Humboldt Seed Organization HSO 2020 Grow Battle - Gorilla Breath & Choco. Mint OG (Only1Sky)

[Only1Sky]

Greetings folks, Kicking off another journal, this one to commemorate the long awaited HSO 2020 Grow Battle. I'll be running one each of GORILLA BREATH and CHEMDAWG. Both are new HSO stains for me personally, so I'm looking forward to the ride. @Mañ'O'Green

(Update ... a couple of weeks into the grow I switched from Chemdawg to Chocolate Mint OG. )

My kit for this grow is:
Gorilla Grow tent: 4x4x8
Lights: AutoCobs from CobShop (2x 3500 & 1x 2700)
6" intake fan, 6" exhaust fan, two interior circulation fans
Analog humidifier with Inkbird Controller
3-Gallon RainScience Grow Bags
Medium: 60/40 Coco hydroton clay balls
Nutrients: Prescription Blend

Germination process was: two days in a shot glass with RO water, then into a Jiffy starter pellet. The pellets were in a humidity domed tray on a heat pad and under T5 lights. After 3 days the Gorilla Breath popped its head, so its pellet was then planted in the RainScience Grow Bag and moved into the tent with COBS up high. Unfortunately, the Chemdawg never appeared. After a few days I dropped another Chemdawg seed, and this time was finally rewarded with a sprout. I've delayed getting this journal posted 'cause I wanted to have both strains up and running, and that's reflected by the age difference in the two plants. Here they are now: Gorilla breath at 10 days and Chemdawg at 4 days.

 

[Only1Sky]

Three days later and things are looking about the same ... Gorilla Breath at 13 days is doing OK, while Chemdawg at 7 days is in real trouble:

Chemdawg looked even worse two days later, so we're gotta take some remedial steps for the grow cycle. Since this is my 2nd seed drop for Chemdawg, I think I'll try my luck elsewhere. So I'm dropping a Chocolate Mint OG. I see other folks growing some nice looking versions. So maybe this will be the charm:

 

[Only1Sky]

Chocolate Mint OG (CMOG) is off to the races, I hope. Here is her day 1 appearance, and then another look at day 3. Today I planted the jiffy plug into my coco/hydroton grow bag and gave her a bit of Prescription Blend at the "sprout mix".

 

[Only1Sky]

Gorilla Breath is 33 days old, and showing some growth and improvement over the past week, but still pretty lackluster for her age. Chocolate Mint OG is now at 14 days, and clearly struggles to do much -- very little progress over the past week. Since we've now crossed the 30-day mark since starting the journal and grow, I guess I should state the obvious: Gorilla Breath will be my competition plant.

 

[Only1Sky]

Day 39 for Gorilla Breath and Chocolate Mint OG is now at 20 days. Both showing some modest positive progress over the past week.

 

[Only1Sky]

Another week and things are continuing to improve. My competition plant, Gorilla Breath, got topped today at age 42. And the Chocolate Mint OG, at day 23, is clearly going to make it. Both on a "Week 3" mix of Prescription Blend under a couple of CobShop AutoCobs.

 

[Only1Sky]

Day 55 for the competition plant, Gorilla Breath. Last week she got topped for a 2nd time, in two places. She's handling it well and will hopefully add some height and breadth. She's been under my Amare SE450UVB light now for a bit over a week.

Chocolate Mint OG is now at day 36. She's doing well, may be getting a topping soon.

 

[Only1Sky]

Big days for the ladies. Both got moved out of the utility room and into a proper 4x4 tent with better environmental controls. Still basking under an Amare SolarSpec SE450UVB. Here is the competition plant, Gorilla Breath, at day 67 after multiple toppings.

Her younger companion, Chocolate Mint OG, is now at 48 days. She was labeled as an AutoFlower, but I'm concerned that after 7 weeks we are not seeing any signs of flowering. Patience, I tell myself.

 

[Only1Sky]

Well, well. After 54 days the Choco. Mint finally started flower development. I guess she really is an AutoFlower !

 

[Only1Sky]

4 days later (day 58) and we can see the Choco. Mint OG setting up some nice bud sites. I think she's going to be a fine plant.