420 Marines 400/430 13 Plant Home and Garden Second Grow

[420Marine]

OK so this is going to be my second grow and I had some major family issues that unfortunately only left me to give about 10% of the time too my second grow..plants died, got eaten by cats, got no food and barely any water for 2 months..but I think most of you will understand where I'm coming from since we're all patients and we all no that some serious stuff can happen at the drop of a hat.

This is going to start off with a base of 13 plants
1 super skunk (previous grow awesome plant)

1 Burkle (Unknown to me but clone gotten from quality source who is open to questions)

1 Unknown (bagseed, killer weed who knows?)

10 Sour Diesel

The first two months like I said nothing really got done..but the last week has flown by and lots of stuff happeing.

Transferred all 13 plants to 3 gallon pots.
Started using a 400 Watt MH vs the 430 HPS I had for flowering last round.

Dirt for plants was a mix of roots organics and manna mix...was told manna is very close to roots.

As far as nutrients I'm going with the full lineup (unless I see zero results in a month) of the Home and Garden Lineup...very expensive lineup but two good things are that you don't need much of any one nute and two is that I can't find one bit of bad info on them..on the flip side of that I can't find any good info either.

So that's where I stand as of right now...I'll update as time lets me and if there's any interest in the thread..

Take care all
T

 

[toughwork]

would love to see some pics!!

 

[420Marine]

Will be posting some pics later on today..no later than midnight at least...


Stay Tuned

 

[t0rn]

I'm on-board for the ride bro

 

[420Marine]

Hey bro..nice to see you on board...now as promised..

First off I know I, I know it's House and Garden..sorry about that...new nutes and the name didn't stick right away.

Second I didn't leave the price tags on thier to be gawked at..that's for my use so I know what/how much I have to spend to renew shit.

As for the plants..as you can see, right now I have a couple of OK ones ATM. The ones doing the best are the Burkle, Super Skunk, one of the Sour Diesels, and finally a Mystery Clone...I have no idea what this thing is but I"m guessing from the stretching its at the very least a sativa dom strain of some sort...I'll have to wait and see.

Nothing fancy this go around..I'm using just basically panda film on the walls surrounding the plants I have the 1 400 watter and an OK reflector...Lots of stuff still to upgrade and since this is going to be (hopefully) perpetual I'll have to do things slowly which is OK but a pain to watch grow so slow.

I'm defanitely trying to dial in on the plants needs earlier this go round..I've only been feeding for about 2 weeks now and I've not only changed my days around, I"ve changed amounts (some getting more others less) and I constantly rotate this time..it's a lot more work tying to get 13 plants going but I think the fact that I have a few sub par (either from genetics or my lack of care..either way) plants..makes it easier to pick and focus...I'll do the best I can with all of them of course but the longer I wait to flower these wimpy(er) ones the more food etc they can get.

I'm going to do week 2 feeding at "normal" for the sickly six today and then no food, or water (other than misting and foliar feeding twice in the four days). The reason I'm doing this is b/c most of these plants need to dry out a bit...the water is having a helluva time draining and there's also the added benefit of as the soil drys the roots will expand looking for water giving me a better base in some of the plants.

I'll do an update on the next water after today to see if the water drains better.

 

[hellraizer30]

they look good im in!

 

[420Marine]

Thanks for coming along for the ride HellRaizer

 

[xebeche]

OK so this is going to be my second grow and I had some major family issues that unfortunately only left me to give about 10% of the time too my second grow..plants died, got eaten by cats, got no food and barely any water for 2 months...
T

You should always feed your plants...AND your cats

Sub'd for a successful grow this time around.

 

[420Marine]

Yes, yes I totally agree...it's funny my cat at home never bothered my last grow..but where I"m growing now 2 of the three cats keep chomping on plants..and they're kinda stupid b/c they keep yacking afterward..*sigh* oh well live and let live..thanks for coming along for the ride Xebeche

 

[Snow Crash]

I thought I already sub'd for your new grow thread...?

Oh well. Here now.

 

[NightbirdX]

Semper Fidelis, 420 Marine. I was looking at the Home and Garden line up. I'll be watching to see how it all goes man. Good luck!

 

[420Marine]

Great to have you on board everyone...actually you reminded me of two things Mr.Crash..one is to update..and two is I gotta finish your thread...I'm on page 7 right now started this morning and ended up with a headache so I medicated and I gotta say I love reading your thread in the state they just seem to make so much sense and follow a very liner line of thinking. If you want to read another great journal look at SnowCrashes 1400 Watt one.

Now as for me...Up and down last few days. I did end up doing the watering after 5 days on plants 1-6 (I feed these plants the "aggressive" formula using the Home and Garden Nutes, my logic is simple they're the biggest of the plants and therefore in my mind should be getting more food.) They were still slightly more damp then I would like quite honestly so I"m going to wait to start the week 3 of the veg nutes...today is day three of drying and out and right now it looks like I"m going to be waiting until Sunday to feed again. The whole issue is that their is horrible drainage in these new pots I have..they're 3 gallon pots are just quite honestly really crappy. So after reading an article in last months Extreme Gardening I've decided that when I transplant each plant into five gallon buckets when they're ready for flowering, (possibly a week before I'm still not sure on this, however the reason would be to help in root growth and basically let the plants root system stretch a little bit more before flower and become settled) I'm going to fill about 1/4 to a 1/3 full of hydroton. The reason I"m doing this is mainly for drainage purposes but also to save on soil. I've found that this soil doesn't drain that well but I think that's due to the fact that it's never really dried out properly yet and/or the drainage just sucks..probably due to the fact the dirt is so solid at this point. I think the best thing is to let them just dry out and let those roots search for as for water for as long as possible. This should in turn make for a more solid root base and increasing the nutrient uptake.

As for the "smaller six" as I call them I give them the "normal" dose but everything else (including the problems with drainage) are identical.

*Note to anyone that reads this and has the money or is even trying to decide..Buy a good combo PH/EC/Temp meter..Hanna makes one that looks damn good..probably what I will get..however I already have a ph tester..works great but at this stage I need an EC meter to properly dose. Definitely on the wish list hopefully by August or so.

I've had one fatality that really kinda made me mad..not so much the fact that it died it's how/why that makes me kinda pissed..great looking plant and then within 24 hours dead. More than likely it was due to my error. To get these pots to properly drain I usually have to, by hand move the dirt water mixture with the plant still in it..I've done this with virtually every plant at this point multiple times. It's a giant PITA quite honestly but I feel that it's the only way the water will drain. At any rate when I did the last time for that plant I think in all honesty I messed with the main roots too much by accident (obviously). Shit happens the grow goes on however it WAS very good plant and the last of a certain strain I had...hopefully in another two weeks I'll get another clone and try again.


I also have a very runty plant that I may or may not toss....I have 9 others that are doing great and quite honestly I'm limited in numbers and rather focus my resources on more stronger plants.


Pics will come probably after 1am or so tonight..I have to Foliar spray everyone...and won't be able to access any of my main data until then.

So As it stands right now..I have 9 Sour Diesel. I've read it can take 9-12 weeks...I'm gonna go long with these and go 12

1 Unknown (will be put in when the first two I'm putting in will be at week 5 of flowering

Hope everyone enjoys the Holiday this Sunday otherwise just enjoy the day..lifes too short not too.

1 Burkle AKA Bernuckle This will also be put in at the same time as the unknown..est days needed, 56-63

If anyone is really good at reading veg plants I would love to know if my Sour Diesels are and or look like the real deal..if that's the case great..if not no biggie I suppose just back to square one as far as flowering time goes.

 

[Snow Crash]

After looking at the drain buckets the only thing I can think of is a pressure issue. Water doesn't drain freely because there isn't an "air hole."

Drilling a little hole near the upper part of the bucket where air can flow freely might make a little bit of a difference.

Other than that... More perlite...

I definitely have to agree there's a little moisture stress going on and it would probably be in the benefit of the roots to keep the feedings within reason until they are filled out throughout the soil and can handle it. Figure, all the food in the places there aren't roots can build up over time. When the roots do finally fill in they will hit a richly saturated nutrient pocket and you can damage the plant.

Just be cautious with the drainage issue. If they get just a little bit bigger I'm sure the uptake will balance out.

Looking forward to those pictures. I have one of the blue HannaGroCheck meters and it's alright. I'm not sure if it is the best available, but it was like $140 and for that money does a very good job. Thank you for the props Sir.

 

[420Marine]

Snow I agree RE: drilling some more holes..I think that's the best bet. Not too too concerned about a nute build up only b/c with the H&G line there's an additive called "drip clean" that supposedly cleans every time..we'll see if it works or not.

Your Hanna sounds around the right price, but the one I was eyeballing was black..not sure if that may be an updated model or not but I"ll look for the blue one as well.

As far as props you are more than welcome.

Edit: thought I'd link to the Hanna..

http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instruments-Conductivity-Temperature-Tester/dp/B002ZG8L58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1303514822&sr=8-1

 

[hellraizer30]

hey 420 Ive used hanna alot in the past and I got to say there not that good, look into blue labs combo or gaurdain meters there the shit!

 

[420Marine]

@Hellraizer...I had been eyeballing the blue labs combo but cripes...could it be any more expensive...although after reading reviews of the hanna one you basically need to spend another 50 on solutiouns...so it turns out to be about 50 less than the blue labs..I don't want to spend that much however if I'm going to I might as well. Pics from earlier in the week tomorrow then hopefully another update before Monday

 

[hellraizer30]

@Hellraizer...I had been eyeballing the blue labs combo but cripes...could it be any more expensive...although after reading reviews of the hanna one you basically need to spend another 50 on solutiouns...so it turns out to be about 50 less than the blue labs..I don't want to spend that much however if I'm going to I might as well. Pics from earlier in the week tomorrow then hopefully another update before Monday

yah the blue labe are pricey but when you think there unit dont have to be calibrated the EC and only once a month calibrate the PH
and they have temp adjustment in my mind there best a person can buy.

 

[420Marine]

Ok folks hittting the rack in a minute..will get two more pics up but for now here's an overview of the 12 still standing and the one that passed on me....haven't been able to get to these till tonight..blew a rod out in my engine..it's a V8 and pricey to fix..weighing options ATM.

Anyway here ya go

 

[420Marine]

Hey everyone...everything seems to be going quite well in my lil garden. I should have the correct numbers to be able to throw in the "flower room" next week. I've cut way back on feedings on all plants..I wanted to let everything get good and dry and then water basically start from scratch as far as Feeding/Watering go. I def have a few that are not going to be big yielders..again mostly (if not entirely) my fault for letting them sit so long without food, or any real love. Here are a few more pics...I'm curious to see how people think I'm doing or if they may see any nutrient def. that I haven't either seen or if something looks really messed up..I've had a headache for the past week so it's been tough for me to get on here..try harder next week.

 

[420Marine]

Well right on cure..another week another (almost) dead plant..bad week..well good week personally..I have finally found "the one" foe me..she's chill as hell and I've been a litle busy with her hehe...Next week I'll be helping her move in here so not alot of updates..then again how many veg updates can you do? As I said I have another possible (and as many as two) dead and or dying plants..I'm pretty sure I shot myself in the foot with these two..mainly just some water has brough them back to life...this is my first "big" grow..and before I kept all three plants on the same schedule..this is just not feesable with this many plants..some are huge others aren't...some drain well others don't etc..but this is hopefully the last big learnign curve for me...I also deceded to move the light up a bit..may move it up even more at some point soon...I"ll post pics in the am..right now bed is calling and I'm beat..t