Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures & Photos From The Garden - 2012

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Yea X, I used to fish Bass tournaments, strictly as an amateur of course. So much fun. But out here in the freaking desert there just isnt anything. Lake Mead sucks and is super low in water. I really miss it too.

I hope you get out soon, and land enough for us both! I've always wanted to check out Lake Mead.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey man, you need to go for it and get one and fix it, or buy it already running

I have a 67 GMC short bed step side pickup that I am restoring...

you can see my build thread here - 67 GMC stepper build - C10 Forum

all the best buddy!

Awesome! That'll be killer when completed! Are you going to try to stay original? I like your DIY hoist. What a cool project - should keep you busy for a while. Can't wait to see it completed!

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

X........Curious about the mums
They filled completely with hydroton?
How often do you have to water them?

Just hydroton on top to discourage critters. Straight coco coir underneath. With a single layer of hydroton at the bottom again. These are really really small and skinny containers, and I need to water about every day and a half or so when roots are established.

 

[BudTester420]

On the same page X, how big are your air pots? Those moms look really good and I was thinking about doing the same but can't choose a size.

 

[Aaron Quix]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Boy X, I always seem to be on hiatus when things go south for people! Sure wish I could have been here a week or so back, to lend a little more support. It looks as though the rest of the 420 Fam had your back, though, so + reps all around lol. Glad to see the garden is recovering, and moreover, very glad to see you in better spirits. If there's ever anything I can do, Brother, you be sure to let me know.
Much love and respect my friend, see you soon

 

[sfttailpaul]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hi all -

I have a bunch of PM's and catching up to do, but I'm reeling from a lot of bad news right now on several fronts. Financially, personally, physically (nothing life threatening at least), and... Well, that's the tip of the iceberg anyway.

I feel like I've managed to deal with so much and still remain mostly positive. I've knocked myself out trying to be a rock and a positive influence to those around me, here, and in my "real" life. I guess I actually thought I was able to stay above it all, but sadly I'm not.

I'm realizing that this convergence of negative news has thrown me into a real, significant, funk. Shoot, let's call it what it is -- I'm depressed. Sigh.

I'm sharing this because I sincerely care about so many people here, and I don't want anybody to think otherwise. I've got lots to process and figure out, and it might make things spotty for me here. Please don't think I'm ignoring you if I haven't responded to a message or popped into your journals lately. I was trying to get caught up, but I'm just really struggling with a lot at the moment and feeling really overwhelmed.

I'm sure I'll get through this all somehow, but I need to figure out the "how" part.

Much love, and thanks to you all for the continued love and support.

XLR, I have always enjoyed reading your posts. I kinda' know what you're going through and I feel for you. My love for you as a comrade will be there for you, no matter what. If there's anything I can do... The position that the universe has dealt you is similar to my past experiences, BUT here's some Positive thoughts and some of my limited positive Karma towards full recovery, stability and everything, I have climbed the ladder and fallen down several times. In all areas: wives, business's, houses, et. al. I somehow, continue to hang in there. Until a few years ago (I am 59) I had never experienced depression. Then when I was loosing everything to the economy and my deteriorating health, I got depressed, big time. I hat it and nothing will help. Have to ride the storm out. I am a survivor. I get no help from the government or anyone else (that all goes to foreigners anyway) so I am surviving by selling everything I own and have collected over the successful years.
Hang in there bro'. I'll be thinking about you and praying for you too.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

On the same page X, how big are your air pots? Those moms look really good and I was thinking about doing the same but can't choose a size.

Thanks, Blazin. They are just (1 liter?) containers which is the smallest size available, at least as far as I've been able to find. Forces me to keep them pretty small, but I don't have much room to work with anyway. The next size up is a pretty big jump, and is too big for my space. Having said that, because of the way they encourage lateral root development, it seems to work pretty well for small moms like this so far. In really new to using them, though, so I'm still figuring out how far/long I can stretch things before I have issues with them outgrowing things. If you use coco coir, you might try it straight up with these like I did. The aeration they provide is plenty to use the coir without adding perlite, etc., which would really dry things out too fast I think.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Boy X, I always seem to be on hiatus when things go south for people! Sure wish I could have been here a week or so back, to lend a little more support. It looks as though the rest of the 420 Fam had your back, though, so + reps all around lol. Glad to see the garden is recovering, and moreover, very glad to see you in better spirits. If there's ever anything I can do, Brother, you be sure to let me know.
Much love and respect my friend, see you soon

No worries, Quix. I KNOW you always have my back, and are there for me. I appreciate that so much, and I am in somewhat better spirits. I feel bad for venting to the world about my issues. It could be worse, and I just need to suck it up better perhaps. Same goes in reverse btw - if there's ever anything I can do for you, ya know? Thanks again for the support, Q. You rock.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

XLR, I have always enjoyed reading your posts. I kinda' know what you're going through and I feel for you. My love for you as a comrade will be there for you, no matter what. If there's anything I can do... The position that the universe has dealt you is similar to my past experiences, BUT here's some Positive thoughts and some of my limited positive Karma towards full recovery, stability and everything, I have climbed the ladder and fallen down several times. In all areas: wives, business's, houses, et. al. I somehow, continue to hang in there. Until a few years ago (I am 59) I had never experienced depression. Then when I was loosing everything to the economy and my deteriorating health, I got depressed, big time. I hat it and nothing will help. Have to ride the storm out. I am a survivor. I get no help from the government or anyone else (that all goes to foreigners anyway) so I am surviving by selling everything I own and have collected over the successful years.
Hang in there bro'. I'll be thinking about you and praying for you too.

Jeez I hate hearing that you've had to go through all that, but I know from past posts you have been dealt some tricky hands alright. I am grateful to you for sharing with me your battle and survival.

I remember that you had to make a lot of sacrifices, and believe it or not, I've thought about your situation some as I've been going through this. I'm surviving okay, but living off a limited supply of savings at the moment, which I know you know... Is scary! I appreciate your encouragement a bunch, and it's great to know you're still around - haven't seen you in a while! I hope to see you around more - thanks again, and here's to better fortune for us both.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

All is well with the gals in the bloom tent tonight. I spent about 45 minutes tying down branches to keep the canopy as even as possible. I've been spending a little time on it almost every night. The Chocolope is a freakin' bush! It really reminds me of the Jack the Ripper in how compact it is and how "branchy" and dense it is. Very strong Sativa traits being expressed. I'll need to give her a good trim once the stretch is done.

The 2 Super Lemon Hazes and the Deadhead OG both look great as well. The SLH plants are starting to stretch pretty good already, and aren't as dense in their foliage as the Chocolope (same with the Deadhead).

Moms are still doing great too, and I've been giving a lot of thought to what I want to keep and what I want to possibly cull. I only wanted to keep one mom between the Jack the Ripper and the Deadhead OG from the last grow, but I like them both so much for different reasons, and I'm having a difficult time culling either from the mom pool.

On that note, I thought I'd share a little more about the Jack the Ripper, Deadhead OG, and OG Kush now that I have been vaping them for a month or so now, and am on my second grow with the Deadhead and JTR.

Here's why I just can't let go of the Jack the Ripper pheno I have:

• Short, compact Sativa (very handy trait indoors!)
• Fantastic taste and smell (the Lemon taste is startlingly lemony and very tasty)
• Above average high and unique experience (it is a creeper BIG time. It takes 15 minutes to know what you've got, then BLAM!). The high itself is a happy, giggle high, and it does a nice job with my nerve related pains.
• Really vigorous and likes everything I give it - perky and happy most of the time without much effort.
• Side branches like to grow very uniformly once topped, making it easy to bush out.

Here's a few cons to the JTR:

• Branchy and compact to the point of difficult to work with, and needs a lot of trimming in bloom.
• Unless vegged for extended time, it WANTS to be small. (This is both pro and con - the con here being yield).
• Mold risk due to compact nature if not properly trimmed/maintained

Favorite things about the Deadhead OG:

• Good yielder. Without much vegging, and in a crowded space, it yielded over 4z.
• Frostiest buds I've grown to date
• Super potent - this would be a one hitter quitter for less seasoned tokers. Probably the most potent bud I've grown - at least close to or equal to it.
• Quick hitter - Sometimes I get high while still vaping it - no creeper with the Deadhead!
• Very pretty buds with huge calyx's, fun plant to grow
• Super vigorous and extremely resilient
• Nice mix of indica and Sativa. Branches are more like an indica, buds like a Sativa, and has Sativa qualities to the high. It will knock you out at the end a bit, indica style, unlike the Jack the Ripper.

Not so favorite things about the Deadhead OG:

• I'm not a big fan of the indica knockout at the end, though there is a definite time and place for it.
• The taste is superb, but it unfortunately gets a little old sometimes. It's a diesel/chemical/lemon pledge sort of taste that smells sublime, and tastes great 'til you get sick of it. I don't see myself getting sick of the "smell" but the taste is already getting a little boring (but certainly not bad).
• Not as good at nerve pain relief, but nice for aches and pains nonetheless.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot, I have a bunch of seeds that are a mix of the Deadhead and a Jack the Ripper male from my breeding experiment last round. I most definitely need to grow some of these in the next round!! What did we decide to call those? Deadhead Jack? Along with the JTR/OG Kush cross I made, too (OG Ripper?).
Now I'm getting a bit excited about those seeds!

Lastly, the best bud I grew last round was actually the OG Kush, quality of medicine wise. I didn't, unfortunately, keep a clone from it, though. I knew that would happen - the one I didn't clone would be the one I treasure the most to vape.

OG Kush is pretty well documented, but I really love the high. It's a motivated, creative, giggly high that will leave you getting things done. I feel so motivated with the OG! The taste is really hard to explain on the one I grew. Not really lemony like some I've heard. Chemical-like, somewhat, but very good. Maybe a little bit of chocolate to the taste, believe it or not.

The downside, and one reason I'm not too bummed about not having a clone, was that it grew small, underwhelming buds and was a really finicky plant to grow. Not easy to please, and a lot of work for a little medicine. BUT, oh what medicine! I have more OG seeds, and will search for a pheno I like - until then, can't wait to try some of the seeds from the cross with my JTR male. I was sceptical about how good OG Kush would really be, but it's great. Right up there with the Chocolope from 2 grows ago, which is still my favorite.

Hope everyone's gardens are green!

 

[SurfBuddy]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Great report! Sounds like you're gonna like your crossed up seeds!

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Great report! Sounds like you're gonna like your crossed up seeds!

Thanks, SurfBuddy!

I sure hope they turn out as good as the 2 strains are individually (or better). They will be great if so!

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Well, everything seems to be flourishing at the moment thankfully. The Chocolope is really bushing up big time in the bloom tent. The 2 SLH's and the Deadhead OG are less "branchy" and dense, so there's a stark difference in the way they grow and look. As mentioned previously, I'll have some serious trimming to do on the Chocolope especially!

I'm running my (BPN) nutrients at about 1200ppm (.7 conversion) and the PH has been holding pretty steady between 5.5-5.8. I started adding Liquid Blue bloom booster at a beginning dosage with the most recent res. change.

The moms are looking really good still too, and I'm thinking of germinating some new seeds/moms for upcoming grows. Pineapple Express, and my own crosses (OG Ripper and Deadhead Jack) are what I'm leaning toward, next. SO many strains I want to grow/try though!

Here's the gals in the tent - about 6 days bloom? View from above:

Trying to keep them really low and even. A lot of the main branches are running horizontally to encourage multiple tops and bushiness:

Moms chillin'. Super Lemon Haze, Deadhead OG, and Jack the Ripper:

 

[NorCaliwood]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Just doing a fast drive bye. I hear ya about pain. It gets old fast. I've been dealing with it since 1986. In 86 I had a tear in my beer over a x and ended up running off a road on a 55 pan head, rather than end up on the grill of a on coming car. Birt hit the loose gravel on the shoulder doing about 85 MPH. Rear tire caught up with my front tire and launched me off a levee road outside San Fransico and into a barbed wire fence. Coumpound factured both forearms and broke my fool neck. Doctors had to operate on my spinal cord because of a bloood clot in my spine. Did a fusion of C-6, C-7. Also had to get a total hip replacement. I'm still paying for a mistake a stupid 26 year old made. Oh well. That's life. I could keep complaining but it doesn't do any good.
Sorry to hear ya got or hopefully 'had' bugs. I've paid my dues more than once with them suckers. GL just keep spraying every 7-10 days. Nothing really works on the eggs. So best you can ope for is to keep the population in check untill you get your harvest in. Then always spray. Weather or not they need it. I do. Crowded areas breed bugs. And them bugs LOVE Marijuana. Smart bugs huh?
Gardens looking good Xlr. GL and Keepem Green

 

[JB42]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hi Xlr8,
Thought I was subbed here, am now. Looks like I could learn a lot here. Nice garden bro.

 

[naphtali5725]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Garden is looking good buddy... I hope all is well, if it isn't, smoke a little more

 

[CronicHempHog]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

looking good x
hope you having a great day

 

[progreen]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

NICE... Subbed

 

[Bchris22]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey X,

New to the site but love your journals.. Quite the read, but much worth it.. I hope your health continues to improve.. I do believe like Mrs. Bud and others that you are a model of success.. Throughout your struggles you continue to remain optimistic and push forward.. Not to mention everything you do here for others... I completely understand how you may disagree... Being a vet I have often been looked at like I am a hero, however, to me I am just your everyday regular person, but to others my imperfections as a human being doesnt outweigh the sacrifices I make.. With everything you are going through you continue to be a huge influence in this community and for that I tip my hat to you sir..

I have a quick question. I have seen the results of BPN from numerous members grows.. Thanks to your journal I am now a fan of Subcool as well.. I know you are interested in eventually growing organic... I am not able to grow yet but when I am I have always seen myself growing from hydro because for some reason it seems to make sense to me, but the super soil recipe by subcool seems to make grows from soil easy... My question(which wasnt so quick) is what are your thoughts on the super soil Vs BPN organic nutes?? Does the super soil have a good track record because to me just being able to add water for the rest of the grow just seems to easy to be true..

 

[Alaskan1]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Wow X, your feeding schedule must be far different then mine because I just changed nutes and I was at the 1500 level with just 10/10/10 across the board for the 55 gallon res. Can you PM me what your doing and when so I can compare with my notes?
Thanks my friend
Hope all is well in your world. With a full time job now and taking care of 3 grows I'm a lil busy and a lot tired!