XJ-13 Veg & Flowering Question? 1st time w/ Strain

[AliasAO]

Its my first grow around with XJ-13 [Jack H/ G-13],and Its already been in Veg for a week.

I'm looking to find out from anyone experienced w/this strain:

[1] How long to Veg XJ-13? [Id like to Veg for as long as possible, No Rush]

[2] How long to Flower XJ-13? [Again- for as long as possible]

[3] Is XJ-13 a strain that adapts well to being topped [10- 15 days] before flowering? Id like to top most of them if not all.

I have 11 currently in Veg w/1000 HPS, tent controlled CoCo type soil.

 

[Snowblind]

XJ-13 is a nine week strain. Ive topped all my plants. Sometimes when I have topped, the plants have opened up as opposed to growing more vertacle. I have not grown out an XJ untopped so I cant comment on the growth patterns in this situation. I find that the plants stretch a fair bit and the buds I grow need support! I like XJ a lot. It can grow some freakshow looking weed! One month in veg would make for huge plants in flower. I grew nine plants in a 4 by 4.

 

[AliasAO]

Thanx for the info Snowblind.

Im planning on topping 15 days before I flower. my veg cycle is going to be about 3-4 weeks total. How many new limbs formed after u topped yours?

How much bud did u end up getting off of those 9 when you did your one week VEG cycle?

 

[Snowblind]

Thanx for the info Snowblind.

Im planning on topping 15 days before I flower. my veg cycle is going to be about 3-4 weeks total. How many new limbs formed after u topped yours?

How much bud did u end up getting off of those 9 when you did your one week VEG cycle?

I vegged for at least a month! I dont know what the exact yield was, however, it was above average. The one table yielded well over a pound! There is a smoke report on the XJ here on the farm with some carzy pictures of frosty stuff. I try to grow four main colas. In fact I have two Xj's in flower right now. Here are some pictures......

They are very lush and green. I topped them. The plant on the left has 3 main colas I believe and the plant on the right has four main colas. They love the hydro bucket system that I have them in. Im doing much better with them this go-round, however, its some fierce smoke and grows pretty easy.

 

[AliasAO]

I vegged for at least a month! I dont know what the exact yield was, however, it was above average. The one table yielded well over a pound! There is a smoke report on the XJ here on the farm with some carzy pictures of frosty stuff. I try to grow four main colas. In fact I have two Xj's in flower right now. Here are some pictures......

They are very lush and green. I topped them. The plant on the left has 3 main colas I believe and the plant on the right has four main colas. They love the hydro bucket system that I have them in. Im doing much better with them this go-round, however, its some fierce smoke and grows pretty easy.

Nice pics Snow, they look llike they are coming along quite well. They also appear to adapt very well to being topped. I see that your secondary limbs are about as large/long as your main cola branch. I also like the Hydro bucket system look. seems like the best space saver compared to alternative hydro methods.

I have an ebb & flow system that I am planning on using for my next grow around. Right now Im using coco based soil and Fox farm newts.

How much did that Hydro bucket system run you $$?

Did You top the plants more than one time?

 

[Snowblind]

I topped them once. Those secondary branches have shot up in the past few days! I will prune some more off the plants tonight. I dont like any lower growth at all! The plants are exploding. One week into flower.....

5.7 Ph
Jacks Hydroponic with added Calcium Nitrate is the formula
1k Sun Pulse lamp, Phantom Digital ballast

That is a Cap bucket system and I paid $371 I think. I got a good deal. The buckets look small, however, they hold 2 gallons of hydroton. The roots love it and the plants seems to be doing very well. In fact I have 8 strain ins the 12 buckets, all fed with the Jacks and all the plants look amazing!

I have a 12 bucket system and a 4 by 4 table with a 50 gallon reso right now side by side in the same room. I can answer any questions anyone might have about the pros and cons or whatever of each system.

 

[AliasAO]

I topped them once. Those secondary branches have shot up in the past few days! I will prune some more off the plants tonight. I dont like any lower growth at all! The plants are exploding. One week into flower.....

5.7 Ph
Jacks Hydroponic with added Calcium Nitrate is the formula
1k Sun Pulse lamp, Phantom Digital ballast

That is a Cap bucket system and I paid $371 I think. I got a good deal. The buckets look small, however, they hold 2 gallons of hydroton. The roots love it and the plants seems to be doing very well. In fact I have 8 strain ins the 12 buckets, all fed with the Jacks and all the plants look amazing!

I have a 12 bucket system and a 4 by 4 table with a 50 gallon reso right now side by side in the same room. I can answer any questions anyone might have about the pros and cons or whatever of each system.

That's not a bad price for the bucket system. I was going to ask if you constructed it yourself based on one of the sticky threads from this site.

I've got numerous questions running right now but I'm most interested In (1) figuring out exactly how the bucket system works and (2) seeing exactly how to mix and administer the hydro newts w/ the water to the plants threw the bucket system.

I'm also pretty interested to see your manicuring techniques.

Your garden looks excellent snow. What part of Cali do you live in? Are you anywhere near Harborside healthcenter??

 

[Snowblind]

There is a standing reso shaped like a barrel. It has a small pump in it that pumps water to a controler "brain bucket". The brain bucket also has a pump in it that pumps water towards the reso after a timer goes off. There are float valves in the "brain bucket" that control the water levels. There is also a timer installed in the "brain" bucket. Each one of the pumps plugs into the times, a flood outlet and a drain outlet.

I water the plants 4 times a day. Once at lights on, once 4 hours later, 4 hours after that and right before lights out. I do not water during the dark cycle. I might cut back to three waterings a day. You set the timer for when you want to water the plants. The timers always floods first, then drains in that order.

Each bucket holds 2 gallons of hydroton. When the flood cycle starts the barrel reso's pump fires up and water is pumped into the brain bucket through a 1/2 inch tube or hose. Water flows through all the tubes leading to the individual buckets, due to gravity. As the "brain" bucket fills up all the buckets fill up. The floor is close to level. When the water level reaches the top of the "brain" bucket the pump pumping the water shuts off. Then the drain pump kicks on and it pumps water from the "brain" bucket to the reso. Again gravity drains all the grow buckets water into the "brain" bucket, which in turn is pumped into the reso. The water slowly drains out.

I topped once and tried to create 4 main colas for each plant. Then I come back and trim up the side of the branches trying to clear scraggly growth and concentrate the plants energy towards the top of the canopy that is created.

The buckets take a lot of hydroton to clean, but the roots are very happy growing in all of the rocks which hold a lot of moisture. You can rotate the buckets easily 360 degrees. Its a bucket in a bucket so it is very easy to lift, move and spin each bucket in fact. Depending on how you cut the half inch tubes you can move the whole bucket with ease to stretch out or pack in with the plants spacing. One "brain" bucket can easily fill and drain 12 buckets so Im sure it can do a lot more.

I add DMZ at 1 ml per gallon after changing the reso. I mix Jacks Hydroponic powder formula in a small bucket with some water and add that to the reso. then I mix the Calcium nitrate in a seperate small bucket and add that. I mix epson salts at 1/2 gram per gallon and add those last into the barrel reso. Then I add the ph down.

My reso is not even in the grow room. Here is a picture of the reso as I was setting it up.

 

[AliasAO]

There is a standing reso shaped like a barrel. It has a small pump in it that pumps water to a controler "brain bucket". The brain bucket also has a pump in it that pumps water towards the reso after a timer goes off. There are float valves in the "brain bucket" that control the water levels. There is also a timer installed in the "brain" bucket. Each one of the pumps plugs into the times, a flood and a drain outlet.

I water the plants 4 times a day. Once at lights on, once 4 hours later, 4 hours after that and right before lights out. I do not water during the dark cycle. I might cut back to three waterings a day.

Each bucket hold 2 gallons of hydroton. When the flodd cycle start the resos pumps fires up and water is pumped into the brain bucket. Water flows through all the tubes, due to gravity and as the "brain" bucket fills up all the buckets fill up. The floor is close to level. When the water level reaches the top of the "brain" bucket it shuts off. Then the drain pump kicks on and it pumps water from the "brain" bucket to the reso. Again gravity drains all the grow buckets water into the "brain" bucket, which in turn is pumped into the reso. The water slowly drains out.

I topped once and tried to create 4 main colas for each plant. Then I come back and trim up the side of the branches trying to clear scraggly growth and concentrate the plants energy towards the top of the canopy that is created.

The buckets take a lot of hydroton to clean, but the roots are very happy growing in all of the rocks which hold a lot of moisture. You can rotate the buckets easily 360 degrees. Its a bucket in a bucket so it is very easy to lift, move and spin each bucket in fact. Depending on how you cut the half inch tubes you can move the whole bucket with ease to stretch out or pack in with the plants spacing. One "brain" bucket can easily fill and drain 12 buckets so Im sure it can do a lot more.

I add DMZ at 1 ml per gallon after changing the reso. I mix Jacks Hydroponic powder formula in a small bucket with some water and add that to the reso. then I mix the Calcium nitrate in a seperate small bucket and add that. I mix epson salts at 1/2 gram per gallon and add those last into the barrel reso. Then I add the ph down.

That's a pretty good explanation. Much appreciated. If I was interested in a bucket system set up what would be the easiest way to get one? Is there a specific place where u got yours?

I'm decently handy when it comes to building but I'd rather just purchase.

Do you use that same newt mix for VEG or is it tailored differently regarding the jacks and calcium nitrate ect ...?

Are you a bay area guy or are southern Cali??

 

[Snowblind]

Im bay area. Those cuts came from HarborSide. Im running 8 different cuts in the 12 buckets to see what grows some dank and what is legit. I build everything myself, however, for that price I went ahead and made the purchase for the complete system. Ive been shopping at my hydro store for a long time and ive spent a lot of money so they give me really good prices on stuff.

I use Jacks for veg too, just at a slightly diluted ratio. I run the Jacks at 75% strength or so. 3.18 grams of Jacks per gallon of water in flower.

A flood table with a reso underneath is the most basic set up and perhaps the easiest. The bucket system needs more hydroton and might be harder to clean. My plants seem really happy in the buckets though. In fact the best run ive had yet.

 

[AliasAO]

Im bay area. Those cuts came from HarborSide. Im running 8 different cuts in the 12 buckets to see what grows some dank and what is legit. I build everything myself, however, for that price I went ahead and made the purchase for the complete system. Ive been shopping at my hydro store for a long time and ive spent a lot of money so they give me really good prices on stuff.

I use Jacks for veg too, just at a slightly diluted ratio. I run the Jacks at 75% strength or so. 3.18 grams of Jacks per gallon of water in flower.

A flood table with a reso underneath is the most basic set up and perhaps the easiest. The bucket system needs more hydroton and might be harder to clean. My plants seem really happy in the buckets though. In fact the best run ive had yet.

That's coo man I stay In the bay as well.

Actually got my XJ-13 babies from Harborside as well.

I'm thinking I'm going with my 4x4 trAy with my 50 gal reso next grow Around.

I may have to rack your brain and upgrade to the bucket system because I am going to have to agree that the 8 different breeds are All living and loving it from the pics.

Seems that 4 feedings a dAy could be pretty time consuming ? How longs it take for the trays vs the buckets.

With the amount of time invested in your garden, I'm assuming your home all day like myself.

If so we will have to get a session one day. A smoke out is deserved in my opinion for all the knowledge you've passed

 

[Snowblind]

The timer controls the feedings. I have it set to water every 4 hours during the day cycle. Timers control everthing. It does not take long for the buckets to fill with water as they are also full of hydroton and roots. It takes a little longer to drain than to fill.

The "brain" bucket has 6 outlets. Each of these has a tube connected to it that it turn connects to 2 buckets. The picture below is not the best of the "brain" but it is the only one I can find right now. Ill try to get another posted.

A timer floods the tables as well. Most people flood for 15 minutes, although you only need to flood the table as high as the water level goes, once all the roots are wet you can drain. Most timers it is easiest to just use the 15 min cycles.

I dont advocate running abunch of different strains. Im just playing around, learning, and trying to see whats what with these crappy ass cuts! Im most excited about my StarDawg and Straw Mix plants!

The 8 cuts are

GDP
XJ-13
Super Grape Ape
Sweet Tooth
Casey Jones
Flav
Chernobyl
Romulan

 

[AliasAO]

The timer controls the feedings. I have it set to water every 4 hours during the day cycle. Timers control everthing. It does not take long for the buckets to fill with water as they are also full of hydroton and roots. It takes a little longer to drain than to fill.

The "brain" bucket has 6 outlets. Each of these has a tube connected to it that it turn connects to 2 buckets. The picture below is not the best of the "brain" but it is the only one I can find right now. Ill try to get another posted.

A timer floods the tables as well. Most people flood for 15 minutes, although you only need to flood the table as high as the water level goes, once all the roots are wet you can drain. Most timers it is easiest to just use the 15 min cycles.

I dont advocate running abunch of different strains. Im just playing around, learning, and trying to see whats what with these crappy ass cuts! Im most excited about my StarDawg and Straw Mix plants!

The 8 cuts are

GDP
XJ-13
Super Grape Ape
Sweet Tooth
Casey Jones
Flav
Chernobyl
Romulan

yea the most strains I have gone with under one tent was 3. This actually is my first grow around using only 1 strain.

I'm liking you diversity though, have you grown the Casey before? I believe that's a bluesky cafe/oaksterdam original breed.

A few grows back I picked up one of the Bluesky originals called "Sour Grapes" (Sour D x Grandaddy purple) and it responded very , very well to being topped. And the buds were amazing with a surprisingly high yield. If you can get your hands on some I would through it in a future bAtch.

I've been living and dying by the Fox farms newts. Are there any newt combos that you found ( like the jacks & calicium nitrate mix for your hydro ) that would work better for my coco soil based mix I'm currently hand watering now ?

Again your current strains look like they are going to be top shelf and yielding large. Did you get all your currents from Harborside?

 

[Snowblind]

Its my first run with that Casey. All of the cuts are from HHS. Im growing them out to see what turns into some dank! They of course might not be what they are called at all!

XJ-13 also came out of Oaksterdam. It is legit fire. Sour Grapes, ive seen the cut but never purchased. Maybe I will for fun if I see it again.

I dont grow in soil at all so I cant comment on any aspect of indoor growing with soils or their ferts. FoxFarm I know is made by a small family I believe and a lot of people use it with good results.

 

[AliasAO]

Its my first run with that Casey. All of the cuts are from HHS. Im growing them out to see what turns into some dank! They of course might not be what they are called at all!

XJ-13 also came out of Oaksterdam. It is legit fire. Sour Grapes, ive seen the cut but never purchased. Maybe I will for fun if I see it again.

I dont grow in soil at all so I cant comment on any aspect of indoor growing with soils or their ferts. FoxFarm I know is made by a small family I believe and a lot of people use it with good results.

I had no idea XJ-13 was an oaksterdam original also. They must be doing something right over there.

I figured u may have started out as a hydro man but I figured I'd ask. I've always had decent results with fox farms but I'm always looking for anything newer or more efficient.

Have you ever tried your hand at crossing strains on your own to create a new or your own hybrid.

After I get down the growing aspect to where I feel I have a solid understanding and great results I'd like to attempt to cross some strains to see if I can create something special.

Have u taken any horticultural related classes or are you a trial and error grassroots grower like myself?

And def pick up the Sour Grapes if you come upon some. Let me know as well if you find them becuase I'll be all over those myself. Haha

 

[Snowblind]

I will grab SourGrapes if I see it. I will let you know.

A lot of people hate Oaksterdam clones and wont grow them!

I have not made any hybids yet, however, I will for fun very soon......Im still learning the basics and trying to raise strong healthy plants.

 

[AliasAO]

I will grab SourGrapes if I see it. I will let you know.

A lot of people hate Oaksterdam clones and wont grow them!

I have not made any hybids yet, however, I will for fun very soon......Im still learning the basics and trying to raise strong healthy plants.

Really, i had no idea why the Oaksterdam hate?

Hope you put up some threads when you start crossing some genetics, cant wait to see and learn.

I Was looking at your Hydro set up yesterday and had an obvious question or two about the Hydroton balls you grow in.

How much are they $$?

And how often do they gotta be replaced? new ones each grow?

 

[Snowblind]

I think some of the people behind Oaksterdam are frowned upon by the community for a host of reason that I am not privy to. When money is involved for profit feelings always get hurt. There have been some great, and legit cuts though to come out of Oaksterdam, including the XJ.

A bag of hydroton is cheap and is around $25 bucks. 12 Cap buckets require 2 bags of hydroton to fill. The worst aspect of growing hydro is the hydroton. Washing it is a bitch and no one likes to do it. In fact there has to be a good way to wash the stuff and you see threads talking about the problem.

I dont mind the cost of buying new hydrton every cycle, however, people bleach it or soak it in hydrogen peroxcide in their tubs. Sorry about my poor spelling. I would not re use it more then a few grows as its ionic properties will become effected from the nutes and salts imho.

One might dump off the top layer of rocks, clean those and discard those rocks bound up in the roots.

Many people grow coco because of hydroton is a pain to clean. There might be a brand that is dust free. If that is true then it is worth a shot to try. I have been meaning to order some.

With hydroton you rarely Drain To Waste, which is by far the best way to grow! Recirculating sucks, and I wish that I could drain to waste in hydron. Im working on some slow drain net pots that could be fill then drain over like 5 or 10 minurtes, this run off could then be drained off. I need someone who can mold plastic for a slow draining net pot design.

I change my resos as often as possible. Using Jacks Hydroponic Formula makes this cheap.

Here is a picture of what is called the kill line. Keep that shadow as close as possible to the canopy, as in just above it. Its too high above my plants! I had just raised my light when I took that picture. I was starting to spread out the bucket. If there is even light coverage across the plants and there is also no issue with heat or light bleaching , then the closer the lights are to the plants the greater the yield will be. If bleaching occurs, it is easy to see and you know that the light is too intense. In the Straw Mix Hydro Blast thread there is a group picture of all the plants in the 4 by 4 table. In that picture you can see just how close the kill line is to the plants. I want to stress the need to have even light coverage as best you can. Different hoods cover areas with light a little different. Buy a cheap light meter to check things out.

Every 12 inches doubles the lights intensity. More intensity = denser buds and bigger yield. An aircooled 400 watter can be placed literally 2 inches from the plants.

I also included are some pictures of the XJ, now almost 3 weeks into flower...also time to stake those branches. I find the Xj will need stakes or strings for support as the buds get big and heavy and the branches cant support all the weight.

 

[AliasAO]

I think some of the people behind Oaksterdam are frowned upon by the community for a host of reason that I am not privy to. When money is involved for profit feelings always get hurt. There have been some great, and legit cuts though to come out of Oaksterdam, including the XJ.

A bag of hydroton is cheap and is around $25 bucks. 12 Cap buckets require 2 bags of hydroton to fill. The worst aspect of growing hydro is the hydroton. Washing it is a bitch and no one likes to do it. In fact there has to be a good way to wash the stuff and you see threads talking about the problem.

I dont mind the cost of buying new hydrton every cycle, however, people bleach it or soak it in hydrogen peroxcide in their tubs. Sorry about my poor spelling. I would not re use it more then a few grows as its ionic properties will become effected from the nutes and salts imho.

One might dump off the top layer of rocks, clean those and discard those rocks bound up in the roots.

Many people grow coco because of hydroton is a pain to clean. There might be a brand that is dust free. If that is true then it is worth a shot to try. I have been meaning to order some.

With hydroton you rarely Drain To Waste, which is by far the best way to grow! Recirculating sucks, and I wish that I could drain to waste in hydron. Im working on some slow drain net pots that could be fill then drain over like 5 or 10 minurtes, this run off could then be drained off. I need someone who can mold plastic for a slow draining net pot design.

I change my resos as often as possible. Using Jacks Hydroponic Formula makes this cheap.

Here is a picture of what is called the kill line. Keep that shadow as close as possible to the canopy, as in just above it. Its too high above my plants! I had just raised my light when I took that picture. I was starting to spread out the bucket. If there is even light coverage across the plants and there is also no issue with heat or light bleaching , then the closer the lights are to the plants the greater the yield will be. If bleaching occurs, it is easy to see and you know that the light is too intense. In the Straw Mix Hydro Blast thread there is a group picture of all the plants in the 4 by 4 table. In that picture you can see just how close the kill line is to the plants. I want to stress the need to have even light coverage as best you can. Different hoods cover areas with light a little different. Buy a cheap light meter to check things out.

Every 12 inches doubles the lights intensity. More intensity = denser buds and bigger yield. An aircooled 400 watter can be placed literally 2 inches from the plants.

I also included are some pictures of the XJ, now almost 3 weeks into flower...also time to stake those branches. I find the Xj will need stakes or strings for support as the buds get big and heavy and the branches cant support all the weight.

Thanx for the in depth detail SNOW.

and i appreciate the PICS visual is always the easiest way to learn IMHO.

Today im going out to grab some tamatoe cages for support and also to help spread out my canopy so that I can have more effiecent use of my lights.

Right now Ive got my 1000K air cooled about 6inches away from my tallest lady and the kill line is literally right above the canopy closer then yours pictured above, literally right above my canopy.

Hope u have a safe trip. get back at me when you have time.

And dont worry about posting a PIC of your pruned ladies that I requested in your STRAWBERRY thread uve taken care of that here.

Have you had any time to run my NEWT info through your calculator?

 

[Snowblind]

Pictures today of the bucket plants.....ill edit this post later after work...

the forth picture is the XJ...

the nute calculator just shows me your ppms for that veg formula..ill post that later too.

How is the slow growing plant?

Ill post pictures of the plants in the little green wire plant holders from lowes. You can easily spread the plants and use twist ties to put the branches wherever you want.

The Super Grape Ape loves the Jacks!