az2000
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Sep 26 (DAY 30) continued...
Transplanted
I transplanted into slightly richer soil this time because the previous mix was drying quite fast. The new soil is:
For reference: When I transplanted last time, I used:
That mix has been working really well. I'd definitely use it again if the new mix didn't work right. The new mix has less sand (cactus), less perlite, more vermiculite. About the same rich/dirt Patio Plus. I'm hoping it dries slower.
Note: I think I may have used too much perlite previously because I'm used to Kellogg Patio Plus not having much. (See post #2 <<link for a photo of what it used to be like.). The new bag I bought looks like this:
If you look at the photos of the Patio Plus I used to get (post #2), there was almost no perlite (and it was more forest/wood chips). That didn't register with me until I got further into this grow. I was thinking "add a lot of perlite" from experience.
FWIW: the 1-4-0.5-1 mix that I transplanted into today looks like this:
Containers:
The containers I used are Dillen 140 (5-3/4" tall x 5" square top x 3-3/4" square bottom). They hold 1600ml to the top edge. About 1400ml (47 fl oz) to a more normal (recessed) soil level. I think they're essentially 1/2-gal trade containers (which never hold 1/2 gallons. More like 1.3 quarts.).
The containers aren't much larger than the 20oz seedling'ish cups the plants were in. The roots have 1" down & 1" all four sides to expand into. I could have transplanted into these when I transplanted into the 20oz containers. But, at that time I was uncertain about the soil. (The small seedlings weren't doing well in the 2-1-1 mix of cactus, patio plus & perlite. I wasn't sure how the new idea for soil would work.).
Water:
I drenched the transplants with a mild bloom nutrient solution. Water was 141ppm (RO & tap). Added 119 ppm of Alaska MorBloom. (Total 260ppm).
After transplanting:
These were the plants after transplanting, and tying down the main growth shoots:
In the tent, with the scrog frame visible:
LIGHTS:
I added two more 9w (60w equiv) bulbs on the right side for coverage:
I have 1/2" PVC pipe with "T" fittings that are cut off, and slide along the top & bottom frames. That gives me a pseudo "tent leg" to mount the lights to. That's what you see on the right side.
I should note: I'm not being precise when describing the 9w A19 bulbs. I'm using 8w Phillips from 4 years ago. Or, 8.5w GE Basic (a year ago). Or, new Philips are 9.5w. Generally, they're 60w-equiv. I call it all 9w. I'm not keeping track of each bulb.
Now I'm using:
Next steps:
I was planning to grow in that 2x2' space (in a 2x4' tent). The plants are already taking up much of that space. I may spread them out and scrog the entire 2x4' tent.
It's hard to know what to do. I wish they'd show sex soon. If there were 1-2 males, the 2x2' space would work well. If I start scrogging in a 2x4 space, and there are males in the middle, I'm not going to make good use of the lights.
I could switch to 12/12 flower now to make use of the 2x2' space. But, that won't really be a scrog. Just using a screen to flatten the canopy (I won't veg much into the screen).
Additional info to last post's "advice to anyone wanting to continue this grow..."
I mentioned some mixtures of Alaska Fish & Morbloom. I referred to "parts." But, to be precise, you should think of it as ppms. For example, I said:
- "5 parts AK Fish mixed with 1 part AK Morbloom is a 1.54-1-1 NPK ratio." That would be 159ppm fish & 72ppm morbloom (total 231ppm)
- "1 to 2 (fish to morbloom) is a 1-1.33-1.33 ratio." That should be 95 ppm fish & 108ppm morbloom (total 203ppm)
- "1 to 1 is 1-2.45-2.45 ratio." That should be 63ppm fish & 144ppm morbloom (total 208ppm)
- "1 part morbloom to 8 parts fish is 2.08-1-1 NPK ratio." That should be 45ppm morbloom & 159ppm fish (total 203ppm).
I should have stressed how volume measurements (parts) from the bottles can produce different results. It's really about the PPMs. Add small amounts to get the right PPMs. After doing that a few times, you'll know about how much volume produces how much strength. It doesn't have to be precise. But, if you mixed 5ml fish to 1ml morbloom, you might get something considerably different because the fish could be twice as strong as the labeled strength. It's important to focus on PPMs first, and get an idea of how much volume produces an amount of PPMs.
Transplanted
I transplanted into slightly richer soil this time because the previous mix was drying quite fast. The new soil is:
Kellogg Cactus - Kellogg Patio Plus - perlite - vermiculite
6.5 parts: 1-4-0.5-1 (15.4% 61.5% 7.7% 15.4%)
Added:
Dolomite: 15.62g/gal (5/8 Tbsp or 1-7/8 tsp).
Gypsum: 0.615g/gal
DE: 0.615g/gal
[Note: those last two amounts aren't as precisely planned as they sound. I mixed 3.25 gallons of soil. I added 2g of gypsum & diatomatious earth. That turns out to be 0.615g/gal. I added gypsum & DE for no real reason. Another "betting on every horse in the race." Just trying to improve the soil a bit more.]
For reference: When I transplanted last time, I used:
5 parts: 1-3-0.5-0.5 (20% 60% 10% 10%)
Added:
Dolomite: 6g/gal (1/4 Tbsp)
That mix has been working really well. I'd definitely use it again if the new mix didn't work right. The new mix has less sand (cactus), less perlite, more vermiculite. About the same rich/dirt Patio Plus. I'm hoping it dries slower.
Note: I think I may have used too much perlite previously because I'm used to Kellogg Patio Plus not having much. (See post #2 <<link for a photo of what it used to be like.). The new bag I bought looks like this:
If you look at the photos of the Patio Plus I used to get (post #2), there was almost no perlite (and it was more forest/wood chips). That didn't register with me until I got further into this grow. I was thinking "add a lot of perlite" from experience.
FWIW: the 1-4-0.5-1 mix that I transplanted into today looks like this:
Containers:
The containers I used are Dillen 140 (5-3/4" tall x 5" square top x 3-3/4" square bottom). They hold 1600ml to the top edge. About 1400ml (47 fl oz) to a more normal (recessed) soil level. I think they're essentially 1/2-gal trade containers (which never hold 1/2 gallons. More like 1.3 quarts.).
The containers aren't much larger than the 20oz seedling'ish cups the plants were in. The roots have 1" down & 1" all four sides to expand into. I could have transplanted into these when I transplanted into the 20oz containers. But, at that time I was uncertain about the soil. (The small seedlings weren't doing well in the 2-1-1 mix of cactus, patio plus & perlite. I wasn't sure how the new idea for soil would work.).
Water:
I drenched the transplants with a mild bloom nutrient solution. Water was 141ppm (RO & tap). Added 119 ppm of Alaska MorBloom. (Total 260ppm).
After transplanting:
These were the plants after transplanting, and tying down the main growth shoots:
In the tent, with the scrog frame visible:
LIGHTS:
I added two more 9w (60w equiv) bulbs on the right side for coverage:
I have 1/2" PVC pipe with "T" fittings that are cut off, and slide along the top & bottom frames. That gives me a pseudo "tent leg" to mount the lights to. That's what you see on the right side.
I should note: I'm not being precise when describing the 9w A19 bulbs. I'm using 8w Phillips from 4 years ago. Or, 8.5w GE Basic (a year ago). Or, new Philips are 9.5w. Generally, they're 60w-equiv. I call it all 9w. I'm not keeping track of each bulb.
Now I'm using:
2 8w 5000k A19 - on the arms (front & back)
1 11w 5000K GE Basic PAR38 (Lowes) - on right arm
1 8.8w 2700K Phillips BR40 (Home Depot) - in the center
1 8.8ww 5000K Phillips BR40 (Home Depot) - one left arm
4 8.5w 2700k A19 - on the tent legs
520 ppfd center
460 ppfd sides
Next steps:
I was planning to grow in that 2x2' space (in a 2x4' tent). The plants are already taking up much of that space. I may spread them out and scrog the entire 2x4' tent.
It's hard to know what to do. I wish they'd show sex soon. If there were 1-2 males, the 2x2' space would work well. If I start scrogging in a 2x4 space, and there are males in the middle, I'm not going to make good use of the lights.
I could switch to 12/12 flower now to make use of the 2x2' space. But, that won't really be a scrog. Just using a screen to flatten the canopy (I won't veg much into the screen).
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