Volksball's First Grow: White Widow Feminized Grow Journal 2018

[volksball]

I'm growing WW from crop king and the seedlings seem to like it cooler. I'm a noob though so keep that in mind.

You and I both. And good choice to view this one. There's some clear, logical advice being given generously. I lucked out for my first grow and the nexts.

 

[MedicalMe]

I know adding perlite to my soil will help alot. What's a good ratio to go by?

I don't know if there's any magic formula, but it's imperative that your soil mix drains really well. I use Fox Farms Happy Frog potting soil, and add amendments. My formula is 4 parts soil, 1 part coco coir, and 1 part perlite. Happy Frog already contains perlite, but I want to make double sure it drains super well.

 

[MedicalMe]

There's only so far I can take this thing until I'm turning it into more than it needs to be for me.

Rest assured that once you get a couple of grow's worth of experience, it gets a whole lot easier. I can grow for about half of what I'd pay if I bought, so there's not a lot of savings there. But it's an addicting hobby!

 

[volksball]

Rest assured that once you get a couple of grow's worth of experience, it gets a whole lot easier. I can grow for about half of what I'd pay if I bought, so there's not a lot of savings there. But it's an addicting hobby!

Ya, the hobby is the part I like. The yeilds are goals. I can't smoke the amount that I hope to yeild. It's just something to learn and hopefully get good at. Hey if it goes right, I have fun and my friends love me even more. Ha.

 

[volksball]

I don't know if there's any magic formula, but it's imperative that your soil mix drains really well. I use Fox Farms Happy Frog potting soil, and add amendments. My formula is 4 parts soil, 1 part coco coir, and 1 part perlite. Happy Frog already contains perlite, but I want to make double sure it drains super well.

Yeah, I'm learning that I could've added more perlite. I'm at around 25% and will likely add a bit higher ratio when I pot up.

 

[MedicalMe]

When I first started craft brewing, I spent a lot of time fussing over my wort. Then I bought a copy of Papazian's book, "The Joy of Home Brewing." Something he wrote has always stuck with me: "Above all else, DON'T WORRY. It's only beer." That thought could easily be applied to growing cannabis: "Don't worry. It's only weed!"

 

[Reave]

Water, water, water everywhere . . .

For what it's worth, I noticed a while ago that Crop King changed its recommended water for germinating from distilled water to spring water. The difference between the two is the mineral content of spring water.

I used their method exactly. 9 out of 10 germinated. I did use bottled spring water.

 

[Reave]

Rest assured that once you get a couple of grow's worth of experience, it gets a whole lot easier. I can grow for about half of what I'd pay if I bought, so there's not a lot of savings there. But it's an addicting hobby!

Half is a pretty big deal. Where I live it is legal to buy now for recreation but they charge way too much. The cheepest is around 10$ a gram and some os much more. No deal for bulk.

 

[Reave]

You and I both. And good choice to view this one. There's some clear, logical advice being given generously. I lucked out for my first grow and the nexts.

I've read some of @Emilya work and they have helped me on my grow as well. Very good person to listen too IMHO. Hasn't steered me wrong.

This is a great community. Happy to have found it.

 

[volksball]

Good morning, holiday growers.

Day 27

The girls are growing at a fairly steady rate. The tallest of my plants seems to be growing at a faster rate, to the point where she's getting too close to the sun and crisping herself up a bit. Not too much, though. It may be left over burns from last week when I had her too close. I keep raising the light back up to 18", but she likes to close the gap. I'm getting close to topping them, so I'm not too worried about the slight crispiness of her upper nodes - they wont be around for much longer. Does that make sense? Or is her rebellious ambition going to cause damage to her future?

As mentioned in my previous posts, I'm apprehensive to lop off over half my plants, but I know it's necessary for a better end product. 2 of 3 seem like very good candidates for the 2-3 topping, while one seems more like a 3-4 kinda gal, as we discussed over the past few days.

Emilya mentioned that I should wait until my 5th nodes are high enough that if I wanted to, I could lop them off of each plant with a stump to spare - I may be there. Eek.

If it doesn't hurt the plant, I may wait a couple of days, as I'll have Christmas company over for the next few days, and I won't be able to monitor as closely as I'd like. I suppose I'll keep raising the lights up to minimize the burn, but the others aren't growing at the same rate, so I struggle on whether to raise up or not.

Have a look.

Thanks.

 

[Emilya Green]

Looking very good! Merry Christmas!

 

[Reave]

Good morning, holiday growers.

Day 27

The girls are growing at a fairly steady rate. The tallest of my plants seems to be growing at a faster rate, to the point where she's getting too close to the sun and crisping herself up a bit. Not too much, though. It may be left over burns from last week when I had her too close. I keep raising the light back up to 18", but she likes to close the gap. I'm getting close to topping them, so I'm not too worried about the slight crispiness of her upper nodes - they wont be around for much longer. Does that make sense? Or is her rebellious ambition going to cause damage to her future?

As mentioned in my previous posts, I'm apprehensive to lop off over half my plants, but I know it's necessary for a better end product. 2 of 3 seem like very good candidates for the 2-3 topping, while one seems more like a 3-4 kinda gal, as we discussed over the past few days.

Emilya mentioned that I should wait until my 5th nodes are high enough that if I wanted to, I could lop them off of each plant with a stump to spare - I may be there. Eek.

If it doesn't hurt the plant, I may wait a couple of days, as I'll have Christmas company over for the next few days, and I won't be able to monitor as closely as I'd like. I suppose I'll keep raising the lights up to minimize the burn, but the others aren't growing at the same rate, so I struggle on whether to raise up or not.

Have a look.

Thanks.

You don't have to top. I planned on doing the 4-way lst as well but there are many methods. Some people do not believe in topping at all. They only lst which also changes dominance.

Since you have 3 plants in that large area you could also look at SCROG. You use a screen and everything that pokes through you either tuck into a new square or bend it down and then tie it to the screen. The idea is to fill each square in the screen with a cola.

As they say there is more than one way to skin a cat. I was planning on scrogging but I may just do the 4-way let the way Emilya explained it because then you can move your plants around.

Is there not 6 nodes on that tall plant though?

 

[Reave]

Looking very good! Merry Christmas!

They are beautiful.

 

[volksball]

Looking very good! Merry Christmas!

Thanks! Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[volksball]

You don't have to top. I planned on doing the 4-way lst as well but there are many methods. Some people do not believe in topping at all. They only lst which also changes dominance.

Since you have 3 plants in that large area you could also look at SCROG. You use a screen and everything that pokes through you either tuck into a new square or bend it down and then tie it to the screen. The idea is to fill each square in the screen with a cola.

As they say there is more than one way to skin a cat. I was planning on scrogging but I may just do the 4-way let the way Emilya explained it because then you can move your plants around.

Is there not 6 nodes on that tall plant though?

There very well may be. Ha. She's something, that one.

I think I like the idea of topping then LST. I like the idea of growing a short, wide plant with numerous strong colas. The scrog may be something that I try in future - I'm trying to limit the growth of my growing apparatus at this point. In time, it'll gain added features, I'm sure.

Is there any risk in waiting a couple more days until I top? I'd hate to over-steess the plant.

I should mention that there seems to be nice shoots coming from the lower nodes that will want to see light equal to the top of the canopy sooner than later.

 

[volksball]

They are beautiful.

Thanks!

 

[Reave]

There very well may be. Ha. She's something, that one.

I think I like the idea of topping then LST. I like the idea of growing a short, wide plant with numerous strong colas. The scrog may be something that I try in future - I'm trying to limit the growth of my growing apparatus at this point. In time, it'll gain added features, I'm sure.

Is there any risk in waiting a couple more days until I top? I'd hate to over-steess the plant.

I should mention that there seems to be nice shoots coming from the lower nodes that will want to see light equal to the top of the canopy sooner than later.

No clue if it is more stressful to wait. That is something that come from experience which I do not have. I am a scientist though and I love to research, experiment and troubleshoot. My current experience is germinating ,nearly killing seedlings and of course all the reading I have done.

As I know from other areas of my life, nothing compares to hands on experience of making mistakes and coming to new conclusions.

Looks like you are doing a great job so far to me. You seem to have more patience than I do which is something I'm working on.

 

[Emilya Green]

Is there any risk in waiting a couple more days until I top? I'd hate to over-steess the plant.

In veg, plants adapt. In flower, they react. - Emilya
They will get over it... you will simply lose a little time

 

[volksball]

No clue if it is more stressful to wait. That is something that come from experience which I do not have. I am a scientist though and I love to research, experiment and troubleshoot. My current experience is germinating ,nearly killing seedlings and of course all the reading I have done.

As I know from other areas of my life, nothing compares to hands on experience of making mistakes and coming to new conclusions.

Looks like you are doing a great job so far to me. You seem to have more patience than I do which is something I'm working on.

As am I, but thanks for the votes! Learning to wait 12 hours before reacting is a work in progress, but I see its value.

I, like you, enjoy the research, experimentation and tracking results - I just don't want to kill them. I think I'm achieving that goal, though.

Thanks for weighing in.

 

[volksball]

In veg, plants adapt. In flower, they react. - Emilya
They will get over it... you will simply lose a little time

Great observation and quote. One which I'm learning. I'll wait then. I know myself and once I lop their heads off, I'll want to monitor them closely - something which will be difficult for the next few days with a full house of visiting family and friends.