Same strain...same nutrients....same systems.....WAY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS!!!

[ThePizzaMan]

OK ICMAG...

This is hard to admit...but I think I am questioning my skills as a grower. Maybe everyone goes through something like this...and it has finally hit me.

I have recently set someone else up that had no previous experience growing. I have set them up with pretty much the same exact setup that I have...dual 5X5 tents...1000w in each tent...ebb and flood in hydroton...H&G nutrients...same strain....everything almost 90% the same animal.

We are just harvesting now...and maybe a month ago I saw his plants looking different than mine. They were tighter with more frost early on...extremely sticky..covered in frost. I just chalked it up to different environment...and that mine wouldn't be that far off. So I trimmed a bit of mine..and showed it to my friend...and he had a real problem with the quality of mine(granted it was small popcorn..that had been quick dried).

My friend says that it is because I have a lack of attention to detail...an I don't know how to be thorough in my work...or do things "properly".....

I think it is obviously the difference in the environments...maybe difference in water quality..as I am on city..and he has a well.

Has anyone gone through this...what can I do to solve the problem....where do I even begin?

Any help or incite would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys

TpM

 

[mr cheese]

Water quality makes one hell of a differance belive me!!

Iv moved to a new area with poor quality water.. .4 ec wheir my old water was 0 ec, maybe. 2 at times but normaly 0.. the differance is shocking to be honest, ok now iv got used to it but deff not as good as with quality water..

If you can get a R.O system to clean your water then if your bud stil isn't as good as your mates then his jst a better grower im affraid.. all best...c

 

[Kcar]

His temps may have been different, too. Or maybe your right. Do you measure with
measuring cups and teaspoons, Droppers and things and keep good track of your PH and PPM? Or do you just pour some in? Or it could be temps. Or water. Or his bulb/ballast is newer. Could be some VooDoo shit, too. I don't know. Man, am I high...

 

[ThePizzaMan]

His temperatures are right where they need to be...and he has thermometers hanging everywhere...I have never had that. That is something that I need to take care of. I do not use a ppm meter...and that is also something I need to get...however I am not using one over there either...and I am the one mixing the nutes. The only things that I think it is...are

1)temperature
2)water quality
3)newer bulbs

I guess those things can add up exponentially to poorer quality bud...even though I have not harvested yet..and my sample of the popcorn was quick dried on top of my t5 for a few days...

his buds are lime green..frosty...stinky...dank.

Mine are darker..fluffier...and much less frost covered. I do not think I have a bug problem..but everyone once in a while I do see some little gnats by my light. Maybe I need some gnatrol?

It's funny..because I have been trying to get better at this...and it seems like I am getting worse as a grower...how is that even possible?

How can I teach something to someone...be part of something..and have it be awesome...and then turn around and do the same thing and suck at it.

Very frustrating.

I also think I am not being clean enough in my own area. I need to start spraying my room with physan...mop the floors once a week? What procedures do you guys have set up to keep your rooms clean and sterile.

I am considering going back to coco....although the ease of hydro is fantastic...it honestly has been nothing but a poor experience for me. Maybe I have some weird fungus or bacteria I am dealing with that he is not? I know I have had cloner problems....and those problems could have found their way to my flowering areas...and all other areas for that matter.

Cheers


TpM

 

[habeeb]

It's funny..because I have been trying to get better at this...and it seems like I am getting worse as a grower..."

great statement.. I think sometimes striving to hard ends up us behind

 

[DimeBag65]

if your temperature is too high it will cause your buds to be airier, and fewer trichomes, water quality can be an issue.. also you will probly want to check your ppm, ph, and relative humidity of your growing room...

there are other details that are important that you get a feel for after a while that some people seem to forget about...

having your plants at an optimal state before flipping into flower is important.. you mentioned his nugs were denser, and more trichome covered early on... THAT is a good sign for what he is doing... i can usually tell within the first 3 weeks if its going to be a great batch or mediocre... you need your plants to bang in the beginning of flowering..


im sure others will have input on this subject

 

[dasher65]

Beginners luck!!!

Being a first grow he's checking them every day, nurturing them and sending out good vibes. Plenty of talk here about the benefits of human/plant interaction. I suspect even his presence would increase the CO2 levels around the plants.

Maybe it's the kick in the pants you need to get back to basics and develop the relationship back with your plants. Good vibes do give good returns.

 

[TribalSeeds]

You answered your own question. I was going to say lower your temps below 75, but then you said you dont even monitor. You need to know temp and rh in every part of your room.
Then you dropped them bomb shell that you dont have a TDS meter. I stopped there, but hopefully you monitor your PH?
Now, before you tell me how bad ass you are... your friend said you dont pay attention to detail and hes right! If you look around here the best growers keep logs from all their grows(some even use the data in excel) to dial in their strains and rooms.
With all that said... The day after you drop your temps you will notice the difference in smell

 

[Grizz]

dude dont stress, my best friend grows the same strains i have, he doesent ph his city water, waters everyother day ( bone dry ). same nutes. same ec. same temps, same coco. his shit always is tighter, prettyer, yields more, go figure, just strive for perfection and do what works for you.

 

[Bobbles]

Temps and water quality make a huge difference. You could argue those two factors are the most important in a grow. Also well water has additional nutrients in it that typically is not in city water, additionally you probably have fluoride, chloramines, chlorine, or a combination of all that is not present in well water.

You can never stop learning about growing, its an ongoing process. Farmer all my life and I still don't know everything. My dad farmed his whole life and knew nothing about mycorrhizal fungi. Just goes to show you that when you think you know everything, you really know nothing. Take this as an opportunity to get back to the basics.

Peace

 

[dalilguy]

I'll start with some fresh horti bulb's and definitely keep an eye on your enviro and control what you can.

 

[ThePizzaMan]

God I love you guys. I do check and monitor my ph....but I have always went by the manufacturer feeding schedule. I will get some new bulbs...maybe go back to coco or soiless mix. I have been digging the EWC tea...and the plants seem to respond very well to it...even in hydro.

I will also be getting some digital temp and rh monitors......I have no idea what my temps are at canopy level....and of coarse...it is the basics that I am overlooking. Back to basics.

If anyone has any other experiences with this...I would love to hear it.

Cheers

TpM

 

[GMax]

God I love you guys. I do check and monitor my ph....but I have always went by the manufacturer feeding schedule. I will get some new bulbs...maybe go back to coco or soiless mix. I have been digging the EWC tea...and the plants seem to respond very well to it...even in hydro.

I will also be getting some digital temp and rh monitors......I have no idea what my temps are at canopy level....and of coarse...it is the basics that I am overlooking. Back to basics.

If anyone has any other experiences with this...I would love to hear it.

Cheers

TpM

depending on which nutes you use...most manufacturs feeding schedules tend to tell you to feed too hot.. the more nutes you use the more $ they make..

learn to read your plants instead of a schedule and you will see a big difference in quality

 

[BrownThumb]

Self-doubt sucks, I know personally. You'll get your mojo back, just do what you do and it will come.

 

[ThePizzaMan]

Update: Just trimmed up some nice nugs that had been air dried properly...not bottom flarf that was quick dried. the buds were nice....I am growing Rez's SFV X Chem..which is my keeper strain. It was greasy, and funky, and dense. Comparable...and I personally think it is just as good..if not better. My colors are nicer...and extremely greasy.

So now that I feel a lot better...

Anyone want to instruct me on how to use a TDS meter. I had one when I first started...and then stopped using it when I started using the H&G product lineup. How does one dial in a strain? Start with half the recommended dosage...an continue to up the strength until they start to burn...that is when you know to lower the ppm's? I am familiar with ph up - ppm drops...than it is to little ppm's and you can technically feed higher dosage next run? or next rez change..

I am following the H&G chart..except I lower the base nutes when I use Koolbloom instead of shooting powder starting week 6...I flush for 10 days...and have been taking this strain to 63 days.

Cheers

TpM

 

[TribalSeeds]

It should take 3 or more runs with the same strain before you really have the information needed to start to dial it in. Your room conditions would have to be constant for all runs to get accurate info.
One good method I read about was running it at max ppm and noting weight and everything. Then running it really low and then running it again in the middle. From there you can decide to go between the high or low depending on yield results.

So youre using Soil a/b? I use Flakes and at full strength I would have a super low PH from the base nutes. I dont use their additives, just the koolbloom's and a little hydroplex.
Are you using powder Koolbloom? Have you experimented with the flush times with the koolbloom before deciding on 10 days?
This is my first run with H&G and also my first time using KB powder. H&G says to flush for 3 days using their nutes, but if I use other nutes I might need to flush longer. Im wondering if thats propaganda or if I need to flush longer because I used KB powder.

 

[Trewarin]

Same strain...

What about pheno-type?

 

[ThePizzaMan]

It should take 3 or more runs with the same strain before you really have the information needed to start to dial it in. Your room conditions would have to be constant for all runs to get accurate info.
One good method I read about was running it at max ppm and noting weight and everything. Then running it really low and then running it again in the middle. From there you can decide to go between the high or low depending on yield results.

So youre using Soil a/b? I use Flakes and at full strength I would have a super low PH from the base nutes. I dont use their additives, just the koolbloom's and a little hydroplex.
Are you using powder Koolbloom? Have you experimented with the flush times with the koolbloom before deciding on 10 days?
This is my first run with H&G and also my first time using KB powder. H&G says to flush for 3 days using their nutes, but if I use other nutes I might need to flush longer. Im wondering if thats propaganda or if I need to flush longer because I used KB powder.

Tribal: Thanks for the tips on dialing in...I really have to start reading AK's threads..he has like 10 of them...lol. Thanks for the tips!!!

I am using aqua flakes...with all products except for foliar and shooting powder..because I thought it was just way too expensive per run compared to the KB powder. I actually have never experemented with flush times...but I thought that 10 days would be a minimum. I have used drip clean...and done the whole 3 day flush thing....I was not impressed. My bud burns much cleaner with a 10 day flush. I am using RO water this round...last round I used my nasty city water and I swear I could taste that fucking water in the bud. LAst time I ever do that. FYI..I plan on running some PBP with the additives. I may go back to soiless...I have been dreaming about it...never thought that would have happened.

Cheers

TpM

 

[ThePizzaMan]

Same strain...

What about pheno-type?

Sorry if I didn't clarify...We both have the same cut.

Cheers

TpM

 

[Guest 315072]

environment every time bro.. str8 up.. get ur temps and humidity right. and pay more attention to keeping ur shit clean.. ur inviting in bugs.. when u keep it a mess..

bugs could fuck shit up beyond belief.. but honestly.. water is a big one.. if ur nutes are getting killed from the shit put in city water.. he could be having better results cause his nutes arent being killed from chlorine or chlorimine