My 1st Grow...Help Please! Gettin my Hands Dirty...

[bongcritter]

Hey there BACKCOUNTRY!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Went out today and watered her with another 2 gallons, this time I only used 1 and a half tablespoons of Pure Blend Pro Bloom though..

I also did a bit of weeding yesterday and laid a little D-Earth (and then it rained making the shit almost worthless practically instantly...)

Still need to get some more different bug killing type stuff that is safe to use in flowering mode...

Also need to spray more liquid fence soon.

Heres the pics! I'm really enjoying this nice camera lately. Too bad it will be gone in a couple days and I'm back to my shitty one

and, I've developed magical floating water bottle irrigation!

Thanks for stopping by...any and all comments are greatly appreciated!!

 

[neongreen]

Coming along nicely bong. Congrats on the female

Keep this up and you'll have quite a bit more than 1 ounce I think!

 

[-StashBastard-]

Looking Good! Enjoying your thread.

Good luck making it through to harvest

 

[bongcritter]

Hi everyone!

neongreen - Thank you so much for the hopeful words!

StashBastard - thanks for stopping by!!

Been a bit busy with things lately so I haven't had the time for daily updates...But they should be coming now as I have some more free time ahead of me!

My main 3 concerns right now are:

1) Flushing - When do I start flushing? When do I stop feeding nutrients? I'm pretty sure I wanna do it 2 weeks beforehand...Do I use clearex? Or is that a no-no outdoors? I just wanna make sure I get all of the nutrients out of her before chopping time.

2) Frost - I am in the Northeast, so it frosts early here...However I'm not positive on the exact frost date...I think it could be anywhere from mid-September to early October historically...but it usually is in September I think...So I am afraid my buds are going to be extremely underdeveloped without enough time to fully mature...even after coming so far!!! But who knows...hoping for a warm fall.

Does a frost ruin a crop entirely?? Or just parts of it??? Frost advice would be great.

3) Bugs - they are a minor concern right now, but a concern nonetheless. I haven't been doing much for the bugs lately as I'm afraid to use almost anything as she is budding now. However, I noticed some minor leaf damage from bugs on the small incoming leaves forming around the buds...As long as they leave the buds alone I'll be alright I suppose...but I still should probably figure something out....Need to find some Sevin.

Advice on any of these 3 things would be AWESOME - they are causing a bit of concern!!!

Anyhow, on to the pics! She is getting tall and budding slowly but surely.

First off is a pic of the mini one I almost gave up on:

Some shots of my main plant: (taken a few days ago)

 

[Ickis]

Nice work bongcritter. I have been at this quite awhile in the outdoors in the northeast. I am in Pennsylvania where the average killing frost date is in Oct, my area is Oct 24. Yours is gonna be in October. Yes they can come in September but on average it is further in October for your area too. Look uo average frost date and then find it for your area. Sometimes frost and temp wise the northeast can go into November. The biggest worry isn't frost. It is cool, rainy weather that causes bud rot. It takes prolonged temps at 27 degrees to kill a pot plant. I have seen them in early October at 30 degrees and light snow on them and it does not kill them. I try to have my main crops be October 4th to 20th, Anything later is an experiment or a crap shoot to see if I can finish a haze. When picking a spot I always choose a spot that gets morning sun. You can rarely use full all day sun spots usually because they are out in the open. It is usually a choice betweem morning shade and then sun from 10a to dark or a spot with morning light sun and that shadows after 6 pm. Morning sun is better because it gets the dew off right away. Less time in contact with dampness is better. It also gets any light frost off a plant sooner.

Flushing can't really be done in the ground. I feed only fast acting ferts after August 15. I typically use MG or Shultz flowering ferts. I give each plant a gallon of full strength (1 tbs) a gallon around Sept 7 and half strength on Sept 20th. Then nothing until chop time. Also hanging a plant properly is a flush. When you chop it and hang it it is still trying to stay alive and make some seeds. It will use up much of whatever is in the stems and leaves in an effort to keep going. Hang them up but cut off every big leaf so they have to draw on the small ones. There are some people who will disagree but a plant does get a flush on a proper hang. If it gets dried in 3 days then no if it take 7 to 10 days yes. You can also chop a plant and stick the stalk in a bucket of water. It will stay alive and look fine for a while just like a cutting does. It can only suck water and it does get a nice extra flush.

When plants are flowering outdoors bugs can't do much damage. The sticky buds protect themselves and there is so much leaf even if they all are chewed up with bug holes there is still more leaf energy than the plant needs to grow.

You need to dodge mold, the law and rippers from here on out. A deer could be a problem but typically they don't like sticky buds to eat. They might take a test taste chomp.

In 6 or 7 weeks you will be harvesting. Frost and bugs won't stop you.

 

[bongcritter]

Hi there Ickis - thanks a bunch for the helpful post!!

I sure hope you are right about the frost...The first frost is the last week of September according to the site I looked at, and thats for the town 30 minutes south of here...I am in a kind of mountain valley, so it may get a bit colder quicker here than in Pennsylvania...but I hope you are right!!!

Besides the morning sun idea, what can I do to prevent bud mold???

I have been using Botanicare's Pure Blend Pro nutrients..not sure if these are "fast acting" or not, but I will probably stop feeding at Sept 15th-20th like you mentioned.

When you say "then nothing until chop time" do you really mean nothing? Or do you water them with regular water? Or do you just let them go?

I will do what I can to hang the plant and flush it properly, I like the idea and I will try it!!!

The words about bugs and deer not liking my plant is hopeful! I sure hope you are right

Thanks again Ickis, K+!

 

[neongreen]

One thing you could try to protect them from frost bong, is to keep a close eye on the forecast, and when a frost is expected, go out there and cover them for the night. You can buy "fleeces" for this purpose I believe. Mold could be just as much if not more of a problem. Generally most people harvest at the first sign of mold, even if they are not done.

Since you don't know the flowering time of the strain you're growing, it'll be down to luck if they finish in time. If they don't, find yourself a fast flowering strain for next season.

Just plain water for the final weeks if you are flushing. IMO don't bother though... flushing is mostly myth... have a read of this thread: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=132211

Try and get some neem for the bugs, but you want to stop spraying when you get close to flower, and avoid the buds so you don't encourage mold.

 

[bongcritter]

Hi again neongreen, thanks for stopping by!!!

I like your idea of covering her, but unfortunately during the most crucial moments of her life I am going to be too far away to perform such a daily maintenance...or else I would do it...I still may make the hike to cover her if I get desperate!!!

I do have neem, just have been avoiding using it since she's been budding...I'm especially skeptical now that bud rot is my #1 enemy from here on out baiscally...So i gotta do what I can to prevent that (no ideas...but I'll hold off on the neem I suppose...)

I'm not sure when exactly I'll stop feeding, but I'm still feeding every day...after this week feedings will not be as frequent. Probably will water her 1 or 2 times a week, hopefully she will be able to live on this in the later stages. I suppose early to mid september I will stop feeding nutes and just start with straight up water.

Thanks for the thread link, neongreen, interesting indeed...

Anyhow, i'm back to using my shitty old camera now unfortunately, so the detailed pics are gone =( Oh well...here she is!

The camera was dying so the pics really suck...better ones tomorrow I hope

Pics of the top of her:

I put a playing card near the top in order to show an idea of size...

Thanks for looking..I'm still stressing these last parts of her life, but I'm hoping all will be well...Hoping I can get away with watering 1-2 times a week during the last month of her life.

Feel free to post whatever!

 

[bongcritter]

Hello all!

She is growing fast and seems pretty healthy! Some bugs seem to be getting to her, but I guess it's hard to resist her smell!

I am kinda regretting not topping her...she is getting TALL! I don't want her to fall over, and she's outgrown her stake! I don't think I'm gonna add another one though.

I went ahead and cleared out a lot of the surrounding weeds. They were getting HUGE and actually blocking more sun than I realized! It's still a pretty well hidden spot, but I don't want these weeds to bring in bud mold or anything, and I read that clearing out surrounding things can help.

I am pretty much done with the D-Earth I think...I may lay it one or 2 more times but at this point I'm gonna let her just fend for herself...Is this a bad idea?

I may have put too much D-Earth down the whole season as its formed a kind of thick layer where I laid it of rubbery/silicon stuff. Some weeds still grow through it decently easy, though...I just don't want to introduce mold/fungus to my plant!

So heres the pics...Sorry my camera sucks

This was taken from the other side where I usually don't take pics from..thought the perspective change may be cool.

I'm using a dollar bill for size reference in these shots...you can faintly see the dollar bill in the top left part of the plant in this general shot:

And now just some other shots:

Thanks for looking...any and all comments and advice are always welcome!!!

 

[neongreen]

She'll be ok for support as long as that stake is in well

Spray neem now, and it will not encourage bud rot. It's when you get later on into flower and the buds get dense that it isn't advisable to get them wet. They will get wet anyway, from dew in the morning even if it does not rain. There's nothing you can do about it except to cut surrounding plants so that yours gets full sunlight first thing in the morning, but it's nothing to worry about just yet.

Cutting back surrounding vegetation will help in that respect, but if anything, by doing so, you are more likely to kick up mold/fungal spores that might affect your plants IMHO, although by doing it in early flower you shouldn't get any problems. I would say it's a good thing you did it now.

Nice work bong

 

[bongcritter]

Hi all, thanks for stoppin in.

Neongreen - thanks for the post! I am gonna hold off on the neem I think...just gonna let it go! Don't wanna risk getting anything that may cause rot into the buds....Though i did lay a little D-Earth today...almost done with it though.

I hope I don't have much mold problems. I really wanna make it to harvest so badly at this point! And tomorrow is September! The day is coming closer with every passing day.

I am going to be away from here on out, so she wont be getting fed as much. Probably will get watered anywhere from 1-3 times a week rather than once a day like I have been doing lately. I hope she's ok. I will also stop feeding nutes in a week or 2 most likely.

I'm noticing a pit of purple/pink tinting on the ends of stems near the fan leaf part...is this something to be concerned about or normal for flowering?

Well, here's the pics!

Top:

com

Haven't really seen any tricomes yet...but hopefully I see some on the leafs in the coming weeks!!!

Thanks for stoppin by!!!

 

[fisher15]

Plant seems healthy, B...nice looking stems. I wouldn't be concerned with the slight purping of the petioles. The stress now is normal, just make sure to puff a little extra after harvest

 

[bongcritter]

Hello all!

Thanks for stopping by fisher15!!! I will make sure to take a toke for her stress, and an extra for you and your badass inline bong!!!

This will be the first update in about 5 days...I have moved farther away from the grow location, so it is harder for me to get there.

Also, I am low on nutrients...very low! I probably only have enough to feed her about 2-3 more times. I hope she can survive on just water after that!

Thoughts?

She has gotten taller, but not sooo bad. I think resin production has began because there is a little twinkle to her going...Nothing too frosty yet. Anxiously awaiting!

Harvest date is set at Oct 3rd tentatively. Do you think this is going to be a premature harvest? Is it too close to frost? Any thoughts would be great.

Just waiting. She is actually turning into something that may be smokeable!!!

I'm excited. Can't wait til I can try a taste!!!

I wish my camera was good enough to actually get detailed shots...Unfortunately I get lots of bluriness. Oh well...Some are ok I guess.

Different angle:

Top:

Attempt at close up:

Lower, side branch:

Top cola, 20 for size reference:

A little lower:

Stem shot:

Thanks for looking!

 

[bongcritter]

Hi all!!!

I went and checked on her today and gave her a nice feeding of 2 gallons of water with 1.5 TBS of pure blend pro Bloom nutes in each...hope she likes it! I only have enough nutes for maybe 1-2 more feedings, then water for the rest of her life!

So she is getting pretty big, almost 6 feet tall now!! Unfortunately I didn't get pics today...but she isn't too diff from the pics above ^^^

I will get more soon!

There is some decent budding going on, even some purple/pinkish pistils, and some trichomes coming in!!!

I have run into 2 problems, would love help on each:

1) I noticed a white kinda stuff on many leaves throughout the plant....On a top leaf, majority on the middle leafs of the plant, and some on the lower end. Some of the white stuff is even close to the buds, so I'm not sure if its in there. Is this powder mildew? I will get pics soon, but my camera sucks so it'll be tough to clarify. I sprayed her down with water and the white stuff seemed to come off with water just fine. Is it something a bug left behind, or is it mold or powder mildew or what? Help would be awesome!!!

2) I saw on one of the lowest nodes the new bud leaves coming in are severely curved, I maybe even saw a very small web made across a leaf and bud site. Then I closely examined the underside of the bud site, and I saw a lots of little small black dot type things... I don thtink they are bugs but they could be, not sure...I gave it a good spray down of water...

I did a quick check of the rest of the plant and coudlnt find any black spots anywhere else....So should I cut this node off before it spreads? Should I let it go maybe itll go away?

I may get some GREENCURE soon... I hear that is good to have around...

besides that, things look good...but I would love some insight on these things!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[bongcritter]

Hello!

It's been a while since I remembered to take the camera out to the spot...A bit harder for me to get to it these days, I'm busier and farther from it!

Still trying to set a decent harvest date. It's looking like Oct 3rd, I'm hoping this isn't too early. Any thoughts would be awesome.

I'm still seeing some of the white stuff on my leaves, and it is appearing in random spots. Seems to be getting less, but its still there and not disappearing. I think its powdery mildew, not sure...I want to get some Greencure for it perhaps but I can't find it anywhere. Been spraying her with water in attempts to wash the white stuff off.

Onto the pics!

1 gallon jug for reference at base of plant:

20 dollar bill on fan leaf for reference:

Thanks for looking...I'd love advice or comments...Take it easy!!

 

[HerbGlaze]

BONGCRITTER!
Bro, sorry I bailed on you..

Your plants look wonderful keep it up!

 

[nomaad]

I haven't checked in in a minute... glad to see your lady looking like she's gonna provide you with some nice nug. its been battle, but I think you're going to have a happy ending. right on.

 

[bongcritter]

Hey HerbGlaze!!! Thanks for comin by man! Haven't seen you in a while. How are your plants doin??? Wish I could give rep...Won't let me give you anymore!!

nomaad - its been awesome to watch your crop and compare it to my measly setup. I hope you are enjoying some of your amazing smoke as I type this. Nothin' but positive vibes your way wish I could give you more rep also...wont let me!!

Well, I checked on her today and gave her 2 gallons of straight water. Been giving nothing but straight water for the past 2-3 weeks, so I guess that will be a sufficient flush. I just ran out of nutrients ( a whole $20 bottle of pure plend pro bloom for one plant?? I may have overdone it, lol ) So she gets a water bath.

She seems to be doing well, the white stuff seems to be coming back , and kinda bad on one branch, but its not terrible I suppose..I wish I knew more about it...I think it's powdery mildew??? I've been spraying it off with water in hopes it helps...

I don't think I have any other concerns besides cutting her down too early...I also am hoping I can put her in a closet to dry without being around to turn the buds for 3 days...if I just hang them all I don't have to turn the buds right? Because I may have to be out of town for the first 3-4 days of drying period...for better or worse!

anyway, onto the pics!

smoke on!! Harvest date tentively set at Oct 4th....too early? Or too late?? (worried about frost)

 

[MrMcBean]

i wouldnt take it all on oct 4.th.. Looks to me like it could even go 2-3 weeks into october.

Watch out for mold if you leave it.. I would harvest the fattest buds when your ready and leave the rest for when nature is ready

 

[Megas]

I tried to search but whats the deal with the copper? I'm guessing its to keep animals away but I'm curious?