gianca, first of all I have to congratulate you on your incredible-looking plants. They are some serious beauties, and are beginning to look even better in their early flowering stage. I can't wait for a smoke report on them, as I haven't heard anything about the Grape Ape x NL. I've heard and seen a lot about them separately, but never about a cross of the 2.

I wanted to try to touch on a few of your questions which I have noted along the way - I reviewed your thread from start to finish throughout my morning, where I've had time. It's a great thread, and it should serve you well on future grows to be able to look back at it to refresh your memory on certain issues.

My guess on the purple spot at the stem base of your fan leaves is that it is a genetic trait of the grape ape that carried over on the cross - just a guess. Also, I think you can slowly increase your bloom nutes every other watering, which should serve to pack on a bit more weight to your buds from here to harvest. I couldn't find an answer to your bug question. The picture does not meet my understanding of any of the common houseplant pests such as thrips, whiteflies, leafminers, mites, etc. It's a nasty lookin' dude, but I doubt it will do much damage, or will be anything for you to worry about, unless it brings a swarm of its friends with it and they all dive onto your plants for a buffet style hogdown. And, as for the bud development, my understanding is as stated by greengoddess420, the nodes become tighter and shorter, depending on the strain, with the resultant "bud" being a tight collection of calyxes from which spill the pistils/hairs.

I like your style of growing in the back yard. My outdoor growing takes place in my backyard as well. I have some houseplants, tomatoes, and peppers to provide some "camoflauge," but I figure if it is grown out in the open, people are less likely to suspect what's really going on. I'm surprised your neighbors knew what the heck you were/are doing, but am happy for you that you have your licensure in place. It bugs the hell out of me that there are people that feel the need to stick their noses where they simply don't belong. Why people can't "live and let live" baffles me.

I wish you continued success on your grow, and look forward to seeing your successful harvest pictures with weight and smoke reports. Be good out there!