Ok Blades, here goes my first journal. Grab a snack, you're in for a show. My background: just completed a Master's degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management where I studied high yield organic rice production. Coincidentally, rice is very similar to cannabis as a plant, even the main varieties are indica and sativa, photoperiodocity, nute requirements, etc. I've been growing for about four years, slowly applying what I've learned about sustainable agriculture to growing cannabis, with great results. The Method: fim, lst to maximize quality and yield with minimal inputs. My gf and I live in a small apartment (by US/Ozzie standards), so I try to get the most out of my space with minimal odor and noise. The soil: 1/3 homemade base from peat, coco and balcony compost. 1/3 worm castings from balcony bin. 1/3 aeration (perlite, rice husks). A few additives such as rock powder, chicken and cow manure, horn and nail shavings, lime, etc. I adjust as needed and cycle soil in and out of the tent seasonally as needed. Goal is to maintain a living soil, providing all the conditions necessary for vigorous plant growth and flower. The water: I'm in Zürich, Switzerland where the water quality is fantastic, pH of +/-7, high calmag content. Water is aerated using an aquarium pump for 24 hrs before application to eliminate any chlorine. The nutes: fish emulsion applied in veg for N. Plagron brand organic nutes "alga grow" and "alga bloom" applied as needed during the plant life cycle, especially during critical growth phases. The setup: Perpetual indoor grow with two tents and a clone/seedling box or two as needed. Main flowering tent: Homebox L (1x1x2m) new model, 600w dimmable hps, adjust-a-wing hood, carbon filter and S&P 350 silent ventilation fan. Two oscillating fans inside for circulation. Light distance around 45 cm. Veg/early flower tent: Homebox M (.8x.8x1.6m), 400w vented dimmable hps, 350w german-made ventilator and sometimes a carbon scrubber as needed. Single oscillating fan for circulation. Light distance 30-45cm. Clone/seedling box: diy metal file cabinet (.6x.5x1m) with dual T5's and an inline fan to vent. Small circulation fan. The grow: Main Flower tent: 1 greenhouse k-train, 1 each dutch passion freddy's best, master kush and orange bud. Germinated 16.7, put into flower 3.9 after lst training and fimming. Veg/early flower tent: 1 each barney's farm peppermint kush and pineapple chunk, 1x dutch passion california orange, 2x each freddy, master kush and orange (cloned from main tent girls). 1x blueberry discovered a couple weeks ago in a balcony flower box from discarded summer seeds from a spring hermie. Fimmed and lst'ed all where feasible. This pic is actually from outside after transplanting yesterday. Aiming for a sog-style packed tent with these girls; i usually stick to max four plants per tent. These shots give an idea of the training technique I use: Going for a nice "t"-form for more colas in the sea of green. Side view: These have been vegging for a month so i will make the switch in the next week. The main flower tent is in week four, so i will move these plants to the larger tent after 4 weeks of flower. Just graduated and still haven't found a job, so this grow is my life at the moment. Already germinated a greenhouse trainwreck and four autos to harvest at christmas... Questions? Comments? Give me your best shot but please don't feed the trolls..
One more thing: the soil surface is white due to a 2cm layer of perlite added yesterday at transplant. Had a fungus gnat issue so I made their egg-laying area less hospitable...
have you tried that before isn't that going to make them go just a bit deeper to nest Sent from my ZTE_N9511 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
First time with gnats so first time trying it. The neem spray got rid of almost all of them but i just did this as an extra precaution when transplanting. There is now no surface for gnats to lay eggs and hatch larvae, so no future for them in my tent. I had to change grow rooms this cycle when adding the extra tent to make it perpetual. Unfortunately this room also vents to my balcony where my compost and worm bins are and the bugs got in from there. This won't be an issue soon once temps drop.
Updates! Veg tent 30 days since germination/cloning. Will give 36 hours darkness after lights out, then switch to 12/12. Flower tent, day 29 of 12/12: Clockwise from top left: orange bud, k-train, master kush, freddy's best. Sweet mango auto outdoor. trichs clouding up, should be ready to harvest next week. ACT applied to all yesterday. A small batch of autos for xmas harvest also sprouted today (greenhouse super critical, barney's blue mammoth). It's a full house!