BCNL Bloombox - Barney's "Pineapple Chunk"

Pineapple Chunk Log


Hey y'all. I just became the owner of a brand-new BC Northern Lights Bloombox. My first run in this "stealth" grow box will be Pineapple Chunk from Barney's farm. I managed to score some seeds from Barney's in person, and if you ever have the chance, I would recommend this high-ly.
I will be germinating come the beginning of September, and I will keep a detailed log of my progress, as well as the ups and downs of using a turnkey operation like the BCNL Bloombox. As a starting point, I would like to talk about my experience with BCNL thus far. I ordered my box from Dave, who was a nice guy, and had been with the company for some time. Dave hooked me up with the Bloombox Royale combo. BCNL partners with Advanced Nutrients, which is awesome, and I was upgraded to the "Gold" nutrient pack for 100 bucks (much larger real value), because the shipping cost was so high, etc. etc. and I had previously called and gotten a quote from Dave before BCNL raised their prices.
The delivery of my box was a little tough because there is NO WAY that pallet is fitting through any normal size door, period. The 350lb box got as far as my side door, where it needed to be opened, emptied of smaller boxes, etc. and carried inside. Please keep this in mind if you are living in the states, or other areas where unpacking grow equipment in front of your house is sketchy. Also, THIS MOTHER IS HEAVY. Not too heavy to lift with a friend mind you, but the dimensions are going to make any stairs or obstacles of any variety complex at best. Luckily the boxes do come mostly pre-fabbed, and the casters were already a-rollin. This combined with my freight elevator made things relatively simple once I got the beast inside the building.
My box shipped without a key for the included dryer, which is no big at all because I won't need it for a minute. However, I also received the "Silver" nutrient package plus Overdrive and Final Phase (both Advanced) instead of the "Gold" pack. I called BCNL, and they told me that they were 100 percent sure I had a dryer key, but that if I wanted a new one I would need to call Dave and he would send out a new one. As for the nute concerns, they just read my invoice back at me, which had the "silver" pack and two 50 dollar liters of the Overdrive and Final Phase.
It was basically dismissed as me misunderstanding the order I had made, and the quote that I had received, which was kind of shitty as I couldn't be any less confused. I was given Dave's extension (which had been taken off the site for some reason...) and told to leave him a voicemail. Several days later I called back after not receiving a return call and was told that Dave was no longer with the company, but that they would send me another Dryer key no problem. I decided not to press the nute issue, as I will just go to the shop.
BCNL has been much less helpful since I have paid them... a reality that many customers face with vendors of every shape and size. I understand that BCNL makes a top of the line product, and I'm still excited as hell to be an owner, but customer service doesn't seem to be all it's made out to be.
As far as the rest of this log, I will be updating regularly after Sept. 1, when I will be germinating 10 Barney's Farm Pineapple Chunk seeds!!! Check back for an in-depth look at this strain, as well as my attempts at producing world class buds.
Until then y'all, be safe.

GTF-I am also looking at getting a BB Royale package from BCNL and this is good information (hopefully placing the order in a couple days). I was concerned about the moving aspect, I was told by one of their agents that the BloomBox is roughly 125 lbs with nothing else inside.

How was shipping time?

Hey how is it going Fish, i'll be subscribeing to this for sure check out my pineapple chunk grow man wish ya well.

Wow, new post got deleted twice. I'm a little upset at the setup here... But I'm still excited so I'll write it YET AGAIN!!!

First off, thanks for the views! I'm jazzed that people are interested, and I promise to be more attentive. Secondly, sorry for the lack of updates, so I've got a few for ya:

9/2 - Began to germ 10 PC seeds in pH balanced (5. water in a small glass in a cupboard.
9/3 - First seeds cracked and put into 1" Rockwool (pre-soaked overnight in pH balanced water, removed 50% moisture before seeding). Managed to inhale some fibers, you really don't want to do that. The fibers irritate your lungs to no end, and although short term exposure is not particularly dangerous, it is very uncomfortable and should be avoided.
9/4 - 9/10 cracked and in cubes, I'm sooo PUMPED
9/5 - No visible growth from cubes, still waiting for #10 to crack.
9/6 - HOLY COW! Crazy growth in the last 24 hours. Checked my cubes before a festival yesterday, returned this afternoon to find 7/9 sprouted and my 10th cracked! I'm concerned that two of my babes stretched because my CFL lamp didn't get on soon enough, but it's running now so at least the others are OK.
9/7 - 9 of 10 sprouted and in prop tray under CFL lamp since yesterday evening. Mixed a VERY VERY MILD nute solution (1cc Sensi Grow A&B, could use 1cc voodoo as well if I had some) and gave the cubes in my prop tray some extra moisture (NOT TOO MUCH HERE!!!, I'M ONLY WATERING TO MAINTAIN MOISTURE AND TRAIN AN AGGRESSIVE ROOT SYSTEM W. THE NUTES! It's really important not to over-do things at this point, because even if your babies survive, their growth could be permanently impeded! Remember, if your cubes are moist and your prop tray is covered, you should be able to maintain 80% RH without being touchy feely, so try not to be!)


Thanks for the comments Serious and Gonzo. I know comments on logs are not normally encouraged, but I would like anyone WITH ADVICE OR RELEVANT LINKS (thanks Serious! Gonna check that out right now) TO FEEL FREE TO COMMENT. Any questions for me about the grow or about BCNL or the bloombox, etc. needs to PM me, as those types of comments will just be deleted to reduce clutter.

Keep readin' y'all! Updates soon / Pics soon!

*Update*

9/8 - Root systems are developing extremely fast and strong. Roots now visible from the bottom of 6/9 sprouted cubes. #10 seems to be a little slow, but she's hanging out inside a dark box inside my lit veg side now, so maybe the increase in warmth will give her all she needs.


I will probably need to start toughening these gals up in the next couple days to prepare them for transplant and the hydro table! Also check in this weekend when I will likely be making some willow water, a natural and extremely powerful rooting agent; I likely won't use it until I have PC clones, but hey, then it will be too cold to harvest from the willow!


OH, and also for anyone who is wondering a little more about the tech specs here:

Right now I'm propagating under a Sun Blaster 125 watt (8750 lumen) CFL lamp.

For flowering, I will be using a 400w HPS lamp. I will also have 2 Sun Blaster T5's clipped to the top of my res to provide light from under the canopy.

The BCNL Bloombox has two separated chambers, and I am debating vegging in my flowering side, as this would only require one transplant (1" -> 3" -> flower hydro table v.s. 1" -> 3" -> veg hydro table -> flower hydro table) and would also allow me to veg using a 400w MH or HPS lamp. (I have both sitting right here) If anyone has any specific advice about this I would really appreciate it!

I'm using Advanced Nutrients, so far I have: Sensi Bloom A/B, Sensi Grow A/B, Vita-boost (just like B52 only cheaper), Big Bud, Overdrive, and Final Phase (for the flush). I was considering grabbing some VHO, as I am going to select a mother from my most vigorous seedlings when they're good'n'vegged.


Anyone who wants to look at several full grows using BCNL products, as well as some insightful master grow tips should check out http://www.growyourownmedicine.blogspot.com


Thanks again

Has anyone ordered from primogrowbox.com?

asharm said:

Has anyone ordered from primogrowbox.com?

Click to expand...

This is not a place to ask other people questions, this is someone's grow log.

Now I have to switch to reading comments before they can be posted. Boo.

*Update*

9/9 - All ten of my ladies are now sprouted and enjoying their third full day of CFL exposure!

As I noted yesterday, I'm shocked by how quickly the root systems are developing. My three least aggressive seedlings (as well as the one who just sprouted last night) don't have roots visible outside the 1" cubes, but some of the others have as many as three in addition to the tap-root!

I hand watered again today to maintain some moisture in the cubes. I am trying to focus any watering measures on the bottom of the cubes. Although root systems are so small at this point that the seedlings will not need much water / will get much of their moisture through the surfaces of their tiny leaves, I'm still working to train strong, aggressive roots in the right direction. I want explosive downward growth, so that they can go through the 3" cubes as quickly as possible and be ready with as little veg time as possible.


Updates by Saturday, but probably tomorrow I will try to get some seedling pics up. Have a nice day guys.


OH, and big up to BARNEY'S FARM, AMSTERDAM!!! Barney's farm is a pioneer and purveyor of some of the world's finest genetics; These seeds have traveled far and through bad conditions with me, and yet 10/10 are sprouted and thriving in my prop dome as we speak. Fingers crossed for no hermies!

http://www.barneysfarm.com

im growing Pineapple chunk also and ull be smart to expect a nice streeeetch. i flowerd mine at 13in and its over 40in now and i had to LST in flower

Yeah, that seems a little ill advised... The optimal growing height for PC is something between 23 and 31 inches. Especially with a setup like this, I'm planning on virtually no veg time. If I waited until they were 13 inches tall, I practically wouldn't be able to harvest. When I flower they will probably be around 5 inches, tops.

*Quick Update*

9-10

All but one of my babies is bustin' roots through the bottom of their cube. Everyone except the girl whose tap root went up and broke the surface (and has since turned around and gone back to find some water) seems to be doing great. Leaves have been the most prominent growth in the past day. Hand watered the bottom of the cubes again as they were down to about 15% moisture level. I now have the vents on my prop tray wide open, and will be removing the lid tomorrow or Sunday.


P.S. Bloombox ventilation fans are relatively loud... maybe a little quieter than an AC unit but I can hear them running from the other room. Stealth isn't a huge thing for me as I am a med patient; just something to consider.

they get huge just completed p/c grow

*Update*

9-11

Everyone seems to be doing well this morning. Root system is busting out of 1" cubes on all 10/10. I have removed the prop dome (after gradually increasing exposure the last few days) and will hopefully transplant Monday or Tuesday. 2/10 are having some slight downward leaf curling and browning, but on the smaller (original) peripheral leaves, not the large new fan leaves. I'm going to skip the hand watering until at least this evening, as I seem to be on the border of over-watering for at least these two. Is there a relatively secure way to upload pics here?

*Update*

9/12

Everyone got a little dried out during the first day without the dome. I did wind up hand watering yesterday evening. Had a friend in town to check everything out. One seedling whos taproot was initially above the surface, and then back down is done for, as I assumed before. In addition I will probably lose one more weakling who is currently tipped over. *2 are mutants*. The 6 that aren't mutated or sketchy look great. Not bad numbers all things considered. I am soaking 3" Rockwool cubes in 1/2 strength nute solution and a PH of just about 5.3. Hand watered and sprayed with the same solution today, keeping cubes at about 10-15% moisture level. Planning on doing a transplant later today or tomorrow morning as I don't want the roots coming out of the 1" cubes to get fried. At any rate tomorrow will be day 1 veg. I think I will probably stick with the CFL for my veg instead of one of my 400s, as my flowering res is unnecessarily large.

I think I will likely make one of my heartier seedlings a mom as it seems I will have less plants at harvest than I had initially thought.

*Muties* Please read and comment!!

I have two mutated seedlings right now, both of which seem healthy enough to transplant. Both of these plants seem to be examples of what is called Whorled phyllotaxy. Does anyone know anything about this? Each seedling had three cotyledon and now has 3 leaves instead of two. I am getting mixed messages on whether or not these are worth flowering, etc. Some people rave about tripods that yield like crazy and have triple vs double nodes and say clone it, keep it. My friend seemed to think I should toss em. I'm not planning on making one a mom or anything, but I would like to know if they will be viable at harvest or if i'm only going to have like 5 plants.

*Update*

Well I'm hitting the first snag with my bloombox. Shorted out the fan on the veg side of my box today.. IE it was running and then four hours later I come back to find an incredibly hot (which means dry )veg side cooking my seedlings. I hand watered and went ahead with the transplant immediately, as the 3" cubes were pre soaked. I will be hand watering tomorrow and filling the reservoir. I will be using the override on the drip system to water the plants manually when their cubes get dry. The full watering schedule will probably be a bit much for the first day or two, especially considering the undue stress that they underwent tonight.

Called BCNL who is sending me another veg fan that should be out within 10 days... Looks like I will be leaving the door cracked for veg... lame

*Update*

9.13

Day 1 veg

-Fan is back online after some extra TLC from BCNL. Actually got a return call from one of their guys today, who had, after talking with me last night, continued to think about the problem. After figuring out the solution, he called me back today and helped me out. Pretty impressed with the level of customer service as well as the quality of grow advice being dispensed. Good show BCNL.

Everyone seems to have survived the transplant alright. Lost another seedling due to the baking though. So 8 remain.

*Update*

9.14

Day 2 Veg

Everyone seems to be doing alright. Of the 8 remaining plants, 1 is stressed, and 2 are muties (with only 1 of these showing real promise). I think I will likely wind up with 4 or 5 solid candidates for a mother. I just cant decide if I want to flower all of these and work on an LSD or Sweet Tooth mother instead! Either way I should be flowering at least 5 or 6 beauties, so for my first run in the bloombox I'm not disappointed.

Set up the drip emitters today. My res is full and airstones are running, and everything is pretty moist. With this in mind I am not leaving the plants on the 2x daily timed watering schedule. Instead I'm watering by plugging in my pump and using the water override switch to manually run the pump for 5 minutes or so to keep my cubes at the desired moisture level.

For the nutrient mix I followed BCNL's week 1 veg feeding table with the addition of 5ml/Gal hyox.

Thinking about getting a bloombox in a couple months! cant wait to see your final yield! KEEP POSTING!!!!!

*Update*

9.16

Day 3 Veg


Crazy times! Lots and lots of growth in the past 48 hours. I'm getting progressively more pumped!

Everyone is doing alright; one mutant and one normie are stunted, but I'm hoping they pull out of it in the next couple days. From my best ladies I'm already seeing root growth out of the 3.5" mesh pots that make up the top of my res! That's some explosive root growth; if these were clones I would probably be switching everyone over to flowering tomorrow or the day after, but I may give these ladies a couple days longer to let the weaklings play catch-up. Very little vertical growth, which I am really pleased about, no one has stretched at all; the environment inside the box is great, although ideally I would dial my temp down a little bit (its at roughly 81-82) and there is really no way to do this other than decreasing the ambient temp outside the box.

On an interesting note, I have barely needed to water at all. The airstones running in the bottom of the relatively shallow res throw a fair amount of water upwards to the inside of the lid, as well as the 3.5" mesh pots. I have manually watered using the drip system for maybe one or two minutes daily and my cubes are nice and moist. I'm planning on holding off the next feeding until they dry out a little, as I am paranoid about slowing growth with over-watering.

I think I have definitely settled on a mother. It's going to be a shame not to flower her but it will be worth it for my second Bloombox crop! This thing is really ideal for clones. Still trying to figure out pics... updates soon, thanks for reading.

Forgot, quick question about mother planting for any more experienced growers reading:

Is coco coir a good enough medium for holding a mother plant for a significant period of time? I feel like after a while it would get pretty gross and be very difficult to change. The box came with a brick and a pot, but I was considering using those stones that people grow orchids and stuff in, as they are washable/reusable. Please help!

Thanks