Repuk 3d Take on Stealth Grow: Garden Shed

[repuk]

Today finishes 3d flowering week: girls are in full stretch mode, really happy with the amount of tops and distribution (not properly seen in this picture). Stretch it's in check so far.

BB #2 and Kalichakra canopy are even, BB #1 will probably do its stretch by the end of this, 4th week and will catch up with the others, though it usually stretch less.

Kalichakra is already stinking the tent with a lovely sandalwood aroma, something that didn't happen on the previous run well into the latest flowering weeks.

 

[repuk]

Update: Canopy Development

Update: Canopy Development

(starting 3d week)

Overall view (angle leads to think canopy is less even than in reality)

Cenital Shot:

Something I've noticed: budsites kind of "glow" yellow-lime-green under the SILs, not noticeable once you bring them outdoors under natural light.

Vertical View including pots:

Vertical View, canopy only:

Is it really noticeable on this run that the SILs seemed to:

- Induce plants to be less leafy
- shorter, more homogeneous internodes
- develop smallish leaves
- Aid into shaping a level canopy
- Fatter, thicker stems
- Stronger aroma: Kalichakra already reeks of sandalwood... on previous run that didn't happen until week 8, suspect different nutes have to do with this too.

So far, SILS seem to be a win-win for scrog; seem to induce growing patterns ideal for better aireation and light penetration.


SILS vs COB/HPS, Initial Conclusions:
On ACE Tent there are two clones from same mom (Krystalica #3), one under the SIL, the other under the COBs.

Looking at both and comparing I can definitely say plant under the SILs tend to be less leafy, and develop smaller leaves than the one under the COB.

Plant under the SILs has a darker green hue (noticeable with grower glasses) than the one under the COB, and drinks less (comparing by pot weight after their "day", both get the same amount of fertigation).

COB is about 4 inches from one of these clones tops with no apparent bleaching so far... perplexed...

Plant under the COB (3000K) stretched about 2-3inches less.

 

[repuk]

Update, 1st day 4th week flowering

Update, 1st day 4th week flowering

For comparison sake:

Last week

Today, seven days after:

Canopy is absolutely flat on Kalichakra though camera angle leads to think otherwise. A couple tops on BB #2 will need "readjustment".

Thru-SILs shot:

Overall Canopy stretch: about 4inches (10cm)

Kalichakra is thriving this run... reclaimed half of the tent space just for her!

Really noticeable how much more she's developing terpenes this run, stinking big time! perfumey Sandalwood with odd dark base notes, like some meat were rotting, screams Beware, Danger! at your face

Beyond the Brain #2 was outgrown about 20% by her, #1 by almost 50%, will wait: BB #1 pheno is a late stretcher, most significant stretch happens later (4th-5th week I'd say), #2 around one week more.

Will raise them once stretch is over, maybe before.

 

[repuk]

5th week: Time for some bud porn

5th week: Time for some bud porn

Girls ate 15L in less than two days, first time I have to refill the res in less than three days.

Kalichakra

Beyond the Brain #2

Beyond the Brain #1
Hasn't stretched yet. IF I recall correctly and previous time behaviour was normal, she is closer to its final stretch.

Seeing brown hairs makes me uneasy... isn't that abnormal at this stage? maybe one of them hermied???

Didn't spot any bananas, but for thorough inspection I would have to take the girls out of the tent.

I recall on previous run something similar happened... looked for bananas, none. But girls didn't bulk up like they should...

Any pointers welcome!


Ventilation Upgrade
Added a second oscillating fan on the opposite corner.

 

[repuk]

Argh I think I know what could have been the issue... last week blumats emptied the reservoir and I couldn't fix it for two days, ladies were sitting and quickly eating the runoff.

I think started to see brown hairs exactly by that time. tent floor isn't level, and the two girls with most hairs are the two where runoff level acumulates higher; BB #2 hadn't much runoff.

Hope girls recover and swell

I think I'm going to leave blumats use only for soil pots, (outdoor), but no more hydro with blumats for me, will use a pump and a timer next grow. Too critical with coco.

Feed Plan Update
Keeping the same recipe: 70 rain, 30 tap, 2ml/L Canna A+B, 0,25gr Yara SOP, 0.6ml/L Canna PK 13/!4 EC roughly 1.4.

I PH the reservoir to 5.4 and let it drift up to 5.9, PHing it down again (nitric acid). Did that aiming at PH 5.8 at main tap root, will check this with a soil PH Meter I just received.

I purchased more Canna A+B, for two reasons:

1.- Want to compare vs 100% salts, so this grow will be Canna A+B till the end.
2.- Canna coco bottles are really cute and handy to keep salt stock solutions, with their nifty measurement necks. This way I will have some to store my own stock solutions

 

[Itsmychoice]

I had similar experiences.

I had similar experiences.

It wasn't often but it's just a lot on the line if the ladies don't get wet. That's what I got blumats for was so I could be away a day now and then. Some would also drip real slow or not at all and it just stresses them out. I would get a good reliable pump or even two.

 

[repuk]

I measured the pot PH next to the tap root (but for BB #2, coco was so hard I feared breaking the puncture probe).

Funny thing is Kalichakra PH is almost spot on (5,9) while BB #1, with almost no brown hairs, is almost 6.6 (will flush it with water PH'ed to 5.4 to try to level the PH in the medium).

Could it be a genetical thing related to this pheno or certain Mandala lines? Seeing the same (brown hairs) on Krystalica cuts, both under HPS and COBs, also 5th week.

 

[repuk]

Been wrapping my head around it, I observe most brown hairs are on tallest plants on tents (Kalichakra on this tent) or the Krystalica cuts on ACE tent (untopped/untrained).

After reading a dozen threads on the issue, apart from genetics possibly having something to do, I think It could have been lights being too close to the canopy, so as a first measure I raised the lights; they were at 4in above the tops (10cm, a handful tallest tops had reached even closer) to be at least 6in (15cm).

I usually keep lights closer on first flowering weeks to prevent stretch, will be more careful next time. Hope the issue is mostly cosmetic (light stress) and this fixes the issue so the girls properly swell...

 

[repuk]

Blumats are gone

Blumats are gone

Won't use blumats anymore for fertigation.

My conclusion is blumats have an essential drawback when used to fertigate: water intake by plants doesn't necessarily relate to the amount of nutes a plant eats.

A plant may consume a moderate amount of nutes, while being thirstier than the rest… result: salt concentration increase on the plant pot medium.

Opposite is also true: a hungrier plant that is less thirsty: it will starve on nutes as water is the transport.

Blumats for fertigation also requires to dial the EC, and usually to have it on the mid to higher side of your target one.

In order to "un-tie" nutes intake from water, I removed the blumats, and installed an automatic (pump, timer, etc) system: one dripper on BB #2 and #1, two on the Kalichakra which is almost 75% larger than BB #1 and 50% larger than BB #2.

Same nutes regime, but at lower EC, aiming at EC=1 or below.

Set 6 fertigations per day, watching how the girls develop.

 

[bsgospel]

I think your observations are spot on. Supposing you got the Kalichakra on the same page as the BB's, this would mean you've removed the excess sodium, yes? Get to that point and perhaps the second dripper won't be necessary.

I'm running recirc salts/tap water on four plants, 50/50 coco, perlite. The res hasn't drifted in ec/ppm in two weeks. Just sits at 800/1.6. The thing is, one of those plants is about 25% bigger/bushier/drying a bit quicker than the other three- but they were all charged with the same solution, at the same time and fed the same amount in the same net pots. I would be in the same boat if the res began to drift. I would have to conclude that the bigger plant would be the inconsistent variable.

Had a question for you about the SIL rig: Did you use any contact or heat tape when you screwed the sockets to the wood? I really want to make a SIL frame like yours but I want to get all the parts first. Sockets, wires, wagos, LED's- anything else?

How is the heat on the SIL? Obviously I want air circulation and temperature consistency but the LED I have hooked up now has active cooling built in. If you only had intake/exhaust, could you run the SIL like any other LED?

 

[repuk]

I took the girls out to install the drippers, and for propping and inspection.

Kalichakra reeks of wonderful sandalwood. The plant (all) looked spotless under natural sunlight, deep green, resinous, smelly, perky leaves. Nothing to do with previous run!

I studied the bud sites on Kalichakra, they look more like multiple tiny foxtails than typical nugs, so won't sweat for them to swell, will let the lady do her thing, while concentrating on providing optimal stable conditions for her.

 

[repuk]

I think your observations are spot on. Supposing you got the Kalichakra on the same page as the BB's, this would mean you've removed the excess sodium, yes? Get to that point and perhaps the second dripper won't be necessary.

I put the second dripper due to plant being bigger and eating/drinking more than the other two. I am a newbie to DTW, my reasoning being if a plant eats more... say twice of the rest with one dripper, then feed it twice by using two drippers on her.

So far this method seems to be spot on on the ACE tent regarding covering different plants nute demands.

Kalichakra owns half of the tent, BB 1 & 2 the other half.

I measured medium PH and it was high on BB #1, didn't measure EC, but salt concentration rising also induces PH drifts... I already lowered it: multiple feeds (6) of lower ECs.

Had a question for you about the SIL rig: Did you use any contact or heat tape when you screwed the sockets to the wood? I really want to make a SIL frame like yours but I want to get all the parts first. Sockets, wires, wagos, LED's- anything else?

No, once I had the wire strips on the cleats, I passed the wires, position the cleat optimally for cable passage clearance, then screwed the cleats straight to the timber from inside the cleats (screws don't protude). I think you have all that's needed .

How is the heat on the SIL? Obviously I want air circulation and temperature consistency but the LED I have hooked up now has active cooling built in. If you only had intake/exhaust, could you run the SIL like any other LED?

No need for dedicated cooling fans. If you have a fan blowing over the canopy for air circulation, it will take care of the (lower than most lightning systems) heat.

SILs cleats barely get warm. It also depend on the wattages used, so far with 11-15W SILs I don't see heat as an issue.

I think removing the domes help regarding that too, heat is quickly dissipated.

 

[bsgospel]

Dope! Exactly the answer I was hoping for haha

 

[repuk]

Definitely, you should watch your plants to see how close do they like the SILs.

Kalichakra, SILs at 3-4" from tops, it kind of stalled one week like this, with noticeable pistil decay:

Three days after raising SILs to 6" (horrible picture sorry):

This lady didn't micro-foxtail like this on previous run, let alone grow like a inch+ more on week 7th???

Finding out to get the best pheno Sativa expression can be tricky...

Previous run: No smell till week 8. By 7th week, the plant was pale-lime-green and stunted.
Actual run: it reeks since week 3. Plant is lush, mid to dark green, and happily foxtailing/filling up internodes on week 7...

 

[Gantz]

And all that from changing the distance between the tops and the bulbs?

 

[repuk]

Hello Gantz!

Yep, it looks like. SILs won't bleach, but seems can stress the plant if set too close.

Update

Kalichakra

Developed much solid terpenes this run. Scent has matured, being a pungent dark sandalwood base rounded with a spicy-peppery-mangoish incense tone.

Beyond the Brain #1

Beyond the Brain #2

Seeing about 5% amber on BB #2 , is near!

I think next reservoir will be straight PH'ed water to start flushing... or would you wait an additional week?

 

[PandyFackler]

repuk - I’m so glad I looked at this brilliant thread. Thanks for letting us in on your fantastic grows and your musings, experiences, experiments etc

Also, great choice of genetics. You’re a man of impeccable taste.

You got yourself another lurker my friend. Please, continue...

 

[repuk]

Thanks PandyFackler! An update will come tomorrow.

Kalichakra is fox tailing like crazy, and starting to swell. I looked at the pics from previous run and in fact is how this cut flowers on her well developed nugs, which only happened on the top one on previous run. I still keep it in fact... (will be burnt this weekend!).

In fact, I'll be putting bamboo skewers tomorrow as the weight of the tops are leaning them against the walls.

If this time the smoke is better (taste was incredible, potency so-so) I'm seeing a single-plant run with this girl on the SIL tent in the future... thought seeing how the ACE gear is going on the other tent will mean serious competition!

BB #1 had swelled noticeably. BB #2 Seems to be there doing nothing, so... for now. Not keeping them possibly, I'm sure there will be better phenos on the seeds remaining.

 

[repuk]

9th -> 10th week update

9th -> 10th week update

Flushed the girls for a couple days.

Today I took them outside for a thorough inspection and some propping.

No pests in here at least, phew...

Due to weight everything was spread over and was a mess, so propped all the girls with some bamboo skewers.

Propped

Kalichakra
It became huge, end up being the biggest plant, on the smallest tent!

Thinking on a run on the big tent... or run only her on this one!

All will depend on smoke...

Beyond the Brain #2

Beyond the Brain #1

 

[repuk]

Kalichakra
The happiest one this run.

Tops under daylight

Tops indoors

100 Crop

Reeks to fruity red sandalwood with incense. Hands and arms a mess after all the tying due to the resin!

Sorry for the pictures quality, this kept me fairly busy so snapped them with the phone.