D.I.G. round II (Miracle Grow MC)

[mainegrown]

well i threw some new beans from some really good pot with a nice "heady" high into a plastic bag between a couple paper towels. i tried to find a warm, but not HOT, place in the veg room and found that on top of the floro tubes was a great place. a day later all but three of the seeds had a half inch root.. oh and i added a drop of the Neptune's 'Fish' in with the seeds:D.
an hour ago i put all of the 13 seeds into peat pellets soaked in water with 1/4 t. of Miracle Grow (MG) All purpose plant food into a half gallon. they are under the floro tube with a cutting .
i am going to be growing these plants in miracle grow the whole way until flower then i will go to a chemical nutrient for that too.
this is going to be an on going experiment as the clones from this will be treated the same as the originals and will be grown under the same lights as the organics i have now, see sig if unsure of what the organics i am talking about.
hope to see a difference one way or the other and i WILL be taking the better easier route.
please give any advice as you see it is needed and please kick back and enjoy the next few months.
peace
-J
p.s. pics up when sprouts are up then every few days

[mainegrown]

this is spike, see spike sleep, dont wake spike, wake spike wake, bite spike, bite, see spike bite (IF WE NOT HERE!!)

[frostedwonder]

Totally dig Spike!
Hey just a question or two about the MG Fert. Why would you use any sort of fert on a seed? I have seen peat pucks get acidic if over watered or soaked but also by soaking it with a solution of ferts I can't think that would be good for young emerging roots. Just wondering if you have every had bad reactions or is it that weak of a solution that it doesn't burn? I use Root Riot plugs on occasion and soak those in a root stimulator and ph'd distilled water for a bit before using but the root stimulator has almost no N in it.

[Italiano715]

Totally dig Spike!
Hey just a question or two about the MG Fert. Why would you use any sort of fert on a seed? I have seen peat pucks get acidic if over watered or soaked but also by soaking it with a solution of ferts I can't think that would be good for young emerging roots. Just wondering if you have every had bad reactions or is it that weak of a solution that it doesn't burn? I use Root Riot plugs on occasion and soak those in a root stimulator and ph'd distilled water for a bit before using but the root stimulator has almost no N in it.

Yea Maine, Frosted is right... You want to avoid nutrients for AT LEAST the first 2 weeks, possibly up to a month before you may need it.You will more than surely burn them up if you use ferts too early.

[mainegrown]

good thing i used such a small amount then..
we learn as we go.. i just figured that the peat had no nutrients in it and i thought that just a little bit would only help.. i will see what happens and update on the status.

thanks for the input and if i had asked instead of just done i might have avoided this problem.

-J

[frostedwonder]

Hey well worse things can and do happen by learning. I was checking on some roots of a clone about a week ago and for some reason I grabbed the stem of the cutting and lifted it and got to feel the roots pull off the main stem of the cutting. Kinda felt like pulling an arm out of socket...sucked and yeah I was medicated. Clone is still alive tho just barely but alive.

[Italiano715]

good thing i used such a small amount then..
we learn as we go.. i just figured that the peat had no nutrients in it and i thought that just a little bit would only help.. i will see what happens and update on the status.

thanks for the input and if i had asked instead of just done i might have avoided this problem.

-J



Live and learn my friend. Also, peat pellets can also make your pH fluctuate. I want to say it's on the acidic side, but I could be wrong.



Hey well worse things can and do happen by learning. I was checking on some roots of a clone about a week ago and for some reason I grabbed the stem of the cutting and lifted it and got to feel the roots pull off the main stem of the cutting. Kinda felt like pulling an arm out of socket...sucked and yeah I was medicated. Clone is still alive tho just barely but alive.

Ouch, sorry to hear about that. Glad that it came back though! Clones are tougher than we all make them out to be! They can take some beatings!

[Shovelhandle]

yep, peat goes acid (lower ph). not a bad thing. I use peat and like it. :)

[mainegrown]

hope they (clones) can take a beating.. i have one that is just a cutting in soil and i really hope it takes root cause it was the earliest and hardest flowering plant out of the batch i currently have flowering.
what do you do to make the PH stable?? and what do you use to bring it (PH) back up?? my ferts make the PH drop so that isnt good, right??
and btw the water here is 6.8 and the Neptune's Harvest @ 2 T. / Gal. = 6.0 PH....good??

[frostedwonder]

Soil is alright at that but 6.5 is better from what I have tried. Also I am not sure if you should try to balance anything with the peat pucks after what you added, if it was me I would transplant in some seed starter mix of sorts (whatever you like) and then from there just water with ph'd water like distilled with cal mag for example or your water sounded like it wasn't that bad. Things will move on and they will get tough as nails in no time. I myself wait till about four nodes before any nutes but that varies with strain and many other factors but two weeks old or four nodes is a safe bet. Others will chime in, lots of helpful people here.:hippy:

[mainegrown]

thanks frosted,
you have a nice setup and i will take the time to read up very soon.kinda busy right now but sometime tonight i will catch up..
i wont do anything until they sprout then i will move them to a solo cup with MG moisture control. then i will wait even longer before i feed the babes cause this soil has nutes in it already :(
this is a new grow for me.. my mother is an organic nut and a botanist..(unfortunately she HATES MMJ).. so i have never even planted a 'normal' house plant in MG before.. so i am having fun thumbing my nose at her right now. lol
here is what i got now.. and a clone off #4 in the D.I.G.

[mainegrown]

here are some pics and a little update...
6 out of the 13 planted are now above board..
they are looking very good as far as i can tell and i will continue to post pics daily until they are a bit older.
thanks for watching peeps
pic one - spike loves pot as much as we do
pic two - god view
pic three - first to show..
-J

[redtails]

Lookin good. I've never had much luck with MG, but I know lots of people have so I'll be checking in to see how yours goes.

[frostedwonder]

Hey that last pic with Spike laying next to your plant is cool. Did you LST that plant? I am guessing yes just thought I would say it looks healthy.

[mainegrown]

yea that girl is kinda huge!!
so i had to LST it to keep the canopy kinda level..
-J

[mainegrown]

i hate the weather here.
i have had snow and freezing rain for the last few days... lost power for a few hours today and the temps all droped into the danger zone!!
lets hear it for a weed, yo
-J

[mainegrown]

dec 30 2009
temp: 82 F
humidity: 35~50%
11 seedlings

well it has been 5 days since i put the seeds into the bag..
here is what i got now. i have been spraying the peat plugs down with straight H2O from my trusty windex bottle (very clean) and they seem to be loving the moisture/humidity.
all of the x-mas weed seems to be growing well even if they are stretching a wee bit. i added a second tube to the 4 ft floro and the stretch stopped then.

[Chebus]

lookin good bro, i know MG has a bad rep. but iv never actually seen it be a problem to a plant...but the pic with the dog in it is such a beautiful deep green i say it workin out fine

[mainegrown]

um that is the organic soil mix all of the island boys use and passed on to me.. coast of maine soils are the bomb.
and i think the same thing about MG.. has a bad par but until i SEE it do something bad i wont say shit. i know that i wont be able to feed them for a month+ but that doesnt hurt my feelings too bad.
my plan is to use this to help dial the grow in some more with a known medium

[mainegrown]

here are some new pics of the new seedlings..
how long should i leave them in the peat?? are they gonna be ok there for the next few days or what?

[redtails]

Never used it but I'd guess they would be fine for a couple days...I'd definitely want to cut the wrapping off & plant em in the MG when they get their second set of leaves but even then they probably won't be rootbound or anything.

[mainegrown]

hey redtails
thanks for the info, and what do you use for your sedlings/clones??
i have no previous experience with these but for 11 cents each how can you beat it??
i have had to water once and i spray them down all the time so i guess that the watering isnt as accurate as it could be, but it seems to be working out.
-J

[redtails]

I usually use just soil, but for clones this time around I got Rapid Rooter plugs, was like $8 for 50 so I figued why not. After I'm done with them I'll go back to soil though, don't really see any advantage in them besides they hold onto the stem better (once you cut a slit in them because the hole is too big).

[frostedwonder]

Hey just be careful when watering peat pucks, they can turn rather acidic, oh and cut the mesh before transplanting (someone might have said that already). I like the rapid rooters but after my current bag of them are gone I am trying the diy bubble cloner found in one of the stickies.

[mainegrown]

i will make sure to cut the wrapper off..
and thanks for the info on the acidity of the peat i will be transplanting tomorrow to MG in 20 oz solo cups.. i cant right now though i want to.. i am just waiting for the flowering light to turn on so i can leave.
-J

[mainegrown]

here are some pics i took after transplanting to MG in 20 oz cups
hope they like it

[MonkeyBone]

In approx 7-10 days, repot them in 4-5 gallons pot, they will thrives!!!!

:thumbsup:

[mainegrown]

In approx 7-10 days, repot them in 4-5 gallons pot, they will thrives!!!!

:thumbsup:
OMG.. that is a little more soil than i have right now.. and isnt that a little big of a pot to move them to this early?? also i have a limited amount of floor space to put the plants under light... that would kinda chew through it fast ya feel me??
would it work to move them to 1 gal pots in 2 weeks?? or is that waiting too long/too small?? thanks for the input man and feel free to chime in anytime...
-J

[MonkeyBone]

OMG.. that is a little more soil than i have right now.. and isnt that a little big of a pot to move them to this early?? also i have a limited amount of floor space to put the plants under light... that would kinda chew through it fast ya feel me??
would it work to move them to 1 gal pots in 2 weeks?? or is that waiting too long/too small?? thanks for the input man and feel free to chime in anytime...
-J


2 weeks, they will rootbound! Last year I first started them in 20 oz cup, then in 2 gallons pot, then in 4 gallons pot. This year I started them in the same 20 oz cup, but moves directly to the 4 gallon pot. Same age, this year was double the size of last year..I don't know if it's pot related but, it's worth trying!

In nature, the pot is the earth. Is that a big pot? :P big pot = big pot...Starting to get drwosy with cold and chugged up sinuses...and vodka..

:thumbsup:

[mainegrown]

its the vodka man
im a whiskey / patron kinda guy.. those dont make me drowsy they get me ready to party... cant drink for a few days.. kinda over indulged on New years eve...
peace
-J

[MonkeyBone]

its the vodka man
im a whiskey / patron kinda guy.. those dont make me drowsy they get me ready to party... cant drink for a few days.. kinda over indulged on New years eve...
peace
-J

My 12 years old rhum bottle of rhum is empty...that's why i'm on vodka..:wtf:

Edit: I'm out!

[mainegrown]

My 12 years old rhum bottle of rhum is empty...that's why i'm on vodka..:wtf:

Edit: I'm out!
yea the Patron took a beatin last nite... its fucking gone now and i still feel it... that and a couple 12's of budweiser and a few shots of jager and my head f-ing hurts ya feel me?? or you will in the A.M. ... lol
drink lots of water and take a vic or two when you wake up.. it really helps

and about the 4 gal idea i will have to look into at least 3 gal pots for all of the girls.. i will move em to the three gal pots asap..
and the ones in the flower room must be almost root bound so i am gonna have to find some 5 gal pails to use in there... oh the misery of growing pot... lol
and the only reason i can think of is less stress from transplanting = better bush?? sound right to you??
-J

[MonkeyBone]

and the only reason i can think of is less stress from transplanting = better bush?? sound right to you??
-J

Sounds about right!!

:thumbsup:

[mainegrown]

here

[ForgetClassC]

I'm using MC now, make sure you let it dry out, I almost killed my seedlings because I watered them too much, when it looks dry, give it a day or 2, the deeper soil stays wet for awhile, even now I water once a week, and they are lovin it.

-C

[mainegrown]

I'm using MC now, make sure you let it dry out, I almost killed my seedlings because I watered them too much, when it looks dry, give it a day or 2, the deeper soil stays wet for awhile, even now I water once a week, and they are lovin it.

-C

thanks for the tip bro
-MG

[mainegrown]

well it has been a couple days since i last posted to this thread and i figured that everyone would like to see how the latest batch of babes is doing..
my plan is ti throw these into flower in 2 weeks or so and let em run their corse under nothing but CFL's and see how that goes..
i will be retrofitting the bottom half of the DIG to run CFL lighting.. i have a chandelier that i am gonna hook a few splitters to and use that as the main source of light for this run.
here are the pics hope they look up to snuff for 11 days after the beans split..

[MonkeyBone]

They are stretchin a bit. Are your lights far of the plants?

[mainegrown]

they were to make em gain a few inches before they started to leaf out.. i am a big fan of air movement around the soil.. i feel that it helps to keep the fungus and mold down in its place.. which is not in my grow rooms..
not there are 2 40w t-12 tubes above the lil plants and they seem to have stopped stretching cause the tube are only 2 inches or so above the tops of the babes..
always appreciate your input monkey..
-MG

[frostedwonder]

Hey MG, what goals are you trying for in these hopeful ladies? How long total for veg? Curious if your choosing to flower quicker so your able to finish with cfl easier? I would try a cfl cab in my future after seeing soo many on here and other places that are making some nice greens with just cfl.:rasta:

[mainegrown]

yea i have read that the light penetration on CFL's is kinda horrible so i figgured rather that try to fight it i would go with the flow and use some serious LST and topping to keep the height down and the yield up.. i thought that it would be fun to experiment with some of the advanced growing techniques that i read about with out the stress of having to worry about not having any smoke.. i think that it will be just about a month after they broke their shells.. i put em in a bag on x-mas day and that is what 11 or 12 days ago? so on the 25th of jan i will put em into flower. hopefully this is not too soon and they will have a chance to become nice and big!!
its always good to have questions, they help me to define what i want..
-MG

[frostedwonder]

Well if you log it I will follow! I like the objective and the mission is sound

[mainegrown]

i will be sure to log everything with this grow.. from the beginning till the end.. including drying and curing..
i am going to be experimenting with using non-organic ferts as well as using MG soil.. both of which are new to me.. so far i am loving the way the lil babes are growing as well as i have only had to water once (when i transplanted to the MG). i figure the moisture control will keep the waterings to a minimum. and the nutes in the soil will allow me to go a ways into the flower cycle without ever having to hit em with nutes.. i am hoping to use this to help get the whole process more refined..
i am thinking about eventually using MG in seedling through the veg stage and then moving to Pro-Mix for flower so that i can control the nutes that the plant is recieving better when it is more important..
just a late night thought..
off to :jointsmile: and take care of the babes..
-MG

[redtails]

Looking good man, & I really like the idea of using MG till flower then switching to promix. I might have to try that myself because these fox farm nutes are kind of expensive and that would allow me to bet rid of the grow big and still be able to use the enhancers in flower without worrying about nute burn from full MG soil...hmm, creativity igniting!

[mainegrown]

thanks.. always good to have my ideas looked on favorably
-MG

[redtails]

Well, you have some good ideas, seem to be a lot like me: so of course you're a creative genious even with just starting :thumbsup:

Edit: You're at 419 posts! Happy 420 man :jointsmile:

[mainegrown]

must be soul bros then huh?

~MG

[mainegrown]

here are a couple pics of the MG grow..
notice the little tiny clone.. i dont know if she will make it :(
thats life i guess


~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[mainegrown]

here are some pics of the newest batch of babies..
i am thinking of veg for another week..
a transplant and topping..
then a week before flower?
keep em short and bushy ya feel me?

the MG part of the soil seems to be kicking in now..
the little plants are not looking
so small now..
i dont think that i am gonna take any clones from this
round of plants..
it was just a learning lesson.. and a good one!
MG from cut to flower.. the ProMix..
thats all for now folks


~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[mainegrown]

more pics.. not much new but was in the room with the camera and thought it would be a waste not to take em snapshots..

~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[headshake]

wait at least 2 weeks beore you flower after topping/LST/etc.

looking good!


-shake

[mainegrown]

k will do.. i am still in the air about what to do with these lil plants..
i may just top then clone then flower clones and mothers together.. idk just a late night thought.. 4 me anyway

~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé