Root development now, for outdoor transplant later?

[Pinball Wizard]

Hi Bud!

Hi Bud!

.My light schedule has been 12 1/2 on, with a 1 hour burst of light in the middle of the night cycle.

I don't understand this part?
I would think keeping them totally in vegging (at least 16 hours of light per day) would be preferred?
I have read about this time schedule before; but I don't remember the typical results.

So....the plants showed their sex?.. are they starting to flower?
It's a long way to mmmmmMay.

 

[Bud Green]

As to your previous post, I think you need wheels. They are not going to get any lighter, yah?
Aloha, Weeze

Wheels, Yeah, I need 'em... I bet these crates weigh close to 50 lbs. after being watered and allowed to drain!

I have read about this time schedule before; but I don't remember the typical results.
So....the plants showed their sex?.. are they starting to flower?
It's a long way to mmmmmMay.

I'm trying this light schedule because I believe roots grow at night, in the dark period, as the top grows in the day, during the light..And the main purpose of my experimenting here, is to develop strong root growth to promote a large bush this summer.
The one hour burst of light during the dark period is supposed to interupt the plant's desire to set flowers with such a short day..The 4 plants had shown just enough "girl hairs" for me to identify them, during the 12 1/2 on--11 1/2 off, before I fixed the timer to give the one hour light burst at night.. That burst has stopped the flowering from continuing...When they go outside to their holes in the ground on May 1, the sunlight length of day will be 13 1/2 of daylight and getting longer each day for another 7 weeks... A lot of this is all NEW to me, and I'm just trying out new stuff to see how it works...
So far, so good.. Bud G.

 

[Hank Hemp]

Gee's I hope that doesn't encourage hermies. That's about the same as a light leak, isn't it? I just don't know.

 

[aridbud]

Hey Bud-

I heard about that 'light technique' years ago....never attempted it.

Also 4 hrs on, 4 off, 4, on, etc...... nor did I try that. Too complicated for my simple timer.

Will be interesting to se how things continue to progress. Indeed, stellar crop, thus far!!! Keep up the good green and vibes!

 

[Pinball Wizard]

I'm trying this light schedule because I believe roots grow at night, in the dark period, as the top grows in the day, during the light..And the main purpose of my experimenting here, is to develop strong root growth to promote a large bush this summer.
The one hour burst of light during the dark period is supposed to interupt the plant's desire to set flowers with such a short day..The 4 plants had shown just enough "girl hairs" for me to identify them, during the 12 1/2 on--11 1/2 off, before I fixed the timer to give the one hour light burst at night.. That burst has stopped the flowering from continuing...When they go outside to their holes in the ground on May 1, the sunlight length of day will be 13 1/2 of daylight and getting longer each day for another 7 weeks... A lot of this is all NEW to me, and I'm just trying out new stuff to see how it works...
So far, so good.. Bud G.

I just remembered what I wanted to ask you...2 days ago

...did you use this light schedule from the beginning ...or when?

 

[greentreefarmer]

Beautiful ladies you got there, Bud. What strains do you have going?

 

[Bud Green]

Two days ago (mar. 19) I decided it was time to transplant the second two girls from the 2 1/2 gallon pots, into the 7 gallon burlap bags.. The root growth is tremendous, and I believe I got the timing right. The first pic shows the extensive roots and the second shows what she looks like from the top.. Nice and thick, and branching out well from the low sress training..

 

[Bud Green]

Beautiful ladies you got there, Bud. What strains do you have going?

Greentree: I don't know any name for my girls. They came from "special" seeds, from a lifelong friend who lives far away..
And we don't talk shop on the phone or in email...
I do know they are a cross, heavy on the Indica side...

 

[30years]

This will be my first year doing this, dropped the seed early November! She started to root circle in the 1g plastic so I moved her to a tall 3g.... I'm figuring on a 5g up pot before things warm up enough to go outside into a smart pot raised bed.

My biggest concern comes from the hardening off transition. In the past with garden veggie starts they've sunburned very easily even in the shaded areas of my yard.

hi,
use agribon shade cloth to keep the plants from burning. you can cover with this and get about 20% reduction and a great diffused light source which opens the plant up in veg. its cheap too.

 

[Bud Green]

Here are the first two girls, that I put in the bags on Mar. 10.
In 10 days, the roots have grown thru the new soil, and are starting to grow out thru the burlap bags. The root tips are being air pruned as I had hoped they would. The other pics show the nice top growth, as supported by the large root system..
These girls are a few days less than 7 weeks old now, since first sprouting.
These bags are about 6 or 7 gallons and will be the last container for these girls until they go in the ground around the end of April.
This is all new experimenting for me. In years past, my girls have all been rootbound in 1 or 2 gallon pots, when they went in the ground..
I am hoping that by promoting this extensive root growth, that I will have some monster bushes this summer...
Any and all comments and recommendations are welcome...
..........Bud G.....

 

[Canniwhatsis]

So here's my girl about where she's gonna live,.... We've been having a pretty mild spring so far, so when temps get above 50 we've been moving her outside then back in and under supplemental lighting overnight or on cold days. (Supposed to get an inch of snow tomorrow)

She's being a bit pissy about root bound, and going all autoflower..... So I just potted up to a 7g.... On the plus side she's bushing and branching super nice thanks to the flowering growth.

 

[aridbud]

Yeowza, Bud!!! Those look dyn-o-mite!!! End o' April can't come soon enough!!

 

[Bud Green]

OK,, here's the update...

First pic is two of my "bag ladies", on April 5th, their last day inside.. root tips are growing out all over the bags and being air pruned...I'm VERY pleased with the way the main stalks have gotten so thick. They are about as fat as my finger..

Second pic is on April 6th of all 4 "bag ladies" and their younger cousins outdoors in a box which is to be able to protect them in case of a late season frost or a damaging rain or hail...

The box can be covered and also allows me to give them a couple hours of auxillary lighting, since my length of daylight is still shorter than the 13 hour T5 light they had been receiving indoors.. By May 1st, my length of day will be 13 and a half hours, the girls will be acclimated to outdoor temps, real sunlight, the wind, etc. and will be ready to go in their holes which have been ready for them since last October..

I am very pleased with the root development I have observed by re-potting from 16 oz.soda cups to 3 quart pots, to 2 1/2 gallon pots and then to the 6 gallon bags....The 4 bag ladies are now 2 months and 3 days old since they were 2 inch seedlings.

When they go in their 45 to 85 gallon holes on May 1st, as the days continue to get longer for another 7 weeks, I hope to see some amazing growth, from the efforts I've put into allowing the roots to grow to their full potential this year...

 

[aridbud]

Simply fantastic, Bud...no other words can describe!! Bet you are counting the days to May 1st!!....23 days! Waahooo!

 

[Hank Hemp]

Nice looking Bud

 

[Weezard]

Got the jump on the season.
Gonna grow some serious weight.
Subscribed!

Aloha,
Weeze