Indoor Army of Dankness - Bruce's Blueberries

[Bruce Campbell]

This will be an on-going 2x2 perpetual grow while I use up the rest of my current beans and optimize my feed levels.

Based on my first grow, this strain is large enough that four at a time overcrowds my tent. So, I'll be starting with two at a time staggered ~5 weeks apart.

I'll be trying to confirm whether the optimal feed levels from recent studies by Bernstein and Zheng are applicable to this auto strain and/or whether they need to be reduced for autos.

I'll be starting with Mega Crop 2-part and adjusting as needed to hit my elemental ppm targets.

Basic Specs:

Base Strain	ILGM Blueberry AF
Number of Plants:	2x2
Indoor / Outdoor:	Indoor
Light	Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W (400W Actual)
Tent	Gorilla 2' x 4'
Pots	3-gal Fabric and/or Airpots
Media	Pro-Mix HP (70/30 Peat/Perlite)
Base Nutrients	GLN - Mega Crop 2-Part GLN - Sweet Candy
Training	Single Topping (~2-3 weeks / 3rd or 4th node) LST

 

[Bruce Campbell]

Based on the Bernstein & Zheng studies, my overall target nutrient concentrations are outlined below for each growth stage:

Vegetative Plan:

• Min / Max N = 30 / 240 ppm
• Target N = 160 - 190 ppm
• Min P = 15 ppm
• Target P = 60 ppm
• Min K = 15 ppm
• K:Ca:Mg Ratio = 4:2:1
• Nominal Target K:Ca:Mg = 200 / 100 / 50 ppm

Flowering Plan:

• Option #1: Same as Veg Feed
• Option #2: Reduce N by 25% - 50%; Increase P by 0% - 50%

Seedling Plan:

• Veg Feed at 25% - 50% strength

 

[Bruce Campbell]

For the first batch, I'll reduce N / boost P during flowering. Depending on how that goes, I may run the second batch using the same veg formula throughout the entire grow.

Crunching the numbers gives the following feed rates and elemental concentrations for the first batch:

	Part A (g / gal)	Part B (g / gal)	Sweet Candy (g / gal)	Epsom Salts (g / gal)
Seedling (33% Veg)	1.287	0.825	0	0
Veg	3.9	2.5	0	0
Flower	1.3	1.7	2.0	0.8

	N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S	Cu	Fe	Mo	Zn	B	Mn	Si
	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L	mg/L
Seedling (33% Veg)	50.79	17.81	73.39	41.41	21.42	24.82	0.10	1.02	0.03	0.34	0.10	0.20	0.24
Veg	153.90	53.96	222.40	125.50	64.91	75.22	0.31	3.09	0.10	1.03	0.31	0.62	0.72
Flower	86.79	80.24	192.57	85.34	47.64	68.40	0.10	1.03	0.03	0.34	0.10	0.21	0.24

For reference, here's the elemental wt% for each:

Product	N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S	Cu	Fe	Mo	Zn	B	Si	Mn
Megacrop Part A	5.00	5.24	21.58	0	6.3	7.3	0.03	0.3	0.01	0.1	0.03	0.07	0.06
Megacrop Part B	15.50	0	0	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sweet Candy	0	11.78	22.41	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Epsom Salts	0	0	0	0	9.8	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Note: Based on label GA amounts, after converting phosphate and potash wt% to elemental P/K wt%.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

After some seedling issues during my first grow, I want to make sure I find a relatively simple and consistent method that will work for me for initial germination.

I suspect the troubles in my first grow were mainly pH issues. Peat starts somewhat acidic, and Pro-Mix notes that it can take up to a week for the included lime to begin to dissolve. So, I'll wet them and let them sit for a while before germinating.

I'll then try to add a bit of a pre-buffer, then start saturated with my selected seedling feed.

Here's the basic plan I'll try to follow at first:

• Fill containers - Measure dry weight
• Saturate with distilled / RO - Measure wet weight
• Sit for at least 1 week
• Feed ~1/4 - 1/2 gallon of full strength feed
• Sit at least overnight
• Flush with 1x - 2x capacity of starting seedling feed. Let drain.
• Add ~8 oz distilled / RO. Check run-off pH.
• If pH is acceptable, plant seeds directly in container.
• Place container under lights to provide heat. Use humidity domes as needed once sprouted.

For the first batch, the containers initially sat wet for ~2 weeks. I pre-buffered with full strength bloom feed from my current grow (i.e., I just used whatever was left over after feeding my current plants). I'm sure I could do better, but we'll see how these first seedlings handle it.

The first batch took ~84 hrs to break the surface. I may have planted a bit too deep, or the delay could have been due to low moisture / high nutes. I may switch to paper towels for the initial cracking for later batches, but at least the first two are up and underway:

 

[Bruce Campbell]

- Been ignoring these girls and focusing on finishing my other grow. But, they look healthy if not growing a bit slow - so, probably room to increase strength / watering.

- Ordered some RAW Grow All-in-One. Wasn't able to compensate for my tap water easily with MC2 - I had to either take an N reduction, take a hit on my K:Ca:Mg ratios, or cut it with another product. Based on the products I have data for, RAW Grow looked like a better base for the Ca levels in my tap (~200 total hardness, ~100 calcium hardness, ~35 mg/L elemental Ca). I'll post new formula amounts once I switch over to it, but still using MC2 and demin/condensate for now.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

- Coming along well - can probably start training a bit soon. Gave them their first complete soak a few days ago - still at the 33% Veg formula.

- @AutoBobje referred me to a good nutrient calculation program (HydroBuddy v1.97) that uses individual industrial salts. Will be good for later batches when I try to fine tune nutrient levels. Their site also has a good discussion on predicting EC of the final solution.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

​

- Still looking pretty good. Increased feed to 50% Veg strength.

- Tried topping for the first time. Was trying not to miss, but may have cut too close - looks like I may have gotten one or two bud sites? We'll see how it recovers and maybe wait a few more days next time.

​

 

[Bruce Campbell]

- One of the growing tips is a bit mangled from the topping, but otherwise powering through. Not sure if they're too green (high N) or not - but I'll start increasing strength while going to an alternate feed-water schedule.

- Seems a good bit shorter / bushier than last grow. I gave them white light only / less red during the first week - so maybe that kept them a bit shorter. Challenge now is feeding them without splashing / burning leaves.

- Need to start thinking of moving them into the main tent as the current plants finish up - i.e., shelves/crates for different heights, temps/rh vs. age, etc to set the tent up for a perpetual grow.

- Got spreadsheet setup to track / record / report weights:

 

[Bruce Campbell]

- Day 30 - Doing surprisingly well, considering I'm intentionally trying to overfeed them...

- Snapped one of the top colas on #2 about halfway through while training. Grow tip is still alive, but the fan leaves are dying off for that cola.

- They've been on the full 100% Veg formula for the past week (~900 ppm-500). Reasonably dark green leaves, but doesn't seem to be too much N so far. Some random yellowing on a few bottom leaves, but that may just be left-over feed splash from early on.

- Haven't been focusing much on RH, which has been pretty low while they've been in the closet. Will probably move them over to the tent this weekend (finally).

- Xmas travel is going to be a challenge. Ordered materials to put together some cheap wifi-controlled drip buckets, so we'll see how those work out.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

- Day 44 - Moved them into the main tent. Looks like they are just starting to stretch.

- Still no issues from feed levels, although a decent amount of yellowing / wilting leaves on bottom. But, from last grow, I think this is normal for my setup - just the bottom leaves wilting and dying off from getting no light.

- As far as perpetual grow - I had been hoping to fit "2 adults + 2 juveniles" in the tent. But, after topping these first two, they've spread out to take up all the tent space. So, I may just go to a straight "2 at a time" grow schedule going forward.

- I should be switching to the bloom formula soon, but I'm also going on travel for a week for the holidays. Not sure how well my low-budget drip setup will work - I may end up killing them while I'm away. We'll see how well they do, but I may just keep these two on the same veg formula for the entire grow, or wait until I get back to switch formulas.