420 Magazine's Official Girl Scout Cookies Comparative Grow By Brett Blaze

[Brett Blaze]

Yes. I feel in a 2 x 4 that two plants is the max for a Hydro type medium. My last grow was in a 4 x 4 DWC with two plants and it was way too full.

I hate to cull but not much else I can do.

---------Edit----------

Never mind I just read your edit.

 

[HashGirl]

There's a real good thread on Quadlining.

The Quadsquad Thread: A Community For Quadlining

As quadlining has become bigger and bigger on these forums I have seen that anyone interested in it has been able to receive the help they need on their own journals. Recently I have decided that it would be really fun to have a quadlining thread where people can come together and share their...

www.420magazine.com

Thanks. I already have that link bookmarked. There are so many threads to read in order to learn. I just thought it would be easier to watch here since I'm following your grow already.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Stage - Veg Day 12 - 26 days above ground

Good Morning Fellow Growers

Today is the day I topped the plants to prepare for Quadlining. For those who are not familiar with the technique I listed a good thread four posts above this one. Since I was unmedicated during the cropping process I will take a moment to prepare for the write up.
Ok Ready!

What is Quadlining?

When we discuss quadlining we are referring to a specific technique for topping and training your plants in a way that can increase your total yield versus letting the plant grow naturally. I started topping my plants back in the late 80's. Since there was no internet at the time, I probably read about it in another Cannabis Mag that I won't mention here. Since then I have always topped my plants and usually top them twice. Every time you top the main branch the two branches at that node will start to grow to become the main branches. I think we all have done this at one time or another so I won't elaborate here. Quadlining is not really much different. You are topping the main branch above the 4th node while removing the 2 lowest sets of nonproductive branches leaving you with four main branches.

Without searching online for a lengthy definition, the purpose of quadlining is to produce 4 main branches vs. the one main branch that comes when grown naturally. In order to produce the four branches you must cut off the branches below and above the 3rd and 4th nodes. Removing these lower and upper branches forces the plant to focus all it's energy to the remaining branches (3 and 4)

1. First locate the 1st two nodes. The first node is where the first set of "serrated" leaves starts to produce branches at the base of the leaf and main stem. These branches are too low and won't get enough light to produce decent flowers and should be removed anyway.

Note: My plants have really tight short nodes. Plus I should have topped them earlier. The best time to top for quadlining is when you have a defined 6th node. I had 8 nodes. The seeds from @Weed Seeds Express grew much faster than I anticipated. I prefer more nodal spacing than what I ended up with but when they were in seedling stage I moved them from the low LED desk lighting to the tent LED lighting a little early. The Demon LED by @Budget LED can be reduced to 30 watts but I had the lights too close a little too intense in the early stages causing short and tight nodes. If I had to choose though I would prefer shorter nodes to longer nodes. The amount of light and distance of the light to the plant will affect the length of your nodes especially in the seedling early Veg stage. There is an advantage of a shorter node though as they will produce thicker base branches to help support the weight of the colas later in the flowering stage.

This is plant 2. I mentioned when I transplanted both plants I almost went with #3 because of better nodal spacing. As you can see it's a mess under here and hard to even see the node branches.

This picture shows node and branch location. Carefully remove the lower two leaves and branches with a sharp sterile pruning shear. Then cut the top main branch above the 4th set of leaves and branches. Keep the branch and fan leaves of 3rd and 4th node. When cutting the top branch do not cut too close to the 4th node. Leave a stub as this will help reduce chances of infection.

They will look pretty ugly when you get done so don't freak out. In a couple of days you won't recognize it.

That's all that's required for now. Next step will be training.

Here are #3 and 4. Still looking good. This will be the first time I am attempting quadlining so I'm a little cautious. It's one reason plants 3 and 4 are still around.

After all the cropping both 1 and 2 received 17 oz (500 ml) of solution. 3 and 4 received 5 oz (150 ml) each. Runoff for 1 and 2 from yesterday was around 950 ppms (95 above solution input of 855 ppms)

Have a great and green weekend.

 

[Azimuth]

Wouldn't there be a near term advantage to leaving the fan leaves from the lower branches for a bit to provide extra sunlight energy to the plant?

 

[VetSmoke85]

Looking great. Nice job describing the quadlining technique. Looking forward to seeing you spread them out next.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Wouldn't there be a near term advantage to leaving the fan leaves from the lower branches for a bit to provide extra sunlight energy to the plant?

Not from what I read. As I mentioned this is my first attempt. In two days the new fan leaves will be have grown large enough. The lower fan leaves were small and probably take energy away from the 4 branches that you want to focus on.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Looking great. Nice job describing the quadlining technique. Looking forward to seeing you spread them out next.

Thanks Vet. As fast as this plant is growing it may just be a few days before I start training as long as they recoup from the cropping trauma quickly.

 

[VetSmoke85]

Thanks Vet. As fast as this plant is growing it may just be a few days before I start training as long as they recoup from the cropping trauma quickly.

They won't skip a beat I'm sure.

 

[Azimuth]

Not from what I read. As I mentioned this is my first attempt. In two days the new fan leaves will be have grown large enough. The lower fan leaves were small and probably take energy away from the 4 branches that you want to focus on.

Ok. That makes sense.

Everything I've read on the topic says to take them off, but I've always wondered.

I'm going to go to school on you and what you learn. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Here is a pic 3 hours later. Lights go out in 15 minutes.

 

[DonkeyDick]

That’s textbook stuff on clipping your plant to prepare for a quadline. Nicely done.
All I can add is that I find taking the tip speeds up all the branches, so I’ll tip first. Then when the lower 4 that got cut, when they have a couple of nodes each of their own they make tidy little clones.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Quick pic after 12 hours.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Stage - Veg Day 13 - 1 Day since topping - 27 days above ground

Happy Sunday Growers

Not much since yesterday. Both look healthy after a transplant and cropping over the last few days. I'm not watering/feeding this morning as they both are producing a lot of runoff from the last two waterings.

Reading from last night.

I made a stronger @Prescription Blend Nutrient Solution mix last night. I increased the solution from 500 ppms to 720 ppms to allow some acclimation for when I go to 1000 ppms on Tuesday. The Cal-Mag and Terpinator amounts remained the same at the minimum recommended. Total ppm for the solution is 1075 ppms (220 ppm increase) with a Ph of 6.0

# 1 received 17 oz. (500 ml). 120 ml of runoff (24%) Runoff readings were 935 ppm.

# 2 received 17 oz. (500 ml). 105 ml of runoff (21%) Runoff readings were 1015 ppm

Todays Photos:

Enjoy your Sunday.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Stage - Veg Day 14 - 2 Days since topping - 28 days above ground

Good Morning

Today's temperatures will reach 99° F (37° C) with Rh going to 6%.

Tent Climate: 77° F (25° C) with Rh at 67%

Tent Room Climate: 72° F (22°C) with Rh at 54%

Current Outside Temperature at 10:00: 89° F (32° C) Rh 15%

Plants are coming along well after the slight slow down due to the transplant and cropping. The color is looking really good. Slight drooping possibly due to either from the shock or over watering. Lights have been on for 15 hrs. at this point.

The 4th node branches will be starting their training tonight to let more light to the 3rd node.

Readings from last night's watering:

Total ppm for the solution is 1075 ppm with a Ph of 6.2

# 1 received 20 oz. (600 ml). 130 ml of runoff (22%) A little high. Runoff readings were 1013 ppm. (slightly low due to high runoff)

# 2 received 20 oz. (600 ml). 140 ml of runoff (23%) A little high. Runoff readings were 1045 ppm. (slightly low due to high runoff)

Only one watering over the last 24 hrs. which seems about right at this stage. Tonight amounts will be reduced by 50 ml.

Todays Photos:

Happy growing and have a great week.

 

[Brett Blaze]

First Training.

For the quadline training I am carefully pulling down on all 4 branches to get each to grow almost horizontal.

 

[Mdlroad]

First Training.

For the quadline training I am carefully pulling down on all 4 branches to get each to grow almost horizontal.

I'm paying attention. My next grow gonna try photo periods. Interested to watch this develope.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Stage - Veg Day 15 - 3 Days since topping - 29 days above ground

Good Morning

Today's temperatures will reach 100° F (38° C) with Rh going to 8%.

Tent Climate: 76° F (24° C) with Rh at 66%

Tent Room Climate: 73° F (23°C) with Rh at 50%

Current Outside Temperature at 10:00: 96° F (36° C) Rh 16%

I changed to metal landscape stakes instead of the ties. The plants grew about an inch overnight making the stakes easier to use.

I mixed a new batch of @Prescription Blend nutrients this morning with full Veg strength. Nute ppm is 950. Cal-Mag stayed the same. Terpinator was increased to 7 ml per gallon. Total ppm with tap water and mix is 1400 ppm. Ph 6.0

Readings from last night's watering:

Total ppm for the solution is 1075 ppm with a Ph of 6.2

# 1 received 18.5 oz. (550 ml). 45 ml of runoff (8%). Runoff was real low and contained coco spilt from the LST last night. No readings were available.

# 2 received 18.5 oz. (550 ml). 60 ml of runoff (10%) Runoff was real low and contained coco spilt from the LST last night. No readings were available.

I added an additional 600 ml of new solution to both this morning.

#3 and #4 are still thriving and received a haircut this morning. Removed nodes 1 and 2 and topped above node 5. These (if kept) will not be quadlined. Right now not sure what to do with them except keep incase disaster strikes #1 or #2.

Todays Photos:

 

[Modest Grower]

Awesome work! I skipped ahead to see how things are doing but will do some catch up. Love the training plan can't wait to see them at the end!

 

[Brett Blaze]

Evening Update:

Less than 9 hours after I pinned them down they have already grown to where you can't see the stakes I used.

 

[Brett Blaze]

Stage - Veg Day 16 - 4 Days since topping - 30 days above ground

Good Morning

Today's temperatures will reach 100° F (38° C) with Rh going to 8%.

Tent Climate: 77° F (25° C) with Rh at 69%

Tent Room Climate: 73° F (23°C) with Rh at 62%

Current Outside Temperature at 9:00: 91° F (33° C) Rh 17%

Nice growth over the last 24 hrs. I moved the stakes more towards the ends of each branch on #2. There was a little bit if damage to #2s 4th node branch at the stem from yesterday's LST (not very Low). It did not show in yesterday's photos.

Note: When training be very careful not to put too much downward pressure at first and allow for some additional main stem growth to avoid damaging the stems.

Readings from this morning's watering:

Total ppm for the solution is 1385 ppm with a Ph of 6.3

# 1 received 20 oz. (600 ml). 145 ml of runoff (24%). Runoff was 915 ppm.

# 2 received 20 oz. (600 ml). 120 ml of runoff (20%) Runoff was 870 ppm.

Todays Photos:

You can see the tear in this close up. Unfortunately I made it a little worse when moving the stake outward. I eased the downward pressure so the tear would close a little. This will heal but I will need to keep an eye on it.

Have a great growing day.