Pebble Punch Grow Journal I just flipped my current Grow of Pebble Punch. I'm going to post the rest of the Grow in this journal along with what has already transpired. A little about the growroom. It's an 8'x12' shed in Colorado's Front Range of the Rockies, I can see Pikes Peak from my windows. I recently switched to LEDs form HIDs, love them. I have 4 Spider Farmer 1000s over a 4.5' x 4' SCROG trellis. My system is a DIY recirculating hydroponic, continuous flow with the plants in a modified Dutch Bucket style system. The plants are in #3 Air-Pots filled with hydroton. The air-pot is set inside a 5 gallon bucket. The bucket is plumbed with a drain outlet at the bottom side to return solution to the reservoir. The continuous flow of solution is delivered to the top of the bucket filled with the hydroton via a wall mounted tube with valve. I’ve done this style of Grow since the 1980s. The main difference is I used 1/2"x 1" red cinder rock until I discovered hydroton a few years ago. Also there is better nutrients available and the LED lights. For me having an organized and well supplied work area is key. View attachment upload_2021-5-31_15-12-31.jpeg 3/28/21 Took cutting of Pebble Punch place in 1 1/4" poly foam cubes. (Similar procedure to using rockwool without the pH issues. 4/16/21 Pot up cuttings into #1 Air-Pots 4/25/21 Growing well. Been topped and branching out. LST branches 5/2/21 Move into Grow chamber under LEDs Pot up to #3 Air-Pot, LST branches with pipe cleaners, defoliate inner canopy. 10 gallons H2O using Botanicare Kind Expert Recipe 15 Base 15 Grow 10 Bloom 5 Rhizo 5 Tea 10 Silica 10 Hydro 5 CalMag 444 ppm 5.9pH Pic from 5/2 5/11/21 Continue to LST branches and minor defoliation 5/16/21 End of first 2 weeks of veg Change solution 40 Base 60 Grow 0 Bloom 10 Rhizo 10 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 10 CalMag 620ppm 5.9pH 5/23/21 Change solution 60 Base 80 Grow 0 Bloom 20 Rhizo 30 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 10 CalMag 740ppm 5.9pH 5/23/21 Defoliate Before After 5/29/21 Flip to Bloom 12/12 Change solution 100 Base 0 Grow 80 Bloom 20 Rhizo 50 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 20 CalMag 830ppm 5.9pH 5/31/21 Install upper SCROG trellis View attachment upload_2021-5-31_15-22-15.jpeg That's all for now. I'll post each weekend during this Grow. Now we spend time on more defoliating, tucking and pulling branches as they grow, being sure Growth remains even across the trellis.
7 days into bloom now. Changed out the nutrient solution yesterday. I increased to Bloom part by 20 ml to the 10 gallons. Also I have performed another defoliation along with removing less dominate twiggy branches. Working to keep everything evenly spaced as the tops enter the net. Last week I put the upper SCROG trellis in place. It sits 10” above the first trellis. The tops are just 5” from the upper trellis at the end of the first week of bloom. In another area of the shed is my propagation cabinet where I keep my mother’s and grow my cuttings. currently I have just the two moms in bonsai. I cut these way back a week ago. I’ll maintain these until I’m ready for cuttings after the next RV trip this summer. That’s it for now. I’ll post more next week. Blue
6/13/21 14 days of 12/12 Changed nutrient solution 100 ml Base 0 Grow 150 Bloom 20 Rhizo 50 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 30 CalMag 1100ppm 5.9pH The two plants are filling the net very well. Each day I find that I’m moving a few tops from a square to another for better spacing for light penetration.
6/13/21 Minor Defoliate and trim, Trellis training and spacing in the net using pipe cleaners for precise place on the squares. 6/18/21 Day 20 Bloom 6/19/21 Day 21 bloom week 4 Spray Pyrethrum, Thrips Changes solution: 100 Base 0 Grow 150 Bloom 0 Rhizo 50 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 30 CalMag 1060ppm 5.9pH I think the stretch is just about done. Let the bulking up begin!
Just looking and enjoying the great progress. Love the clean look of the grow area. Definitely clean up the bottoms under the first net. I can’t get anything but popcorns more the a 20” from my led light. I literally have it 6inches away. With twin layers like you. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Thanks for chiming in FroSt415. Most long term growers have found the sweet spot that works for them regarding pruning and stripping. I too have settled on a strategy that works well. I really don't plan on doing anymore lower stripping . Those lower budsite get enough light to keep up,with the tops as far as trichomes production, so I'm good.
I am still trying to figure out the balance of trimming during flower. We are making the plant grow in ways it wasnt made to, but hopefully are more beneficial in the long run. I read a into the heavy defoliation at the start and the another into 3 weeks (3 a light schwazzing). I have not gone as hardcore as they have suggested, but I have not seen a downside yet. I don't have enough grows under the belt to really evaluate it though.
I found the sweet spot through trial and error. I record each step in my grow notes. I snap many photos also. When I prune and/or defoliate I will snap before and after pics. A week later I snap another pic to record improvement or none. Refer to the archival photos helps with future defoliation and pruning. I use NOTES in my iPhone, that way I can use the search to retrieve any subject. Everything is entered as though it’s a daily diary. Now it’s a mindless task. It will for you as time passes.
Truth is it all depends on your plant pheno and genetics. This is my third run with the genetics I have and found it with short comings with too much foliage and undergrowth. In our industry popcorns are just the same as shwag. Keep up the maintenance and you will get always get great product, excited to see it through. Here’s a sneak leak, will start flushing this weekend. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
6/26/21 day 28, week 5 100 Base 0 Grow 150 Bloom 0 Rhizo 50 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 30 CalMag 1095ppm 5.9pH looks like the stretch is complete at 28 days from flip. Trellis is full and the shoots are evenly spaced using the net squares and soft pipe cleaners to position each shoot. With the spacing and the latest defoliation the light penetration is deep into the lower canopy. 28 days from flip, already frosty The fruity aroma is intense.
6/26/21 day 28, week 5 there is a good layer of frost starting. The stretch is finished and the flowers are bulking. I’ve got the branches pretty well spaced in the net using pipe cleaners to pull some into place. there are just two Pebble Punch plants in there, look to be twice twice as bulky as my last grow with Chem Brulee. That was 22 ounces of flower.
7/3/21 day 35, week 6 Each time I enter the shed the aroma is intense. At day 35 the buds are rapidly bulking. Pretty much done with defoliation and stretch. We’ve had crazy fluctuating weather recently. Having my climate controls dialed in is keeping the grow environment in order. The AC, thermostatically controlled exhaust and a dehumidifier all working together to keep the plants thriving. Daytime: Air temp: 82 +\- Canopy temp: 74+\- Night: Air temp: 70+\- Canopy temp: 70+\- Humidity: 20-50% RH, the RH fluctuation is not a concern. It is a concern if the RH goes above 65% for more than 4 hours, that does not happen. the developement of tricholmes is spread across the leaves. Side view of previous bud. I’m still holding the 2 moms in bonsai standby. I would have cuttings going by now but have a RV trip planned when this crop is harvested and stored. Pebble Punch. Chem Brulee
Enjoy watching the progress! The worst part about what we do is that there are no vacations, at least no more then a day or two. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
So glad you are watching the progress. With my grow system and method I am able to leave for several days. Have left for 13 days and was happy to see the thriving garden when I returned. I like to think the grow is on auto pilot. During week 8 I’m going on an RV trip for 6 days. Why am I comfortable leaving? 1. Stretch is long over so no need to raise the lights. 2. (2)plants with a 10 gallon nutrient reservoir. 3. 10 gallon fresh water replacement tank with float valve refilling nutrient reservoir due to transpiration. 4. Automatic pH dosing system. 5. Calibrated environment controls: AC, exhaust, dehumidifier and circulating fans. 6. Quiet stealthy out building.
The garden has reach the easy phase. Structural growth has stopped and the buds are getting fat, sticky and stinky. There is still 3-4 weeks until harvest and I’m getting exited. 7/10/21 Day 42 80 Base 0 Grow 160 Bloom 0 Rhizo 50 Tea 40 Silica 20 Hydro 30 CalMag 1130ppm 5.9pH loaded with tricholmes . there are 2 plants having more than 120 stems with nice colas and many fat flowers down stem of the colas. check in with you next week.