Schwer's First Grow Evah! Planning, Prep and Grow

[ajgrows]

I was brainstorming something similar for the dry tent when I have more than one plant to manage (if I ever get that far). I'm thinking keep the carbon filter/fan in the main tent, connect dry tent to main w/ ducting and close up the 4x4 so it pulls fresh air from the dry tent. The T6 should easily be able to move enough air to cover both tents at around 170 total cf.

 

[AmokNewb]

I was brainstorming something similar for the dry tent when I have more than one plant to manage (if I ever get that far). I'm thinking keep the carbon filter/fan in the main tent, connect dry tent to main w/ ducting and close up the 4x4 so it pulls fresh air from the dry tent. The T6 should easily be able to move enough air to cover both tents at around 170 total cf.

That should work perfectly and basically what I had ended up having to do. Cost me 50bucks for the tent and another small fan. And about 12 bucks for a wire hanging rack.

 

[Lilolme]

Day 76 - Drying Plans

Harvest time will be here before I know it so I thought I'd share my current plan for the drying process. I'm planning to dry-trim, btw.

Ideally I'd want all my plants to be ready at the same time so I could harvest and do a super slow dry in the same tent at 60F and 60% RH, but I doubt the stars will align that way, especially since all of my plants looks so different.

My current plan is to copy some setups like @AmokNewb and get an additional tent for the lung room, a 2x4 in my case. I'll move the primary filtered intake from the "grow tent" to the "drying tent", and then exhaust the drying tent into the grow tent with a short length of 6" duct tubing. The grow tent will exhaust as it has been through the carbon filter and out the window vent via the inline exhaust fan. [Tent brand will probably depend on location of intake/exhaust vents, heh]

Inside the drying tent I'll have 1 small fan at the bottom helping to pull in fresh air from the intake and circulate air in the dry tent a little, but I'll be sure there's no direct flow from the fan on the drying branches. I'll keep humidity around 55-60% and temps in the lung room as low as I can get them without sacrificing whatever is still going on in the grow tent, and then move those temps to the low to mid 60's when the full grow has been harvested. I might move the full harvest back to the main tent at that time too if it seems to make sense.

Btw, I'd probably forego the new tent if I didn't have a wife and pets... not that I put those things in the same general category or anything. Between the cat and dog hair/dander floating around and the wife coming in and out of the room frequently for some of her things I just don't feel confident enough about the space.

It usually only took 3 or 5 days hangin for the stems to become brittle for me at about the same RH and temps. I took off the big stuff before I hung em, dont let the little sugar leaves get too brittle before you trim the dry flecks of leaf stick to everything, I am considering a tighter trim than last time, I left a lot of sugar leaf to curl around the bud. Unless your goin for appearance the curling leaves protect the inner bud and help with the slow cure. Sometimes I clean up the buds as I smoke em so they will be perty. Sometimes not. After the hang I use brown paper bags for a few days to slow down the drying, I pour the bud out occasionally and let em air for a few hours. Then its in the jars with the Boveda packets, I am tryin the 58% RH this time, open the jars a couple times a day for a couple weeks, I like to pour em out into a big bowl and stir em a little to keep things from stickin together then back in the jars. The opening of the jars or “burping” will be less often as the cure progresses. I will repeat that you are using the dry outer parts to “wick” the moisture from the inside and this is a slow process

 

[Schwer]

Sounds pretty solid. I would wait to buy the second tent until you have a better idea how many plants might be ready at the same time. In my little 2x2x3 I could only fit one small auto in. But that being said I hung up each individual branch and not clumps of branches if that makes sense. I say this because in a 2x2 I could see you needed two tiers of racks to hang it all. I still cannot wait for your harvest! Exciting stuff.

Also P.S.
My entire house stank to high heaven all day and still some today. So be prepared for that.

I figured a 2'x4'x60" would be more than enough space to dry half my grow or more, and large enough to be useful for other ventures as well. Its also the largest tent I would want to fit into the lung room.

And yeah, my house already stinks... I mean smells lovely when I open the tent to water for a half hour, so I can only imagine.

I was brainstorming something similar for the dry tent when I have more than one plant to manage (if I ever get that far). I'm thinking keep the carbon filter/fan in the main tent, connect dry tent to main w/ ducting and close up the 4x4 so it pulls fresh air from the dry tent. The T6 should easily be able to move enough air to cover both tents at around 170 total cf.

Exactly my thoughts, my good man.

 

[Mothman]

It would be nice to get some of the colors these strains are known to have

@Schwer are you planning to drop trou—er, I mean drop temps to induce the coloration?

 

[Schwer]

It usually only took 3 or 5 days hangin for the stems to become brittle for me at about the same RH and temps. I took off the big stuff before I hung em, dont let the little sugar leaves get too brittle before you trim the dry flecks of leaf stick to everything, I am considering a tighter trim than last time, I left a lot of sugar leaf to curl around the bud. Unless your goin for appearance the curling leaves protect the inner bud and help with the slow cure. Sometimes I clean up the buds as I smoke em so they will be perty. Sometimes not. After the hang I use brown paper bags for a few days to slow down the drying, I pour the bud out occasionally and let em air for a few hours. Then its in the jars with the Boveda packets, I am tryin the 58% RH this time, open the jars a couple times a day for a couple weeks, I like to pour em out into a big bowl and stir em a little to keep things from stickin together then back in the jars. The opening of the jars or “burping” will be less often as the cure progresses. I will repeat that you are using the dry outer parts to “wick” the moisture from the inside and this is a slow process

I hope that room is in the house of yours I'm about to move into

I will probably use the paper bag method as well. I heard its a good way to pull moisture from the densest part of the bud.

As for the cure, I think I'm going to trust in the Grove Bags since I already bought a set of them and its seems pretty simple. I'm going to get some jars too though because they're cheap and my mind changes with the wind.

 

[AmokNewb]

As for the cure, I think I'm going to trust in the Grove Bags since I already bought a set of them and its seems pretty simple.

Yeah I can vouch for grovebags. Mine are still sitting at a perfect 60% and all that with no burping several times a day. Bad part is I am not sure I bought enough for this grow But my first plant hits the 3 weeks mark for cure tomorrow! Time to break it open and try some (I mean try some more)

 

[Schwer]

@Schwer are you planning to drop trou—er, I mean drop temps to induce the coloration?

Good question!

My temps have been a bit lower than usual anyway because of our recent cooler weather. Day time temps have still been in high 70's at canopy level while drooping to mid 60's at night.

Not sure what I'd have to do to bring out dat purple.

 

[Schwer]

Yeah I can vouch for grovebags. Mine are still sitting at a perfect 60% and all that with no burping several times a day. Bad part is I am not sure I bought enough for this grow But my first plant hits the 3 weeks mark for cure tomorrow! Time to break it open and try some (I mean try some more)

Thanks bud...

 

[AmokNewb]

Good question!

My temps have been a bit lower than usual anyway because of our recent cooler weather. Day time temps have still been in high 70's at canopy level while drooping to mid 60's at night.

Not sure what I'd have to do to bring out dat purple.

View attachment 1165202

So grimace is a representation of a purple taste bud.. how ironic!

What, Exactly, Is Grimace?

A McDonald's manager gave a surprising explanation of the big purple blob, but we're not sure we believe it.

www.foodandwine.com

 

[Mothman]

Good question!

My temps have been a bit lower than usual anyway because of our recent cooler weather. Day time temps have still been in high 70's at canopy level while drooping to mid 60's at night.

Not sure what I'd have to do to bring out dat purple.

View attachment 1165202

As the irritating Liberty Mutual guy says, I’m glad you asked!
From alchimiaweb.com at

The effect of cold on cannabis plants

In this post we show you which methods you can use to avoid the cold in an indoor cannabis crop. There are various modes to keep a stable temperature during the winter so you can choose the resolution that best suits to your indoor or greenhouse crop for personal use.

www.alchimiaweb.com

Taking advantage of the cold in cannabis growing​

As already mentioned, cold temperatures can be highly detrimental to cannabis plants, especially in their early stages of development. In this first period, the seedlings require 20-24ºC to grow properly; however, in the last weeks of flowering things are a little different.

Extra concentration of trichomes
If the plant is flowering in a well-controlled growing environment, the genetics will be able to express themselves fully, blooming without problems and forming beautiful and elegant buds with a high resin concentration. The natural function of the resin gland is to essentially protect the plant and it's developing seed from extreme conditions like UV rays, cold weather, pests etc, and this way it works to preserve the genetic reproduction (the seeds) and ensure the continuation of the line. Taking this into consideration, it is possible to find a way of taking advantage of cold conditions and, if the timing is right, harness the low temperatures to increase resin production in the flowers.

Detail view of a leaf with a lot of resin
The cold, being a considerable stress upon the plant, triggers changes in the plant's metabolism which, when they occur in the final stages of flowering, can lead to an increased resin production. If we gradually lower temperatures to around 16-17ºCduring the last two weeks of bloom, once the buds are fully grown and only need to mature, it's possible to achieve a much greater and higher quality resin coverage in exchange for only a very slight sacrifice in production weight.

Pearl effect on cannabis plants

The cold and it's effect on flavour and colour​

It's also worth mentioning that encouraging lower temperatures during the later stages of flowering will retain a higher terpene content and can lead to harvesting more aromatic and flavour-full flowers. Higher temperatures during flowering, drying and curing means that the evaporation and subsequent loss of terpenes can seriously alter and degrade the organoleptic properties of the buds produced.

Bud with a lot of resin and colored due to low temperatures
For lovers of bright colours another advantage of cold weather in relation to cannabis cultivation is the wonderful array of autumnal shades that the low temperatures provoke in certain genetics. Many plants will change the colour of their foliage to a beautiful deep purple, blue or red in cold conditions during the last weeks and when this is combined with the natural 'fade' colours of senescence the display can be truly spectacular and a fitting finale to a successful grow!

Variety showing deep purple leaves
Here we have a couple of examples of the color changes produced in different cannabis genetics, in particular those belonging to the Blue family of varieties. In these cases the low temperature at the end of flowering has affected the plants, provoking a very notable color change and an increased trichome concentration on the buds.

Plant with red leaves

Cannabis plant with yellow leaves
Resuming, it's clear that if properly done, and at the adequate moment, cold temperatures can be used to a positive effect when cultivating cannabis; however, for normal cultivation, during the majority of the plant's life cycle it is imperative to keep the temperatures within the parameters for healthy growth, between a minimum of 20ºC and a maximum of 26ºC.

 

[Lilolme]

Good question!

My temps have been a bit lower than usual anyway because of our recent cooler weather. Day time temps have still been in high 70's at canopy level while drooping to mid 60's at night.

Not sure what I'd have to do to bring out dat purple.

View attachment 1165202

I think some of the color comes towards the very end when the leaves start to turn. Some of it is probly strain too. I tried the cold thing and it induced bud rot but that plant had been outside in the garden and had been drenched I moved it inside.

 

[Schwer]

As the irritating Liberty Mutual guy says, I’m glad you asked!

Thanks for the read, that was great!

 

[Mothman]

Thanks for the read, that was great!

I live to serve, your lordship.

 

[Lilolme]

Yeah I can vouch for grovebags. Mine are still sitting at a perfect 60% and all that with no burping several times a day. Bad part is I am not sure I bought enough for this grow But my first plant hits the 3 weeks mark for cure tomorrow! Time to break it open and try some (I mean try some more)

Gonna look into them bags

 

[Schwer]

Day 77

I didn't have much to do in the tent today so I decided to drop my lights 10 inches, increase intensity by 30%, and add a bunch of fresh liquid nutrients like fish sauce, rice wine vinegar and wasabi paste.

Oh wait that's just how I cooked my lunch - I didn't do anything except water the plants with the usual 2.5-3 liters of RO.

I did spot some fungus gnats for the first time on the sticky paper, so I added some more sticky paper around the tent and raised the height of one of my lower fans so that its blowing more directly across the top of the soil. This might also be a sign that I'm not letting the soil dry enough between waterings lately.

 

[Lilolme]

Day 77

I didn't have much to do in the tent today so I decided to drop my lights 10 inches, increase intensity by 30%, and add a bunch of fresh liquid nutrients like fish sauce, rice wine vinegar and wasabi paste.

Oh wait that's just how I cooked my lunch - I didn't do anything except water the plants with the usual 2.5-3 liters of RO.

I did spot some fungus gnats for the first time on the sticky paper, so I added some more sticky paper around the tent and raised the height of one of my lower fans so that its blowing more directly across the top of the soil. This might also be a sign that I'm not letting the soil dry enough between waterings lately.

Those bastards find their way in just gotta keep up with em, I suffered the gnat infestation from hell years ago lots of sticky things helps, I’ve tried h2o2, a thick layer of sand on top, neem oil, neem bark, dryin out good. The sticky cards seem to do the better job less mess and hassle

 

[Mothman]

I didn't do anything except water the plants with the usual 2.5-3 liters of RO.

What’s your current watering/feeding frequency? And on a side note, where did you find the pot stands for your saucers?

 

[Schwer]

@Mothman - I'm doing a living soil grow so no more feedings. The last feeding was a top dress of earth worm castings and fish bone meal that I put on there about a week ago.

As for watering, I end up watering about every two days and give 2.5-3 liters per 3 gallon pot. Peggy, my runt, gets watered about half as often.

 

[Mothman]

@Mothman - I'm doing a living soil grow so no more feedings. The last feeding was a top dress of earth worm castings and fish bone meal that I put on there about a week ago.

As for watering, I end up watering about every two days and give 2.5-3 liters per 3 gallon pot. Peggy, my runt, gets watered about half as often.

As I recall, you’ve always watered more frequently than what is commonly recommended. Did you use an unusually high ratio of perlite to soil? I know you’ve been aggressive with the lights at times and they likely have been thirsty girls due to that.