X Marks the Spot - XLR8's Big Bang Auto Hydro Grow 2011

[Aaron Quix]

I know! Check this out - I noticed that at 4:20 pm and clipped it in an image to save it.

Thanks brother!

You should have got the clock in that shot with it

That's not what I have Quix - I wish! But I can't wait to get mine in action too...

Yours is similar though isn't it? Ah hell I guess I need to go back n look again, been a while since I saw it, but I could have sworn the layout was at least the same, with all that highly oxygenated water....

 

[naphtali5725]

XL, I hope you smoked a lil something when you saw that 420 at 420 with 420 likes !!!

 

[Xlr8]

You should have got the clock in that shot with it



Yours is similar though isn't it? Ah hell I guess I need to go back n look again, been a while since I saw it, but I could have sworn the layout was at least the same, with all that highly oxygenated water....

Hi Quix - Doh! You're right, I should have. I was trying to get the post done while the clock still said 4:20 so the post time would say 4:20, but I missed and the post was clocked at 4:21...

Oh yeah, they do look definitely similar in a number of ways, but they work a bit differently. The ones I have will basically get "flooded" on a 3-4 times a day (or more) schedule and then drained back to the reservoir, then later flooded again, etc. I will be oxygenating the water in the main reservoir, so that they'll be getting flooded with oxygenated water.

The Undercurrent system in the video is set up so that each plant-site has bubbling water in it at all times (instead of being flooded and drained). That bubbling water is recirculated throughout all plant sites, but a depth of bubbly water is always maintained. If you keep enough oxygen in the water, the roots are just fine dangling in the water. Hydrologist has a homemade system kind of like the one in the video that he used to grow that beast of a plant he won POTM with.

 

[Xlr8]

XL, I hope you smoked a lil something when you saw that 420 at 420 with 420 likes !!!

I surrrrre did.

 

[Crower619]

Damn X wish I had the duckets to do a hydro set up very interested an thinking alot about going that way wish i knew where to start brother hows the ladies doing haven't talk to you in awhile brother o yea an congrats with mem of the month!!!

 

[Xlr8]

Damn X wish I had the duckets to do a hydro set up very interested an thinking alot about going that way wish i knew where to start brother hows the ladies doing haven't talk to you in awhile brother o yea an congrats with mem of the month!!!

Thanks Crower. Appreciate that. If you ever have questions on any of the hydro stuff let me know. Big Bang auto is doing good - she's starting to bud and will hopefully start filling out!

 

[Crower619]

Im so confused on the auto flower seeds how does that all work?

 

[420GodsTrichome]

Im so confused on the auto flower seeds how does that all work?

Well basically, Ruderalis plants a.k.a. "Auto Flower" do exactly that. They flower at a certain age, or maturity, normally VERY early into Vegetation, some as early as 3-5 DAYS after sprouting. They are not dependant on light on/off duration and most work well on either 18/6 or 20/4 light cycles, some even do well at straight 24 hours! Most advertised finish dates are rarely actually met by your average grower because they ARE sensitive to the more technical mistakes made, like incorrect defoliation, or extreme defoliation too early, or ESPECIALLY TRANSPLANTING!!! Most shoot a tap root very deep and very fast so its best to go ahead and start your seed with alot of care straight in the pot it will be staying in. I hope that this helps you out my friend!! P.S. If you have any more questions just ask!!

 

[Xlr8]

Im so confused on the auto flower seeds how does that all work?

To piggyback on what GT said, most marijuana is primarily Indica or Sativa, but auto-flowering plants introduce Ruderalis into the genetics. Most marijuana will not flower unless induced by a reduced light schedule. That's why once a plant is sexually mature, we switch them to a 12/12 light schedule.

Marijuana specially bred with ruderalis in it is not depend on the light schedule to flower. A trait of ruderalis is that it has evolved to flower regardless of light schedule (as a means of survival in harsher climates where it grows naturally). "Autos" or auto-flowering plants also grow and finish faster - as much as a month faster from what I understand (though I made a few of those technical mistakes GT was talking about so who knows...)

Because they don't need the reduced light schedule to flower, most growers do the 18/6 or 20/4 light schedule, etc., like GT explained so well. A trait of autos is that they are typically a bit smaller in stature, too. They are supposed to be good for tight spaces and indoors in general. It's all new to me though, too! Gods Trichome knows much more about growing them I'm sure.

 

[Xlr8]

Big Bang Auto -- Grow update - Day 41 from seed:

PH has been really stable at the current PPM - about 1100. Stays right around 5.8, so it's been easy maintenance.

Roots are really exploding and look great in the bucket.

Temps were up a bit today and got up to 84f - I'm not crazy about that temp

I moved several fan leaves to open up budsites a bit - some where buried under fan leaves. Just rearranged their positioning some. Growth has really taken off last couple of days, but not much vertically. Pretty short and bushy.

Here she is:

 

[420GodsTrichome]

Big Bang Auto -- Grow update - Day 41 from seed:

PH has been really stable at the current PPM - about 1100. Stays right around 5.8, so it's been easy maintenance.

Roots are really exploding and look great in the bucket.

Temps were up a bit today and got up to 84f - I'm not crazy about that temp

I moved several fan leaves to open up budsites a bit - some where buried under fan leaves. Just rearranged their positioning some. Growth has really taken off last couple of days, but not much vertically. Pretty short and bushy.

Here she is:

Great job!!! I would always suggest the "tuck" technique, i.e. tucking the fan leaves under the budsites they are hiding, auto's need as much of that foliage as possible for a while. Defoliating will stunt them and severely harm harvest numbers if done at the wrong time, remember, these types have an actual lifespan, and aren't able to jump back into vegetation..

 

[420GodsTrichome]

Great looking plant there my friend, looking at it, it will probably have 4-5 main large colas, with smaller budsites throughout..take care and you should have a good yield!!

 

[Xlr8]

Great job!!! I would always suggest the "tuck" technique, i.e. tucking the fan leaves under the budsites they are hiding, auto's need as much of that foliage as possible for a while. Defoliating will stunt them and severely harm harvest numbers if done at the wrong time, remember, these types have an actual lifespan, and aren't able to jump back into vegetation..

Great looking plant there my friend, looking at it, it will probably have 4-5 main large colas, with smaller budsites throughout..take care and you should have a good yield!!

Thanks GT - I'm really glad and feel fortunate to have you here following along - I have zero experience with autos, and your advice/thoughts/ideas are just what I need. I've had a few people tell me NOT to defoliate an auto like you normally would, so I'm kinda going by that (I've never been as big on defoliating as some people anyway). for your insight.

 

[Crower619]

Shes looking fat an thick lol great job so far...Thanks X an Gt for the autoflowering class of the day haha I got it now sounds interesting but Idk if I want to go that route but for sure next grow I will start from feminized seeds

 

[Aaron Quix]

Thanks GT - I'm really glad and feel fortunate to have you here following along - I have zero experience with autos, and your advice/thoughts/ideas are just what I need. I've had a few people tell me NOT to defoliate an auto like you normally would, so I'm kinda going by that (I've never been as big on defoliating as some people anyway). for your insight.

AAAaaaah great, now there's another member whos journal I'll HAVE to follow. I like this GT, very kind and seems to know his suff! Although I dont have time to follow anymore journals!! (Kidding I'll find time GT)

I agree X, I'm not a big fan of extreem defoliation, I recall that discussion a while ago and you were one of the few who I agreed with.

 

[Aaron Quix]

Hey X, have you ever used your vape to test a fresh bud toward the end of flower??

 

[420GodsTrichome]

Thanks GT - I'm really glad and feel fortunate to have you here following along - I have zero experience with autos, and your advice/thoughts/ideas are just what I need. I've had a few people tell me NOT to defoliate an auto like you normally would, so I'm kinda going by that (I've never been as big on defoliating as some people anyway). for your insight.

X, my friend, no need to thank me, it is an honor. And I'm not saying cancel out defoliation completely, just don't do it at the wrong time with these type plants. Although these plant don't normally need it because of size and other factors, if you look at my auto journal, you will see that I have defoliated, but my first defoliation begins after flowers are strating to fill out, and it is at a minimum, I think I will photo-tutorial it the next time, and post for whoever shall need it. Just remember that timing is key with autos. Looking GRRREEEEAAAATTT!!! Can't wait to see these beaut's come of age!!

 

[Xlr8]

Hey X, have you ever used your vape to test a fresh bud toward the end of flower??

Hey Quix - Yes, I dry them out first either in oven, low temp, door cracked open, etc. Then once it's quick dryed enough I test it in vape - sometimes bong, too. I'm not sure yet how much I like vaping quick dried bud. I think it's something that is better with a bong maybe?

 

[Xlr8]

Shes looking fat an thick lol great job so far...Thanks X an Gt for the autoflowering class of the day haha I got it now sounds interesting but Idk if I want to go that route but for sure next grow I will start from feminized seeds

Thank you Crower - I had a couple of "freebie" auto seeds, which is why I ended up going this way. Normally I don't grow anything in the summer, but I thought maybe it would be a good time to try the autoflower thing. The other was an Afghan Kush ryder, but it died due to a brainfart on my part.

 

[Xlr8]

AAAaaaah great, now there's another member whos journal I'll HAVE to follow. I like this GT, very kind and seems to know his suff! Although I dont have time to follow anymore journals!! (Kidding I'll find time GT)

I agree X, I'm not a big fan of extreem defoliation, I recall that discussion a while ago and you were one of the few who I agreed with.

Hi Quix - yes GT is jumping in with both feet - nice to see another new active member of the community. And he's got experience with autos to share!

I did decide that on my next regular grow I'm going to do a bit more defoliation as an experiment. I may do some on the autos to, if there's a credible reason to do so - we'll see. I have no interest in completely stripping them, yet.