DAY 36 ---> 1st Day of FLOWERING PHASE.
MARCH 7, 2009 : 7:20 P.M.
Somehow I got my days mixed up, I calculated everything again, and I am at DAY 36, which is basically 5 weeks and 1 day. I think it's time to FLOWER, these things are getting out of hand.
Just as a small recap... I now have 3 separate reservoirs.
One 10-Gallon Reservoir: Houses 4 medium sized plants but there is no room anymore. I think I'm going to have to split up 2 of those 4 and put them in their own five gallon bucket.
Another 10-Gallon Reservoir: Houses the widest & thickest plant I have. It now reaches 24 inches across and about 17 inches high. One of the longest leaves is about 8 inches itself, not from the stalk.
Then a 5-Gallon bucket with my tallest plant. I like the 5-Gallon route, because it'll take 3 gallons instead of 6 that are in the other one's, but you still have to worry about the air-stones. This plant is just over 2 feet tall right now at DAY 36. Not bad I hope.
In addition to the LIQUID KARMA and Pure Blend Pro from Botanicare, I am now using General Hydroponics Floral Nectar in the mix. The dude at the hydro store suggested that OVER 'Sweet' by Botanicare... Even though he was pushing the Botanicare. He's honest and I trust him. They also just got Dutch whatever line in, so who knows next time. I am noticing that when you switch to the Pure Blend Pro FLOWER & FRUITING nute, as opposed to the VEG nute... It takes a HELL of a lot more. They suggest 30ml per gallon for normal fruiting, and 45ml for AGGRESSIVE fruiting. I went mild, then I'll crank it up a notch after a week, give or take. That's a lot of nutrients. The fresh res nute solution mimmicks that of a fresh water lake. Dark, murky and thick. Once you add that Liquid Karma forget about it. I STILL cannot fathom how people run 30 days, or even a whole grow without changing their nutes. I mean, regardless is you're checking PPM, pH, whatever,... there is SEDIMENT, and there's no way around that. For me, when in doubt, flush the shit out.
*** I'm going to post a bunch of pics below, hopefully you can see some with the tape measurer I whipped out for the occasion.
NOTE: I must say that this whole process is a lot of fun.... but worrying about air-stones moving, then having to disconnect them when I switch the NUTE solution out is a PAIN IN THE ASS. That's the one thing I'm going to try and 'update' somehow, when I get around to it. Hopefully, well definitely by next grow. I'm switching out the res nutes every 5-7 days. It works out well because I recycle the week old nutrient solution over all of the palms, banana tree's and lush vegetation the previous owner of our home left.
I also had a little trouble with the 'Intermatic' Digital timer, and I am awaiting it's first test. I have it shutting off at DUSK, and turning on at DAWN. Yeah, I know electric is a bit more, but I need to do it this way. Light is an issue if I run it during the day and I'm always in and out of there.
So, please feel free to comment or throw some advice at me... I can take it !
gettin' close...
Thanks-