Devil Dog's first grow Progress

[Stone420]

I'm not experienced with coco, but I believe coco has a strong tendency to run lower ph levels. I've seen cases I tested soil runoff at 5.5 (too low for soil typically) and had to do 7.0 watering's to get the ph up to decent levels. I developed a watering and feeding pattern that I always plan for around 25% runoff which helps to keep residual salt buildups to a minimum reducing the chances for toxicity issues. If my plant uses 1.5 gallons per feeding, I'll make up 2 gallons of ph'd nute water (or ph'd plain water) to allow for good runoff. Some folks call it mini-flushes and it makes good growing for me.

 

[DevilDog_0651]

Ok, i will need to do the same. I usually only water about a gallon, and I dont think that is enough. I will need to check the runoff

 

[DevilDog_0651]

Did some digging. As long as my water pH is 6.3 to 6.8 nutrient uptake should be fine. The last water i made was 6.2 so i need to stop taking it so low.

 

[Whitetrash]

@Whitetrash i hope i can grow a plant like that. I learned a lot from screwing up my auto lol. What's up with the 48 hour dark period?

Well Alito of people have different techniques to increase resin and trychome production. 48 hours of darkness is supposed to be a less invasive way to let your plant know its dying. Theoretically this should force your plant to give one last big push to increase trychomes and resting. I do it because It sounds logical to me. And makes sense that being said I havnt found anything that absalutly 100% proves the theory. But everyone has their own gimmicks. Some people drill a hole in the main stem others puon the plants to dislodge the roots. Hell I know people who put their rootball in boiling water before hanging them. Its is what it is. I find the 48 hrs dark is just less aggressive.

 

[Stone420]

48 hours of darkness

Ask 25 growers their harvest patterns, and you'll have 25 variations. You know what I mean for sure.

I do the 48 hours of dark just as you do @Whitetrash. To be upfront, I've ONLY harvested my plants after a 48 hour dark period so I cant say if this is an improvement over NOT doing a dark period. I have good heavy harvests and that's all I am looking for. BUT, I give them a good feed in the morning, let them intake their nutes and water, then shut lights down 48 hours before chop. Lots of folks don't feed like I do, but I want them to be energetic, well fed and putting on weight - not starving to death. I know terpenes and flavors are going to enter into the discussion since I don't flush at this point, but I firmly believe proper drying and curing is the best solution to harsh smoke. Just my .02 in the great debate.

 

[DevilDog_0651]

Hopefully in about 2 weeks or so i will be able to try this 48 hour dark period

 

[Whitetrash]

Tha

Ask 25 growers their harvest patterns, and you'll have 25 variations. You know what I mean for sure.

I do the 48 hours of dark just as you do @Whitetrash. To be upfront, I've ONLY harvested my plants after a 48 hour dark period so I cant say if this is an improvement over NOT doing a dark period. I have good heavy harvests and that's all I am looking for. BUT, I give them a good feed in the morning, let them intake their nutes and water, then shut lights down 48 hours before chop. Lots of folks don't feed like I do, but I want them to be energetic, well fed and putting on weight - not starving to death. I know terpenes and flavors are going to enter into the discussion since I don't flush at this point, but I firmly believe proper drying and curing is the best solution to harsh smoke. Just my .02 in the great debate.

ts pretty well sums it up. I honestly cant say for sure if the 48 makes a difference. But I like to think it does. If you pay good attention to your plants , keep a good feeding schedual with solid nutes. And adress deficiencies as soon as you spot them you will grow good bud. Period. Simple as that. Everything else is just preference. Same as flushing. Some do and some dont. When 8 started growin outdoor years ago I 7sed miracle grow. So flushing was a must. That being said if the weather got too cold too quit it would limit flush time. I do flush my indoor plants. They are in coco so I hear flush should only be a week but I flush for 2. With the nutes that I'm using there are 2 of the additives that contain no salts that I use up until the second last flush. My goal especially with this being my first indoor grow.. is to have top shelf connoisseur smoke. That type of shit you keep beside the 12 year old single malts for special occasions. This Sunday is chop day for 2 Girl Scout Cookies. So wont be long and I can finally see if all my hard work and knowledge paired off. I'm flippin pumped

 

[Whitetrash]

Hopefully in about 2 weeks or so i will be able to try this 48 hour dark period

If your thinkin 2 weeks do a little selective defoliation just to try and open up the canopy a little to let the lower bud mature. Your top buds mature faster cause they have better access to light. And sometimes if you let the plants sit for the the lower buds to mature the top will over ripen. Apparently weed has a best before date deal going on. And if the plant isnt cut at its peak it will start to degrade. That's being said. With photos I have cut top colas and left the bottom to mature. I'm sure if you look on this site you can find information on if you can do that with autos as well

 

[Stone420]

With photos I have cut top colas

Good tip! I've taken the dominate "pineapple" cola off to hang, then the rest of the plant ripens up since it finally has a good shot at the light source. I can tell you are a good grower @Whitetrash

 

[Whitetrash]

Thanks @Stone420 . I'm by no means a pro. But I'm one of those all or nothing kinda people. If your gona do somethin do it 100% or dont bother . I still have lots to learn but I research growin skills and techniques just about anytime on the daily. I live in a small town and know a good few people that grow. One of them.who has been growin indoor weed since the 70s. I wanna grow the best weed in town hahah. Not just most potent. Best look and taste and effect and so on. Kida silly but keeps me motivated