Sonic Hedgehog Grow / Speed+ (1st time hydro)

[AdkBuds]

First hydroponic grow in a newly remodeled growroom. Comparing different ways of hydro with the same strain. Also just yay, growing again!!!

I renamed this strain Sonic after the hedgehog for myself - because saying you’re going to smoke speed eh, well, sounds like you’re doing something else! However because of its growth rate being the best I could find I wanted it, so +Speed is the true name of my Sonic.

Hydro Systems: 12 Hydrofarm grow flow (5 gallon) & five homemade DWC (5 gallon) & Eazy pyramid minis
Lights: Mars Hydro FC6500 & FC4800
Vent: HEPA filter & 200 CFM fan
Humidifier: Inkbird & 6L reservoir
Nutes: RAW line
Additions: H2O2, Hydroguard, PH down

Before anyone asks, HEPA & low CFM is because I’m working within a basement that calls for a lower flow & cleanliness prioritized over smell. It’s weird & different but should be what works for us.

15 hours in water, 18 hours on a paper towel, 18 of 19 showed tails before being put in their current RRs. They received a tiny amount of Veg A & B plus kelp in the water the Rapid Rooters soaked in for >1 min. Now we wait ^_^

 

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24 hours after going into RR the best eleven were moved, the other 8 were left to continue popping. 81 hours after start/dropping into water.

Germination station for the 11 quick runners.
Mid to low 70’s temp, 70’ RH, 20/4 light.

 

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Speeders after 105hrs

Stragglers

Noticed some leaf curling despite temp holding. I figure it’s the bottom so I added plastic underneath the transparent germ mini domes to elevate them. Otherwise, looking lovely. All 19 popped!

 

[AdkBuds]

Both groups at 129 hours old

Little bit much so I elevated them & lowered the germ light (white is fixed). Seeing lots of the next set of leaves. White tap poking through bottoms so tomorrow I will likely move them into their permanent home. Nervous & excited in equal measures!

 

[steamroller]

Lose the dome.
Domes are for clones not seedlings.

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Looking a little damp. Keep an eye on that. If your not watering and just misting the dome for moisture watch it.

Maybe wipe it down and see if it builds up on its own.

 

[AdkBuds]

Thanks for the heads up! It’s because I grow in a basement & it’s winter though. I wouldn’t use a dome the rest of the year but we are currently 6” deep with snow & that affects my room. I use that for the heat & humidity, otherwise it wouldn’t get up enough to maintain a good success germ rate this time of year. They’re doing well though!



Moved the first ones in today & I’m antsy excited to see how it pans out.

Started 3 of the ebb & flows, 4 of the DWC buckets, and 1 mini pyramid with bag self-waterer.

Light at 15%, PHs ranged from 5.5-6 (pyramid soaked in 5), humidity at 60%, Nutes 270 ppm (Veg A&B, also enzymes added - H2O2 was added days ago & degraded by now so should be all good there)

Other 11 remain at the germination station - selected those to take from first group based on roots poking out the bottoms. Tomorrow the rest (leftovers & stragglers) should be done, just time got away from me. Still 8 are in! Huzzah!

Accidentally broke 1 which is taped up, fingers crossed but damn! I had started with 1 extra as a margin of error and had a 100% germination success rate so if it is lost it won’t throw me off in the end. It’s annoying it happened though..

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Not a hydro guy but always thought it was cool.

Way of the future when I was a kid. Just like we would be living under the ocean by now.

 

[AdkBuds]

Not a hydro guy but always thought it was cool.

Way of the future when I was a kid. Just like we would be living under the ocean by now.

Same, it was always so flashy & high tech looking that I was afraid to try it. Now I’m nervously enthusiastic, lol

Speaking of living under the oceans…Where’s my flying car?!

 

[AdkBuds]

I noted the bag self waterer was overflowing - it is not compatible with the Eazy pyramid (I’m guessing due to its porous nature) so I removed it before the end of last night. It will be good for seedlings down the road in rooters & rockwool though. Time to test the next after the pyramid dries for a few days.

Hit 168 hours this morning (from the time seeds hit the water) so now time to count in days! 1 week from very beginning.

Added all the Grow flow group in and I’m nervously so thrilled.

The broken stem doesn’t seem withered or dying. I sacrificed a spare orphan soul to the weed gods for her (this is why you buy your orphan souls in bulk!) and then did a rain dance. I think it worked. I put the little gal into a small rockwool cube (left) rather than anything too substantial until we know if she fully recovers. Fingers crossed..

Only thing I left was the last single DWC. Saved the shortest, no-root-show-yet one & left in the germination station. Will use as a replacement if there’s any issues come tomorrow.

Then it’s a matter of waiting to see if the roots take and it all doesn’t go to hell, I suppose. Oh my gosh!!

 

[AdkBuds]

Noticed a bit of a stretch in some, so increased light to 25% and physically lowered it a bit.
Added some CalMag & small PH adjustment (>0.5).
Got the last DWC in.
So far so hesitantly good on the broken stem.

All my girls (except 2) were named tonight! I normally rarely do but decided to individually name them all this time. I did some from TV but mostly powerful & influential women in history, to give the seedlings some inspiration & strength!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Emmaline Pankhurst for the snapped stem (well I’m going to Hell in a hand basket for that one) and Ankhesenamun for the mini pyramid.

Bad handwriting but first row back to front: Athena, Aethelflaed, and Ada Lovelace.
Row two: Catherine Howard, Nadja Cravensworth, and Claudette Colvin.
Row three: Lady Whistledown, Louise Belcher, and Hedy Lamarr.
Row four: Sojourner, Sadie the Goat, and Mary Seacole.

Freydis, Ms Vangie, and Frida K.
Last row DWC, 2 unnamed.

 

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I love when your gift messages get an answer…

Named last two before lights out: Magu, after the cannabis goddess, and the Oracle @ Delphi

Adjusted light schedule last night to do my first weekle/biweekly kelp foliar spray a couple hours before the lights came on this morning. Got undersides & everyone looks well except Emmeline is now showing wilting from her damage. Expected but still a let down. Still, 18 lovely ladies going!

 

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Lights brought up to 30%, cycling every 6 hours (4x day) but still top watering. RH holding 65%, temps in mid-to upper 60s. Added Hydroguard to everyone.

Took the first individual DWC measures for my chart. PHs from 6 - 6.5, nutes all over from 150-390. Added PH down & nutes. Working on raising slowly.
Dip in nutes in drum reservoir, added nutes there as well, but PH is holding at 6, still added some PH down. No big swings yet anywhere, knock on wood!

Brought a little more Calcium in, plus a touch of phosphorous, & dash of amino acids as per RAW chart.

 

[AdkBuds]

Put up my other permanent light & moved my bucket girls over there.

Upped both to 35% brightness.
Morning spray of regular water 2hrs before lights on. Noticed nutes in drum dropped by 10ppm, I hope that means they’re taking it in!

Adjusted cycling. Five cycles. Four 15 minute ones and one 30 minute. Not sure, going by moisture when I stick my finger into the hydrotron.

Slight burn to the tip of one of Vangie’s leaves. I know when I top watered I accidentally got her, so I think that’s it. I figure that’s the universe’s way of telling me it’s time to stop top watering. Went from 4 to 5 cycles to account for that change. Winging it the best I can!

 

[AdkBuds]

Well first the bad news. Overdid it on light & got three stretching. Double checked and realized I was aiming for veg lighting not seedling. Also I think a couple nights the lights never turned off for their rest period. So I dropped to 25% at 18/6 hours, per the light manufacturer. Kicked myself for that.

The good news however is there are many root tendrils visible that weren’t there a day or two ago. They are definitely spreading out.

Added an oscillating fan to the room.

 

[Zen_Seeker]

Dude. I BBQ my tops this month. I think you’ll be fine.

I don’t mind a little stretch. Keeps it out of the dirt. Just need to support more often than not, or bend for LST.

Love seeing the roots pop out.

 

[AdkBuds]

Dude. I BBQ my tops this month. I think you’ll be fine.

I don’t mind a little stretch. Keeps it out of the dirt. Just need to support more often than not, or bend for LST.

Love seeing the roots pop out.

Ahahaha, but how did they taste? I think tangy BBQ would be better on buds than sweet. Either way, I’d eat it.

-high5- Yeah I’m definitely more nervous than the girls are. After all the time, effort, & $ put in I feel like I gotta get it right for my dad. If this was dirt I’d just bury that lil lady deeper

Happy daylight savings time! Daily spray done & already wakin’ ‘n’ bakin’.

I will say the one that is doing it who is appropriate is Sadie.

Sadie the Goat was a female pirate who got her start and nickname as a street thief head-butting people to disorient them before robbing them. So I say this gal has gone left & right trying to headbutt that lightShe’s a pip!

 

[AdkBuds]

It’s been a weird week!

I felt like the cold temps (around 60’F) were stunting the girls so I bought a small heater (had an old temp controller already) & anxiously awaited that but if came a couple days ago. I do feel like the temp increase provided a visually noticeable growth spurt since then, but still struggling a little.

Also since they’ll be dropping roots soon the buckets were painted black then white per some online suggestions.

Got over the stretching successfully with some minor adjustments. Huzzah! Unfortunately I also ended up getting tip burn to spread to 3 of my 12 black pots. Not sure if it was not enough nutes, cold, or the light. I’m hoping the cleaning & re-nuteing I did today will alleviate that. Of the DWC no tip burns, but the same one I thought I splashed is definitely struggling so it’s more than that.

Here’s the first tip burn victim:

There was some smell in the ebb & flow reservoir. Nothing god awful. I’m not sure exactly if it is normal or not, but the DWC didn’t have that after the same amount of time. There was one nutrient difference - an old liquid calmag which I will no longer add in case it had gone out of date & was the reason for the smell (color seemed off)

Ebb flow water, smell.

DWC bucket water for comparison, no smell.

Before and after clean. Due to the smell & my concern I cleaned it well over 5 hours. I pulled everything apart and wiped it all down, ran water out to clear the hydrotron, wiped surfaces with a H2O2 mix. Even stuck myself halfway into the reservoir drum to wipe every inch top to bottom.

Not sure if there is enough air within the ebb & flow reservoir drum with just that little air ball stone so I ordered a set of supersized air stones. Trying to take out any possible mistakes & in case the smell was anaerobic based I figured it’s best to get more oxygen in.

Most look alright although I expected them to be bigger at 2 weeks from sprout. I’m thinking it’s my own teething troubles’ fault though, & Im optimistically hoping with a freshly cleaned system & properly tweaked parameters that this will change for the better.

Water sat in my new reservoir drum with peroxide overnight. Added PH down, Hydroguard, & RAW nutes at the week 2 concentration, following the packaging precisely this time and not underdoing it out of caution (Veg A, B, Phosphorous, Calcium, Amino acids, & Enzymes)

25% light at 18/6, 6 cycles per day (about every 3hrs), low to mid 70s temps, RH 60%, PHs all in the 5-6 range and PPMs (meter set to ppms not EC, didn’t see the difference at first) all ranged from 1000-1200.

 

[AdkBuds]

Checked this morning to make sure nothing got weird & found the main drum in a good way.

Current schedule - 1/2 hour when lights are on, 1/4 when off to prevent drying out. If anyone has done this system too I’d be curious on your timings!

Ugh poor babies. 12 grand, 6 not so hot. I hope this water overhaul does the trick.

 

[AdkBuds]

Well I think overall we’re doing well..

Definite growth spurt in the past few days! Not letting the room fall below 65’F and the res change surely helped. PH keeps climbing & being yoyo’ed with PH down.

I think the tip burn issue has plateaued as well. Thank goodness! I do feel bad as the worst burnt one had been the largest but not any longer. Still, at least it’s over.

The grow room smell is coming to seem more normal like to me now. After being in the room 5 minutes I don’t notice it at all anymore.

Roots are really beginning to kick off! Saw first one poking out Saturday (3/18) now here’s how far they’ve come (3/21)

Lotta bubbles and foam in there, more than the DWC by a mile. Also more smell. Kinda weird but apparently normal?

I made a post in hydro to see if others felt it was normal (seems like I have Trichidermine too but that’s considered helpful so it’s okay? Not sure hopefully someone responds to my other post so I know if this is bad or not)

What a roller coaster!