New Grower First grow – Log – Seedstockers Auto Northern Lights

[DaveR1974]

Day 79

Found I had Citric Acid (from Home Brew supplies) so watered with 1ml of Citric Acid and 1ml of Bio-Bloom in 1.5 litres of water. TDS 260PPM and pH 5.5. I hoped that the lower pH might help bring the soil pH down a bit, but after a few hours, no change on the Analogue Soil Meter and still reading 8. The meter only goes up to 8, so if it is/was higher, I am unable to tell. I have a digital soil pH meter coming tomorrow which reads up to 9, so hopefully will get a more accurate reading then.
In the meantime, here are today's pictures.

p.s. I've ordered a new Grow Light (Spider Farmer SF1000), as my current one was really only suitable for a smaller growing area (R.I.P SpaceBucket). I was going to buy off "Amazon" but the seller (Spider Farmer) wanted £180, but buying direct from their UK site, it's only costing me £114 (after 5% discount code).

 

[RastaDaniel]

Citric acid wont lower PH for long, coffe grounds and gypsum better option. Thats big drop in PH for 1 water, will defintaly shock plants. Try 1 point

 

[DaveR1974]

Day 80

My digital pH meter arrived today and showed that my analogue meter is faulty. Digital showed a pH of 7 whereas the analogue was showing 8. I double-checked with other plants (tomatoes and cucumbers out in the garden) and the digital meter showed 6.5s and 6s, whereas the analogue only ever showed 8).

I looked into nutrient/pH lockout further, and decided to give my girl a proper flush. As such, I set the pH of the de-chlorinated flush water to 6 with a TDS of 56ppm.

After the first 4 litres, I measured the run-off, and I was shocked: pH 4.4 TDS 4400ppm. However, after the next 4 litres, the pH raised to 4.7 whilst the TDS remained the same.

The next 4 litres showed a further improvement : pH 5.4 and TDS 1680ppm.

By the end, the run-off measured a pH of 6 and TDS of 1400ppm.

Due to the amount of flushing, I decided to give the plant some fresh beneficial soil bacteria (Trichoderma genus mould via Bactrex), Endo Mycorrhiza spores (via Mycotrex) and some food for the little beasties (alfalfa meal, mixed molasses, kali vinasse etc via Orgatex). Once mixed with de-chlorinated water, the pH was 6.2 with TDS of 2800ppm.

Pictures from before flushing

Day 81

New light arrived and installed

After yesterdays flush, I held off re-installing the SCROG net, as I knew I would need to remove my girl from the tent to swap the lights. After installing the new light, I re-installed the SCROG net, and noticed that she was feeling sticky and was smelling more pungent compared to yesterday when I removed the net. Fingers crossed, this is a good sign.

 

[DaveR1974]

Day 82

Day 83

Despite appearances (most of the fan leaves), I think she is definitely thankful for the big flush and new light. The buds are appearing thicker and appear to have new growth on the tops.

1 drawback from the flush is that the soil level has dropped. However, I will use this to my advantage. I should have enough used coffee grounds for a decent top dressing tomorrow, and I will mix them with some fresh Light-Mix to top up. She should also be ready for a watering tomorrow, so should I add some Bio-Bloom too, or just pH adjusted de-chlorinated water?

 

[RastaDaniel]

Give 1 more watering on coffe grounds, its organic so take few days to start its work,and start to cut off fan leafes wilting a few everyday.

If you have alkaline tap water you should use options that help you lower PH, you think its Bio tabs buffering youre PH also?

 

[DaveR1974]

@RastaDaniel, thanks. I removed some leaves after taking the pictures yesterday, just forgot to say (wish I could blame it on getting high, but gonna be a wee while yet until she is ready lol). My tap water pH is bang on 7 (neutral). Although BioTabs say we don't need to adjust or measure pH of the water, due to my issues, I will now do so. Citric acid seems to be working at adjusting my water's pH so far.

Day 84

Removed some more wilted fan leaves and added a fresh layer of BioBizz Light Mix, mixed with Startrex (soil improver) and used coffee grounds. Watered with 2 litres of de-chlorinated water (pH adjusted to 6.0 with TDS 60ppm).

And now for the weekly microscope pics (Trichome porn )

 

[Rapha El]

fuck me this grow is exciting "are they gonna finish first or are they gonna go all crispy and yellow?!"

 

[DaveR1974]

Day 85

Day 86

 

[DaveR1974]

Day 87

Despite not giving any further Bio-Bloom or CalMag since before the big flush (only getting pH 6-6.5 de-chlorinated water), some tip burning is showing on the new growth.

I have decided that I will not give any further amendments other than pH 6-6.5 de-chlorinated water. Hopefully, the microscope shots this coming weekend show some amber Trichomes, and the rest milky/cloudy, so I can plunge her into darkness for 2 days before harvesting what I can.

Confession time.... I kept the fan leaves I removed, along with a small bud that was accidentally removed. I have smoked the majority of the fan leaves (the bud still drying), and if they are supposed to be weaker than the buds, I know that the buds will be great. They were so good that I ended up in fits of laughter watching a classic Golden Girls on Disney+

 

[DaveR1974]

Day 88