DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
Hello,
Iā??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 GDPā??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 Iā??d experiment a bit.
I goofed the first day and did not record any of the PPMā??s or pHā??s,but hereā??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 ā?? 6.2. The PPMā??s are all at around 410 ā?? 450 average. FoxFarm recommends they be at 700 ā?? 1200, but Iā??ll add stronger nutes next Saturday during my water exchange. As mentioned, I didnā??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/a...y/IMG_3818.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/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/a...y/IMG_3807.jpg
Blue Dream #2, Day 2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3808.jpg
Blue Dream #3, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3809.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3810.jpg
GDP #1, Day 2 (2 Pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3811.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3812.jpg
GDP #2, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3813.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3814.jpg
GDP #3, Day 2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3815.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3816.jpg
This was them, yesterday: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/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. Iā??m only using 5 feet at the moment, if that. I have a 175 power intake, and a cool tube light (400 watt HPS). Iā??m getting a carbon scrubber in a week. So thatā??s basically it. ā??ll update this thread daily, and again, Iā??d appreciate any experienced growers opinions and advice. This is a closet medical grow so budgetary concerns are an issue.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
Ok, just did another pH check. Iā??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/a...y/IMG_3829.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3828.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3827.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3822.jpg
Even though the water temp has been higher than optimum, the PPM's and pH have stabilized so Iā??m assuming the plants are happy.
Hereā??s my guard dog, ā??killerā?. Sheā??ll rip the ankles off of any man that comes near my garden ;-)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3819.jpg
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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 ā?? 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. Hereā??s how they look:
Blue Dream #1 and #2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3830.jpg
Blue Dream #1: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3831.jpg
Blue Dream #2: http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3832.jpg
Blue Dream #3 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3835.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3836.jpg
GDP #3 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3833.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3834.jpg
GDP #2 (2 pics): http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3837.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3838.jpg
I forgot to take pics of my GDP#1 but Ill post some when i get home later tonight.
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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 ;-)
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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!!
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
END OF DAY 3
So I got home and checked on my babies. They all appear to be slowly
growing in size. I canā??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/a...y/IMG_3839.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3840.jpg
Blue Dream #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3841.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3842.jpg
Blue Dream #3 (2 Pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3845.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3846.jpg
GDP #3 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3843.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3844.jpg
GDP #2 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3849.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3850.jpg
GDP #1 (2 pics)
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3847.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/IMG_3856.jpg
Iā??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. Iā??m hoping thatā??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 80ā??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 70ā??s water for about 12- 16 of those so maybe itā??s enough.
Finally, I dropped my pH tester and broke it, but not before testing
each bucket. The pH had risen from 5.9 ā?? 6.2 to 6.5 ā?? 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. Itā??s hard to see ti in the pictures, but the stems are starting to turn purple
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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?
DWC GDP/Blue Dream grow log.
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.