Welcome everyone and thank you all for joining me in the New Year’s Grow Challenge 2019!
I can hardly wait to start!
In this first Post, I’ll tell you a little about my Set-up for the grow and the strains I’ll be growing.
Basic Set-up
I will be growing only two plants in my 4x4 tent. I will germinate and then raise the seedlings in a humidity dome under CFLs until they are well established in their second pots. I will then move them into the tent and put them under 2 Viparspectra 450 Reflector series lights that draw a total of 412 w (206 w each). I use a 190 CFM exhaust fan and Carbon filter. I also use two small intake fans to help control the vacuum effect and improve airflow.
Of course, I will be growing my plants in Coco/Perlite! I will be using recycled coco from my recent grow and of course I will rinse and refresh it first! I will work through a 3-step transplanting process. Starting first in Seedling Bags, then moving to half-gallon grow bags, before landing in #5 Air-pots, which will be their final home.
I use My Automatic Drip System and will be installing some upgrades to that as it gets time to hook it up. I don’t get to use the drip system until the plants are in the tent in final containers, so I still have a little time there. Automatic watering makes managing the grow so much easier and Coco/Perlite is perfectly suited for it. I cannot recommend it enough!
Strains:
I am growing Blueberry CBD and Blueberry Kush. Both strains are from Grower’s Choice seeds. Blueberry CBD is primarily for my sister, @coconut, who uses CBD to treat her sleep apnea. It is the first time I have grown a plant for her and I will have fun with that. I expect that I may grow far more than @coconut will ever use, so I hope that my wife and I enjoy it too! I am growing Blueberry Kush for myself… Well, I will share with my wife and others, but primarily for myself. I am looking forward to a flavorful Kush High with a good dose of THC.
General Plan:
Since we have a long Veg period, I went with only two plants and hope to grow them out into some pretty good-sized bushes. I will do a modified Mainline or Manifold training that involves topping the plants at least twice to produce 8 main growth stems. I am excited to use an Atlas Plant Trainer (APT) to help support and guide my two girls to fill the tent. It will be my first time using the APT and I am legitimately excited about it. I have had it for over a month now and I can’t wait to start to play with it!
I will update with more specifics about my plan and look forward to updating my grow journal here!
Much Grower Love to my fellow NYGCers and to all of the CocoforCannabis community!
Let’s get Growing!
On Nutrients:
With less than 12 hours to go I am in a bit of a conundrum!
I have been planning to run organic fertigation on this grow. I have looked into a few different lines, and I like the Vegamatrix line that @chefomj is going to run. I have also considered going with the GO box, which is more affordable for those who may wish to follow.
There are some “challenges” with organic fertigation. One of which is the need to mix nutes daily. With Auto-drip, this will also pretty much mean daily tank and pump clean-outs. It is not the end of the world, but I look forward and I see challenges with my schedule that I am not sure I will be able to overcome.
The thing that is so nice about the automatic watering system that I have been running with Flora Series nutes, is that I can really let the plants grow on their own for days at a time when needed. I can leave town for the weekend or get caught up in work and not have to worry about them needing constant attention. All the while they still get fertigated 3-5 times per day and everything just runs automatically. People often scoff when I tell them I water 5 times per day, but I can pretty well guarantee that I spend less time dealing with watering than 95% of all growers. The ease of watering is actually one of my favorite parts of this style of growing.
Beyond the personal convenience, I have also been thinking that it is probably a good idea for me to follow the style that I have been writing about – Since others may be trying that style too. This is our first big grow challenge that we are starting here, and it seems like I should follow my own techniques! Sticking to the Flora Series will allow me to follow my own nutrient schedule, fertigation practices, and EC management strategy. I certainly remain interested in organic fertigation and if I don’t do it now, I will do it with an upcoming grow. I will be watching @chefomj’s organic grow in coco closely and hope that he’ll forgive me if I don’t join him.
I know it is pretty late in the game, but I can still be swayed. Let me know what you think I should do!
My Seeds are Wet!
Hooray!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
I am very happy to celebrate with all of you!
I don't have the sexy "Seeds hanging out in a shot glass" pictures.
I have the Pyrex containers, paper towels, and a heat mat. LMAO Not sexy at all! ?
Grower Love to All!
Day 2
It got pretty hot on my heat mat the first night, so I have been worried that I might have cooked the seeds a little bit. Those fears were allayed this morning!
That is the Blueberry Kush. The Blueberry CBD doesn't have a tail yet, but the seed does seem to be alive. Niether is ready for the next step yet though, so back into the pyrex they go! I have three layers of the towel now under the pyrex and I put the whole set-up into the tent so I can keep it dark more easily.
Before moving into the tent I did a few things to get it ready for the grow. I installed a brand new prefilter on my carbon filter before the last grow. I figured @rosettastoned would get a kick out of seeing how dirty it got! Keep in mind that I also have prefilters on the intake air ducts. The air here is just absolutely filthy. The filter feels greasy to the touch! NASTY! I want to move!
So, I will check on the seeds again in another 12 hours or so. It is rare for me to keep them in paper towels for more than 48 hours... I am sure the Kush will be ready by then... Come on little CBD - you can do it!
Grower Love!
Congrats mates.... still waiting on mine but it’s awesome to see all of the new life springing up.. wtg Doc.
47 hours in, The Blueberry Kush goes into her Jiffy Pellet!
She has a good tail on her and it was easy to place her tail down in the hole I made in the jiffy without ever touching the seed. I have video and that will be coming at some point to a new article.
The BB CBD is being more reluctant. She has no tail and I was worried she might be a dud (or cooked on the mat), but she is opening and I think she might show progress in another 12 hours.
So they both remain in the dark and on the heat mat. One in her pyrex and paper towels, and the other in the little Jiffy Humidity dome.
Growing plants is fun!
Day 3 (Hour 60)
The BB Kush is doing great. Her head has risen up since I put her in the Jiffy last night.
The BB CBD is - NOT. I am not sure what is up, but I am losing either patience or hope. It is unlikely that I actually cooked the beans because the Kush is doing great and they were in the same exact environments. Perhaps I just have to wait longer - but I am not liking the total lack of progress. She looked like she was cracking open last night, but she looked exactly the same this morning - no change.
I am not sure what I will do, but as I sit here writing this I realize that I could at least take another BB CBD seed out of the fridge and get her warmed up in case she has to be sent in as a late inning replacement.
Most of growing seems very rational and I understand what I need to do. Germination on the other hand seems like a complete miracle! I understand the conditions to create, but I still feel like I am not in control in the same way that I am once the plants are growing. I have to hope and trust and have patience... Or (more likely) panic and stress and start a replacement seed! LOL
If it was easy it wouldn't be as fun!
@kingkush, I actually think that is a huge part of the appeal of golf too. If it was easy, if things went exactly as planned every time, if we were actually in complete control, it would be boring! The lack of control - and the intermittent success - is a big part of the fun and makes success truly feel like an accomplishment.
Grow on everyone - enjoy your beautiful sprouts!
My trailing seed looks like it cracked open, just waiting for the tail. I say have patience, warming up a seed shouldn't take long.
Hour 67 Update:
BB Kush is trying to throw her shell! Cotyledons won't be far behind. She seems pretty vigorous already ?
Still waiting to check again on the BB CBD
72 hours
The BB Kush is doing great! Just as we approached the 72 hour mark she threw off her shell! She has grow up considerably today, having only been place in the Jiffy Pellet 25 hours ago!
The BB CBD is still pretty life-less. I have a replacement ready to go, but I don't like the idea of giving up so early. I certainly don't need to end up with two BB CBD plants, and I really would like to save the seed. Open to your thoughts and suggestions!
BB Kush is a rock star! We have cotyledons!
I have not yet checked on her CBD sister this morning
Grower Love
