DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Hello,
Iâ??m starting this grow log so I can benefit from the experience of others. I purchased 6 rooted clones at my local cannabis dispensary: 3 clones of Grand Daddy Purple (GDP) and 3 clones on the hybrid Blue Dream. I chose to grow the three GDPâ??s in 5 gallon buckets, one clone per bucket. I chose to grow 1 blue dream in a 5 gallon bucket, and the remaining two I placed in one bucket. I want to see if there are any differences in growth so I thought Iâ??d experiment a bit.
I goofed the first day and did not record any of the PPMâ??s or pHâ??s,but hereâ??s what I did: I filled each 5 gallon bucket with reverse osmosis water. I added half the recommended cal/mag and a little over ¼ the recommended FoxFarm hydro nutes. I wanted to start my babies off easy. I adjusted the pH and let a day pass.
Today, day 2, my water pH ranged from 6.0 to 7.0, so I added GH pHDown and now they are all hovering at anywhere from 5.8 â?? 6.2. The PPMâ??s are all at around 410 â?? 450 average. FoxFarm recommends they be at 700 â?? 1200, but Iâ??ll add stronger nutes next Saturday during my water exchange. As mentioned, I didnâ??t want to over feed them.
I did notice some buildup around my netpots this morning. Here are some pics:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3818.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3817.jpg
What is that stuff? Is it normal?

Here are some pics of my babies, 2nd day in my grow (The clones themselves are rooted, so they look about 4 weeks old):
Blue Dream #1, Day 2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3807.jpg
Blue Dream #2, Day 2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3808.jpg
Blue Dream #3, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3809.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3810.jpg
GDP #1, Day 2 (2 Pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3811.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3812.jpg
GDP #2, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3813.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3814.jpg
GDP #3, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3815.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3816.jpg

This was them, yesterday: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3801.jpg

A few questions:
1. Should I be spraying the foilage or leaves with anything?
2. The Hydroton on top is dry now, but I know the water is rising enough to soak the bottom hydrotons and the bottom of the rockwool/roots. Is this a good water level, or should I raise it so that the top hydrtons are wet as well?

II have enough space to fit two, 5 gallon buckets side by side, and I have a room length of about 9 feet. Iâ??m only using 5 feet at the moment, if that. I have a 175 power intake, and a cool tube light (400 watt HPS). Iâ??m getting a carbon scrubber in a week. So thatâ??s basically it. â??ll update this thread daily, and again, Iâ??d appreciate any experienced growers opinions and advice. This is a closet medical grow so budgetary concerns are an issue.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Here are my latest numbers as of 3:40pm, Day 2:
GDP #3: pH 6.1, Temp: 80f, PPM: 485

GDP #2: pH 6.3, Temp 80f, PPM 484

GDP #1: pH 6.2, Temp 80f, ppm 495

Blue Dream #3: pH 6.0, Temp 80f, PPM 500

Blue Dream #2 & 1: pH 6.0, Temp 80f, PPM 450


Ok, so I know that during the hottest hours, my temp is raising into the low 80's. I'm preparing some pH balanced water now which I'll freeze into water bottle sized ice cubes, and toss one in during these hotter times. Any advice on how to raise the temps of the bucket water? I have three fans in there, it feels nice and cool. Any way to insulate the bucket a bit? I know for most of the days the temps are in the low to mid70's. It's only this hot for about 4 or 5 hours which i think the ice cubes will help with.

[Thepurplem0nkey]

Ok, just did another pH check. Iâ??m happy to report that the room is beginning to smell a bit like the plants. Also, I noticed several small branch hairs beginning to form. I tried capturing them with my POS camera:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3829.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3828.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3827.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3822.jpg
Even though the water temp has been higher than optimum, the PPM's and pH have stabilized so Iâ??m assuming the plants are happy.

Hereâ??s my guard dog, â??killerâ?�. Sheâ??ll rip the ankles off of any man that comes near my garden ;-)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3819.jpg

[tinytoon]

Cute dog :thumbsup:
ok first temps. Either purchase light colored buckets or paint the ones you have white including lids. You might want to ditch the clear air tubing since that will allow light into bucket and we dont want any light on roots. Last thing I see is not allot of extra space in there. If your not running a centralized rez then water changes will be fun. Oops almost forgot, Blue Dream can get BIG from what I have seen of previous grows.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tiny, much appreciation for your post. I've enjoyed reading and learning from your own grow logs :-)
The spacing is certainly an issue, and one of those valuable learning experiences I plan to put towards my second grow. I was thinking of removing one single plant bucket and adding another double plant bucket. So instead of the 1x1x1x1x2 setup I am currently running, I want to switch to a 1x1x2x2. I may even go with a three bucket (2x2x2) setup. In your experience, will 2 plants per 5 gallon bucket cause any obvious problems?
Thanks for the tip on painting the bucket, I will buy some spray paint designed for plastic and take care of that on Saturday my first res change out.
As for the clear tubing, yeah, I ran out of my black tubing so I used my spare clear tubing for two of the buckets X_X I plan to switch that out on Saturday as well.

My dark cycle runs from 12:00am â?? 6:00am. I checked on my babies this morning at 6:30am, day 3. Their pH was, surprisingly, perfect. All of the plants were sitting at 5-9 =- 6.1. The water was resting 23/24c. Hereâ??s how they look:

Blue Dream #1 and #2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3830.jpg

Blue Dream #1: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3831.jpg

Blue Dream #2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3832.jpg

Blue Dream #3 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3835.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3836.jpg

GDP #3 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3833.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3834.jpg

GDP #2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3837.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3838.jpg

I forgot to take pics of my GDP#1 but Ill post some when i get home later tonight.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I think that rather than transplanting two plants into one 5 gallon bucket, I might remove two, 5 gallon buckets and replace them with 3 gallon buckets. That should save me some space and eliminate any worries of roots getting tangled with one another.
Apologies if this seems like a "no duh" realization, this is a first time grower log and hopefully someone in a similar position is reading this and not making the same mistakes ;-)

[tinytoon]

I hear ya and just remember if shit dont go wrong we cant learn anything:thumbsup: You might want to wait till grow #2 to paint the buckets, paint fumes no good for plants!!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

END OF DAY 3
So I got home and checked on my babies. They all appear to be slowly
growing in size. I canâ??t really tell as I have lost most of my depth
perception :-P What do you think?

End of day 3:
Blue Dream #1, (2 pics) http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3839.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3840.jpg

Blue Dream #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3841.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3842.jpg

Blue Dream #3 (2 Pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3845.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3846.jpg

GDP #3 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3843.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3844.jpg

GDP #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3849.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3850.jpg

GDP #1 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3847.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3856.jpg


Iâ??m spraying the babies three times a day with pHed, RO water (calmag
and a tiny drop of growbig added): Once in the morning, about 30
minutes after the light turns on, one at noonish, and one about 2
hours before lights off. Iâ??m hoping thatâ??s the right thing to do, they
seem to enjoy it for the moment.

The bad news is, the temps got really high today. The water rose to
the mid 80â??s. I thought this would kill them, but as I mentioned, they
look like the have grown slightly and I can see several new branches starting to form. Out of a 24 hour period, they have low to mid 70â??s water for about 12- 16 of those so maybe itâ??s enough.

Finally, I dropped my pH tester and broke it, but not before testing
each bucket. The pH had risen from 5.9 â?? 6.2 to 6.5 â?? 6.9. I added
what I thought the right amount of pH down would be. My local
hydroponics store only sells expensive testers, so I had to use my GH testing kit to even things out. I ordered a new digital tester which should be here in a few days.
I noticed that the GDP strain has a purple stem. Itâ??s hard to see ti in the pictures, but the stems are starting to turn purple 

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Day 4

No pics this morning because the manual pH testing took so long, I didn't have enough time before I had to be at work. I will post updated pics tonight. I checked one of the pots and still, no roots. About how long does it take for the roots to pop through the bottom?

[tinytoon]

I dont see any drip lines up top so you are hand watering them yes?? If not start NOW. Normally you need to hand water or have a drip line up top so that the plant has water available till roots grow down far enough to pick up whats in bucket. I'm guessing they perk up from the foliar because thats the only water they getting atm?? If you can carfully move the tron a lil so you can see your medium and check if it is dry.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Hi Tiny,
Thanks for that information! I have the water level high enough so that it is soaking the bottom of the rockwool (the clone was sitting in a rockwool cube which I placed on a shallow bed of hydroton). I stuck my finger down there and it is wet. I have 2 bubble stones in each bucket so plenty of bubbles are hitting the bottom of the net pot. Once I see roots, I'll lower the water level so they are just brushing the roots.
I'll post up some updated pics in about 3 hours :-)

[Anonymousm0nkey]

END OF DAY 4
Well, I HAVE ROOTS! I checked two of the pots and little roots have begun to poke through both of them. SWEET! Here are the roots: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3870.jpg
Tiny, but theyâ??re coming along!
It was very hot today, in the mid 90â??s. I donâ??t even want to think about how warm the water got. As the plants seem to be thriving, Iâ??m going to assume that the relatively short period of warmness is not enough to, at this stage at least, bother my plants because most of the day it is cooler.
As usually, here are updated picsâ?�

BD #1 and #2 : http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3874.jpg

BD #1 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3860.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3861.jpg

BD #2 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3862.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3863.jpg

BD #3 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3864.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3865.jpg

GDP #3 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3866.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3867.jpg

GDP #2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3868.jpg

GDP #1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3869.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3873.jpg

Here are two pics that I took of my BD#1 in regular light so you can see the â??true colorâ?�:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3871.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3872.jpg

[tinytoon]

Gratz on the roots!! Dont get in to much of a rush to drop the water level, make sure you have a "bunch" of roots not just 1 or 2.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Thanks TinyToon! I'll keep the water level at it's current strength probably until a week from Saturday, depending on how many roots I have poking through. I checked this morning and all my plants have at least one small root poking through. My GDP's have finally started to show some significant growth. I was worried because the Blue Dream was growing taller and faster but I think thats it's sativa half that's responsible for that. Ill post updated pics tonight :-)

Quick question: When the roots become significant, do I lower the water so that the bubbles are splashing the roots with water, or should the bottom of the roots be submerged completely in the water?

[tinytoon]

You can keep level right up to bottom of pots if you wish.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

TinyToon, that's good to know, thanks!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 5

I just got home and peeked in on my babies. Still growing, although BD# 2 has a crumpled leaf on top. However, it was a bit crumpled when I bought the clone, and I think it's just dying off. The bottom leaves and new growth look healthy and normal.
The root growth has more than doubled since yesterday! Check it out:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3894.jpg

Compared to just yesterday (same plant): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3870.jpg
-
The BD hybrids are very resilient so far, growing and stretching out a bit. The indica dominant GDP are just getting a little fatter and a little beefier. They kind of remind me of a bunch of fat dudes sitting on a couch drinking beer, getting fatter by the second :D
Here are the updated pics for the end of DAY 5

BD #1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3880.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3881.jpg

BD #2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3882.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3883.jpg
BD #3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3884.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3885.jpg
GDP #3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3886.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3887.jpg
GDP #2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3888.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3889.jpg
GDP #1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3890.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3891.jpg

Entire Crop:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3879.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Whoops, I forgot to add that the BD's all measure 5 inches tall. I neglected to measure them when I planted them, but I'd guestimate they were 2 to 3 inches tall. The GDP's are too far in the back for me to measure them (something I'm going to change on Saturday).

[tinytoon]

Nice looking :thumbsup: Now that the roots have found water you will see alot more coming down and then the plants will really take off

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, you were dead on! Long, stringy roots have begun to explode out of my BD's net pots. My GDP's however still haven't popped out yet, but they are growing so it's only a matter of days now :D

[tinytoon]

They will pop no worries :jointsmile:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 6
Checked in on my babies tonight and they are doing fine. BD#2â??s top 2 leaves are crumbling a bit but the new growth is fine.
I counted the chain links holding up my light on both sides, and they were each 31 rings from the light to the hookâ??s that hold the light up. Because my GDPâ??s are on the far end of the room, I raised the chain closest to them up ONE ring, so now the side closest to GDP has 30 rings instead of 31, meaning it's one ring shorter than the other side. It has the very slightest of tilts now and I am hoping this will provide a little more light exposure to the girls in the back.
Roots are still growing, and I now see them in nearly all of the babies. Some of them grow out from the side of the pot, not from the bottom which I find interesting. I didnâ??t get a pic of that, but here is BD#1â??s roots: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3914.jpg

I also took some more true color pics of my babies to get experienced opinions on how healthy they are looking.
Hereâ??s my BD#1 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3915.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3916.jpg
Hereâ??s my GDP#3: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3912.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3913.jpg

And hereâ??s my daily update on all of the babies. DAY 6 PHOTOS

BD#1 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3899.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3900.jpg

BD#2 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3901.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3902.jpg

BD#3 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3903.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3904.jpg

GDP#3 (3 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3905.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3906.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3907.jpg

GDP #2 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3908.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3909.jpg

GDP#1 (2 pics):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3910.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3911.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3917.jpg

[tinytoon]

few crispy looking leaves and back ones look lil droopy but other than that they look pretty good :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

TinyToon: Yeah, I've noticed that some of the original leaves are droopy/crispy. I'm hoping the res change and their continued growth will solve that problem :jointsmile: Much appreciation for your comments Tinytoon, your grows were some of the first I looked into on these forums (and the first ones I drooled over!!!) :thumbsup:

Ill be posting some pics later on tonight (Well, night for for those on the West Coast of the US at any rate).

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Well, itâ??s the end of DAY 7, and my babies are growing. The roots are beginning to explode and look like membranes. I used a better camera for these pics and I think you can get a better idea of the true colors of the plants. BD#2 looks worse in the picture than it actually is. Those singed leaves were already singed when I got the plant, and the new leaves look fine. Itâ??s also budding some new leaves, but it does look a little worse for wear.
My babies seem to love the spray that I give them three times a day: RO/pHed/CalMag/1 small drop of FoxFarms Hydro Growbig all poured into a gallon, then poured into a spray bottle. Tomorrow, my partner comes over and we build a new access door and do our fist reservoir change! I have two buckets that Iâ??m going to clean and have ready to place the babies as I empty their original buckets, clean them, and re-fill them.
The current door that I built is a measly 15 inches wide, barely wide enough for me to squeeze through. Iâ??m going to build a second door about 25 inches wide that will allow access to my entire back row of plants. I have my babies sitting on top of home made wood pallets that Iâ??m going to attach to wheels, which should make transfer that much easier. Iâ??ll also wrap the reservoir buckets with metal/reflective tape to help insulate them. Some more good news: The temps have dropped here to about 705 â?? 85 during the day, and the mid 60â??s at night, so overheating isn't a problem for the next week or so.
Questions: When should I start pruning back someof the bottom leaves? After it grows a few inches and the leaves are too shaded at the bottom to be of any use? Iâ??d appreciate any tips on proper pruning technique.
Here is my daily update. END OF DAY 7
BD #1 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01280.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01281.jpg

BD #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01282.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01283.jpg

BD #3 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01286.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01287.jpg

GDP #3 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01284.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01285.jpg

GDP #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01288.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01289.jpg

GDP #1 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01290.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01291.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01292.jpg

[tinytoon]

Trimming seems to be personal thing, some do some dont. Pretty much I leave them alone unless I see damaged or sick leaves underneath, I pluck those. Other than that I leave them alone till flower. About the second week of flower I start removing the scraggly new growth from base of plant.

What kind of light are you using including bulb type and hoe far away from the plants is the light??

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Hi Tinytoon,
Iâ??m using a cool tubed 400W HPS light. Iâ??m not sure about the manufacturer of bulb as Iâ??m borrowing the light from a friend. Itâ??s nothing special though since he told me it was a generic HPS light. I have the light about 18 â?? 20 inches above the plants. I can hold my hand on top of the plants without discomfort.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 8

Big day today. My partner came over and we created a new access door to the grow room. This will now be my main access door. Hereâ??s a pic of the new door (on the left) and the old door (the tall thin one on the right):
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01312.jpg
Iâ??m pretty paranoid about light and smell seepage so underneath the numerous layers of duct tape is a weather strip my partner installed. Itâ??s not pretty, but it works.
I think I have a strange occurrence with my BD#1. It appears as if an entirely new plant, not a branch, has emerged in the same rock wool cube. I tried to get some pics of it, but itâ??s hard to really get a good shot:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01308.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01310.jpg

Here are the roots from BD#1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01311.jpg

Iâ??m wondering if this is why poor BD#2 is looking so scraggly, even though its roots are growing fast. I have no idea how a second plant could sprout out of a rooted clone. If BD#2 doesnâ??t shape up within the next few days, I may yank her and just place BD#1 in a single plant lid.
The reservoir change went very well. This time, I added 75% strength nutrients into each reservoir. The babies seemed t6o take to it almost immediately. Their pH has remained stable for the past few hours, and they seem to have grown in just that short period! As usual, Iâ??m using ROâ??d/CalMagged/pHed/FoxFarms Grow big.

DAY 8 DAILY UPDATE
BD#1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01293.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01294.jpg

BD#2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01294.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01296.jpg
BD#3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01297.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01298.jpg

GDP#3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01299.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01300.jpg

GDP#2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01301.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01302.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01303.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01304.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01315.jpg

[tinytoon]

Gratz on first water change!! When I asked about the bulb I meant MH or HPS but I see from photo I could have answered my own question and I apologize for not being clearer. I also run a 400w cooltube in my tent and I'm thinking you can drop that light down to about 12" above tallest plant but dont just drop and ignore, drop then check after awhile. Gonna see if I have a pic of my light when they were little.

The pics I found were not exactly what I wanted to show but will get the point across. Those are my 4' floros that were used in the basement back when they were lil and you can see how low the lights are. You want to get the light as close as possible without burning plants. It's a fun lil game you get to play with plants, you get to raise the light a lil every week!! One last thing, save some pennies and pickup an MH bulb for veg next time. Can be bought at home dePOT or Lowes for around $25. :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, I took your advice and lowered my light to exactly 12' above the tallest plant. My tallest plants (BD#3 and #1) are both 8 inches tall, although since BD#1 has sprouted two independent plants from one rock wool cube, I suppose I should call them BD#1, BD #1/2 and BD#3 :-P
Look for updated pics tonight.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Just a quick update. I moved some of my GDPâ??s around. I switched GDP #1 with BD#3, and now GDP is in the most lit part of the garden:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3927.jpg
Long, stringy roots have exploded on all of the plants, with the mutant BD#1 having two distinct root balls coming from the net pot where ONE clone was planted. These are my tallest babies (BD #1 and #3):
BD #1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3921.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3922.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3923.jpg
BD#3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3926.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3925.jpg
Entire Crop:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3927.jpg

Iâ??ll use the better camera for tonightâ??s update.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

END OF DAY 9 UPDATE
Everythingâ??s going well so far. As I mentioned earlier, I lowered my light so that it is now 12 inches above the tallest plant. I also moved some of my taller/healthier plants towards the back of my garden.

Hereâ??s an update on my roots:

BD #1: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01334.jpg
BD #3: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01332.jpg
GDP #1: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01326.jpg

Here is my daily update:
BD#1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01316.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01317.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01318.jpg

BD#2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01319.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01320.jpg

BD#3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01321.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01322.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01323.jpg

GDP #1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01324.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01325.jpg

GDP #2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01327.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01328.jpg

GDP#3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01329.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01330.jpg

Entire Crop:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01335.jpg

[tinytoon]

Looking good still. Now that the light is closer just keep an eye out for leaves getting crispy and such, also can check by hand at plant height to check for how much heat.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, thanks again for the tips. The light, thanks to the cool tube, is surprisingly cooler than I thought it could be. The GDP's have almost instantly responded to the lower lights and the switching of positions. I cant wait to post updated pics tonight.
One thing I'm slapping my head over: my partner and I had no choice but to cut our new access panel while the plants were in the room. With limited space, we had to do it that way. Sawdust got everywhere, but we managed to protect the plants and they barely noticed. However, like an idiot, I neglected to turn my intake off and now theres a very light dusting of sawdust inside my cool tube. To take it apart and clean it would mean taking apart my entire vent system. I know the dust reduces the light output, but I'm going to have to wait until this grow is complete before I can get in there, take everything apart, and really clean that room up. This grow has been amazingly educational, so I'm not upset about the errors that have occurred: this just means my next grow will avoid those same errors :-)

[tinytoon]

Your learning :thumbsup: and on your way to being a grower!!:weedpoke:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 10
Came home today to a new digital pH tester and some happy ladies. After calibrating the tester (which arrived .8 off, as is) I tested each of my reservoirs and all of them tested from 6.0 â?? 6.2. A little high on the acceptable range, but Iâ??m very satisfied with the GH hydro pH testing kit which was right in the ballpark when I used it this entire week (dropped the old digital pH tester and broke it).
The pH solution took a while to â??getâ?� as the instructions basically say â??experiment and find out what worksâ?�, which I did. I now donâ??t need a measuring cup for the pH, it just takes a little doing (and a digital pH tester for timeâ??s sake) to get the hang of it. And boy, does a little pH down/up go a long way. Anal as I and my partner are about this stuff, I added a drop or two of pH down to the near perfect reservoirs and now every single one of my babies is sitting at exactly 5.8 pH. I realized that since the babies tend to raise .1 in pH over night, they'll be within the perfect range tomorrow morning. In case anyone is interested in what Iâ??m using (or will be using as some of those nutes arenâ??t being added yet), here you go:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01379.jpg

The GDPâ??s have really come to life, although these pictures donâ??t do them justice. Even my cranky olâ?? BD#2 is beginning to sprout new foliage on her top (again, I couldnâ??t get my wifeâ??s complicated camera working properly so these pics kind of suck). I took these pictures before I clipped off a dead leaf from one of the GDP's and a dead leaf from my BD#2.

My other two BDâ??s continue to rocket upwards on onwards. Each one now â??towersâ?� at 8 ¾ inches tall, and the mutant BD#1 has two side by side plants growing at nearly the same rate.

My area is going to get a little warmer over the next few days, so I may need to find cheap methods for cooling the reservoir. I thought of chucking in pHed ice cubes into them, but it seems that if the roots touched them that might not be a good thing. Iâ??m also thinking of freezing a water bottle and letting that sit in the bucket, but the root touching frozen object problems emerges again. I think a compromise might be to buy some cheap ice gel pads or something, freeze them, then let the buckets sit on them during the 5 â?? 6 hour hot period. Any tips on homemade/DIY/economical reservoir cooling techniques for DWC? I see the appeal of a single reservoir hydro system during the summer months as it must be much easier to control the water temps.

DAILY UPDATE
Sorry for the quality of this picture set, my wife was using her camera today and adjusted her settings. She promises to set it up for me tomorrow so that tomorrowâ??s picture set will look better.

BD #1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01362.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01363.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01367.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01368.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01375.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01376.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01369.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01370.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01371.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01372.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01373.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01374.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01374.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

WHOOPS!
Day 10, Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01378.jpg

[tinytoon]

Just like the energizer bunny ........................................ still going :jointsmile:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, yessir! I checked this morning and all my babies were doing excellent! BD#2 is making a fantastic comeback. The pH was a little high this morning, but I'm assuming that since I'm only 2 - 3 days out from changing the water out, the babies are sucking up the fresh new nutes (which if I understand correctly, should also change the pH of the water). This would explain why my pH levles tend to level out as the week drags on, but raise overnight for a few days after I switch the reservoir. More pics tonight :D

[tinytoon]

yup you in the ballpark about the PH

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Hi Tinytoon,
I was considering topping my BD#3 tonight to get hands on experience with the technique. Should this be done close to flowering time, or can this be done at any time during the veg process? I plant to do LST for the next grow, but my current setup won't allow it for this grow.

Thanks!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 11
I came home to some very happy ladies. BD #1, aka Mutant Plant, is exploding with foliage and so is her evil twin. BD#2 is making a swift recovery with foliage and stem growth. BD #3 is neck and neck with BD#1 in terms of height, which at 6:30pm measured 10 inches X_X. That means that the clones, which were about an inch to and inch and a half when my partner selected them, have grown 8 to 9 inches in 11 days! WOW! So far, Iâ??m extremely impressed with DWC.
Iâ??m keeping the pH at a constant rate in between 5.8 â?? 6.2. Itâ??s slightly adjusted downwards about every 6 â?? 8 hours. Iâ??ve also been easing these clones into the nutes, as I started with about ½ the nutrients on the first week, and this week we added 75% of the recommended nutes. I think the babies love the increased nutrients. We are going to add 100% nutrients for the next reservoir change.
I think it I saw in one of tinytoonâ??s grow logs that he used a tomato cage (that wire thins people use when growing tomatoes, LOL, help me out here) to use as a support structure for his plants. Iâ??m building that into my next bucket design, but for this go around Iâ??m thinking of just gluing some tall wooden pieces to act as a support. I can tie the babies to it as they grow.

I was giving some serious thought to topping my BD#3, but I decided to wait and hear some input from anyone who knows about the technique. Iâ??m going to try my hand at LTS next grow, but I donâ??t have the setup this time around. Will topping produce two colas on top? Is it dangerous for the plant?

Here is the daily update (I included two high def pics of the roots that arenâ??t included in the links below)

BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01380.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01381.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01382.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01383.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01384.jpg
BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01385.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01386.jpg
BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01387.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01388.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01389.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01390.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01391.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01392.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01393.jpg
GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01394.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01395.jpg
GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01396.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01397.jpg
Entire Crop
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01398.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01402.jpg
The attached images are of mutant BD#1 (long roots) and GDP #2 (spiny roots).

[tinytoon]

Topping is done in Veg only and the way we do it is we make sure there are a couple weeks left in veg to recover from shock before starting to flower. Then when we flower lights are shut down for min 36 straight hours before turn HPS on for 12/12. Somewhere I read that doing this dark period speeds up the process of converting from veg to flower by resetting the "internal clock" of the plants. There are some really good posts on how to fim and worst case can google it.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, thanks for that info on your dark cycle. I may just try that come flower time :rasta:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 12
I topped BD#3 today, and I hope I did it correctly :yippee: I also switched the positions of BD#1 and GDP#3. GDP# 1 and 2 are growing fat while 3 is growing tall, as itâ??s the farthest from the light. I figured since BD#1 and 3 are doing so well, they could sit in the back while I moved my GDPâ??s to the front. BD#2 is getting healthier and healthier with no more funky leaves growing; only good green leaves.
The reservoir in my double plant bucket has dropped more than the others, and is barely touching the net pots now. However, the roots are still immersed in the water. As long as the ends of the roots are in the water, does the water level need to be raised high enough to engulf the bottom part of the net pot? Iâ??m going to top it off tonight, but Iâ??d like to know for next time.

Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01407.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01408.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01409.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01414.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01415.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01416.jpg
BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01410.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01411.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01412.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01413.jpg
GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01417.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01418.jpg
GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01419.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01420.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01421.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01422.jpg

Entire Crop
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01423.jpg

[tinytoon]

When I refill mine I try to get water up to bottom of net pot.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, I went ahead and topped off the reservoirs so that the bottom of the net pots are immersed in water. I was surprised that my two babies gulped down so much water in such a short period of time. Thirsty girls!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 13
I came home tonight to find new little branch buds emerging from my topping of BD#3. That was QUICK! My BD#3 seems completely unfazed by its little operation last night, so I went ahead and did the same to BD#1 (the taller of the two coming out of the rock wool). I was hoping this would slow their growth upwards a little bit to give the GDPâ??s a chance to catch up, but if BD#3 is any indication of what will happen with BD#1, I donâ??t think thatâ??s going to happen.
Other than that information, I adjusted the pH, which had only risen .2 - .3 during the day, to 5.8 in each reservoir. I also moved BD#2 around with GDP#2 for lighting reasons.
My BD#2 seems to have topped itself. I see two stems coming out of the main stem. I took some pics to get some feedback on that. Am I crazy?
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01488.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01489.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01490.jpg
Iâ??m loving the DWC method. I watch the pH, spray my babies with its special spray, move them around a bit, and give them some TLC and they are thriving, even in not-so-great heat conditions. And the reservoir water that I dump out is doing wonders for my lawn :P

Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01472.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01473.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01474.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01475.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01479.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01480.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01476.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01477.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01478.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01481.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01482.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01483.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01484.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01485.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01486.jpg

ENTIRE CROP
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01487.jpg

[tinytoon]

I guess personally I wouldn't spend a lot of time trying to delay 2 of them for the other 3 to catch up. You have 2 dif strains running which can be a chore without same flowering times and such. You have had a few down falls but have come back real well. I would chock this up as a learning grow, let it finish and load her up and do it again.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

TinyToon, I think that's what I'm going to have to do. I'm going to finish the veg stage at 4 weeks, so I have a little over 2 weeks left. I'll let the GDP's do their thing and flower when it's time, regardless of size. Then, for my next grow (which begins basically the same day I harvest lol), it's ALL BD's!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

The ladies are doing fine. My topped plants arenâ??t even phased and are almost a foot tall. I turn my pots every 12 hours or so the side thatâ??s getting the least shade then gets the most light. Itâ??s worked out well so far.
My partner and I are changing out the reservoirs on Sunday. Just like last time, Iâ??ll prepare a spare bucket with two water stones inside. Iâ??ll ph it/cal bag it/nute it, and fill it to the bottom of the net pot. The lid will hold 2 pots, and I can do two plants at a time. For the last plant, Iâ??ll just dump the spare reservoir into the cleaned bucket. My partner and I are also going to quickly get into the lighting system to clean out the sawdust. My carbon filter arrives either tomorrow or Monday.
The BDâ??s have already formed several new branch buds where I topped them. I donâ??t know if I did it correctly or not, but it seems to be doing what itâ??s supposed to do. Iâ??m loving the comeback of BD#2. The GDPâ??s are now growing at a much faster rate now that their roots have exploded and are immersed in the nutrient bath. Iâ??ll probably take some clones from BD#1 and #3 next week.
Here are my daily update pics

BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01495.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01496.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01497.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01501.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01502.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01503.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01498.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01499.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01500.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01504.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01505.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01506.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01507.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01508.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01509.jpg

ENTIRE CROP:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01510.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01511.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

My BD#3 reached 12 inches (1 foot) this morning!!! I'll post pics tonight in my daily update, I just couldn't contain my excitement. If I follow the same growth pattern from the past 15 days, should BD#3 reach 2 feet in the NEXT 15 days (generally speaking of course)? If that's the case, that will be perfect, time wise, as my space could probably only allow those babies to reach 3 feet max (assuming they nearly double during flowering period in size). I have a 25 inch wide, 10 foot tall space. I have lot's of length as well (I haven't measured it but I'd guess it's 8 - 10 feet). It's basically a large rectangular space So I'm very excited that things appear to be right on target :rasta:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 15
BD #1 and BD#3 are both at 1 foot in height and are getting quite bushy. The GDPâ??s continue their slow growth, with GDP#1 the slowest. She has the least root growth and has grown the slowest. The other GDPâ??s have some good root growth going for them and they are showing signs of growth bouth in width and height. BD#2 is showing massive root growth and a lot of foliage. Iâ??m glad we decided to wait on pulling her as sheâ??s made an amazing comeback. Weâ??re doing another reservoir change tomorrow and putting the babies on full nutrient levels.
Daily Update
BD# 1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01525.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01526.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01529.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01530.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01527.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01528.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01531.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01532.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01533.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01534.jpg
GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01535.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01536.jpg

ENTIRE CROP
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01537.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01538.jpg

Random Closeups:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01539.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01541.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01543.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Day 16
Today was our reservoir switch out: 5 buckets at 5 gallons a bucket totaling 25 gallons. The roots have grown so long that the reservoir change-out is not aseasy as it was last time. Some of the roots have grown around the lines attached to the bubble stone so I had to gently separate them. Iâ??m wondering as these babies grow, itâ??s going to be harder and harder to empty the reservoir. Has anyone just topped off the reservoir with nutrient treated water without changing it? I canâ??t think of a simple way to do this when the plants are larger and have colas. Any tips would be appreciated.
We used the full nutrient regiment this time, so 12 teaspoons of Foxfarms Grow Big per bucket. RO water, pHed to 5.8 â?? 5.9 nd calMaged. My partner and I decided to forego the cleaning of the cooltube around our light. Weâ??re taking Tinytoons advice and chalking any delay or reductions in output from the sawdust light to a beginnerâ??s grow, and will take it all apart and clean it when this one is finished. So many things could go wrong in taking apart what is already put together and working, itâ??s just not worth the hassle and potential problems this time around.
While we worked to change out the reservoirs, I was able to take some pics of the root structure so far:
GDP#1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01548.jpg
BD#2:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01550.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01553.jpg
GDP #3:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01557.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01560.jpg

Daily Update
BD #1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01566.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01567.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01570.jpgv
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01572.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01568.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01569.jpg

GDP #1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01574.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01575.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01576.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01577.jpg


GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01578.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01579.jpg

ENTIRE CROP:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01580.jpg

[tinytoon]

Yes I'm sorry to say the change out gets harder as plants get bigger. I dont think the roots growing around stone or lines is to bad but when the dam thing is about 4' tall it gets to be a real PITA. Here is my trick, off we go to Lowes or home dePOT to purchase a drill pump. They cost around $7 and work on any drill, I recomend electric drill as it has good high rpm's and doesnt die halfway through. Couple pieces of spare garden hose and your in!! Try not to let the pump run dry as it will burn up since it uses the water it pumps for cooling. Filling can become easier by purchasing a funnel for filling auto transmission. Nice and long so you dont have to bend over as much, I suffer from chronic back pain.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, as always, thanks for the recommendation. I never even knew drill pumps existed! Although I wont get to clean the reservoir out, it will allow me to drain it and fill it without nearly as much effort as it has been taking. I'll look into this more and see if I can get my hands on a cheap pump.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 17
My BDâ??s loved the reservoir change as they have exploded with new growth:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01597.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01598.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01596.jpg

All else, I bought a battery powered pump for my next reservoir change out. The babies may still be manageable enough to where I donâ??t need it, and Iâ??d like to get in there and clean the buckets out for as long as I can. My next change-out is this Sunday or Monday. Iâ??m going to be out of town so I am not sure. The next reservoir change is the last change out before I begin the flowering stage. Iâ??ll also be adding nutes that I havenâ??t used yet.
I donâ??t think the GDPâ??s are going to do much compared to the BDâ??s over the next week, but I may be surprised. Still, very pleased with how things are going so far. Oddly enough, my previously runty BD#2 has forked off to form two main stems. I didnâ??t need to top it.
DAILY UPDATE
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01581.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01582.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01585.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01586.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01587.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01583.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01584.jpg

BD Group Shot: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01588.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01589.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01590.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01591.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01592.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01593.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01594.jpg

Entire Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01595.jpg

[tinytoon]

and the quest goes on!! going good for just breaking into growing, keep it up.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

It was very hot today. The good news is, the weather is slowly decreasing starting tomorrow into tolerable temperatures over the next week. My babies donâ??t appear phased, but still, I want better conditions.

I am thinking of adding a hole into the top of my bucket lids. I want it big enough to where I can stick a pH tester/Pump into, but small enough so I can stuff it with a small rubber plug (found at any local hardware store). Has anyone tried that before? Iâ??m trying to figure out a way so I donâ??t have to lift the lid off of these babies for their daily checkups.

Daily Update

BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01611.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01612.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01619.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01613.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01614.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01615.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01616.jpg

BDâ??s: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01617.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01620.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01621.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01622.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01623.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01624.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01625.jpg

All : http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01626.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

It was another hot one today, although not as hot as yesterday. My babies gulped up a lot of water, and they needed to be topped off. This gave me a chance to test out my battery operated â??gas pumpâ?� style pump. WOW, it was much easier than trying to pour from a gallon container. I also tested out transferring water out of my bucket reservoirs by slightly moving the lid over and then placing the pump inside the bucket. Itâ??s perfect, and should save a lot of time and energy next changeout.
My light has an annoying habit of, occasionally, turning itself off for 5 seconds and then slowly turning itself back on. Iâ??m using an older magnetic ballast and Iâ??m wondering if it could be a heat issue. It doesnâ??t turn off constantly, just every so often it will do this and I donâ??t know why. The light goes out, but then begins to glow, and slowly come back on.
Here are some shots I took while the light was off:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01627.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01628.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01629.jpg

I also tried to get a good pic of the two main stems coming out of the rockwool/hydroton in BD#1:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01645.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01644.jpg
Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01630.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01631.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01632.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01633.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01634.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01635.jpg

BDâ??s
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01643.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01636.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01637.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01638.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01639.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01640.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01641.jpg

Entire Grow:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01642.jpg

[tinytoon]

Sounds like ballast overheating. If it is sitting straight on floor try raising it up some so more air can get around it or put a small fan blowing on it.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

TInyToon, I'm picking up a fan today that I'll point directly at and into the ballast, which I hope helps to solve the problem. BTW, the BD's are at 15-16 inches now! They are getting so bushy, its like they are trying to escape from the grow cabinet :D

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Temperatures were in the mid to high 90â??s today, which is cooler than it has been but still wicked hot. Itâ??s dipping into the mid 80â??s over the next few days so Iâ??m keeping my fingers crossed. I bought a fan and pointed it at my ballast, but the light went off again while I was working in the grow room, and this time I know I didnâ??t touch the light or cool tube. It could be the heat, the bulb, faulty wiringâ?¦who knows. The ballast itself never shuts off, but the light suddenly turns itself off, glowing orange and slowly fading. Then, the bulb slowly begins to turn yellow, all the way lengthwise, until it finally flashes on and grows brighter over a slow period. Very strange. The plants so no obvious signs of stress, but Iâ??m going to have to keep an eye on this.
Before I post my daily update, hereâ??s a pic of BD#2â??s roots. Remember the little runt that I was going to pull? Here she is: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01662.jpg
Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01646.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01647.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01648.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01649.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01650.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01651.jpg

BDâ??s: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01658.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01652.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01653.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01654.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01655.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01656.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01657.jpg

Entire Grow:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01659.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC0160.jpg

[tinytoon]

Well sorry to say I am not an electrician (my father is hehe) and I have never used a magnetic ballast before so I dont want to steer you wrong but I think I might be saving pennies for a new digital ballast. Nextgen has some really nice ones that are comparable to Lumitek but cost less :thumbsup:

[LOC NAR on probation]

Sounds like a thermal switch in the ballast. No way to tell without hands on to check with meter. When a HID bulb goes it goes so I don't think it's the bulb. I have dealt with magnetic ballast for years and rarely see one go bad. They just need replacing like the bulb that degrades over a year only they last much longer.

The high heat makes me want to say thermal switch.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Thanks Tinytoon and loc for your comments. I went ahead and ordered my own lighting system lat night with a digital ballast, so hopefully that will solve my problems :-)

[Anonymousm0nkey]

My partner came over and we did our reservoir changeout. It was 100X easier with the pump, so thanks again for that tip Tinytoon. I slid the lid over a bit, inserted one end of the pump into the reservoir, and pumped at all out very easily compared to lifting each bucket out of the cab, let alone the trouble and possible damage to the babies from transporting them to their temporary bucket while I emptied their reservoir. So yeah, the pump was awesome! I got a peak at the roots with the lids slid over, and some of them were reaching the bottom of the bucket.
The bad news is, in the course if spending so much time in the grow cab today, the light turned itself off every 40 minutes or so even with a fan pointed right at the ballast. The ballast itself has outtake vents, but the force of the fan should still be enough to cool whatâ??s inside I think. My new system should, hopefully, arrive next week. Again, the plants donâ??t show any obvious signs of stress yet, and the light is only off for less than a minute before it turns on again. Iâ??m looking forward to a digital ballast, but Iâ??m not looking forward to taking apart my light system, which is attached to my vent system, in the middle of the grow X_X.
Today we started the pre-flower nuts, adding some open sesame for the first time, and a dose of Big Bloom. One more week of veg, and then I turn my lights on to 12/12. It may work in my best interest, in waiting for my new system to arrive, to set my lights to 36 hours (I think that was the time) of darkness at the start of the flowering stage as tiny mentioned thatâ??s how he starts his flowering stage. If my new system has not yet arrived by the end of next week, it wouldnâ??t hurt to just leave the malfunctioning light off for as long as possible so long as it wonâ??t hurt the babies.
Itâ??s getting harder to take pics of individual BDâ??s, their foliage is merging together!

DAILY UPDATE
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01667.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01668.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01669.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01670.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01671.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01672.jpg

BDâ??s: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01680.jpg
GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01673.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01674.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01675.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01676.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01677.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01678.jpg

All: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01679.jpg

[tinytoon]

Dont flip till you get that light working right. Odds of creating a hermie are not very high in Veg but flower is a diff story. With the new ballast you are getting if it is the same wattage as what you are using now and if light cord fits into digital ballast then there is no need to tear it all apart and reinstall, if all the same just change ballast out :jointsmile:

[LOC NAR on probation]

If you don't already, get some flouro's of any kind untill your new light and ballast get here. Any good light so they won't freak out. Just a couple compact flouro's and it won't mean much when the big one blinks off. I used a couple 4 foot shop lights for the second week of flower once.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I was out of town all day and just got home. To my complete surprise, my lighting system was waiting for me on my front porch!!! The company I ordered from must have overnighted that baby. I ran to my grow room and sure enough, the light was OFF. I quickly switched out the ballast, and BAM, the light came on almost immediately. I think my lighting problem is solved as Iâ??ve now replaced the faulty ballast. Iâ??ll implement the new light and cool tube for my next grow but for now, Iâ??m just using the new digital ballast. The ganja gods are being really kind to me this grow for some reasonâ?¦.

Anyway, its late and Iâ??m, tired, so I only took two pics:

Daily Update
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3944.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3945.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

tinytoon and LOC NAR, thanks so much for the great suggestions. You were both right on of course, but I rally lucked out with my light arriving today so I hope this solves my problem.

[LOC NAR on probation]

Right on right on. We shall overcome.

[tinytoon]

Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!! Hoora!!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

The babies are doing well. My BDâ??s are unidentifiable now as their foliage has merged. Even my GDPâ??s are looking beefier than usual. The new ballast is working like a charm and I havenâ??t noticed any outages.
I want to take some clones in a few days. Iâ??m thinking of setting up a 5 gallon bucket and drilling 4 holes into the lid. I want to get 4 small netpots and place the rockwool clones into that. Iâ??ll then cover the lid with a clear plastic container that keeps the humidity inside. Does this sound kosher? Will roots begin to form over a two week period? Iâ??m going to use CFLâ??s for the clones.

Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01829.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01830.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01833.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01834.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01831.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01832.jpg

BD;s: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01835.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01836.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01837.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01838.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01839.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01840.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01841.jpg

Crop: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3944.jpg

[tinytoon]

It might work but you have to make sure that the clones stems are getting wet to form roots. Also be careful using any type of dome when cloning with water like areo and such as this can keep things too wet and cause stem rot.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

tinytoon, I gotcha. I am going to use a tupperware like plastic container (black) and use that instead of the 5 gallon bucket. But the same principle applies: cut the clones, soak them in pHed/calmag water, then place in rockwool or some other form of plug (that has also been soaked), then place them in the mini bubbler. I'll make sure the water level is low enough so the stems are not submerged, but high enough so the bubbles spray it with water.

Two questions:
1. Do the stems need to be poking through the bottom of the rockwool, or will the bottom part of the rockwool soak up enough water to feed the stem? I noticed some people don't use rockwool at all: they just place the stem through a piece of foam or something similar, and the water spray causes roots to grow. I prefer sticking them into rockwool or a similar medium just because it's easier to seat them when i move them to their homes after they have rooted.

2. I remember reading somewhere (it may have been one of your posts tinytoon) that you can take a cutting, place it in a ziplock bag, and store it in your fridge for weeks at a time with no ill effect towards that cutting. Is this accurate? If so, I may take two extra clippings and store them in the fridge just in case my clones die or I'm not successful on my first attempt.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to answer this newbies questions :-) I'm all about trial and error, but helpful tips never hurt anyone :rasta:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I found a thread that answered those questions : http://boards.cannabis.com/hydroponics/157397-cheap-easy-diy-cloner-what-do-results.html :hippy:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 24 (yes, I messed up the numbering, this is the 24th day)

It was triple digits today  Even though the room my grow cab is in gets really hot, the cab itself has a constant flow of air, even if that air is warm. The bucket water is staying surprisingly cool, Iâ??d estimate the low 80â??s or even high 70â??s. The plants show no signs of stress, other than gulping up the water. The BDâ??s now stand 22 â?? 24 inches tall.

Daily Update
BD#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01844.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01845.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01860.jpg

BD#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01846.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01847.jpg

BD#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01848.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01849.jpg

BDâ??s: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01850.jpg

GDP#1
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01851.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01852.jpg

GDP#2
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01853.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01854.jpg

GDP#3
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01855.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01856.jpg

All: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01857.jpg

[tinytoon]

I see you found Bozo's cloner. Great job of DIY and really good instructions, easy to make :)
Yes I was just talking about putting clones in stasis in crisper drawer of fridge, yes it does work. I have kept clones for 7 weeks in the fridge and still rooted and grew.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Despite scorching hot weather, the ladies are still going strong. Between the 6 of them, they drank 4 gallons of top off today. The BDâ??s were the most drained. GDP #3 is almost a foot tall, and BD#1 isnâ??t doing terribly bad either. GDP#2 however is still short. The GDPâ??s could probably use another two weeks of veg but Iâ??m planning to start the flower cycle on Friday.
As itâ??s impossible to get individual pics of the BDâ??s, and because Iâ??m exhausted, I used my crap camera for some quick pictures of the grow:

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3946.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3947.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3948.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3949.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3950.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3953.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3954.jpg

EDIT: I took those pics BEFORE I raised my mylar wall coating to now reflect the light at the top of the babies, and I also moved things around so the big fan leaves weren't shading the smaller GDP#1. Sometimes I catch dead leaves, technical snafus, and other things that need to be changed by looking at the detailed digital pics, more so than when I'm actually in the grow cab :pimp:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

tinytoon,thanks for that valuable information. I will put it to good use :thumbsup: I'm going to keep a fwe in the crisper for staggered grows and/or potential replacements for failed experiments.

I mentioned earlier in my thread that I wanted to eventually drill a hole into the top of my 5 gallon reservoir lid which I would use to test the pH, top off, and drain/fill. That hole would be "corked" when not in use with rubber plugs I had found online. I bought a 1 inch drill bit and tested the design out on a sacrificial bucket lid. The 1 inch hole wasn't big enough to fit my pH tester into, and was just too small for practical use. Also,the rubber plugs wouldn't fit properly if not painfully careful and precise with the drill bit. Then it occurred to me: the foam pool toy that I used to create my cork/skirts for the bubble cloner. You can buy thee tings at the dollar store, they are the 8 foot pool noodles that you float on (or whack hornets with) in the pool. most commonly used to assault an unsuspecting sibling or "pool rival". Anyway, I can make a 1 1/2 inch hole or even 2 inch hole, then just cut out a slightly larger sized cork of this waterproof material. That should do the trick.
I wouldn't even have to drill a hole, I could simply cut cut a rectangle out of the lid using a knife, and then just cut a thick, slightly larger rectangular cork out of the pool noodle.
I thought I'd mention this to anyone who was interested in trying this design, especially on the cheap, and didn't want to buy corks or precision drill bits. As the corks I created for my 3/4 inch holes work just as described above, I see no reason why different shapes or sizes would be any different. This should save on some effort of testing pH (lifting those lids and shaking/shifting the plants sucks) and especially on draining/filling.
For those that still don't know what a pool noodle is, it's one of these things: http://www.islandrentalservices.net/cart/ProdImages/noodles.jpg

[tinytoon]

I see the noodle but where is the chicken soup??:D

[Anonymousm0nkey]

A lot of crap has happened over the past two days: my pump broke, the new drill pump that I bought doesnâ??t work, and I yet again dropped my pH tester into the water and fried it. ARGH!!!!!! So, Iâ??m back to chemically testing my pH as I wait for yet another pH tester to arrive. As for pumping water out of the 5 gal. buckets tomorrow, could I use a wet/dry shop vac? Something like: Walmart.com: Shop-Vac 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum: Appliances (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shop-Vac-5-Gallon-Wet-Dry-Vacuum/8477891?findingMethod=rr)
All I need for it to do is suck up most (if not all) of the water. Any ideas if this will work? If not, any suggestions on where I can purchase a pump that WILL work?
Other than those mishaps, the girls are freaking exploding. The BDâ??s are 26 â?? 27 inches now, and the GDP #2 is at 12 inches. I used some white twisty ties to help bunch some of the larger BD fan leaves (as you can see in some of the pics) so they wouldnâ??t prevent the light from hitting the smaller GDPâ??s. I was very gentle and the twisty tie acts as a very loose collar. Here are some pics:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3955.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3956.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3957.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3961.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3964.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3965.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3966.jpg

[tinytoon]

Boy when it rains it pours eh? Pumps and such you could check the pond/fountain pumps they have at Walmart, Lowes and home dePOT. Also you can check your smaller hardware stores, like Ace, to see what they have for a small sump type pump. I bashed my head for awhile before that idea hit me for emptying my 55 gal drum. Purchased a 660gph sump pump which empties that rez in about 5 mins. By theory that wet/dry vac should work just be carefull not to latch on to any roots with it. Might I suggest a WATERPROOF ph tester :D

[LOC NAR on probation]

Cheapest pump for emergencies. One of those pumps for kerosene heater. They make them with batteries too.
What i used for years was a bildge pump from a boat shop. I still have it just in case. We use a Slowes pump now that is 120 power and hooks up a hose on both sides. Pumps out the rez and all buckets. Habour freight has one like it but for 12 volts. It worked real good till we got a hydroton ball sucked up in it. Make sure to have a pickup filter if that could happen.

Get a water proof ph pen or have a safety line like I do when I only have one left and low on funds. Safety line is a sting with a little stretch to it. When I go in the room the line is hooked above the door and is only long enough to barely get to the water. Mountain climber style. If you don't hold on good it pulls out of your hand. But don't use a rubber band cause it will cause more damage if it flies up and hits the ceiling. Really happen to a friend. I still can't stop laughing.

Oh there is a way to setup a ventura to pump it out. Maybe look at Aquaponicherbs stuff. I'm sure I saw it there.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

First off, I want to say T H A N K Y O U to Loc nar and TinyToon for both of your excellent posts on the types of pumps you use. I wound up picking up a 12 gallon wet/dry shop vac as it was the most afforadble (and easiest to obtain today), but my partner and I are updating our re-design plans to include some of your suggestions. Again, THANKS!

Now, here's how my day went: First off, let me just say that the shopvac worked amazingly well.It sucked out 5 gallons of water in about 15 seconds!!!!! It took a little longer when I wrapped some cheesecloth around the end of it so i wouldn't damage any of the roots, but still.....light years faster than the little battery operated wand pump I had been using and, one of my favorites features, it's multi use. I can clean up my garage after I empty the reservoirs LOL.

the bad news is, I had no way of easily and cleanly pumping the new water solution into my 5 gal buckets. I t was a messy and wet procedure, and I may consider using a wand pump strictly for pumping water into the 5 gals in the future.

The UGLY news is that....ants have found the grow room. it's hot,so they are looking for water. They haven't started attacking the babies yet, but I see them crawling around in there.Im going to lightly spray around the building, and lay a salt barrier alongside the 4 walls (apparently, salt disrupts the antenna communication of the ants, so they don't cross it)

Finally, my babies are starting to tip over when their foliage is not supported by the other babies foillage. I'll have to add some supports to the main stems so as they get heavier they wont fall over.

THAT ALL SAID, I am extremely happy with the way things are going, and not at all perturbed by the bad and the ugly of things, because I'm having a blast just growing. I suppose I wouldn't be happy if I wasn't learning from the mistakes I've made, but every error or problem I run into is an opportunity to hone my skills and to do even better next time. None of this would be possible without the great posts by those kind enough to comment in this thread. Many thanks!!!!

[Anonymousm0nkey]

UPDATE
I sprayed outside of my cab and lined the walls with salt. I also found the trail of ants coming in from the outside and zapped them good with pesticide. I think I killed all of the ants this way, and I haven't seen any for a few hours.

[tinytoon]

Friggin Ants!! :gunfighter2:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 29
pH tester and 7.01/4.01 calibration solution arrived today! It came factory calibrated and I didnâ??t even need to adjust it! Anyway, I quickly went back to micro managing my babies pH and everything is sitting at 5.9 â?? 6.0. Iâ??m raising the pH just slightly during the flowering stage based upon tinyâ??s grow. This is day 2 of the flowering stage.
The ants are completely gone. Motherfuckers better not come back or Iâ??ll kill them with FIREâ?¦..or pesticideâ?¦.or perhaps both. My partner figured out why my drill pump wasnâ??t workingâ?¦.itâ??s RPMâ??s were too weak. I need a more powerful drill. Since I already have the shop vac for QUICK draining, I figure a powerful drillâ?¦yet another multi use toolâ?¦.will be a good investment and serve as a good pump for the water going back into the buckets.
Daily Update
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3976.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3983.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 30 (DAY 3 OF FLOWER)
Not much new to report. I havenâ??t noticed any change in the babies, although their pH has remained amazingly level since the light change. During the veg stage the babies would need to be adjust in the morning and before I went to bed. Now, I adjusted them slightly this morning, and they are still level right before lights out. The temperature could have something to do with that as the weather has been in the low to mid 70â??s for the past two days.

Daily Update
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3984.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/IMG_3996.jpg

[tinytoon]

Wait till they start drinking like a MoFo hehe

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 32

I won't be able to update my pictures until Friday due to my work schedule and the light schedule for the babies. I have just enough time to get in there, adjust whatever needs to be adjusted, and then get out before the light turns off. So stay tuned for those new pics coming Friday.

Right now, my babies are starting to emit a faint skunk odor, which to me is a good sign. There are also dozens upon dozens of what I first thought were new leaf buds, but I think they are actually bud buds LOL. I'll snap some close ups on Friday and you can be the judge. Seems a little soon to be being only 5 days into my flowering cycle, but...what the heck do I know???

The babies are freaking growing taller by the second. I cant even get into the foliage to measure them anymore, but if I had to guess, I'd say the BD's are standing about 3 feet now. My partner and I expected to have killed all the babies within the first two weeks, so on top of our original low expectations, and despite scorching heat, the babies have persevered!

I haven't seen a single ant for two days now, so my "shock and awe....and kill them all with your weapons, fire, and whatever else you can think to kill those little fuckers" technique worked! GO TO HELL ANTS! YOU GO TO HELL AND YOU DIE!!!! Sorry...I just hate ants, or any critter, man, woman, or child that wants to molest my babies ;-P

Finally, the babies are drinking water at a semi average rate. They drank 3 gallons amongst themselves (mostly amongst the BD's) tonight, so that's three gallons since I changed out their reservoir on Friday. I probably wont top off again since I'll do another changeout on Saturday. Surprisingly, their pH has continued to remain remarkably consistent. As I mentioned in previous posts, every morning during the veg stage I'd have to
lower the pH on all the babies anywhere from 2 - 5 points.So one of the BD's would be at 6.3 in the morning, and I'd lower it to 5.8 Id also do this at the end of the day; lower it a few notches to the perfect range for the net 12 - 16 hours. Anyway, last night AND this morning I didn't have to adjust the pH AT ALL, and even after adding water, the pH hardly changed. Is this a good sign, bad sign, or normal sign? I'm wondering if the bad heat my region experienced the last few weeks may have been a contributor to the pH levels, and now that it's nice and cool weather (mid 70's to mid 80's depending on time of day, high 60's to low 70s at night) the pH is a little more balanced?

Anyway, stay tuned for Friday.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Quick question: should I still be spraying the foliage with my foliage spray now that the flowering stage has begun? I usually spray them twice a day.

[tinytoon]

From all the things I have read and can remember real quick, NO spray during Flower. Also you have done great at keeping PH down but now in flower let it float up just a tad like 6.0-6.2. Allows better uptake by plant of things needed more in Flower.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, thanks for that information! I'll stop spraying them today (I already sprayed them this morning).

I've been keeping the babies at a range of 6.0 - 6.1 so it's good to know I can let them get even slightly higher if I want.

I love the smell coming out of the room, and I LOVE seeing these little bud sites and whispy little strands start to appear. Even my GDP's are starting to "bud"!

[tinytoon]

It's a beautiful site watching the "kids" grow up :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

tinytoon, it really is :) I had a chance to measure the babies this morning, and they are standing at OVER 40 inches!

[tinytoon]

Big enough to work!! Now show them the door so they can go make a paycheck!!!

Oops I guess we were talking about plants huh?

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Tinytoon, LOL. Yeah, I caught some of those BD's trying to brEak into my car last night so they could escape into Mexico. I had to lock them back up in the cab ;-) NO LOVELY LADY ESCAPES THE M0NKEYS PIPE, NOT ONE! Is it sadistic that sometimes I medicate in the same room as the cab? Almost like eating a pork chop in front of your pet pig?lol.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 35 (Day 6 of flowering)

Not much to report, other than the babies measured over 40 inches and are still growing. Iâ??ll soon run out of space height wise, so I may have to start bending the main branches. I still have about 10 or 15 inches, so Iâ??ll have to play it by ear. The pH continues to remain extremely consistent, and I havenâ??t had to adjust it for two days now. Itâ??s hovering between 6.0 and 6.2.

Tomorrow do another changeout. This changeout is unique because I now start really adding the flowering nutes. Iâ??ve added very little having to do with flowering, even though UI started the flowering stage last week, but tomorrow put in the most nutes (that is, different types) since this grow began, so Iâ??m really excited and hope to see flowers appear in the near future. My partner will be here helping me out so hopeful this time it wonâ??t be as wet/messy.
The skunky smell continues to grow slightly stronger every day, so even though Iâ??m not seeing anything dramatic in terms of bud formation, Iâ??m starting to see whispy hair like strands appear as I hope you an see in the pics. I grew ONE clone in soil many years ago so I know what the flowering buds look like and Iâ??m not quite there yet, but stillâ?¦.skunky smell = good in my opinion.
The new digital ballast is working like a dream. It stays (relatively) cool and turns that light on real quick, unlike the old magnetic one which takes a few minutes to turn on. Iâ??ve also taped all of the seams in my cab where the plywood connects to the walls to eliminate any light seepage. SOâ?¦everything is going as it should. The babies are gulping down the water, about 5 gallons a week between them all.
Enjoy the pics, Iâ??ll definitely take some nice ones once some buds really start to appear. Itâ??s hard to capture the scope of how large these things have grown. I didnâ??t intend to grow any Christmas trees but itâ??s turning out that way. I would have been ecstatic to get a single ounce out of this grow, but if things continue as they have, I may be lucky to get a little more than that  OHâ?¦and my carbon filter works like a dream. My cab sits in a separated, individual room, almost like a detached guest room. It does slightly smell once you enter that room, but not outside. And standing right outside the vent exhaust with my nose right up to it, I canâ??t smell a thing. If anyone cares, I bought mine from Foothill filters on ebay.

DAILY UPDATE
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01863.jpg
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[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 37 (DAY 8 OF FLOWERING)
My partner came out yesterday and we did another changeout. It went very smoothly, considering. BD#1 fell through the lid; that is, the netpot fell through. The lesson learned here is donâ??t make the holes perfectly fit the lid of the potâ?¦.make sure the lip of the netpot is about 1/3rd of an inch above the lid of the bucket so it has better support. I tied some string for support and thatâ??s no longer an issue.
Speaking of tying string, the babies keep growing up, up, and away, that in order to try to salvage what little space I have left, Iâ??m bending some of the top branches just a little bit. The funny thing is, within hours of slightly bending atop branch towards the right, the branch had already twisted upwards towards the lightâ?¦.BD is a VERY resilient baby. That said, the gentle bending seems to be a good option for saving some space right now. BD#1 drank about half of a gallon in one day, so Iâ??m assuming thatâ??s also a good sign.
Also, countless little hairy buds are starting to slowly present themselves. I tried to snap pics of them all but itâ??s hard to convey with pics whatâ??s going on at this stage.

Daily Update

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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01887.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Whoops, it's supposed to be DAY 36/7 OF FLOWERING

[supchaka]

No need to gently bend it, bend it till it snaps over. Thats super cropping. The plant will form a big fat knuckle where you bent it over.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 39 (10 of flowering)

The babies continue to grow with budâ??s appearing all over the place. The lower leaves, which get barely any light now, are starting to yellow and die. They are gulping up water as well. The weather is idealâ?¦itâ??s been the high 70â??s to low 80â??s al day and will be that way for the next week or so. As you can tell from the pictures, the branches are extremely long and Iâ??m bending them with string. Here are the pics:

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01888.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01889.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01890.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01891.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01892.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01893.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01894.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01895.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01896.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01897.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01898.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

My smallest GDP is dead. I finally â??bushwackedâ?� my way to the back of the grow cab and saw her sad, pathetic little corpse just all shriveled and dried up. Itâ??s odd, because a few days ago I was considering pulling her anyway since thatâ??s 5 gallons of water I could be saving on and she wasnâ??t growing. Well, she decided for me LOL. So I placed the two GDPâ??s into the double bucket and removed the old bucket, which gives me more space to work. I couldnâ??t care less if ALL of the GDPâ??s died for at this point the BDâ??s have my full attention. Those whores are treating me right, not those prudish GDPâ??s :D

[tinytoon]

No need to gently bend it, bend it till it snaps over. Thats super cropping. The plant will form a big fat knuckle where you bent it over.

The only problem with that is you can cut off the supply route to the top of plant if "snap" goes to far. Had 3-4 plants that the tops fell over do to colas weight and 2 of them the tops started dieing because the internals of the stem were completely cut off but still intact on the outside. Not saying it is right or wrong just throwing in personal experience.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Yeah, I'm not brave enough to bend my main stem until it "snaps". I personally haven't read anything about that particular technique. At first glance, I would assume the branch would die if I were to snap it, but maybe there's more too it than that. All I'm doing is gently tilting the top of the branch a few degrees to the left or right so they don't hit the light. It also exposes the flowers lower on the branch to more light which is an added bonus.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 42
I went back to my original post and figured out that this is day 42 of my grow. Iâ??m not that great with numbers ;-)
I did my changeout today since Iâ??ll be out of town this weekend. Since I now only have 4 buckets instead of 5, it went a little smoother than usual. The flowers keep growing, and I took as many up close shots as I could manage.

Daily Update
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01899.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01911.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01912.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 47
Babies are still growing and flowering like mad. The odor is surprisingly un-skunklike like I had thought it would be. Itâ??s more of a sweet odor and I wouldnâ??t even associate it with the smell I would expect from this plant.
Leaves are now starting to hit the light and fry a little bit, but so long as itâ??s not the buds Iâ??m cool with that. Iâ??m trying to bend things so that doesnâ??t happen but the leaves branch out while Iâ??m away.

DAILY UPDATE
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01916.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01917.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01935.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 49
My partner and I did another water changeout today, nothing really spectacular to report on other than that the buds are forming nicely and crystals have begun to coat the leaves around the buds. I've been twisting and tying the branches this way and that to expose the lower branches to light and to avoid hitting the ceiling. The babies are over 6 feet tall, although by bending the branches I've been able to stabilize them at a 5 1/2 foot tall height.

Daily Pics
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01936.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01949.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 51 (Week 4 of flowering)

Well, things are going very smoothly. It's jut a matter of bending a branch this way or that now. Enjoy the eye candy:

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01950.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01951.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01963.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 54
Just another day in paradise :-) The babies are growing fatter every day and the crystal buildup is amazing. Its also smelling mighty sweet in my cab; not skunky, but sweet like fruit. I'm starting my week 5 and changeout tomorrow, and week 6 will probably be the last week I add nutes to the mix. Week 7 and 8 will be my flush, with a harvest at the end of week 8. I'll play it by ear though, if I think they should go a little longer, that's exactly what I'll do.


DAILY UPDATE
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC01995.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02012.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Being a first time grower, experiencing extreme heat for many weeks, ants, sawdust, and a sloppy changeout system for the first 4 weeks, I am very happy with the results I've gotten so far. I'm loving this BD strain!!!!! She's well over 6 1/2 feet to 7 feet tall a some of the bent stocks go for several feet at an almost 90 degree angle.

[tinytoon]

nice job :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Thanks tinytoon! It's taking all my self control not to run into my cab and give each and every one of those buds a little hug. They are so hypnotizing to watch, and I just want to touch them and squeeze them LOL.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 55
I did my changeout today, and the babies are doing very well. After this week, I have one more week with nutes, then it's just plain RO water with Cal mag. CalMag is not considered a nute, right? It's my understanding that I should still add that to the RO water when flushing the last two weeks, is this correct?
I managed to get inside my cab right when the light turned off, so i quickly snapped a few pics of the buds in normal light. Hope you enjoy the pics.

DAILY UPDATE
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02014.jpg
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[tinytoon]

I dont add anything to the water for final week but then again I dont use RO water either. Wish I could give you some insight but I dont know the answer to this one.

[byrdog55]

I'm not as experienced as some others here...that being said after reading up on Lucas and using Latewoods formula with good results you should not need to flush for 2 weeks especially if you are running hydro. 5-7 days with florakleen is all you need. You should try and add a high PK boost (if you want) two weeks before harvest and then flush. My Buds taste great and develop more resin in the last weeks doing it this way. :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 57
It was in the triple digits today, but my babies are still doing fine. I gave them 3 gallons more water in between them, and I yanked out my second to last GDP. Lesson learned: don't do two plants per bucket, they fight for nutes and kill each other. Now I know. The big, and only remaining GDP is producing some small buds.
Now if I understand this correctly, the orange hairs aren't necessarily an indicator that its ready, more so the white trichomes (not clear). Is this correct? I only ask because, as you'll see in one of the pics, one of the buds has a hairy orange top, but does look ready to be plucked yet, plus there's still a few weeks left. I just want to confirm if I am correct on that.
I took my pics right after the lights went out. Enjoy:

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02058.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02059.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02067.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02068.jpg

[GetThisOrDie]

Hairs dont tell you when its done. The top you are talking about looks burnt to me. Did a bulb fall on it?

You must check the trichs for harvest time. Those buds need a few more weeks. The hardest part is waiting for them to ripen...trust me.

[byrdog55]

GTOD is right on the money, those buds will fatten up and the trichomes with get cloudy when they are ready to be plucked. He is spot on about the waiting part too...I keep thinking of the Tom Petty song..
"The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part"

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. Yes, that orangish bud was very close to the light before I moved it so I can see where it would be burnt. Its the only one and I'm careful about that now which is why I'm bending everything this way and that :-) I have about 3 weeks left on my schedule so the time frame you listed sounds spot on. Ill keepo posting pics and hopefully there will be an obvious moment where everyone says "Time to cut" :-)

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 60

Wow, I'm quickly approaching my final week of nutes this Saturday. Everything's going well, the babies have stopped growing upwards thanks to the bending and the buds becoming dense and heavy enough they are actually weighing the branches down.
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02069.jpg
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[Anonymousm0nkey]

Well today I made a startling discovery. I finally decided to get inside and cut away all the bottom section dead leaves. I had noticed one of my BD's, the mutant one that grew two out of one rockwool cube, had a lot of dead leaves, and I thought that was because the dense canopy killed them all, but that's not all it killed. The babies as stone dead! It grew as tall as the canopy of her evil sisters and then died. I noticed right off that her stem was hard and rigid, not the same color green a the other two, and very thin. Her roots look OK but it was just a stem attached, no buds nor licing leaves.
What's amazing is, about 95% (the other 5% being my GDP) of the growth you see in the following pic's are from two huge BD plants that stretch about 6 1/2 - 7 feet from the far left side of my cab all the way over to the right side, producing AL of the growth you see in the pics. Just from two BD's!
On the one hand I'm bummed that I lost another baby, but since the others are doing really well, including the GDP, I'll be ok ;-) I learned a lesson in how to bend the plants so others don't die from lack of light and my next grow will be that much better.
Other than that the branches are getting really heavy with dense buds. I may tie some strings around the branches and tie them to the ceiling to support the long branches as multiple top colas are growing on them and I'm afraid they may snap. This is my last week of nutes, then I do a two week flush.

I took some pics of my GDP flowering and marked them in the list.
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02110.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02111.jpg
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http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02114.jpg
(GDP)http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02115.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02116.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02117.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02118.jpg
(GDP)http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02119.jpg
(GDP)http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02120.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02121.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02122.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02123.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02124.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02125.jpg
(GDP)http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02126.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02127.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02128.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02129.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02130.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02131.jpg

[tinytoon]

Nice job!! :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 65
I did a wee bit of trimming away at the dead leaves blocking the lights of the lower buds. The weather has been nice and cool and the babies love it. Even my GDP is exploding with swelling flowers.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0110.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0111.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0112.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0113.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0114.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0115.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0116.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0117.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0118.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0119.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...0nkey/0120.jpg

[tinytoon]

Pics not there but I am sure they are looking fine. You stayed on top of things very well. :thumbsup:

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Hmmm, I don't know why the pics stopped working. Here's some that should work.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I fixed the problem, here are the fixed pic links :D

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0110.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0111.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0112.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0113.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0114.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0115.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0116.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0117.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0118.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0119.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/0120.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 67

Well, my GDP was doing so well, but over the last two days it suddenly died:
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02167.jpg
I have a feeling some left over rotted roots from the other plant that share its bucket is to blame. I'm probably not going to grow two different strains together at the same time again, and most definitely not doing two in one bucket ever again.
The good news is the BD's are still swelling up, with one bud measuring 6 inches long or about a meter and a half long : http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02166.jpg

I begin my two week flush tomorrow.

PICS
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02164.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02165.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02166.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02167.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02168.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02169.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02170.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02171.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02172.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02173.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02174.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02175.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02176.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02177.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02178.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02179.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02180.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02181.jpg

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I don't think I have asked this yet, but is it OK to ignore the pH of the water during my two week nute flush? Will the babies be OK or do I need to use pH up and down to keep it within a specific range while I flush them out with un-nuted water?

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I wanted to expand upon my last post a little bit. I have done a lot of research on whether or not to pH the water during flush, and most people are split down the middle. One camp says NO, because the point of flushing is to force the plants to use of their internally stored reserves of nutes providing for a better taste and burn. The other camp says YES, because altering the pH may shock the babies even at this stage and that the babies internal pH is the pH that the grower has been keeping their water pH at, thus altering the pH at this stage will lock up the nute intake inside the plant itself.

I'm thinking of doing a compromise here. I'm using RO water, so all it needs is two or three drops of pH down to get it just into the respectable range (probably get it to 6.6 or so), but I'm thinking of leaving out the cal/mag all together.

ByrdDog55 commented earlier in this thread that two weeks of flush wasn't necessary for hydro, but I'm going to try it out this time around just because I've used high levels of nutes this entire grow.

Any comments/suggestions on the final flush are appreciated, particularly on the use of Cal/Mag and/or pH during the flush.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

DAY 73
Well, my first week of flush is over with, my final week of flower/flush begins tomorrow. The babies smell absolutely amazing, like sweet fruit trees! The leaves are turning yellow as the internal nute cache is drained. Only two out of my three BD's made it as you can see, and the cab looks so lonely without more babies, but look how far over to the right they bend! Pretty crazy.
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02194.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02195.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02196.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02197.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02198.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02199.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02200.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02201.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02202.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/DSC02203.jpg

[martyrprojekt]

I'm thinking of doing a compromise here. I'm using RO water, so all it needs is two or three drops of pH down to get it just into the respectable range (probably get it to 6.6 or so), but I'm thinking of leaving out the cal/mag all together.

ByrdDog55 commented earlier in this thread that two weeks of flush wasn't necessary for hydro, but I'm going to try it out this time around just because I've used high levels of nutes this entire grow.

Any comments/suggestions on the final flush are appreciated, particularly on the use of Cal/Mag and/or pH during the flush.


2 weeks of flush is overkill! Period. One week with hydro is all you will need. Hence the reason your excellent hydro always leaves the nice white ash when smoked.

I always add Cal/Mag and PH...until I flush. At week #8 I start adding just ph'd water to the res. I do not add nutes again past this point. Week #9 is ph'd water. LOCK OUT IS IMMINENT if you do not ph the water properly...and you can fuck up your weight in the most important days...Get those bitches to feed and swell!

[Daddynobucks]

to the folks who have been at this a while.

Always Ph your water,whether it has nuits or not.
Two weeks plain water is hurting your yield and quality.

rotten roots will give your chit a foul taste, and from the pics your burning them up. back off on your total PPM by 50%
curled under leaf edges and burned edges/tips is a clue, they also look as thow they need more air movement/fresh air

hope this helps, NOBODY knows everything, we have all figured out things others haven't yet, thats what this forum is all about. helping each other figure out its an elephant

Daddy

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Thanks for the input; your experience and knowledge are very much appreciated. I may begin harvesting tomorrow based off of this information. My roots look healthy, but tomorrow will be day 8 of flush. My research indicated 7 - 10 days of RO/Hydro flush was fine, so my target zone for harvest is today through Wednesday. The babies smell fantastic and I just smoked a malformed, tiny bud I pluck from the bottom of the tree and that had been drying for just two days. It got me pretty darned buzzed and tasted great, even while still wet!
As my first time, "make the majority of your mistakes here" grow, i think next time all add 1 or possibly 2 weeks onto flower, and reduce my flush to just one week. This has been a great learning experience, many thanks to those who posted their advice and recommendations.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I forgot to mention in my last post that I had/have been pH'ing my babies even during flush. No one had responded to my first post asking about pH during flush but I thought that adjusting the pH was a good idea so i did. I did not add calmag as it was a flush. Thanks again for all the great advice, information, and commentary. I'll post pics of my chopped buds when the deed is done.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

I harvested :-) I have no clue as to how much I have, that will be determined once its dried and cured. I was pretty sloppy on the trimming, but it was my first attempt and I have really crappy scissors. I had no idea how much work and energy it takes to chop down and trim a baby! WHEW!


http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/01.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/02.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/03.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/04.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/05.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/06.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/07.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/08.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/09.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/10.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad304/anonymousm0nkey/11.jpg

Again, many thanks to the kind posters who gave me their advice, suggestions, and commentary. I sure learned a lot and will continue to learn as I continue to grow. MANY THANKS. I'll post an update on the final dried and cured end results in about a month.

[Anonymousm0nkey]

Followup: after drying and curing, I harvested about 3 1/4 ounces from my two BD's. It might be a little more because I weighed it when it was very dry and have since added some lemon rind for moisture, but that's the official weigh in.
It has a FANTASTIC medicinal effect, much better than anything I get at the local cannabis dispensary, which absolutely astounds me. Because I let it dry too long, when I cut the buds into glass jars and I laid a layer of cheeses cloth over the opening of the jar. I then placed a small cut of lemon over the cheese cloth and sealed the jar for 12 hours. PERFECT! The lemon wedge provided just enough moisture to hydrate those babies to a perfect consistency. I've sealed my stash in glass jars as it should keep my buds fresh over time, and this supply should last me a while (I hope!).
It has the most amazing odor (it did before i cured it, but now it has the hint of lemons, blueberries, and cotton candy for some reason), and its no longer dry. It's the perfect moisture/density. It's a little creepy: it hits you as soon as you smoke it, but it slowly gets stronger over a 2 minute period. It burns into white ash and is just a fantastic medicine.
Again, many thanks to all who posted offering advice, opinion, and/or help, it is much appreciated :hippy:

[DOUGAL25]

Congrats! You made it to my favorite part...curing! :stoned::stoned: