New Grower Second Timer - DP Auto Night Queen In DWC

[EvilScotsman]

So I just want to understand. Are you recommending a 700ppm for a mature plant? And then how do you dose your add back?

Yes, plants can only absorb about 100ppm for every week of veg. When you flip it goes up just a little more then levels off. Once the buds are formed and ready to start packing on weight it starts to drop dramatically. By the time your plants are nearly done they’ll only absorb like 200ppm. Weed tries to flush itself. If you feed it the right dose and keep to the ppm drop rule they will flush themselves even though you’re feeding them.
I learned in a 20L res with a plant that was drinking 15L a day for half the grow so had to learn fast. The smaller res is also extremely sensitive so you can see exactly what’s going on your by hour.
If the ppm of the res is dropping slightly, then adding the top off at the same strength it will still drop.

 

[EvilScotsman]

Can do a full grow on 400ppm with no problems as long as they don't get too big, 4-5 ouncer sized works brilliantly.

 

[davisgirl]

Yes, plants can only absorb about 100ppm for every week of veg. When you flip it goes up just a little more then levels off. Once the buds are formed and ready to start packing on weight it starts to drop dramatically. By the time your plants are nearly done they’ll only absorb like 200ppm. Weed tries to flush itself. If you feed it the right dose and keep to the ppm drop rule they will flush themselves even though you’re feeding them.
I learned in a 20L res with a plant that was drinking 15L a day for half the grow so had to learn fast. The smaller res is also extremely sensitive so you can see exactly what’s going on your by hour.
If the ppm of the res is dropping slightly, then adding the top off at the same strength it will still drop.

Ok I think I’m following you. When you say 100ppm each week of veg, is that 100ppm per week? So if I have a 6 week old plant, it’s going to take in 600 ppm over the course of a week?

So my situation is a little weird. My tap water is 320ppm. Then I add calmag at the top recommended dose or I get spots. Then I add full strength GH flora nutes and I end up with 1300 give or take. My ladies are 85 days and 55 days, all in early flower. What would you change if you inherited my plants?

 

[Iriee Vibez]

I agree with everything. Except the 700 starting point. My plants have been doing well at starting at 1100 for three res changes now. I think that seems to be the sweet spot. I had a Gorilla Glue on my first grow that enjoyed 700 as a starting point. I had a CP in the same reservoir that wanted and needed higher, but I had to balance it. I have learned that each plant has a different sweet spot, which is why I decided to grow the same strain in the reservoir from then on.

The issue only occurred this week, with two variables.

First, based on recommendations last week, that the increase in ppms during the week in between res changes was going to lead to issues, I decreased the top off tank strength to half of what it was. This did have the desired effect of reversing the trend of increasing ppms in the reservoir over the week. I understand that it doesn't indicate what the plant intake was, but it isn't still a good relative indicator of the amount of nutes available per gallon of water in the reservoir. If a plant is taking in more water, and the ppms are higher, there is more of a chance of toxicity. So the measurement of the reservoir is important to me.

The second is that the plant is shifting from pre flower to early flower. This may mean that it needed something that wasn't available in the reservoir. Maybe something was locked out, as you say. I cleaned and recalibrate my ph probe just to rule that out. I also added big bud with last night's reservoir change.

Will try to set the top off tank nutes at a level that would keep the ppms close to start through the week, and then adjust from there. I will adjust when I see what's what when I return. I appreciate all the feedback team!

 

[davisgirl]

Sounds like a reasonable and well thought out plan. Your ladies are lovely as always. Can’t wait to see them in another month.

At what point will you know you’ve got the strawberry pheno?

 

[Iriee Vibez]

Sounds like a reasonable and well thought out plan. Your ladies are lovely as always. Can’t wait to see them in another month.

At what point will you know you’ve got the strawberry pheno?

Thanks DG. I have no idea on the pheno ID. Will be counting on @MedCzech to help confirm at some point in flower. Excited to find out though!

 

[MedCzech]

We won't know phenotype until she starts to flower and tbh, you might not know until week five or six of flower at earliest. Two of the phenos are similar, so it will be hard to tell. There are subtle differences. The SB milkshake pheno has this creamy sweet aroma like fresh wild strawberries in super sweet whip cream. The other is similar with a little spice aroma in the background, one smells like pine and cream, and one smells like SB diesel fuel.

 

[Iriee Vibez]

Strawberry, pine, cream, deisel... all sounds so good!

 

[Iriee Vibez]

Strawberry, pine, cream, deisel... all sounds so good!

 

[Iriee Vibez]

Day 38

1100 ppms
5.7 ph
78 degrees
63 humidity

Looks like Queen 1 enjoys the res change with new big bud added in. Queen 2 just seeemed undeterred by everything. Both plants are really drinking a lot, and since I will be away this week, I have the top off set at about 1/3 strength, which should result in a stable reservoir all week.

I have been focusing on making tops and exposing bud sites. I stopped counting at 70 tops between the two plants. I am banking that by dividing the plants energy over so many tops, it will limit the overall vertical height of the plants. Hopefully, I can just keep defoling and allow them to grow from here.

Queen 1 is shifting into flower stage a few days ahead of Queen 2, but am fully expecting a big change when I get back. I am overall very happy with how amenable these plants are to training. I have them shaped exactly as I had set out to do, which is a big improvement over last grow. So far, so good.

I can't wait to see what this view looks like in a few weeks!