New Grower Dinafem Auto Amnesia, MarsHydro Reflector grow.

[tag60435]

As I see some others doing, I will start a grow journal for this my first LED grow of anything. Please feel free to jump in with any help and comments as thats why I am doing this. I will give the setup here.

Seeds: 2X Dinafem Auto Amnesia
Soil: Fox Farm Happy Frog with some added coco coir and perlite.
Nutes: General Organics Go Box.
Light: Mars Hydro Reflector 96x3. (main light) 100w cfl as needed.
Water: Collected rain water at 6.8 ph and 50 tds (will add aeration to water once I procure a new pump)
Misc: Standard 3 gal pots,

Plan: I will begin feeding at the end of week 2, as Tang suggests. I will be using the schedule from General Organics with the exception of week 1. I
will also come in at 1/4 strength and increase by 1/4 strength each week until at full strength, as long as no issues arise. I fully expect to let
these go and harvest in accordance with Muddy's suggestions concerning leaf death, so will hold on final flush until most of the large fan
leaves are completely spent. My original plan since my LED has the Grow and Bloom switches was to remain in Grow until vertical growth
stopped, then move to Bloom. However, as it stands right now, plant #1 sprouted from a peat pellet on Jan 2nd and seed #2 (which I was
ready to give up on) cracked this morning and was placed directly into the pot to finish sprouting. So at a minimum, if seed #2 sprouts
tomorrow, then my plants are at least a week apart in age. However, I may be worrying for nothing. Plant #1 which broke ground (in an
expanded peat pellet) on Jan 2nd has exhibited virtually no growth in the last week. I believe this has something to do with the peat pellets, (I
have had this same issue of no growth in the last 3 seeds sprouted in peat pellets) and this is the reason that I popped seed #2 directly into
the pot and my growing medium. I have never had this problem with vegetables sprouted in peat pellets, so feel free to comment here if
you have insights.

But I noticed today that Plant #1 is showing some signs of growth so I have hope. This will also be the first time that I have grown anything
under LED lighting. I currently have the light in Grow mode only at a height of 16 inches (40cm) above the seedling. Temp at the seedling is
hovering between 72f and 77f, and humidity is sitting at 36 to 40%. I am currently running the light at 24/0 but will probably back down to
20/4. Please give me your thoughts on this aspect as I see that most run 18/6 or 20/4, but I have seen a couple running 24/0 light periods.
I would also like some input on cal/mag use with LED's as I have seen that this can be an issue with LED's. And could someone please explain
the molasses/agave nectar issue for me? I keep seeing it mentioned here and there but I haven't read a good explanation for it yet.

Well, there it is. I have probably missed something, but I have faith that someone will call me to task and I can correct my deficiencies. I will
begin including photos once I get the camera fired up and have something to take pictures of. So be patient.

 

[tag60435]

Finally an update(or should I say finally a change in the status quo). Plant #2 finally showed it's little cotyledon's above the soil today. Amnesia#1 is still growing slowly with just some enlargement of the first 2 true leaves. Temp in the room has been staying in the low 70's and humidity is still in the mid 30's. I added a tray of water to try to bring humidity up some but so far no luck. I am going to turn on a couple of cfl's to bring heat up a little more and see if this helps. Since amnesia #1 is at the 2 week point, I will begin fertilizing soon and hope to see some changes then as well. Photos to come soon.

 

[elsamurai]

hey Tag. I've got the same light.when you go to bloom you need to keep the veg on also as that's what run's the cooling fan's.the bloom just add's more red spectrum. the molasses agave nector feed's the beneficial microb's in the soil and is said to make the smoke sweeter. I've been running my light's 24/0 due to heating concern's.my cab is in an unheated garage so warmth has been an issue.i added a tube/oil heater to the cab so now I'm going to 18/6 now. they probably need their rest. but auto's will grow regardless of light cycle. you won't see much vertical growth the first couple of week's, just a little as the plant's energy seem's to go to growing root's. hope this help's

 

[tag60435]

Thanks for the input elsamurai. So in order to get things moving, I made some changes today. This morning I added 2 100w cfls in grow spectrum, this brought the heat up by about 6 degrees. I also began Fertilizing on amnesia #1, I began a dilute feeding of Bioroot, diamond black, and biothrive grow. I will continue this feeding for the next week on amnesia #1 then increase strength and add camg+, bioweed and biomarine, barring any issues. I have also set the timer for my lighting now at 20/4. I have set the timer to go dark at dawn for the four hour time period. Since this coincides with an increase in the heater temp I should not have a big problem with fluctuating temps. I will watch the temps though. And yes, I know pictures are what you all like, but not yet.

 

[elsamurai]

oh I forgot to mention your good choice of the dinafem. although I've not grown long, I have two dinafem's going now with nary a problem. easy to grow.

 

[minime]

Shame you had to add 200w of cfl, what size area you growing in? At least after this grow you eill know if the peat pellets suck, im not an expert but have found auto's to just grow roots through the first week or 2 then take off. Good luck bruv im sure you will be fine

 

[tag60435]

Welcome minime, I'm sure I will do alright this grow, and yes I should be able to see the difference between seed sprouted in peat pellet versus straight to soil. Hopefully the old camera will be charged and ready for a pic or 2 tonight. When I dabbled with autoflowers in the past I had purchased some Paradise seeds from Attitude and received some freebies from dinafem. I didn't have much luck with my previous grows but the fault is all mine. Being a grower of one type of plant does not guarantee success in all. But now I am ready to give some honest effort to this grow and learn as much as I can toward proper care and propagation of these little weeds. When you see the amazing things that guys like Tang, Muddy,Trapper and so many more, do with this little plant in such a short time it's just amazing. I'm on my way.

 

[tag60435]

Update time:

So I am finally feeling more comfortable about amnesia #1. The plant is still looking a little odd but is slowly(well actually much more quickly now)morphing into the plant I am used to seeing on other grow shots. But ooohhhh ssooooo slow. This is day 17 since breaking ground she is a whopping 2 1/2" tall but bushy at 5" wide.



The first 3 pics are #1, while the last pic is #2, which is on day 6 above ground. The rings you see are just to direct the first few weeks worth of watering downward to encourage tap root growth down initially. (a suggestion I read some where but the reasoning is sound so I am trying it) This may also explain why my seedlings are staying so small initially. I know from other plants that I have grown that branching and bushiness is in direct correlation with root system, so it makes sense to me that the plants will not begin outward expansion until the taproot has established and branching of the roots has begun. But it is still hard to sit through this slow growth when you just want it to take off.

#1 was just watered with 500ml of water prepared as follows. 1ml biothrive grow, 1ml diamond black, 2ml bioroot, 2ml bioweed, 2ml biomarine, 2ml CaMg+ added to 1gal room temp(approx 75 degree) aerated rain water with a ph of 6.81 and tds at 133ppm.
#2 is getting plain rainwater yet. Room temp is running right around 80f daytime temps and rh is still 36--40. I did place a clear plastic dome over the seedling to see if a humidity dome helps it out.
So there it is, please chime in if you have a comment.

 

[elsamurai]

I do believe you'r right about the root's getting established. mine seemed not to grow much the first 2-3 week's then BOOM! they took off as I'm sure your's will too. most of the grow's I've seen that look like your's really came on strong and big

 

[tag60435]

Man do I hope so. I would really like this to go well.