Beakers and Stupidity - The Growroom Diary!

[WhatWouldBobDo]

I grow mostly in 100% Coco, using Autopots. I’ve toyed with a few different nutrient lines, trying to keep things simple and cost effective. I used GH’s 3 part line, GH’s powder line, and most recently Masterblend’s 3 part powder line. The last grow lacked alot of density, and resinous bud. Which could have been the genetics. It also could have had something to do with using tomato fertilizer on cannabis. Which led me down the rabbit hole of researching alternative nutrient lines, and eventually Canna’s line and Advanced Nutrient’s line.

Originally I thought I’d run a side by side comparison, with MB on one set of plants, and Canna or AN full line on another set of plants. Then I saw the price tag, lol. So after spending a few weeks doing some research, I found ways to “recreate” most of the Canna or AN lines with chemicals and other compounds. So . . . that’s what I’m going to try and do.

I’m going to use three different genetic lines: Barney’s Farm Runtz, Erdpurt, and Dance World. I’m growing out one feminized seed of each, and at about 4 weeks I’ll be taking cuttings from each one. One set of cuttings will go in an Autopot that’s fed with only a MB powdered nutrient solution. The other set of cuttings will go in an Autopot that’s fed with MB plus additional “additives” that are supposed to mimic Canna and/or AN’s nutrient line.

In full disclosure, I don’t think I’ll notice much of a difference between the two. But, I’d prefer to experiment and find out it’s a waste of money, than wonder for the next 20 years.

This is what the feeding schedule will look like. The “MB Schedule” will include CalMag, MB Powder, Epsom Salt, Calcium Nitrate, and a “pH Buffer” solution.

The pH Buffer Solution involves Humic Acid, Fulvic Acid, Amino Acids, and Potassium Bicarb. It’s intention is to mimic AN’s pH Perfect line, or close enough.

In addition, the “Advanced Schedule” will include a weekly supplemental feed, that will vary based on the week, and is based on a hack of AN and Canna’s more popular lines (like B52, Big Bud, and Bud Candy). It’ll involve the use of Kelp Extract, B Vitimins, Molasses, Mycorrhizal, earthworm casting, and alfalfa, to name a few.

So yeah, it’s complex. And yeah, it’s dumb. And yeah, it’s unnecessary. And yeah, I might kill a plant or two (hopefully not, and hopefully not all of them). But hey, it’s entertainment for you, right? So sit back, read my rants, and enjoy the show!

[Gadarien]

I’ll follow along bud. I like experimental growing.

[Papalag]

@WhatWouldBobDo

he last grow lacked alot of density, and

I use jacks 10/30/20 for early flowering also a 0/50/30 bud booster

Do you use a pk booster ?
Really helps the development of dense buds especially when fed week three through five
Also introduce black strap molasses will help as well ( hi brix )

[WhatWouldBobDo]

@Papalag

I use jacks 10/30/20 for early flowering also a 0/50/30 bud booster

I know jacks has a big following. Which is great. But I’ve got a big bag of Masterblend, so it’s not like I’m going to let that sit, or throw it out, and get another product.

One of the reasons I went with Masterblend originally over GH’s powdered nutrient line, or jacks, is if I notice a deficiency with Masterblend, I can change the ratio to account for it. You can’t do that with the one part powders. Plus, conceptually, it never really made sense to me why you can’t mix the three parts of Masterblend together in advance or they’ll precipitate out, but jacks is just fine.

Plus MB is significantly cheaper to run, overall, than Jacks. Not that there’s anything wrong with either.

@Papalag

Do you use a pk booster ?

I didn’t, but it’s included in the supplemental mix going forward. We’ll see what it does.

[Papalag]

@WhatWouldBobDo

But I’ve got a big bag of Masterblend

It’s some good stuff definitely stay with what you have

I was thinking more npk ratios?

[WhatWouldBobDo]

@Papalag

I was thinking more npk ratios?

Here are the NPK ratios of the full blend.
The partial blend will be a little off, but not far, as the “Sol F” Additive contributes a little, but not alot.

The numbers are a little on the high side in appearance, but it’s only because there is no relative inert ingredients in the calculation of the NPK ratios. It only considers the ratio of N:P:K and ignores all trace, minor, and inert ingredients, of which there is a ton. But it should help get an idea of what direction I’m going.

[Papalag]

I like to go on the low side with the ppms

I’ll tag along if you don’t mind

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Yeah, they all seem on the high side as far as PPMs go, and I’ll probably start just a little bit lower and see how the strains go.

I’m also not sure of the feeding needs of these three strains, and I’m hoping one isn’t a heavy feeder while another is a light feeder, as they’ll all be hooked up to the same reservoir (well, two different reservoirs, but still).

But anyway, feel free to tag along, the more the merrier!

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -28 (or something).

Normally my grow logs start with “Day 0”. But why be normal?

Since this grow will involve growing out three parents and taking cuttings off each one, I’m counting “Day 0” as the start of the cuttings. And, assuming I’ll be taking cuttings around week 4 or so, I’m guessing this is Day negative 28. Or there abouts.

Runtz and Dance World decided to poke their heads up. Runtz it appears may have gotten flipped around a bit. Erdpurt is still being bashful for now. Maybe another day or so.

Just tap water for now. 77 degrees and 50% humidity.
Normally humidity would be higher, but the grow tent these ladies are going into is currently being occupied to dry out some flower, so they’ll have to make do for another 5 days or so.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -26 . . . ish

What should be the parents, Dance World on the left, Runtz in the middle, Erdpurt on the right. All seeds popped by yesterday.

I mixed up “V1” but with tap water, and at half strength. Which works to, roughly, 4g of powdered CalMag, 1.4g of Masterblend Base, 0.7g of Epsom Salt, 4.2g of Cal Nitrate, 0.2g Humic Acid, 0.13g Fulvic Acid, 0.06g of Amino Acid, 0.06g of Potassium Bicarbonate, all in 5 gallons of water.

TDS of base water was around 117 ppm, and after the additions it was 342 ppm. Ph initially was 7.4, but it’ll come down to around 6.2 in a few hours, so I’ll check on it then.

I’m glad I went half strength. I still may water it down a little bit with a gallon of RO to get it to 280 ppm ish.

74 deg F, 50% humidity.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -22 (ish).

Main grow tent has now been made available, and the mothers have been repotted into larger, almost gallon pots. They’ll most likely stay in these pots while I take cuttings off them.

Sitting under the AC Infinity EVO8 light, at 30% intensity, 24” away. 18/6, with the first and last 30m using UV and mimicking “sunrise/sunset”.
Temps at 78 degrees, humidity at 58%.
The Tray2Grow isn’t operational yet, as the plants don’t have roots that can reach it. Still hand watering currently.

8g CalMag
3.2g Masterblend Base
2.5g Epsom Salt
9.9g of Cal Nitrate
0.2g Humic Acid
0.13g Fulvic Acid
0.06g of Amino Acid
0.06g of Potassium Bicarbonate
49-17-34 NPK Ratio
all in 5 gallons of water
TDS target 550ppm, 5.9 pH

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -17(ish)

Still sticking with the Week 2 feeding, 49-17-34 NPK Ratio, 550ppm, 5.9pH water.
Roots should start getting to a depth that they’re reaching the autopot, so probably when I switch the water to week 3 in a few days, I’ll add it to the Rez and see how the plants take it.

40% light intensity, 22” away, 18/6.
77 degrees, 56% humidity.

Having a little hard time getting the humidity up, even with the humidifier. AC appears to be pushing the humidity in the lung room down to around 45%.

Dance World appears to be telling me to scale back on the nutrients a little. Erdpurt and Runtz appears happy to me. I’ll keep it at 550 ppm and see what happens in the next few days.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -14 (ish)

8g CalMag Powder
4.4g Masterblend Powder
3.5g Epsom Salt
8.7g Calcium Nitrate
0.3g Humic Acid
0.2g Fulvic Acid
0.1g Amino Acid
0.1g Potassium Bicarbonate
6.0ph, 500ppm
39-20-41 NPK ratio

Just bumped the light up to 50%, 20” away from leaf tip
78F, 58% RH

Roots started poking out of the pots, so I switched to Tray2Grow feeding today.
Decided to keep it in the 500ppm range, as the girls appear happy at that stage, didn’t see much of a need to push the limits (just yet).

So far, I’m pretty happy with the “Ph Buffer” solution mix. It appears to be keeping the PH in the 6.0-6.2 range pretty well.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -8 (ish)

Well, time to admit some negligent parenting.

I noticed the girls wilting a little bit, but figured they were working on getting their roots down to the Tray2Grow, or they were adjusting to the 50% light intensity.

Yesterday I checked and it was a little more wilting than should be expected. Ended up finding a blockage in the water line. The Autopot had run dry.

Dropped light intensity to 40%, and restored the waterline. They perked up a little bit, but some of the damage was already done.

Oh well, gotta keep moving.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day -6 (ish)

Gals looked to have recovered pretty well.
40% intensity, 56% RH, 79F

8g CalMag
5g Masterblend
4g Epsom Salt
9.8g CalNit
1.5g ph Buffer
630 ppm, 6.0 ph

Alot of the damage in the lower leaves is already done. But the upper growth is looking good.
One plant definitely could take cuttings. Another one maybe. But the third isn’t ready. So I’ll hang back on all and wait till everyone is ready to take at least 4 cuttings.

[WhatWouldBobDo]

Day 0

Mothers recovered well, and all look ready enough to take cuts from.

I took 4 cuts from each mother. All hit the rooting hormone, then two of each went into Root Riot plugs, and two went into straight coco coir. I’m new to the Root Riots, so wanted to hedge my bets in the event they didn’t go well.

I normally space out my clones while they root more than this, but I did some poor planning, so here we are

I usually put my humidity dome on top, sprayed with distilled water to make it pretty humid, and sit the tray on a heat mat, kept in darkness for 24 hours, then move it into the growtent with half light for a few days.

We’ll see how it goes. I kept the mothers around until I have at least two of each cutting rooted, before they get the chop.

[FmSwayze]

Why you running calmag?

[FmSwayze]

Also love your Journaling, this style will age well. Cant wait to see how it grows!

[WhatWouldBobDo]

@FmSwayze

Why you running calmag?

The last run I performed involved tap water (~130ppm), Masterblend, Epsom Salt, and Calcium Nitrate. The plants developed a calcium deficiency about three weeks into the grow. So I know the four (tap water, plus the three part nutrients) doesn’t provide enough calcium.

I also had to switch from tap water to RO water for this grow. The “ph Buffer” solution is an attempt to mimic some of the results of Sensi’s Ph Perfect. It buffers RO water to a ph of roughly 6.2, and keeps it pretty stable. A very very small amount of ph down (like half a ml per 5 gallons) is then needed to get it into the 5.8 range. However, if I use tap water, the additional ions in the water react differently, which caused the pH to be pretty high, and not buffer quite the same. Eventually I could dial it in to work with tap water, but for now I wanted to see if using the ph Buffer solution was even worthwhile to pursue.

So while using RO water, I calculated the total available calcium in the mixture, and compared it with some scientific literature on the calcium needs of most cannabis strains. That, coupled with my previous grow experience, led me to adding CalMag.

[FmSwayze]

Thats crazy, good work to dig that out.