[StonedSpook]

Greetings from the land of snow and purple rain. I am fairly new to gardening, been messing around with it for about 15 months or so; ever since I retired from the Army. Since then, I have spent most of my free time gardening, learning, failing, and sometimes seeing successes. I figured it was about time for me to post a diary up in order to get some guidance and criticism from the masses. So please, dont hold back.. This thread is spur of the moment, so I do not have all the room details (horrible memory). I will try to get the rest up there. Just remind me or ask me. With that said, here we go:

20ft.x20ft room
4 x 600w HPS (going up to 6 shortly)
Pre 98 Bubba Kush and Purple Snow (split room)
Botanicare Coco, Perlite
Advanced Nutrients
Heavy 16 additive 'FIRE'

I received cuts and plants from a friend's father. Unfortunately, they were not in the best of shape when I started, but they are getting there. The cuts were initially placed in a 64 slot easy cloner with just ph'd water, but I grew impatient and swapped them to a tray, added some root enhancer/cloning gel and BOOM!! 48hrs later they rooted like crazy (sorry no root pics, i should have started this earlier). Ended up with 14 Bubba cuts and 14 Purple Snow cuts; including 2 Bubba and 3 Purple Snow plants in Veg (We'll get to those in a sec). The cuts were kept in an environment way too cold for growth. The tray was placed directly on a wooden table causing the cold to transfer from the wood to the tray. I raised the tray off the wooden table, placed a heat mat beneath it and off they went. The cold also caused some serious leaf discoloring- But hey, Purps are in right now, right?

The big girls came to me from the same place as the cuts, in just as rough shape. Extreme nutrient deficiency, russet and broad mites. I have had the girls for just under 2 weeks and have gotten them back into shape, with the exception of the mites, but thats a work in progress. I am using something called "Green Cleaner" or something to that effect. Seems to be doing the trick.

This is my first forum diary so please feel free to let me know what other info you guys and gals want/need.

[StonedSpook]

So, as I mentioned previously, I noticed some potential russet mite and broad mite issue on the biggins. Unfortunately, I took cuts from it without paying any attention to it. Now, my cuts have it. ARRRGGGGHHH! All my fault tho. Right?... I decided to get some Green Cleaner, mixed it with some Neem Oil and water, then dipped all 22 babies in the solution. Hope it works... I also sprayed the bajesus out of the bigs with that same solution. Fingers crossed.

Ive been keeping the PH at 6.4 on all plants. PPM for bigs is at 850, building up to 1200. The babies PPM stays at 650 and will increase with growth.

When I first got the biggins from a friends father, they were in rough shape. Not the worst, but could definitely use some TLC. I really think they are coming along, all things considered. Check out the pics. Feel free to yell at me and tell me to fix something.

[StonedSpook]

Things are really looking good. The babies have grown a solid few nodes and the biggins were put on a 12/12.

Babies- have been transplanted into 5gal coco pots. Roots looked amazing. again, I suck and didnt get a root pics. I have been feeding them a grow concoction, while increasing PPMs slightly with each feeding. I was told to feed every watering, since I am using coco... Any guidance on this would be appreciated. I also started training them with wire (see pics). Im doing this in prep for an attempt at super cropping. After dipping the girls in the Green/Neem mix, they seem to no longer show any signs of russet/broad mites on the new growth. Cool, right? or nah? I also dumped a heavy batch of nematodes in there, to eat up any root bugs. All in all, I am fairly pleased with where everything is at. I plan to Veg these girls for about 3 weeks, take some cuts, let them recup for a week and then move them to the next room. Thoughts?

Biggins- Well.... The big ladies were put into 12/12 today. They were in Veg for almost 2 months. Way longer than normal for me, but I got them in rough shape and try not to flower sick plants, right? Ive been keeping a close eye on them the past 2 months and the color has really returned. The mite issue seems to be under control, no signs on the new growth. The spray concoction and nematodes seemed to have done the job. 64 more days... Daily nanner inspection commencing in T-9 hrs.

[StonedSpook]

More photos from the last post.

[300WLED30x30x60]

Originally Posted by StonedSpook

Things are really looking good. The babies have grown a solid few nodes and the biggins were put on a 12/12.

Babies- have been transplanted into 5gal coco pots. Roots looked amazing. again, I suck and didnt get a root pics. I have been feeding them a grow concoction, while increasing PPMs slightly with each feeding. I was told to feed every watering, since I am using coco... Any guidance on this would be appreciated. I also started training them with wire (see pics). Im doing this in prep for an attempt at super cropping. After dipping the girls in the Green/Neem mix, they seem to no longer show any signs of russet/broad mites on the new growth. Cool, right? or nah? I also dumped a heavy batch of nematodes in there, to eat up any root bugs. All in all, I am fairly pleased with where everything is at. I plan to Veg these girls for about 3 weeks, take some cuts, let them recup for a week and then move them to the next room. Thoughts?

Biggins- Well.... The big ladies were put into 12/12 today. They were in Veg for almost 2 months. Way longer than normal for me, but I got them in rough shape and try not to flower sick plants, right? Ive been keeping a close eye on them the past 2 months and the color has really returned. The mite issue seems to be under control, no signs on the new growth. The spray concoction and nematodes seemed to have done the job. 64 more days... Daily nanner inspection commencing in T-9 hrs.

Hog Wan!

Hi, nice grow. Quick question , you mention nematodes ? Where did you get them ?
Or you mean nematodes already present ?

big up

[StonedSpook]

Originally Posted by 300WLED30x30x60

Hog Wan!

Hi, nice grow. Quick question , you mention nematodes ? Where did you get them ?
Or you mean nematodes already present ?

big up

I picked them up at the local hydroponics shop. He went back to the fridge and pulled them out for me. Cost about $20 per dosed sponge, and work like a charm.

[StonedSpook]

Updated the Veg area a bit. Put a tent in to control the temp, humidity and whatnot. Added 2 new Carbon scrubbers (2200 cfm amd 1500 cfm). Also, changed Veg/babies cycle from 24 to 18/6 until they are moved to flower.

Babies' PH is maintained around 6.4, but mixing by hand so it varies slightly. The PPM was changed from 650 up to 875, in prep for full dose just prior to being placed in flower. The cuts looked horrible in the beginning. I thought I was going to lose them. I always popped seeds, never used cuts prior to now. Definitely see the benefits of using clones now tho. It was just nerve racking in the beginning. haha. The wires added to train the colas are doing well, I think I am going to continue doing that from now on. Im not seeing any russet/broad mite damage on the new growth, so Im hoping its all gone.

Bigs PH is also maintained at 6.4. Since moving into flower I have increased the PPM to 1050, going up to 1200 next feed and will maintain until flush. The flower room looks good, for the most part. Their color has definitely returned and the russet/broad mites seemed to be taken care of. Not too much to report, with the exception of some weird branch splitting. I have only seen it in one location, but it is a bit sketchy, ya know. There is a pic of it attached. Any help with identification would be extremely appreciated.

[Sunny FL Indica]

The mayo clinic called while you were out. They saw what a good job you did that they wanted you to know they were hiring Nurses and wanted to know if you were available for an interview.

Them mites are a PITA - good job on controlling them.

[StonedSpook]

Originally Posted by Sunny FL Indica

The mayo clinic called while you were out. They saw what a good job you did that they wanted you to know they were hiring Nurses and wanted to know if you were available for an interview.

Them mites are a PITA - good job on controlling them.

HAHAHAA. Funny. This plant has done so much for me that I just cant simply chop them down at the first sign of trouble. Ya know... She fought to keep me alive, so I feel I should do the same.

**Update in a few days. Mites have been eradicated!

[StonedSpook]

Bigs- At the time of photo, the ladies were on day 9 in flower. After initially getting some sicklings, I really think these girls turned around and got healthy. It really shows the resilience of the Pre 98 Bubba Kush strain. Purple Snow, also being a local cross of the Bubba and an unknown; at least thats the story I got. I have continued the standard bloom juice with the Heavy 16 Fire additive (Soooooo GOOOOOOOD).

Babies- They have been undergoing some training, in order to get nice solid SCROG'd canopy when moved to the other side. I think, in about 3 weeks, I am going to take some cuts from these girls (looking to get a solid 50+ from 23 plants). This way, next run, the room will be running at full capacity. I have added a spray from the Heavy 16 line; their foliar spray. I tell you, after one application there is a noticeable difference. *Side note*- I use Heavy 16 Fire in my bloom juice. That is the only other Heavy product I have used. I plan on switching over to Heavy 16 entirely, I am buying a little at a time to lessen the blow. CANNOT WAIT!**

Overall, I think by continuing a regimen of Green Cleaner, Neem and Nematodes the ladies have been able to mostly rid themselves of any issues. Truly is an amazing plant. Ive been doing most of the work during dark hours, only because thats the only time I can right now. With that said, I do not have any up to date pics of the flowering plants. Soon enough tho. Soon enough.