Winter/Spring 2024 Grow - Featuring 2 Breeders - Dino's Party & 3Thirteen

[ExNavyInSTL]

Winter/Spring 2024 Grow

I will feature 5 plants from 2 different breeders in this grow journal.

Dino Party:
Dino Party

(1) MooMoo DooDoo
(2) Nyx: Bringer of Sleep and Death
(3) Chopper Sic Balls

Breeder: 3Thirteen:
3thirteen Seeds :: Breeder Info & Cannabis Strains

(4) Rhubarb S1 (S is breeder talk for breeding a back cross with itself)\
(5) Grease's Pieces

Note: I used a link to Seedfinder because I can't find a direct link to his website. It seems he uses a specific distributor, and I am unsure if they sponsor this website.

Germination Day

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Media of Choice:

Floraflex® LooseFill Coco (50L) Bag | 70/30 Blend

• 50L
• Same Certified Organic Coco blend used in QuickFill™
• Slightly compressed
• Easy to break apart
• Can be used with all PotPro™ Pots
• 6x Washed
• Less than 0.6 EC

I did not buffer, but my homemade nutrient recipe will suffice.

If I need to do Ca Foliar, so be it.

Note: For 5 x 6-gallon pots, I have used about 3 bags.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Nutrients of Choice:

I make my own nutrients from base salts.

I'll start the babies at around 1.0 - 1.2 E.C.
In Veg I'll run it up to 2.0 - 2.2 E.C.
For Flower, they slower taper down in the final weeks to 1.8

This grow will not not feature any side products like Recharge. I will run them solely on my nutrient blend and include a surfactant to help with absorption.

Below is the recipe I came up with after a lot of research. If anyone wants to know more about how I got to this final recipe, ask here.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

All 5 sprouted and are now in the coco solo cups.

They were buried today. Hopefully, I'll see some hard chargers in the AM.

The first, and now 2nd, batch of nutrients is slowly taking up into AutoPots.

Batch 1 started with 1.6 EC / 5.8 pH, and once that was absorbed. I upped it to 1.7 EC / 5.8 pH.

I like pre-loading my nutrients into the big pots while they are still in the cups.

It might be 3 weeks before I move from the Solo Cups.

Usually, everything is just right for a transfer.

Plus, both solo cups have holes, so my hand watering will end up underneath as well.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

This is going to be a voice to text message, so please excuse any awkward, phrasing or spellings.

Something really bad has happened. I think I poisoned all five of my plants they’re all dead.

I did something different this time, and I regret it. Since I didn’t pre buffer this Coco, I decided to wet the solo cup with what I thought was low-dose Cal/Mag.

One other thing I did for the first time was I used RO water with a little dissolved kelp for the first wetting of the seed once under the coco. however I can’t see how that could be harmful in anyway especially when I used a syringe and a very controlled amount to lightly wet the little area around the lightly covered seed.

It’s my fault I didn’t use it EC meter. Three of the plants did break ground, but then stopped any forward growth.

My problem with this is I’m up against the tide clock because I’m going on a cruise at the end of April.

based on this calculator if I can get them above ground by the 10th, I’ll have 110 days.

That’s basically 15 weeks which should be fine. I’m only going to be away from the plants for seven days so it would be perfect to chop and let them dry while I’m gone. Won’t be able to change humidity water.

I think if I veg for only three weeks, and then flip, I could have them cut and dried, and in their curing bags before I leave. I’ll have a house/dog sitter, but I don’t wanna put any plant responsibilities on him.

Needless to say, this journal is going to be quiet for a few days while I wait to see if I can pop five more of the same plants.

There is some good news. I had my nose surgery today so hopefully in a month I’ll be able to smell Turpines.

I’m always a little embarrassed when people see my Grow Journals then ask what it smells like in the tent, and I can’t give an answer because I can’t smell.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

After 24 hours soaking, some of the seeds started to show tails. So I decided to go straight to Coco.

This time I kept it really simple.

I mixed it a little recharge and some amino acids in with the dry cocoa/perlite and only used distilled water to wet it.

As I poured the water through the coco, I noticed that a lot of the black parts of recharge (kelp & humic) were running out the bottom, so I moved everything into a bucket and let it sit there for a few minutes.

That way the Coco had time to absorb more of the goodies in recharge.

i’ve got the tent running at about 80° and I’ve tried to push the tint to get to 65% humidity. They also have little clear domes covering where the seed should come up to help hold in some of the moisture.

now, I’ve just gotta let them be and only open the tent (over the next couple of days) to add water to the humidifier and check to see if I need to spritz the Coco surface.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Still Dealing with My Surgery Recovery

This explains the lack of new info: A lot of Failure to Report

Here is from Jan 6.

I’m still lying up in bed, using my voice to text.

Even so, my wife is bringing the magic marker & five storage bags—time to get started on the redo.

This time, I’m gonna go back to keeping it simple. Part of me wants to start the seed in the cup but I want the feel good you get from seeing the little tail first.

As for flipping it two weeks, I had read that quite a few people are successful this way because the plant continues to veg for three weeks into the 12/12 light cycle. I agree with you that it is too early for a maximum harvest.

Having said all of this, if I have 15 weeks that still gives me four weeks of veg and 11 possible weeks of flower If needed.

Plus I’ll have four weeks to the day before I leave for my trip. It would be even better if I could get by with four weeks of veg 9 to 10 weeks of flower, and a week for drying. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a nine-week flower.

My wife will take care of the humidifier water, and I have a 20-gallon reservoir. Plus, I’ll make up five or so gallons in individual jugs of proper pH nutrients. I have 3 gallons of jugs, but I don’t wanna have her lifting those as high as the top of my reservoir is.

It will actually work out doing it the traditional way.

To add a little safety, I may germinate two of each seed to better my chances that I can do all five now that I’m up against the wall with time. It hurts me to waste two seeds. Just like I hate culling from a few small plants to take the strongest and having to get rid of the others. I guess I’m just emotional that way. LOL

I’m going to germinate the way Ed Rosenthal says to do for the seed soak. His way is simple you use tapwater sprouting solution and half a percent of hydrogen peroxide (3%). I don’t have a rooting solution. But I will compensate by putting a little bit of a kelp water mixture in the area where the seed will sprout, and nothing but water goes into the little solo cup with its coco/pearlite mixture … until it’s time to start giving a low dose of nutrients. I’ll let the cotyledons do their job for the first week.

The odd thing about Ed’s way is he says germinate at 72°. I was always under the impression that they liked the little bit warmer this time.

I’ve done this so many times without any problems. My problem is when I try to shoot from the hip with a (supposedly) better new idea.

My math, for the soaking solution looks like this:

30 ml (H2O) x 0.5%(3% H2O2) = 0.15 ml (H2O2).

I keep one milliliter syringes around, so it’ll be an easy measurement.

Onward and upward.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Back to the current garden (Jan 7, 2024)


After 24 hours of soaking, some of the seeds started to show tails. So I decided to go straight to Coco.

This time I kept it really simple.

I mixed it a little recharge and some amino acids in with the dry cocoa/perlite and only used distilled water to wet it.

As I poured the water through the coco, I noticed that a lot of the black parts of recharge (kelp & humic) were running out the bottom, so I moved everything into a bucket and let it sit there for a few minutes.

That way the Coco had time to absorb more of the goodies in recharge.

I’ve got the tent running at about 80°, and I’ve tried to push the tint to get to 65% humidity. They also have little clear domes covering where the seed should come up to help hold in some of the moisture.

Now, I’ve just gotta let them be and only open the tent (over the next couple of days) to add water to the humidifier and check to see if I need to spritz the Coco surface.

Get Ready to Disreard Everything I said Above ... Impending Doom is Rounding the Corner

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Alright, this grow is starting to give me a complex.

This is Day 4, and nothing is trying to break the soil surface.

Recap: The seeds were soaked for 24 hours in shot glasses. Some showed shell separation within a day.

They were then planted into solo cups with coco, perlite that had been soaked with water with some Recharge, and some enzymes and amino acids (very small ratio).

The only visual difference was that the coco was pretty dark from the Humic Acid portion of Recharge.

It is strange that not one of 5 different strains isn't at least lifting the coco some by now.

You all know I am up against hard deadlines when harvesting this crop.

I am tempted to start a 3rd grow into plain coco/perlite that has only water in it—no enhancers of any kind.

I feel like the guy sitting on the side of the bed with his head down in shame, saying, "This has never happened to me before."

Am I paranoid, or should pre-soaked seed planted directly into damp coco show some life by the 4th day?

It's Gets Worse ...

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Update: Not Good (Thursday - Jan 11, 24)

This morning I decided to dig around in the coco. I couldn’t even find a seed, much less a tail or elbow.

So, I’m starting a third round. This time I gave them a light scuff with my wife’s Emory board.

Then dropped them into little glasses with tap water with a hint of H2O2.

I have an Igloo cooler that is rigged out with heat mats. This is what I use for spawning mycelium on grain.

It’s set to 80 degrees and well insulated. Tonight, I’ll transfer to tried and true moist paper towels.

What is the minimum length that you allow for the tails?

My logic regarding flower/harvest timing has relaxed. I was thinking that if I have to leave them for the last week of flower it’s no big deal. By then, they won’t need a humidifier, and my reservoir is 18 gallons. They can auto-pilot for a week on 12/12 and light nutrients.

I‘m pretty good with keeping good moisture conditions. I pre-wet the solo cups a day before and then on planting day fluff up the top 2 inches. I never worry about drowning the seed. I lightly cover the seed, sometimes with the seed shells exposed and only the tail buried.

This Is now WAR!

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Recap: This is now the 3rd Attempt at getting Sprouts
(Yesterday)
Some good news

I left these five seeds for 24 hours in the soak.

All five seeds had some form of tail poking out. Nothing was an eighth of an inch or more, but there was evidence on all five.

I went ahead and moved them into baggies with wet paper towels. I’ll check them this evening after 12 hours just to see if they took off in the change of environment.

After that, I went upstairs and removed about an inch or so of the Coco from the solo cups. I usually leave plenty of room in case some of them get lanky.

I added in some new untouched Coco and stirred it into dilute anything that might be part of the problem. Although I don’t think that coco is causing problems.

I made up a pint of RO water with a hint of Tribus & Rhizotonic. I was surprised that I had to dilute down 0.5 E.C. It was also trace amounts of kelp in there and all of these things have an EC that adds up.

I’m not worried about nutrients per se while they feast upon cotyledon. I also stabilize the pH at 6.0.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Today - Sat - Jan 13, 24

Mostly Great News:

4 of 5 Tails were at least 1/2" this AM and are now in the coco cups.

The only holdout was Chopper Sic Balls (Dino). She was only about 1/4".
I'm giving her more time to grow in the hot box in her damp paper towel.

None of this means anything until I get sprouts up above the soil.

---

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Officially Day 1

I was beginning to believe this day would never come. But here we are - Day 1.

MooMoo DooDoo leads the pack, and Grease's Pieces is in second place.

Chopper Sic Balls is lagging, and it could get worse. I dropped the seed (with tail) twice before getting it into the Solo Cup.

An AutoFlower (TBD) will go in this slot if she doesn't make it.

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[ExNavyInSTL]

Day 1 - Environmental Conditions

Considering the current weather conditions and that my Tent is in the garage (slightly climate-controlled) ... these are decent tent environmental numbers.

Weather Right Now

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Inside the Tent Right Now

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Inside the Tent Last 24 Hours

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

I would like to request the moderators delete this thread.

This ”Grow” has officially ended!

I woke up this morning to another disaster.

The only plant that looks like it has a chance to survive is MooMoo DooDoo. I say that because it’s the only plant so far that’s made it to 1 inch tall. We’ll see what happens when that plant realizes it’s growing in a graveyard.

The only thing different is the fact that I used Flora Flex Coco. I am by no means blaming that difference. I did a slurry test and the pH was around 6.0 and the EC was .3 which is what they advertise I think due to the buffering.

Nonetheless, three strikes and you’re out.

Again, moderators, please delete this thread.

I have to think this is God‘s way of telling me to take a break. I’ve been growing nonstop for more than two years and I just finally hit the wall.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Disregard the Above Post ...

There is life, after all:

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Week 1 is Complete: Part 1 of 2
Rhubarb S1 (3Thirteen Genetics)
Day 3:

Day 5:

Day 7:

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Grease's Pieces (3Thirteen Genetics):

Day 5

Day 7

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Week 1 Complete for Dino's Party:
MooMoo DooDoo
(Dino's Party Genetics)

Day 3:

Day 5:

Day 7:

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Nyx: Bringer of Sleep and Death
(Dino's Party Genetics)

Day 3:

Day 5:

Day 7:

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Day 10

You know this phase of the grow not much is happening. But my two little guys seem to be on the move now.

They all are now getting a small syringe full of 1.8 EC. Not a whole lot just enough to keep the cup damp.

 

[ExNavyInSTL]

Day 11 - Continuing As Usual

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Day 11 Progress

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[ExNavyInSTL]

Day 13