Twelve12's Perpetual Grow

[ConqueringLOJ]

Hey Conquering! Thanks man.

During the Winter I love to use HID lights, the heat produce will warm up the place to high 70's. It gets really cold out, like snowing outside so the heat helps greatly as often it was being rejected being a bad thing. I don't want to turn on the heater so this is great. Also, no need to vent hot air out so this saves on ventilation setups. Since the light from HID is so intense with high lumens and all, it forces the plants to take up more nutrients, water, and CO2. In turn allow explosive growth, high yield, dense buds, and more trichomes production.

I can't use HID during the Summer though, unless I keep up with the ventilation. During the hot days the roommates and myself runs a/c to cool off and with ventilation it will just push all of the cool air out 24/7 result in high electricity bill since the a/c has to work harder to keep the room cooled. We live in 3 story house takes a while to cool the place. That's why I got the LED. With two 357 Magnum (180w ea) it should be good for the small closet or 4x4 tent. Produced less heat, saves on electricity, full spectrum. During the veg period it did great, however when comes to flowering the buds formation are much smaller than HID counter part. I guess the savings on heat, electricity eats into the cost of yield. I've seen other with their LED grow and produced amazing results, I haven't had any amazing results with LED or results that would surpass my hps experience, yet. Just decent to get through the Summer.

Both light types provide plants with good health. Node spacing usually caused by the high temp or light being way too high from the canopy, but with good lights it shouldn't stretch unless it's genetics.

I found this video that best explains the HPS vs LED, watch whole way through it's great. If you got the cash to experiment with your optimal environment, then give it a go. No matter what you see or hear there's nothing like it going through the experiment yourself.

When I get my own place I'll be growing under HID, with quality bulbs.
The best way I can sum up my HID and LED experience is; Commercial grow = HID. Personal grow = LED.

LED # 7 (Last Episode) This is it. - YouTube

Great comparison! Definitely the best explanation I've heard yet! I appreciate your opinion. I am really looking forward to getting my hands on some LEDs to do some experiments and form my own opinion as well.

 

[Twelve12]

Personal Lesson:

- Soil hempy is not a good idea. Tends to give too much water to the soil, not much root developments and will stunt growth. Most likely to have root rot. The experiment didn't work so well. The new experiment will have just the hydrotons. This will be up for a few weeks then upgrade to the next phase; adding small airstone and cover up the hempy holes on the side and convert into mini-dwc without net basket.

- I started breeding experiment a little too early. Started on week 4 in bloom. Will sex them when the female is late in bloom, like the 3rd week before finishing. This assure enough time for calyx development, and that the energy is not disturb. When pollen is introduced to the pistils, the plant will switch to seed producing mode instead of flowering mode. The point of flowering is to catch pollens for reproduction, once it does, the plant switched gear and only focuses on creating seeds, encoding DNA and a lover letter. This will cut down on yield. That is why the plant kinda slowed down in bud production. Haven't noticed big bloom, yet. I only pollinated one bud site, hope the pollen didn't fly all over soon later after the fans got turned on. Either way, still happy that the pods are swelling up with splits open revealing the young seeds. I'll wait till the end to harvest them, and moving onward with the breeding program.

 

[Smoke2Js]

Live and learn.

 

[420GodsTrichome]

try mixing your pollen with distilled water, and then brushing on, easier to control..

 

[Twelve12]

Live and learn.

Yes, sir!

try mixing your pollen with distilled water, and then brushing on, easier to control..

Thanks for the suggestion, GT! Thought about that but water with buds might = molds. I had my share of it on the Tangerine Dream it was a nightmare. Had the fans off for a few hours after I brushed the pollen on with a water color brush. It didn't spread the pollen, my only concern was how the plant halt bud production to produce the seeds. They have resume their duty, whew, but I had a feeling it ate up some potential yield. Heh

 

[420GodsTrichome]

No need to mix it with alot of water, and a little shouldn't cause mold, think about foliar spray and rain...

 

[shaggie-420]

anytime you pollinate a plant for seed you are going to sacrifice yield. not to say you wont get a good amount of good smoke.

 

[Twelve12]

Update: Heat Resistant Strain?

This Summer has been extremely hot out, over 100F for 60 days consecutively where I'm at. Such high temp will effect the grow environment, and I do my best to keep it cool. Got the flowering tent with two plants; Vanilla Kush and Pineapple Express. From the picture as you can see, the VK is showing heat stress while the PE is growing fine, no leafs curls whatsoever. Could this be a heat resistant strain? The temp get as high as 88-90F when the light is on. I switched out the 2 LED and replace it with one 600w hps, these are half way through their bloom. The PE got some pollen on one bud site so the yield is a bit less then expected, but they buds are dense with lovely fragrance. Will keep this clone running and see how PE perform during the cold months which will be coming up soon. Got lucky to have such heat resistant strain will grow a lot of it during the 2012 Summer, that's for sure. Just checked a few sites for Pineapple Express seeds and they are sold out...

 

[420GodsTrichome]

Those PE's look textbook!!! Great job!
+reps if I can

Also, IME, PE's are heat resistant somewhat, I never seen leaf curl or any other signs either....

 

[Twelve12]

Thanks GT, what's IME? I'm collecting HRS (heat resistant strains) for future Summer. Stocking up and get them from seed to mothers and clones ready for the next heat wave in 2012, heh.

 

[420GodsTrichome]

In my experience(s) = IME, hehe...have to spread it before I rep ya brother

 

[surfinstoned]

WOW! beautiful pictures and plants!!!

You do a very good job keeping up with all your grows and posting I'm impressed!

 

[Magic beans]

Plants are lookin sexy than ever cant wait to see how that vanilla kush turns out. Im thinking bout crackin a couple of those seeds to start some cycles with. Theyre looking nice and healthy.

 

[Twelve12]

In my experience(s) = IME, hehe...have to spread it before I rep ya brother

Gotcha. Now I know what IME stands for, thanks GT! BTW, I got some auto seeds coming my way, was inspired by many auto grows as of late, one of being yours! They are normal seeds, if I get a male will throw it into my breeding program trying to get auto all of my available strains.

WOW! beautiful pictures and plants!!!

You do a very good job keeping up with all your grows and posting I'm impressed!

Thank you Surfinstoned. Doing my best to make updates and make notes of the experience. This week I'm experimenting with automated watering system on a budget to the existing setup. Should be fun.

Plants are lookin sexy than ever cant wait to see how that vanilla kush turns out. Im thinking bout crackin a couple of those seeds to start some cycles with. Theyre looking nice and healthy.

Thanks Magic Beans. Vanilla Kush is not doing so great for me in my high temp environment. The Pineapple Express is doing good, it share the same grow space and has the same grow method as the VK and is beating it by far in yield structure, overall health. Will try the VK again during the cold days and see how she performs. If she does well during the Winter months, I'll veg her during the Summer days. For the PE it's the opposite. Will check your grow with the VK and see how it does. Are those seeds regular or feminized?

 

[420GodsTrichome]

THANKS!!! It is an honor.
SWEET!!! I too have auto'd all of my strains.

 

[Dee House]

hey 12/12 plants look good id lower the water level few inches in the dwc. u dont want algea

 

[Magic beans]

Thanks Magic Beans. Vanilla Kush is not doing so great for me in my high temp environment. The Pineapple Express is doing good, it share the same grow space and has the same grow method as the VK and is beating it by far in yield structure, overall health. Will try the VK again during the cold days and see how she performs. If she does well during the Winter months, I'll veg her during the Summer days. For the PE it's the opposite. Will check your grow with the VK and see how it does. Are those seeds regular or feminized?

Fem. I heard a lot of bashing on Barneys about herming fem seeds. Havent had any probs with my pineapple chunks. I only struggle with heat when using HPS and i can usually control it by blasting the ac so i think ill keep that one under the leds in flower.. Thanks for the heads up with that.

 

[Smoke2Js]

I can see how the heat and pollination has made them a little spindly. the bud formations look good. Looking forward to a smoke report of the seeded bud. I would like to know if there is a difference in high and flavor.

 

[Xlr8]

Heya Twelve12 - Nice that you found a good heat resistant strain -- bummer that you've had so much heat where you live. Crazy! I'm thinking Sativa dominant strains tend to be equatorial, and they might tolerate heat better. (Though height is always a problem to contend with). Just a thought.

 

[Twelve12]

THANKS!!! It is an honor.
SWEET!!! I too have auto'd all of my strains.

Can't say what it is yet. But I can't wait to plant the seeds. Will do as soon as they arrive. Wonder what growing method is best for autos? I'm not so confident with DWC atm, the ones I have don't seem to grow fast like others with their DWC.

hey 12/12 plants look good id lower the water level few inches in the dwc. u dont want algea

Thanks SS. The water evaporated and the plant drank some and now the water level is below the hydroton and the basket. Going to change the rez today for fresh nutes.

Fem. I heard a lot of bashing on Barneys about herming fem seeds. Havent had any probs with my pineapple chunks. I only struggle with heat when using HPS and i can usually control it by blasting the ac so i think ill keep that one under the leds in flower.. Thanks for the heads up with that.

Yes, I had my share of BF seeds too with Tangerine Dream, and now dealing with Vanilla Kush. The pics looks good thought I give it a try. The strains are too sensitive and not worth growing under harsh condition. If heat wasn't an issue I'm sure they'll grow out fine. Don't feel like having electricity bill at $800 a month to get dense buds. Sharing room with people they will definitely question me, our highest was $200/mo now almost $400 that's cutting back some HID and using LED to cut back. Anyway, I got some clones from Vanilla Kush & Pineapple Chunck hope they'll do great during the cold months. Do you use central ac or portable/window type?

I can see how the heat and pollination has made them a little spindly. the bud formations look good. Looking forward to a smoke report of the seeded bud. I would like to know if there is a difference in high and flavor.

I've read somewhere that seeded bud are less potent than sensimillia. Only got one bud site pollinated so the rest will still be good. The reduced yield is from high temp. I got one clone left and will give it a try during the winter time. Also keeping my eye out for the seed banks when they have more to order from, I'm loving Pineapple Express. Can't wait to grow the seeds cross with Grapefruit Diesel male. Would that make Pineapple Express Diesel then? heh Will let you know on the smoke report.

Heya Twelve12 - Nice that you found a good heat resistant strain -- bummer that you've had so much heat where you live. Crazy! I'm thinking Sativa dominant strains tend to be equatorial, and they might tolerate heat better. (Though height is always a problem to contend with). Just a thought.

Gotta deal with it like animals in the wild. It'll be alright. Thanks for the tips. Going to look into 100% sativa or sativa dominant strains for next Summer. I got head room in my grow tents up to 6.5 feet, will veg 1 month so they don't over grown, then again I can always LST & Scrog it should be ok. Super Lemon Haze did great but it didn't do so great when I reused the soil, had lots of problems and reduced yield it's not even funny.