New Grower 1st Auto Grow (dwc)

[Jovinn]

Well I knew it would be a little cramped with 9 plants in a 4x4 footprint, but I really wasn’t expecting them to grow THIS much! Ones in back are 3’ tall, 1” diameter stems. This far red definitely has powerful effects. I have more lights and more room, I was originally going to just double this setup but that’s obviously dumb. Next time going 2sq’ each plant, with trellis. I will say that despite the complete lack of training, I couldn’t be happier with the shape, all the branch tops have formed a nice even canopy on their own.
I REALLY don’t want to reconfigure the whole setup. It’s possible, and I’m pretty dedicated, but I think I’m just going to ride it out. And as far as the spots being from excess N locking out Ca, they’re pretty yellow, definitely not getting excess N. Suki813 suggested a P problem, could be, if so hopefully the bloom nutes will fix it. Sprayed one with calmag, just to see, not expecting much. Still feeding and drinking heavy, though now the ph is stable and rising slightly (I feel like that means something important I should know...)

Still trace of powdery mildew, and pretty heavy leaf hoppers, but I’m not going nuclear about it. Anybody happen to know of an effective predatory insect for leaf hoppers?
Anyway, more pics.

 

[Jovinn]

Well they’ve finally outgrown my system. I really wasn’t expecting 5 foot plants with 1.5 inch stems. The roots are taking up at least 3 gallons of space, leaving me with 17 gallons max, for nine monsters. I’m going to clean out the tubes, and turn the pump down to minimum (should’ve done that originally). I REALLY don’t want to prune the roots, but I may not have any choice. They’re flowering nicely, but this is cutting it very close. Guess I didn’t stunt them after all! Will I pull it off? Or will my basement flood, plants die and I slink away in shame and infamy? Stay tuned to find out....

 

[DCLXVI]

Oh my. Hard to feel sorry when you've simply outgrown your space because it went too well! Fabulous jungle.

 

[Jovinn]

Yeah, it’s a good problem to have. My only complaint is that 1/3 plants from the same batch of seeds in (practically) identical conditions reacted so differently. 2 are almost 6 feet, 6 are around 3. So as far as insight for next time: bupkiss. I would top them if I knew which ones didn’t get the memo about not being hemp plants, but it seems very random. The banana definitely seems like a tall one, but again, it’s a sample size of one, telling me exactly nothing. Will absolutely be proactively pruning roots next time. Kills me to do it so late.

 

[Jovinn]

Problem solved! A friendly elf came by to help, and I took the whole thing down and spaced them out. I had to evict the runt into its own bucket, but now everything has plenty of room. Went from 16 sq ft to 32. Wayyyy better. I don’t know how I thought I was gonna pull that off... must’ve been high or something....

 

[Jovinn]

Turned the lights down to 18/6, didn’t want to reduce intensity. Defoliated heavily, any leaf with damage, shading or PM. Lollipoped bottoms and sprayed with peroxide. Tallest top was touching the light and getting heat burned, so I “supercropped” it. I didn’t want to break apical dominance in the wistful hope it may still make a nice cola, it bent back towards the light very quickly. Generally doing ok, considering this is week eight. I don’t mind waiting another week or two. Seem to be doing ok, one is beginning to frost up a bit. The ph perfect have NOT been keeping my ph anywhere near 6, but they definitely seem to be helping a lot, and I AM using them at half strength. What an unnecessary headache.
Anyway, more pics

 

[Jovinn]

Things progress. They really didn’t like the defoliation and H2o2 spray, but powdery mildew necessitated it. Pistols shriveled overnight, but I did this last time, and the end result was fantastic, so not too worried. I used to believe heavily in defol, but after reading Dr. photons article I have seriously reconsidered. Even leaving thoroughly blasted leaves as long as they’re not shading. Should be wrapping up soon. Had to forgo the co2 in favor of fresh air to keep humidity down. Anyway, more pics (kinda hard to get a good shot, I’ll shoot them all well before takedown).
And the return of the bubble cloner, let’s see how it works after a decade...