Stansama
Well-Known Member
Hello members and guests! My name is Stan, I'm a new grower and member here and decided it would be fun to document my first grow as I've enjoyed reading other journals. I was born and raised in Maine, and have been using marijuana for about 14 years for recreational and self medicated use to help with depression, anxiety and pain. I hope to learn more with each grow and take advice along the way so that I can pass on my learned knowledge down the road. So here we go!
Strain: Sour Diesel from 420
60/40 sativa/indica hybrid
THC 18%
Currently in veg phase, 20 days since planting
50/20/30 soil mix with happy frog, ocean forest, and perlite respectively
Started in solo cups, transplanted to 1 gal smart pots and changed soil mixture to 50/20 ocean forest/happy frog
Growing indoor with a 4x4x6.5 apollo tent
Sprouted with 6-23w cfl, then 600w iPower mh/hps in an air cooled hood with a 18/6 cycle
Temps ~ 70/80f lights off/on
Humidity 40-60%
Watering every 3 days
So on 5/6 I started two seeds in water, planted 25 hours later in my soil mix and placed in the tent. I decided to start with 50% happy frog to keep seeds from stressing in the ocean forest, which from what I've read appears to be a hotter soil. Lights on at 6pm, temps at 78. I misted every morning at 7 before leaving for work and again when I got home right before lights on at 6. Three days after planting I had little babies poking out!
And here's where they sat under 6-23w cfls. Also a picture of first leaves! They look so small in this huge tent!
I continued misting every morning and evening for a few days, then on 5/14 gave them their first watering. Tap water tested at 6.4 ph using an oakton ph2. Runoff tested at 6.7 ph. Temperatures stayed mostly around 78/80 with lights on and 70-72 with lights off. Maine temps vary a lot this time of year (always really) so I have had a few fluctuations but nothing crazy. I watered again after 3 days, on 5/17. Watering right before or at lights on.
I was a little nervous about these first leaves being kind of wonky, but read that's not abnormal for the first set. Subsequent sets seem to be fine so far.
On 5/21 I decided to transplant into 1 gal smart pots. So I watered the day before and got my soil ready, switched to 50/20 ocean forest/happy frog still with 30% perlite and watered the soil as well. Here are a couple pics of transplanting and their new homes.
I'm not sure if I should have waited longer to transplant? The soil crumbled easily in my hands and the root ball was not very tight, but they were circling the bottom of the cups. They seemed very happy in their new homes, growth slowed for a couple days but they picked up again. I watered right after transplanting to bed them in. The soil was pretty dry after two days but I had read to let them really dry after transplanting so I waited until day three to give them water. I may water every two days now, the smart pots seem to dry quickly. I also switched over to the 600w mh light after watering. Started at 3' and been lowering about 4" every day.
I went with the iPower kit for this first grow to keep things inexpensive and see how the process goes. Boy that exhaust fan is loud and moves some air! I have it pulling through a carbon filter, pushing through the hood and outt a nearby window. Plants seem happy as far as a new grower can tell. If anyone has comments, advice, or whatever feel free to chime in! Will keep updating as things progress. I'll likely start thinking about LST soon as I've read the sour diesel can be a very tall plant and I will obviously have height restrictions. I'm super excited to continue watching these grow!!
Strain: Sour Diesel from 420
60/40 sativa/indica hybrid
THC 18%
Currently in veg phase, 20 days since planting
50/20/30 soil mix with happy frog, ocean forest, and perlite respectively
Started in solo cups, transplanted to 1 gal smart pots and changed soil mixture to 50/20 ocean forest/happy frog
Growing indoor with a 4x4x6.5 apollo tent
Sprouted with 6-23w cfl, then 600w iPower mh/hps in an air cooled hood with a 18/6 cycle
Temps ~ 70/80f lights off/on
Humidity 40-60%
Watering every 3 days
So on 5/6 I started two seeds in water, planted 25 hours later in my soil mix and placed in the tent. I decided to start with 50% happy frog to keep seeds from stressing in the ocean forest, which from what I've read appears to be a hotter soil. Lights on at 6pm, temps at 78. I misted every morning at 7 before leaving for work and again when I got home right before lights on at 6. Three days after planting I had little babies poking out!
And here's where they sat under 6-23w cfls. Also a picture of first leaves! They look so small in this huge tent!
I continued misting every morning and evening for a few days, then on 5/14 gave them their first watering. Tap water tested at 6.4 ph using an oakton ph2. Runoff tested at 6.7 ph. Temperatures stayed mostly around 78/80 with lights on and 70-72 with lights off. Maine temps vary a lot this time of year (always really) so I have had a few fluctuations but nothing crazy. I watered again after 3 days, on 5/17. Watering right before or at lights on.
I was a little nervous about these first leaves being kind of wonky, but read that's not abnormal for the first set. Subsequent sets seem to be fine so far.
On 5/21 I decided to transplant into 1 gal smart pots. So I watered the day before and got my soil ready, switched to 50/20 ocean forest/happy frog still with 30% perlite and watered the soil as well. Here are a couple pics of transplanting and their new homes.
I'm not sure if I should have waited longer to transplant? The soil crumbled easily in my hands and the root ball was not very tight, but they were circling the bottom of the cups. They seemed very happy in their new homes, growth slowed for a couple days but they picked up again. I watered right after transplanting to bed them in. The soil was pretty dry after two days but I had read to let them really dry after transplanting so I waited until day three to give them water. I may water every two days now, the smart pots seem to dry quickly. I also switched over to the 600w mh light after watering. Started at 3' and been lowering about 4" every day.
I went with the iPower kit for this first grow to keep things inexpensive and see how the process goes. Boy that exhaust fan is loud and moves some air! I have it pulling through a carbon filter, pushing through the hood and outt a nearby window. Plants seem happy as far as a new grower can tell. If anyone has comments, advice, or whatever feel free to chime in! Will keep updating as things progress. I'll likely start thinking about LST soon as I've read the sour diesel can be a very tall plant and I will obviously have height restrictions. I'm super excited to continue watching these grow!!