Hasbro's Desert/Outdoor/Mandala/ Fox Farm/Organic/ Grow Thread

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
How are you likeing the krystallica?
It's a big, solid, healthy plant and has been a breeze to grow. The heat doesn't bother it. It was intended as my primary plant but only produced one female out of four and four out of four Rishi Kush, so the Rishis are my main grow. Oh well, that's just the roll of the dice. I haven't smoked a mature bud yet as there aren't any yet but it is stronger than the more mature Rishi K. The Rishi K. and Krystalica both are creepers, which I like. The Rishi is also just as tough.

Day 132, 8/11

I bow down before the gods Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus and their brethren. 104 and cloudy right now instead of 110. It was probably hotter earlier but not sure. Still grateful. If you haven't noticed I really hate the heat. Anything over 90. 93 in the valley due to rain. I didn't get to water until 2:00 and a few of the ladies were parched. 18 gallons and will hit some more with fert tonight (13 tonight with Grow and Big Bloom). I might go ahead and shade the open west side as the sun is rediculuos. Plus, the ergonomics of manuevering need to be a little bit more awkward.

Day 133, 8/12, 14 hours and 16 minutes of daylight

109 at 1:30, will be at it's hottest around 5:00 unless we get some later clouds (edit; we did get a nice cloud insertion). Syringed with 2 gallons. Will water tomorrow morning.

Side note; my Yellow Pearl tomatoe keeps growing! I always thought tomatoe plants died in the heat. This thing is a monster and takes the heat so well. Hottest part of the yard right next to the weed planter. No fruit but it's quasi flowering. I actually have some small red tomatoes still on the vine, Better Boy and another one. They are small but excellant. The poor plants look like hell but I was thinking that maybe they would rejuvinate in the fall? Can I get a second crop?

Day 134, 8/13, RK1 day 55 flower (yay!)


Sunny, 109, but the clouds are coming in. 16 gallons earlier. Will add some more tonight with some Big Bloom on the Rishi Kushes, not the Krystalica, although the K is really flowering nicely. I forgot to mention about a week back that the hairs on RK1 are turning. Now, so too, are RK2 and RK3. Can some of the hairs changing be attributed to the heat? Perhaps that day I let them get wilty had an affect. I've certainly seen it happen to other plant species.... All Rishis are really plumping up nicely, which surprised me, as it came on quickly. As the "Day 55" is not precise, perhaps the harvest will be sooner? Ok with me. Trichromes are clear.

Just spent an hour wiring the top closer to the sides to reduce direct sun light. Also added shade cloth to the west side and it really makes a difference. It immediately feels cooler when entering my aromatic little man cave. Glad, however, that I waited until the monsoon weather went away.

It does smell nice in there but not overpowering. I imagine it will start stinking up soon.

I'm further convinced that too much heat/uv has detrimental affects on the trichromes. For instance, under normal circumstances in the natural growing environment the trichrome development occurs during the fall, which is cooler, has shorter sun exposure, and the uv is reduced due to the lower angle of the sun
. That said, perhaps it also affects some positive changes such as increased production?
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 134 continued. Added 16 gallons, 12 with fert, 8 with Big Bloom for the four Rishis, 4 with a little Big Bloom and a little Grow for the Krystalica. This should be the last Grow on this, uh, grow. Was planning on just Big Bloom unless someone can convince me that a tea would be any more beneficial. No water tomorrow except an afternoon syringe.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
The last pics are on post #79.

This is a Rishi Kush, RK1, about a few weeks from harvest. The shade cloth blinds my crappy phone camera. All the branches you see are 2-3' of buds. I hope the heat doesn't prevent them from swelling up nice and thick. They are about 1 1/2-2" thick on average now. Since it's my first grow I don't know whether that's good or so-so but I'm really enjoying this stage of growth.


Day 135 , 8/14

104 so far but it was hot at 8:00. Sunny. 2 gallon syringe.

REALLY glad I tightened up the shade cloth.

The Rishi Kushes are dropping more dead leaves now at the bottom. Some minor lower leaf drop earlier was from the planter being so low but this seems to be the use it up stage.

We might get some real rain in the next couple of days and will cover top with a plastic sheet to keep flowers dry.

Day 136, 8/15

Around 95, mostly sunny, 9 gallons this morning, 16 gallons tonight, 12 with Big Bloom. Raining hard right now, won't last long but pretty substantial. I had just coverd top with plastic, not very effective but decent. Poked some holes in it to drain into planter. No water tomorrow.

Day 137, 8/16

89 :shock:, mostly cloudy, no water.

The monsoon weather is back. And the plastic sheet is coming off the top tomorrow morning. It's purpose, to keep the rain off the buds, is offset by a dark, humid, stuffy environment. Not a fair trade and I'll wager the extra light and better air circulation is a better option.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 139, 8/18, 60 days RK1 flower

12 gallons yesterday, about 90 and mostly cloudy, little shower in afternoon and one the night before.

92, no water yet today (12 gls. afternnoon), hazy but sunny, starting to cloud up early afternoon (late afternoon sun). Loosened up wires cinching top to sides for more light. Cleaned up fallen leaves from ground, threw on future compost pile. Trichomes are still clear (RK1) but seem to be close to changing. I think. RK1 is at around 60 days.

Edit; found some clear to tan/brown trichomes on another branch, one that's been in direct sun. Will check it out tomorrow morning when cooler and when I'm not so exhausted from a hard week. Lot's of picking and sprinkler repair kicked my butt. Today is Do Nothing Day. Well, I'll quick dry the bud I'm referring to and test it. For SCIENCE and for DEAR READERS. I seek only to serve.

Tried 1 day dried RK4 (aka Mr. Wimpy), Too young, nice, smooth, nice creep. Tried RK4 with "ready" RK1 cut today, sun dried a little. Enjoying the evening.

Baby diamondback rattlers are out. They are at that age where they are a lot more edgy and will strike in defense. That and no rattles, just a button, makes for a dangerous little animal.

Day 140, 8/19, 20 weeks


96 and pretty sunny, only 6 gallons. That's only 30 gallons in 4 days. That's half of the usual. Spent an hour tieing branches up to above wires. They are getting plump! It's becoming evident that the Krystalica will have some nice big tops, fatter than the Rishi Kush.

Day 141, 8/20, 62 days RK1 flower, 14 hrs sunlight

98, sunny but should cloud up soon (3:00), 12 gallons. Saw two caterpillars on RK4 yesterday so hit with b.t. Unfurled west side shade cloth but did not tighten up sides to top edges. Tucson is at 11 for uv at this time of year so my place is a little higher.

This is the best pic I could get from my old phone. So frustrating. RK1 full of buds.



Side note; I get my temp readings from The Weather Channel on tv and the web page, KOLD tv web page, and my laser thermometer. Had I started out with my thermometer I would list it's reading, which is more accurate for my yard, and hotter, but have stuck to the Tucson web pages.

Just to be clear, I have a million questions regarding every aspect of this grow but have been reluctant to start other threads pertaining to them. The fact that they started flowering earlier than expected makes it so much more complicated that I refrain from persuing expert advice. For instance, right now I'm mulling over the yellowing of leaves at the bottom of the Rishi Kushes. Is it normal or is it a pH or nute deficieny etc.? Ro water is at 6.5-7, other parts of the plant have plenty of nitrogen. Is the old Happy Frog becoming more acidic? I can't really do a pH test on the drainage as it's in the ground... However, the Krystalica is green to the bottom even though it's in the middle and recieves the least light. On and on.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 144, 8/23, day 65 RK1 flower

Day 142; cloudy, some rain, 15 gallons.

Day 143; rain in the morning, fairly heavy for about 1 1/2-2 hrs., no watering, showers on and off through evening. Getting nervous about mold so bought Serinade (Bacillus subtilis) but held off just to avoid putting anything on the plants. i didn't want to spend the $18.00 and a trip to the grow store but now I have it just in case. Would hate to lose a pound or two just from being cheap and lazy!

Day144; another heavy rain, short, this morning. Low 90s with some sun and a breeze. Plants are nice and dry for the time being and weather will be drying out with temps back around 100 for next 10 days, fingers crossed. Haven't watered yet. Think I'll cut a branch off of RK1 to get the dry/cure going. Not really prepared so a little kick start.

West end shade cloth still rolled up but will lower when it's sunnier and drier.


Taken during cloud cover but still overexposed. Will cut a smaller one in a sec.




Another crappy shot. I chickened out and cut 16" instead of the whole branch but this is the best part. It's from the very bottom of the plant. Don't you wish they stayed the same weight as when cut! Cutting is still a bit too young but need to play with drying. Still not sure where I'll put them to dry. I figure about 30' of buds on this plant (RK1), maybe more. So, they won't be big ol' fox tails but had to keep them short.



Decided to clear out my clothing closet and use it as a drying closet. 2' x 8' and 9 1/2' tall. No idea where my clothing will go. And to think I'm still single. Take a number, ladies. Put my first cutting on a hanger and covered with a plastic trash bash. Will suffice for now.

If anyone has suggestions for setting up the closet on a budget, lemme know. I have a cheap humidistat somewhere so off and running.

Will play around with some cal/mag tomorrow.

Day 145, 8/24

About 95, sunny, Plants were not wilted but gave them 10 gallons as it has been a coupls of days. Nothing else, worked 12 hours so no time.

Day 147, 8/26

95, sunny for Day 146, no water.

147, to be 97, sunny, morning watering of 8 gallons, will add later.

Side note. I had bought a gallon of KILZ white exterior primer to white wash pots with to keep cooler but the plants didn't need it. So, a client gave me some old beat up pots the other day. They are plastic and hollow so have good insulative properties for outdoors so they were worth keeping. Just ugly. I purchased some sample paints from Lowe's for under 3 dollars each to paint the pots. Using a sponge and a little water I washed the pots with the primer and added the paint on top, which took about an hour total as the paint dries quickly here. The paint will tone down a bit with some large plants. Was thinking of some dwarf corn and potato vine. In a better world a small Indica would be just right.

Soil is existing old potting soil on bottom third, 1/2 cup Kellog's Tomatoe Organic fert on top of old soil (Super Soil!!, lol), top 2/3rds is 1 bag cheap Kellog's organic potting soil, 1/2 bag Happy Frog, 1/2 bag Roots, 1 cup fert.

If you have a bunch of old pots, throw some white primer on and they will look great and you can do a ton of them in an hour or two. When I had the big biz we would white wash terra cotta pots for indoor settings. Fifteen minutes and a $300.00 pot is a $400.00 pot. I shipped them straight from Italy so the pot originally cost me about $30.00.

Willie, Killer of Bobcats and Mountain Lions, surveys his killing ground. Ok, actually he had just eaten some fountain grass and thrown up.


Test dry of branch in the plastic bag is going well. I like leaving the leaves on as it slows down the process a little , which is good in this low humidity. I was opening/burping bage several times a day but it was drying too quickly so I tore a little hole at the top, about finger hole size and I leave a little gap at bottom of bag, which is sealed with a snack bag clip. Edit; sealed hole and bottom, too much.

 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 148, 8/27, RK1 flower day 70 (10 weeks)

Can you believe it's almost September?! Come on, fall!!!

At least 101, sunny, some clouds later afternoon. 20 gallons, about 175 ppms Big Bloom, less than 1/2 teaspoon cal/mag per gallon. Using a lot less water lately but not sure if I can skip a day with the consistent heat coming up.

Closed up the top to side shade cloth again as we'll be 100 for the foreseeable future.

The 70 day flower rating doesn't seem to fit as the trochomes haven't turned much but that's ok as I would like to see them fatten up a bit.

Headed over to Harbor Freight to pick up a scale. Up to 1000 grams and good reviews, not bad for $11.99. Will also get the 1 lb. thing for calibration.

The last smoke really surprised me, getting stronger. Still needs a nice cure but getting there. Testing the grow the last 3 months has been very informative and it's nice to experience the changes.

Day 149, 8/28

About 100, sunny, 6 gallons this afternoon w/cal/mag, 14 tonight with Big Bloom and cal/mag. Very little of both. I don't think I'll skip a day of watering, too hot.

This is from 10" of the 15" branch above. I gave the top 5" to a friend. Bought the scale but need to find something to calibrate it with.

 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 153, 9/1, RK1 75 days flower

Around 100 last 4 days with clouds in the later afternoon. 26, 10, 16 gallons with cal/mag and a bit of Big Bloom last 3 days. Will water heavyish today this evening (16). Bacillus t. last night just to be safe.

Been very busy this week will give the plants some attention tomorrow (Sunday).

The plants are still a strong green even without fert except Big Bloom. Even RK1 with 75 days of flower...? Not sure what to do.

The weed from the branch I've been drying/curing makes me pretty sleepy so have been using later at night, which I wasn't expecting. Rishi Kush. I find it lets me sleep longer without waking up often, which is nice. About 5 hours of good sleep. The friend I gave some to also reports the same but she has acclimated to it and also uses during the day. I would, too, but I'm a pussy.

While watering tonight I noticed RK1's buds are swelling. Happens fast. Or maybe I've just not been very observant this week. Or both. Seems like they have swelled in the last 2 days. Which is swell. All is swell. Swell, enough of that.

Can't wait to start harvesting.

Day 154, 9/2

Same weather. 18 gallons water tonight, same additives. Didn't check them out too much but where I did look the Trichomes are clear. Crap. Not so crap is that they still will swell bigger. Oh God, I said swell again.

In the back yard tonight I saw a pack rat, 2 big ol' spiders about 3" wide, 2 scorpions, and a praying mantis. Every time I came too close to the mantis she would flutter around, then go back to her wall. I think she was trying scare me off.

Oh, the Krystalica flowers look terrific. VERY sticky and large. So pretty.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 157, 9/5

Three days; 95, 85!, today 93. 15, 15, 8 gallons, same light fert and cal/mag.

Total flower days (79) is worthless, leaves still green, clear trichomes, and getting bigger buds. Krystalica has beautiful buds- one is a good 6" wide and still very young. Will try to get a pic.

Have some sucking insects on RK3 and a little on RK4. Need to get on it.

Yield will be pretty good, I think, better than expected. Smells nice but not overpowering. Some citrus, some diesel, couple other smells.

Found a Krystalica bud that I must has broken, probably a week old so had been slowly drying. Similar to Rishi Kush but definately stronger even though it's young. Went to bed early, lol. I hope they don't just knock me out when they are finished.

Day 158, 9/6

93, sunny, then cloudy, rain in late afternoon, 75 at 8:30, love it. 18 gallons tonight to make up for 8 yesterday.

Day 160, 9/8

18 gallons last night, day 159. Cloudy today, 80s, no water.
 

qaz321

Member
Hello Hasbroh! It's really nice to see your grow progress :) I have read some of your questions, and I wanted to say the following about the Rishi yellowing: I have 2 Rishis, and although they have plenty of Nitrogen, they are also yellowing from the bottom. I believe this is normal, and it could just be the genetics of the plant. I wouldn't worry too much :) Your plants look wonderful! Also, what's your latitude? Are your nights entirely dark? (no light pollution, etc...) That could explain the 'early' flowering. Best of luck!!! :)
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Thank you, sir. 3 of 4 are green yellow while the earliest bloomer is still very green. I'm ok with this variation (phenotypes?) as they are doing very well. How are your Rishis doing?

Day 164, 9/12

Feels as if I've been away for a week. Very busy and needed a break. Crazy week. Lots of clouds and rain with temps in the mid to high 80s. No water for two days and only about 10 gallons today. I did get mold during this wet weather! Just a bit and could have avoided it had I applied bacillus earlier but wanted to see what it took to have mold develop. Now I know! I spent a couple of hours cleaning the normal detritus and tying up branches and untying pulled down branches, then tying them back up. About 40 branches are strung up with others holding themselves up. String everywhere! It looks so cool, hah hah! It's also a lot easier to move around. Today was breezy with high 80s and the brown moldy spots were dry and easy to pull off. Trichomes are still clear, sheesh. That's ok, guess I'll have a fall harvest after all. It's still a bit confusing to me as RK1 is at, what, over 100 days in flower?:wall: My fantasy is some famous breeder grower will pm me and answer all my questions, then invite me to work on his 10 acre pot farm! Then I'll fall in love with his wonderful sister and...uh, oh, uh, never mind.:oops:

So, I'm very happy with this grow and back to enjoying the whole educational process. Can't wait to see them swell up!!! They have already met my harvest predictions, I believe, so any more is gravy.
 

kamut

Active Member
Does your bed have any liner? I am thinking of something similar:dig a big hole, put in killer ganja soil. I'm wondering if some kind of plastic liner on the bottom would help with water retention, or just be anaerobic and nasty.

Good job taking on the heat. I did some outdoor containers in NM, and am just finishing them inside.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Does your bed have any liner? I am thinking of something similar:dig a big hole, put in killer ganja soil. I'm wondering if some kind of plastic liner on the bottom would help with water retention, or just be anaerobic and nasty.

Good job taking on the heat. I did some outdoor containers in NM, and am just finishing them inside.
I used weed barrier cloth on the sides and bottom to provide water/air movement but keep out the the fill dirt and also added strength to the sides and solid plastic on the sides to keep fill out also. See post 54 for pics. The cloth is much more long lasting than the plastic sheeting, especially above ground (uv). It's worked very well and wouldn't change the basic layout of these liners. There are several other things I would change, though.
 

qaz321

Member
It could definitely be the phenotypes :) My Rishis are doing amazing! They are swelling up, and I will be harvesting by the end of this month, just as expected. I can post some pics later if you'd like :)
Best of luck!!!
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
It could definitely be the phenotypes :) My Rishis are doing amazing! They are swelling up, and I will be harvesting by the end of this month, just as expected. I can post some pics later if you'd like :)
Best of luck!!!
Please do!
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 168, 9/16, RK1 90 days flower

Back in the 90s now and for rest of week. Evenings are in the 60s, yay! 10 gallons yesterday, 16 today.

On the way to the grocery store the other night I saw 3 rattlers, 1 california king, and 1 coral. For clients this week I removed a big king, some rattlers, one was a tiger; which are rare, and only the second I have seen in the wild. Two nights ago in the back yard I came across the second biggest rattler I have seen this year, a little over 4", which is large for here. It was kind of a close call, as I almost walked right into him. Forunately, big Diamondbacks are pretty calm. Let's just say I immediately put new batterries in my flashlight. Arizona has 13 rattlers species, the most of any state. A dubious honor.

Day 169, 9/17

90, sunny, 18 gallons. Still using a touch of Big Bloom and cal/mag.

Got string? At least one bong hit is required to see pic clearly but you get the gist.

 

qaz321

Member
OMG! Those aren't colas, those are monsters that probably have their own gravitational field. :clap:

I'm gonna get some pics soon!
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
OMG! Those aren't colas, those are monsters that probably have their own gravitational field. :clap:

I'm gonna get some pics soon!
Hah! They just look good in the blurry pic. And, yes, pics would be great.

Day 171, 9/19

About 95 yesterday, 98 today, sunny. 18 gallons last night, 20 tonight. They are still drinking a lot in the heat.

I can't see how all of this late dry heat after 2 months of monsoon can be good. At least the nights are cooler. They are predicting 1 more week of heat for the summer and then a cold front with rain a possibility. So glad I chose the most wacked out summer in this desert's recorded history for my first grow! I was informed by a client that we have had 8+" in the last couple of months. Our yearly avearge is 10".

Day 172, 9/20

100, partly cloudy. 8 gallons this morning. Soil had medium moisture tonight so will wait until tomorrow to water.

Thinking of playing around with a little more nitrogen for RK1 and Krystalica. Maybe I can prolong things a bit longer to get more into fall. If anyone has a solid reason not to, let me know. Since this is a learning year I just thought it would be interesting to see how it develops. Lucky I'm not rying to make a living with these plants!

Day 173, 9/21

98, mostly sunny, 18 gallons.

I'll probably harvest RK3 soon. I don't mention it much as I have been concentrating on RK1 and Krystalica. RK3 has mostly yellow leaves and has decent plump colas. Update soon.

The only cured weed I have just got mold from adding newer snippets of flowers to the container. It was just enough added moisture to get mold on the oil tips, light tan. Not a lot but I guess the weed isn't ok to smoke or does it just make it taste different? Hate to throw it away, probably worth a couple hundred dollars on the market (of which I am not a part of). Good lesson.

Day 174, 9/22

Ahh, fall; about 98 today, some clouds later. 18 gallons this morning, no Big Bloom.

Will check out the trichomes on RK3 to see if it's time. Hopefully it needs a week or two.
edit: nope, not ready. Still mostly clear.
 

Hasbroh

Well-Known Member
Day 175, 9/23, 12 hrs., 55 min. daylight

100, partly cloudy this afternoon, 18 gallons this morning. No ferts. Should cool down in a couple of days to low 90s. Highest temps are tending to be earlier than summer, which is good as temps don't stay so hot as long.

Day 176, 9/24

97, 18 gallons, 70 tonight.

Day 177, 9/25

94, sunny, only 2 gallons with some Big Bloom on the Krystallica.
 
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