First Grow with QB96's - "Freedom Dream" & "Early Miss autoflower"

Discussion in 'Indoor Grow Journals' started by VanBrando, May 15, 2019.

  1. #1 VanBrando, May 15, 2019
    Last edited: May 15, 2019
    I've had this grow going for about a month now and figured i'd post a journal here to help get some feedback on improvements i could be making.

    Strain Backstory:
    Freedom Dream
    - Seeds were given away for free by a local activist as part of the "Overgrow" campaign, which encourages people not only to grow Cannabis, but to plant it EVERYWHERE! Suggested locations are such as: your City Hall, local police department, public gardens, etc.
    Seed Strain Details

    Early Miss - Autoflower variety from "Crop King" seeds.

    Setup:
    - "Unit Farm" 2x4x6 tent
    - HLG "Elite 360" fixture (contains 2 x QB96 V2 Elite's)
    - Can-Filters 6" carbon filter
    - AC Infinity Cloudline T6 inline fan (exhaust)
    - 4" passive fresh air intake via duct to outdoors
    - 12" circulating fan, on 24hrs
    - 8" circulating fan. 30 min on/off intervals during lights-on

    Medium:
    - Fox Farms Ocean Forest soil (55%)
    - Black Gold Seedling Mix (35%)
    - Perlite (coarse) (10%)
    - Gaia Green Veg 4-4-4 dry amendment fertilizer
    - Gaia Green Bloom 2-8-4 dry amendment fertlizier
    - Myke mycorhizzae
    14c.jpg
     
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  2. #2 VanBrando, May 15, 2019
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
    I started the "Freedom Dream" seeds first. My intention was to use these plants as a live test while i got the new tent and gear set up and broken in.

    Day 1:
    - 8 seeds
    - Under one "Sunblaster" T5 and one "Sunblaster" 24W LED
    - Seedling tray is on seedling heat mat, set to 24C.
    01.jpg

    Day 3:
    - Seedlings moved to 2x4 tent
    - Light set to 40% intensity
    - Distance to light: 48"
    03.jpg

    Day 5:

    05a.jpg 05b.jpg

    Week 1 Summary:
    - The week was plagued by the learning curve of using the new light. Bluetooth controller giving me issues (somewhat discussed in this thread: Lighting for 2x4 Tent... help me choose! ).
    - Plants suffered from light/heat.
     
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  3. #3 VanBrando, May 15, 2019
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
    "Freedom Dream" Week 2:

    Day 8:
    08.jpg
    Day 10:
    10.jpg
    Day 13:
    13.jpg 13b.jpg
    Day 14:
    14.jpg 14b.jpg

    Week 2 Summary:
    - More issues with lighting. Had to turn down the light intensity to 20% for plants to respond better.
     
  4. #4 VanBrando, May 15, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Freedom Dream" Week 3:
    - More issues with lighting. Had to turn down the light intensity to 20% for plants to respond better.

    Day 15:
    - "Early Miss" - Dropped 3 seeds into water to start germination
    - "Freedom Dream" - Transplanted to 1 gallon containers and small pots.

    Freedom Dream Day 17 (Early Miss Auto Day 1):
    - "Early Miss" - 2 seeds sprouted, "EM-1" & "EM-2". Transplanted to fabric pots, moved into 2x4 tent.
    - Installed humidifier, set to 30 mins on, 1hr off, continuously.
    17.jpg 17b.jpg 17c.jpg

    Day 18:
    18.jpg 18b.jpg

    Day 19:
    19.jpg 19b.jpg

    Day 20:
    - Male
    20.jpg

    Day 22 (Early Miss Auto Day 6):
    19-6.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    • 18.jpg
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    • 18b.jpg
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      2.5 MB
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  5. Maybe a lux or ppdf or par meter is required. Its helped me. Mind you, you'll figure it out soon, hoping for you.
     
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  6. Ya, i'm using a shitty app-based lux meter, just to get an idea of the light values at certain heights and intensity. I figure at the moment i'm somewhere in the vicinity of 10k - 14k Lux on the "Early Miss" autos and around 18k-21k Lux on the larger "Freedom Dream" girls.

    I'm actually behind in posting this journal but i've been able to get a much better feel for how intense these lights are.
     
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  7. #7 VanBrando, May 16, 2019
    Last edited: May 17, 2019
    "Freedom Dream" Week 4:
    I've designated 3 plants as: "FD-1 (Shorty)", "FD-2 (Tall Girl)" & "FD-3 (Legs)" for reference.

    Day 22:
    22.jpg 22a.jpg 22b.jpg 22c.jpg

    Day 26:
    - Light Cycle: 20/4
    - Temp: 74-80F
    - RH: 44-56%
    26.jpg 26b.jpg
    This is "FD-1 (Shorty)" on the right, "FD-2 (Tall Girl)" on the left... both sprouted same day. Shorty seems to be odd one out... the others have all stretched like crazy! Those hemp genetics!
    26c.jpg

    Day 28:
    - Pre- & post-training
    28.jpg 28b.jpg 28c.jpg 28d.jpg
     
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  8. #8 VanBrando, May 16, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Early Miss Auto" Week 2:
    "EM-3" seed did not germinate. Replaced with "EM-3b" seed, which germinated very quickly and is only 3-4 days behind "EM-1".



    Day 8:

    Been watering lightly, just in the area around the seedling.
    Water PH: 6.5 to 6.7
    Light intensity increased to 25%
    Distance to light: 40"

    ("EM-1", "EM-2" & "EM-3"
    8.jpg 8b.jpg 8c.jpg

    Day 9:
    Lowered light to 38"

    Day 10:
    Watered top 1" of soil surface.
    Water PH: 6.4 to 6.6
    10.jpg 10a.jpg 10b.jpg

    Day 12:
    Light intensity increased to 29%
    Lowered light to 36"

    Day 13:

    Watering lightly, usually every other day, just around seedling.
    Light intensity: 29%
    Distance to light lowered to 38"

    13.jpg 13b.jpg 13c.jpg

    Day 14:
    Light intensity increased to 35%
    Distance to light lowered to 30"
     
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  9. "Freedom Dream" Week 5:

    Day 30:

    30.jpg

    Day 31:
    - Training Day. Snapped stalk of "FD-2 (Tall Girl)"
    31.jpg 31b.jpg 31c.jpg 31d.jpg

    Day 33:

    - "FD-2 (Tall Girl)" recuperating well, standing unassisted.
    - Topping & LST on other plants
    33.jpg 33b.jpg 33c.jpg
     
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  10. #10 VanBrando, May 17, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Early Miss" Autoflower Week 3:

    Day 15:
    15.jpg 15b.jpg
     
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  11. good start. mine in the garage atm prob gonna freeze to death.
     
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  12. I'm just hoping these autoflowers finish before the summer heat comes. Easier (and cheaper!) for me to deal with the cold rather than the heat for where my tent is.
    I take it you're in a similar situation, with minimal temperature control?
     
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  13. "Freedom Dream" Day 34:

    Temp: 72-79F
    Light cycle: 20/4
    Watered with 6.3 PH-adjusted tap water
    LST on all plants
    2019-05-17 014 - Copy.JPG 2019-05-17 016 - Copy.JPG

    What do you guys think about this plant?
    :
    2019-05-17 017 - Copy.JPG ...nitrogen toxicity?? other deficiency?
    I haven't fed at all, except for the initial mixture in the medium, which is about 50-60% FFOF, Black Gold Seedling Mix, perlite & Gaia Green organic dry amendments, as can been seen at the start of this journal.
    Watered with tap water, ph-adjusted to PH 6.3 - 6.7. I don't have a PPM reader, so not sure what runoff is looking like.
    Soil was tested to about 6.6PH at transplanting:
    Soil PH.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. I try to use minimal control, but only because I am resolved not to purchase anything until I can wire all that stuff using Arduino boards. This last month has been hectic since we tried starting garden plants, which affected my grow space. This is being resolved right now, next year I will just buy or build a greenhouse (with a heater). Just not worth messing with my grow room.
    Since the weather still is too cold here, I brought the plants into the house and set up the younger ones in the front window. I will just move the larger plants each day (in/out) to get their sunshine since they are acclimated now (I hope).
    My grow room is getting back on track... soon>?

    I was looking at the moisture sensors on the arduino, how they log the data (wireless too) and can automate it to water the plants only when they are dry. Its cool stuff!
     
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  15. #15 VanBrando, May 18, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Early Miss Auto" Day 16:

    2019-05-17 005 - Copy.JPG 2019-05-17 008 - Copy.JPG 2019-05-17 001 - Copy.JPG 2019-05-17 010 - Copy.JPG
     
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  16. #16 VanBrando, May 20, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Freedom Dream" Day 36
    &
    "Early Miss Auto" Day 18:
    - Temp: 70-80F
    - RH: 56%
    - LST on all 3 "Freedom Dream" plants. The stalk of "FD-3 (Legs)" split while i was tying down branches. Tied back together to heal.
    - Watered "Freedom Dream" plants heavily. Runoff tested at PH 6.7.
    - Watered "Early Miss" plants lightly with PH 6.7 standing tap water.
    2019-05-19 14.04.11.jpg
     
  17. "Freedom Dream" Day 37:

    Nutrient problems definitely showing!
    Please help guys!... so far i considered possible problems of:
    - Nitrogen toxicity
    - Nitrogen & Phosphorous deficiency

    As mentioned above, using about 50% FFOF, 45% Black Gold Seedling Mix, 10% Perlite, Gaia Green veg & bloom dry amendment fertilizer & Myco fungi.

    2 days ago, i flushed the plants with PH 6.7 standing tap water. Run-off tested at PH 6.7 as well. I don't have a PPM meter yet so i don't have PPM readings.

    Today i watered with PH 6.7 tap water (standing over-night) w/ .5tsp of "Plant Prod MJ Spike (CaMg)" per 1L of water.
    screengrab_2019-05-20 20.38.01.jpg
    Aside from that, i did a VERY mild watering of a generic 20-20-20 fertilizer about 4 days ago, probably 20% of the recommended dose.
    Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
    Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (1).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (2).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (3).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (4).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (5).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (6).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (8).JPG Freedom Dream 2019_05_20 (10).JPG
     
  18. suggest you drop your pH to 6.2 or so.
    also suggest trying a better suited ratio fertilizer than 20-20-20.
    Maxibloom is 5-14-15 and is the same as Lucas Formula, the tried and tested standard of all MJ growers.
    I am testing some inexpensive but suited for cannabis nutes in my journal as well, they are ok, still learning them though.
    Its not to say that people haven't used 20-20-20, since it is possible, its just not optimum, and some plants will reject it.
    Beyond that, let her dry out some.
     
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  19. I usually vary the pH between 6.3 to 6.7, but on average i'm probably around 6.5. I'll try dropping it down to 6.2 to see how things go.

    That 20-20-20 stuff i use is just the general fert that i use for my garden plants... not ideal but should give them a little kick. I've been mulling over (procrastinating on) what ferts to grab and i've really just been all over the map, so haven't made a decision.

    I'm definitely going to have to grab something this week though... I'm not so worried about the "Freedom Dream" girls, as they won't be going to harvest anyways but i can only assume that my "Early Miss" ladies are on the same path if i don't take care of them ASAP!
    Luckily, they're 2+ weeks behind the "Freedom Dream" girls, so hopefully i can stay ahead of it!
     
  20. #20 VanBrando, May 22, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
    "Early Miss Auto" Day 18:

    Starting to see early signs of nutrient issues in these girls too?
    Early Miss 2019_05_20 (2).JPG Early Miss 2019_05_20 (3).JPG Early Miss 2019_05_20 (4).JPG Early Miss 2019_05_20 (6).JPG Early Miss 2019_05_20 (7).JPG Early Miss 2019_05_20 (8).JPG
     
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