My 2023 Winter Grow Log Journey

[NickSkyland]

I've been torn on whether to do this log or not. I got major trust issues with big tech and everything I put online feeds that beast. But my love for the community is greater than my hate for big tech, so I'll share my journey so that maybe it will help someone else, as others have helped me.

This season I ordered seeds online from RQS. I'm very excited about it because all my previous grows were mystery bag seeds. However, next time I want to order from @EliteCut because man, his clones look amazing.

1x OG Kush
1x Critical
1x Green Crack
1x Royal Runtz

I found a seed in a bag of Biscotti so tossed it in the mix too.

1x Biscotti Reg

 

[NickSkyland]

Germination date: Sept 5th.

Day 5:

Day 7: Royal Runtz starts dying. Others doing good.

Day 9, RR declared dead and discarded. Very disappointing because it's the strain I wanted most. RQS sent me a new seed but it still hasn't popped after 8 days. I really hope this strain makes it into my season.

Day 12:

Day 19: Up potted

 

[NickSkyland]

Day 20:

Green Crack:

Critical:

All:

 

[NickSkyland]

Technical details:

Soil is plain ole miracle grow potting mix. I've been growing flowers and veggies with it since I was in diapers so im very comfortable with it and know it well. It's cheap and easy to find too.

When I do my final up-pot, the soil mix will be integrated into my permaculture cycle. More on that later.

These are only getting water for now. About 10 sprays from a water bottle a day, around their base.

The light is a 1500 watt bestva set to 18/6. I keep blue spectrum (veg) on, and turn red (flower) on for just a few hours a day. In starter pot they were 30" from soil to light. After up-pot they are 20".

 

[Choppr]

The Original Cookies came from a Bag seed. lol - looks like a good start, I do think your light is going hold you back as its actually only 150watts, for 4 plants is pretty low, and buying seed is expensive. I would recommend 150w minimum for each Plant, good luck Farmer.

 

[NickSkyland]

The Original Cookies came from a Bag seed. lol - looks like a good start, I do think your light is going hold you back as its actually only 150watts, for 4 plants is pretty low, and buying seed is expensive. I would recommend 150w minimum for each Plant, good luck Farmer.

Agreed. I have a 2000 watt BestVA in flower closet. Still not enough for these 4 to really burst.

I'll probably get a 2nd light for my flower closet by the time these are ready to go into flower, if wife allows it Otherwise I'll just beg her until she gets annoyed and says just get it. Worst case, Christmas lol

 

[Choppr]

Just to Point out the Lighting Manufactures Nomenclature, 1000 = 100watt, 2000 = 200watt, 3000 = 300watt, its a bit deceptive. And Blurple Lighting is old tech. Ballin on a Budget, here's a link, https://a.co/d/2MwvIOc - good luck with the Wife, lol

 

[NickSkyland]

Hey, that's a pretty nice looking bundle. I might just take your word for it and get those and try something new. Thx for the suggestion. I probably like that blurple more than my plants do. Never heard it called that lol, I like it

 

[NickSkyland]

Day 25:

Sunrise this morning, clones of last flowers stretching in preflower.

Green Crack: This 1 is showing the most Sativa traits. I plan to breed it by taking a clone later and mixing it with a Grateful Dead-Head sativa from the 80s.

Critical: Also looking Sativa leaning, but not as much as Green Crack.

OG Kush: Definitely leaning Indica

Biscotti: I got this from a Bag of Hermits Delight and it actually germed 3 days later than rest, but grew much faster. Figures, being a seed from a mega farm that can't keep up with demand. Its still waking up, maybe a little overwatered. It grows so fast it gets tired by night. Heavy idica traits. It's a freebie, unknown gender and may get culled.

Royal Runtz is out but I got some Dotz seeds (Runtz x Stardawg) from Greenpoint on the way, to replace that strain. Also snagged some Blue Dream x Animal Cookies

 

[NickSkyland]

Purple Punch showing in Green Crack growths before it even has 3 nodes. It's almost pink to the eye. Can't wait to see its flowers

 

[NickSkyland]

Tech Details:

Green Crack and Critical's cotyledon leaves shriveled up so I fed them nutes, and went ahead and fed others too.

For nutes I mixed 1 solo cup of aquarium water, 1 tablespoon Epsom salt, in 1 gallon of water, because I have more to feed than just these. Then I filled a Gatorade bottle halfway with that, and filled the rest with water, to dilute it down for seedlings/veglings. Gave them like a shotglass worth.

That aquarium water is gold. Peppers are ravenous eaters, I give them straight fish water when they are blooming and they perk right up. It would burn cannabis so watering it down is key. The ratios are determined by plant and stage of development.

 

[NickSkyland]

Day 27:

Neighbors gave me a free bag of lime so made a little top dressing for all my plants, including veglings. Used 1/2 tbsp of lime, 1/2 tbsp epsom salt, 1/4 tbsp silt, 1/4 tbsp wood ash. Dropped a handful of fresh soil over it, mixed it up, spread it out, and molded a bowl shape in soil to funnel water towards taproot. Then fed them.

All really happy today.

Clones in week 1 flower got veg feeding, then flower feeding later in day, then flower feed again before bed.

Gave veglings their first deep feeding with full veg nutes. The symbiotic relationship between living soil and living plant is now active, with soil having the advantage, until plant grows bigger and takes control. Did this now because we have full sun to help dry soil back out. Plants too small to drink that much but wanted to reach all its roots.

They are looking very sharp.

In 1 gallon pots

 

[NickSkyland]

Day 33: Going good. Planning to top them in the next week, keeping each top as a clone.

Clones from last flowers at end of week 2 from switch

And got my fresh "dream seeds" in :))

 

[NickSkyland]

Day 35: Topped them after 4th nodes, kept tops for clones

I cut them with snips for better precision and to not hurt momma plant, then put the cutting in a bowl of water with a little CloneX Rooting Solution in it. With the cutting submerged in water, I used an exacto knife to cut end at 45° angle. Then I pulled it out of water and dipped in CloneX Rooting Gel for 10 seconds. While soaking in gel, I submerged root riot plug in the water for 3 seconds. Then carefully put the clone in the plug, then in the dome, then sprayed plant and dome lid with water.

I'll spray the clones every few hours for a few days, keeping them wet, and hopefully get a root within 7 days.

 

[NickSkyland]

2 days have passed. No roots yet but the baby clones have some vigor. They've actually grown a new node without roots.

The mothers, in the back, healed up fine.

Clones from last flower batch have really sprawled out. It was tough fitting them in there.

 

[NickSkyland]

According to some people on the forum, I have no skills and should never open my mouth. If you wonder why I don't do those "Help, my plant is sick" posts anymore, thats why.

You try to help someone and get attacked for it. Like it's some kind of dick measuring contest instead of growers helping growers. No thx.

I'm no expert but..

Fuck those people.

 

[NickSkyland]

Got the go ahead from wife to repurpose our camping tent for a grow tent, to contain the smell (and double my square footage :))

So no more under the stairs flower shots. Also removed walls from veg desk and hung light from ceiling.

Daddy's happy

2 of the clones rooted, 2 still in progress.

Started training the mothers. This is Green Crack, day 45, about 10 days after topping.

And the clones, at the end of week 4 flower, are just starting to fatten up

Suga, boom boom

 

[NickSkyland]

Found a new use for pencils. Slides in there nice to push those lower nodes outwards. Training plants is a pretty fun phase

 

[NickSkyland]

Green Crack Punch from seed, about half way through training. Its been awake for about 15 minutes today.

3 Nodes (6 branches).

Top 2 nodes are in training; the bottom node is reserved for 2 more clones.

The lowest branches make best clones because of natural rooting hormones. I like the top from topping for clones best, but they are super sensitive and 1 mistake can ruin them. This gives me 3 shots at clones per plant.

Best 1 is getting bred.

 

[NickSkyland]

It's crazy how messed up our country is though.

I'm 41 years old. Taught myself to hack at 13 years old. I got a hell of a green thumb too.

I applied to a programming job at MFA (Missouri Farmers Association) and was turned down by some fake ass executive after interview, with no talent or experience except bullshitting people.

Should be a perfect fit for me, and them, but not in this fake economy. But that's because Missouri Farmers Association isn't a farmers association anymore. It's a Wall Street Real Estate Investment Trust that actively fucks farmers. And those execs wouldn't have their jobs, I would, if not for criminal fascist nazi bailouts.

Not to mention how pot smokers were persecuted for decades. Now they using cannabis tax and laws for more fascism, keeping independents out of the game.

Every day something reminds me that our government is delusionally bat shit crazy and homicidal and a majority of the population is insane enough to "vote" this shit in flagrant hypocritical form against human rights.