[chewmauro]

I like to think I am a little wiser than the typical first timer, but nothing changes the fact that this will be my first experience growing.

I will be guerilla growing outside in the NE USA @ ~42N.
I plan on growing in 3 gallon potting bags (which leaves me the easy option of cutting the bottom off and putting them in the ground if I wish).
I germinated 100% of my 20 seeds (10 of each) in a tray of Fafard Organic Compost and am begining to transplant the ladies to cups for more room and transport to the site.
An accident cost me one Satori and my poor transplanting technique has me fearing for the health of 3 more. I have revised my approach and intend to let the soil dry before I transplant it.
I have read Mike's words on fertilizing and intend to follow the suggestions, possibly using an organic tea (worm or nettle)

Questions:
Is the soil I am using (https://www.fafard.com/pDet2.aspx?prodID=OC) OK or should I try another option?

Can anyone give me some pointers on transplanting? I think I am being overly paranoid (I didn't damage any root structure), but better safe than sorry.

Update:
I decided that the gloomy weather was not giving the girls as much light as I think they deserve. I happen to have a friend's 400w HPS on loan so I figured what the fuck. I set my tray up in my closet 2' below the lamp. Too close? Too far? I turned on a small fan to regulate the temperature, it is at 83 F. Is this too hot? Lastly, how big a footprint will the lamp make on my electric bill?

[Speeding Mullet]

Chewmauro, hi!
As far as the light goes, the computer you are using almost certainly uses more electricity, and the kettle that you use to boil up tea with to go with your joints uses like a kw of electricity to work. If you go around your house you will find plenty of white goods that use more electricity than the hps, so you don't even have to worry there.

2 feet up is about the height I started my seedlings, gradually lowering it off as they got more hardy and used to the light.

83 is not too hot as far as I'm concerned. From my experience with Kalichakra, it survives heat mega well. The temp in my room got up to just over a hundered sometimes and the plants just drew more water up to compensate.

You may want to check out my grow diary, or one of the other excellent diaries for more tips.

You will really love kalichakra. I haven't got a tape measure, but i think one of my buds now has a 12" circumference! (Mike are you listening!)

Good luck with ya grow.
SM

[MandalaMike]

Originally Posted by Speeding Mullet

I haven't got a tape measure, but i think one of my buds now has a 12" circumference! (Mike are you listening!)

I'm all ears!
Get out your cam, man... *lol*
Gotta head over to you know where to drool over those sticky macros.
Would be great if you update on those too.

Hi chewmauro,
welcome to the Mandala support desk!
I am on the run but will be back later with transplanting tips.
Plants recover quickly in the veg stage...so don't worry if things don't go 100% smoothly at the start.
Temperature is fine. Our strains were molded in fire...*lol*
Like SM said, no problems with heat in his grow either.
You can run a 18/6 or 20/4 light cycle. More light will mean faster growth.

The soil looks good. I don't know the brand though. Generally, any quality horticultural grade soil works well. Just make sure it's also safe for indoor grows and young plants, ie. not excessive levels of nitrogen or too high EC level. Usually the manufacturer includes info and would recommend strongly fertilized soil only for outdoor, etc.

CU later,
Mike

[blackfin]

cool dude that's what i have going right now.... i'll get pics when i get home and post em this afternoon... not much going on, yet only 9days in flower, but they're pretty... the kali's will strech on ya tho, they did on me and i flower under a MH

[Speeding Mullet]

MM, will update with macros later on, and update grow again tomorrow. Just so you dont have to go to youknowwhere!

[chewmauro]

I have been reading and re-reading all of the Kali and Satori grow journals on here and with the addition of your feedback I feel more confident about my grow.
The tallest of the Satori are at ~8cm while the shortest Kali is at ~2cm. The Kalichakras came up about 2 days behind the Satoris (had me worried for a piece).

I am going to go get a timer to put my lamp on. I intend to keep them under the lamp/ inside for another week or so. Once they look hardy enough out they'll go.

Here is a photo of the ladies and my closet.





I hope to keep this grow log updated and accurate. Thanks for all the input.

[Speeding Mullet]

Dude, get 'em under a lamp pronto is what i say, they are already stretching some. at that height mine were already properly leafy. Alos, you might want the air to blow at the plants themselves - makes the stems stronger, which you will need!
SM

[chewmauro]

They are under the lamp, you can see the bulb right above the fan in the second photo. The space is small enough that the air from the fan (even pointed at the lamp) has the girls dancing in the breeze, but I'm gonna point another fan at them.
I thought they seemed a bit naked as far as leaves. I just added the lamp lastnight and I can already see the leaves balloning in size.
Oh yeah, I put them in soil 9 days ago and I first started to see some action at day 4. Just to give a better time frame.

Update:
Well, my fears for my transplant "victims" have struck true. My largest Satori, the first attempt at transplant and the most clumsy, is falling over on her side. I built a scaffold to hold her upright (rolled-up notecard) against the fan until/ if she gets better. Do you think it would be worth my time to get some B1, like Superthrive?

Here are some pictures of my closet and the ailing lady:

[chewmauro]

To clarify:
- My plants will begin to flower when their lighting period hits 12/12.
- According to the US Naval Observatory for my region the sunrise-sunset 12 hour split hits around Sept. 24th.
- Mandala says Kali and Satori flower in the 70 day range.

So if I understand correctly my girls will start to flower in mid September and should be finished in 70 days. This would meaning running them head on into hunting season and inevitable nasty weather that comes with November in my region.

Am I getting this right?
Is there anything I can do to help avoid such late flowering and harvest given my constraints of growing out of doors?

[Hashish]

Hi chewmauro everythings looking good but what Speeding Mullet is saying you is drop that light down a few inches from the plants as they are stretching alot if your using fluros drop them down about three to four inches above the plants this will give your plants the maximum exposure to the light and the won,t strech as much on you, just my 2 cents mate.anyway good luck with your grow chewmauro and hope all goes well for you...Hashish