New Grower Monkeys Sweet Seeds +Speed Grow (From Day 25)

[monkeykicker]

Well instead of lurking I thought I'd post my "Girl" to prove I'm a grower not a wannabe. I've grown photos on & off throughout the years with reasonable success, however I'd still consider my self a rank amateur. I've tried autos in a greenhouse previously, but despite being in the allegedly sunnier part of the UK results were disappointing.

This one popped whilst I was away & by the time I found her the stem was 2 inches long with just the cotyledons on her. I stuck her under light & she quickly developed leaves but then fell over under the weight of them :no:. I "earthed "her up & she's rallied round very well.

She's currently standing 33cm - 13 inches tall. Day 25 & meant to finish on day 49.

Grow details

Soil - standard store bought soil + 30% Perlite, UK members ( B&Q Verve Multipurpose) cheap & cheerful but don't believe the food enough for 6 weeks on the pack. Showing signs of N deficiency after 10 days.

Tap water PH'd to 6.3/4.
Feed is Tomorite Tomato food Ph'd as above, currently half strength every other watering.
Lights are 5 x 20W (100w) standard CFL's.
Room is a hastily constructed 15 x 15 x 28" box.

Cheers

MK

 

[Trapper]

She looks SUPER healthy for having experienced some trauma early on...nice job!

 

[redrobbo]

Nice little plant.Have you used Tomorite before?I`m interested to see how it performs in flowering.

Have you had her outside in this beautiful weather we`re having atm?
Good luck with her

 

[AuxiliaryInput]

Looking good! My first grow was with 5 20w CFLs. Takes me back

 

[monkeykicker]

Nice little plant.Have you used Tomorite before?I`m interested to see how it performs in flowering.


Have you had her outside in this beautiful weather we`re having atm?
Good luck with her

I've not tried with Tomorite before TBH, I've used budget Tomato feeds in the past with more than acceptable results. I also grew a couple of Northern Lights photos a few years ago using Miracle Grow All Purpose soluble plant food (diluted to one quarter strength) with very good results. Haven't had her outside as neighbours both sides, the greenhouse had translucent panels so wasn't an issue but that's gone now.


First CFL grow for me & I was very dubious, but more than happy with the outcome so far.


MK

 

[redrobbo]

Thanks MK,might give the old tomato food a whirl sometime,not sure about the MG tho.Ive read so much thats bad about it,yet some growers swear by it.
Ive seen some nice grows using only cfl`s,theyre spot on for tight laces like yours.
Shame about the greenhouse. GL MK

 

[monkeykicker]

Well I didn't have any intention of updating this thread for 10 days or so just to show my nicely fattening buds (hopefully ). She was dry last night & just on a whim I watered with the 50% nute solution again as opposed to my now increased water - nutes - water - nutes regime. Just keeping an eye on any possible nute burn, I've been out in the shed all day & without thinking lowered her down as she looked a little close to the lights, after looking more closely there's been some significant growth. Now I've measured & remeasured, the first pics in the thread was taken at 9:30 am yesterday the one below at 6:00pm this evening. In 32.5 hours she's grown 3 inches? Now 16 inches soil to tip.

As my growbox is little more than a "box" I've no way of controlling the environment, lights providing the only source of heat, temps fluctuating from 18 - 27 degrees C. The weather has improved & the temps are little more stable in the box. Beginning to think I should have grown that Berry Ryder first :smoke:

Cheers

MK

 

[Trapper]

She's taking off into her stretch.... But it's one of the best problems to have.

 

[monkeykicker]

She's taking off into her stretch.... But it's one of the best problems to have.

I think I seriously underestimated the growth rate of Autos, she meant to top out at 50-90cm. TBH I can't currently accommodate the upper end of that scale. I've kept her in what I consider a modest pot. However I'm sorely tempted to keep to the nutes only regime.

MK

 

[Trapper]

I was in the same two boats....

Didn't plan for the high scale of the size...had to cut a hole in the shelf the pot was resting on and lower the pot to the "garage level" AND had to FIM the top to arrest vertical growth.

As to nutes every feed....did that too, thought to myself "Hey, I'm running low concentrations so it should be okay" Led to nute build-up in the soil, salt build-up and pH issues.

15% Run-off and "every other feeding" method are important for reasons that have nothing to do with what the plant can handle...it's also a soil maintenance issue. Plus the cumulative
effect can take 3 or 4 feedings to become apparent and the solution sometimes sets you back a couple steps while you're correcting.