Trying to grow some herbs and make a journal about it.

  • Thread starter TryingToGrow
  • Start date
  • Tagged users None
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Hi.

Just wanted to keep track of some things I am doing and whatever else.

I am growing in coco and soil that I consider ~organic, mixed up myself, with mostly stuff from the plant nursery near me. I am growing cannabis and food/tobacco, etc.

Trying out some different things for me, some ~experiments, grow mediums, grow methods and whatever else.

Growing in a 4x4 tent currently, and for the most part, only have some young plants in veg.

Biggest pot I use indoors is 1 gallon. Plastic pots only. Currently standard top watering, when the pots feel light.

12/12 always. 400 watt, amazon led, updayday hps 4000 or something. I like it, and it was basically free how I got it. Right now it's about 200 watts max, dimmed down.

Using tap water mostly, ~300ppm, ~7.7 pH - nothing grows well with it in pots if I don't pH the water to ~5.7.

I have two 4" ac infinity fans with mufflers and filters for circulation, germination cabinet sits next to the grown tent and they are connected via ducting. I just set the fans on 2 (very low), so I don't hear them ever. temps go from 55-85F humidity goes from 40-80%, I don't really care about that stuff since it's in a house, so, it never gets cold. In summer, lights at night only because of the hot days. I also have a small 4" regular fan, for circulation in the tent sometimes.

All seeds start in in the germ cabinet, soil, solo cup, in a dome, with temp controller. Temps 70-75F usual germ time is 3-4 days, if 75-80F germ is just about always 3 days, no longer.

For nutes in the (non organic), coco, I will just be using an all purpose 2-1-2 fertilizer. For feeding the soil grows, just organic alfalfa or dried organic cannabis leaves/stems are added when/if necessary via a tea.



I try and keep all/any medium pH around 5.7-5.9 for cannabis now, that's the only way cannabis will grow for me but I have yet to go lower than 5.6 and keep track of how the plant is doing. At pH 5.6, the plants appeared fine.

For my mediums pH adjustments, I like to use powdered limestone or baking soda to pH up and to pH down I like to use epsom salt, vinegar, vitamin c, citrus acid, gypsum, wood chips, ect., trying to find more natural options for both, that I can obtain myself locally. Still working on ways to apply the different options, but usually just top dress now and water in. I would like to start automated bottom feeding soon, so, I am wanting to start an application method that will let me get the 'pH adjusters', dispersed throughout the medium well, without a 'watering in' being needed.
 
Last edited:
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
My bad I guess, I was still trying to edit my first post, I guess a stoner has to be fast these days.

anyways, here are a few pics of what I have going on.
37C2A74E B7BB 4A9E B5DC C037F08CFD5A

Wait, not that...

For ~experiments currently going, first is a germination pH experiment and also to see how long it will go in just a cup of water. 4.0 - 7.0, thought I had a 7.5 also, maybe on the side. 2 seeds per cup. Day 3 already, should see some green soon I think.
F4237694 A66A 4CD3 8F29 E6E95AEC37B1


I did set them up and on cardboard keep temps uniform
B0FA2A12 D893 44CC BE13 7C821EAE2C92

Update on this one soon I think.

Next ~experiment is starting and growing(?), a plant in wood chips. It’s some ‘pathway cover’ I got from homedepot, ~5 bucks for 2 cubic feet I guess. douglas fir and maybe another type, looks like sawmill waste/~shavings. Just left over from making my soil mix.
Image


Next ~experiment is a coco organic attempt. I just have harvested cannabis leaves and stems mixed in, to feed the soil.
Image


Here are a couple I’m trying to get to grow in the really poor soil from my back yard. The pH was to high to begin. I think it’s getting better via a little gypsum, Epsom salts and low pH waterings, the newest seedling looks much better than the first, just if it will keep going really. The dirt has a lot of rocks and stuff so I’m hesitant to put my pH meter in there, has to be getting better though.
Image


Here is another backyard soil plus some ‘pathway cover’/wood shavings, also Epsom and gypsum.
Image


here is Home Depot $2.50 top soil. Was nearly 7.0 pH out of the bag so again, Epsom and gypsum and thankfully it was dry enough it for a low pH watering. I think it might be alright, probably need to keep bringing pH down though, for a while.
Image


Here is some more floating around. Also there is a couple golden canary x underdawg Kush cross, auto x photo, plants I am most looking forward to if the golden canary is dominant in good ways.
Image


forgot to say I have this for the seeds in the germination experiment.
DA9C07F1 E1D3 4F16 BEBF 6D9325156452

I know, I gotta clean it up a bit but you should have seen it before.
 
Last edited:
sunwestgenetics

sunwestgenetics

47
18
on the first pic, is the leaves supposed to be clawing like that? nevertheless keep it up
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

6,099
313
No, I did not read all of it.

I hope your not using coco in the organic grow. Coco absorbs magnesium and will throw off your organics, which by the way, you should not be feeding any bottled nutes to.
If you're feeding it, it's not organic, no matter what the label says.

If you're keeping a database of measurements and readings on a daily basis, you're going to have some great data in a year or so. Lots of experiments going on in there. You might hookup with @Frankster, he does a lot of this stuff as well.
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
No, I did not read all of it.

I hope your not using coco in the organic grow. Coco absorbs magnesium and will throw off your organics, which by the way, you should not be feeding any bottled nutes to.
If you're feeding it, it's not organic, no matter what the label says.

If you're keeping a database of measurements and readings on a daily basis, you're going to have some great data in a year or so. Lots of experiments going on in there. You might hookup with @Frankster, he does a lot of this stuff as well.
Yes coco, with jus weed leaf and stems to feed the soil, maybe some gypsum also. No bottles, will be used, just organic alfalfa pellets, and weed leaf and stems.

this and my head is my data base. I don’t care for much else.
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
on the first pic, is the leaves supposed to be clawing like that? nevertheless keep it up
My bad, I misread the first time. I gues you are talking about the pic where it is showing the pH is way off. I just grabbed that coco from outside, didn't check it first, pretty sure just getting rained on dropped it so far, I added limestone
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
coco, rockwool, pibbles are all hydro and soil is soil.

View attachment 1200420
Also, I am curious to see any actual science that says plants have different pH requirements for different mediums that they are grown in. Do you have a link to any science on the topic or have you tested it yourself?

I can't even see who that chart is made by, some trophy thing in the way, lol
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Just some notes and stuff I wanted to have in one place for myself.

pH down - In coco, 1/2 cup epsom salt lower pH ~0.4. - epsom salt e.c. ~1.1

In coco, 1/2 cup peletized gypsum lower pH ~0.5 - gypsum e.c. 0.00

1 table baking soda 1.0+ pH rise in soil, only did 1 test and immediately after mixing together.

Water pH down with vinegar - mixed some water to 5.7pH with apple cider vinegar, 3 cap fulls to go from 7.7 to 5.7 for 4 gallons.

pH up - soil notes- 5 gallons. 5.7 pH water. soil 5.1 pH start

add 1/8 cup lime pH 5.2

add 1/4 cup (3/4 cup total) pH 5.4

add 3/8 cup (1.5 cup total) pH5.9

Links - Wick irrigation -

Bruce Bugbee, maximize yields

Redit Q and A (Bruce Bugbee) - HERE

Runoff for nubs - https://curiouscultivations.com/2019/01/11/runoff-ph-explaining-the-bro-science/

pH for cannabis and ~adjusting with water - https://autoflowerseedshop.com/cannabis-ph-chart-guide/
 
MyGrowYo

MyGrowYo

261
63
Do you have any veg/flower pics? Curious to see how this madness ends up lol
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Do you have any veg/flower pics? Curious to see how this madness ends up lol
Nothing recent, ~just started growing again, switched to organics from hydro, got messed up seeing bad pH charts for soil and then my tap water being nuts, set me back a few months nearly, somehow. Trying not to think about it. I did just harvest a few recently but nothing photogenic. Soon I will have some good plants again, worth taking pictures of. I will also share my custom wick irrigation setup - no electricity, automated, watering determined by plant, bottom feeding, on 24/7.
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Working on another~ experiment, using leaves to lower pH and ppm/toxins in tap water.

A few gallons of leaves and ~5 gallons of water. Some green leaves, mostly brown leaves below.
CAB287C6 DBB6 4B2E 9A9A B76250C3050E

Starting pH is about 8.0 after the water sits for a day or so and ec is around 0.5-0.6. Already pH is dropping a bit, not even 12 hours later. Gonna test in a few days or a week.
A847B459 839F 43E4 B484 A5016796BF89

This is my water from tap, not given a day to rise to 8.0pH.
72AF6B33 4011 4899 89D5 2AD6330E993B


a bud I grew 100 years ago
17BB3A16 E93C 47B7 AC0E D597223D549D


a more recent pic, plant before pH ruined them. My res water was rising and I was thinking I had everything dialed in, hooked them to auto watering, ~ water was at 7.0, I’m thinking it’s 5.7... plants ruined in very short time. Not the first time I’ve done that but... nothing. Lol
5BB6AC64 C03B 4B5F 982E 65F8D2CB8035
a plant from summer
B9014098 137E 423A B11F 8E77AD4BDAE5


a indoor grow from 50 years ago
EAD8876A 7C6B 4FE5 B08F A5185EEC60B7


I only have seedlings right now. Just on tail end of not even believable ph issues. I use this same tap water a couple years ago and it’s not the same now, +100 ppm and +1 pH but the trash will rise pH for a week after lowering.

diy vinegar- 5+ gallons total, about 3 of that is water and ~1/4 cup black strap molasses. Will be using for pH down for indoor and outdoor gardens. Bottles to keep it underwater.
FAB9F958 3111 40E9 85F7 AF08D69C4BCA
 
Last edited:
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Then just recently my pH meter broke so I had none at a critical point for my current plants, lol. To over it for slurry and run off tests, got my meters again and all working now. Should be smooth sailing once I get the medium to settle which it seems close.
 
MyGrowYo

MyGrowYo

261
63
Nice, I only call it madness because I’ve done everything possible to simplify my grow, so I just have to water the right amount and walk away haha but I’m shown time and time again, there’s a million ways to do this 👍
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Here is what I have right now, just pulling it together.

here is my Hopi tobacco plant and Santa Fe pepper. The front two are a sun flower and 2 gg4’s I guess, in some of the worst soil I have in my back yard. The pH of the back yard soil has been glued to nearly 7 for a month of spraying vinegar on it, but I feel like it’s almost starting to come down. The stuff is so terrible that little pot weighs so much compared to any ‘good soil’.
75C1A8D5 2140 4382 A5F7 FCFC7D8D3FB5


Here is the grow master, I was pretty sure all these were dead a couple weeks ago because they got super stunted when sitting in 7.0pH water for ~4 days for my second failed germination experiment. They all just popped again maybe a week ago and I just started watering them yesterday via the res and trying to do so and have the pH sit right, should be an easy grow once that is dialed in.
7EA3DF16 CA91 4387 9958 93D773452590


here is my leaf water test @1.5 days. I have some other tap water out, it’s 7.5 after sitting out ~4 days now. Pretty sure this still rises after being removed from the leaves, so, I’m going to let it sit another day.
D2F55FFC 52EF 4CBD 800A B67554C9A698
 
Last edited:
sportyridr

sportyridr

1,126
263
Here is what I have right now, just pulling it together.

here is my Hopi tobacco plant and Santa Fe pepper. The front two are a sun flower and 2 gg4’s I guess, in some of the worst soil I have in my back yard. The pH of the back yard soil has been glued to nearly 7 for a month of spraying vinegar on it, but I feel like it’s almost starting to come down. The stuff is so terrible that little pot weighs so much compared to any ‘good soil’.
View attachment 1203728

Here is the grow master, I was pretty sure all these were dead a couple weeks ago because they got super stunted when sitting in 7.0pH water for ~4 days for my second failed germination experiment. They all just popped again maybe a week ago and I just started watering them yesterday via the res and trying to do so and have the pH sit right, should be an easy grow once that is dialed in.
View attachment 1203736

here is my leaf water test @1.5 days. I have some other tap water out, it’s 7.5 after sitting out ~4 days now. Pretty sure this still rises after being removed from the leaves, so, I’m going to let it sit another day.
View attachment 1203737

Following to learn cool stuff...cheers!
 
T

TryingToGrow

Supporter
322
63
Been getting a lot of request for pics of what I have going now. I’m not sure but I’m finally getting all my soil pH dialed in again, taking forever since soil is (was), taking forever to dry.

~everything 12/12 now, half outside in the sun, half indoors to save on electricity and because sun is the best light. Seedlings get extra light at night to help them stay above 60F and for a little grow boost.

All the non cannabis plants and male cannabis plants will be going outside as I run out of space and autos will be going outside in a month or so for the rest of the summer, just because why not? Basically free to grow outdoors.

around 50 plants now, maybe 15-20 males, think I’m gonna start more seeds tomorrow, in addition to the other I already have germinating. I’d like to harvest and smoke 1 plant a day.
67313F2F C072 4760 A7D4 0E75A14944B5
 
PK1

PK1

Supporter
3,459
263
Been getting a lot of request for pics of what I have going now. I’m not sure but I’m finally getting all my soil pH dialed in again, taking forever since soil is (was), taking forever to dry.

~everything 12/12 now, half outside in the sun, half indoors to save on electricity and because sun is the best light. Seedlings get extra light at night to help them stay above 60F and for a little grow boost.

All the non cannabis plants and male cannabis plants will be going outside as I run out of space and autos will be going outside in a month or so for the rest of the summer, just because why not? Basically free to grow outdoors.

around 50 plants now, maybe 15-20 males, think I’m gonna start more seeds tomorrow, in addition to the other I already have germinating. I’d like to harvest and smoke 1 ant a day.
View attachment 1216254
well, good luck! You gonna have your hands full
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom