I have a mentor who is sort of teaching me ropes (although he's kindof leaving me to my own devices). He taught me how to clone, and I took some of his Pitbull, Black, Alaskan Thunder F*ck and Hashberry. I used Clonex gel and put them in Rapid Rooter plugs. I premixed some Olivia's solution and put a small layer on the bottom of the tray (under the plugs). Had to use his prop tent, so they were out of my hands for a few weeks. When I finally got them - they had a little mold growing on them. 
I transplanted into net pots using Mother Earth Hydropebbles and set up my flood and drain system for veg. I rigged a 50 gallon tote for my reservoir, drilled holes in my trays and hooked up the plumbing. Filled the res with 35 gallons of water (one gallon at a time to make sure I got the measurements right) and 3-2-1 GH FloraGro, FloraMicro and FloraBloom - respectively. I only used 75% of the recommended amounts, however. So: 394 ml Gro, 262 ml Micro and 132ml Bloom. I also added a few spoonfuls of Great White (shaken well with water before adding). After thinking I was doomed from the start, I tried to solve the mold problem with what little, mostly borrowed, resources I had. I made a foliar spray made out of that Great White stuff, skim milk and warm water. Sprayed the Christ out of those little bastards and prayed to the Cannabis gods...
It felt like the mold was gone almost overnight. I was pleasantly shocked! Believe me when I tell you... I watched these babies like a hawk for that few couple of weeks. The mold didn't proliferate or return. I changed the water/nutes every week for the first four weeks using that same 3-2-1, 75% formula. My light is a 4', 8-bulb, 400W T5 HO (only used half the bulbs for four weeks). When I saw 3-4 nodes - fimmed tops on all plants. I wanted to transfer to flowering cycle after week four was up, but I ran out of funds dammit. It would be another 4 weeks before I could go any further...
For four more weeks I continued for as best as I thought possible. I stopped using the Great White stuff because my roots were fucking exploding out of the net pots. I turned on all of the bulbs on my T5. At week 6, I supercropped and fimmed again. Week 8 is up in my prolonged vegetative cycle and the little bastards ain't so little anymore. Every single plant is at least two feet tall. I kept the Thunder F*ck and Hashberry in the flood and drain trays under the T5. I put in half-half, alternating red spectrum bulbs. For the Pitbull and Black, I set up two drip tote systems, 11 gallons of water each. I put these under two Hortilux 400W HPS bulbs in parabolic hoods connected to 120v ballasts. As for the nutes: I just went the standard GH bloom, 1-2-3; Gro, Micro and Bloom. Same 25% reduction. I used and am still using FloraBlend and Liquid KoolBloom as well as a little bit of Growtastic Vector+. That first night of light heated the shit out of my room, so I went lights off for a few days until I could scramble and get my hands on a portable air conditioner. Found one on CL, drilled a hole in my wall where my heater used to be in order to route the hot air exhaust.
Been trying to monitor for mold growth and spider mites - haven't seen anything yet, but maybe I will now that I've fucking jinxed myself. Anyway, I've been doing some reading on what to look for when harvest time comes around. I have a jeweller's loupe!
I've also done some research on slow-curing methods. Can't wait to start this phase!
I value your experience and knowledge, so if you have something to ask or say - please don't hesitate!
Thanks, and sorry for the TLDR status...
I transplanted into net pots using Mother Earth Hydropebbles and set up my flood and drain system for veg. I rigged a 50 gallon tote for my reservoir, drilled holes in my trays and hooked up the plumbing. Filled the res with 35 gallons of water (one gallon at a time to make sure I got the measurements right) and 3-2-1 GH FloraGro, FloraMicro and FloraBloom - respectively. I only used 75% of the recommended amounts, however. So: 394 ml Gro, 262 ml Micro and 132ml Bloom. I also added a few spoonfuls of Great White (shaken well with water before adding). After thinking I was doomed from the start, I tried to solve the mold problem with what little, mostly borrowed, resources I had. I made a foliar spray made out of that Great White stuff, skim milk and warm water. Sprayed the Christ out of those little bastards and prayed to the Cannabis gods...It felt like the mold was gone almost overnight. I was pleasantly shocked! Believe me when I tell you... I watched these babies like a hawk for that few couple of weeks. The mold didn't proliferate or return. I changed the water/nutes every week for the first four weeks using that same 3-2-1, 75% formula. My light is a 4', 8-bulb, 400W T5 HO (only used half the bulbs for four weeks). When I saw 3-4 nodes - fimmed tops on all plants. I wanted to transfer to flowering cycle after week four was up, but I ran out of funds dammit. It would be another 4 weeks before I could go any further...
For four more weeks I continued for as best as I thought possible. I stopped using the Great White stuff because my roots were fucking exploding out of the net pots. I turned on all of the bulbs on my T5. At week 6, I supercropped and fimmed again. Week 8 is up in my prolonged vegetative cycle and the little bastards ain't so little anymore. Every single plant is at least two feet tall. I kept the Thunder F*ck and Hashberry in the flood and drain trays under the T5. I put in half-half, alternating red spectrum bulbs. For the Pitbull and Black, I set up two drip tote systems, 11 gallons of water each. I put these under two Hortilux 400W HPS bulbs in parabolic hoods connected to 120v ballasts. As for the nutes: I just went the standard GH bloom, 1-2-3; Gro, Micro and Bloom. Same 25% reduction. I used and am still using FloraBlend and Liquid KoolBloom as well as a little bit of Growtastic Vector+. That first night of light heated the shit out of my room, so I went lights off for a few days until I could scramble and get my hands on a portable air conditioner. Found one on CL, drilled a hole in my wall where my heater used to be in order to route the hot air exhaust.
- So, I'm coming up on week five, and I think I'm doing things correctly. I have a strong case of beginner's hesitation. I feel like I'm at a critical stage now, and I'd hate to fuck things up. A few questions linger in my mind. I haven't properly figured out a ventilation system, but I at least tried to keep the air moving as much as possible within the grow space. Can I keep getting away with this?
- Also, the flood and drain side with the Alaskan Thunder F*ck and Hashberry seems to be doing much better than the drip tote side. Is it because I'm dripping 24/7? Or is this just strain characteristics? Is this a result of not using airstones? A combination of these rookie mistakes? Or... something else I've missed all together?
- And, I was trying to bend and tie up a branch... broke the son of a bitch. It was hanging by a thread basically. I immediately taped it up with the only tape I had available (metal tape, lol). I also propped it up with some wire and verbally apologized profusely to the plant. If it had a pussy, I probably would have ate it out to try and make it feel better. Tried to put it back in the same position it was before it broke. Will it heal this far into flower?
- I'm thinking of adding something to boost the buds, but I'm not sure if I should complicate things further and possibly cause new problems? I'm leaning more towards keeping the status quo as far as nutes are concerned.
- I am terribly on the fence about whether or not to flush... Mentor says no. Should I follow their advice?
Been trying to monitor for mold growth and spider mites - haven't seen anything yet, but maybe I will now that I've fucking jinxed myself. Anyway, I've been doing some reading on what to look for when harvest time comes around. I have a jeweller's loupe!
I've also done some research on slow-curing methods. Can't wait to start this phase!I value your experience and knowledge, so if you have something to ask or say - please don't hesitate!
Thanks, and sorry for the TLDR status...
with the AC it should be ok.
