Platinum Girl Scout Cookies, 400W MH/HPS, 4x4 Tent Grow

[TheFertilizer]

Equipment and Materials:

400w MH/HPS Apollo Digital Ballast
Air Cooled Hood
5k Gram Kitchen Food Scale (to weigh pots)
1 20 " Oscilating Tower Fan
2x 6" Propeller fans
4x4 Tent
Vicks Warm Vapor Humidifier
pH meter, along with pH calibration powder
TDS meter, along with 1000 PPM calibration solution
SPL 400 CFM inline fan
Cheap 3-in-1 Moisture Meter
20W Heat-Mat for Clone Dome
Solo-Cup - Seedlings
1 Gallon Pots - Early Veg
3 Gallon Pots - Late Veg through flower Flower
Happy Frog Soil - Reused twice
Mykos Extreme Mycorhize Mycorrhizae
Einstein Oil 100% Cold-Pressed Neem Oil
Tap water @ 50 PPM​

Nutrients:
GH Flora Nova Grow 7-4-10 575 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 7

Nitrate Nitrogen .9
Ammoniacal Nitrogen 6.1​

Phosphorous 4
Potassium 10
Calcium 4
Magnesium 1.5
Sulfur 2
Boron .01
Chlorine .01
Cobalt .002
Copper .01
Iron .1
Maganese .03
Molybdenum .003
Zinc .02​

GH Flora Nova Bloom 4-8-7 575 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 4

Nitrate Nitrogen .25
Ammoniacal Nitrogen 3.75​

Phosphorous 8
Potassium 7
Calcium 4
Magnesium 2
Sulfur 2
Boron .01
Chlorine .01
Cobalt .002
Copper .01
Iron .1
Maganese .03
Molybdenum .003
Zinc .01​

GH FN Bloom + FN Grow Mix 50/50 5.5-6-5.5 575 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 5.5

Nitrate Nitrogen .25
Ammoniacal Nitrogen 3.75​

Phosphorous 6
Potassium 5.5
Calcium 4
Magnesium 1.75
Sulfur 2
Boron .01
Chlorine .01
Cobalt .002
Copper .01
Iron .1
Maganese .03
Molybdenum .003
Zinc .01​

GrowMore Hawaiian Bud & Bloom 5-50-17 562 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 5

Ammoniacal Nitrogen 5​

Phosphorous 50
Potassium 17
Boron .02
Copper .05
Iron .1
Maganese .05
Molybdenum .0005
Zinc .05​

Fox Farms Cha-Ching 9-50-10 550 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 9

Ammoniacal Nitrogen 8
Nitrate Nitrogen 1​

Phosphorous 50
Potassium 10
Boron .02
Copper .05
Iron .10
Maganese .05
Zinc .05​

GrowMore All Purpose 20-20-20 400 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 20

Ammoniacal Nitrogen 4
Nitrate Nitrogen 5.9
Urea Nitrogen 10.1​

Phosphorous 20
Potassium 20
Boron .02
Copper .05
Iron .1
Maganese .05
Zinc .05​

Botanicare Cal-Mag 2-0-0 275 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Nitrogen 2
Calcium 3.2
Magnesium 1.2
Iron .1​

GH Armor Si 0-0-4 140 PPM @ 1tsp/G

Potassium 4
Silicone
Dioxide 10
​

Base nutrients: GH Flora Nova Bloom & Grow

These have every essential micro-nutrient needed, but it also creates heavy salt build up.

They also contain sulfur which none of the others do, so must be used every other week at mild strength.​

Supplements: GrowMore All Purpose, Cal-Mag, Armor Si

GrowMore All Purpose gets used only a few times. Keeps nitrogen
available for stretch, alternate between this and Flora Nova Grow to mitigate salt build-up.
Unfortunately there is no Cal, Mag or Sulfur so Flora Nova is still needed.

Botanicare Cal-Mag is a stand-in for the Calcium and Magnesium lost when not using Flora Nova.

Armor Si is a silica supplment that promotes strong vegetative plant cells,
allowing them to support more weight and fend off pests. Should be used throughout entire grow.

​

P and K Boosters: GrowMore Hawaiian Bud & Bloom, Fox Farms Cha-Ching

They're very similar though Cha-Ching has slighthly different proportions. Use Bud & Bloom in early flower,
then use Cha-Ching for late flower.
​

Pesticide: Einstein Neem Oil

Mix 1 tsp into 2 tsp palmolive soap until milky white, then mix into 1 gallon container
Apply directly to roots every 3-4 weeks.​

Schedule:
Seedling
Week 1 - 12/12/16 - Seeds Planted

-Make 1 inch x 1 inch hole with finger, line bottom with 1/4 Teaspoon Mykos Extreme, cover hole
-Plant seeds directly into Happy Frog. Make hole ~2x as deep as seed is wide, directly above Mykos layer
-Sow additional layer of Mykos Extreme on Top Soil
-Start 18/6 light schedule
-Place solo-cup containers onto 20w heatmat to help germination

12/16/16 - Seeds sprouted
-Put clone dome on top because RH was 15-25% and temperatures getting down to 62 F
-Get fan controller and humidifier

12/17/16 - Seeds sprouted
-Lowered light about 1 foot above them because they were starting to stretch.
-Light measures 10-15k LUX at plant height.
-Dimmed ballast to 75%

12/18/16
-Reduced light to 5k LUX at plant height due to possible light stress, 1.5 feet from plants at 75%
-1 seedling didn't make it. Another needed the seed husk removed, probably going to be a runt.

​

Week 2 - 12/19/16 - Seeds Sprouted

-Adjust light to be 10k LUX at plant height
-Adjust fan to blow on seedlings to harden stems
-Lowered exhaust fan speed to Low
-Got a humidifier, put it outside of tent to see where it puts the levels
-Gave them a tiny bit of water, they dried out much faster than I expected in the low humidity
12/20/16
-Temperatures got too high last night up to 91, put some stress on the seedlings

​

Week 3 - 12/26/16 - First set of True Leaves

-Feed with extremely mild base growth nutrient
1/4th tsp/G Flora Nova Grow
~143 PPM​

Vegetative
Week 1 - 1/2/17 - Early vegetative stage

-Plain water, if needed
-Adjust light to 20k Lux at canopy
-Adjust side fans to blow across tops
-Adjust oscilating tower fan to blow under canopy​

Week 2 - 1/9/17 - Vegetative stage continued

-Transplant into 1 gallon containers
-Sprinkle 1 Tbsp Mykos Extreme on Bototm of Each Hole
-Top or FIM each plant
Feed:

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/4 tsp/G Flora Nova Grow 143 PPM
1/4 tsp/G GrowMore All Purpose 100 PPM
~276 PPM​

Week 3 - 1/16/17 - Late vegetative stage

-Water with 1/2 tsp/G molasses water and neem drench
-1 tsp neem with 2 tsp palmolive
-Take cuttings for clones
-Pinch stems to make them knuckle​

Week 4 - 1/23/17 - Transition stage - Pre-flowers

-Switch to 12/12 light shchedule with HPS
-Transplant into 3 gallon containers

-Sprinkle 2 Tbsp Mykos Extreme on Bottom of Each Hole​

Feed with half-half grow/bloom nutrients for stretch:

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/2 tsp/G FN Bloom and Grow 50/50 287 PPM
~320 PPM​

-Adjust light to 20k Lux at canopy
-Adjust side fans to blow across tops
-Adjust oscilating tower fan to blow under canopy​

Flower
Week 1 - 1/30/17 - Early flower stage - Stretch

Feed: Continue with half Grow/Bloom, but with a spike of P-K

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/2 tsp/G FN Bloom and Grow 50/50 287 PPM
1/2 tsp/G Grow More Bud and Bloom 281 PPM
~457 PPM​

-Lolipop lower, spindly growth
-Adjust light to 1.5 feet above
-Adjust side fans to blow across tops
-Adjust oscilating tower fan to blow under canopy​

Week 2 - 2/6/17 - Early-Mid Flower stage - Stretch

Feed: Switch to flower nutrients

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/4 tsp/G FN Bloom 143 PPM
1/2 tsp/G Grow More Bud and Bloom 281 PPM
~457 PPM​

-Adjust light to 20k Lux at canopy
-Adjust side fans to blow across tops
-Adjust oscilating tower fan to blow under canopy​

Week 3 - 2/13/17 - Mid Flower stage - Blooms

-Leech with plain water, end with mild 1/4 tsp/G bloom nutrient solution

-with 1 tsp/G molasses water and neem drench
-1 tsp neem with 2 tsp palmolive​

Week 4 - 2/20/17 - Mid Flower stage - Blooms

Feed: Cut the Flora Nova, use GrowMore and supplement with CalMag
If leaves show any burn, use 1 tsp/G Molasses water instead

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/2 tsp/G CalMag 136 PPM
1/2 tsp/G GrowMore Bud and Bloom 281 PPM
~457 PPM​

Week 5 - 2/27/16 - Late-Mid Flower Stage - Buds Forming

-Pinch off pop-corn and lower buds, leaving only last 4-6 budsites on end of branches
-Thin out growth beneath canopy where light penetration is weak
Feed: Switch to Fox Farms Cha Ching, add another dose of Flora Nova for Sulfur

3/4 tsp/G Fox Farms Cha-Ching 412 PPM
1/4 tsp/G Flora Nova Bloom 143 PPM
~555 PPM​

Week 6 - 3/6/17 - Late-Mid Flower Stage - Buds Forming
-

Defoliate leaves that are shading budsites
Feed: If leaves show any burn skip feed and use 1/tspG Molasses water

1 tsp/G Fox Farms Cha-Ching 550 PPM
1/2 tsp/G Cal-Mag 136 PPM
~686PPM​

Week 7 - 3/13/17 - Late Flower Stage - Pistils darken

Feed:

1 tsp/G Fox Farms Cha-Ching 550 PPM
1/4 tsp/G Flora Nova Bloom 143 PPM
~693 PPM​

Week 8 - 3/20/17 - Late Flower Stage - Buds/Colas Swell and Ripen

-Leech with plain water, end with 1 tsp/G mollasses water​

Week 9 - 3/27/17 - Flush - Half cloudy/half clear trichomes

Water with plain water​

Week 10 - 4/3/17 - Flush - Mostly cloudy trichomes

Water with plain water​

My comments (here comes the hot air)....

Hello again everybody! I am back again growing out some more Platinum Girl Scout Cookies. I began to favor this strain after the last grow, it's hard not to like it... Obligatory budshots:

I decided to grow this strain again over the cross I created with it, because I'm still not sure what the genetics on the pollen I crossed were. It was a tough decision but this stuff is very good and I would rather keep things consistent and know what to expect. I don't need to make things too challenging on myself. Plus I hope at the end to get some clones going as I do really like this strain.

Things are going okay so far, not sure how lose to my schedule I will be able to keep, I'm doubtful they'll be big enough for nutrients next week as I expected. I was hoping to have 6, 5 for flower and one for cuts. The little runt that couldn't get out of its seed husk probably won't make a good mother, so I might flower it out and select one of the others as a mother plant.

The humidity is of some concern right now, still haven't managed to get it up very high. The cold weather coming into the room and the temperature difference is what's causing the humidity to get so low. The humidifer I got doesn't want to vaporize my water unless I add salt to it ( soft water ), but it says not to add too much because that can be dangerous, so I'm really not sure how well it's going to work out for me. Also not sure if I should have it outside or inside the tent.

As far as the schedule goes, it's more or less what I expect, I don't know how well I'll be able to follow it. Nor do I know if some of those nutrients and proportions used will remain the same, that's all going to be indeterminate, but that's what I expect to use. Not really sure if my devised nutrient program really meets specs but I think I've got it all covered. It's mainly just so I don't forget abut transplanting, cloning and feeding all it needs like I did last time.

Big three things that killed my yield previous...

-No top or FIM'ing
-Trained too late too hard
-Accidentally cut them short on Cal-Mag and Sulfur
-Chronically over-watered in the beginning

Ok 4 things... Anyway I hope to rectify these. Meanwhile, if the humidity stays this ridiculously low into flower, I am probably going to be able to expect even more resinous output. Supposedly that's what promotes such resinous output of trichomes, and I can believe it since my humidity was always extremely low during my last cycle and those budshots can testify that this is one resinous strain.

However, I'm also going to be paying closer attention to keeping the humidity in a more optimal VPD range at least for vegetative. Thanks to ArticBowl for this thread.
How temperature and humidity relate

Would like to hear some feedback on my nutrient selection. GrowMore seems like pretty obscure stuff but I've only heard good things about it. They make a "Hula Bloom" that is basically just a copy of Fox Farms "Beastie Bloomz". This Hawaiian Bud and Bloom is closer to Fox Farms "Cha Ching" but it has slightly different levels so I'm using it for early flower. I am thinking about trying the Hula Bloom instead though.

Well that's about it for now! Would bore you all with more details, any questions or comments?

 

[TheFertilizer]

12/20/16

-Temperatures got too high last night up to 91, put some stress on the seedlings
12/21/16
-Planted 2 Blackberry Kush seeds
12/122/16
-Seedlings pots weigh about 75-80 grams more than dry soil pot, except for one which is done to 63
12/24/16
-Watered until each pot had about 170-180 grams of water. So they were probably only half dried.
12/25/16
-One Blackberry Kush sprouted, no signs of life from the other.​

Week 3 - 12/26/16 - First set of True Leaves

12/27/16
-Pots weigh in with 75-80 grams of water
12/28/16
-Discovered oscilating fan was off, plants look like they got too hot, droopy leaves with curled up edges
-Pots weigh in at 50-60 grams

12/29/16
-Feed with extremely mild base growth nutrient

1/4th tsp/G Flora Nova Grow
~143 PPM
-Pots weigh in at about 170 grams​

-Watered Blackberry Kush seedling to 160 grams with plain water

​

Just a little update for this. Not really having luck maintaining humidity, this one I got claims to operate for 12 hours but I have no been having that experience. I think I need to be waiting a little longer to water, even letting them get down to 40 mL seems a little too much.

I planted one of my Blackberry Kush seeds as well. I am planning on buying some colloidal silver or STS and making some feminized seeds of both of these. The source I was getting the Platinum Girl Scout Cookies from is being an asshole so I guess I can count these as the last seeds of those. So yeah hoping to make some feminized seeds from them to save the genetics.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Vegetative
Week 1 - 1/2/17 - Early vegetative stage

1/2/17
-Watered with 120 PPM Flora Nova with 35 PPM Armor Si. Drenched Major PITA style, cups weighed from

200-240 grams

with 220 being the average
-Adjust light to 20k Lux at canopy
-Adjust side fans to blow across tops
-Adjust oscilating tower fan to blow under canopy
1/5/17
-Transplant into 1 gallon containers

-Sprinkle 1 Tbsp Mykos Extreme on Bototm of Each Hole​

1/8/17
-Plants slightly nutrient burned​

Week 2 - 1/9/17 - Vegetative stage continued

-Top or FIM each plant

Feed:

1/4 tsp/G Armor Si 33 PPM
1/4 tsp/G Flora Nova Grow 143 PPM
1/4 tsp/G GrowMore All Purpose 100 PPM
~276 PPM​

Things are going okay'ish. I can't really tell if I burned the plants or they're starving, but I am pretty sure it was nutrient burn because the tips of the new leaf growth were brown/black. So anyway they're a little yellow looking, but the leaves are picking up and looking happier in their new pots. Surprising they looked very perky the day after the FIM. I pretty much gave up on the humidifier.

Two of the plants aren't looking like they're very good genetically. I don't know if I will cull them or keep them, going to see what they do over the next couple weeks.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Well I'm not sure how the FIM'ing turned out, but I think they were just hungry. They're looking a little perkier now. Probably not going to make it very close to my schedule as far as taking clones is concerned.

 

[PagodaVapors]

Well I'm not sure how the FIM'ing turned out, but I think they were just hungry. They're looking a little perkier now. Probably not going to make it very close to my schedule as far as taking clones is concerned.

You need to add some cal mag to the mix. It doesn't show that you're adding it to your mix


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[TheFertilizer]

You need to add some cal mag to the mix. It doesn't show that you're adding it to your mix


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Flora Nova Grow has 4% Calcium and 2% Magnesium. I have two different brands of suppliment ( Cal-Mag and Cali Magik ) but I don't know if I should use them with the Flora Nova? Don't want to overdose them. I mostly have the suppliments for when I use the GrowMore stuff because it has no CalMag

 

[TheFertilizer]

Wellll they're way off schedule now. Was supposed to be switching to 12/12 next week, that ain't gonna happen. I guess we'll see where they're at in two weeks.

They got starved pretty hard, but I think they're starting to get the nutrients they need. I do see a slight bit of burn on some of the tips actually, but for the most part the new growth is green. I had to re-top a couple that didn't really work out the first time, but luckily one of the FIMs worked perfectly the first time. I don't think I really took into account the recovery time after doing a FIM.

I'm really wondering what these white bumps on my stems are too.

Meanwhile the Blackberry Kush plant is just sitting pretty. I wish the Platinum Girl Scout Cookies was as low maintenance.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Well I decided that they needed some fresh soil, and I'm tired of accidentally under-feeding them, so I decided to try some Ocean Forest instead of Happy Frog. I transplanted them into 3 gallon containers; some had roots at the bottom, but more weren't really ready.

I think I have set myself back a good 2-3 weeks, maybe more depending on what they do. They're all about 10-12" high but don't really have any branching, so I need to veg them out for a while longer. Unfortunately I'm sure that will mean that these pots will get root-bound half-way through flower.

 

[TheFertilizer]

I started doing some training with them since my veg schedule got totally messed up anyway. I hooked the fishing line underneath the quick-ties as an anchor, and that way I can pull on the fishing line on the side of each pot to pull the branches down. Didn't have any of that wire stuff around so this had to do.

They're starting to grow again, the Ocean Forrest looks like it might be a little too hot but at this point I'll take that over starving them over and over. Just worried that I don't have any bigger pots to transplant into so I can't let them fill up too much before the flip because that stretch is going to bind them if I do.

 

[Stinky Snid]

Hey fertilizer, I would have thought a member of the month nominee would be followed by a few members. Looks these plants are having a rough go at it. Keep tending to them they'll come into their own soon. I'd like to diagnose your plants but I can't tell what's going on, some look nitrogen toxic some look deficient... Either way I'll stick around and see how things develop.

KiG cheers

Ps. Be very careful with the fishing line, as the plant grows it'll slice into the stems.

 

[jumpnjackhash]

Fert, the FFOF will not be too hot for your plants,I transplant from solo cups
into this soil at 12-14 days and the plants love it.All you need is ph'ed water
for the first 3 weeks,and your plants will be lush and growing right in front
of your eyes.Good luck with the grow,can't wait to see how they turn out.

 

[jumpnjackhash]

O ya,I forgot to add,I had some Plat.GSC from Oregon about six months ago,it was
nearly 30%thc and tasted killer.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Hey fertilizer, I would have thought a member of the month nominee would be followed by a few members. Looks these plants are having a rough go at it. Keep tending to them they'll come into their own soon. I'd like to diagnose your plants but I can't tell what's going on, some look nitrogen toxic some look deficient... Either way I'll stick around and see how things develop.

KiG cheers

Ps. Be very careful with the fishing line, as the plant grows it'll slice into the stems.

Oh wow didn't realize I'd been nominated!

Yeah this journal isn't as active as my last one. Maybe too many details/pictures.

Yeah, it seems to have a lot of people stumped, especially me! Lol

I had my buddy check them out and he pulled off one of the damaged leaves and took at a look at it up to my light, so you could kind of see through it, and there's some spots of green in the black spots that he thinks is mold :/ Said he thinks it's some kind of root mold.

O ya,I forgot to add,I had some Plat.GSC from Oregon about six months ago,it was
nearly 30%thc and tasted killer.

Nice, I saved a few buds of my tops to get tested when I have the extra money. Really curious what they test out at.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Welllll folks I'm calling it. Every day they just look worse and worse. I think there's something wrong with the soil, considering I've reused it so much already. Going to get some fresh bags, take some clones and start over. At this point I'm just burning up the weeks trying to get these to recuperate, but meanwhile the Blackberry Kush is doing GREAT. Thinking about getting a trellis net and scrogging her up after I clone her, so that way I can still get some flower out of this cycle.

 

[TheFertilizer]

...and then there was one.

 

[Twox]

Sorry I missed so much Fert, I've been busy lately and haven't seen you around much on the threads I've been visiting. Just wanted to stop in and say high... sorry about the plants, I'm betting it was the soil.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Sorry I missed so much Fert, I've been busy lately and haven't seen you around much on the threads I've been visiting. Just wanted to stop in and say high... sorry about the plants, I'm betting it was the soil.

Yeah I've been pretty busy lately too so have only been able to drop in and say hi to people every now and then.

It's weird that this one is doing so well in the same soil. I've got some clones going off of it now. I really liked the Blackberry Kush better anyway. I'm just hoping that this is the same Blackberry Kush that I had originally since it's all bagseed. Looks just like it though.

 

[ConstantGreen]

Man, those platinum cookies from your last grow turned out so nice! Too bad they couldn't handle the soil this time. Def get some more seeds of those to put in fresh soil! I had some "purple cookies" last year that was the best bud I've ever had. Purple and orange golf balls completely caked in trichomes like yours were. Smelled so medicinal... I searched hours through all the GSC sub-strains and figure platinum must have been it, because there's no purple GSC. Sadly, I read that it's a clone-only strain, except for 1 vendor that had some fem seeds but idk how legit. Anyway, can't wait to see how your blackberry turns out.

Say this five times, fast:
Couple pics of purple cookies.

 

[TheFertilizer]

Man, those platinum cookies from your last grow turned out so nice! Too bad they couldn't handle the soil this time. Def get some more seeds of those to put in fresh soil! I had some "purple cookies" last year that was the best bud I've ever had. Purple and orange golf balls completely caked in trichomes like yours were. Smelled so medicinal... I searched hours through all the GSC sub-strains and figure platinum must have been it, because there's no purple GSC. Sadly, I read that it's a clone-only strain, except for 1 vendor that had some fem seeds but idk how legit. Anyway, can't wait to see how your blackberry turns out.

Say this five times, fast:
Couple pics of purple cookies.

Yeah I could try to get some of the seeds from the friend that I got them from, but I'm really questioning if the genetics were good. He claims that his buddy feminized the Platinum Girl Scout Cookies to get the seeds. The ones I grew out LAST time I got after germinating like 8 seeds so I was hoping I"d find a couple of good ones out of the 6 I planted this time. Well maybe it's a mixed issue between genetics and the soil, but long story short the guy I got the seeds from is being a dick now so it will be kind of hard to get some again, and not sure how worth it they are if the genetics are to blame.

Waiting for these clones to take off this Blackberry Kush. I think I really just need to buy some real genetics already, because even this is a bagseed, and I'm not totally sure it will come out like the last Blackberry Kush seeds I had. Looks pretty much the same so far though.

 

[Amadeus Forzin]

Hope all is well in your world.

How did this grow turn out?

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Sending you lots of love and positive energy.