KiriaPusti
New Member
This is my first grow. I’m starting this journal (this site is a recent discovery) in my first week of bloom because I’m hoping some kind people will help me from screwing up and guide me the rest of the way to a bountiful harvest.
Warning: Everything I know, I learned on the Internet.
I have six plants growing in a hydroponics set up using three General Hydro PowerGrower pots and three Home Depot buckets. There are two Raspberry Cush, two Sterling Haze, one Black Jack and one unknown strain called “Freebie.” I bought the seeds from Nirvana Seeds in Amsterdam and they threw in a 10-pack of free seeds, which they did not identify. The five-pack BJ was also free.
More about the Strains
The RC, SH and BJ are feminized (not autoflowering). The RC and SH are sativa hybrids and the BJ is a sativa/indica hybrid. As for the Freebie, I like, Schultz, know nothing; it might even be a male, so I’m keeping a close eye on it.
From Nirvana’s site:
SH is a Haze/Northern Light F1 hybrid. Tall but with dense, bright green buds.
Sweet-and-sour taste. Stony yet up high.-
RC is a 70 percent sativa hybrid of a Cambodian landrace and Ice. Clear, up yet calming effects. Highly recommended medical F1 cross. Spicy, very Dutch taste. Plants can be grown closely together for maximum yields
BJ is a Black Domino / Jock Horror hybrid. Hard buds with huge, grape-like calyxes. Exceptionally long-lasting high. Highly thought-of medical marijuana strain. Nirvana stopped selling this strain after I received it. I don’t know why but I hope it’s not a bad sign.
Hydroponics set-up
I started with four GH PowerGrower modules, which included everything you need to get started (clay pebbles, nutes, air pump, drip column). I did the math and they cost about the same as if I bought everything separately. It was an easy way to get going.
I planted four seedlings in rock wool into the clay pebbles. A week later, I planted three more. This is about week two.
Even so, I added the three HD buckets a week later because I already had them. I bought baskets, drip columns, clay pebbles for those. Three weeks in, I yanked one plant (a second Freebie) that was in the PG module, so now I have six plants. Each pot holds about 3 gallons of water.
The six pots are connected by blue ½” vinyl tubing, which runs to a 16-gallon controller bucket. This is where I mix the nutrients, adjust the PH and top off. There is also a submersible pump on a timer in the controller, which pushes the nute solution through the system a couple of times a day. Next to and above the controller bucket on a desk is a 35-gallon reservoir that I use to replenish my water supply. My system is in a walk-out basement and so it's easy to fill the reservoir using my garden hose and to drain the system by running a hose out the door.
I originally ran a hose from the rez to a float valve in the controller bucket. I don't use it and top off manually.
Grow tent, lighting and ventilation
My equipment includes a 4 x 4 foot Vivosun grow tent. I keep the temperature at 68-70 degrees. Humidity is low this time of year. There’s a 4-inch Hurricane intake fan with a 6-inch Phresh carbon filter and a 6-inch Hyper Fan out take fan with a 16-inch Phresh carbon filter that vents to the outside through a casement window. I have a 600w LED. In addition, I have a commercial air pump with 8 outlets. Seven outlets provide air to the drip columns and one provides air to an airstone in my controller bucket.
The filter does a good job of filtering weed smoke. This is about two months from out of the package.
The fans, light and pump are plugged into TP-Link Smart wi-fi plugs and I can control them using the Kasa iOS app.
Nutrient solution and schedule
I use the GH FloraSeries for nutes, and I supplement with Biotonicare Hydroguard for roots and CaliMagic for calcium and magnesium. I just ordered FloraBloom from Amazon, which supposedly aids in flower and bud growth and will add that when it arrives.
I looked at several different nutrient schedules. including ones recommended by GH, websites, as well as several growers. Based on that, I have my mix at 1000-1200 PPM for the early bloom stage where the plants are now. My PH hovers constantly around 6.0.
Plant training
I have fimmed or trimmed the plant tops at a couple different stages of growth; I super cropped; and last week, I added a screen and tucked and clipped the plant tops to the mesh. I also trimmed everything on the lower 1/3 of each plant.
Here’s how things look now, one week later. Fifty-three days so far…
Warning: Everything I know, I learned on the Internet.
I have six plants growing in a hydroponics set up using three General Hydro PowerGrower pots and three Home Depot buckets. There are two Raspberry Cush, two Sterling Haze, one Black Jack and one unknown strain called “Freebie.” I bought the seeds from Nirvana Seeds in Amsterdam and they threw in a 10-pack of free seeds, which they did not identify. The five-pack BJ was also free.
More about the Strains
The RC, SH and BJ are feminized (not autoflowering). The RC and SH are sativa hybrids and the BJ is a sativa/indica hybrid. As for the Freebie, I like, Schultz, know nothing; it might even be a male, so I’m keeping a close eye on it.
From Nirvana’s site:
SH is a Haze/Northern Light F1 hybrid. Tall but with dense, bright green buds.
Sweet-and-sour taste. Stony yet up high.-
RC is a 70 percent sativa hybrid of a Cambodian landrace and Ice. Clear, up yet calming effects. Highly recommended medical F1 cross. Spicy, very Dutch taste. Plants can be grown closely together for maximum yields
BJ is a Black Domino / Jock Horror hybrid. Hard buds with huge, grape-like calyxes. Exceptionally long-lasting high. Highly thought-of medical marijuana strain. Nirvana stopped selling this strain after I received it. I don’t know why but I hope it’s not a bad sign.
Hydroponics set-up
I started with four GH PowerGrower modules, which included everything you need to get started (clay pebbles, nutes, air pump, drip column). I did the math and they cost about the same as if I bought everything separately. It was an easy way to get going.
I planted four seedlings in rock wool into the clay pebbles. A week later, I planted three more. This is about week two.
Even so, I added the three HD buckets a week later because I already had them. I bought baskets, drip columns, clay pebbles for those. Three weeks in, I yanked one plant (a second Freebie) that was in the PG module, so now I have six plants. Each pot holds about 3 gallons of water.
The six pots are connected by blue ½” vinyl tubing, which runs to a 16-gallon controller bucket. This is where I mix the nutrients, adjust the PH and top off. There is also a submersible pump on a timer in the controller, which pushes the nute solution through the system a couple of times a day. Next to and above the controller bucket on a desk is a 35-gallon reservoir that I use to replenish my water supply. My system is in a walk-out basement and so it's easy to fill the reservoir using my garden hose and to drain the system by running a hose out the door.
I originally ran a hose from the rez to a float valve in the controller bucket. I don't use it and top off manually.
Grow tent, lighting and ventilation
My equipment includes a 4 x 4 foot Vivosun grow tent. I keep the temperature at 68-70 degrees. Humidity is low this time of year. There’s a 4-inch Hurricane intake fan with a 6-inch Phresh carbon filter and a 6-inch Hyper Fan out take fan with a 16-inch Phresh carbon filter that vents to the outside through a casement window. I have a 600w LED. In addition, I have a commercial air pump with 8 outlets. Seven outlets provide air to the drip columns and one provides air to an airstone in my controller bucket.
The filter does a good job of filtering weed smoke. This is about two months from out of the package.
The fans, light and pump are plugged into TP-Link Smart wi-fi plugs and I can control them using the Kasa iOS app.
Nutrient solution and schedule
I use the GH FloraSeries for nutes, and I supplement with Biotonicare Hydroguard for roots and CaliMagic for calcium and magnesium. I just ordered FloraBloom from Amazon, which supposedly aids in flower and bud growth and will add that when it arrives.
I looked at several different nutrient schedules. including ones recommended by GH, websites, as well as several growers. Based on that, I have my mix at 1000-1200 PPM for the early bloom stage where the plants are now. My PH hovers constantly around 6.0.
Plant training
I have fimmed or trimmed the plant tops at a couple different stages of growth; I super cropped; and last week, I added a screen and tucked and clipped the plant tops to the mesh. I also trimmed everything on the lower 1/3 of each plant.
Here’s how things look now, one week later. Fifty-three days so far…
I'm no help with hydro but I'll tag along. Keep up the good work
