Irie Genetics -- Test Run of 5 Mystery Seeds

Welcome to my 2nd Grow of the year. This one is going to be exciting to grow because of the mystery involved with helping a breeder bring something special to the market.

My situation has changed since the first grow in that I now am running 2 Mars Hydro SP-3000s. I added a 4 x 4 flood pan. I've also switched to AutoPots (4 of them).

I am also experimenting with a wicking-bucket pot that I made out of simple to find items. I'll break that down in a separate post.

As usual, I'll post lots of photos and overwhelm the interwebz with too much data.

Speaking of Data, I'm slimming it down to just one Stats Chart for all 5 plants.

A closer look at the 5-gallon wicking buckets I mentioned above.

There are lots of different styles on YouTube. This style is the pricier version because you have to ruin two buckets to make this style. I made these for my wife's veggies outside, but I'm snagging one for "science."

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

So, this Diary is going to start on Day 10 since germination (the first visible day). I'm also keeping this diary on Grow Diaries and gives a Week devoted to Germination, and the next week is Week 1 Veg. So, to be consistent, I'll refer to this as Week 1 as well. Since this is a Photoperiod I'll use a Date Stamp like: Day 10 / Week 1 Veg and When I switch to Flower, it will look something like Day 35 / Week 1 Flower. We'll see if this idea holds up.

These pics are from yesterday (Day 9):

These pics are from Day 9, but just straight overhead shots to look at leaf symmetry (or lack of):

Some are repeats, but not duplicates.

Click on Pics for a larger view.

Day 10 -- Happenings


AutoPot Notes:
I filled the AutoPot reservoir for the first time with about 3 gallons of nutrients and supplements and then left for the store. When I got back the dry-ish Coco sucked up 3/4 of it. So, I made another batch of about 4 gallons. I made 3 gallons, but the mix was too hot so I brought the EC down with plain RO water.

I made the mistake of putting a wetting agent in there and my wavemaker and air bubbles turned it into a pretty decent bubble bath. I turned those off until the bubbles settle.

The 5 plants are still in their Solo Cups working on height and roots. My goal with the AutoPots, for now, is to get the material moist and loaded up with a nice Welcome Wagon basket of goodies for when the new roots move in.

The mixture is:

Nutrients (all amounts are based on 1-gallon):

• 3.0g Jack's A
• 2.0g Jack's B
• 1.0g Epsom

Supplements (as the label states for 1 gallon):

• Stout MSA (mono-silicic acid)
• Mr. Fulvic
• Tribus
• Kelp
• Super Thrive (still trying to use this up)
• Liquid Orca
• Wetting Agent
• Grow More BioCozyme

When all was said and done, the final mix was:

• 2.00 EC
• 6.18 pH

Day 11 -- Stats & Notes

04/01/22 (Day 11 from Germ)

I may have made their medium a little too wet... may be a little too hot.

(1) Modest growth on Irie #1
(2) #2 is having fun with leaf development.
(3) No roots visible yet.
(4) Filled up their future reservoir today to EC 2.0, and it is pH'd to 6.12.
(5) They are in solo cups for a while.
(6) Meantime, I continue feeding with a syringe.

Day 12 -- Stats & So Begins the Era of Mankind vs The Fungus Gnat

Day 13 -- Photos & Notes

I'm doing something to hurt these plants. I suspect that I'm foliar-feeding nutrients too early and too often. I will stop doing that. I also spritz them daily with a kelp/fulvic mixture. Look close at the top view pics to see what looks like "burn." It's not light burn because they are getting between 325 and 350 PPFD (DLI: 27.54). I'm still not seeing roots reaching the edge of the inner clear cups. Also, my humidifier doesn't want to get much above 45%. This caused the VPD to rocket upward to 1.4 at the leaf. I'll work on that too.

Day 13 -- Close-Up Pics of Stress of Some Kind


Here is a better look at the damage I am causing.

Day 13 -- Let's Get Even Closer

My best guess after looking closer is that spots are from foliar feeding with the lights on. The dark areas seem to be from the Kelp foliar.

If somebody sees something worse, please let me know?

The blueish coloring is from the onboard LED light built into the microscope.

Day 14 Stats & Notes (Day 14 from Germ):

-- Thanks to me and my ham-fisted foliar ways, the older leaves are not looking so great.
-- The good news is that the newer growth looks good.
-- Also, look at how much #1 covers the cup.
-- I top-layered the cups in Mosquito Bits to keep Fungus Gnats on edge.
-- When these are transferred to their fabric pots, I think I'll do this on a large scale.
-- Put a giant bag of Mosquito Bits directly into the reservoir.
-- Gave 50 ML nutrients to each plant.
-- Having problems with Humidifier - blowing my VPD through the roof.

Day 15 -- Humor

I have a humidifier that is struggling to get 50% RH.
This Meme I created pretty much sums up my last few days.

Day 16 - 04/06/22 - Notes & Pics

* Changed out Humidifier, and adjusted airflow to help with VPD issues.
* VPD: 1.4 at leaf top - way too high for early veg.)
* VPD should be:
- Propagation / Early Veg Stage 0.4 - 0.8 kPa
- Late Veg / Early Flower Stage 0.8 - 1.2 kPa
- Mid / Late Flower Stage 1.2 - 1.6 kPa
- Danger Zone Below 0.4 / Over 1.6
* Transplanted all 5 to the final pot
* They now feed off of AutoPot Rez (I'll top feed if needed)
* Rez: 6.17 pH
* Rez: 2.11 EC
* PPFD: 450 / DLI: 29.16
* I'm moving them closer to 35 DLI each day.
* They'll get 40 DLI in flower

Day 17 -- 04/07/22 - Notes & Stats

• I was able to raise the RH%, but still not enough.
• VPD: 1.3 at the leaf (too high)
• Solution: When the Previous Harvest is Dry - Add a 2nd Humidifier. Temps are mostly mid-70s
• The reservoir is dialed in:

EC: 2.0
pH: 6.01

Day 17 (04/07/22) - Pics / Notes

* 480 PPFD (Headed up to 540 PPFD until Flower)
* 31.10 DLI (Headed up to 35 DLI until Flower)

Day 17 - Pics - Look Inside Tent

Super Powers --- Using My Growing Skills for Food Crops as well

Day 19 - Stats & Notes

• Sill slightly high with VPD
• But, I think today is a trim day on the last harvest.
• This means a second humidifier is coming to the rescue.
• Flip to Flower Day is set (for now): 04/26/2022 for 12/12 lighting.
• Tent Limitations Graphic, I may change Flip-To-Flower if certain height limitations come into play.
• If somehow these plants get to 34" from the bottom of the tent before then, I'll flip sooner.
• This decision still allows for 28 inches of stretch before light-contact issues.