Need second opinion about my Vanilla Kush grow

[GreenDei]

Hey beautiful people,

I’d like a second opinion on whether my Vanilla Kush buds look alright.

It’s currently on day 34 (week 5) of flowering since the 12/12 switch grown under a 600w Mars Hydro TS600. I feel like they haven’t swelled up as big as i thought it would on day 34. It still has several more weeks of flowering left before harvest.

Thanks!

 

[Dirtbag]

Have you grown this strain before? It could be genetically a slow/long flowering plant, looks otherwise healthy enough.

 

[GreenDei]

Have you grown this strain before? If I'm being honest I'd expect more bud growth for day 34 too. But it could be genetically a slow flowering plant, could be the light, hard to say. I'm not familiar with the setup. It looks otherwise healthy enough.

This is the first time i’m growing VK from seed. It’s in a 3gal fabric pot mainly because my veg closet can only fit 2. I’m also using soil for medium.

For nutes, i use completely organic nutes and no bottled nutes except for CalMag, feeding the soil as compared to feeding the plant directly. Nutes include compost, worm castings, bat guano (high phosphorus), kelp (high potassium), diluted urine (high nitrogen). Since switching to flower, i’ve stopped feeding urine. I brew and feed compost tea once every week. Water and feeding is always pHed at around 6.5 and bi-weekly slurry test shows pH of around 6.5 too.

I also noticed that VK is calcium hungry and ran into slight problems during early veg. Since i’ve upped the dosage of CalMag, it’s been growing healthy with no problems.

Since flowering, temperature level has been around 75 - 82 and RH fluctuating between 40 - 65.

 

[Dirtbag]

The all organic approach could explain the slower growth and smaller structure. I grow in soiless and hydro so I'm just used to a bit more mass by day 35 I guess... Looks healthy though, just let it do its thing and itll be what itll be.

 

[UrbanGardener]

You could try incorporating some potash and molasses to give them a boost.

 

[GreenDei]

You could try incorporating some potash and molasses to give them a boost.

Thanks for the suggestion UrbanGardener. Would you recommend the potash and molasses for every watering or just feeding?

 

[GreenDei]

The all organic approach could explain the slower growth and smaller structure. I grow in soiless and hydro so I'm just used to a bit more mass by day 35 I guess... Looks healthy though, just let it do its thing and itll be what itll be.

Thanks Dirtbag. My thoughts are if they’re just taking awhile to fatten up the buds then i’ll just drag the flowering time longer while keeping an eye out on the color of the pistils.

 

[UrbanGardener]

Thanks for the suggestion UrbanGardener. Would you recommend the potash and molasses for every watering or just feeding?

Just potash when feeding, I usually add molasses when I water. As a starting point, use 1–2 tablespoons of molasses per 5 litres of water and monitor your plants. Keep an eye on ph too. Make sure you get unsulphured, organic molasses.

 

[MarsHydroLED]

It’s currently on day 34 (week 5) of flowering since the 12/12 switch grown under a 600w Mars Hydro TS600.

It looks beautiful, Mars Hdyro TS 600 actual power is only 100w, but it totally enough for the girl!

 

[visajoe1]

you need more wattage and replace the black plastic on the walls, they are sucking up the the light instead of reflecting it

 

[Dirtbag]

I would argue that 100 actual watts is probably the reason they arent getting very big. It's enough to produce some bud sure, but it's not going to grow them to their fullest potential.

 

[GreenDei]

you need more wattage and replace the black plastic on the walls, they are sucking up the the light instead of reflecting it

Thanks, i’ve just put in reflective material instead.

 

[GreenDei]

I would argue that 100 actual watts is probably the reason they arent getting very big. It's enough to produce some bud sure, but it's not going to grow them to their fullest potential.

Though it’s only pulling 100w from the wall, the TS600 is supposed to be equivalent to a 1000w HPS and outputs around 700 umol at 18” from the canopy. Is that not sufficient enough?

 

[growsince79]

Though it’s only pulling 100w from the wall, the TS600 is supposed to be equivalent to a 1000w HPS and outputs around 700 umol at 18” from the canopy. Is that not sufficient enough?

I don't know why they always lie about what their LED can replace. That light will replace a 150w HPS- that's it. It's god for a 2x2 - that's all. BTW the buds grown under a $79 150w mini sunburst would probably be much larger.

 

[Dirtbag]

Though it’s only pulling 100w from the wall, the TS600 is supposed to be equivalent to a 1000w HPS and outputs around 700 umol at 18” from the canopy. Is that not sufficient enough?

100w of LED is nowhere close to a 1000w HPS, nevermind equivalent. Its not even in the same ballpark.

 

[JadedMarxist]

You say 32 since you flipped really means your only 18 days into flower as I don't start flowering Imo till I see buds starting to form. So if it took say average 2 weeks to show yeah at 18 days or so your buds look perfect.

 

[growsince79]

You say 32 since you flipped really means your only 18 days into flower as I don't start flowering Imo till I see buds starting to form. So if it took say average 2 weeks to show yeah at 18 days or so your buds look perfect.

I'm pretty sure when growers and breeders speak of flowering time, the count starts when they switch to 12-12. Anything else would be ridiculous and misleading. But I don't buy seeds anymore so idk. That said, she's a late bloomer and might not be ready for another 6 weeks or more.

 

[JadedMarxist]

Personally I don't really count days I use my USB microscope to monitor trics.

But back in the days of watching hairs to tell, (sic)
I counted from when I saw the plant flip not when I flipped the light,.

I would assume just going from 18/6 to 12/12 the plant can't just switch like that it takes 10-14 days before the plant really starts it flowering cycle. So when lights are switched its still trying to grow leaves not flowers. Jmo tho I've never actually did any comparisons but have been told the same by some experienced local growers.

 

[Mr.jiujitsu]

I have been growing this strain for years. Have many posts about it. Check my threads but it’s slow. At least In flower. It bulks hard but I’m at 9 weeks and expect at least another two (day 63). I really love this strain. The terps have been great and the spears are fantastic. Lights on in a few I’ll try and throw you a photo of what to expect. Let it go, can’t rush this strain

 

[Mr.jiujitsu]

I’m talking since flip. Because that’s traceable. Watching tricromes is ideal but generally I see this as a 11 week finisher