New Grower 1st Grow Journal - Massive Midget and Candy Kush - Start May 29, 2015

[MrMojoRisin]

June 7th:
Candy Kush 5th Day in the bucket. Giving her some outdoor sun time now. My back up Heavyweight Massive Midget popped as well! Gently helped her with her helmet which was looking like it might get in the way. A little gentle persuasion is all it took. Helmet and membrane off and I see green. Will put her in the bucket tomorrow!

Here is the Massive Midget. This only took 4 days to germ in a jiffy pellet, on top of the cable box at 77-78 F consistently. Now she's outside getting a bit of real sun. Beauty of a day in my neck of the woods......

Here's a shot of the outdoor area where the ladies will spend nice days.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Some advice for anyone running perlite/vemiculite Hempy Bucket: You really have to RINSE the VERM really well, like run 4-5 gallons of pH'd water through the system before you put your seedlings in. Why? Well, it seems that the fine particulate in the VERM really spikes the pH on the Alkaline side. I discovered this when flushing my 2nd bucket in prep for planting the Massive Midget. i know i said i was not going to chase runoff pH, but it kept coming out 8+, so I got worried that if the Kush hits the res and the pH is 8, i'll be in bad shape. So, emergency flushed the Kush with 5.8pH until runoff came down to the mid 6 range. Happy with that. But, took A LOT of water going through to rinse all the alkalinity away. Just a heads up.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

June 8th:

Massive Midget was put into the Hempy Bucket this am. Filled res with pH 5.5 water until runoff. Runoff around 7pH. Hoping continued watering will bring the pH runoff down into the low 6 area.

Anyone have any thoughts on the higher pH run off issue? i think i'm dealing with it correctly, but any guidance from experience would be welcome!

 

[MrMojoRisin]

June 9th:

Fed both MM and CK 1/4 strength nutes today. (Big Bloom and Hydro Grow Big). PPM at about 150.

pH to 5.5, but runoff still at around 7.

Anyone have ANY idea why my runoff is running this high so quickly?

 

[1guy1plant]

How goes it Mr. Mojo? I am by no means an expert but I have been following your thread as I am planning on using Hempys my next grow. I put together a few buckets last night for some tomatoes. I did rinse my vercilumite and perlite as you suggested and my run off test this morning was 5.0 in and 5.8 out. I hope it gets closer the more ph water I run through it. I am like you and think your issue goes back to not rinsing. I tested some run off on some straight vercilumite unrinsed and it was about 2 points higher. I don't know if this will effect growth as the plants are taking up just what we put in and your plants look ok so far. I suggest just keep PHing. I am like you though that would drive me nuts. Hopefully we will get some advice from someone with more experience.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

How goes it Mr. Mojo? I am by no means an expert but I have been following your thread as I am planning on using Hempys my next grow. I put together a few buckets last night for some tomatoes. I did rinse my vercilumite and perlite as you suggested and my run off test this morning was 5.0 in and 5.8 out. I hope it gets closer the more ph water I run through it. I am like you and think your issue goes back to not rinsing. I tested some run off on some straight vercilumite unrinsed and it was about 2 points higher. I don't know if this will effect growth as the plants are taking up just what we put in and your plants look ok so far. I suggest just keep PHing. I am like you though that would drive me nuts. Hopefully we will get some advice from someone with more experience.

1g1p-
Seems like you have a good head start with your grow then! I would have literally rinsed my medium everyday for a week had i known. Keep your rinsing and let me know please if the pH runoff settles close to what it goes in at.
I have mixed feelings about putting in such acidic pH to achieve proper runoff. i have read some threads on a few different sites about people chasing runoff and adding 4-4.5 pH water!!! People suggested to them not to do that and just consistently run the correct pH when watering. The lowest i'll put in is 5.5. will also likely try to run a pH range of 5.5 to 6.1 to make sure all the Nute sweet spots are getting their fair play.

ALSO, your link in your signature take me to a 404 message. May want to adjust it so the link works, i'd like to sub up and follow yours as well!

 

[redrobbo]

Looking good so far Mojo,im subbed mate.
I nearly done a hempy grow once,even ruined a good bucket
then changed my mind,lol.
Good luck wit your grow bro.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

June 10th:

Topped up reservoirs with 1/4 Strength nutes ( Grow Big Hydro and Big Bloom)
Candy Kush is at 8 days in the bucket (Top pic). Massive Midget at 3rd day in the bucket (doing great, check out the 3 first leaves!).

Candy Kush pushing out it's 3rd set.

Massive Midget really did a lot over the last 48 hours.

 

[redrobbo]

Hey Mojo,ive just read in this link http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-for...68693.html?s=701862b42d4f7908571856ae1ad414d1
It says not to bother ph`ing run off coz it will send you twisted.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Hey Mojo,ive just read in this link http://www.thctalk.com/cannabis-for...68693.html?s=701862b42d4f7908571856ae1ad414d1
It says not to bother ph`ing run off coz it will send you twisted.

That's a good way to put it. I've resolved not to chase it, but it's hard to ignore. i just wish i understood the chemistry going on that so quickly dumps what when in at 5.5 out at 7+.