Team Microbe's Quest into True Living Organics (2014)

[silver hawaiian]

 

[Team Microbe]

I´m gonna lurk in the back and learn a few tricks.
First i´m copycat that sound proof box Not really, it´s just that i´m making one quite similiar, cool to know that you´re having good results with yours.
Very clean&tidy, nothing like around here.
Thanks for sharing it and please keep up the green work

sounds good man, glad to have ya! The box is so key isnt it?! More effective and less expensive than mufflers, plus theyre fun as hell to build. Well... pretty much anythign in the grow room is fun as hell to build (except screwing in those stupid fuckin hooks to hang your lights from lol).

The room looks great and the plants look great. I also like the style involved, easy on the eyes. This is my first thread subscription, think its gonna be a good one, thanks.

I also top and tie, a bit different but cant wait to see how this goes. I do it for a few reasons, keep the plants short and open up the middle but also my plants are fairly set in place so when I tie down it is also to fill an open space in the canopy.

gonna check in often.

thanks dude, and welcome! My garden is also my Zen so I like to keep it looking nice as well as maintain cleanliness as much as possible. The panda film is a main tool in my arsenal, shit is awesome for keeping a clean environment!

I've always been a practicer of topping, but this run I wanted to try main-lining to see what it did for me. Idk if I'll do it for indoor runs unless I have extra bud laying around and can afford the added 2-3 week veg time. It's mainly for outdoor plants that need a good foundation to hold up huge buds come fall, now that I'm thinking about it. BUT, that doesn't go to say that it can and will work indoors!

sounds like you know what's good, filling up that canopy is key aint it? I may or may not continue to main-line indoors after this, we'll see on my final outcomes though....

 

[Team Microbe]

Transplant Day

Transplant Day

Time to transplant the girls into TGA soil (7 gal fabric pots) and perform the 2nd tie down. I wanna throw up some main-lining porn first before I show you the transplant pics:

Now the transplant:

TGA soil feels so good! Perfect consistency IMO...
I hit em with a 30% SS base, will top-dress if they need it in flower though

NugBuckets removes all fan leaves, but I left these on because I know how vital they are to a number of processes... photosynthesis, sugar storage, cO2 production, and more. Oh and I remember reading in Ed Rosenthal's book that lower fan leaves aid in root development, while middle and upper fans aid in flower development. The fan leaves were perpendicular to the mains so I just tied em off to the side so they'd still be useful... that and to increase air flow through my veg tent pretty much...



I also added some Dr. Earth compost as a top-dress (will also be adding shredded mulch tomorrow) to keep the majority of the micro-beasty heard on the soil's surface from drying out and dying off... bringing me back to square one. It's crazy how much of a difference this makes in organic soil, I highly recommend it! Mulch & compost FTW.

My dog ate some chunks laying on the carpet when I wasn't looking... gotta love pet friendly products!!! phew.... lol

now all we do is wait for the flip....




Stay tuned for updates on the General Organics vs. TGA Super Soil side-by-side with DNA's Limited edition SnowLAnd (Snowcap x LA conf.) or as I like to call it, "Snow in LA"

 

[paulo73]

Man, i´m looving the extreme bondage!
If i can ask where are you tying the strings? By looking at the shots it seems the strings are popping out from the soil...

 

[Team Microbe]

Man, i´m looving the extreme bondage!
If i can ask where are you tying the strings? By looking at the shots it seems the strings are popping out from the soil...

haha I am too, it's fun man. I tie the strings to garden staples that stick down into the soil though, should've posted a pic of that too. You can get em at Lowes or Home Depot... theyre meant to push through those weed-control fabric tarps you lay on raised beds I believe...

 

[paulo73]

I know what they are. We use plenty of those while training fruit trees.
Nice idea brother, why didn´t i thought about it?!
Saves me from having to drill holes on all pots Nice!!!

 

[Team Microbe]

I know what they are. We use plenty of those while training fruit trees.
Nice idea brother, why didn´t i thought about it?!
Saves me from having to drill holes on all pots Nice!!!

Hell yeah, I had them lying around from this summer and thought it'd be better than drilling holes (that's what I've been doin too lol) ...especially now that I'm using fabric pots. Plus it's easier to transplant without havin to cut all those straaaangs

 

[InjectTruth]

sexy upclose spread eagle crotch shots

 

[tleaf jr.]

looking good TM I think im starting to grasp the concept kinda like nice row of colas al perfectly aligned it looks like

 

[Rickman]

Yes! I've found it! The thread I always wanted... I knew with the name "Team Microbe" I was in the right place.

Howdy TM, first of all, that is some gifted work you've got pictured. Secondly, I was shocked reading your intro because it parallels my own experience almost to the letter o_0

I've gone from soil, to coco, to hydro.. always rolling the dice and coming up with mixed results. Last year, I moved to CO and on my first visit to what has become my premier grow shop, "True Living Organics" was suggested as a good read. My only regret is that I didn't read that book that very day...long story short:

I'm into a second round of planting with my first TLO-based grow. I went all out, even scrapped my old HPS for an Ushio Opti-Blue / LED panel combo. I've been extending my reading based on the suggestions at the end of TLO, and I just started "Worms Eat Mt Garbage" by Mary Appelhof, but had "Teaming With Microbes" as my next one on-deck!

And as I'm struggling with this first round of TLO, I started searching for a forum on it, and what do you know...kismet. I have subscribed and will be watching closely, I feel like there's a ton potential for learning synergy here.

Cheers sir!

 

[exploziv]

Looking great!

 

[Team Microbe]

Yes! I've found it! The thread I always wanted... I knew with the name "Team Microbe" I was in the right place.

Howdy TM, first of all, that is some gifted work you've got pictured. Secondly, I was shocked reading your intro because it parallels my own experience almost to the letter o_0

I've gone from soil, to coco, to hydro.. always rolling the dice and coming up with mixed results. Last year, I moved to CO and on my first visit to what has become my premier grow shop, "True Living Organics" was suggested as a good read. My only regret is that I didn't read that book that very day...long story short:

I'm into a second round of planting with my first TLO-based grow. I went all out, even scrapped my old HPS for an Ushio Opti-Blue / LED panel combo. I've been extending my reading based on the suggestions at the end of TLO, and I just started "Worms Eat Mt Garbage" by Mary Appelhof, but had "Teaming With Microbes" as my next one on-deck!

And as I'm struggling with this first round of TLO, I started searching for a forum on it, and what do you know...kismet. I have subscribed and will be watching closely, I feel like there's a ton potential for learning synergy here.

Cheers sir!

Looking great!

Thanks guys! Appreciate the kind words

Rick- Welcome to the other side my friend! I love hearing stories like mine, they're inspirational to keep spreading the word on tlo and it's benefits. Did you know that you can take it one step further and go "pro-biotic"?! Incorporating Gro-Kashi (fermented grains mixed with microorganisms) into your top dressing/soil mix to literally make the plants you grow healthy to eat/consume. They use this in food, but just recently have they discovered the healing properties of probiotically-grown medicine. Feel free to post any questions about tlo on here and hopefully I or someone else can help you out, it's a big learning curve but once youre there it's simple again

 

[rik78]

another one that pick up a chair and watch the show!!

 

[BroughtSuperior]

i dig your style, im gonna follow this one!
K+

 

[Rickman]

True Lovin' Organics

True Lovin' Organics

TM-Thank you for that, and even before I have one single question I have learned an amazing extended fact! I know Rev is a big fan of the rice in the mix for micro food, but pro-biotic rice? Brilliant!

I'm actually studying Soil Science at a major university, and finally getting to the point where my coursework and 'home research' are intersecting. My reading speed isn't currently able to keep up with my curiosity, but I'm doing what I can!

I looked deeper into main-lining and definitely will give it a go when I've got some more healthy growth--I'm definitely struggling with that learning curve, but my oldest TLO plants are only about a month. I think some might be past the point of no return...I got so conditioned into being careful not to burn with even "soup-style pseudo-organic" grows that really I think the micros took over and starved them. I think my biggest mistake was not spiking on the first transplant, which I've done with evidently nice results on a contingency planting of a bunch of dispensary bag seeds I had (since I of course used up all my breeder fems on that first one..haha, oh well just knowledge gained).

 

[rik78]

in my expirience main-lining is good for big plants in indoor or for outside grows, has it needs a lot of veg time to get the 8-16-32 colas, for less colas is better to have just single plants

 

[Team Microbe]

another one that pick up a chair and watch the show!!

i dig your style, im gonna follow this one!
K+

cheers fellas!

TM-Thank you for that, and even before I have one single question I have learned an amazing extended fact! I know Rev is a big fan of the rice in the mix for micro food, but pro-biotic rice? Brilliant!

I'm actually studying Soil Science at a major university, and finally getting to the point where my coursework and 'home research' are intersecting. My reading speed isn't currently able to keep up with my curiosity, but I'm doing what I can!

I looked deeper into main-lining and definitely will give it a go when I've got some more healthy growth--I'm definitely struggling with that learning curve, but my oldest TLO plants are only about a month. I think some might be past the point of no return...I got so conditioned into being careful not to burn with even "soup-style pseudo-organic" grows that really I think the micros took over and starved them. I think my biggest mistake was not spiking on the first transplant, which I've done with evidently nice results on a contingency planting of a bunch of dispensary bag seeds I had (since I of course used up all my breeder fems on that first one..haha, oh well just knowledge gained).

Wow that's interesting man, what course exactly are you studying? I've always wanted to go back to school for that exact reason, but wasn't sure where to start really...

I still have to finish the Rev's book, I'm literally at the nutrient spike chapter so that makes me wanna get into that now. I've heard big micro herds eat a lot of N and will begin to rid the plant of it's supply if they become vigorous enough so sprinkling a circle of any amendment high in N on top of your soil will help. Not sure if that's what you meant by micros or not.

in my expirience main-lining is good for big plants in indoor or for outside grows, has it needs a lot of veg time to get the 8-16-32 colas, for less colas is better to have just single plants

Yeah these were just flipped the other day, I'll make an update when I get a chance this week. I vegged for just under 4 months from germination for 32 tops. Coulda flipped at 3 mo for 16 tops, I'm sure it all equals out in the end. I'm interested to see how my yields are, I'm concerned about the amount of stress these went through to accomplish the main-line. I may go back to LST if yields aren't ridiculous BUT we will see!

 

[Team Microbe]

UPDATE: 3/9

UPDATE: 3/9

Sorry for the lack of updates everyone! It's been a pretty damn busy month over here...

I remodeled my entire room outside of the flower tent to fit a cloning space in as well as doubling my 4x4 veg tent into a 4x8 tent with a drain-to-waste table so I don't have to lean back into the tent to collect run-off anymore. My back is thanking me already, I recommend this to anyone with "growers back" or a tent that's not accessible from all angles. I'll just fire away here to get back on track with the grow right now, as I just sent the main-liners into flower this week. Things are getting exciting again folks.



The remodel went well - I purchased another 600 watt light for the veg tent, insulated ducting for the intake along with a HEPA filter (to keep spores from entering the room from the outside air), a big pond liner to cover any and all of the exposed floor, an 18''x48'' shelving unit from Lowe's, along with one more T5 fixture to complete the cloning rack. I've also invested in a LOT of TLO amendments/goodies which I'll be touching more on later but basically Dragonfly Earth Medicine, Gro-Kashi, Rocky mtn Worm Castings and other notable companies have made this garden much happier and much healthier in a matter of weeks.

DEM products

Rocky mtn Castings - I top dressed everything before flipping to 12/12 with these in a layer of castings<gro-kashi<castings<compost

drain to waste table I built for cheap - just particle board, some 2x6's and a pond liner with a gutter angled down into this bowl I use to catch with.

These cuttings took off after I brewed and watered with my first DEM tea... shit is gold I kid you not!

 

[Team Microbe]

Goji OG at 8 tops

Goji OG at 16 tops as we sit back and relax and wait for flowers to appear.... this one might have 15 actually because I remember taking a cutting from her before the flip to save as a back up cutting. I love this strain already and it has yet to flower! It's beautifully unique in every way... the stems allow for vigorous pinching and SC then just bounces back like nothing happened. She roots well when taking cuttings from her, and she looks down right sexy IMO. You know when you have your eye on that one particular plant in your garden? Well, this is her for me. ahhhhh, love at it's finest lol

Right half of the tent - (in clockwise order from upper left) Critical kush, Critical + indica pheno, Critical Kush, Goji OG

Critical Kush at 32 tops. She responded well to main-lining, she boxed out almost perfectly. This method is best for cola-dominant indica strains like kushes. For example, my critical + sativa pheno refused to be told what to do with her vigorous side-branching, while the two indica phenos stayed symmetrical and short practically screaming for more main-lining. I'd recommend knowing your pheno-types before spending/wasting time with this method because it'll save you headaches in the long run when it comes to canopy even-ness and things of that matter.

My dogs love the grow room. So much curiosity, so little time. They like the heat under the lights I think. I kinda worry about the UV rays though so I don't let them chill in here unless I'm tending the babes

 

[Team Microbe]

Humble beginnings...

Humble beginnings...

Now I'm starting the next run, this will consist of a bunch of well-known breeders' seeds as well as some crosses a very generous grower gave to me when I lost over $400 in seeds to powdery mildew (due to lack of prevention measures in the seedling stage). While we're on the topic, DEM's Lush Roots combined with their Natural Mystic foliar spray knocked out any existing PM before I did the remodel. Brew for 24 hours then add the LR 2 hours prior to harvesting your tea and the lacto bacillus plus a number of other beneficials will literally suck the PM spores dry and kill them off completely. Fuck Eagle 20, or anything else detrimental to medicinal-grade smoke. Fight nature with nature folks!


Enough ranting though, here are some seedling pics and strain lists of what's to come:

the grower who gifted these didn't label them individually, just by his X's and Breeders' strains. I'll be left to an interesting and adventurous quest to identify these seeds; I've never done this before and it's kind of exciting to be honest. I was bummed at first but this will give me another thing to look forward to... it's like those mystery gushers that you'd get and would have NO idea what you were about to taste.



Breeders' mix:

Vanilla Kush
OG Kush
Blue Dream
Blue Headband
Critical +
Diesel
Sour Jack


The Funk's mix:

Blue Cheese x Pineapple SK
Blue Cheese x Lemon OG
Pineapple SK x Lemon OG
Pineapple SK x C99
NYCD x Sour D
NYCD x Grapefruit


I'm secretly excited for his crosses, judging by his photos they are some serious shit. Blue cheese has been one of my all-time favorites, and I've heard good things about pineapple as well.

peekin in from the flower tent to the veg tent

Sometimes you see the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right....



NOTE:

I realize these Grow Diaries are pretty one-sided most of the time... full of the grower just posting pictures and getting compliments for them but I'd like to open this up to more of a learning thread for True Living Organics. This is my first time kicking the bottle so-to-speak and I'd like to learn more from the organic guru's out there. I give back just as much as I take though so don't hesitate to ask me questions if you're new to soil as well! It's a nice circle effect once everyone pitches in and scratches eachothers backs...