G13 Pineapple Express and UFO Skunk #1 from Attitude. First Time Hydroponics Grow

[Serapis]

Negative on that ghost rider.

Flora Nova Bloom has EVERYTHING needed to sustain plants. I am personally only using that one bottle from start to finish. I do not add any nitrogen supplements and my plants do well. Now it is possible that some strains may require more than others, but I've yet to read anything along those lines.

Raylan, stick to what we talked about. There is NO reason to stray from a program that excited you and motivated you to grow in a waterfarm. Remember the basics, and get back to them. Scotty has been growing for years. I believe that if you had been on the KISS feeding plan from the start, you wouldn't be having any issues.

I do not recommend adding anything designed for the bloom stage. FloraNova bloom is going to be packed with Potash and Phosphates. You need something that delivers a high percentage of nitrogen and calcium. Something like FloraNova Grow! Trust me

 

[Raylan]

Will do, Serapis.
And I would have been on that feeding plan, had my hydro store got my order right.
My grow unit came w/ FloraNova Grow and Bloom, plus Liquid KoolBloom for $45. Instead it shipped with 3 Part GH formula. I called, so they reshipped me a care package of FloraDuo saying it was better than FloraNova as FloraNova is super concentrated and becomes solidified after sitting, this is why GH came out with FloraDuo. I didn't want to argue and try to explain why I needed FloraNova so bad, so I settled with the FloraDuo thinking it would be fine. It hasn't been a bad product thus far, but I did want to try and stick to Scottyballs thread as much as possible.
Also, any tips on the dead/dying leaves Serpais, as far as trimming them goes? They're in the way of new healthy growth. Should I just leave them be?

 

[Jacob Sparks]

Yes, use FloraNova Bloom with no supplements if you want to give your plant enough nutrients just to SUSTAIN itself!!

Raylan,

If you trim your plant now, you will only stress it out further. Only trim a happy plant!

 

[Raylan]

Not trying to stir up an argument, but as far as FloraNova Bloom ONLY goes, go skim through the first 40 page of this journal:
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/344359-pineapple-express-g13-labs-seed.html
Two grows, one Pineapple Express and the other is Vanilla Kush. He's been using the same method for a while now, and seems to fair a lot better than most with 1 plant and 1 400w light. 10-15 oz dry per plant, in about 2 months.
I was trying to replicate this grow more or less, so that is the whole reasoning behind the Nova Bloom only. Serapis is also using the same as he stated, and is on par w/ ScottyBalls per plant. Obviously the Nova Bloom has more than enough to sustain it, but to let it flourish to its full potential?

 

[Jacob Sparks]

The pics look great and I am sure his nutrients costs were very low.

Check out my Avatar pic. That was one of two Pineapple Express plants in my last grow. That plant "dry" gave me a 1/2 pound!! No bullshit! My lighting is a little diffrent though. I am running 5 1000w bulbs for two 4x8 tables.

How is everything coming along? Looking better?

 

[Serapis]

Well damn, no wonder.. you brought the sun inside... lol nice bud.

The pics look great and I am sure his nutrients costs were very low.

Check out my Avatar pic. That was one of two Pineapple Express plants in my last grow. That plant "dry" gave me a 1/2 pound!! No bullshit! My lighting is a little diffrent though. I am running 5 1000w bulbs for two 4x8 tables.

How is everything coming along? Looking better?

 

[bongmarley2009]

I'm going to have to back Serapis on the flora nova bloom. Worked with Dinafem Power Kush. No deficiencies using 180-200ppm tap water. Ain't no need to make things more complicated, but to each his own.

 

[Raylan]

Looks very nice man, would love to come out with something similar, and I'm not doubting your methods. I was just making sure that you saw how Nova Bloom only worked out for a few people, and what I was trying to shoot for. And how much is your electricity bill w/ all that lighting? Haven't really noticed too big a difference in mine, but I'm only running 1 400w HPS lol. And how long do you veg/flower? I know it depends upon strain, but general timeline?
The new PH meter I got yesterday didn't work right out of the box, which didn't surprise me because of the shipping methods used to send it to me. A new one should be here tomorrow.
Without being able to mess w/ the PH I've just been assuming my PH has buffered to around the right level, and I don't know if its really doing so. I foliar fed her with a light spraying of water+epsom salt, and I see no noticeable improvement really. New growth is fine. It starts out small then shoots upwards and is unaffected by the problem. Older growth enlarges and then starts to die out. These are mainly the leaves that come directly off the main stem, with no other branching being involved. PH is a bitch with no meter. : (

 

[Raylan]

Temp - 82
Humidity - 36%
PPM - 409
PH - Unknown >(
She looks awesome until you star to pay attention to her lower half in certain spots...all dead and wilted. So aesthetically displeasing.

 

[Raylan]

Built the scrog screen and put it in place 12" above the top of the CocoGrower. It's 32x22 so hopefully I'll be able to fill it up without taking 3 months to do so. It's amazing that by this point ScottyBalls already had a screen full of bud sites, and a little disheartening that I don't. Haha. But ah well. Pics in a bit. PPM steady @ 400.

 

[Jacob Sparks]

My electricity bill is very high! A downside to running five lights.

I veg for two weeks and flower for two months or until those beautiful crystals turn milky white!!

Unfortunately, nothing will change until your correct the PH. It also sounds like you need to find a new hydro store! There are so many great stores out there, stop wasting your time and money with a bad one.

 

[Raylan]

So my new PH meter came today, no problems with it so obviously the other was damaged during shipping. Reads both solutions at the proper PH, so I think I'll be able to trust this one. Also go the storage solution like I should have the first time. So after checking the water in the res, this is where I'm at:
PPM - 419 (has rose about 20 ppm over the last day and a half)
PH 6.4 (Have no idea what it started at, but I assume it was around 5.9 and its rose gradually.
Will be changing the res out in a little while, so just to be clear....I should add nutes, then adjust the PH of my water? And if this is right, what should I be shooting for? I plan on not changing the res for about a week after this one, so I was thinking I'd adjust the PH to around 5.4 and it would rise as the week progresses, if it rises, that way the full range of nutrients will be available.
Also, I've been using DI water for the past two weeks, and thinking back on it that's about when I started to get problems with her. I'm thinking it's because my PH was off, and since I was using DI water there wasn't enough of the minerals/nutes she needed. Therefore I think I'm going to go back to using my tap water, as the PPM of it is only 52. Hopefully that will help cut back on the deficiencies I may have.
Sound like a good idea? Also, noticed a few light green spots on some of the new growth, will post a few pics in a bit...Don't need any new problems to develop.

 

[dirtycurty420]

i really want to try hydro one day soon...and when i do im going for the waterfarm

 

[Raylan]

The leaf tips pictured above that look yellow are actually lime greenish in color, and it is only on a few leaves. Any ideas? The 3rd picture in the next set of pics is a better shot of the actual color of it.
And here are a few pics of overall growth, as well as the new scrog screen I put in last night. It's 12" above the grow unit, but it looks so much further haha. Hopefully I can fill it up, its 32x22.

 

[Raylan]

Changed out the res with tap water that started out at 50 ppm. Went with the 3 to 1 "strong grow blend" ratio which ended up being 3 tsp of A and 1 tsp of B for 2 gallons of water. The resulting PPM was 502 with a PH of 6.5. I then adjusted the PH w/ a little PH Down so that it registered 5.8. After doing so the PPMs read 490. Hoping that everything will get back on track now that I have a PH meter again. Also ordered a bottle of FloraNova Bloom, should be here by Wednesday so I can start her on the single nutrient diet and see how it works out. Have some catching up to do as I'm really behind schedule, so hopefully that'll be the kick in the ass she needs to get going.

 

[Jacob Sparks]

Be patient, things may get worse before they get better. Stay consistant, do NOT make any major changes and your plant will revive itself.

Congrats! Correcting the PH was half the battle.

 

[Raylan]

Well, things have only been getting worse lately, so I believe I'm about due for some "better".
And thanks, I hope so.
Will update w/ pics in a bit.

 

[Budluvin]

So my new PH meter came today, no problems with it so obviously the other was damaged during shipping. Reads both solutions at the proper PH, so I think I'll be able to trust this one. Also go the storage solution like I should have the first time. So after checking the water in the res, this is where I'm at:
PPM - 419 (has rose about 20 ppm over the last day and a half)
PH 6.4 (Have no idea what it started at, but I assume it was around 5.9 and its rose gradually.
Will be changing the res out in a little while, so just to be clear....I should add nutes, then adjust the PH of my water? And if this is right, what should I be shooting for? I plan on not changing the res for about a week after this one, so I was thinking I'd adjust the PH to around 5.4 and it would rise as the week progresses, if it rises, that way the full range of nutrients will be available.
Also, I've been using DI water for the past two weeks, and thinking back on it that's about when I started to get problems with her. I'm thinking it's because my PH was off, and since I was using DI water there wasn't enough of the minerals/nutes she needed. Therefore I think I'm going to go back to using my tap water, as the PPM of it is only 52. Hopefully that will help cut back on the deficiencies I may have.
Sound like a good idea? Also, noticed a few light green spots on some of the new growth, will post a few pics in a bit...Don't need any new problems to develop.

Hey man glad to see you have got things under control now, loooking good. Just to let you know i am sure it is best to adjust your PH EVERYDAY!, you mentioned that you will adjust it down after your res change and then it will rise during the week. Yeh its good to let them get a range of PH but it can swing from like 5.8 to 7 in the space of 24 hrs. I adjust mine every morning when i get up down to 5.6-5.8 and then the next moring its always around 6.5-7. You may have been doing this but just was not clear from what you typed. Not that i can talk i went in too fast with the nutes and stunted my growth! Check out my journal if you have a chance, i could use some advise! my PPm meter arrived today also, i am sitting at 1/4 strength nutes after my res change and the ppm is about 450. Is that too high? They are about 20 days from seed now but so much smaller than yours.

 

[Raylan]

Well I hope they're under control for now, only time will tell. I check my PH/PPM twice a day, so if it's not within a reasonable limit I will adjust it. For instance, this morning the PH was 5.9 and the PPM had dropped to 470. When I first started running the CocoGrower I had issues w/ rising PH but it seems to have stabilized a little more as the plant got bigger. I believe they're able to keep the PH where they need it more or less as they can control what is absorbed from the water. What kind of nutes are you using? I'm no expert, but 450 seems too high for that size, it's still just a seedling. I was only at about 150 at your stage, and it seemed to be fine. Just check your PPM/water levels often, the plant will tell you what works. That's what the guys on here have been preaching at me and it seems to work fine. Have to ride to work but I'll hop over to your journal and give it a look when I get home. Pics as well.

 

[Raylan]

Day 30
PH - 5.9
PPM - 519
Temp - 81
Humidity - 41%
.
Everythings looking good so far I guess. Since I'm this far into vegging, I've decided to start to ease her into flowering by going to a 18/6 light cycle instead of the 24/0 cycle. I figured this would help stress the plant less when I go to 12/12 here in a few weeks. It also will provide the stretch I need to get to the screen, as I started her on it last night and in one 6 hour cycle I could see a noticeable difference in the distance to the screen. A few more nights and I think I'll have to start weaving. On a side note, the screen makes it a little tough to get good pictures.