Northern Lights X BB auto & Speed Devil auto

[Cloudz2600]

Not sure if I'm just worrying for no reason, but I think I may remove the main pipe cleaner. Just looking at it and I can't see buds developing properly with the branches bunched up or the pipe cleaner covering the main stem. I never tried it, but when I was growing my bagseed I watched a video of a guy taping the tip of a large fan leaf to the put. He said since you're likely to cut off the tips of the leafs(why?) taping them won't really matter. Also it puts little stress on the actual stem. Only downside I'm guessing it that it would be hard to tape the smaller leaves that don't reach the edge of the pot.

Quick googling gave me the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtbYCVivYL0

EDIT: I decided to go with the tape method and got rid of all the pipe cleaners except for the counter tie on the Northern Lights. I didn't have any scotch tape like the video recommended, only electrical and gorilla, I used gorilla tape. I'm going to keep using pipe cleaners on the Blue Mammoth to see which is more effective/less harmful. I figured with the pipe cleaners I have better control over what I want to pull down, but as you can see the tape method pulled the plant down pretty well.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Fuck, fuck fuck! Not sure if it happened when I was putting the tape on or when I was taking the pipe cleaners off, but I snapped the stem! I taped it right away so I don't have any pics, but it was pretty clean. Maybe a millimeter of it didn't break off. Was the top 2 nodes when had 4 stems branching off, which had an extra node to each of them, so like 8 possible nodes. I guess I'll know the damage in about 12-24 hours. This is another reason photoperiods are better. I can't make a clone out of the broken stem.

 

[Lady.J]

Damn!!! I'm sure you know now, but you gotta ease on those stems, bit by bit. Hopefully the tape will let it heal up...

 

[Cloudz2600]

Yea I think it happened when I was trying to get the tape off the pipe cleaners. That gorilla tape is super sticky. I was pretty careful when I was putting the tape on the leaf.

 

[Lady.J]

I think I saw the tape method you are talking about...but only saw it done with scotch tape. Well you live and learn! Have seen a lot of people recover a plant with tape so going to keep fingers crossed for you.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Well the Blue Mammoth is fine and took the LST pretty well. The bottom nodes are all popping up. Below the break all the nodes on the Northern Lights are doing well too. On the bright side I'm glad I only decided to tie down the top 2 nodes. I'm spritzing the top of the northern lights about every 4-6 hours. I figure the longer I can keep the plant semi-alive the better chance I have of it reattaching itself...It's not looking too good, but the death is a slow one. I cut off 2 branches that hadn't developed nodes and were just fan leaves. So it's the main stem and 2 branches that each have a node. If it dies it dies, like I said growth below the break is still fine albeit slowed down a little bit. I have a few more weeks of pre-flowering until buds are supposed to develop.

Probably on friday(just so it's easy to remember) I'm going to start using 1/8 tsp of Jack's Classic All purpose(20-20-20). The full strength calls for 1/4 cup per gallon and the measuring cup they gave me has the lowest measurement as 1/4 so I'll more or less be eye-balling it. I'll be sure to go under 1/8 than over. Whenever I see actual buds develop I'll switch over to by 10-30-20.

Last night was just a bad night. The acu-rite says the temp got up to 93F...Which is just weird as it was 77 outside and I had the window completely open. Temp right now is 84-86. I got a small(8-10") desk fan and put it in front of the passive intake. Temp drops about 5 degrees when it's on max and it blows the plants pretty well. I put it on max when I'm not in the room. Otherwise I keep it on low or just off.

I think for my next grow(confirmed for La Dive and Afgan Kush Ryder) I'll "invest" in some wire or buy some wire hangers. Besides that I really don't see anything else I need​. Till next time ^_^

 

[Cloudz2600]

Watered the plants today with a little bit of 20-20-20. BM's bottom and side nodes are starting to pop up and everything below the break for the Northern Lights is doing very well. Not sure if the top is healing or just dying slowly. I've noticed the 2 newest fan leaves getting very thin, but the 2 main fan leaves are still pretty wide. I mist them as often as I remember, but I try not to mess with the bin too much. I think I'll wait till monday or so to remove the tape. I figure if it's dead then it's just absorbing light that could be used by still living parts of the plants.

Needless to say I'm a bit scared to LST anymore than I have lol. If the top part of the Northern Lights recovers I'll start LSTing about every time I water(2-3 days it seems).

I think the reason I had such a high temp a few days ago was because I had the desk fan touching the bin. The fan moves air pretty decently, but the center of the fan is a giant logo(great design guys...) so I think it was blocking off more air than it moved in. I moved it back maybe 4-5 inches yesterday and temps have stayed pretty much from 82F to 84F. Also figured out I can manipulate the humidity by placing the fan closer and/or increasing the power. Lowest recorded is 43%.

Being the stubborn person I am I haven't returned the fan yet. I got an electrician company coming out on friday to install it for me. Pretty cheap too, only $30. The main thing that's killing me, and I notice that the living room is much cooler because of it, is that my room has no air circulation. Hopefully with the fan installed it will be much cooler and I don't have to have the window open all the time.

I'll probably post pics Friday of the fan(just cause) and the plants.

 

[Lady.J]

Watered the plants today with a little bit of 20-20-20. BM's bottom and side nodes are starting to pop up and everything below the break for the Northern Lights is doing very well. Not sure if the top is healing or just dying slowly. I've noticed the 2 newest fan leaves getting very thin, but the 2 main fan leaves are still pretty wide. I mist them as often as I remember, but I try not to mess with the bin too much. I think I'll wait till monday or so to remove the tape. I figure if it's dead then it's just absorbing light that could be used by still living parts of the plants.

Needless to say I'm a bit scared to LST anymore than I have lol. If the top part of the Northern Lights recovers I'll start LSTing about every time I water(2-3 days it seems).

I think the reason I had such a high temp a few days ago was because I had the desk fan touching the bin. The fan moves air pretty decently, but the center of the fan is a giant logo(great design guys...) so I think it was blocking off more air than it moved in. I moved it back maybe 4-5 inches yesterday and temps have stayed pretty much from 82F to 84F. Also figured out I can manipulate the humidity by placing the fan closer and/or increasing the power. Lowest recorded is 43%.

Being the stubborn person I am I haven't returned the fan yet. I got an electrician company coming out on friday to install it for me. Pretty cheap too, only $30. The main thing that's killing me, and I notice that the living room is much cooler because of it, is that my room has no air circulation. Hopefully with the fan installed it will be much cooler and I don't have to have the window open all the time.

I'll probably post pics Friday of the fan(just cause) and the plants.

Hope the NL pulls through for you....think it's a good idea to wait until Monday. Even if the top dies, you'll probably still be able to salvage the plant so all isn't lost!

Do you live in a place with high humidity? Humidity is killing me in my box right now. Might have to buy a mini dehumidifier.

I think the fan will improve your circulation a lot...might even get some better temps going (even though they're not bad to begin with). Can help out with the humidity too...hopefully lol.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Yea I live in the south east so high humidity is pretty normal. It's also been raining the past week. I kind of want higher humidity while the top is healing, but I'm unable to get anything over 55%. So I'm forced or spray the top. Humidity is actually good until buds start developing. Now as far as humidity in my room I'm not so sure. I think the last time I took the acu-rite outside the bin it said something like 60%.

 

[Cloudz2600]

While I was spraying the Northern Lights I noticed 2 leaves yellowing. I don't think it would be nute burn simply because that would of been WAY too quick of a response I think and so solution was so diluted.

 

[Lady.J]

Yea I live in the south east so high humidity is pretty normal. It's also been raining the past week. I kind of want higher humidity while the top is healing, but I'm unable to get anything over 55%. So I'm forced or spray the top. Humidity is actually good until buds start developing. Now as far as humidity in my room I'm not so sure. I think the last time I took the acu-rite outside the bin it said something like 60%.

Yea I know humidity is good, but not when it's like mine where's it's up to 80% at night! That's high for veg even...going to have to pick up damp rid or something.

While I was spraying the Northern Lights I noticed 2 leaves yellowing. I don't think it would be nute burn simply because that would of been WAY too quick of a response I think and so solution was so diluted.

Since those are bottom leaves and yellowing from the outside in, would say Nitrogen deficiency. That can happen when you're nutes are even across the board (like 20-20-20) or small Nitro ratio compared to the other nutes. Nitrogen is the main nute desired by your plants during veg, so you want it to have a higher ratio in your ferts. I'm using fox farm 6-4-4 (for veg) but I heard something like 4-3-1 is better.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Wait you're saying my using nutes caused a deficiency? I get that I would have more of the Potassium and Potash in comparison, but wouldn't I see have more Nitrogen than what I had before I used nutes? Some guy in https://www.rollitup.org/marijuana-plant-problems/534483-normal-yellowing-plant-deficiency-nute.html#post7537209 said that it was ph. Which I find weird because I've been using the same filtered water left our for 24 hours+.

I totally agree more Nitrogen is better than a even amount of nutes. I think the only Jack's Classic that has more is the Orchid Special(30-10-10). Amazon wants $7 for 8 ounces while I paid $8 for 1.5 pounds for the 2 I have.

 

[Lady.J]

The wrong ratio can def give you a deficiency....having too much of a nutrient can cause other nutrients to lock out. It's really really important to have the right ratio. It s unlikely that it is Ph, and I only say that because too often people have a problem and everyone is quick to say Ph. It makes sense that it is the nutes because they aren't the proper ratio! Use this as comparison...5500k spectrum CFL will grow cannabis right, but not efficiently because cannabis absorbs 6500k much better. Just that difference in spectrum determines whether your crop will be sub par or something worth mentioning. Same thing with nutes. Give them the wrong ratio and you leaves won't be as healthy as they could be...and it's your leaves that feed the bud so wacked out leaves = wacked out buds.

Uncle Ben - I don’t use “cannabis specific” plant foods for many reasons. If you do, make sure you’re able to find the NPK and micro values and understand the relationship between those elements. An overage of one element over another will create an antagonistic affect. For example, too much K tends to create a deficiency of N, Ca, and Mg.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Ah ok that makes a lot of sense, thanks! The 20-20-20 has been doing wonders for my basil and mint so I figured I wouldn't have any problems with cannabis lol, I guess that's not the case. Guess I'll just use water from now on until I see bud development. I might get that fish stuff you posted earlier for my next grow then. 10-30-20 should be fine for flowering right?

 

[Lady.J]

Ah ok that makes a lot of sense, thanks! The 20-20-20 has been doing wonders for my basil and mint so I figured I wouldn't have any problems with cannabis lol, I guess that's not the case. Guess I'll just use water from now on until I see bud development. I might get that fish stuff you posted earlier for my next grow then. 10-30-20 should be fine for flowering right?

Nah that's too much! It will work, but is not optimal. Need to give lesser strength nutes during flowering. Am using Fox Farm Big Bloom and it's 0.01 - 0.3 - 0.7. It's organic, many people swear by it, and has gentle ratios for cannabis. Because it is low strength and organic, it's much harder to burn the plants. Am also going to keep using the fish ferts while flowering to make sure the plants are still getting enough N. Will do once a week instead of alternating it with every other watering like I did during veg.

 

[Cloudz2600]

On this we'll have to agree to disagree lol. I'll agree that organic>artificial(or w/e its called), but the reason I got Jack's was because I saw a bunch of people grow with it w/o any problems. That and compared to Fox Farm's it's a hell of a lot cheaper. It's just not one of those fertilizers that's typically associated with cannabis. Rereading the threads and some they say use 1/4 strength or half strength though. What's 1/4 of 1/4 tsp? If my nursery sold the ferts I would totally buy em, but $20 for a qt is over my budget. I know amazon overcharges for stuff. How much do you mix per gallon?

Now that I think about it, if the fertilizer I gave the plants was even all around I didn't really add anything more than the other. I do think that I wasn't deficient in anything so I may of caused some problems when I added more though.

Also 10-30-20 is the same as 1-3-2, it's just the way companies decide to write it. If I seem like I'm coming off a little angry or something I totally don't mean too ^_^

 

[Lady.J]

Lol no, you don't sound angry, hope I don't either. I like being able to intelligently converse with someone, even if we don't agree. After all, if I'm wrong and you're right, I'm trying to do what you're doing . Fox Farm does seem expensive....but it lasts a long time, and it really is good. Right now I am mixing 4 caps per gallon. One bottle is enough for a few grows. Have to be careful with cheap nutes...like Miracle Grow, you can grow with it and it's cheaper than Fox Farm, but it won't be the same quality. Your yield could suffer from deciding to go with the cheaper route. And then it's not really cheap because you might find yourself buying weed from someone else sooner than you thought lol. I have heard someone else say that 10-30-20 is the same as 1-3-2 but then I remember someone really experienced on this forum arguing against it? I might be wrong, but I'll look for the thread. If it's the same then those nutes would be good.

 

[Cloudz2600]

Well it's a ratio."Proven 1:3:2 ratio stimulates the plant to set more flowers while holding color brighter and longer than any other home blooming formula" http://www.jrpeters.com/Products/Jack-s-Classic/Blossom-Booster.html I'll agree that Miracle Grow is typically garbage, but then again people have had successful grows with it too. I mainly just don't like the time released nutes most of their soils have. Haha...Yea, no. Unless the grow completely goes to shit(knock on wood) I don't smoke that much. I've made a gram of High(loud, headies, etc) last a week before, once I made it last a week and a half. So if I get 7 per plant that's enough to last me through another grow so I can get my shit straight.

 

[Lady.J]

I don't know how in the heck you can last a week off of a gram lol. You'll have to let me know how those nutes work out for you though. I know the ones I am using aren't exactly the best but I like the ingredients (earth worm castings, bat guano, seaweed...etc). The best thing to do really is mix your own soil with organic ferts...then all you have to do is water for the entire grow. I want to do that soon!

 

[Cloudz2600]

It all depends on what you smoke and how you smoke it. There's no way I could make it last with mids or by using a joint/blunt or even a bong. My pipe is decently sized and as long as I get my high grade stuff I'm good. I've smoked an oz before like like 2 days (4/20-4/21), but that as all mids lol.