az2000
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[CORRECTION: The prior two feedings said they occurred 22 & 18 hours after the feedings which they followed. Add 24 hours to those numbers. I'm feeding more frequently than every 2 days. But, not more frequently than once per day.]
DAY 22 (today, Monday, Sep. 2)
This photo was taken 24 hours after feeding (which included FISH EMULSION). Nodolo (L), Dolo (R):
Dolo has had a burst of new growth in the center. (The previous time I fed, which included epsom salt, Nodolo had a burst of growth.).
I think the FISH EMULSION has helped. It has a more natural green color to my eyes. More lush, the way I expect it to be. Until now, it's been more of a flat/pastel papery green. It still doesn't seem right. But, this is the first time the leaves seem more like I expect them to be. More "veggie."
I don't know if it was the higher N content. The ratio last feeding with was 3.61-1-1.7 (458/530). That was significantly more N (proportional to all the salts) than ALL-PURPOSE by itself (ratio: 3-1-2). Or, if the improvement is from the FISH EMULSION's more biologically-active form. Maybe the roots need that activity? Maybe the cactus soil was too sterile.
Dolo's burnt tip occurred two feedings ago (when that leaf was new/unfurling, and I fed strong ALL-PURPOSE 1-1/8tsp/gal). Some of Nodolo's new growth has burnt tips, which happened the last feeding (when I fed the same ALL-PURPOSE strength, but added 1g/gal epsom salt). It seems like those two feedings hit the boundary for "too strong." However, the last feeding (with FISH EMULSION) was equally strong. I don't think it will burn because FISH EMULSION is gentler.
I've been thinking I might try TOMATO & FISH EMULSION. I could use more FISH EMULSION that way (because Tomato is 1-1-1.2 ratio. I could supply N using more FISH.). That would help show whether the plants are liking more N, or more biological activity in the soil.
Nodolo's lower/larger leaves seem to be cupping down. But, the newer growth is praying upward more like Dolo. I wonder if I damaged Nodolo when I aerated the soil a few days ago. That was about the same time Dolo greened up, and Nodolo switched and became the more yellow/lime plant. That was he same time Nodolo started being droopy, looking "too wet." (I haven't aerated since. I usually don't aerate except in flower. And, the container is larger. In these 20oz (600ml) seedling containers, I should have used a 1/8-inch diameter rod to aerate. Not the 1/4-inch which I normally use in flower. That was a bit large for these small cups.).
LIGHTING:
They're still under four 9w'ish (60w-equiv) globeless 5000k lightbulbs:
You can see the inter-nodal growth starting to occur in the crotches (between stalk and leaves).
I'm going to have to add a fifth light soon. I'm also going to have to transplant into 1gal containers soon. (I'll definitely add the light then, if I haven't already. The plants will be further apart, unable to share each other's light.). And, I'm going to have to top Dolo above the 5th node soon.
If I wasn't still puzzled about the leaves, and what best to feed, I might have switched to 12/12 right now. But, I want to continue trying some things. I'm not entirely happy with how it's growing. It's hardy, and thriving in many ways. But, something about the leaves is off (the green; the blotchy either/or filling in of green; the papery texture at times.). I'd like to have a little more time playing with that. I still wonder if EPSOM SALT helped. And/or, if Fish Emulsion did (and whether that's because of more N, or the yucky biologic stuff added to the soil. I also want to see if FISH EMULSION starts causing problems. I've speculated that this soil lacks pH buffers, and may be prone to easy pH movements. Organic matter tends to acidify. I'm worried I might cause a problem using FISH.).
DAY 22 (today, Monday, Sep. 2)
This photo was taken 24 hours after feeding (which included FISH EMULSION). Nodolo (L), Dolo (R):
Dolo has had a burst of new growth in the center. (The previous time I fed, which included epsom salt, Nodolo had a burst of growth.).
I think the FISH EMULSION has helped. It has a more natural green color to my eyes. More lush, the way I expect it to be. Until now, it's been more of a flat/pastel papery green. It still doesn't seem right. But, this is the first time the leaves seem more like I expect them to be. More "veggie."
I don't know if it was the higher N content. The ratio last feeding with was 3.61-1-1.7 (458/530). That was significantly more N (proportional to all the salts) than ALL-PURPOSE by itself (ratio: 3-1-2). Or, if the improvement is from the FISH EMULSION's more biologically-active form. Maybe the roots need that activity? Maybe the cactus soil was too sterile.
Dolo's burnt tip occurred two feedings ago (when that leaf was new/unfurling, and I fed strong ALL-PURPOSE 1-1/8tsp/gal). Some of Nodolo's new growth has burnt tips, which happened the last feeding (when I fed the same ALL-PURPOSE strength, but added 1g/gal epsom salt). It seems like those two feedings hit the boundary for "too strong." However, the last feeding (with FISH EMULSION) was equally strong. I don't think it will burn because FISH EMULSION is gentler.
I've been thinking I might try TOMATO & FISH EMULSION. I could use more FISH EMULSION that way (because Tomato is 1-1-1.2 ratio. I could supply N using more FISH.). That would help show whether the plants are liking more N, or more biological activity in the soil.
Nodolo's lower/larger leaves seem to be cupping down. But, the newer growth is praying upward more like Dolo. I wonder if I damaged Nodolo when I aerated the soil a few days ago. That was about the same time Dolo greened up, and Nodolo switched and became the more yellow/lime plant. That was he same time Nodolo started being droopy, looking "too wet." (I haven't aerated since. I usually don't aerate except in flower. And, the container is larger. In these 20oz (600ml) seedling containers, I should have used a 1/8-inch diameter rod to aerate. Not the 1/4-inch which I normally use in flower. That was a bit large for these small cups.).
LIGHTING:
They're still under four 9w'ish (60w-equiv) globeless 5000k lightbulbs:
You can see the inter-nodal growth starting to occur in the crotches (between stalk and leaves).
I'm going to have to add a fifth light soon. I'm also going to have to transplant into 1gal containers soon. (I'll definitely add the light then, if I haven't already. The plants will be further apart, unable to share each other's light.). And, I'm going to have to top Dolo above the 5th node soon.
If I wasn't still puzzled about the leaves, and what best to feed, I might have switched to 12/12 right now. But, I want to continue trying some things. I'm not entirely happy with how it's growing. It's hardy, and thriving in many ways. But, something about the leaves is off (the green; the blotchy either/or filling in of green; the papery texture at times.). I'd like to have a little more time playing with that. I still wonder if EPSOM SALT helped. And/or, if Fish Emulsion did (and whether that's because of more N, or the yucky biologic stuff added to the soil. I also want to see if FISH EMULSION starts causing problems. I've speculated that this soil lacks pH buffers, and may be prone to easy pH movements. Organic matter tends to acidify. I'm worried I might cause a problem using FISH.).
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