Lady J's Smokin' Section

[Lady.J]

My word on seedling nutes.
Big no no!
I do give mine some rooting hormone in minimal doses, but that is it. At least until I see good green foliar growth. Then I'll start with very small amounts of nutrient.
My reasoning behind this, is that they grow perfectly fine in the wild with just dirt and water... and as long as they sprout enough branches for me to get my yummy colas onto, then I don't care how quick or slow it took to get big enough.
I've had hermys, and it really wasn't nice at all

Microscope.
Yes, they do work Lady J!
I know you're right, you should be able to see what your girl is doing by simply looking at her.
Your problem here - is that you are growing out multiple strains and are a relatively new grower. THC contents of trichomes and timing of them appearing, is a unique thing for each different strain. In my humble opinion, one CAN know when an MJ lady is done, but first you must know that strain by having grown it out more than once or twice. Each strain finishes differently.
For you, having a microscope is a must.
I actually have only recently bought my scope, so I've struggled finding out the things that I've found out already. But now I have my scope, I would never want to grow without it!

Check this one for under a tenner at 100x - http://www.maplin.co.uk/100x-microscope-47478

My Fruit Punch, for instance, has cloudy trichs almost straight away from the start of flower! They turn brown almost 5/6 weeks in. This is still far too early, but having kept one plant on for longer than 8 weeks already, I know now that I can actually harvest that strain from 7 weeks onward but will be strongest at 9/10.
My cheese trichs however... don't turn cloudy until like the 7th week or so. then they only start turning brown at around 9. Cheese cannot be harvested any earlier...

Now I know these things after several grows of the same strains and having used my scope and borrowed other peoples for testing with, I no longer need one for these strains
natta mean?

I don't think you guys are reading what kind of mix I had...it was Jiffy Seed Starting mix....it has no nutrients. Yes, plants grow fine out in the wild in dirt, but dirt outside also is full of organic nutrients. The plant was dying and completely turning yellow...now it's green. I still fail to see how it was bad to give nutes?? You guys are confusing me! Just seems counter-intuitive to sit there and watch the plant barely growing and obviously nitrogen deficient. At 15 days, there should have been much more growth. It has grown more in 4 days than it has in the entire 15.

I know there are arguments in favor of a microscope, and I know that I am new...but I still ain't gonna use one . I am hard-headed in case you can't tell...and I like doing things the 'unpopular' way. There will probably be errors on my part, but I rather not rely on the scope. I have done a lot of research, and I'm pretty good at teaching myself new things. Have full confidence that I'll have an idea of when they are finished. Trichomes are relative anyway...some say to go for 75% amber, but that's it you want couch lock. Then some say to go when most are cloudy for a more cerebral high. I'm just gonna pick it when it looks ready!

 

[onlycucumbershere]

Different strokes....

I wasn't having a go btw, of course you gotta fix your ladies deficiencies... I was just talking generally is all. I've always grown my seeds out of soil and have had no probs with them popping up and saying hi lol never had any defs at that stage...
However, moving over to aero now, I may start to see some defs and may have to consider my options at the time.

Like I said though, each strain is different and as long as you know your strain then you're good to go! Guessing at it for the first time is all good and well, but it's not very accurate and doesn't help you move forward as quickly as you would with a scope.

I'm not into couch lock either mate. I wanna medicate, but still have a life too lol

(I'm a stubborn ass bitch too hahaha and won't take advice from anyone but I love to give it! So pls don't take offence - I'm just a humble wandering wise man, passing thru with my stick of sensi to spread the wondrous word of the marvel that is the universe - proper new age rasta business lol)

 

[Lady.J]

Here is a bagseed I had that was also stunted...the soil mix was 0.04-0-0. So just a little Nitrogen. Notice how it is bigger than the Blueberry I posted at the same age, because it had a little more N in the soil.

This is after I gave it ferts:

I think that it is a common misconception that it is always bad to give seedlings ferts! I want to point this out because at first I could not figure out why my plants were not growing and I was scared to give nutes due to everyone saying how bad it is. Many people forget to mention that if your medium is devoid of nutes, then you MUST fertilize if you want good results. After that bagseed, I learned to fert when the substrate lacks it, and started ferting in the same soil when the new plants were just a few days old. Here are the results of plants that are the same age, in the same soil, but ferted from sprout:

 

[Txchilies]

Well there are the little girls, hmmm looks like someone got the slow grow version. Have you been giving nutes since they popped? I learned not to do that early, it burns those fine root hairs and they don't get established. Hence I start in rockwool soaked in 6 pH water, and mist the cubes with the same 6 pH water for 2 to 3 weeks and then stick them in compost.

 

[Lady.J]

Different strokes....

I wasn't having a go btw, of course you gotta fix your ladies deficiencies... I was just talking generally is all. I've always grown my seeds out of soil and have had no probs with them popping up and saying hi lol never had any defs at that stage...
However, moving over to aero now, I may start to see some defs and may have to consider my options at the time.

Like I said though, each strain is different and as long as you know your strain then you're good to go! Guessing at it for the first time is all good and well, but it's not very accurate and doesn't help you move forward as quickly as you would with a scope.

I'm not into couch lock either mate. I wanna medicate, but still have a life too lol

(I'm a stubborn ass bitch too hahaha and won't take advice from anyone but I love to give it! So pls don't take offence - I'm just a humble wandering wise man, passing thru with my stick of sensi to spread the wondrous word of the marvel that is the universe - proper new age rasta business lol)

Hey I'm not offended!! I'm a "debater" lol. But I won't get mad at you...unless you call me a twat, then we might have an exchange of words

I won't be entirely "guessing", I will be reading the plants to tell when they're ready. I know a scope is useful, but you know us stubborn people

 

[Cloudz2600]

The results speak for themselves Adding ferts helped.

 

[Lady.J]

Well there are the little girls, hmmm looks like someone got the slow grow version. Have you been giving nutes since they popped? I learned not to do that early, it burns those fine root hairs and they don't get established. Hence I start in rockwool soaked in 6 pH water, and mist the cubes with the same 6 pH water for 2 to 3 weeks and then stick them in compost.

No, the problem was that they didn't have any nutes. Those are old plants from a different grow. When I gave them nutes, they started growing and stopped yellowing, without any nute burn as well.

 

[onlycucumbershere]

Can I just say - you shouldn't use bag seed results to determine your entire grow schedule... imho

I also agree with Chillies... seeing my roots hanging in my aero pot, I can clearly see just how delicate those little hairy bits are and I wouldn't even want to touch them they are that delicate!
Very pretty bagseed though growing out just lovely!

Talking soil ferting...
There is this stuff that a friend gave me. Only a few ml cos it was so expensive but fuck me it works magic to the roots! If you're interested I shall ask him the name of it.
It's basically a soil fertiliser, but also a heavy root stimulant in smaller doses. I use it a week or two before I take my cuts and magically makes lots of new leaves and branches appear! LoL
But more-so for this debate - one can flush the soil with this stuff before planting into it and it fills it with much needed good stuff. Let me know if you want the name okay as I'll have to ask

 

[KidneyStoner420]

LOL, I'd like to hear the name

 

[onlycucumbershere]

Hey I'm not offended!! I'm a "debater" lol. But I won't get mad at you...unless you call me a twat, then we might have an exchange of words

I won't be entirely "guessing", I will be reading the plants to tell when they're ready. I know a scope is useful, but you know us stubborn people

Love it!

I did manage okay before I got a scope, so I'm sure you will manage just fine

 

[Lady.J]

Can I just say - you shouldn't use bag seed results to determine your entire grow schedule... imho

I also agree with Chillies... seeing my roots hanging in my aero pot, I can clearly see just how delicate those little hairy bits are and I wouldn't even want to touch them they are that delicate!
Very pretty bagseed though growing out just lovely!

Talking soil ferting...
There is this stuff that a friend gave me. Only a few ml cos it was so expensive but fuck me it works magic to the roots! If you're interested I shall ask him the name of it.
It's basically a soil fertiliser, but also a heavy root stimulant in smaller doses. I use it a week or two before I take my cuts and magically makes lots of new leaves and branches appear! LoL
But more-so for this debate - one can flush the soil with this stuff before planting into it and it fills it with much needed good stuff. Let me know if you want the name okay as I'll have to ask

The bagseed was my very first plant. It has long since been dead. Because I grew the bagseed first, I found out my soil didn't have adequate nutrients....so I was able to grow 100% healthy plants from good genetics without finding out through them that my soil was devoid of Nitrogen! By the way...I have not experience any nute burn at all. The whole reason why it's not recommended to fert seedlings is because most soils already have nutes in them, so you will burn the plants. Obviously, that doesn't apply! All the plants I showed you were healthier after being ferted! I could understand if my tips were all curled, burnt, and plants twisted up and dying...but it's the exact opposite! thanks for the recommendation, but I think my results w/ seedlings have been pretty good using ferts.

 

[Lady.J]

I know I probably sound like a defensive smart ass right now

I wish you could hear how I'm talking just so you know that I'm not angry or anything. I like to explain and defend what I do because it had improved my grow, and I like to share what I learn in order to help other people.

When you grow in a medium that has no nutrients (like growing in water, coco, or perlite), you will see what I mean about giving ferts to seedlings!

 

[onlycucumbershere]

Aye, your argument does stand up. With un-fertilised soil. The plant needs what it needs, end of. So agreed, one should give the thing what it needs

I think that most 'new' growers tend to start off with 'any-old' soil, and learn their mistake that way. But you're obv not the 'new' a grower in respect of how long you've been growing lol same as me really, researched my ass off before I even started and still research my ass off daily lol Kinda makes us older.

I must've been lucky in that respect. The first soil I chose was one that was already lying around and had been for some years lol worked a charm!
I then bought a new bag of cheapo nastiness from the local garden centre and my plants were shit as a result.
After that experience, I looked a little more carefully at the soil bags. I still got a cheapo nasty one, but as long as it was fine and easy to aerate, don't really matter anything else cos I just fertilise it myself anyways

As for my seedlings...
I will still carry one tending the roots rather than the foliage... with no nutes other than root boosters, it seems to be working for me right now

 

[onlycucumbershere]

I know I probably sound like a defensive smart ass right now

I wish you could hear how I'm talking just so you know that I'm not angry or anything. I like to explain and defend what I do because it had improved my grow, and I like to share what I learn in order to help other people.

When you grow in a medium that has no nutrients (like growing in water, coco, or perlite), you will see what I mean about giving ferts to seedlings!

LoL
I'm a debater too! uh oh... lol

And if not careful will force you to start another new thread cos of random chatter haha

Nah, good chat really. It's great to reaffirm ones own methods through vigorous analysis

 

[Lady.J]

Aye, your argument does stand up. With un-fertilised soil. The plant needs what it needs, end of. So agreed, one should give the thing what it needs

I think that most 'new' growers tend to start off with 'any-old' soil, and learn their mistake that way. But you're obv not the 'new' a grower in respect of how long you've been growing lol same as me really, researched my ass off before I even started and still research my ass off daily lol Kinda makes us older.

I must've been lucky in that respect. The first soil I chose was one that was already lying around and had been for some years lol worked a charm!
I then bought a new bag of cheapo nastiness from the local garden centre and my plants were shit as a result.
After that experience, I looked a little more carefully at the soil bags. I still got a cheapo nasty one, but as long as it was fine and easy to aerate, don't really matter anything else cos I just fertilise it myself anyways

As for my seedlings...
I will still carry one tending the roots rather than the foliage... with no nutes other than root boosters, it seems to be working for me right now

lol I felt like I was going crazy for a second, thought you weren't understanding where I was coming from. But yup, only with unfertilized soils. I directly mixed organic ferts into the soil mix before I transplanted, so it's much harder to burn the plants and they absorb the nutes over time.

I agree about the research! I hate making mistakes...especially stupid ones, so try to research and experiment before taking on something I know nothing about. Def gives us an up on the average newbie

I can understand why you would prioritize the roots over foliage...have heard other people using root boosters as well. Maybe I will add something like that to later grows...but things seem good so far. Want to keep it simple if not having any issues.

 

[Lady.J]

LoL
I'm a debater too! uh oh... lol

And if not careful will force you to start another new thread cos of random chatter haha

Nah, good chat really. It's great to reaffirm ones own methods through vigorous analysis

lmao it's too late, we've run a few pages already. Oh well, I do enjoy debating though

You are right, it's great to reaffirm...but also can appreciate occasionally being knocked off my high horse when finding out I'm wrong. lol. It happens more times than I care to admit

 

[onlycucumbershere]

lmao it's too late, we've run a few pages already. Oh well, I do enjoy debating though

You are right, it's great to reaffirm...but also can appreciate occasionally being knocked off my high horse when finding out I'm wrong. lol. It happens more times than I care to admit

Nah mate you doin just fine - in fact more than lol
I've seen some grows on this site that make me think WHOAAA! but I've also seen some grows and just though... poor plants... lol
Your plants are NOT under fed and always look healthy. Even your unhealthy ones! lol

Might be a swiss roll, but you on a roll girl! so keep rollin'

 

[supchaka]

Just for the sake of debate, the jiffy seed starting mix does have nutrients in it. I still misread the original statement and thought the plants were in the happy frog mix when you fertilized it. If they were in the happy frog mix then I stick to my guns. But consider this, hypothetically, there maybe was enough ferts in the soil to begin with and your plants roots were just starting to reach out and gain the food already existing in the soil, which coincided with you feeding them and gave the impression that was what "fixed" them was you feeding them when in actuality they were going to be fine anyway and the dose of ferts just happened to not be enough to burn them.

Did that make any sense? Things dont always type out the same as they sound in my brain

 

[onlycucumbershere]

Did that make any sense? Things dont always type out the same as they sound in my brain

Looking at the size of that cola on your DP, I'd say it's no wonder things don't type out like your brain says it should lmao
That's a beauty of a cola!

I think you could be right too, with your surmise. From what I understand about the roots, it's those lil hairy bits (I like to think of them as reversed pistels lol) that take the first nutes, but only one they're white and thick enough to do so.

Lady J, I think further testing may be required to confirm your hypothesis, against Chaka's new theory. Cos I think he could be right...
On the other hand, if your shit is working just fine right now, then no need But still a good experiment to perform, for future referencing.

 

[Lady.J]

Actually there are not any nutes in Jiffy Seed Starting mix...have the bag right here. Says: This mix contains 45% to 55% sphagnum peat moss, 45% to 55% vermiculite and lime for pH balance, and organic wetting agent.

Here is why I disagree with your theory Chaka....when I ferted plants directly from sprout, there was no yellowing at all. When I didn't fert plants and left them in the mix, they were severely stunted. They did not resume growing until I ferted them. You cannot tell me these are normal plants for their age:

Seedlings have enough in them to get to the first set of leaves...after that, they need nitrogen from somewhere. Why do you think it is required to give seedlings low strength ferts in hydro, coco, soil-less mixes? They need a source to draw upon in order to thrive. It's common sense really! Where do they get food from if your mix is completely devoid of nutrients???

If you want to see if I am right or wrong...buy Jiffy seed starting mix (or any medium completely devoid of nitrogen), fill a pot with it, put a bagseed or whatever in it, give it only water, and then send me the pics