First Grow Deadhead OG DWC Hydro Setup

[candycane]

This is my first grow ever and I am currently on day 24. I planted the Feminized Deadhead OG seeds x 3 on 5-5-19 then planted a 4th of the same on 5-7-19.
I germinated them in rapid rooters that were soaked in ph distilled water in a humidity dome.
They all broke surface within 3 days of planting.
Once the roots poked thru the bottom of the rapid rooters I put them in a DWC bucket with ph balanced distilled water and added 1ml of hydrogaurd and a medium airstone water line was just high enough to keep rooter moist.
Fast forward
I just bumped them up today to 2 tsp of Flora gro, flora micro, flora bloom, 2ml hydrogaurd and 3 mls of Cal Mag plus. I use distilled water approximately 2.5 gallons in a 5 gallon pot with a large airstone for circulation and ph water after nutes have been added.
I check the Ph in the morning and right before bed and they have been staying pretty steady between 5.8 & 6.3.
I’ve been struggling this past week to keep the humidity up above 50% with my cheapo Walmart humidifier and my temps range from 75-80 degrees which I am also trying to keep cooler. I use on one side for the 3 a Waykme 600 watt full spectrum led light and on the other Deadhead OG (18” above canopy)and Green Crack clone I have a Famurs 1000 watt full spectrum led light (20” above canopy). I have 3 fans blowing one oscillating .
I am currently until I finish my basement room growing in my craft room closet. I have also been using Neem oil as a preventative to pest as I do have 2 dogs and a cat (I don’t let near my grow) but know things can get transferred and stuff happens.
These pics I just posted are from a couple of days ago but will post updated pics tomorrow as they have grown some.

 

[Barney86]

Looks good so far mate. You got a ppm meter? It tells you how strong to make the feed. Makes life a million times easier than guessing it and saves any risk of dramas

 

[candycane]

Looks good so far mate. You got a ppm meter? It tells you how strong to make the feed. Makes life a million times easier than guessing it and saves any risk of dramas

I do have a PPM meter and I am still trying to figure it out. Like for instance I got readings on 5/23/19 #1 (PPM 236) #2 PPM(186) #3PPM (584)
#4 (167)
Then on 5/24/19 #1 (245) #2 (202) #3 (711) #4 (175)
Then 5/27/19 #1 (256) #2 (211) #3 (739) #4 (173)
Which all seems pretty low except #3 which seems crazy high I used all the same water and all the same nutes so just trying to get it dialed in correctly.

 

[bluenoserjoe]

Your plants are looking great there candycane. The humidity will rise quick enough as they put on some greenery. Maybe check the air stone in number three.

 

[Barney86]

Right mate, the meter is telling you how strong the nutes are. 0 being nothing and 1000 being about as strong as you'll ever need.
You watch it from day to day and see what it does.

If the ppm goes up then the plant is absorbing more water than nutes so the mix is getting stronger. In which case you add more water.

If the ppm drops the plant is absorbing more nutes than water so the mix is getting weaker.

If the ppm stays stable then the plant is absorbing nutes and water at the same rate so the mix is staying stable.

Ideally you want it dropping just a little from day to day. Thats the sweet spot where nothing can go wrong . The worst that can happen is a couple leaves go a bit yellow. The pH will behave propperly to so you don't really need to bother about that which saves a lot of pissing about.

The plants are currently too small to effect the ppm though. Takes about 2 weeks for them to root up enough to really make a difference.

Just set the Res to 200ppm at ph5.7 and leave it at that untill the ppm starts to drop or anything other than the 2 tiny first leaves turns yellow. They're supposed to die soon anyway.

Then they need roughly 100ppm for every week of veg once they get going to keep it in the sweet spot.
Some level off around 700, others go upto 1400 now and then. They're all different and different environments effect the evaporation too.
Just keep an eye on it though and adjust it once a week if anything goes out of range.

That's all there is to hydro growing really. Just follow the ppm and add more water if it goes up. Make it stronger if it goes down. Check the pH every few days and adjust back down to 5.7 once it goes over 6.3.
Sit back and watch em grow. Easy

 

[Barney86]

Save about 60% on your nutrient usage if you feed like that too cos you waste next to nothing and the plant is absorbing everything you put in it. have to change the Res a lot less often too cos it stays nice and balanced

 

[candycane]

Save about 60% on your nutrient usage if you feed like that too cos you waste next to nothing and the plant is absorbing everything you put in it. have to change the Res a lot less often too cos it stays nice and balanced

All the info on PPM’s you shared completely cleared EVERYTHING up for me! Thank you so much for all that valuable information, I will definitely use it and apply it. A thousand thanks over

 

[Barney86]

All the info on PPM’s you shared completely cleared EVERYTHING up for me! Thank you so much for all that valuable information, I will definitely use it and apply it. A thousand thanks over

No worries mate. I spent about 2 months scratching my head till someone gave me it without all the jargon.
Too many folk try and over complicate things and it's just not necesary.
Don't worry so much about the low humidity iether, 50 is fine. Not ideal but ain't gonna hurt em. 40 they won't like so much but again, not gonna kill them.
When you get a chance, Google for "VPD Scale Cannabis" it's about how the humidity works in relation to the temperature. That'll give you the understanding of that. It's a bit much to think how to explain but won't take 10 mins to read enough to sort you out. The wee graph that'll pop up is pretty self explanatory. Have a look at that first. The middle line is where you keep it for optimal growth.
I can't screen shot on this phone or id provide but such is life lol.

Oh and never ever ever fucking ever let that cat near your plants. They love them mate. Not sure why. After half melted gardeners they're the next biggest cause of premature death in the cannabis family. Seen many a grower fall victim to their beloved feline devil creatures.

 

[candycane]

No worries mate. I spent about 2 months scratching my head till someone gave me it without all the jargon.
Too many folk try and over complicate things and it's just not necesary.
Don't worry so much about the low humidity iether, 50 is fine. Not ideal but ain't gonna hurt em. 40 they won't like so much but again, not gonna kill them.
When you get a chance, Google for "VPD Scale Cannabis" it's about how the humidity works in relation to the temperature. That'll give you the understanding of that. It's a bit much to think how to explain but won't take 10 mins to read enough to sort you out. The wee graph that'll pop up is pretty self explanatory. Have a look at that first. The middle line is where you keep it for optimal growth.
I can't screen shot on this phone or id provide but such is life lol.

Oh and never ever ever fucking ever let that cat near your plants. They love them mate. Not sure why. After half melted gardeners they're the next biggest cause of premature death in the cannabis family. Seen many a grower fall victim to their beloved feline devil creatures.

Yes exactly on the cats! I already told everyone in the house to keep that door closed at all times and to never let the cat or dogs past that threshold and to wash their hands if they went in there. Thanks for the tips! I will be looking that up straight away. I was literally for 2 months trying to figure everything out before I even started but figured I had enough to at least get started and not kill them and figure out the rest as I went. So much info everywhere it can get a bit overwhelming and your info gave me straight and to the point and was clearly understandable.

 

[Barney86]

Oh and 1 more thing lol. Just while I remember. Use the hydroguard at full strength. It's to keep the Res healthy so that ones best to use as stated on the bottle. Maybe save a little but amongst other things, that's gonna stop any bad shit growing in the Res and giving you grief so don't skimp on it.

 

[candycane]

Oh and 1 more thing lol. Just while I remember. Use the hydroguard at full strength. It's to keep the Res healthy so that ones best to use as stated on the bottle. Maybe save a little but amongst other things, that's gonna stop any bad shit growing in the Res and giving you grief so don't skimp on it.

Yes absolutely! That is the only one I started full strength because of that exact reason thanks again for all your tips and help! Truly appreciated.

 

[candycane]

Day 25 5/29/19
#1 PH 6.15 PPM 288 #2 PH 6.02 PPM 284 #3 PH 6.15 PPM 284 #4 PH 5.91 PPM 284
Humidity 50% Temp 79*F
1tsp Flora Trio, 2mls Hydrogaurd, 3.5mls Cal Mag Plus

 

[candycane]

Not sure what’s going on with the leaves these spots just showed up this morning. Roots are growing and appear to be healthy, no bad smell and are white. I do not see any bugs when inspecting plants with jewelers microscope

Day 28 Temp 77.5*F Humidity 52%
#1 PPM 248 (75.2*F) PH 6.02
#2PPM 281 (73.4*F) PH 6.05
#3 PPM 283 (75.2*F) PH 5.93
#4 PPM 290 (75.2*F) PH 5.74
Lights are still 18” above canopy

 

[candycane]

Have not been on here in a hot minute to show progression but I have a log that I write in everyday. A lot has changed over the past while. On day 30 June 3, 2019 I was changing the bucket water and my hand gave out and I dropped #4 Deadhead OG she did not survive..Day 32 I added a Blue Dream clone I got at TW dispensary and doused her with neem oil. Day 47 (7/20/19) I added Tony Stark clone purchased from SB Dispensary and doused her with neem oil. So the below photos are of June's activity.

 

[candycane]

I added Fruit Loop Clone from RL dispensary I sprayed her down with neem oil. Not a ton to report from July except I made some mistakes and fixed them and learned from them for absolute sure! Finally by July 5 I was able to afford two more lights and went from Just having a 600watt full spectrum led and 1000watt led to having two 1200 watt full spectrum leds and a 1000 watt led that I hung around 18" above the canopy. Oh and on day 62 (7/5/19) I took clones from Blue Dream, Green Crack, and Deadhead OG. Had 10 cuttings in total and 8 made it. I will delve into that in a new journal.
On 7/15/19 day 72 I started decreasing light schedule for flower and started at 16 hours went down an hour each night and by day 77 (7/19/19) the 12/12 switch started. The Fruit Loop clone is in a 7 gallon fabric pot with Happy Frog soil mixed with extra pearlite. The Green Crack, Blue Dream, and Tony Stark are in 5 gallon fabric pots with Happy Frog Soil with extra pearlite.

 

[candycane]

August has been well with tons of growth in all the girls. I did do a bit of pruning on the girls when I started the transition and then again 3 weeks later but left enough on to get them thru flower and actually probably didn't take enough off but this is a first go at this and I am just happy that I have made it this far. The buds are getting fatter and the girls are all sticky including most of their leaves. My pictures do the girls no justice. Speaking of girls on day 7 after 12/12 switch I discovered that my hydro #1 Deadhead OG was a male with balls everywhere I did remedy this but I am not gonna get into details. Sad day but alas the grow goes on!

 

[candycane]

So I will try and keep this caught up until harvest. Today is Late Flower Day 1 (start of week 5 from 12/12 switch) I changed the DWC Hydro buckets that have Deadhead OG #2 and Deadhead OG #3. The nutrients used were as follows in order into 3 gallons of water - Armor Si 1ml/G, Calimagic 2.5ml/G,Flora Trio Micro 2.5ml/G, Bloom 6ml/G, Liquid Kool Bloom 1.5ml/G/ Hydrogaurd 2ml/G.
#2 PPM 580 71.3*F PH 6.0 #3 PPM 589 71.0*F PH 6.1
The photos below were taken last night

 

[candycane]

So I’m pretty upset..I was just looking over my girls real good and noticed what looks like bananas on a couple of the buds.. I am starting week 5 of flower not including the week of transition. I don’t see any balls anywhere the Nana’s just popped up had to be within the last few days.

Not sure what to do at this point ..

 

[candycane]

Sooo last night I did an early harvest on Tony Stark because she decided to grow nanners and I did not want to risk pollinating my girls that appear to be a decent first grow harvest. I am doing exactly what I would have done if he she would have made it to the end. Tony Stark was just over 6 weeks into flower starting from 12/12 switch or 5 weeks first week into late flower not including week of transition. Sad day but handled it and the grow goes on. I read several places to put trim into the freezer until ready to use so that's what I did and I hung to dry the popcorn hermie bud..If this technique could be improved or done differently I will happily appreciate comments and or feedback.

 

[candycane]

These photos were taken tonight and they are 3 days into late flower (week 5 not counting transition week). All of their buds seem to be getting fatter and covered in sticky yumminess! Current environment 73*F 50% Humidity. Still working on decreasing humidity and have put those dehydrating pebble things into the bucket that came with it. I have one on each end of the garden. Crossing my fingers this works out.