Pandora's Box in Subcool's Super Soil

[CuriousDaimon]

Hello Boys and Girls,

Sorry to pop y'all into my legal medical grow in media res, but the site I have been using as a grow log has been down too long...I figure it's time to move where this log belongs.

Who
---------

3 Pandora's Box Females
Germinated in Rapid Rooters
Vegged in 1 Gallon Roots Soil (Dolomite Lime) for 3x Weeks
Vegged in 5 Gallon Smart Pots (Super Soil) for ~29-30 days

Where
-----------
Veg Room:
3x3 Hydro Hut
Lumigrow LED + 2' 2-Bulb Fluoro

Bud Room:
5x5 Hydro Hut
2x 600 watt air cooled reflectors
Port. A/C + Dehumid
CO2 Tank/Regulator
Partridge in a Pear Tree

The babies are on Day 21 of budding and they look like alien flora from Planet Zandor. This is my first grow, and I have followed SubCool as close as possible. Many thanks to all the people contributing on that part of this site. Almost every question has been addressed. I mixed the ingredients, substituting appropriately when necessary (Light Warrior, for example). The load cooked for about 35 days before use.

I topped and bushed these girls, tying down the two phenos that really grew tall. The third was more bushy the whole time, so she is my control. My water has varied between bubbled tap, R/O with cal/mag, and Spring water from the local vending station. Honestly, the plants seem to like the spring water the best. As long as it isn't too much of a hassle, I don't mind. Eventually, I'll just stick with the R/O.

Right now, I have 3 freebie seeds from Kannabia vegging. I am hoping for a 30-35 day cycle, harvesting three plants or so a month.

Lately, I've been practicing pruning and seeing the results on the growth. I don't want to over-shave, but I also see what everyone is talking about regarding potential popcorn buds.

Obviously, there is so much to cover in so little time/brain space. I am learning to garden for my medical needs as well as my partner's. This is a wonderful and magical process of healing in and of itself. Not to mention the amazing community I am becoming a part of. I am a graduate student, employed, and a full-time caregiver (not the MMP kind). Be kind that I am a noob. A dorky, wonkish noob who has read far too much. I'm open to all advice and suggestions. Thank you for your interest and keep up the good work!

Be well, Budlings!

Gratitude,

Curious Daimon

P.S. As we go along, I can post some pics of this grow as I've gone along. I don't know if that would be helpful or just a waste of space. For what it's worth, the purple hues of the LED in Veg are pretty trippy.

[video=youtube;rCaG5aoFj9k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCaG5aoFj9k[/video]

 

[doowmd]

Subbed and repped!
Seem to know what's going on and have done the right thing going thru sub's forum! Can't wait to see the end results! pulling up a chair!!

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Welcome doowmd. Thanks for pulling up a chair!

While not technically a fan of MMA, I just started doing kickboxing as an additional workout to my yoga practice. It kicks more than just boxes, I tell ya.

Sub's forum saved my butt when starting this enterprise. "Just add water" sounded like my speed, but there was explanation and a nice community that verified it was worth time/money. Hasn't proven to be a wrong choice so far.

Take care, friend, and I hope to celebrate 4-20 with quite the harvest. May we enjoy it together in psyberdelic space.

--CD

 

[HghFlyrJD1]

Ill be watching.

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Good Morning,

I figured y'all might like the link to this garden's humble origins.

Original Log

Now, this site has been undergoing major repairs and the formatting lost some uploads/movies/pictures. A couple of my posts were lost, but they were only in the last week.

I'll be back with some veg pics/movie tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in and stay chill.

CD

 

[Mr. Solo Dolo]

Still looking amazing friend! They got everything they need. Thanks for the seeds I'll be getting them started soon. You do Yoga? I actually train MMA and have been recommended yoga i think it would be good my flexibility is pretty bad. hah!

Do they recommend you flush the last weeks with supersoil?

 

[CuriousDaimon]

SoloDolo,

Good to see ya! Yes, I've been practicing kundalini yoga for three years now. It has been an amazing meditation and healing for the mind/body. It has also helped with flexibility, though hatha and vishyana (spelling?) are even better for stretching out the body.

Does everybody do MMA? What a small world, hehehe. I've just started kickboxing, and it is a great channel for anger and frustration. Not to mention it has a pretty good high of its own.

No, Subcool does not flush at the end. I think this is because no nutrients are added (except some top dress at day 30). The plants will naturally fade and use up all the organic products. I've seen results online and they are pretty fab.

Take care, bro!

 

[Tamorin]

Looks great. You keep doing what your doing. U might have to something about tieing or staking up when those tops get as big as i think they will.

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Glad to see all the people checking in. What's up, Tamorin!

Before we get underway, you are totally correct my man. I've got some bamboo poles ready to tie those mondo stalks to. I know I'm new to this, but am I to assume that those whole tops will be covered in bud? Not to ask a stupid question, but when you top to get "four colas" those colas will be massive? Either way, the babies looked so cool in the green light today during the night cycle. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh vid, but enjoy the two below.

[video=youtube;z-iJ-mboMsE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-iJ-mboMsE[/video]

I'm going away next week to Cali, for a much need rejuvenation. I'll be checking out the West Coast MMJ scene and can report back any interesting findings. While I'm gone, the Daimon's Lair will be watched over by a sworn protector. He has the benefit of doing two essential steps. If any super soil veterans (or otherwise) have any key points for these steps, now would be the time to suggest away.

1. Day 30 of Bud: Top Dress with 2"-3" of supersoil. The five gallon smart pots will need the extra juice to get through 63-65 days of flowering. The full grow logs on the site recommended this. I've vegged these babies for about 29-30 days in the super soil, and another 26-28 in a one gallon before that. I assume you top dress before you'd normally water.

2. Day 32 of Bud: Feed with Bud Candy/Sucanat. Okay, so I'm improvising with the timing here. Should the sweet be staggered with the top dressing? Does it matter? I figured I would wait until the top dressing "settled in" before watering with the only additives throughout the cycle. I couldn't find it spelt out in the subcool section and might specifically ask there. Anyway, I will add 1 tsp bud candy and 1 tsp of sucanat (organic) per gallon of water. This will be repeated around day 47 or 47.

The Bud Avenger will also by lassoing the plants if those colas get too massive (which is going to happen.

Meanwhile, you can see the bushes that those smiles have become. They will be moved around day 30 of veg, and tucked into the bud tent amongst the pandora's box. Then the stink is on!

You can see the two transplanted Power Skunk and Special. I'm hoping newly germinating White Haze's will pop. I've redone the germination station away from any negative influences (like Stoners, hehe) and hopefully they'll take. It will be great to have a nice variety pack for grow #3. If any males come up, let me know if you want one. I'm not ready to breed at this time, and can keep y'all informed of the balls.

[video=youtube;WTBdUIrPwDc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBdUIrPwDc[/video]

I'm still trying to get the temperatures stabilized, but it's hard without being to monitor the temps on a computer. That will have to be when I upgrade to the Starship Enterprise. Seriously, though, the A/C kicks on when the temps go above 88 (CO2 likes higher temps) and the heater kicks on when the temps go below ~63. Of course, the in-between fluctuates. I mean, it was 71 at one point during lights on! I might be over-analyzing for my first grow, but I think this will be a little easier as it warms up. Of course July and August will have plenty of their own problems, but we are not quite there yet.

Enjoy the visual stimulation and I'll catch ya on the flip.

CD

 

[Tamorin]

Lol well now.that im able to view your pictures.well.for.that a closer.look yeah u are all good the coolest part is like 2 weeks or so before harvest they go buck wild. sorry couldnt view the vid on my phone or.the pictures well either. looks great. good job. Supposibly with or without co2 78 degrees is the perferred temp of the plant. I read that a few times now. Mine hit as low as 63 and never really over 77 . No biggy just dont let it stay that way a long time. You got it under control i do the same shit got a ac dehumidfy and heater in there im in a shit spot since i have to turn heater off before lights come on or i blow a fuse, so im down there before work every.morning.i

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Okay, it has to be a relatively quick post...but I will try to be thorough.

I just got back from California, just in time for curling and some nasty reactions to something.

Uncle D was looking after the girls and applied the top dressing and (two days later) the bud candy/sucanat. He did NOT have access to a measuring device, so he had to eyeball a tablespoon of each... I'm thinking that the plants, especially the bushy one that wasn't bent, is reacting to too much sugar. Is this a wrong assumption? I don't know if BC/Suc can burn plants like this.

There is also the possibility that the top dressing was just extremely hot, and I should put less in. When the next batch are ready for the sugars, I'm using half strength of both, just to see the difference.

I've posted some pictures, as well as the movie, and would love some suggestions. I cannot flush, as the SS doesn't work like that. I will just ride it out, maybe holding off on the second application of BC next week.

[video=youtube;UmCFCfgN3DI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmCFCfgN3DI[/video]

On the funny side, yesterday the plants look to be recovering slightly. It also looked like the two larger cola on the burnt plant are much larger than the cola on the other two. I guess it worked, but really took a number out of the poor lady.

As to the rest of the garden, I'm excited to say the Smiles are growing crazy, if stretching a little. They had to compete with the PB, and I notice some elongations along the internodes. I have to remind myself that I'm a noob, and I'm doing really well so far. As a funny note, the Smile really smell like California outdoor, wild-grown. It's refreshing!

The two freebies are loving the veg tent by themselves, and are really REALLY different looking plants. Very Mutt-and-Jeff. Hopefully, they will be joined by two feminized Barney's Night Shade (piney and stoney). The white haze seeds never popped and I'm pretty disappointed in the White Label company. So it goes.

Lastly, I invoked the DIY gods last night and created my very own 18gallon gravity fed watering bucket. All together, $45 or so at Wal-Mart. Drilled a hold in the bucket, fastened a garden-hose spigot with on/off valve with gasket, attached a drinking water approved 25' garden hose, and a trigger watering wand. The bucket sits on top of a stacked washer/dryer with plenty of height. Once the vale attachment comes in the mail, I can attach my R/O filter directly to the bucket which will fill continuously until the water reaches the floater level.

One question I have with this kind of set-up is about Cal/Mag. How often do you Cal/Mag R/O water that sits in a reservoir like the one described above? Only when the plants show deficiency, or once(twice)/week?

Thanks everyone, and California was amazing. I got to try professional Casey Jones and Super Silver Haze from a medical grower and it blew me away. I've got my inspiration!

Curious Daimon

 

[HghFlyrJD1]

Wow sorry to see this CD..I have some Casey Right now and its Great stuff for sure.I hope you figure this out..You might wanna contact Madmike.

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Had to get the video in there!!

Good to see ya, HF. Yeah, I'll give MadMike a shout if things don't look any better by the weekend. The good news is that the buds still seems good, if a little browned. I checked with my buddy out west and he said that browned hairs will not impact too badly, just size and stress. Such is the life of a farmer.

 

[Oban]

one of my plants looked the same way and I rode it out, now it seems the buds are growing white hairs on top of the brown hairs. whew!

 

[colonuggs]

.............i love casey ...Fuck preloaded soils...I use a soilless medium.... Try pro mix or sunshine #4

 

[HghFlyrJD1]

.............i love casey ...Fuck preloaded soils...I use a soilless medium.... Try pro mix or sunshine #4

Hey i hope your in RI...lol

 

[madmikeri]

Grr this sucks, but on a lighter note I'm glad you had a good trip to Cali. It is had to make out details in the video but it looks like nute burn to me. Like the person above said Preloaded soil has it perks, but also its drawbacks. Still not to bad for a first run, it will only get better from here.

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Well,

The Pandora's Box are recovering from the nute burn, and no one had to be sacrificed. The girls are looking and smelling really nice, and the one that was burnt most has the fattest buds.

I've been debating whether or not to use a second application of bud candy/sucanat, and tonight is the last night to use or not use. I think I might apply a reduced dose (1/2 or 3/4 strength) to the plant with the fewest gnarly leaves. We will see what intuition (and feedback) dictates as the day goes on.

The Smiles are shooting up huge and already developing plenty of bud sites. I'm interested to see how they progress with the SS and if there is a similar problem. I'm thinking that the main problem may have been the top dressing. Uncle D said he used the bottom of the first garbage bin full of SS. It may have been so saturated with the nutes working their way to the bottom, that it was way too hot. I'm going to mix the entire container thoroughly next time, and just throw the remaining SS into the next bin. I may add another 1/2 cup of dolomite, just for a little extra balancing.

[video=youtube;JgvUEbQoeFM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgvUEbQoeFM[/video]

Lastly, the gnats are in full force with the latest bag of Roots. The newest additions (Night Shade) have been transplanted to the veg tent and into Roots/LW/Dolomite. The Special and Power Skunk are growing nicely, although I believe there were some pH problems last week. The newest growths look fine, however.

I'm estimating 4/18 or so to be the harvest day and will be purchasing a USB microscope this week to get some trichome pictures.

Oh, I've been waiting to say this:

ENJOY the BUD PORN!



CD

 

[CuriousDaimon]

Colonuggs,

Nice plants, brother! This is my first grow, so I've only learned about organics and this pre-loaded mix. Would you mind sharing your nutrient regiment for soilless gardening? I still have another two barrel-fulls of super soil, but am willing to experiment and work with other media once I have extra time--such as summer with no classes.

If you have links to some good guides to soilless, I would be happy to peruse. This is the time in my green-thumb experience to work with as many methods as I can afford--time and money.

 

[CuriousDaimon]

I figured, since we're approaching the final phase of growth, I would snap some pics and a movie of one of the Pandora's Box out in "normal" room light. I thought I would have a heart attack getting it through the doorway--I don't know how often I'll be doing that. Perhaps I can set up a little photo stand in the grow room. We'll worry about actually growing the cannabis before concerning too much with photographing it.


So, last night I definitely had a d'oh moment. After shooting the pics and video, I mixed up a sucanat-only sugar boost. Approximately 2 tbs of sucanat in 2.5gallons of R/O water. The plants had been watered the night before, so they did not require too much "feeding." However, when I went to bring the photographed PB back into the tent, I realized I had fed the monster bush... I didn't want her to get the sucanat, but I was not paying enough attention and she got a good helping.

Ultimately, I don't think this will kill her. I hope this won't hurt her. I'm so glad I didn't add any bud candy--just the natural sugar.

Today, I need to transplant the special and super skunk into supersoil. I'll log my entire SS experience (I intend to, at least) and once the first batch is used up... I can re-evalutate the next set-up. Any suggestions and links to good beginner approaches would be much appreciated.

[video=youtube;JX6b25ZjymY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX6b25ZjymY[/video]

Enjoy the "Action Cam!"

CD