New heady indoor grow....

[chiefMOJOrisin]

**Preface**

I'm using this thread as my own personal journal, instead of writing everything down like I used to. Feel free to comment....



I have been jones'n for a while now..... I had to stop growing a while back, for whatever reason. I'm not sure how long it has been, but 2 years wouldn't suprise me. I never took apart my set-up, but I did sell a few lights (HPS) so I had a tiny bit of remodeling to do.



So a few weeks ago I bought a bag from a grower.... a legit grower. The strain was his own concoction, and all I know is that Sour Apple Diesel is the momma. To my amazement, I found a seed! The whole bag was big nugs, then there was this little bit of a shit with 2 calyxes and a seed in it's pod. This was toooooo good of bud NOT to germinate this bitch. Especially since all I had to do to get the grow room going again was reposition a double U-bulb flouro fixture and move a couple CFLs.



Then I searched and searched and searched and eventually found a tiny baggie labeled 'HEADIES '06', with 4 seeds in them. Immediately 2 were 86'ed because they didn't pass the squeeze test. (Most good seeds won't break after a pretty hard squeeze).

So I began germinating 3 seeds, one I'll call SD (something Diesel), and the others don't matter because they didn't germinate. So, I'm pushing my luck and doing a grow with just one seed.....



-> MoJo's Set-up <-

Space-

Closet grow. 2 door sliding closet, sectioned off to one side. Homemade table built to allow for raising and lowering. Dimensions fluxuate from 40-60 sqft (table allows 4-6' height..... 4'x2.5'x4-6'). I usually just leave it at the highest setting because I train my plants so they are never very tall, and it give more wattage per/sqft.


Lighting-

-(4) 175MH fixtures
-(2) double U-bulb flouro fixtures; 2x40w U-bulbs each
-(8) 42w CFLs

Total wattage= 1196w

Watts/sqft (dimensions @ 4'x2.5'x4')= 29.9 w/sqft
Watts/sqft (dimensions @ 4'x2.5'x6')= 19.3 w.sqft



Medium-

Mixture of pearlite and Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil.



Nutes-

Veg= Age Old Organics 'grow'
Flower= Age Old Organics 'bloom'



Photoperiod(s)-

I start with 20/4, drop to 19/5 after a month, and then drop to 18/6 for the last 2 weeks of veg before switching to 12/12.




My grow room is on it's own 20a circuit, which is a good idea IN ADDITION to surge protectors. From breaker to initial outlet is wired with 12/3, everything else is 14/3. I have 2 fans.... one is an exhaust fan I removed from an old overhead stove thingy. The GR is in my basement, which has a drop ceiling. I removed that from the closet ceiling, and replaced it with sheet rock (which is what I used to section off the closet into 2 parts). I then was able to cut the exhaust fan into the sheet rock, in a position where it can suck up the super hotness coming from the MH fixtures. The second fan is an oscilating fan (oscilation not used) that is cut into the sheet rock that runs vertically in the middle of the closet which sections it off into 2. The second fan is to help control temp/air flow, and perhaps just as important, blows right on the plants to give the stems strength.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

6/11/09-

Began germinating 3 seeds using paper towel method. 2 unknown headies (most likely my own genetics... sweet tooth or afghani kush) and a bagseed from grower. According to grower, Sour Apple Diesel is mother plant.


6/13-

Planted only germinated seed (diesel) in medium of Fox Farm Ocean Forest and pearlite, in a 8" plastic pot.




Growing slowly @ 13 days...

Picking up speed @ 18 days (7/1/09)...

[chiefMOJOrisin]

7/1/09-


Today is day 18 of veg and, compared to all my other grows, this little guy/gal is growing somewhat slowly. I first noticed it when I took the first photo on 6/26 (day 13)... it was just sending up the 3rd node/set of leaves after the cotyledon.

It has since picked up a bit, and today I gave it it's first feeding of Age Old Organic's 'Grow' solution. I diluted it so it is only about 75% strength.



I have had 18 day old plants be upwards of 8" before. Most likely more. It is showing signs of it being more of a low, bushy plant than a tall lanky one..... the first leaves with multi-blades already have somewhat of a long leaf stem.


In previous grows I would begin LST aruond 30 days. I may have to wait and see with this one. Especially since it is my only one growing at the moment, I have no others to keep as a control.

[docmojoman]

U-bulb floros? Are you talking about 2g11s as I am using in my micro box?



Sounds like you've got your MOJO workin'!

I'm willing to bet that your lone seed will turn out fem - my albeit limited experience tells me that since you found that seed in some killer - it is most likely from a herm - hence feminized!

Good luck on your grow, man - I'll be checkin' in on this one!

[chiefMOJOrisin]

No, not the ones with the balast. Just ordinary U-shaped flouro bulbs with pins. There is about 5-6" of space between each long section of an individual bulb.





Another big reason for only doing one plant is what you mentioned.... my experience tells me the same thing. Good seed in super headys usually equals fem. seed. Although, those seeds have come out hermie for me almost as much as female. For example, I made my own strain using Sweet tooth and Afghani Kush.... about 45% were hermie, the rest female. No males.


I'm going to grow this out if it is hermie or not. I'll throw any trichome covered areas (including buds) into my ganja food collection jar, and try the seeds again.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

7/12-


Today is day 29.

I gave the plant it's first feeding on 7/1, with a diluted solution. I gave it's second feeding this morning of a full dose. What has worked for me in the past is to dilute it's first feeding, and give it it's 2nd, full strength, in 10-12 days. Then I continue with a full strength (or close to it) solution ever 15 days until 12/12.


At first it wasn't really growing too quickly, but after some food it perked up and has been doing well. Below (if the photos load right) is a little sequence leading up to yesterday.....




Currently, I have no specific plans on when I will switch to 12/12. I used to just do 45 days of veg and then change to the flowering photoperiod, regardless of plant size. But since I have just one plant, and seeing as how it started slow, I may just let it go for another month. It is only just now getting going, with secondary growth juuust starting to peak out of the lower internodes.

I do plan to LST it, so perhaps the plants growth will dictate when it is ready to flower. I have a tough time choosing between a big 'ol cola or more nugs (LST vs. nothing). But again, since I have one plant, I think LST is the way to go to ensure I yeild as much as possible.... that is if it is a female. Chances are it is, since it was a single seed in a big sac of ultra good headies.

I'm talking headies.... not just dank. The TRUE definition of a heady nug. And I know the grower.... so there is a much better chance of it being female than male. But then there is also a very good possibility of it turning hermie on me. All my personal experiences with trying to, or accidentally making feminized seeds were that the seeds were more often hermie than female.

I'd rather have a hermie than male though.... I make ganja food a lot. I save leaves, stems, and often calyxs in a jar for cookies. I also make individula strain food with trimmings/nug from my grows. And hermies are waaaay more useful for ganja food than males. I've taken entire hermie plants and used them just for ganja food many times.



-MoJo-




Dates of photos (starting with the top left photo):

1) 6/25- 13 days
2) 6/30- 18 days
3) 7/01- 19 days
4-5) 7/04- 22 days
6-7) 7/11- 29 days

[chiefMOJOrisin]

7/14, day 32 of veg-


Last night I transplanted my child from it's 8" pot to a 15" pot.


Something I've always done when transplanting is to mix in some 5-5-5 to help in the transition. I forget the brand name, which wouldn't mean much anyway because it is a local CT brand, but it is made up of sea weed/kelp and alfalfa extracts and, like everything I do (or try), it is organic.

What I do is throw a few spades of soil into the new, larger pot, then I sprinkle a wee bit of food on there. Then a few more scoops of dirt, then I put the root ball in the center. Next, I start scooping a bit of soil aruond the root ball, then I sprinkle a little bit more in around the root ball. Then I just top it off and water.




My GR is in the basement, and it can get somewhat humid down there. I have a dehumidifier, but it costs a lot to run 24/7 so I use it sparingly.... basically when my clean clothes feel like they just came out of the washer.

The average temp/humidity level for the grow so far is not exactly what I would like it to be.... about 75-80F and 45-70% humidity. Usually around 55%. I'm wondering if these levels have anything to do with the slow growth.....

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Well, I can happily say that my one baby turned into a beautiful lady.


Her slow growth continued throughout veg, only getting to about 12" after like 2 months. However, my own techniques and training are always based on getting the shoots to grow out and be as strong as possible.... the main cola is always going to be a good nug. Many people seem to forget that the majority of their yeild will be from buds/places other than the main cola.



I had been watching her turn into a lady for about 2 weeks before I switched the lights to 12/12..... I had calyxes showing very early actually.


So I switched the photoperiod to 12/12 on 8/6, which makes the beginning of today Day 6 of flowering. She has already thrown out pistil exposed calyxes on the top 4 nodes, and she looks prime for a nice early flower stretch.


I never give the first 'flower-fert' on day 1... or 2. I like to let the plant use up what it can of anything left from veg, then give her a real boost with almost a full dose of Age Old Organic's 'Bloom' 5-10-5.



I never had continuous access to a nice camera during a grow, but now that I have my own nice set-up, I plan to get some nice photos to document the flowering stage. I attached on photo of her maybe a week before I swtiched the lights.

More photos to come soon.......

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Above view, flower Day 10

[chiefMOJOrisin]

For some reason, I always encounter sone crap when uploading photos to websites or forums. So, if these photos do not work/load properly, including the above/previous post, I apologize.

^ Above view of main, flower Day 10 ^

^ Whole plant, flower Day 10. Total flower stretch as of day 10 is 2" ^

^ Shots of calyxes and pistils on top nodes, flower Day 10 ^

^ Shoot from bottom 1/3 of plant, flower Day 10 ^

[KyungYi]

Looking great man. Best of Luck!

-Kyung yi

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Some recent photos....


Taken on flower day 34:

Main cola

Sexy nugget from bottom 1/3rd

The whole shit

Twins!!

[AugustWest]

looks great man!

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by AugustWest

looks great man!

Thanks man.



Hey.... would that be Brawndo, the thirst mutilator?? (what plants crave)

[AugustWest]

Originally Posted by chiefMOJOrisin

Thanks man.



Hey.... would that be Brawndo, the thirst mutilator?? (what plants crave)

LOL yeah.. that fucking movie cracks me up