New Grower Mephisto and Night Owl in Living Organic Coco

[IDontExist]

After nearly a year of learning, planning, and prepping I planted my first seeds Sunday, September 22. I’m just starting to calm down a bit and not stress about them all the time, only most of the time now.

I decided to try an organic living coco grow based on Mr. Canucks Grow from YouTube, using dry amendments to pre-amend the coco then doing a couple top dressings throughout. I’m working in a space 40 minutes from my home so I’m trying to keep things as simple and hands off as possible.

Any tips or comments are welcome and I appreciate anyone willing to follow along and maybe give me some advice. I’m going to tag in some people who I’ve noticed had similar grows or seem helpful in hopes of getting a couple of you subbed. @shumway @Snufaluffagus @Flash Growdon @MrOldBoy @slowandeasy @beavis

p.s. This is @SlayerOfStingers from the Canucks Grow thread, I got locked out of that account when they did the update.


The Space:
48”x96”x78” Grow Tent

Lighting:
Four 240w Quantum Boards, 3500K with red 660nm from Alibaba
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...2.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.89.2.19262dfcER4KUa
One 300w Blurple, HIGROW “1500w” from Amazon

Ventilation:
Vivosun 6” 390 cfm Inline Fan with variable speed
Vivosun 6” Carbon Filter

Irrigation:
Blumats, Medium Deluxe Gravity Kit with a 25 gal res. Water will be dechlorinated tap water with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8

Pots:
5 Gallon Fabric Pots

Medium:
Coco Coir mixed with about 10% Perlite and Dry Amendments, Wonder Soil from Home Depot https://www.homedepot.com/p/WONDER-...-Plant-Complete-Mix-Coco-Cube-WSEPO/206849916

Amendments:
Dr. Earth 4-6-3 Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable & Herb
Dr. Earth 3-9-4 Flower Girl Bud and Bloom Booster, both on Amazon

Strains:
2 Wizard’s Apprentice, Night Owl
2 Tropical Wizard, Night Owl
2 Double Grape, Mephisto
2 Grape Walker Kush, Mephisto
2 Alien Vs Triangle, Mephisto
1 White Crack, Mephisto

Starting Process:
Mixed 1 Cup of 70% 4-6-3 and 30% 3-9-4 per 1 CF of coco, added about 10% Perlite and filled fabric pots. Planted seeds directly into 5 gallon pots and gave them about an oz of water.

Set pots under 2 of the Quantum Boards ranging from 5000-7000 LUX and set to 20 hours on 4 off. Temperature for the first couple days was around 78-80 degrees and 88% humidity. All 11 seeds sprouted within 3 days. A few days later a third light was added and the pots were spread out, circulation was increased.

 

[IDontExist]

So it’s been a few weeks since planting and I’ve definitely learned a few things and stunted my girls in the process. I planted directly into the 5 gallon pots which I realize now were too wet, and had a difficult time keeping the medium to the proper moisture.

Circulation was also too low for the first week and I’m pretty sure I dialed up the lights too slowly. As you can see everyone is a bit behind where they should be and 2-3 I strongly considered pulling and starting over. These pictures were taken 10-12, 17 days above ground.

 

[bad dragon bzzz]

almost allways never pull a plant...they will always give some bud sometimes surprize us with a late growth spurt.a lot can be learnt from a not so perfect grow.if growing was easy and plane sailing then we'd have no idea what we doin or how to grow.a learning curve like most other things,yep some is lucky and some has a green thumb but thats not 99% of us.
keep er lit,and think about when to start the next batch...rotation rotation rotation.
you got all the kit and bits and bobs needed
good luck n keep er lit

 

[MrOldBoy]

So it’s been a few weeks since planting and I’ve definitely learned a few things and stunted my girls in the process. I planted directly into the 5 gallon pots which I realize now were too wet, and had a difficult time keeping the medium to the proper moisture.

Circulation was also too low for the first week and I’m pretty sure I dialed up the lights too slowly. As you can see everyone is a bit behind where they should be and 2-3 I strongly considered pulling and starting over. These pictures were taken 10-12, 17 days above ground.

View attachment 1115254

View attachment 1115253View attachment 1115250View attachment 1115251

Excuse me if this is taken wrong but I’m an older dude and would rather be straight up / forward, than BS you, even if I sound rude ....

Trash the coco, use outside in garden and go with LOS and EarthBox ...... I grew a monster in LOS / EarthBox ..... Just follow @slowandeasy his thread is here https://www.autoflower.org/threads/white-crack-and-kis-organics-soil.74083/page-9 .....

yea it will be awhile getting new things together but 3 months from now you’ll be very pleased and your stress level will be almost zero / zip with an EarthBox grow ..... No worries on what amendments to add and watering of soil is easy, just fill up the tank ....

You can also check out the monster I grew in an EarthBox- 12+ oz harvest from a single autoflower..... https://www.autoflower.org/threads/mephisto-sams-crack-completed-dry-cure.70062/

Peace,
MOB

 

[IDontExist]

Hey @IDontExist - Thanks for tag ...... Nice setup, some thought / money and work went into that ....... Being retired I have some time, will follow along ......

For starters I am not familiar with Coco and dry amendment grows so I won’t be of much help in that regard ..... For really hands off grow I would recommend LOS and an EarthBox- Just like the grow @slowandeasy is starting now, he is working on dsy 16ish now, so might be good to check out his thread and follow ....

I can comment the LUX Meter, LUX Readings DO NOT WORK with LED lights, you need a PAR Meter to determine proper light - A LUX Meter cannot read the light waves from LED so set that meter aside and get a PAR Meter ......

Ventilation - From looking at the tent Im thinking a few Oscillating Monkey Fans will help with circulation- they are a little pricey compared to standard clip on fan but they work and work well ..... Tent is going to get filled with that many pots I am thinking .....

Peace and best of grows,
MOB

Thanks for joining along and for all the information already! The LUX meter is supposed to work with the white light of the Quantum Boards, but doesn't work on the blurple LEDs. Though I've recently discovered it's difficult to know what LUX is best because there's not a lot of good information out there, most of what I read on forums people are measuring with free phone Apps.

Right now I have a couple clip on fans and a 32" tower fan in there along with the exhaust, either going to add or replace one of the clip ons with another tower fan once they get bigger.

 

[IDontExist]

almost allways never pull a plant...they will always give some bud sometimes surprize us with a late growth spurt.a lot can be learnt from a not so perfect grow.if growing was easy and plane sailing then we'd have no idea what we doin or how to grow.a learning curve like most other things,yep some is lucky and some has a green thumb but thats not 99% of us.
keep er lit,and think about when to start the next batch...rotation rotation rotation.
you got all the kit and bits and bobs needed
good luck n keep er lit

Thanks Archie! My buddy whose has this is at talked me into not pulling a couple. His neighbor in really into growing and he's seen some of his worst looking plants produce some of the best bud.

I was hoping I would either get lucky or have a green thumb, but it looks like I'm in the 99% with the rest of you schlubs.

 

[IDontExist]

Excuse me if this is taken wrong but I’m an older dude and would rather be straight up / forward, than BS you, even if I sound rude ....

Trash the coco, use outside in garden and go with LOS and EarthBox ...... I grew a monster in LOS / EarthBox ..... Just follow @slowandeasy his thread is here https://www.autoflower.org/threads/white-crack-and-kis-organics-soil.74083/page-9 .....

yea it will be awhile getting new things together but 3 months from now you’ll be very pleased and your stress level will be almost zero / zip with an EarthBox grow ..... No worries on what amendments to add and watering of soil is easy, just fill up the tank ....

You can also check out the monster I grew in an EarthBox- 12+ oz harvest from a single autoflower..... https://www.autoflower.org/threads/mephisto-sams-crack-completed-dry-cure.70062/

Peace,
MOB

This is the first I am hearing anything about the EarthBox, will read more about them and the threads you linked. They look pretty interesting, and pretty expensive, but I'd be all for it'll make me look like a better grower.

 

[bad dragon bzzz]

the numbers on the meters maynot translate as such....but it gives you some kind of reference/a numner to go +/- on.as the how hot does it feel on the back of the habd test wont work.24"-36" kinda seems to be what they all say.some folk like 0008 users have found out less than 1M will burn the shite outa a seedling.
different lights/different size tents/rooms/different reflective stuffs on walls etc. all have a bearing on light heights.its mostly start at X and have a play about to find a height that suits.
after about 6 years even shite growers can pull 2-3 oz off a plant
good luck n keep er lit

 

[slowandeasy]

After nearly a year of learning, planning, and prepping I planted my first seeds Sunday, September 22. I’m just starting to calm down a bit and not stress about them all the time, only most of the time now.

I decided to try an organic living coco grow based on Mr. Canucks Grow from YouTube, using dry amendments to pre-amend the coco then doing a couple top dressings throughout. I’m working in a space 40 minutes from my home so I’m trying to keep things as simple and hands off as possible.

Any tips or comments are welcome and I appreciate anyone willing to follow along and maybe give me some advice. I’m going to tag in some people who I’ve noticed had similar grows or seem helpful in hopes of getting a couple of you subbed. @shumway @Snufaluffagus @Flash Growdon @MrOldBoy @slowandeasy @beavis

p.s. This is @SlayerOfStingers from the Canucks Grow thread, I got locked out of that account when they did the update.


The Space:
48”x96”x78” Grow Tent

Lighting:
Four 240w Quantum Boards, 3500K with red 660nm from Alibaba
https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...2.html?spm=a2700.icbuShop.89.2.19262dfcER4KUa
One 300w Blurple, HIGROW “1500w” from Amazon

Ventilation:
Vivosun 6” 390 cfm Inline Fan with variable speed
Vivosun 6” Carbon Filter

Irrigation:
Blumats, Medium Deluxe Gravity Kit with a 25 gal res. Water will be dechlorinated tap water with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8

Pots:
5 Gallon Fabric Pots

Medium:
Coco Coir mixed with about 10% Perlite and Dry Amendments, Wonder Soil from Home Depot https://www.homedepot.com/p/WONDER-...-Plant-Complete-Mix-Coco-Cube-WSEPO/206849916

Amendments:
Dr. Earth 4-6-3 Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable & Herb
Dr. Earth 3-9-4 Flower Girl Bud and Bloom Booster, both on Amazon

Strains:
2 Wizard’s Apprentice, Night Owl
2 Tropical Wizard, Night Owl
2 Double Grape, Mephisto
2 Grape Walker Kush, Mephisto
2 Alien Vs Triangle, Mephisto
1 White Crack, Mephisto

Starting Process:
Mixed 1 Cup of 70% 4-6-3 and 30% 3-9-4 per 1 CF of coco, added about 10% Perlite and filled fabric pots. Planted seeds directly into 5 gallon pots and gave them about an oz of water.

Set pots under 2 of the Quantum Boards ranging from 5000-7000 LUX and set to 20 hours on 4 off. Temperature for the first couple days was around 78-80 degrees and 88% humidity. All 11 seeds sprouted within 3 days. A few days later a third light was added and the pots were spread out, circulation was increased.View attachment 1115235

Ok, I can help you out. If you are willing to keep an open mind and take my advice, you will do excellent. First, problem. There is no such thing as a good dry Ammendment for Coco to support a full grow. I have tried more than 1 dry Ammendment with Coco, and unfortunately I don't support the use of organics and Coco as a result of my experiences. Coco is meant to be treated like Hydro. It likes to be feed often and slow dissolving Organics just don't have what it takes to sustain a complete grow. You can make it til the end, but not pretty like it should be. If you want to use Coco, ditch the Dry Ammendments and feed your plants daily with a good synthetic nute regimen. Coco needs a lot of Cal-Mag, and plants are best if fed very often, with Calmag in your mix always

The second problem I see is overwatering. You don't need 5 gal pots of Coco, that is too much for a small seedling. For Autoflowering strains and Coco, 2 gal is plenty if you use synthetics. You want to feed Coco often to get the most out of your plants . Organics are too slow dissolving, they just don't work well in Coco.

So, if you want to use Dry Ammendments, you must use a high quality Organic Soil. You are wasting your time trying it in Coco. I am just being honest and want to save you the headache of a less than perfect harvest. Personally I would start over. Either go all Organic with a quality Soil or go Coco with quality synthetics. Don't waste time doing Organics with Coco. You will be dissatisfied and frustrated. It just doesn't work well. Sorry to be honest, but I have to be frank. Good luck, if you need help just ask. Peace slowandeasy

 

[PotDaddy]

Excuse me if this is taken wrong but I’m an older dude and would rather be straight up / forward, than BS you, even if I sound rude ....

Trash the coco, use outside in garden and go with LOS and EarthBox ...... I grew a monster in LOS / EarthBox ..... Just follow @slowandeasy his thread is here https://www.autoflower.org/threads/white-crack-and-kis-organics-soil.74083/page-9 .....

yea it will be awhile getting new things together but 3 months from now you’ll be very pleased and your stress level will be almost zero / zip with an EarthBox grow ..... No worries on what amendments to add and watering of soil is easy, just fill up the tank ....

You can also check out the monster I grew in an EarthBox- 12+ oz harvest from a single autoflower..... https://www.autoflower.org/threads/mephisto-sams-crack-completed-dry-cure.70062/

Peace,
MOB

I don't remember where he asked for Opinions on his grow medium, I love coco and you would have a hard time convincing me to go back to soil.

Nice looking setup and I will be following along.