PC Grow #2: Blueberry

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Heya everyone!

Just completed grow #1 in the PC case and am starting #2. I made a lot of changes to the box during the first grow and am finally happy with it now to finally leave it. Lets get into the details!

What strain is it: Blueberry
Genetic: Indica Dominant
Grow space: 0.83 sq/ft (7" x 17" x 7")
Medium: DWC
Light: 52W
Type of nutes: M-G-B series + calmag


SETUP

ENCLOSURE
I used an old PC case for the grow. Something I picked up awhile ago on our local classifieds for $20. I gutted it all out and used duct tape to seal all the holes and walls. The walls are lined with white boards and white duct tape.


LIGHTS
- 8x 6.5W LED strip
- 3000k, 85CRI, 24VDC

I used a bunch of 3000K 24vdc LED strips from some shop lights I had sitting around. They are mounted on a small metal plate with an exhaust fan above to disperse light heat. I initially had around 100W but was starting to get hot and the last plant was foxtailing. The space is 0.83sq/ft and I left 52W in, still plentiful for the small space.


VENTILATION
- 80x80mm pc fan for intake, 12VDC
- 120x120mm pc fan for light exhaust, 12VDC
- 120x120mm pc fan for exhaust with carbon filters, 12VDC
- Activated carbon sheets

I am using one fan to disperse heat from the lights, one for exhaust with activated carbon sheets taped to it to mask smell and one for an intake. The carbon sheets held up pretty good until the last couple weeks of flower when I was forced to move it in the garage...It is currently snowing here so it ain't warm! That's what the thermostat is for, I have it wired to one outlet to plug a heater in, infront of the intake fan. The plan is to veg in my room and flower in the garage.

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Germination Week

Germinated: Nov. 11

Started germination with the paper towel method in a ziploc bag. Took a couple days to crack open, I then planted her in a diy netpot with aquarium rocks/perlite. Took a day to pop up and another day to shed the helmet.


WATER
- Used tap water for germination
- pH to 6.8
- For the remainder of the grow we will use RO water, calmag and M-G-B.


ENVIRONMENT
Room Temp: 23.5 °C
Humidity: 90-100% in bag?

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 1 Veg

Lowered the res water level so it was no loner touching the netpot as some roots were popping out. Filled it with RO water, 150ppm calmag and M-G-B until 350ppm, pH 5.9. She's slowly starting to take off.


Room Temp: 24 °C
Humidity: 75%
pH: 5.9
Water temp: 19°C
ppm/EC: 350/0.7

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 2 Veg

Start of week 2 veg and things are looking good so far, both leaves and roots are growing well.

Room Temp: 26 °C
Humidity: 70%
pH: 5.9
Water temp: 19°C
ppm/EC: 350/0.7

 

[robert63]

Your sprout looks healthy, good luck with the grow.

 

[VetSmoke85]

That's a cool little box. I grow in small stealth setups too but not that small. How did you get on with your first grow?

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Your sprout looks healthy, good luck with the grow.

Thank you! Looking forward to it.

That's a cool little box. I grow in small stealth setups too but not that small. How did you get on with your first grow?

First grow was fun and challenging! Started with two plants and overgrew the space and ended up throwing one out. I also started with wayyy too much light at 100W in 0.83 sq/ft and was hot at the canopy. Plant started to foxtail and the box started to get hot. Was super happy with the end result for such a small grow, yielding 23g in a pc.

 

[VetSmoke85]

Love it. I'm a fan of little plants in little spaces. It's a challenge.

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Start of Week 3 Veg

Start of week three veg, we have some growth but also some problems! The RH has been super low here being winter, with the average of 30% in the house. I have been using a large ziploc bag with holes over the plant about half the day to try and keep humidity up while lights are on. I have noticed the lower leaves have started to dry up and crumble, top of the plant is starting to turn yellow a little. Not happy about something.

I didn't use RO water this res change but used tap water... My tap water is 200ppm and ph 7.5. After mixing nutes I ended up 600ppm and pH 5.9. Not sure if I am underfeeding or...? Still new to hydro.


ENVIRONMENT
Room Temp: 25 °C
Humidity: 30-70%
Water Temp: 19.3 °C
pH: 5.9

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Start of Week 4 Veg

Things are starting to look better, topped last week and is recovering nicely. Plant is both taking up nutrients and water, res has been dropping from 600 to 500ppm every couple days. The plan is to use these four main branches and LST two to each side of the PC case. I will create some small holes in the white boards to use for LST. Still getting used to hydro, I always seem to mess up in the veg stage. I will be purchasing a new pH pen shortly as I have been having troubles with my current one.

Res dropped from 600ppm to 450-500ppm. Topped back up with some more water w/nutes. I added a humidifier in front of intake fan to help with low RH.


ENVIRONMENT
Room Temp: 24 °C
Humidity: 45%
Water Temp: 19.3 °C
pH: 5.9

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 5 Vegetation

I found out my pH pen was acting up on me causing another lockout, the pH was 7.5. This caused growth to become twisty and looked like it was eating the leaves away. Once I switched the water all new growth has come in nicely. Hopefully she starts to pick up again soon. I added elastics last week to help with LST, when the branches are long enough I will use those to pull them down.

12/16/2020
- ppm: 600, pH: 5.8
- New growth looking better since fixing pH

12/17/2020
- ppm: 600, pH: 5.8
- Topped up res

12/18/2020
- ppm: 650, pH: 5.8

12/19/2020
- ppm: 600, pH: 5.8
- Topped up res

12/20/2020
- No change.

12/21/2020
- pH dropped to 5, ppm rose to 800.
- Replaced water at ph 5.8 and 600ppm

12/22/2020
- ph: 6, ppm: 600

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 6 Vegetation

Been using some elastics to help with LST and going well so far. Hoping to get all four branches close to the edge of the case before flipping and then let it grow vertically.

12/23/2020
- About to flip once she's a little bigger, moved the pc case into the garage and will continue veg in there to make sure things so smooth.
- Ran out of pH grow, store didn't have any so opted for GHE Gro

12/24/2020
- Topped up res
- pH: 6.0 ppm: 650
- New temp is sitting around 26-27C
- New water temp is about 55-58F

 

[ZeroTolerance]

Those roots look super healthy!

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Those roots look super healthy!

Thanks for stopping by and checking it out! They do! Remind me of spaghetti noodles haha

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 1 Flower

Flipped the lights to 12/12 to start flowering, we will see how much she stretches. This week I will continue veg nutes and then switch to bloom for flower next week. Come flower time I use M-G-B with a 12 ratio and have always had good results. Been monitoring ppm and pH daily to ensure the plant is getting what it needs. Hoping to see some colours with this strain with the colder temperatures.

12/30/2020
- no change

12/31/2020
- Overfeeding a little I believe, when the res was low pH rose a little along with ppm.
- Pretty low so filled up 650ppm, 5.9 pH

01/01/2021
- Topped up res again, final ppm 650, pH 6.0

01/02/2021
- Topped up res again, final ppm 650, pH 6.0

01/03/2021
- No change

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

Week 2 Flower

The stretch has begun and is showing lots of growth and is drinking lots of water. I have been slightly overfeeding though, I notice pH rising along with ppm and slight burn on the tips.

01/06/2021
- pH rose to 6.1 and ppm to 1000. Added 5.9 pH water for total of 6.0pH & 850ppm

01/07/2021
- No change

01/08/2021
- Refilled res

01/09/2021
- No change

01/10/2021
- Topped up reservoir
- Did a heavy defol for flower

01/11/2020
- Res was empty, refilled 700ppm and 6.0pH

01/12/2020
- No change



ENVIRONMENT
Room Temp: 22 °C
Humidity: 50%
ph: 5.9
ppm: 750
Water temp: 17 °C

 

[Paul Squiggle]

I'm well impressed with your work. Nice one

 

[CheckThoseTrichs]

I'm well impressed with your work. Nice one

Thank you very much ! Thanks for stopping by and checking it out, always a fun little project with this little box.

 

[Paul Squiggle]

Your welcome. Nicely trained plants also. I still can't get the hang of training.
Mine are always deformed by the end