supplies. The weekly tea is just fine.

 

[Skybound]

When pumping a 160 GPH pump for 3 single minutes per day, it was depleting my res quicker than I can afford to replenish it, so I was forced make this top feed also recirculate. I'm sure PHing it will be a constant pain in the ass (more than it is already). I am hoping the use of the tea will bring down the PH and hold it low for a while b/c these increases are dramatically fast.

This plant is 22 days above ground now. I don't know if this growth rate is normal, but if it is, I like it! I'm sure I could top it now, but I want to get a little more vertical before I take "cuttings" so I can flower a decent sized clone and maybe even take it full term to get a precursor of what the smoke will be like (if female).

 

[b.real]

I skunk! good looking plant.

 

[Skybound]

Thanks B.real! She is definitely doing her thing growth wise. Aside from this insane PH spike that I'm dealing with, she is eating and drinking equally as PPM only dropped 5 PPM and res temp is 70°F (+/- 1°). I'm hoping when I add the tea tomorrow morning, the acidic nature of the tea buffers the rock wool and maintains a more manageable PH level.

 

[TheCapn]

Sky, so far you are rocking this little plant. Good job. I prefer to hand water at this stage, but if you're not going to be there every day, I like the reservoir idea. You are having too much fun here.

The tea doesn't affect the PH much at all (good thing). In fact, sometimes I add a few ml of diluted florablend to my tea to bring the PH from 6.2 to 6. I have found some tricks for maintaining stable PH:

1. TRY NOT to use PH up or PH down. Instead, mix up your nutrient solution, without the silica, bubble for 15 minutes, then measure PH. Let's say it is 5.5. Just add 1ml of silica, let it bubble for 15 mins, then repeat, until it gets to 5.9. Adding PH up / down, and especially over-correcting, leads to unstable PH.

2. Try to keep your hands and other foreign objects out of the water.

3. Use R.O. or distilled water (which you are already).

4. If you find you over corrected, or your PH is dropping / rising quickly, throw it away and start over. Take your reservoir to the sink, wash it well, and mix up a new batch of nutrients.

>>>I'm sure PHing it will be a constant pain in the ass

Follow these steps above and you will get your PH stable. If the PH is 5.7 - 6.2, you're still fine. Don't try to adjust it to 5.8 every day. If it's in that range, it's fine, leave it alone. Also, since you've been doing so much work on your system, I'm sure your hands have been in the water, and then moving the water from bucket to bucket as you work on the system and so fourth.... Once things settle down and you leave it alone, you should find the PH will settle too. The most common problem is trying to adjust too much.

Is PH a verb? ha ha ha

PS. ancient forest is a great amendment to any soil mix. Be careful with ocean forest on small plants. It's hot. I would go with happy frog instead, but you may want to do more research on this from people who are more experienced with dirt. I'm not an old guy ;-)

 

[Skybound]

Sky, so far you are rocking this little plant. Good job. I prefer to hand water at this stage, but if you're not going to be there every day, I like the reservoir idea. You are having too much fun here.

The tea doesn't affect the PH much at all (good thing). In fact, sometimes I add a few ml of diluted florablend to my tea to bring the PH from 6.2 to 6. I have found some tricks for maintaining stable PH:

Maybe I'm mixing something wrong. My Tea PH is usually around 4.8-5.0 after 36 or so hours.

1. TRY NOT to use PH up or PH down. Instead, mix up your nutrient solution, without the silica, bubble for 15 minutes, then measure PH. Let's say it is 5.5. Just add 1ml of silica, let it bubble for 15 mins, then repeat, until it gets to 5.9. Adding PH up / down, and especially over-correcting, leads to unstable PH.

I'm on a 2 gallon res, so a mil of silica will alkalize the crap out of the solution. This sucks too, b/c I like using silica, especially when prepping to Flux.

2. Try to keep your hands and other foreign objects out of the water.

Seriously, my hands never touch water. I only use mostly a 100ml syringe to extract water to test. Once inside the test cup, I add in the nutes and mix with water before plunging it back up to inject into the res. If at all possible, I do not remove the lid either.

3. Use R.O. or distilled water (which you are already).

Check!

4. If you find you over corrected, or your PH is dropping / rising quickly, throw it away and start over. Take your reservoir to the sink, wash it well, and mix up a new batch of nutrients.

Unfortunately I can't afford 3 new gallons of water (at this time). Also, I am only working with sample pints of the 3 part Flora, and each is about half empty. Tossing out a res will break my back. I gotta work within my means.

>>>I'm sure PHing it will be a constant pain in the ass

Follow these steps above and you will get your PH stable. If the PH is 5.7 - 6.2, you're still fine. Don't try to adjust it to 5.8 every day. If it's in that range, it's fine, leave it alone. Also, since you've been doing so much work on your system, I'm sure your hands have been in the water, and then moving the water from bucket to bucket as you work on the system and so fourth.... Once things settle down and you leave it alone, you should find the PH will settle too. The most common problem is trying to adjust too much.

Is PH a verb? ha ha ha

PS. ancient forest is a great amendment to any soil mix. Be careful with ocean forest on small plants. It's hot. I would go with happy frog instead, but you may want to do more research on this from people who are more experienced with dirt. I'm not an old guy ;-)

Thanks again for giving me your attention Capn', you'll make a better grower of me yet! I was at the hydro store yesterday and was checking out the FF soils. I noticed that Happy Frog advertises Mycorrhizae and Humus right on the front of the bag. Like premade tea, just add water. I doubt my budget will change in the next 3 weeks that would afford me the breathing room to gab a bag. All I can now plan for is what I currently have, save for the 4 (or so) gallons of water per week. My arsenal includes;

1 liter (3/4 full) H2O2
1 liter Aqua Shield (mostly full)
1 quart CaMg (mostly full)
1 quart Armor Si (3/4 full)
1 bottle Great White Mycorrhizzae (powder, maybe 3/4 remaining)
1 pint each flora micro, grow, bloom (sample pack, each half full)
1 Rootech cloning gel (full)
3/4 bag Ocean Forest
1/4 perlite
1 bag Ancient Forest

Obamacare has created a ripple effect in the benefits sector that is having a heavy impact in my life. I truly hope to be called back into work soon so I can get back to building my arsenal and replenishing the 3 part, and if nothing gives soon, I will likely lose the grow. This grow is more of a balancing act for me than usual. I frequently get ideas for possible improvements, plan, then execute. Often (as my journals depict), I err in my design and waste materials in the process. I can't afford to be like that right now, so I have to plan, sleep on it, review my plan and consider other options, sleep, then reconsider everything before doing anything. I'm not that organized so this is a lesson of patience more so than usual. Capn', thanks again for the comments. I will adopt what I can considering all the above.

 

[TheCapn]

>>>I'm not that organized

I beg to differ. Look at your wrenches in the background of your pictures. I need you to come organize my tool box. It's a mess!

Keep up the great work.

 

[Jay233]

>>>I'm not that organized

I beg to differ. Look at your wrenches in the background of your pictures. I need you to come organize my tool box. It's a mess!

Keep up the great work.

I agree with the Capn

 

[Skybound]

I'm just weird I guess. I keep my apt very clean, yet hobos would not squat in my bed room. Some areas I keep clean, others are a catastrophe.

 

[AfricanGrower]

Looking really good in here Sky! I really like the recirculating drip design as well. I just changed my whole system to top-feed as well

With this whole frenzy going on federally, WE ALL are feeling the effects of it. I just hope you can pull through long enough to see this grow out. I havefaith my friend!

To comment,

>>> 1 bottle Great White Mycorrhizzae (powder, maybe 3/4 remaining)

How much GW do you use per batch of tea? I have been using my GH for a little over 2 months now, and I haven't even put a dent in it as of yet! I only use .5ml/gallon.

 

[Skybound]

It's hard to say really. The product comes in a regular sized season shaker, and the powder inside maybe displaces half the space or less. I make tea by the gallon, so 1/5 of a teaspoon is what the recipe calls for. I just dump a scoop, chop it up like it's a drug, cut 5 equal piles by eye, and use one. Tomorrow I will get my hands on a scale and weigh 1 TSP of the GW and do the math. Then I will likely bag up those doses so I know each bag goes to gallon.

All truth be told, I probably have most of the bottle of GW still as I only used it like 4 or 5 times in small doses.