1st Post - 1st Outdoor Grow - Mighty Freeze

[jakezking]

I am a fairly new member here. I have lurked about, reading and digesting as much of the information on here that I could within the past week or 2 that I have been a member of this great forum. I will try not to bug anyone with a bunch of questions, and along this line I figured one of the best ways to learn while not stepping on anyone's toes would be through posting and sharing my own log.

I am a writer by trade, which will help everyone understand that this log and my other posts within and without this forum are works of fiction and/or a part of my research methodology in preparation for a work of fiction.

With that stated, let's get on with the show, shall we? I came across a nice lil' bean from a fantastic plant a friend of mine grew and which he named "The Mighty Freeze." It amazed me along with most of my friends with its strength and vitality. It provided much more of an uplifting "high" versus a "couchlock" quality, and was pleased to find a bean from it.

On a whim, I placed the bean within a moistened paper towel, left it in a warm, dark place, and voila - several days later I found about an inch-long root. I plugged my lil' rooting friend into a "jiffy pop" starter on or about May 2, 2008, which I am considering my DAY 1.

Once Freeze sprouted cotyldons, I placed her in about 3/4 to 1/4 Miracle Grow potting soil with Perllite. I just plugged her jiffy pop starter into the soil, cutting the jiffy pop's netting to allow her freedom.

I have included links to 4 pictures of her, which depict her on DAY 13, if my math is correct - which it may very well not be.

I will try to keep up with this log the best I can, and I look forward to everyone's comments. Please keep in mind, this is my very first attempt, and I do not have any green on any of my fingers. Any and all assistance will be appreciated, as this forum is filled with a wealth of knowledge and kindness. I look forward to getting to know many of you better.

Enjoy the pictures.


1 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
2 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
3 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
4 pictures from flowers photos on webshots

jakezking Reviewed by jakezking on 05-15-2008. 1st Post - 1st Outdoor Grow - Mighty Freeze I am a fairly new member here. I have lurked about, reading and digesting as much of the information on here that I could within the past week or 2 that I have been a member of this great forum. I will try not to bug anyone with a bunch of questions, and along this line I figured one of the best ways to learn while not stepping on anyone's toes would be through posting and sharing my own log. I am a writer by trade, which will help everyone understand that this log and my other posts Rating: 5

[jakezking]

As you will see in the 4th picture, and perhaps the 3rd, there are a couple of small tan spots on a leaf on the left side of the plant. I know it may be hard to tell from the picture, but does it appear to anyone to be a possible pest issue?

[b0n3ZA]

Wow..

First off, excellently written.
I really enjoyed that, thank you

Plants look great, lovely quality photos!
Can't wait for the rest of this log!

peace

[jakezking]

It looks like the forum had a bit of a hiccup with people losing some posts from yesterday. At first I thought it may have been something I said or did, as I had only checked my thread, but I noticed there were several threads I visited yesterday that were also reset. It's strange when things like this happen - sometimes it makes you aware of how much you appreciate something. I was just thinking that I have taken this forum for granted - already, when I've only been here for a couple of weeks. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the person(s) responsible for starting and maintaining this great forum where people can share their experiences with others. This virtual community is truly a great place - Thanks!

An update on the Freeze - I thought I would give you the information from yesterday on the Freeze. It was Day 15 from rooting, and she received a terrible beating from nearly incessant rains of Thursday and Friday. During a bit of a break in the rain on Thursday, May 15, 2008, I noticed her pot was not providing adequate drainage, so I transplanted her into a better draining pot, while mixing in some new Miracle Grow Organic Soil and Perllite since the soil was a bit thick. I didn't want her roots to be damaged by placing them back in such thick soil.

Since the transplant of Thursday, the Freeze seemed to really like her new pot, as even with all of the rains of later Thursday and Friday, May 16, 2008, her soil was draining well; she remained in an upright position throughout the rains, despite having a few leaves damaged. The pictures shared below show the leaf damage. After the rains of yesterday, Friday, I thought the Freeze could use a bit of company - I don't want her to develop an "Only Child" Complex, so I surrounded her with my other house plants. These house plants are in need of nutrients, so while feeding them I figured the Freeze could use a bit.

Since the Freeze is in Miracle Grow soil and since she is still quite young, I didn't want to feed her too much, so I diluted a few nutrients to about 1/4 strength and fed her. She seems to be doing well today. The nutrients I added are:

Miracle Grow Organic Care Blood Meal
Miracle Grow Organic Care Bone Meal
Superthrive

I also noticed a few holes in the Freeze's leaves, which I concluded were the result of insects getting the munchies. Although I'm all about and completely understand the munchies, I can't have any insects munching down on the Freeze, so I sprayed her pretty good, both tops and bottoms of her leaves, with Shultz Multi-purpose Garden Insect Killer. Hopefully, such spray will prevent any further insect issues. You can see the holes in the pictures, along with a slime stream from one of the cotyldons to the soil - maybe from a snail or slug? Even though the slime stream with the rain drops, as seen in picture 3 I think, looks pretty cool, I had to nip the snail activity in the bud - I'm hoping the above spray will also keep the snails away.

Alright, I think everyone should be back up to speed from yesterday's post loss. As before, I look forward to the comments and advice. I lost a few comments yesterday, which I hope to see replaced by even more. As this is my first ever grow, setting aside a plant I attempted to grow back in college - many moons ago - I can use all of the assistance and support I can get.

Without further ado, here are the pictures from yesterday, May 16, 2008 - DAY 15 since Freeze's rooting.


1 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
2 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
3 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
4 pictures from flowers photos on webshots
5 pictures from flowers photos on webshots

[jakezking]

Well, 1 of my dogs dug into the Freeze today while I was away. The Freeze wasn't hurt too badly, I don't believe. Part of her root system may have been ripped apart, but a significant portion remains. I eased her back into her pot, making sure she was secure. I gave my dogs a good verbal lashing, hoping to scare them away from the houseplants and the Freeze. Strangely enough, only the Freeze was disturbed. It seems like animals have a desire for the herb too, eh?

Hopefully the Freeze is done with the drama for awhile. It seems like she has encountered adversity at every turn. Enduring the monsoon of the past few days and now the dogs. But, I am probably her worst enemy at this point since I am such a newbie to growing. Hopefully she will make it - against all odds.

[cthulhu]

looks nice and healthy, but unfortunately there seems to be a problem with the second set of pics you posted. looks like you're around the same stage as I am.

good luck, and keep us updated. :rastasmoke:

[jakezking]

cthulhu, thanks for your post, my friend. My post in your log was deleted the other day during the forum issues. I'll keep an eye on your log as well. I just saw the problem with the webshots picture post - I'm hoping Webshots is just having some problems, and that my pictures have not been deleted. If they have been, then hopefully I'll be getting my post count up so I won't have to worry about off-forum picture posting.

Today was a nice, sunny day for the Freeze. She seems to be doing well after her replanting following the labrador incident. Hopefully she'll be free of further drama.

[Technique2]

From what I saw so far, your plants WERE doing fine. Sucks about the Lab. getting into mischief. Also, writer by trade eh? Well I am a writer by nature.:thumbsup: Enjoy it? hmmm, well let's just say I am VERY crafty with the linguistics.

I hope you get to 50 posts ASAP so you can display your images similar to my Log. I think the "Vets" here REALLY appreciate the simplicity of viewing with no extra clicks involved.

I too like you am VERY grateful of the wonderful people who maintain/manage this forum, as well as being thankful of the GREAT people patronizing the forums.:thumbsup:

Good growing dude.

[jakezking]

Alright, as it appears the old host I had chosen for my log pictures deleted my pictures, so I have chosen a new host I found others within this board use. I hope this host does not delete these, as I like most people choose to follow logs in large part due to the incredible pictures.

To catch everyone up on my past pictures that were deleted, I have posted links below. As you will note, these pictures are from Day 13 and Day 15.


Day 13







Day 15

[jakezking]

Alright, I finally squared away the pictures above to show only the thumbnails, linking to the actual pictures. Man, I feel like I have accomplished a bunch this morning already - a great way to start the day following a night where I smoked so much I forgot to turn off my sprinkler, thereby flooding my front yard. Wow!

On with the narrative regarding the Freeze. Day 29 was yesterday, and I have been derelict with regard to this log, so I decided to provide a bit of an update. Please forgive my lack of recent updates and time on the board - life has been busy. Luckily, the busy is getting much better than it has been over the past few months.

You will notice the Freeze is getting a bit bushier, leading me to spend more time with her. I feel like she has made it over somewhat of a hump, and she is now a real life plant. I love babies, but I really love when a baby is old enough to show his/her own personality - I feel this is the stage my Freeze is entering, and I cannot wait to watch her development from day to day.

The Freeze is in a nice sized pot for the time being. She is being watered every 2 to 3 days, including within the water some Superthrive, which she seems to like. I had attempted to introduce some Bonemeal and Bloodmeal, but these nutrients in addition to her Miracle Grow soil burned off the first node of leaves. I live and I learn. The Freeze now only receives water and Superthrive.

Now, a question - I have read that you cannot determine the sex of a plant until flowering starts at the 12/12 cycle, which will be a couple of months. But, I swear you will be able to see pistils on the Freeze. I took a few up close pictures to show the long, yellowish-white tentacles popping out the top of the Freeze. Are these in fact pistils which indicate a female plant?

Luckily my dogs have not shown any more interest in the Freeze following their having knocked her over a few times. I thought they may have stunted her growth, but she seems to be doing pretty well. She is receiving a great deal of direct sunlight for the first 10 hours of the day or so, with indirect sunlight for about another 5 hours or so.

I look forward to comments and suggestions regarding my care of the Freeze. And, I hope someone can answer my question about the possibility of the above-described "tentacles" being pistils, thereby indicating the Freeze is in fact a girl.

Thanks for following my log, and enjoy the eye candy.

Day 29