Becca Takes A Big SIP

[BeccaBuds]

The Forbidden Fruit is turning into a little bush. It's indica genetics are showing strongly.

 

[BeccaBuds]

I don't like the look of the brown necrotic leaf tips, and I believe it to be caused by built up salts in the soil. To remedy the problem I removed the foil and res and flushed the planter with lots of water until it ran clear, then gave it a drink of Jones Juice kelp tea. She's perked up and looks better. While I was flushing I saw a root running all the way to the bottom of the cone already.

Edited to add: Sprinkled some more Mosquito Bits atop the soil. Mixed some tap water, General Hydroponics MaxiGro (277mg) and 4 drops of pH Down to make a 1/2 strength, 500mL of nutrient solution that measured 1.11mS EC (780 ppm TDS) at 6.2 pH. Poured 200mL into the Mini-SIP res, and it will get the rest as needed.

 

[BeccaBuds]

Big-SIP is filling back in. Res is empty but soil surface is still damp so no worries. It doesn't need a lot of water until it fills back in. The Forbidden Fruit is a lovely plant. I like the tight structure. The leaf edges are still curling up a little, maybe the wetter conditions in the mini-SIP? Looks very healthy otherwise and growth is in overdrive after yesterdays MaxiGro, which it's still feeding on.

 

[Absorber]

Big-SIP is filling back in. Res is empty but soil surface is still damp so no worries. It doesn't need a lot of water until it fills back in. The Forbidden Fruit is a lovely plant. I like the tight structure. The leaf edges are still curling up a little, maybe the wetter conditions in the mini-SIP? Looks very healthy otherwise and growth is in overdrive after yesterdays MaxiGro, which it's still feeding on.

Looking good

 

[BeccaBuds]

These SIP setups are awesome, @Absorber. Growth is phenomenal, just like hydro. Mini-SIP used almost a 1/2" of water overnight and is at 2.5". At this rate I'll have to mix another 500mL of nutrient solution Thursday. Might as well make a gallon and put it in the fridge, going to need it. The FF is really taking off now. A root has found one of the pinholes and grew through it into the res. I'm sure the root is going to be able to enlarge the hole as needed, so I have a feeling this container may only last one grow.

 

[BeccaBuds]

The Forbidden Fruit really grew overnight, and the res is down to 2". It's a small reservoir, but still amazing to see the plant's water use directly right here on my desk. I'm thinking I should chop the mediocre mystery plant and put the FF in the FFOF in the Big-SIP. It won't be long before this little gal has outgrown the Mini-SIP. The exposed root has already doubled in diameter, is following the water down, and will probably turn into a main tap root if I leave it alone.

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[BeccaBuds]

Mini-SIP res is down to1.33" this morning. She is going to get some CalMag Xtra and Purpinator with her Maxi-Gro breakfast. The escaped root has grown all the way to the bottom of the reservoir and is branching where it comes out of the planter. I can see thick roots in the planter now.

 

[BeccaBuds]

Got some initiative and went to the store. Got 3 gallons of purified water from the RO machine out front ($0.50/gallon, cheaper than buying distilled), brought it home to test. I've been meaning to try it for some time. The 1st gallon measured 55 ppm TDS at pH 7.3. Not great for reverse osmosis filtration, but after I pour it through my Brita pitcher with some DI resin in the basket, it came out very pure at 10 ppm and pH 4.5.
Added 5 mL of CalMag Xtra, 1/2 tsp MaxiGro, 7.5mL of Purpinator and 2mL pH Up and a half mL pH Down. The solution measured 1.31mS EC (920 ppm TDS) at pH 6.0. Topped up the Mini-SIP res all the way to the drain hole for the first time. Also nipped off the escaped root before it gets any bigger. It would have taken over the res in no time. Removing the foil cover revealed a tangle of roots already but not real root bound yet.
Gave each of the three Agave 100mL of the solution and dumped the rest into the Big-SIP reservoir, which raised it's level to 2-3/4". The plant has filled back in some and is ready to resume it's plant-beer chugging contest...

 

[BeccaBuds]

Mini-SIP res is at 2.55" today and the BIg-SIP res is at 2.0". Everything is nominal. I can see a few female flowers forming on the mystery seed plant. I see a couple more Forbidden Fruits' roots starting to grow through the holes in the mini-SIP. She is almost due for an up-pot and I think she is going to replace the mystery plant. I am more interested in growing out the Forbidden Fruit.

 

[BeccaBuds]

Mini-SIP & Big-SIP reservoirs are both around 1-5/8" today. Finding a few fungus gnats in both planters. I thought this method may be prone to them, but the benefits outweigh dealing with the little monsters. Tossed more Mosquito Bits in both res, and sprinkled more atop the soil, but I think I need to get a fresh container. I've had this one for a couple years so all the BTI may be dead, and it's almost empty anyway. Yellow sticky traps are deployed as well.

 

[BeccaBuds]

Mini-SIP res was all but empty this morning. Mixed another gallon of nutrient solution. The water checked in at 10ppm TDS & pH 4.5 after post-filtration. I added 5mL CalMag Xtra, 1/2tsp MaxiGro, 10mL Purpinator and 2mL pH Up. The solution measured 1.39mS ec, 975ppm TDS & pH 6.3. Mini-SIP res was refilled with around 500mL and level is 3-5/8". Big-SIP res is at 1-1/4" today.

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[StoneOtter]

Stellar work Becca! What are your plans for the mini SIP? Is it the final container?

 

[BeccaBuds]

I'm thinking of chopping the mystery seed plant and potting the FF in the big-SIP, @StoneOtter. Kind of playing it by ear.
The mini-SIP res dropped to 2.9" overnight. Trimmed the 1st node branches and leaves, and the 2nd node branches only. The 2nd node branches were becoming huge and dominating.

 

[BeccaBuds]

Topped up (to 3.6") the mini-SIP reservoir last night and this morning it was down to Pi (3.14") already. She's a thirsty girl. Growth seems to have slowed some, probably because it's root bound. Today I moved the trays under the Agaves to make more room in the cacti tent and will move the Forbidden Fruit under the cacti light as it's getting too big for my desk now. The big-SIP plant is showing a few flowers now and the res is down to 7/8". It's a shame to cut it down now but the FF genetics just look way superior. The MS was always stretchy and stemmy like hemp...

 

[BeccaBuds]

The Forbidden Fruit likes her new digs. She was getting crowded and the desk lamp wasn't providing enough light. Topped up the mini-res, probably have to every day now under the grow light. It only holds 500mL. Still a 1/4" or so in the big-SIP res so I'm letting it breath.
So now I'm thinking, hmm, I could just grow out the FF in the mini-SIP... lookit what @Cola Monster has accomplished in 16oz cups! Then I could grow out the stringy MS as well. Why not? I have 4 more FF seeds to play with.