First grow - Critical Kush + Incredible Bulk

This will be my first post on this forum, and my first time using forums since modding Halo: Combat Evolved hence the username. Anyway, I figured I'd make a post of my first grow since I use several forums for research and see if I could get some input.
Here's some general details:

Strain 1: Critical Kush - Acquired as a clone with 8" roots
Watered with tap water + 1 1/2 TSP "Veg+Bloom dirty" since the beginning

Strain 2: Dr Krippling Incredible Bulk - Acquired as a clone with ~2" roots

Background:
This grow started as an impulse buy with a budget of roughly $200 when I bought a $50 2x4x5 grow tent off of the Wish app.

I started out with 2 45W LEDs, but after a little research I realized I wouldn't see any type of real grow with those lights

34 or so days of veg w/ 30 of those with a 600W Metal Halide, switched to 600W HPS in preparation for flower
Started Flowering 8 days ago, bought a larger tent (4x4x7) as a flowering tent

For now I will be using the 2x4 for Veg with 2x 180 true watt LED fixtures "2x BESTVA 1000W from Amazon"
I will be growing 3 autos and will probably be making a grow thread, the strains I have are: Barney's blue cheese, Advanced Blue Diesel, and Extreme Impact

Soil used for both grows is "Happy Frog" soil sold at a local Hydro store
For future grows I will be using extra pearlite on top

Both grown in 5 gallon buckets

During Veg:


CK + IB December 11


December 14 CK


December 21

December 28


January 1


January 3rd
Very shortly after I switched to Flower
I will be growing 3 autos in the veg tent as well as 6 other plants, space permitting




Humidity was kept ~60-70%
Temps ranged from 65 to 79
Watered using knuckle technique
Critical Kush strain had it's main cola supercropped about a week or two into the grow, pruned sparingly throughout the grow
Incredible bulk strain was topped twice, it's a little smaller than the CK which I am guessing is due to the lack of established root structure compared to CK

Note: I started out with 3 clones. Two Incredible bulk + the CK. One of the IB didn't root and I had to scrap it

Flowering so far -
Humidity kept at 45-55% will sometimes raise to 65% with lights off which I'm working on
Temps - Low 60s at night - 77 during the day



This is largely experimental and I don't expect large yields, I would have vegged for a month longer but I wanted to make space and have 6 plants on the same cycle. Suggestions, criticism and flaming is greatly appreciated

Thank you all for taking the time to read this post. I will be updating with the progress of the plants

Nice job on the first grow man.

They look nice.

It seems you did a lot of the basic leg work/ research. It shows. Keep it up.

Best of luck the rest of the way

Doing a really good job.

Tldr so I don't know but I grew the bulk for a couple years so if you have questions it's been a little while but I still remember how this strain grew, and I bet you're going to like it too! following along, good luck!

Is it a coincidence that the OP didn't ask for a yield estimate AND he appears to have done his homework and has his shit together?!
I think not, great job!

ChronBonz said:

Is it a coincidence that the OP didn't ask for a yield estimate AND he appears to have done his homework and has his shit together?!
I think not, great job!

Click to expand...

Ya it seems there def is a correlation between yield requests and lack of preparedness lol

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words!
There's so many articles and threads with good information out there how could I not do my research?
@diggs99 I looked at your grow thread, I only wish these plants had uniformity like that. Next time. But seriously, good shit. I'll be following along.

Today's update:
Pretty sure the plants are finally showing signs of flowering, today should be day 10.
Yesterday I raised the light from 12" to 18" above the tallest top

(If you're wondering about the little guy, its a 12/12 from CK clone experiment. It's roots were 24" long )

I also introduced bloom nutrients, 0-10-10 with a full serving, and may be seeing some effects from it. Note the leaves curling up

I'm dropping it down to 75% strength and slowly going up from there

A shot of the IB with the lights off. The topping definitely seems to have made for a more even canopy than the CK, but it's still struggling to reach the trellis.


And for those interested, here are pictures of the main stems. CK - IB

That's about all I can think of for an update, stay tuned!

Thanks bud, appreciate the kind words.

Like yourself, i took advantage of all the info out there and tried to implement it as best i can. First time growing anything, so wasnt sure what to expect lol

Best of luck rest of the way, ill be following

Quick update:

A little close up, I like how the sugar leaves kind of spiral into the growing buds. How's it look?

A picture I took yesterday under the hps^

So it looks like you need to back off the nutes a little also have you already completely cut your nitrogen this early?

The leaf edges curling a few pictures back looks like heat stress, however in the more recent photo directly above the new growth looks like the nutes are too much which is why I suggest back off, ppm?

Beachwalker said:

So it looks like you need to back off the nutes a little also have you already completely cut your nitrogen this early?

The leaf edges curling a few pictures back looks like heat stress, however in the more recent photo directly above the new growth looks like the nutes are too much which is why I suggest back off, ppm?

Click to expand...

I'm using veg+bloom dirty which has 8% nitrogen, supplemented with Liquid Cool Bloom which is 0-10-10. I used the same amount of veg+ bloom, but on day 7 of flower I introduced the LCBloom in full strength. When I fed the plants yesterday I used half the amount I used before, I think .5 or .75 of a tsp of bloom with the regular tsp of veg+bloom.
Maybe cut back on the veg+bloom?

Added a "1000W" LED(185 true wattage) as supplimental lighting as a test from my veg tent. Obviously I have an abundance of foliage, I should have lolipopped but I decided against it. I wanted to get a full grow under my belt so I could properly identify which sites would turn into popcorn buds.


I make constant upgrades to my setup, and any criticism is welcome.

Mount Your filter to a rail on the roof and leave attached to the roof where the hottest air is (you don't want to move your filter)

Beachwalker said:

Mount Your filter to a rail on the roof and leave attached to the roof where the hottest air is (you don't want to move your filter)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip! I had trouble finding information online so I just rigged it

Your plants look healthy. Great job!

Something like this, couldn't get a better picture cuz lights go out at 9 but it should have come with a couple of velcro straps, I also secure it with wires, makes me feel better but don't really need it

Edit: before anybody freaks out, yes the pre-filter is not on it, it's currently waiting to be washed

Not long harvested ck and bulk very easy to grow. I used led and plant magic soil. And nutes. Had some issues with humidity in dark hours but got it sorted and had an OK yield. I have 3 ck going also in almost 5 week of flower and they looking great. Biobizz soil and more room to grow in. Not sure which I prefer yet to smoke but the bulk does smell amazing. Yours looking good mate. Here is mine in flower now. And my yield from the first grow. Also all mine have been from seeds. Will Look forward to seeing how yours go on

I won't tell you how much my yield was. You will figure out that answer once you've been on here long enough

Nothing much to report here, but it's come to my attention that many people don't advise using nutrients every time they water the plants. This is something I believe I've overlooked. Since probably a week past rooting the clones, I've used Veg+Bloom dirty at full strength throughout veg with maybe one flush with water. Today I used only PH'd water, tested the runoff and it's at 6.5

I haven't noticed any issues with the constant nutrient schedule and I've lightened up on the veg+bloom and gone half strength on my Liquid KoolBloom. Can anyone weigh in on this? Should I keep the constant nute schedule, or alternate between straight water and full strength nutes? Base soil is Happy Frog.

Also, my tap water is blue on the ph scale which reads around 8, 8.5
I've been using that water mixed with the veg+bloom and it always ph(es?) at 6.5, I couldn't tell you why.
When I run my water through a filter I get water with a ph of 6.5-7 on the scale, which is what I'm using for the water from now on.

5 hours after my last post, the leaves are sticking up a lot more. Also moved the light up again, ~20 inches above the CK on the right.