Joe's Grow Show Pt. 1: The Coco Diaries

[Thejoeybrown]

Look like they're growing pretty good to me. What water and cal-mag are you using? I've read that it's good to have runoff with coco. With those 5 gallon pots and little plants that's not really practical. I'm wondering how that will effect the grow. I think it might be better to start with smaller containers and pot up when needed. Have you checked out Justicemans sticky threads? (sticky to his posts)

I'm using sensi Coco grow A and B pH to 5.8-5.9. The Coco has runoff pretty easily and I make sure it doesn't dry out at all.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

What up guys. Just a lil update. Also wondering if anybody has any input on the babies. I added sensi Rhino Skin and Cal mag to my base of pH perfect sensi Coco grow a+b. The last plant has had very weird growth from day one as I stated befor it had some trauma between germ and planting. The other one with weird growth started a lil later. Not too too concerned yet but want to stay on top of it while still KISS. thanks

 

[Thejoeybrown]

Hey Guys I topped the babies today. I debated on just doing the big one and waiting on the rest but decided to to with all of them. It's been about 8 hrs and I just checked and all are standing strong. Since I added the cal mag and rhino skin the new growth on the 2 odd plants looks a lot more normal and healthier. Any input at all is highly encouraged. Let me know where you think I might need some help. Pics of the other 3 post topping in a few hours when I get home.

 

[dirtyshawa]

You're doing fine. I typically start my seedlings off in 3 gallon pots and I've never seen any evidence of my plants being stunted because of it. Calmag right now is important, as well through veg and mid flower. You could have gotten away with just calmag and a root stimulant until this point...adding nutes from the start is just a preference. Another thing, your plants can get away with just a foliar right now...calmag has enough nitrogen for this stage. You're doing well, keep the humidity up, and go find something else to do with your time lol. You're at a space where you can ph a nice batch of nutes, fill your pots until you have some runoff, and chill for 2- 3 weeks, while they grow out. Just foliar to keep their humidity up. Ime, worrying about runoff IF your plants are healthy is pointless. Runoff in the catch trey makes no difference in coco, accept for having to water more often.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

What up guys. Jus a lil update. I decided to move to the 3 gal pots that have better drainage. I may have lost 2 days of growth but I'm very happy with the decision. Here is a couple pics of some dress tops. My first time topping so suggestions and criticism is welcome. Thanks

 

[Thejoeybrown]

A few more pics of the LST and new tops

 

[Thejoeybrown]

A little ROOT PORN. What you guys think? Some of the babies have a few little scars. Transplanting out of those big buckets was a chore. Lol. But all healed very fast and are better off for it. Just trying to strike up a lil convo.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

The las pic was my attempt at FIM when I topped the rest. I wanted to give it a try but I think I left too much. Should I let it go this way and just do lst or should I re top it when it's had time to grow some more?

 

[Farmer P]

They're looking good. Let those two shoots at the top grow a little then top them too. And it looks like you're low stress training the top leaves. I would just stick to branches for the LST. Individual leaves grow out sideways anyways. Maybe take more on your next attempt at FIM.

 

[Farmer P]

Actually I think you may have taken too much for a FIM. When you fem the center stock should keep growing, but slower to let the sides catch up. It looks like what you did was a topping, and you also got a little of the next set of leaves. It will still work fine. Should turn into a nice bush.

 

[Orcaman]

I've gone through your thread and want to say kudo's! You're doing a great job growing in the homer buckets with keeping proper moister on the seedlings. I think your only mistake so far was doubling PPM's! I would of only went to about 300 to 350 PPM based on the numbers you have shown. I think you over fed and would go to water only in place of a feeding or two IMO.:)

 

[Thejoeybrown]

They're looking good. Let those two shoots at the top grow a little then top them too. And it looks like you're low stress training the top leaves. I would just stick to branches for the LST. Individual leaves grow out sideways anyways. Maybe take more on your next attempt at FIM.

Ya I was thinking if I F'd up the FIM then maybe I should move those too leaves that are cut in half to allow more light to those tiny new shoots. So I should take it off and let them grow out with the 2 new shoots? Or should I get rid of them completely so it is like a normal top. I think what happened was I went too low and TOPPed the one I was trying to FIM and the two leaves recovered leaving them with two new tops in between the leaves that should have been left alone. So now they are way behind instead of having nice big fan leaves next to the 2 new tops. Do I make any sense? Lol

 

[Thejoeybrown]

Actually I think you may have taken too much for a FIM. When you fem the center stock should keep growing, but slower to let the sides catch up. It looks like what you did was a topping, and you also got a little of the next set of leaves. It will still work fine. Should turn into a nice bush.

I think you are 100% correct I took too much rendering it a regular topping. But since I cut those fan leaves in half basically instead of getting in between them they are way behind on growing. Once they grow out it will resemble more of a regular topping I presume. Thank you 1000 times tho. I was convinced I left too much and when you said that I looked closer and it clicked. I topped the new growth in between the baby fan leaves when I went too low.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

I've gone through your thread and want to say kudo's! You're doing a great job growing in the homer buckets with keeping proper moister on the seedlings. I think your only mistake so far was doubling PPM's! I would of only went to about 300 to 350 PPM based on the numbers you have shown. I think you over fed and would go to water only in place of a feeding or two IMO.:)

Thank you brotha I appreciate that big time. I must say though that it was lesson learned with the big pots that early. In attempt to keep the moisture up I noticed thru a drain hole that the bottom 3-4 inches of the bucket was getting pressed down and holding too much water. The look of overwatering tipped me off to check. I transplanted to 3 gal pots. May have lost about 2 days but they have been night and day better since. In regards to the ppm I tried to do it gradually but the added rhino skin and cal mag made it rough. I'm still learning the dance.

Most importantly these are the things I WANT to happen this time around surprisingly enough. Lol. I had a friend do his first grow with bagseed and went off without a hiccup. He then planted 12 premium seeds and had all sorts of problems, none of which he had seen before in person. I'm glad I'm getting real experience

 

[Thejoeybrown]

A few more from today.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

Really starting to blow up

 

[Thejoeybrown]

Sooo. My "failed" attempt at a FIM ACTUALLY want a complete failure. I thought I would just get the two new tops but it actually get THREE. Go figure. I've never actually seen that. Anybody ever do that?????

 

[Leew421]

Next time don't go down so far on the scissors and you will get 4 tops. If I top I do that to get the most out of it. I'm doing more runs of clones with no topping right now.

 

[Thejoeybrown]

So the babies are really gaining some size daily. I'm thinking of topping one more time and letting them get to about 20 inches or so. They are at about a foot right now except the little stocky short one. Hoping to see some preflowera soon and see how many I end up with. Keeping around 650-700 ppm haven't seen any nute burn. PH comes out right around 5.9. They are about 4 weeks old now

 

[Thejoeybrown]

Did the second topping on the 2 bigger ones today. I left the other 2 in hopes they might even put a little bit. They are about 13 inches or so and I'm gonna let them get to about 20 then flip. I don't want to leave myself with too little space to raise the light just in case