New Grower Advanced Biodiesel Mass - Basic Setup

[Ottopilotti]

I would recommend against the DE used for filtration for any other purpose than filtering.
Pool grade DE is calcined, and can cause long term respiratory problems from the crystaline silica.

I concur with Red here - been looking into this quite a lot - be very careful which DE you use - especially with this filtration stuff. It is a very fine powder - even with the right DE I will be wearing a mask to make any topdressing with it. It is pointy and sharp and lacerates the exoskeletons of larvae causing them to dehydrate and die - don't want to be breathing that in!
If you breathe it in there could be very serious health implications!
Also the different types - saltwater versus fresh water.

I am holding off on using it in my space because I was a bit worried about the proximity to my living space - but I think it is a good general tool for major infestations.

As a general rule I always double check any info I find on AFN - no matter from where it comes - good policy and I find I get taken on learning excursions that provide other avenues of knowledge!

 

[Ottopilotti]

Welcome to the wonderful world of feed stores, Otto!
Not sure about molasses content... the DE we use is 100% pure (and can get a bit dusty.
I love the oyster shells, it's a great way to neutralize soil acidity and add trace elements. I think I paid 7 bucks or less for a 50 lb bag. We use a wide faced hammer to crush it , the finer the crush the better it works.
SODIUM WARNING!!!! Oyster shell fragments can have a high sodium level (salt water residue). If you ever use it as a soil amendment, rinse the heck out of it, then rinse it some more, or you run a good risk of high sodium lockout.

You are the man Red!
I suspect, as a relatively new general gardener (10 years) - I'll be needing to run a few new things by you every now and again - you know your stuff!

The molasses surprised me too - but apparently for human consumption - the human grade DE - it is added - I think it is hard to swallow because it is such a fine powder. Check the spec is best policy for everything!

AFN newbs - check out Reds' grow journal - lots of really good advice on how to do it
right here!

https://www.autoflower.org/f44/noob-grow-n-lights-sour-diesel-fast-haze-25014.html

 

[Renaissance Redneck]

Thanks, Otto, but remember, I used to grow golf courses, not mj.
Except for the VERY basic stuff, everything I know is a direct result of the fine folks here at AFN.
In my old life, when I heard the words "broad leaf", my first thoughts were "why is it here, and how do I kill it".

 

[Ottopilotti]

No Net LSTing

So I thought I'd put up some photos of the LSTing - I kinda do a mini scrog without the nets.
Was flying without instrumentation for a while but now know I have my temps running at exactly 28C / 82F and my humidity is running between 35% / 40% - I thought it was higher so that is good news. Used to do a little bonsai - now THAT is a waiting game! - so I really enjoy it when the canopy begins to develop after the initial stretching.
I know some people start it a lot earlier but I have always allowed them some time for the side branches to get going - then I don't need nets and things get a bit creative.
As lo-stress as possible - it is a really good way to use a small space. Anyway...

Thanks, Otto, but remember, I used to grow golf courses, not mj.
Except for the VERY basic stuff, everything I know is a direct result of the fine folks here at AFN.
In my old life, when I heard the words "broad leaf", my first thoughts were "why is it here, and how do I kill it".

I think you have a good connection to nature - chickens, the woods, golf courses, mj and plants in general I suspect.
That is something I have only recently learned to appreciate.

 

[Ottopilotti]

everything I know is a direct result of the fine folks here at AFN.

So true - I'm discovering all sorts of things - that really appeal to my sense of aesthetics.
My LSTing is about this - I like old Japanese woodblock prints and brush art - these plants
are just as beautiful!



See if I can get some nice photos of my gals - might not be super plants
but they make interesting shapes - like having a mini wood at home.

The thing about AFN is you see everybody striving for better results -
that's like being at a good university!

Got some new theories about gnat control - having to adapt to circumstances.
I'm only killing one or two a day now - soil mix is really dry - yellow stickies are really
low. Read somewhere to lay them horizontal. Would mean building complicated
flag poles for them...what an arse I am!
I have also popped in a few earthworms from my new worm farm - they should
aerate the soil and encourage better nute uptake. Hopefully breed and eat
the biomass that is probably hosting the eggs of these damn things.
Should have thought of this earlier...think I'll put a couple in every grow mix
from now on - they don't kill anything but they really regulate the soil
environment.

I think one thing I did right was not to wait and see - proactive
intervention at an early stage can prevent much wailing and tearing
out of hair.

I found this really informative article:
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/MF2937.pdf

Got some new plans with peppermint and dry coir - and a
watering system using pipes and funnels - gotta start feeding
these gals flowering nutes soon...

My new plants are both looking very good - like they should...both very similar
currently...popped on the 22/11/13 - took the sick girls a couple of weeks to
get this far!



Already chopped off a couple of lower leaves because I somehow spilled
foliar nutes on them while killing gnats!

I'm much happier with these girls! if they keep going like this then the
sick girls may meet the grim reaper sooner than expected.

I'm getting more and more convinced about the coir component along
with the 'friendly' mycorrhizal fungi - I get mine from a horticultural center.

I really have to get a handle on the soil mix - it makes sense to me to get
massive rootballs in a soil grow - and get it aerated with worms...

I have noticed that hydro growers get this advantage from looking after the roots very
carefully - air pots and systems...

 

[Ottopilotti]

My Gals Recovering!

 

[jammage]

Hey dude just wondering if you had any info or links to putting worms in the soil? I know there's different kinds of worms and I've seen them for sale for composting, but I've not heard them mentioned before regarding growing.

 

[Ottopilotti]

any info or links to putting worms in the soil? I know there's different kinds of worms...

Hey jammage - absolutely right there - I suppose there are three ways
to obtain worms from a local wormery (if there is one),
from an angling shop (make sure you get the right kind here) or DIY -
I have a simple covered bucket system - you can collect the run-off and
use it as a fert but be careful it is very strong - I have used it on outdoor
PS plants in summer not the autos as of yet...
As to the type of worm - you need to check which is which in your region...
(especially if you are going to an angling store)
not a real expert - lots of info online.
I grabbed the right ones out of my garden and into the worm farm they went -
feed 'em vegetable/egg shell kitchen waste (no meat/boiled vegetables and
not too much onion and citrus) - should have some nice fresh worm castings
this coming year.
Don't overdose your autos with the tea or castings! - there are a lot of
soil recipes on AFN - just getting a bit deeper into this subject myself.
I think it needs to be dried out for indoor use - you lose some microbiotica -
but any insect eggs/larvae you don't want will be (mostly) eliminated.

NB. Putting Worms directly into grow medium!
If you are real careful about getting pests this may not be the way to go
as even the worms themselves may carry pests.

Building a farm video - you can do variations on this - tiny or gigantic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCVqCW1dkpA

Any variation on the above will be fine - worms don't need a lot of
looking after - but DON'T keep it in your grow space all the rotting
vegetable matter attracts all sorts of stuff you don't need...

Personally I avoid all the newspaper - inks very often have
some nasty chems in them - use straw/natural common sense
materials - you can get that from pet shops...

Most people doing this want the castings/tea but it is handy to be able to
grab a handful of worms when you need 'em!

 

[Ottopilotti]

Canopy coming along...

Slowly feeling more at ease with my gals now - gnats are really struggling - little bastards. My new emergency girls are coming along nicely - a candy kush and delicious il diavolo.
I do go for the more hardy beginner strains and it does pay off.
My gals take a lot of stick really - I'm so lo-tech compared to some of the giants on AFN but I'm always surprised at the desire to live through anything that these plants display,
Winter is feeling good right now!





Shout out to Red -CGR -WWWillie for the support and knowledge...

 

[wwwillie]

Buds!!!
Woohoo!! Looking good, like someone said it's like looking into my future!!
I'll be checking back in when it comes time to LST for me. I played with it a bit but decided it was to early yet for that. I like the way yours look!