Growing in Costa Rica

[OjoRojo420]

Hello friends,

Three years ago I had the chance of ordering some White Widow and Bubblegum seeds from Europe.

Out of some purple Bubblegum and lanky White Widow came a plant that I"ve kept as a mother.

Some pics from last run:

 

[OjoRojo420]

Since I moved to a new location I had to start from scratch. Now, things a little more presentable and I wish to document my girls progress form early flowering to... smoking a bowl.

 

[OjoRojo420]

I work with an umbrella type reflector and 600W HPS , digital ballast and GIB bulbs. My medium is simple Floragard soil.

My room exhausts to the roof via a DIY extractor and low tech odor control.

 

[osecretgardeno]

Good stuff man.

What are the cannabis laws like in Costa Rica?

Peace, sg

 

[OjoRojo420]

So far plants in small pots with just Floragard soil are doing great. I added some 10-30-20 at 800ppm / 6ph to set bud site and did some foliar feeding of 12/60/00 at 400ppm / 7ph. Not at the same time of course. After foliar feeding I re spray plants with just water several hours later to dilute any residue and help plant absorb any "left overs".

Light cycle is 11/13.

As known by many of you, Sativa dominant strains respond nicely to small pots. This also helps control the overall growth which in Sativas tend to be a problem indoors.

Since flowering is significantly longer with Sativas it is essential to ensure long term root health and minimal borg presence.

Small pots will be dry about 48 hours after hand watering which kills any larvae in the upper soil.

Another aspect is to avoid salt build up on the medium. I tackle this by using relatively mild nutrients and giving the plant at 100% run off at each watering.
Easy to do with small pots.

 

[fred b]

hey!
nice stuff there! the new ladies look abit stretched though, is that intentional ?

i am going to visit costa rica & guatemala with my gf for the first time next year in january. gonna be awesome I hope

bet you love it there don't you ?

greets
fred b

 

[OjoRojo420]

Good stuff man.

What are the cannabis laws like in Costa Rica?

Google?

 

[OjoRojo420]

water is good as it comes from the facet;
Ph is 7 and PPM around 50.

In order to lower Ph to around 6ph I use a fermented lemonade. It is nothing but saving used lemons and place them in a container with water.

I have found that it works extremely well. It also has loads of good bacteria, fungi and nutrients.

Finally, this lemonade tea seems to keep fungus gnats and other root critters away. For thousands of years lemon has been heralded as a natural antiseptic and health tonic.

 

[OjoRojo420]

Hello folks,

Today was time to do some hand watering and foliar feeding again before buds get denser.

Watering included a dose of 10-30-20 at 800PPM / 6ph and foliar feeding was Potassium and 12-60-0 at 400PPM / 7ph.

As always I added the Lemonade tea to lower PH from 7 to 6.

Here are some pics of buds and overall growth status.

Light cycle was switched to 10/14 to accelerate flowering and slow a little vertical growth.

 

[OjoRojo420]

Tall plants with thin stems and heavy colas are a recipe for disaster if not stable.

In order to add some stability I use a simple method similar to radio antennas.

To save words I rather show you what I do to correct that problem:

 

[OjoRojo420]

So far so good, the plants are starting to stop stretching as flowering progresses.

Please forgive the yellowish pictures courtesy of Mr. HPS.

I would love doing the same op but utilizing a 1000W MH, it would be golden.

 

[OjoRojo420]

Some fungus gnats were seen flying around the garden so I decided not to take any chances.

I've chosen a biological control system based on Bacillus Thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis. Better knows as B.t.i. Briquets.

This is how its done:

Half briquet is dissolved in little more than a gallon of chlorine free water (Chlorine will kill the bacteria).

Then apply the mix directly into each pot. I make sure the soil is not too dry before application to ensure bacteria thrives.

Following are some pictures.

Manufacturer is: Summit Chemical Co.

 

[OjoRojo420]

Vertical growth has practically stopped and buds are getting denser.

Sat dom plants tend to be "late bloomers" so the must dramatic growth will come in the following weeks (God willing).

 

[OjoRojo420]

Today was time to water plants (plain ph adjusted water) and apply again some 12-60-0 foliar feeding at 400 ppm/7ph.

Buds are starting to "get there".

 

[OjoRojo420]

From now on we need all the Lumens we can have...

LOL

Blinders away!

And something from the last batch...

 

[OjoRojo420]

A peek of things to come:

"Clonomatic" and rooted clones waiting to become mothers...
I use straight Coco for cloning with a 25W CFL.

In this work one needs to plan at least two harvests ahead.

During the day, rooted clones stay in the flowering room with the big gals.

 

[OjoRojo420]

Today I watered plants (they are getting thirsty) with some 12-60-0 at 1000 ppm / 6ph. This is as heavy as I go with Sativas and my goal is to increase bud development etc.

As for lights, I placed my 150W LED laterally to help overall bud development.

I plan to rotate the LED from on side to the other each day. Wish I had a second LED unit but it'll have to do for now.

Finally, now that stretching has almost stopped I went to 11/14 to help overall development.

Thank you!

 

[headband 707]

Damn bro I want to live in Costa Rica lol I guess you can't take her outside?? what are the pot laws there like? plant looks great BTW lol. Is there good bud on the streets or is it expensive? peace out Headband707

 

[OjoRojo420]

Sorry for the back to back postings...

Now is updated and can go on normal.

Thanks for your patience.

 

[redspaghetti]

looks great ojo bro!

hows that LED working out for ya?

cheers,
red.