Utopian Submarine - 2000W, Indoor, Perpetual

[Green Utopia]

Re: Barney's Mixed Scrog - wk 1 flower

That last picture is freakin awesome! Nice work PG.

Thanks!

Here's hoping no major gotchas - and I really think it will be my best scrog yet.

Quick Update:

All looks good in both subs. The SD scrog is indeed finishing nicely. I may chop tonight, will likely leave it one more day depending on how much work I get done on the new area.

Sometimes Karma is a good thing. I was able to fanagle most of what I need for expansion from my local hydro store for some fair prices. Not crazy good deals, but very good, and more importantly, most of it is in stock, so I'll be picking up some new stuff today. This SHOULD let me get to all but done on the new room.

We should end up with 4x600 in play - 3 of them on light movers. I will be adding a few more light movers in the coming weeks as budget allows. 3x600 will be the flowering area, 1 x 600 the late veg area.

I will need to move some fans and the AC from the current sub. And move the Atmospheric Controller. The CO2 Generator arrives Tuesday - A GEN2 LPE from CAP. I have the propane bottle here and filled and the controller. I can't wait for that sucker to kick in. No more worries about whether I have enough CO2 to maintain 1500. I figure a 20lb propane bottle should last between 20-30 days for $12.50 - way better than 15-20 days with a tank for $40. And the ppm will be 3x as high and the space is larger. So it should be a fairly substantial increase in yield.

And finally, there will be at least two plants from the current Sub that will need to be moved down under the new setup. The 2 AK strains need another week to finish. No biggie. There will be room, and with some careful handling, I think I can get that done no prob.

I've also gotta build benches, light stands, and plumbing for 20 more pots and their light movers. I picked up an E&G controller for $75 - a score. A guy brought it into the hydro store a year ago to be fixed - there was nothing wrong with it - then he never came back to get it. So they sold it to me cheap.

BTW - I learned something about IR shield that prolly everyone else knew but me. FLIR cameras can NOT see through walls. In fact - they can't even see through glass. In fact - some can't even see through fog. They only pick up surface heat. The only cams that can see through walls are the Microwave ones and other very high end surveillance gear. And here's the important part - the cops need a warrant to use the ones that see through walls. So I for one will not be wasting $ on UV film this time.

So I've got a good solid two days of work to finish the mechanics of the new sub.

Time to get medicated and get to work.

 

[MountainHigh]

Re: Barney's Mixed Scrog - wk 1 flower

Thanks!
I will need to move some fans and the AC from the current sub. And move the Atmospheric Controller. The CO2 Generator arrives Tuesday - A GEN2 LPE from CAP. I have the propane bottle here and filled and the controller. I can't wait for that sucker to kick in. No more worries about whether I have enough CO2 to maintain 1500. I figure a 20lb propane bottle should last between 20-30 days for $12.50 - way better than 15-20 days with a tank for $40. And the ppm will be 3x as high and the space is larger. So it should be a fairly substantial increase in yield.

Time to get medicated and get to work.

I know I shouldn't medicate before I work but I do it all the time, especially if lifting is involved....kinda a big baby without it. But I notice I made alot more mistakes medicated....damned if you do, damned if you don't....

You planning on running it hotter and pushing your nutes when you push the high levels of CO2? Just curious, heard it was only way to make using CO2 even worth it, just wondered why? I get the nutes, is the increase in heat meant to increase transpiration and thereby push more nutes into the plant?

I am looking forward to seeing that scrog produce. Is the absence of airflow through that scrog gonna be a problem?

brother, I love stopping by your journal. Always loaded with info. +rep

 

[Green Utopia]

Re: Barney's Mixed Scrog - wk 1 flower

I know I shouldn't medicate before I work but I do it all the time, especially if lifting is involved....kinda a big baby without it. But I notice I made alot more mistakes medicated....damned if you do, damned if you don't....

You planning on running it hotter and pushing your nutes when you push the high levels of CO2? Just curious, heard it was only way to make using CO2 even worth it, just wondered why? I get the nutes, is the increase in heat meant to increase transpiration and thereby push more nutes into the plant?

I am looking forward to seeing that scrog produce. Is the absence of airflow through that scrog gonna be a problem?

brother, I love stopping by your journal. Always loaded with info. +rep

I was literally about to click on your journal when I saw you'd already written in here - so I figured I'd get an answer up here then check out yours. Glad I did - great post.

As far as getting medicated first - yep. No doubt about it makes it a little slower. Any smoker who claims they can operate as efficiently when they're hi is full of shit. But, speed is not my goal here. I actually like to take my time and dry fit and test everything. I lay everything out before building and all that stuff. I have everything packed in so tightly, I often have to think two weeks down the road. For example - the stuff I'm doing today needs to be done today, but I won't have plants under them for a week. But there will be no room to move in a 16' stud for the rail so its gotta be done now. Getting baked makes the process less painful (both mentally and physically) and I don't mind that it causes my mind to wander a little. As long as I stay patient, and make sure to rethink everything in my head as I go - I think the medication has been helpful in thinking outside the box.

All that having been said - I was never the kind of person who could go to school or work stoned. When I need to focus or get something done on a deadline (like I do for work often) - then no smoking. Plus when I'm stoned I look baked - my eyelids fly at half mast, and everyone can tell when I'm stoned.

As far as the CO2. Yes and Yes and Yes. I will be running higher nutes. And I will be running hotter temps. And more light. When you increase CO2 it increases cell growth - both speed and number of cells. This is important to understand. It seems basic, but you gotta remember there is a difference between the same number of cells getting bigger, vs more cells. Why? Because of internodal distance. If you increase the number of cells between branches, without giving the plant all the goodies it needs for balanced growth - then instead of more and bigger branches - you will get the same number of branches, but much more internodal, leaf and stem. If - on the other hand you increase everything at the right ratio - then you get 30% better everything - Size, Density, and Speed of Growth.

I think you pretty much knew all that, but I figured I'd get it in there for newer growers.

So regarding the heat - I can only give my opinion as to why the extra heat seems to be better. First - you only go up a few degrees. I raise my avg daytime temp from 78 to 81. Not much. With nutes, water, light, and air I give them 30% more of everything. Not so with temps - just a little increase. I know some folks run much hotter, but I have not seen any benefits from going higher, and I have seen damage from heat stress.

So here comes the completely theoretical part: I think its primordial genetics. Basically - think about when the dinosaurs ruled the earth and before. CO2 levels and global temperatures were higher. For whatever reason, tropical areas seem to be more lush. I think the chemical reactions involved in photosynthesis are facilitated at slightly higher temps. And we all know some strains of cannabis can handle outdoors while others can't - so some strains prefer warmer temps naturally. So I guess basically I'm all about creating a tropical primordial soup for my plants.

And last but not least - the air for the scrog. There are actually two fans blowing on them. The fans are just out of the picture. These have plenty of airflow I think, but I have been thinking about maybe putting a little 6" underneath. I was also thinking about maybe throwing 2 regular grow bulb flours underneath for some extra light underneath - see if I could make some of that popcorn real bud. I haven't done it before because of water/electricity - but I am getting more confident with my plumbing.



Um.... so yeah -- you caught me after medicating. Can you tell?





And P.S. - I still think your sig is still my fav on the site. + Reps back at ya.

 

[Green Utopia]

Quick Update:

# of Journals read - many
# of Bowls smoked - a few
# of items from hydro store - some
# of Basketball games watched - 2
-----------------------------------------
# of things checked off to-do list - 0

Time to get to work.

 

[FourtyFour]

Here ya go Papa... I just had my buddy snap some pics of his UH.

41 Days of flowering (Organic FF Soil/Nutes under 1000W):

And heres a smoke report of some UH that just popped up online:

"This is quite possibly the best tasting weed I have ever smoked, according to my personal preference, which is for the piney minty fresh flavors. When used in a vaporizer, this is especially the case. The aroma of a freshly-cut christmas tree comes to mind.

The high is the true highest of highs. The spirit soars and the body is left weightless – no couch lock with this one.

I can quite literally smoke this all day."

I'm Excited

 

[Green Utopia]

Here ya go Papa... I just had my buddy snap some pics of his UH.

41 Days of flowering (Organic FF Soil/Nutes under 1000W):

And heres a smoke report of some UH that just popped up online:



I'm Excited

AWESOME!!!!!! - THANKS SO MUCH!! Those plants are really inspiring and have my juices flowing. I just got the first hairs yesterday so gonna call that day 1 of flower. 10 weeks to go...

Those pics are great for reference. I can already picture what my scrog is gonna look like. He's got a great setup, and a bigger light, so I have a feeling his colas are gonna be much larger than mine. But if my bud smokes according to that description - that's all that matters. That's EXACTLY the type of description that made me track down the Utopia in the first place.

Sooooo glad I have a perpetual going of it now. Never again will I have to wait 87 years for the flowering period. Should be getting 6 plants every 10 weeks for my head. (and 6 of the other Barney's). Should be enough to keep me Medicated.

THANKS AGAIN! I wish I could rep you and your buddy again! Tell him mad props on his grow btw.

 

[Green Utopia]

Are you gonna be able to get any clones to grow some for yourself? You deserve it

 

[NorCaliwood]

Dude that thing is filled in nice. Hella, I like that under pic. Man thats dense. GL +++

 

[OldMedMan]

I just love coming by here PaPa

I always learn something every visit.

 

[Green Utopia]

Dude that thing is filled in nice. Hella, I like that under pic. Man thats dense. GL +++

Thanks Much! Its funny - I like that pic as well - but I guess it doesn't hit me like others. I have gotten more comments both here and in rw about that pic than any other I've done.

It's good for my ego. That shot is not all that exciting visually, but folks seem to appreciate the technique. And I appreciate that.

I just love coming by here PaPa

I always learn something every visit.

Thanks OMM. As you know I have verbal diareah so I just spout out any thought or question that comes up. I guess I'm starting to get a grip on this growing thing, and the stuff I don't know is so nicely filled in by all the other real experts here.

There really is just literally an infinite amount of stuff to learn - and for me it never gets old.

C ya.

 

[Green Utopia]

OK folks ,"its decision time at the forum," as the late, great Chick Hearn would have said. Gonna do another of my thinking out loud posts.

The Strawberry Diesel is solidly at 50% amber, and is nicely flushed. The test bud looks and tastes real good. BUT the little gal still wants to fatten up and she's still throwing hairs.

It's the last 2 minutes of the game - we have the lead - do I sit back and play safe? Or do I go for the gusto? I am almost thinking of giving them another shot of nutes and tacking a week on their schedule. But if I do this I really risk over ripe - plus I can really use the light, and frankly its getting close on my Med stash.

Hmmmm. A real quandry. For the time being gonna let them live another day no changes - just stay on water. I'll finish the room. If and when I'm ready for the light tonight - then I will make the decision then.

Its a shame I can't just levitate the whole scrog down to my garage. Problem solved.

Any thoughts welcomed.



EDIT: I would post pics, but I find it sooooooo difficult to capture true colors. And this discussion is all about the color of Tris. And the lights are out. So I don't want to snap the many pics it takes to try to get a macro shot with a flash. Someday soon I'll be able to afford to spend extra grow room budget money on a usb scope or eyeclops, instead of more timers, fans, ducting, and crap like that.

 

[OldMedMan]

OK folks ,"its decision time at the forum," as the late, great Chick Hearn would have said. Gonna do another of my thinking out loud posts.

The Strawberry Diesel is solidly at 50% amber, and is nicely flushed. The test bud looks and tastes real good. BUT the little gal still wants to fatten up and she's still throwing hairs.

It's the last 2 minutes of the game - we have the lead - do I sit back and play safe? Or do I go for the gusto? I am almost thinking of giving them another shot of nutes and tacking a week on their schedule. But if I do this I really risk over ripe - plus I can really use the light, and frankly its getting close on my Med stash.

Hmmmm. A real quandry. For the time being gonna let them live another day no changes - just stay on water. I'll finish the room. If and when I'm ready for the light tonight - then I will make the decision then.

Its a shame I can't just levitate the whole scrog down to my garage. Problem solved.

Any thoughts welcomed.

I think your in the cut window now 50 % is allot of couchlock already imho.

 

[Green Utopia]

I think your in the cut window now 50 % is allot of couchlock already imho.

Thanks OMM. You're always the voice of reason. I'm definitely leaning towards caution. I think I'll likely just let them finish, maybe sit in the dark for an extra day no water. Its time to get that mini-sub outa there.

Its funny two days ago - they were all brown hairs and 40% amber. Now 50% and new growth. These are the probs I guess I like to have.

 

[The Butcher]

Re: Barney's Mixed Scrog - wk 1 flower

End of stretch week. These pics really aren't all that exciting visually.

Utopia and USD pre-trim:

Left End of the Scrog:

Right End of the Scrog:

How do you get a 5+ foot tall plant under 20":

I'll try to get some more of both scrogs tonight when the lights come on. I am feeling a little lazy, however, so it may wait until tomorrow nite.

I just nice to see the picts again. this scrog is going to be nuts!!

 

[FourtyFour]

So... I have officially made this journal part of my morning routine. Wakeup, do whatever, and make sure I check to see Papa's updates, and then get inspired!

Awesome photos dude! Keep em rollin', and I will make sure to keep you updated on pics of my buddies UH grow!

 

[LiveTour]

High Papa! Those organic soils are looking bomb, nice work and I can't wait to see them continue to mature and get fat for ya

 

[Green Utopia]

I just nice to see the picts again. this scrog is going to be nuts!!

Thanks! I really get a lift when the pros like yourself stop by.

So... I have officially made this journal part of my morning routine. Wakeup, do whatever, and make sure I check to see Papa's updates, and then get inspired!

Awesome photos dude! Keep em rollin', and I will make sure to keep you updated on pics of my buddies UH grow!

That means alot! That's super nice to hear, and I will do my best to keep some good stuff up here regularly for ya. I have really been getting into the Utopia more in the last week. Its finally starting to feel real. Its also quite striking how well stabilized the strain is. It really amazing how much more consistent it is than any of the others I have. Shame about the long flowering period.

And I have recently seen reports of a new one that is the Utopia crossed with something else I've not been able to get the scoop on - I'm not sure but I think its a Utopia Cheese. Anyways - the new one is taking over Chocolope and Cheese as the new fav in the coffee shops. But the flowering time on it is 14-16 weeks. YIKES!!!!

I'll have pics of the ones in veg later and you'll see they are all looking stellar. Man I hope I have the skills to get the most from this strain - cause it really is a joy to look at and grow.

High Papa! Those organic soils are looking bomb, nice work and I can't wait to see them continue to mature and get fat for ya

The pro-mix really works great. I forgot how much the buffer of soils can be a nice thing. I'm going to put all the USD in pro-mix, since I'm getting the same signs of stress with these young 'uns as I did last time. I think the pro-mix will be better for them. They do grow out of their probs, so maybe adding more of the flowering nutes a little earlier to their mix would be good - but I don't see any reason to take any chances or slow them down from now on. The USD is just SUPER sensitive to pH fluctuations I think. They're getting 100% the same treatment as the Utopia and you will see the difference in the pics.


Thanks all! You guys really make my day when I check this place out!

 

[Doc Bud]

I know I haven't posted on your journal, but I just thought I'd chime in and say it's inspiring.

I love this journal, I love the way you grow, and I especially like your strain choices.

 

[Green Utopia]

I know I haven't posted on your journal, but I just thought I'd chime in and say it's inspiring.

I love this journal, I love the way you grow, and I especially like your strain choices.

Thanks! Right back at ya! You always have a nice calm and pragmatic feel to your grows and posts - makes it very easy to learn from you.

 

[Green Utopia]

OK - I'm about to get some work done in the veg area, but I wanted to post one quick avg pic of the SD scrog. This one is throwing me for a loop. The plant in back is the AK - I knew that one was gonna be a little longer, but this SD I thought was done fattening is DEFINITELY putting on good growth and the outer layer of tris now appears to be mostly milky to me.

Clearly some signs of heat stress. Bummer. Couldn't be helped lately. Someday when I'm a rich and famous Cannabis farmer I'll be able to heat and cool and air two rooms at opposite ends of a building. Right now its either the new space or old. I think basically its because my CO2 bottle ran out about 5 days ago and I've not replaced it because the gene should be here (which is late ANOTHER day btw). And without all the super duper fans and AC I had going - the temps hit about 86 for a few hours in the middle of the night (plant's day) two nights in a row. Jah is definitely keeping me on my toes these days.

This pic is terrible - the batteries were all but dead. The cam turned off. I turned it back on and grabbed this and hoped.

I just went down and checked the other room and realized how much I've been neglecting the actual gardening aspects lately. So gonna spend a few hours with the plants and get some pics as promised.