Mango Sapphire + Strawberry Banana Kush grow

Already, the next grow has started.
Genetics:
1 clone and 3 (from seed) Mango Sapphire plants (Humboldt Seed Organisation)
1 Strawberry Banana Kush plant (DNA Genetics / Reserva Privada)


Nutes Veg:
Biobizz Fishmix (used in veg, as the main fertiliser. Used in Bloom as conditioner).
Mighty Mite Seaweed (kelp) fertiliser (extra plant, root+soil beneficials).
Plant Magic Bio-silicon. Used for strong stems, thicker leafs, improved heat resistance. Used halfway through veg and into early Bloom (2-3 total applications is enough)
Plant Magic Old-timer granules (mycorrhizal fungi and 20 strains of beneficial bacteria). Added when placing into final pot (adds a fungal root network to the pot).


Main Bloom feed will be, either:
Shogun Terra Bloom
Or
Guanokalong Kalong Bloom. Guano in the name, but is actually molasses based. In Bloom, used every watering until the last couple of weeks.
Guanokalong Batboost (taste, bud site and Yield improver). In Bloom, used every watering until the last couple of weeks.

additional adds:
Mighty Mite Seaweed (kelp) used as a soil conditioner.
Plant Magic Bio-silicon (early on, in the first week)
Soluble sulphur of potash and brown sugar (mixed). Used in veg (a couple of applications, later on). But mostly, in flower for taste, smell+bud enhancer - simulates Terpinator and Big Bud nutes

Lights:
Two Samsung QB light fittings (240 Watts max each fitting - 480 Watts total). 3500K lights

Medium:
Soil grow (Garden soil from my garden compost heap/recycled soil from old grows).
12 liter square pots (Mango Sapphire + Strawberry Banana Kush plants).
The cloned mango Sapphire will be placed in a 10ltr round pot


Notes on nutes:
Plant Magic Biosilicon - drastically raises PH of water. It must be heavily compensated for with PH down.

Soluble sulphur of potash - is the only other nutrient I use which changes the PH level of feed water. It drops the PH, not a great deal but needs to be accounted for when PH-ing water. This nute is fantastic for taste and smell (imo).



Journal:
While I have a nice mother/clone of (a good) Mango Sapphire pheno.
I thought I'd use up the rest of the seeds and see what I get.
I will make clones of all three (once they get big enough) and keep them till the end of harvest.
Which ever is the best, will live on as a bonsai/dwarfed mother plant in my collection.

So far, I've transplanted the three Mango Sapphire seedlings from their baby pots up into their final 12 liter square pots.
The pots are marked as 1, 2 and 3 (just so they don't get confused with one another, in the cloning/pheno hunt)
The Mango Sapphire clone is still in the Veg tent (in its baby pot).
The Strawberry Banana Kush plant is still sealed in my mason jar 'cloner' ..waiting to get roots (its been 5 days now - so any day soon).

**edit*
Veg tent hours are: 17.5 (6am - 11.30pm)
Currently only using one Samsung QB light fitting for the 3 plants. Running at 50% power (120 watts). 26 inches from plant tops
Today I gave the three plants a spray of Bug Clear Ultra (concentrate - contains Acetamiprid). This will protect them from mites etc, until around week 6 of flower. Late flower bugs, have never been an issue for me. Plus, if mites did appear late in flower, I'd just drop the light hours below 12/12 ..to stop them reproducing **

Nothing else to add at the mo. Its early on in veg,
I plan to veg for only 4 weeks (or there about). Depends on how they all grow.
I will do some training, probably just bend the plants down and tie the top down (making all the side branches main stems).
Perhaps a topping too, we'll see.

Peace.

*pics attached*

25th Feb
Well, four plants (all Mango Sapphire) are ready to go. Three from seed and one (smaller plant) from a clone (previously grown).
My Strawberry Banana Kush clone failed (the perils of using only the exact number of clones required).
So, I've started in a new SBK clone. If that succeeds, I'll just drop it in the flower tent once it roots.

Over the last month, its been all tying down branches and removing any leaves that point 'into' the plant (i.e. growing towards the main trunk).
Also been removing node growth once it starts on each branch (apart from the terminal bud site).
Crushed the stem (needed to use pliers, with some padding on the jaws, lower down the plant) in a few places. Always more than an inch apart)
to create stem thickening/knotting. All the branches got a squeeze too.

Removing the leaves (as stated) helps light penetration and stimulates more growth.
Removing node growth, lower than the terminal bud, also speeds up growth ..and (in theory) will help me get some nice buds at the branch tips.
Stem/branch crushing (thickening/knotting) makes the plant structurally stronger. Possibly, allowing for bigger fruit and helping the plant drink more efficiently / faster.

As I've been training the plants, I've tried to rotate the pots (so the lower branches are set to the centre point of the lights/tent).
This means they hopefully get the most light, so they grow a bit faster (helping them to catch up with taller branches)
I've kept the number of branches/bud sites down to 10 to 12 on each plant. The clone MS plant only has 5 (because its smaller).
Normally, because I usually use clones, I get around 25 bud sites (when flipping to 12/12).
More bud sites mean the buds are smaller but there is far less risk of mould.
I'm interested to see what happens when I use less bud sites (how much bigger will buds get and will I see mould issues).
Relative humidity is low at the moment (25%). But some hand spraying helped a bit during the grow period.

I'm flipping to 12/12 in 2 days. Tomorrow (Saturday) will be the 24 hours of darkness (before the 12/12 flip).
At that point, I will be happy with the lower relative humidity. I like 35% in flower (lower, towards the end). 35% for me, means not even having to think about mould.
This is subjective I know, but I find (with the strains I grow) lower humidity makes for better smell+taste too.
fyi - I find lower temps (20c and below), towards the end of flower, improve smell+taste as well.


Attached are some pics (from the 20th Feb and today the 25th Feb). As its the 'grow period', its all rather boring/same looking (in the tent).
But, you get to see the staking and bending I've been doing

Enjoy

a couple more pics from the 25th Feb

2nd March (6 days into 12/12 flower).

All three 'from seed' MS plants are growing strong. I've removed a few more fan leaves (that pointed towards the centre of the plant). Basically, those that blocked the most light.
Tucked a few larger leaves where I could (that covered any of the bud heads on the branches). At some point soon, I will do a bit more wooden staking, to separate some of the branches (allowing more light, air and space to grow in).

The Mango Sapphire clone (from the mother MS plant I have) is growing well. It was smaller than the others and not given as long a veg time.
This plant is really a test plant (to compare the other MS plants to). So harvest size is not important.
I'll then keep the best of the bunch, as a mother plant.

No luck with the second Strawberry Banana Kush clone. Its been near 2 weeks and no roots. The clone is not fading in colour, so I'll give it another week of sitting in the mother tent. I was quite low tech with my clones (and also took them while they were 'small'). So I got a higher failure rate.
I figure, pretty soon, the flower tent will fill in anyways ..so there won't be much room for it
I do like that Strawberry Banana Kush taste and high. Next grow may well be a Strawberry Banana Kush grow (to 'stock up' on that strain).

Anyways, find a few pics attached
Peace.

Sorry for later reply.
I'll do a 'catch up' post first (from the 5th). Tomorrow (15th), I'll post an up-to-date report.

5th March
First sign of pistils occurred today (all plants showed, between 5th - 7th March).
I've been adding some Bloom fertiliser (and reducing the Grow ferts).
I went with 'Shogun Terra Bloom' fertiliser (chemical), as it gave great results in the past (and I want to finish off my leftover supply of it
I've also included Kelp liquid fertiliser and some powdered soluble sulphate of potash.
Plants are now filling the tent nicely (a little space left).
Everything is nice and green, giving water every 2 days (approx.) and fertilising every second watering (but not using full strength yet).
PH-ing water to 6.7 / 6.8 (my water comes out the tap at 8.4+/-)
Plants are growing about an inch a day right now. With quantum boards, that means keeping on top of light height. The plants can easily pass the
16" height limit. At the moment, I'm keeping the very top buds about 17" from the lights. No light stress so far (I normally expect to see that at
around 16" and below *if sustained at those heights*).
This also means, bringing out the spirit level (to keep the QB's flat and level - length and breadth wise). Each time you adjust the height

The clones I took of the 'from seed' plants have all taken. I've potted them in small potting pots. And will start the 'miniaturisation' process (to get
three 'dwarfed' mother plants). At the end of this harvest, I will judge the best. And keep it/them as dwarfed mother plants

Pics attached.
Enjoy.


fyi -
A bit late, but the Strawberry banana Kush clone finally sprouted roots!
But, there is not much (if any) room in the tent now (*16th March*).
It needs some time to root and start growing (before I try to put it in the Flower tent).
So far, I've potted it in a tall, narrow pot (3ltrs in size, maybe). I'll play it by ear. With some thought ..I figure I'll be able to jam it in the flower tent somewhere

Peace.

15th March (Day 10 - since first sign of pistils) *note: I count my flower days from the time white Pistils are seen, not at 12/12 flip*

The plants are ever expanding to fill the tent.
The 'from seed' plants are growing faster than the clone ..but these things can change in a day
Everything is still nice and green.
Plants are a little droopy as its watering time. And this point in bloom, is a very heavy plant growing phase.
Shifting over to full Bloom fertilising now (Shogun Terra Bloom). Its an 'all in one' formula (in theory, no more ferts need to be used).
But, because I'm using QB (led) I do add a little Cal-Mag (at about half strength) to the Bloom fertiliser. I was taught LED needs more Cal-Mag and it seems to help with faster growth (and keeping the plants green). Although, to me it is anecdotal, as I don't know the science behind it

The SBK clone is sitting in its pot (in my small Grow/Mother tent). It hasn't grown since planting, as it is still chucking out roots into the soil to 'feel' the pot size. Once it figures that out, it will start growing vertically. I'll probably just throw it in the tent then. Hopefully, I'll get about 1 (or even 1.5) ounces that way.
My next grow will probably be all strawberry banana Kush plants. It has settled as my favourite strain (in-house). And I only have about 2 joints worth left ...so I need a full grow to restock my supply

*pics attached*

Peace.

* Grow tent - Picture of SBK clone (in the tall pot) and the three clones (foreground) from the 'from seed' plants currently in flower *

21st March (Day 21/week 3 - since first sign of pistils) *note: I count my flower days from the time white Pistils are seen, not at 12/12 flip*

What a difference 6 days makes! Plants (from seed) have really started to grow.
The Clone is growing well, but still a little behind the 'from seed' plants.

At the moment, watering/nutrients, each plant about 3Ltrs every three days.
fyi - I put 1.5 Ltrs of just water (no nutes) in the pots first. Then, once that soaks in, I add the feed water (approx. 3 Ltrs to each plant)
Due to the faster growing, at this time in bloom, they are consuming more water/nutrients.
Each watering; giving the plants Shogun Terra Bloom (2ml per liter) and CalMag (a weak dose each watering, as LEDs cause more CalMag use)
Every couple of waterings, will add a small dose of Soluble sulphur of potash too.

Everything is still loverly and green in the tent.

Having some interesting smell characteristics (when the plants are rubbed+sniffed).
MS1 plant (when a fan leaf stem is rubbed), smells of Sandlewood.
MS2 plant, smells of cheese and berries.
MS3 plant, smells more indistinct (general 'weedy' vibe, piney).
MS Clone plant, smells very similar to MS2 plant. But, more berry and no cheese vibe.

The smell in the tent generally is subdued, at the moment. No carbon filter running at the mo.

No real trics on the bud sites as of yet. But, the plants look like they will start producing them any day now.

Temps (lights on) have been 24c generally, a few hours of nearer 28c on a few days (plants cooled with some hand water misting at that point).
With a laser temperature gun. The buds have stayed mostly 24c, raising occasionally to 26-27c (when temps got to 28c)

Lights are currently 17" from the top of the plants. Both lights are running at full power.
fyi - at 16" all the plants start to show leaf curl. Raising to 17" and above stops that (with this strain).

Still haven't put the (small) Strawberry Banana Kush plant in the flower tent.
It has 'just' started to grow (after rooting). It stands a proud one inch high
I've eyed a little space for it in the flower tent ..it might work. It still needs some time in the grow tent first.
And the flower tent losses space daily

Any ways, thats about it.
Enjoy the pics attached.

Forgot to add a pic of the Strawberry Banana Kush clone (just rooted).
Here it is, in all its tiny glory. You can see why putting it in the flower tent now ..is a slight dilemma

March 28th (Day 28/week 4 - since first sign of pistils)

Everything still green (lightening a bit) and the buds are starting the expand.
Trics have now appeared. And a weedy/sweet smell is starting to build in the tent. Although, at the moment, it is still subdued.
Watering/feeding every three days still (Shogun Terra Bloom and a little CalMAg).
All three 'from seed' plants are packing on.
The Clone plant is doing ok, not as good as the seed plants. But, it had less grow time and a smaller pot.
Nothing else to add. "Things are proceeding as I have foreseen"

*pics attached*

*more pics*

Thought I could post a smell and pheno (updated) description:

MS 1 plant -
During grow and into the first 2 weeks of flower. Smelt solely of Sandalwood (when leaves/stem were rubbed). However, with the sandalwood, a sweet berry smell has now exposed itself by week 4.
The buds themselves appear more Sativa leaning (I think of sativa as more rocket shaped buds). And, the leaves appear thinner than some of the other plants








MS 2 plant -
This plant has remained consistent, the smell (when rubbed) is cheddar cheese and tropical/sweet berries (like fizzy berry sweets).
imo, it has the best smell of all the plants.
Its buds look more indica (compact, stocky build) and the leaves are wider. The leaves (in the buds) of MS2 also show the classic 'twisted/awkwardly placed' leaf issue. I've heard this trait (in this strain) is a mark of one of its good phenos.








MS 3 plant -
In grow and through early flower, this plant smelt of 'classic' weedy and piney notes. No sweet smells, just very 'bog standard' cannabis smells.
It has now added a sweet berry smell to the original piney/weedy profile. The same sweet berry smell that MS 1 has but, lacking the sandalwood vibe. Still, its become an interesting smell profile now (over the earlier smells).
The buds look more sativa leaning (close to the MS1 plant, but not quite as much). The leaves are thin (like MS 1 plant) too.
The buds also show a little curled leaf growth.







Finally the MS clone plant (from a mother I have). All the traits are known (including smoke).
The smell (when rubbed) is pure tropical/berries through flower.
The Tropical smells are similar to the MS 2 plant (but not as 'zingy'/strong) and it doesn't have the cheese smell that MS 2 has.
The plant looks more indica leaning (similar to, but not the same as, the MS 2 plant).
fyi - It was a nice tropical/sweet berry smoke. With an above average high. A keeper, up until now.







My Spider Sense is telling me; the MS 2 plant is the one to watch.
I've found, this strain converts the smell in flower very well to the end smoke (something I've had NOT occur with other strains
If that happens with MS 2, I'll be very happy.
I'll also be watching the indica leaning plants, to see if they finish earlier than the sativa leaning ones.

Peace.

4th April (start of week 5)

The plants are fading a little (lighter green) and some of the lowest fan leaves are yellowing. Will add a little nitrogen to the next feeding.
Plants are continuing to expand.

Smell (around the tent) is subdued still, so no carbon filter needed at the moment.
The plants themselves (the buds) smell great. MS3 has added a cheesy smell to its profile.
All the other plants, remain with the same smells (stated in the last post).

The ph of the run off water is a little low for my liking (with a couple of plants). Around 5.9.
All plants watered from the same source. I'll up the ph (from 6.8 to around 7.4), and so if that changes anything.

So far the plants are still looking health and growing well.

Strawberry Banana Kush plant is still small. Given tent space, I'll leave this in grow and use it in the next flower period I do. At least, I'll have a nice mature plant then

*pics attached*

*more pics, start of week 5*

8th April - 43 days in flower

A little update.
This week MS 3 plant has really matured. It has stopped showing white pistils and almost all the hairs are red. Unless there is a new 'growth spurt', its past the white pistils phase at 43 days!

Behind it, is the MS 2 plant. Most of the pistils are red, but there are a few tufts of white hairs in some areas still (only on some buds).

Of the 'from seed' plants, MS 1 appears to be the slowest flowerer. But, it is not far behind the MS 2 plant.

Looks like my mother is the longest flowering of these plants. It is still throwing out white pistils. Though, its slower flowering may be due to less time in grow (compared to the other plants) and that it is in a smaller, 10 liter, round pot.
63 days was the flowering time for this clone/mother. The longest flower time for it, was 72 days.
Which, is about standard with me (for indica strains I have grown to good maturity).

Under a scope, everything is milky (and red/amber) with MS3.
MS2 appears to be right there too (a few clears).
MS1 has some clears still. As does the MS clone plant.

All plants are nice and frosty too.
I still plan to run them into the 50's (days), unless I see a big increase in amber on MS3. In which case, I will chop it.

As is, I'm just making sure to tuck large fan leaves. And also, pull on branches (to bend them a bit, to improve spacing between buds/branches).
I do that throughout flower, it opens up the plants. And allows you to use any 'open spaces' in the tent (by bending the closest branches into that free area).

If things continue as is:
This Mango Sapphire strain, certainly has given me the fastest flowering times ..I have ever experienced while growing.


Peace.

*Adding bud head pics, of each plant, so you can see a little detail (when zoomed in)*

11th April - Day 44 (6.3 weeks) *recalculated/corrected flowering date*

Here is a lesson; at about 5-6 weeks I always check the number of flower days, using a software calculator (just to be safe).
I did that today and found I'd miscalculated somewhere. 27th Feb to 11 April is actually 44 days
So thanks to the calculator (below), it has saved me a few miscalculations in the past.


Plants are fading a little and the buds are swelling.
MS3 look harvestable already (for some people). I'm seeing amber and milky. I'm just going to let this plant run more. There are a few white hairs, here and there. And I'm sure it is still gaining weight (although the buds already have that 'heavy' feel, when shook a little).

MS2 plant is not too far behind. And, MS1 plant is a bit behind MS2.

I started feeding MS3 just water now (after running 5 liters of fresh water through the pot, as a start to that process).
Still feeding MS1 and MS2 plants. Just 2ml (per liter of water) of Shogun Bloom with nothing else added.
As this is the first grow of these phenos, I'm back to the guess work of deciding when to flush ..I do love me my clones

So, just watching and waiting. MS3 is real close (imo), I'm hoping its the 47 day flowering pheno that this strain has. I'll probably let MS3 ride into the 50+ day range though.

Peace.
*pics attached- 17 pics*

*More Pics*

14th April - Day 47
Just some bud and bud-head shots. Of the 'from seed' plants, MS3 is the most mature. Then, the MS2 plant. And finally, MS1.
The flowering of the MS4 (clone) plant is behind all the 'from seed' plants.

They are all still fattening, smell is going in and out (stronger on some days than others).
They are all looking nice and frosty.
My plan will be to harvest each plant at the time it looks right.
I will harvest on a day the trics seem right AND the buds are smelling strong.

MS3 is closest, so I'm checking that the most. There are some amber trics on calyxes+buds and plenty of milky.
But, I also still see some clear trics. And, some side fattening going on in the buds still.

Peace.

April 18th (Day 51 - from 12/12 flip)


MS1 plant, is still throwing a few white pistils. And the buds are still fattening. MS1 has fallen into 4th place, in the plant maturity race (MS Clone plant suddenly overtook it). This plant looks to want to run into the 60+ days of flower.

MS2 plant, is in the window of harvest. But I can still see the odd white hair. This week probably, need to do a full plant check with a x60 magnifier.
It will be harvested in the 50-60 day range

MS3 plant looks ready to chop (been feeding it straight water for 1.5 weeks now). MS3 has also started to fade. All pistils are red (from the top of the plant to the bottom). There are amber trics about, but I see some clears too. The plant is not packing on any more either.

MS Clone, speed up its flowering this week. Its pistils have mostly turned amber now. Only a few buds, at the bottom of the plant, have a few white pistils. I will be harvesting this in the mid-50's, just to test a few things about its taste+high.

MS1 looks like it might yield the most. But, seeing as it has the longer flower time, the increase in bud size is understandable.
MS2 looks like an average type yield. Hard to say, as the buds are quite dense/indica on this plant.
MS3 looks quite good, for the shorter flower time. The buds are not so fat as MS1 or MS2. But, they are consitant all the way down the branches (which might make up for the upper buds being a little smaller).


As usual, pics attached.
Peace.

April 18th (Day 51 - from 12/12 flip)

More pics