Colorado MMJ patient first time grow spring'13

[Dabs4all]

I'm sorry about the sizing on the pics, but if you right click and select view image they are easier to see. For some reason I cant post attachments so URLs will have to work for now.

This is my first attempt at growing any plant, but I've spent a lot of time since moving to Colorado reading up on growing marijuana so here we grow.

Seeds are old from early 2007 purchased online. The Mazar-Shariff came as freebies

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292189-super-skunk-seeds.JPG

After research on soil ingredients and pricing I purchased this for value.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292183-soil-report.PNG

Here's a copy of a water report from a reputable company for my city water. ( all plants have gotten distilled water and will continue to do so until I receive my PH pen )

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292184-water-report.PNG

I am still awaiting delivery of my tent and digital PH meter so I'm kinda winging it right now.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292172-6-8-2013-waiting-delivery-4x4x8-tent.JPG

As far as nutes I'm using Fox Farms Grow Big, Big Bloom, and Tiger Bloom. Soon to be purchased Kangaroots, Microbe Brew, SledgeHammer, and a tri pack.

Lights 400 watt Apollo Extreme MH for veg, I also have a 600 watt and a 1000 watt I can upgrade to if nedded, 1000 watt Hortalux Super HPS for flower.

Temp 69 degree low 77 degree high stays 73 to 75 for most of day, Humidity 39% low 52% high stays 42% to 46% most of day

As with any soil/nute combo I know there is a learning curve which my girls ( I hope ) are telling me. I used a quarter tsp to a gallon of water of grow big at the advice of a friend mistake!!!, but after some TLC they are coming around. The pics are 18 days after popping the surface, transplant day. About 7 days after nutes. The deformed plant has looked weird since popping so I don't think that was the nutes as in the SS and MS.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292174-6-2-2013-super-skunk-plant-1-transplant-day.JPG
http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292175-6-2-2013-mazar-shariff-plant-1-transplant-day.JPG
http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292176-6-2-2013-mazar-shariff-deformed-plant-transplant-day.JPG

Two days after transplant. 20 days old

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292180-6-4-2013-super-skunk-plant-1.JPG
http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292173-6-4-2013-mazar-shariff-plant-1.JPG

Today. 24 days old

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292181-6-8-2013-super-skunk-plant-1.JPG
http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292182-6-8-2013-mazar-shariff-plant-1.JPG
http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292185-6-8-2013-deformed-mazar-shariff.JPG


I also have two SS a week old as I am wanting to have somewhat of a perpetual garden as I don't want to break the law if I don't have to state law anyway so 3 veggin and 3 flowering will be fine right now especially as it's only me medicating.

I also have an EZcloner 60 but as this is my first time I want to really study the plants as they grow naturally without topping, cloning, or LSTing that's more fun for later.

Any input, info, or criticism is appreciated. More to come....

[Dabs4all]

Well this SUX I can post attachments in other forums but still not here...

So here's some more URLs..

The pix are from yesterday. Mazar-Shariff

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292277-6-11-water-day-mazar.JPG

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292276-6-11-water-day-mazar-2.JPG


The deformed Mazar-Shariff it looks like it topped itself.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292275-6-11-water-day-deformed-mazar.JPG

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292274-6-11-water-day-deformed-mazar-2.JPG


The Super Skunk.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292278-6-11-water-day-ss-2.JPG

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292279-6-11-water-day-ss-3.JPG


My tent and PH meter still haven't arrived so the plants are still getting distilled water, and with leftovers from work I propped up some mylar reflective panels.

http://boards.cannabis.com/members/dabs4all-albums-grow-log-spring-2013-picture292273-6-11-tent-late.JPG

[Dutch Pimp]

I have some old Mazar-Shariff seeds. All the grow reports were poor; so I never germinated them...yet.

They usually get tall & lanky.

anyways...Good Luck & welcome!

[Dabs4all]

Well I can say this about them, the seeds were around 7 years old from Gypsy Nirvana and 2 out of 3 are alive today(one never popped after soaking and placing in towel). While one plant is deformed the other is my MVP right now. The MS seeds came as freebies when I ordered the Super Skunk so I figured might as well pop em.

Now that I've gotten some experience with different strains my favorites have been Durban Poison, Trainwreck, Sage n Sour, and Wreckage (imagine that a cross of my TW and SnS). I like those strains mainly because of the way they help with my pain and stomach issues. I've tried some Indica's but I find I only like them at bedtime since sleep is the end result for me with those. So now I'm searching for some good quality Wreckage or Durban Poison seeds from a good seed bank. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned I might get you to pop those MS seeds yet...

[Dutch Pimp]

I've always been fond of white widows since 2005.

But....I really like my Nirvana Northern Lights x Shiva seeds I made in 2010.

Northern Lights is a highly underrated old school strain.

[Dabs4all]

I've been doing research on White strains and while I haven't made up my mind which one(s), those are what I am planning on after the DP/WR session. I haven't tried NL unless it's crossed into MTF. The one experience I've had with WW wasn't all that great, but that was due to inferior flushing and basically no curing not the genetics. It's sad what not doing your homework and getting in a rush can do. I'm glad I learned that at other peoples mistakes and not mine, I'm just trying to stay on or ahead of the curve.

[Esteban1]

Welcome, WW was me 1st grow & went well, super easy. Should research the different strains as there are many out there... Obv Sativa, Indica & hybrids. Way too many to list, some good for pain & others for sleep. From my experience if ya wanna do more for "pain" let the girls go for an added week or so which will increase CBD%. Btw, this is well documented but must warn ya it is couch lock squared! Like the setup from what I can see. Only the very best..... "Good Night & Good Luck"

:thumbsup:

[Dabs4all]

Thanks Esteban1, you read my mind I was just reading up on letting the girls go a little extra for higher CBD's!!!

[Dabs4all]

Hello everyone. My ordered tent was late and after calling and finding out it was back-ordered I cancelled the tent and told to ship the PH pen finally. I proceeded to check craigslist and backpage and found a used one that needed some minor repairs. Three of the plastic corners that came with it were broken, some pin holes, and a fabric corner that needed 6" of restitching. Also a sh*tload of cleaning.

After a trip to the hardware store I found these 1/2" PVC side outlet parts for $1.47 and got a few extra JIC. Also the original tent plastic corner(online price $10 +SH) and logo DR 120 I'm pretty sure it's made in China, but for $30 screw it.292341292342292343


The girls in their new home.292350292351292352292353

Also I changed my hood out to an XXXL 6"

[Dabs4all]

First 24 hour temp/hum swing.292354

[Shovelhandle]

Oh shit, Mazar-i-Sharif can be great herb. The seeds I got produced classic short single cola plants. But recently I've seen photos of grows of Maz that look like thin leaved hybrid bushes. They are reported to be quite a good product (from very reliable sources).

[Dabs4all]

Hello Shovelhandle, thanks for stopping by. I checked out some of your grow logs nice work!!! I'm definitely gonna incorporate some of your methods into my future endeavors.

[Dabs4all]

This plant is only 35 days old (popping the soil) the 400w MH was started on 5/28 (first full day 29th) CFL's before that (18/6 light cycle since popping). I think I see female preflowers...

Shovel, Dutch, Estaban, anyone... What do you think???

[Shovelhandle]

that's nice. a female flower.

[Dutch Pimp]

you have eyes like an eagle...very useful. :thumbsup:

[Dabs4all]

Thanks guys. I'm glad my MVP is female I thought it was but wanted opinions from those who have seen this before.

[Dabs4all]

you have eyes like an eagle...very useful. :thumbsup:


That's something I've heard before, I was lucky enough to look in on a couple of grows before starting mine and on one trip I saw what I thought was a yellow worm. When I asked the grower if this worm is suppose to be here he started cussing about bananas which I found out was a male appendage that pollinates. Needless to say I was handed a pair of latex gloves and tweezers.

[Dabs4all]

Well I have bad news I was chilling with my girls in the room looking, studying, and just generally checking them out(I like to spend a lot of QT with them) when I saw this. A BALL...


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I think my oldest Super Skunk is a male...

As I've never seen this up close or live, bring on the 2nd opinions I would like verification before I kill him(I'm not set up for breeding and don't have anyone that wants it). :sadcrying

[Shovelhandle]

I think my oldest Super Skunk is a male...

I think so too.

[Dabs4all]

The 21st was the first full 12/12 cycle, I transplanted my MVP Mazar-Sharif into a modified 5 gallon bucket yesterday morning right after the lights came on.
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I also switched out the light to the Hortalux 1000 watt HPS, but had to switch back to the 400 watt MH due to the heat. I experimented with my exhaust fans to try and deal with the heat by pulling the hood exhaust from outside the growroom and brought in another fan to exhaust the room. I even took down two of my roof A/C vents and attached vent hose to them to bring the cold air directly from the A/C system into the growroom. I also experimented with the fan exhausting the room(on/off, to keep the cool air in) once I brought the A/C cooled air into the room. All to no avail the coolest I could get the room was 84-86 degrees(with the A/C running hard).

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So.... I ordered a Plantmax 360 Conversion HPS to use with the 400 watt MH ballast.

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I found mixed reviews online and the Hortalux is 5 to 6 times more expensive. I know you get what you pay for but damn...If anyone out there has first hand knowledge of this product I would like to hear it. If not stay tuned.

[Dabs4all]

So the heat problem is now fixed and I lowered the light to 16" from the tallest plant. The conversion bulb is due to arrive Wednesday. The temp/hum spike at 77/71% was because I forgot to turn on the bathroom exhaust fan during the shower this morning oops. The norms are back to 73-75 temp and 42%-46% hum.
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From the looks of the new growth(light green almost yellow) I think it's time to start the nutes. The reason the SS male is still alive is for this purpose he is now the guinea pig. The two MS will get .5 to .75 strength nutes while the SS will get full. I will keep a sharp eye on him and kill it before any pollen drops from the balls(there are still only 2). Any ideas on how long that takes???292554

[Shovelhandle]

I forgot to turn on the bathroom exhaust fan during the shower this morning oops. The norms are back to 73-75 temp and 42%-46% hum.

If you have a separate switch for the fan you can add a humidistat that will automatically run the fan and keep the Rh at a set level. We have that.

[Esteban1]

Sweet, appear golden. Enjoy the journey!

:thumbsup:

[Dabs4all]

If you have a separate switch for the fan you can add a humidistat that will automatically run the fan and keep the Rh at a set level. We have that.

Thanks for the tip I will incorporate one after I purchase the rest of the nutes I would like to add to my regiment. For now I was lucky my bathroom has a 3-way for the light and the exhaust fan switch was in the two gang with the switch leg for the 3-way, so a junction with a pig tail problem solved. Also I noticed since I switched over to 12/12 the humidity level spikes in the 70% range during the dark period to fix this I put my tent exhaust fan(it cools the light too) on a separate timer from the light and run it the 12 hour on cycle then 15 minutes per hour during the dark.

[Dabs4all]

The feeding on the morning of the 24th(for the lil one) and the new 1.5 gals of soil(for the MVP) has greened up the new growth slowly but nicely. The guinea pig(male) took the full strength nutes well, it greened up a little darker than the lil MS so he served his purpose(c-ya).

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[Dabs4all]

The conversion bulb arrived a day early so it went in yesterday after about 2hrs of on cycle(subbed with CFL's for the 2 mins it took to change bulbs).

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[Dabs4all]

Here's the room now I put a chair in to keep the lil one's canopy even with the MVP's.

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Since I've switched the light cycle to 12/12 I started veggin with these.

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Here's the veg closet.

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:bigsmoke:

[Esteban1]

Sweet, how far into flower?


:thumbsup:

[Dabs4all]

I started 12/12 on 6/21/2013 the first full 12/12 cycle was 6/22 so 4.5 days.

[Dabs4all]

I've been checking for signs of the sex of my lil MS plant and it's a boy...

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It got lonely in my tent.

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[Dabs4all]

So when I killed the lil MS it grew so weird/unique I thought I'd share some pix...

It almost looks like the plant supercropped and topped(or split in two main colas) itself.

[Dabs4all]

Well now I really want some feminized seeds!!!!!! For now though I'll have to make do. I've still got the two Super Skunk's vegging under CFL's and since I've got a sizable collection of really good Great White Shark bagseeds(from some killer bud) I put a few in water today to soak before they get planted tomorrow(probably under a new grow log later). I also picked up some Grandma's molasses(I couldn't find Blackstripe or whatever it's called) to start with the next feeding/watering. I'm gonna start with 1TBS(15ml) to a gallon of water and continue with every feeding/watering until flushing time.

292629

[Dabs4all]

Here's a quick update.

I transplanted the 2 baby SS's into 3.5 gal pots today, they got a little neglected while I was on vacation. I had three Great White Shark seeds pop the surface. The clone was cut as an experiment from the SS male(it looks bad I know as I said I've been away, and it was only an experiment). My MS female in the tent is stretching like crazy(you were dead on Dutch) it looks like I'm gonna find out exactly how close I can let the plant get to the light. I was moving the light up around an inch a day(b/c she was growing that much a night) now it's closer to two, and it's 14'' from the glass on the bottom of the hood. I only have about 6 more inches I can raise my light, if I have to I can swap back to the smaller hood and hang it vertically in the back corner for more headroom. I still haven't watered/fed the MS since transplanting(it got a heavy dose of water that day) the bucket is still bottom heavy so I'm waiting on the roots to get there and use it up before I feed.

Here's some pix.

[Shovelhandle]

are you sure that plant you culled was a male?

[Dabs4all]

are you sure that plant you culled was a male?

I can't be 100% since I'm new to this, but it looked nothing like the female MS I already had and a lot like the male SS I had already culled. Better safe than sorry is my motto for now until I get this down a little better. I've already learned a lot from this grow (my soil was too hot for the babies, light was too far from plant especially during the first 3 weeks of bud etc...) to carry over to my next grows.

[Dabs4all]

The PH meter I purchased got sent back. After two point calibration 4 and 7, I tested some fresh 7 solution and got a reading of 8.1. Recalibrated and the second test on a fresh sample of 7 gave me a reading of 7.8. If it's a yellow cheap meter don't waste your time or money!!!

The Jack's Classic Bloom Booster and 420 scope I ordered arrived. The Jack's is blue like MG. WTF???

[Dabs4all]

I fed the MS yesterday for the first time since transplant (like 23 days I think I used too much water on transplant day) but the soil at the bottom of the bucket was still moist until then. I didn't use any Grow Big because of the N in the Jack's. I used Big Bloom, Tiger Bloom, Jack's, and molasses all full strength. I added 2 1800 lumen 2700k cfl's for some light to the bottom branches. I also moved the 2 SS (I stunted them with the MH light too early and they got a little rootbound in the cups) into the tent, one of which I think is a male. Also the light is now 7" from the plant and the stretch has lessened dramatically!!!!

[Dabs4all]

Here's some nug pix from the last few days.

[Dabs4all]

So I've been watching the SS that I pegged as a male and the other day and I saw what I thought were female preflowers growing right beside the balls. I had to wait for the preflowers to get a little bigger before getting pix. Everywhere there is a ball there is now a female preflower coming out next to it. Here's the only one that came out worth a damn.

[Dabs4all]

I think my other SS is going to be a girl, she's starting to show.

[Dabs4all]

My light is now 6" from the top of the plant and no signs of light/heat burn. I'm kinda leery of letting it closer.

Last nights nug pix...

[Dabs4all]

So I've been watching the SS that had signs of both preflowers and if it had any female traits they were overpowered by the male.
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Here's a pic of what I think is either a calyx that didn't have time/failed to sprout pistils, or a stamen that doesn't have an anther cap. I'm not sure so gurus chime in please.
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This is how it's life ended.
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[Dabs4all]

Here's some pix of the female SS now that she is sprouting pistils.
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Here's some 30 days of flowering pix I checked the trics the other day and they're still clear but sticky!!!
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Also I have a question since I've read info from both camps on trimming, Would it be a good idea to cut the 4 big shade leaves coming out from the stalk in pic 1546. They are blocking light and there is nothing to tuck them behind.

[Dabs4all]

The buds were weighing down the branches pretty bad and since I moved the circulating fan up higher the top has more sway than a skyscraper(fan's on lowest setting). I decided to fix this with a couple of stakes and a roll of plant tie wire. All of the lower branches are now sitting in a loop in the wire and then secured tightly to the stakes for support(I secured the stakes to the outside of the bucket so I didn't disturb the roots). I also supported the top with an adjustable tie wire. I fed the Super Skunk two days ago with the same nutes as the Mazar adjusted to the FF weekly schedule, she's got a lot more pistils but no buds yet.

[Dabs4all]

I picked this up when I got the stakes to start my babies in since the soil is too hot for them. I'm gonna mix perlite in also.

[Dabs4all]

Well this morning I was greeted with single bananas and male flowers with multiple bananas in each from top to bottom. :cursing:
Damn this sux, I tweezed as many as I could and I'm willing to bet I could still find more. The trics are still about 50/50% cloudy/clear it's 40 days into flower. So....

Should I cut my losses and cut-n-hang it so it doesn't get to the SS if it hasn't already, or just keep pulling bananas for another month or so?

[Esteban1]

What are you down to, 2? Sorry to hear ya sprouted a few males. Personally go with a numbers game (this grow started with 15..... A few died & one pulled <male> & down to 12). Can be frustrating at times! Peace


:thumbsup:

[Dabs4all]

What are you down to, 2? Sorry to hear ya sprouted a few males. Personally go with a numbers game (this grow started with 15..... A few died & one pulled <male> & down to 12). Can be frustrating at times! Peace


:thumbsup:

Nope down to one Super Skunk in flower(17 days in). I've got three Great White Shark bagseed babies in that "too hot" soil(stunted and stressed), and I started a few more in the new seed starting medium(one popped today) so I'm gonna keep on rotating'em and solving problems/upgrading equipment until I get it dialed in. I'm either going to start playing the numbers game, get some feminized seeds, or fire up the ez-cloner.

[Dabs4all]

Yesterday I used all the leaves with trics on them along with the lower buds to make some milk with after decarbing. It was like a car that's wants to start but cant kinda felt it, went away, kinda felt it, went away etc... Oh well on to the next one...

Here's some death and trics pix.

[Esteban1]

Been there, it'll work out in the end. Peace


:(

[Dabs4all]

I've been reading up on controlling the stretch and read that a MH light during the early stages of flowering helps slow it so I changed the bulb back to the MH and cleaned the entire tent.

[Dabs4all]

I've been gone a few days, I took my son back to Texas (or as I affectionately call it hell) after summer vacation and visited my family. Everyday while I was there the temps were over 100F the highest was 106F all the while back home the temps were great it's 55F right now in Colorado Springs!!! It's good to be back!!!

I switched back to the HPS (I don't think I switched to the MH early enough to matter) after the 21st day of flower and I tilted the hood to maximize the light. I don't like the conversion bulb for flowering I will be upgrading to a 600w the 600w I thought I had turned out to be another 1kw so I have three 1kw switchable and one 400w MH.

Not to much has changed, here are some 30 days flowering pix.

[Dabs4all]

I picked up another full time contract so now I have two full time jobs, that's why I haven't updated in a while but here's a quickie.

I've been following the FF's feed chart minus Grow Big and adding the Jack's for nutes. I alternate feeding and watering and only do it when the container is light(as far as weight).

The trics are cloudy/clear still with no amber(which is what I'm waiting for).

The smell is very skunky and pungent, I now have 2 plug in's in every room of my house(time for a carbon filter!!!).

The others in the pix are a Sour D bagseed and the LST in the back is GWS. With these 2 I have cut the FF's nute strength in half but am still using .5 tsp of Jack's(full strength).

The humidity here has been 90's to 100% with all this rain. Fort Carson on the south side of town has gotten 14" in a week. In my tent it's been 53-68% and I haven't seen any signs of mold.

[Buggy]

Drooling over your results. Learning from this for sure. :) Thanks for the update - great looking buds!

[Esteban1]

Nice job. "Sweet smell of colitas, rising up through the air". Thought I saw ambers tri's?

[Dabs4all]

Here's some pix from the 19th...

[Dabs4all]

Here's some tri pix from the 19th also...

[Dabs4all]

Here's some pix from the 22nd...

same routine just watching tri's for amber...

[Dabs4all]

Today's tric pix...

[Dabs4all]

Yesterday's pix

[Dabs4all]

Yesterday's tric pix, finally the first sign of amber!!!!!(in pic 3)

[Dabs4all]

After cutting down the Mazar-Sharif hermie I'm glad to have success on the Super Skunk on my first grow. Let this be evidence that with the right equipment and knowledge (mostly acquired from this site) anyone can have success. I'm in the process of upgrading my lighting, fans, and nutes so the next grow log will be better. This morning I noticed about a 50/50 ratio between amber and cloudy trics which was what I was going for. It was in 12/12 for 94 days. After it dries I'll post a final weight and more pix...

[Dabs4all]

Notice the bananas on the underside of the cola.

[Dabs4all]

Heres my tent now with my sour d bagseed (the largest) and great white sharks (all others).