A Different Kind of Grow Log
This is an unusual format for a Grow Log since the event took place last Spring/Summer and I’m relating it with the benefit of hindsight. Not everyone’s cup of tea maybe but I hope that the mix of “Real-Time” notes and my explanatory narrative is readable and provides at least some entertainment.
I’ve been growing off and on for decades, but my first autoflower grow is in the Jars and I can’t help but reflect on what a strange trip this has been! Growing Autos is NOT like growing photos! Despite the learning curve issues, and some challenging logistics, we had a good outcome and I’m here to share the story.
I chose autoflower seeds from ILGM which has been a 100% reliable source for seeds that grow just like they’re supposed to (usually!). Also because they are quick to deliver and the schedule for this grow was snug right from the start due to travel plans.
So, when ILGM said ‘these autos, no problemo, eight weeks, cradle to grave (harvest),’ I believed them. Big mistake, huge. As events unfolded the “schedule” evolved from snug to “tight,” then leapt onward to “impossible.” As a result, the plants moved several times between my grow room and the sunny outdoor deck, AND, were left on an autopilot drip system for three weeks, AND, due to the erroneous harvest time info, I ended up taking jars of curing weed along for a camping trip! Basically FUBAR in many respects!
Here are the words I live by in situations suchlike: 'Apprehend, Accept & Adapt. And that’s what I did, including daily burping a half dozen jars of some really stinky Bruce Banner bud upwind of 200 Boy Scouts having a Jamboree next door to our campsite. So, yeah.
Lesson: Never trust a seedbank when harvest time is on the line! 'Nuff said about that, but I am pleased to report a respectable yield from those abused weeds. And after sampling the Bruce Banner: those “Purple Hulk” buds bespeak Righteous Sativa Fire.
The lab book notes below describe the flow of the grow in detail, but my take home from this first autoflower experience is that they are nearly as much work as a photo, they don’t yield as much per plant, but they also don’t take up nearly the space or resources either. I reckon these plants produced about 60% of the photo yield per sqft in 75% of the time. Quality is good, maybe comparable to photos. I look forward to growing autos in the future.
You’ve still got to give autos THE LIGHT, and feed them and stay on Bug Patrol & nute watch for three months. In my experience, limited to this grow, all three strains responded well to energetic LST training during their flowering stretch. I doubt I could have achieved a better yield even if I tried to bully them into a flat canopy as youngsters. They seemed to have a shape in mind and only minor adjustments would be tolerated, but that allowed me to get light to every viable bud site within about 16 inches of canopy depth.
I’m pleased with this grow because it was an education. In the same amount of space, and a little less time than photo plants, I harvested almost half a pound of three quality strains: Gorilla Glue, Girl Scout Cookies, & Bruce Banner. That’s Good Value, and the “Purple Hulk” is something truly unique.
My logbook entries below are pretty much verbatim so I will apologize up front for gaps, inconsistencies and general wording weirdness. This is basically how I keep my own records for future reference. I have also included snips from the seedbank for background.
At the very bottom I am adding a “Special Seed Offer” that I hope is interesting in this seed swapping community.
The April Fool’s Grow
Started: 1 April 2021
Seeds: Autoflower Mix Pack from ILGM
=======ILGM Seed Pack Descriptions====
"ILGM Autoflower Super Mix
- Gorilla Glue Auto
- Bruce Banner Auto
- Girl Scout Cookies Extrm Auto
- All autoflowers are feminized
"There’s good. There’s great. And then, there’s super. The strains in this mix pack have earned that title, not just from us, but also from our customers.
It probably has something to do with the high THC levels. All of the feminized seeds in this pack have the potential to produce THC levels that are greater than 20%. Most of these strains are also beginner-friendly.
And, they are autoflower seeds. That means you can grow them at any time of the year.
That definitely qualifies these cannabis strains as super.
The Super Auto Mix includes autoflowering Bruce Banner, Girl Scout Cookies Extreme autoflowers, and auto Gorilla Glue seeds. In other words, you get a super Indica, a super Sativa, and a super Hybrid, and they’re all auto-flowering, in one mix. These cannabis seeds are great indoors and outdoors, just make sure they get plenty of light. Yields are moderate, except for Bruce Banner.
Gorilla Glue Auto
Gorilla Glue Autoflowers make growing perfect marijuana nearly guaranteed. This strain is already relatively easy to grow, however when you add ruderalis genetics, it becomes nearly foolproof. There’s no worrying about adjusting your lights or timing your outdoor grow. You simply plant these feminized seeds, and you water them.
If you are new to growing marijuana, Gorilla Glue is the perfect strain to grow. It’s a balanced high THC hybrid with potent positive effects. Thanks to its creative genetics, the high is strong but manageable. Most people do not experience couchlock or anxiety, despite THC levels that can reach 26%.
Gorilla Glue autoflowering seeds produce dense little cannabis plants with thick, dense buds. Flowering time is 8 weeks, regardless of the season. These plants are perfect for growing indoors with lights, or outdoors if there is plenty of sun. Yields typically average between 4 and 6 ounces.
Plant type50% Indica 50% Sativa
THCUp to 26%
CBDInsignificant amounts
DifficultyEasy
ClimateIndoors | Steppe | Mediterranean
Plant sizeCompact
Flowers8 weeks
Yields4 to 6 oz per 3x3ft
Taste & SmellEarthy | Pine | Sour | Sweet
EffectsHappy | Uplifted
Bruce Banner Auto
Bruce Banner is the powerful knock a smile on your face strain that everyone loves. Its size can be intimidating, but those with the know-how are rewarded with massive buds. Although the comic book character needed an alter ego to gain people’s respect, the cannabis strain is a star the moment it starts popping buds.
Autoflowering Bruce Banner is a sativa dominant hybrid that can be grown year-round. These feminized seeds begin their flowering cycle without a change in lighting, making them suitable for indoor grows. Your plant will reliably flower in 8 weeks with THC levels up to 25%.
Bruce Banner Autoflowers are still tall plants, despite their ruderalis genetics. They also still have their extremely loud smell. If growing this strain indoors, plan appropriately. That earthy, diesel scent can penetrate walls. Yields can reach up to 19 ounces.
Plant type40% Indica 60% Sativa
THCUp to 25%
CBDInsignificant amounts
DifficultyModerate
ClimateIndoors | Steppe | Mediterranean | Mold Resistant
Plant sizeTall
Flowers8 weeks
Yields4 to 6 oz per 3x3ft
Taste & SmellDiesel | Earthy | Pungent
EffectsEuphoric | Happy | Relaxed
Girl Scout Cookies Extreme Auto
What if you could get your girl scout cookies quicker? Our autoflowering Girl Scout Cookies Extreme does just that. Your plant will flower in eight weeks, regardless of when you grow. This little autoflower is easy to grow, while also producing big, potent buds.
Girl Scout Cookies Extreme is an indica dominant with a good mix of energy. Its high is relaxed; however, Durban Poison’s genetics keeps it creative, euphoric, and uplifted. This super-strain relaxes pain, stimulates hunger, and calms the mind. That’s why, for many, it is the therapeutic strain of choice.
Girl Scout Cookies Extreme autoflowering seeds grow into small, sturdy plants. This strain is ideal for beginner growers. Feminized seeds and strong ruderalis genetics ensure a reliable 8-week flowering time and an easy grow. THC levels can reach up to 21%. Yields are 4 to 6 oz on average.
Plant type80% Indica 20% Sativa
THCUp to 21%
CBDInsignificant amounts
DifficultyEasy
ClimateIndoors | Mediterranean
Plant sizeSmall
Flowers8 weeks
Yields4 to 6 oz per 3x3ft
Taste & SmellDiesel | Earthy | Herbal | Lemon | Pungent | Skunky | Spicy | Sweet
EffectsCreative | Euphoric | Happy | Relaxed | Uplifted
Divyder
[Yep, this grow briefly included the noted @ReikoX Divyder strain I won on a Free Seed Friday fiesta! Tragically both plants were males and were summarily terminated. RIP.]
“This week up for grabs are my last three packs of Divyder (La Diva x Lowryder2) F2s from 2018. These are regular autoflowering plants with an extremely short stature. They should finish around 9-10 weeks from germination.”
================
The Plan:
Start all seeds 1 April then after sprouting move to RRooter cubes under the dome. After 1st leaves transplant to 3" pots under 160w CFL. Transplant to 5gal buckets after a week or so, then Veg under ViparSpectra XS LEDs 20/4, w/FF nutes @25%, Move outside ~30 April w/ final nutes & 72 hour water cycle in full sun. Harvest est. mid-June.
GSC = Girl Scout Cookies
GG = Gorilla Glue
BB = Bruce Banner
DVY = Divyder
Dates are mmddyy
Startup
040121 - Started four seeds with an overnight soak in tap water pH 7.0. GSC & GG packets had one seed larger than the rest. I used that one for GSC but not the others. Rapid Rooters setup in the germination tray, heat mat & misted dome. I intend to transfer the seeds directly into RRooter from soak rather than use the paper towel method this time.
040821 - BB & GG sprouted, into rooters now transplant to 3" pots. GSC & Divy were slower, just now into rooters. Soaked an extra seed of each as backup. The little pots mix FFOF + compost. So far BB & GG seem to like it, as seedlings, so perhaps not too HOT? They are in 3" pots, pre-transplant to 5-gal aerated buckets. The plan is still to harden them up and leave them to their own devices on the deck with “living Soil” and drip sys water while we’re off camping in the Little House [our RV].
041221 - BB & GG are thriving in the after moving to the grow room under XS1500. Divy & GSG are just breaking ground under the Hood. One GSC seed is still in the paper towel & ziplock. So we may have BB & GG a week ahead of GSC & Divy. If the other GSC pops, she’ll be an extra. I should prolly sprout another Divy or two to hope for a female. They run 50:50 M/F per @ReikoX.
041721 - All plants look healthy and now living in the grow room under xs1500 LED dimmed to 75% @ 24". Today I’ll transplant BB from the 3" pot to it’s final home, 5 gal bucket. Tomorrow the same for GG. The others are in varying stages of filling their little pots, with the last Divy bringing up the rear. So far, so good. Still not sure how to handle the sexing of the Divy plants since we’ll probably be on the road by the time they actually show.
042721 - The weather isn’t cooperating with my plan to harden off the plants before they move outdoors full time. Strong cold winds and cloudy days are not friendly to young plants!
Despite all, GG, BB, GSC-1 and both Divys are waking up outside after their first full day and night in the open. BB & GG look great, GSC-1 is small be seems happy. GSC-2 is still indoors trying to recover from overwatering & maybe too much light?
We leave in less than a week and will be gone for three weeks. This is a dumb thing to do, but we have non-refundable camping reservations and, well, we’re goin. I’m putting them all the plants outdoors with an automated drip irrigation and fingers crossed. It seems likely that I’ll find ruination when we return.
You meet new friends when travelling, this gal was Pilot Mtn, N. Carolina
052221 - We are back, after three weeks and to my delight, Every single plant is alive and healthy!!! Yay for autopilot drip system!
The four ILGM autos on the porch are doing great. The late starter GSCookies is behind, but gaining ground daily. They all look as if they will benefit from a little TLC combined with some LST and a dose or two of nutes. Gorilla is already showing white pistils, Bruce is only a few days behind. The elder GirlScout is behind both of them, but seems the most robust of the batch. The younger GirlScout is way behind in size and development, but appears to be thriving.
My two Divy seeds were both male, with intimidating hanging Balls, unmistakable. The pollen sacks haven’t popped yet so I’m going to isolate them in the orchard, maybe harvest some pollen then put both of them to RIP.
Tomorrow I intend to begin “Training” GG, BB, and both GSC plants towards and Espalier spreading. It looks like the lower Buds would benefit from direct exposure to the sun. I think I can use tie wraps anchored down to a cord around their buckets to give every viable branch a direct look at the sun. I’ll remove any old, damaged fan leaves and then LITFA. I also plan to feed them the Fox Farm harvest nutes and some Bud Candy, as much as they can handle.
They will remain outdoor plants for the duration and we’ll just see what happens.
052321 - All four plants accepted LST training without much complaint.
052421 - With all the major colas tied down it was easy to see the stunted growth on those branches that had faced into the lattice fence. They didn’t get the sun much and it showed. Today we begin “Rotation Therapy” and each pot will be rotated a half turn every few days until a week or so before harvest. LST Tie downs plus daily pot rotations are giving them an optimal solar bath.
052621 - Really bad weather outside, moved all four back into the grow room. Now under 350 watts of full spectrum LED, angled to approximate 10" from the plants apical shape. Rotating them 4 times per day to even the light exposure. They actually seem to like it.
052721 - Cal/Mag deficiency showing on mottled leaves & yellowing. They all look like “Outdoor” plants… sorta dirty & beatup. Healthy tho and bursting with growth.
053021 - GG is showing trichomes, the other four are all trying to blast out some white hair pistils. More or less healthy. Nutes every other watering, 25% FoxFarm TB & BB & BC. Just enough to create a little runoff.
060321 - GG is getting frosty and losing leaves in what looks like the final push. all energy going into the flowers. GSC isn’t far behind, trichs appearing Pistils beginning to curl. BB is about a week behind the others, white pistils and maybe the first hints of trichs. No sign of disease or bugs. If these were Photo plants I’d say they have a month to go!
060821 - I thought I saw signs of bug damage on GG & GSG in the grow room so I went overboard and fogged both Permethrin & GrowSafe pretty heavily. Looking today I can’t see any reaction in the plants, but their leaves are still yellowing and dying as harvest approaches.
BB is looking good outside on the deck, spectacular purple colors including some ripening yellow nanners (grrr!). Yesterday I carefully plucked every Banana I could find to try and minimize the self-pollenation of this surprise Hermi. I reckon I got the lights too close to the top buds when BB was inside. I was trying to match the shape of the plant by hanging the light at roughly the same angle. Forgot that the LED intensity isn’t consistent across the spread pattern. Luckily that was only for a few days and no new nanners have appeared. [NOTE: I missed golden opportunity here to collect some Fem Auto seed from this interesting pheno. Rube mistake, but I wanted weed not seed at the time.]
The Purple Hulk Pheno
Yep, Nanners!
061321 - Steady as she goes, all plants are nearing harvest at a painfully slow rate. GG is in the lead with mostly red hairs and mostly cloudy trichs. Not ready but close. GSC is close behind, both are nice and frosty, but the hairs are still mostly white and trichs are clear. BB is a mystery, beautiful dense buds with purple collars. Knockout bud porn! The trichomes are like nothing I’ve ever seen: some of the heads are huge and crystal clear, others are a deep purple color and cloudy. The pistils are more like spikes than hairs and they are just beginning to turn orange at the very tips. Doesn’t look close to harvest but who knows. We are leaving (Again!) on a six day camping trip on June 24 so they better all pick up the pace.
We’re heading into week ten now and the other autos are days (weeks?) away from harvest. BB doesn’t look close. Anybody have a guess as to what comes next with this odd and beautiful plant?
061721 - GG 75% ready, BB 95% ready, GSC1 70% ready, GSC2 85% ready.
Harvest is two weeks overdue, the humidity here is brutal (80-90%) and we have non-refundable reservations in western MA for camping and fly fishing on the Deerfield River. I desperately need a Harvest Plan.
061921 - (10.29 weeks from emergence) 0600 Harvest BB entire, Harvest GSC mature buds only, Harvest GG mature buds only. Leave the rest under auto drip system till we return. Three bath wash each branch & trim large fan leaves from all branches. Hang next to the dehumidifier in growroom.
062121 - Trim buds from stem, add to drying trays, rotate periodically.
062221 - Trayed buds feel ready, test sample jarred & humidity tracking. Target 62% RH. BB post harvest seems to be still maturing, 90 cloudy, 0 amber. GG & GSC still not ready, I plan to water everybody before we leave on Wed. BB outside on the drip, the others inside under “late fall” lighting.
062321 - Assess drying & expedite as needed. Everything is jarred w/Boveda stabilizing near 60%. Lower buds GG & GSC, cloudy but no amber, some crystal clear. I’m going to water & leave them for now. Final watering remaining plants. Water the lawn & garden, shut off house water, Dim LED to 50%, shorten light period to 10 hours. Plants are on the deck with auto drip system watering. Walk away…
062921 - Arrived home and cut all remaining branches. Lousy fishing but a beautiful place!
They still look immature but 90% cloudy so they may not be done growing but I’m done growing them!
070521 - Five day drying process, to bud snap. Bud Rot found in the apical buds of BB & GG. I’m betting it was the rainy weather while we were gone. 10 gram loss. Very little dry sieve dust. Everything is in jars curing
070621 - Final Weigh In (dried grams per plant)
GSC(x2) 119 g
GG 100g
BB 56g
Total 275gr bud, plus 28 grams sugar & larf.
071721 - Taste test: All three are very potent, BB is Stardust! GG & GS are both tasty & strong.
=========That Special Offer==========
Oh yeah, I mentioned a “Special Seed Offer” at the beginning and here it is.
The results from that Bruce Banner auto were pretty extraordinary, the plant was more beautiful than my pics can express and the smoke is like a memory of my first taste of properly aged Acapulco Gold in the late 60’s, that cosmic sativa buzz.
In any event, as you can tell from the story above I don’t credit the “Purple Hulk” success to any special ability on my part, I pretty much F’ed up every aspect of this grow, but it still came out great and I’d like to save this particular strain if possible.
I think I have 3 of these magic beans left and I’d be willing to offer them up to a knowledgeable grower on OG who can grow them out and produce some seeds to pass around. I’m learning the necessary techniques but I’d rather hand it off to an expert.
I propose a simple seed swap so I can grow something interesting down the road, and feel good about this special Bruce Banner strain surviving and being shared. Anyone interested pls drop me a PM on OG.
[If this offer violates some OG protocol pls clue me in. (@LemonadeJoe?)]
