Welcome to the Vivosun Bud Factory, a Vivosun 5x5 upgraded grey tent equipped with the Vivosun Smart Grow System and the Vivosun VSF6450! I'll be growing four fruity dessert fem photos (Banana Pudding, Mango Mousse, Apple Betty, Forbidden Fruit) in a 45g RDWC system using @Prescription Blend.

The major upgrade this grow is the tent! On my last grow with the VSF6450 in the 4x4 I was wall-to-wall buds. So I upgraded to the Vivosun upgraded grey 5x5, giving me nearly 60% more area (16 sqft -> 25 sqft). Thank you @VIVOSUN for sponsoring this journal and al of the fantastic equipment.

This will be my first grow in the RDWC with four different strains. Thanks to @Herbies Seeds and @CannaPot for being sponsors in the contests where I received these seeds. Thanks also to @Prescription Blend for the fantastic nutrients. Please consider our Sponsors when buying your supplies!

I'll be growing in my 45g PA Hydroponics 4 plant Fallponic RDWC system. It has 4x13g grow sites and a 13g reservoir outside the tent, a 400 gpm inline pump to deliver 100g/hour of nutrient solution to each bucket, and a Vivosun 332 GPH Air Pump with a 2x4 Vivosun air stone in each bucket. Each site has a 8" netpot that will be filled with clay pebbles.

For nutrients, I'll be starting with MC+Silica in veg, working it up to around 1000 ppm (2 ec). I'll switch to Prescription Blend in flower. I'll use Hydroguard and z7 throughout, along with some other bennies.

If this all seems all too familiar, I started a similar journal for my Colombian Gold grow, but got stalled when only 2 of 5 seeds germinated. So, while I grow out a mother and get clones, why not grow some dessert!

What am I growing?
- Banana Pudding (Herbies): Featuring creamy banana with a dash of spice, this delicious strain is better than a banana split on a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy tropical fruits and a strong ripe banana aroma when you crack open the lid. Just a couple of hits of this 25% THC fruity delight will slowly but unrelentingly lull you into deep full-body relaxation with an uplifting mental linger.

- Mango Mousse (Herbies): Mango Mousse throws a tropical spin on desserts with her nuanced coconut and mango appeal. Expect intense fruity flavors and aromas that may surprise you! Smooth and creamy to smoke, the 21-26% THC Mango Mousse melts in your mouth, leaving you exceedingly calm and relaxed for hours on end. Her effects are perfect for classic Indica heads and although relaxing, are still very potent.

- Apple Betty (Herbies): Get ready for a trip down memory lane as Apple Betty shares a slice of mouth-enveloping wood-fired apple pie, along with hints of cinnamon and chocolate to keep you coming back for more. Like Grandma’s famous apple pie with a secret ingredient you wouldn’t expect, Apple Betty leaves you glued to the couch with heavy-handed euphoria after just one bite! And no wonder – its THC levels reach 33%! Enjoy staring at the wall watching psychedelic patterns emerge while your mind melts into a happy relaxation.

- Forbidden Fruit (Cannapot): Forbidden Fruit is the mouthwatering cross of Cherry Pie x Tangie. This sumptuous genetic cross expresses a beautiful dense bud structure with deep purple hues, dark green foliage, and wiry orange hairs. The terpene profile is a perfect mixture of Cherry Pie’s musky, sweet cherry undertones and Tangie’s loud tropical flavors. There are also notes of pine, mango, and passion fruit candy. The Indica effects hit hard between the eyes and lay into the body with each hit. Forbidden Fruit’s deep physical relaxation and mental stoniness make it perfect for dulling minor physical discomfort and discarding stress.

Where am I growing? I'll be growing these from start to finish in 'The Vivosun Bud Factory', a Vivosun Advanced grey 5x5 tent in my basement equipped with the Vivosun Smart Grow System.

- Vivosun 60x60x80 Advanced grey tent
- Vivosun Smart Grow System, including
- GrowHub 42A
- AeroZesh 6" exhaust fan (with filter for late flower only)
- AeroWave E6 Clip-on oscillating 6" fan
- Vivosun VSF6450 645W LED
- Vivosun AeroWave A6 Clip-on oscillating 6" fan
- Vivosun 13" Air Circulator Fan with Remote
- Vivosun 332 GPH Air Pump (14W 21L/min)
- Vivosun 2x4 Air Stones (x4)
- Vivosun 2-in-1 Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier, 5L Indoor Ultrasonic Air Humidifier
- 4" booster fan for air intake (Filtered)
Basement:
- Temps: 66-72f Central A/C and heat, radiant heater if needed
- Humidity: Kept at around 40% RH with Dehumidifier,

What am I growing in?
- RDWC: 13g RDWC buckets, 8" Netpots with clay balls
- Water: Carbon-filtered well water @ 100ppm/8.1pH
- Nutrients: Veg with Megacrop / MC 1-part, Flower with Prescription Blend
- Bennies: Hydroguard, Z7, Pirhana, Voodoo Juice

Any other equipment?
- Vivosun Heat mat + controller, EZ-Gro plugs, and starter domes for starting seeds
- PA Hydroponic Falloponics 4 site fallponic RWDC system + res (13g buckets) w/ 400 GPH pump
- Milwaukee bluelab combo pH & TDS meter
- LUX meter + Photone app
- Wyze V3 Camera
- Govee thermometer/hygrometers
- Govee water sensors

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
Thanks again to @VIVOSUN for sponsoring this grow. I'll also be using @Herbies Seeds @CannaPot Seeds @Prescription Blend @DYNOMYCO and possibly a few other sponsored products along the way. Thanks for joining along on my first multi-strain grow in the RDWC. It seems like just last week I was starting a new grow ;) Luckily I have five of each of these seeds, so we'll get it going this time!

With all of these strains at 55-65 days of flower, I'm hoping to have them harvested in 12-14 weeks. Please let me hear your questions, comments, suggestions, and even a few wisecracks. If I forgot you then please let me know. Everyone is welcome!

@7Dust2
@Amadeus Forzin
@AutoNautPsychoFlower
@Azimuth
@Bill284
@Buds Buddy
@CaptainLucky
@Carcass
@Chasev89
@Chuckeye
@Cola Monster
@Costanza
@CultivationArt
@danishoes21
@Darade
@DonkeyDick
@DV8
@East Coast Marley420
@EastcoastArn
@Emilya Green
@EZCalyx
@farside05
@FelipeBlu
@GainesvilleGreen
@Gandalfthewhite
@garybo
@Gidorah
@GratefulBud
@Grand Daddy Black
@GreenFingaz
@gwhunran
@HappyHazmat88
@HashGirl
@HPS Only
@InTheShed
@Joe The Chro
@Jon
@Jungle Joseph
@Krissi Carbone
@Lisa2265
@Listersmeghead
@Melville Hobbes
@mk2SMOKEY
@Morda Grown
@Mountainman80
@Mycelium Farmer
@Nine Toed Hippie
@OGpapa
@oldmanjj
@paintedbudman
@Paul Squiggle
@PGA Caddie
@RedskinnedRhino
@Regrowth
@ReservoirDog
@Rolling Green
@Roy Growin
@Rexer
@scottreid1966
@Skunksta
@Smilemeds
@Smokey0418
@SmokeLake
@sneekymofo
@spab1311
@Sobergrower
@stinker
@StoneOtter
@The70’s
@Timhomegrow
@Tokin Roll
@Trala
@TrilliumBubble
@UpInSm0ke
@Venturisix
@Verbalist
@VetSmoke85
@WenworG
@West Hippie
@Zephyrs
 
I'll be using the @VIVOSUN VSF6450 Foldable LED Grow Light again, this time in the 5x5. It's a lot more space to fill, but the VSF6450 is up to the task!











Full-Spectrum Sunlike Lighting: Designed with optimal light-spectrum coverage using 2142PCS Samsung 3030 (6500K) lights and 84PCS 660nm Osram 3030 lights in the white, warm white, red, and far-red light spectrums; The 660nm diodes improve photosynthesis and are most beneficial during blooming and flowering; Blue light promotes plants’ germination and when combined with the red lights leads to higher yields.

Foldable Design & Detachable Ballast: The grow light can be folded up to 180° making it easy to install or store and thus keeping your room tidy; It comes with a detachable ballast and a 9.8ft. long power cord with 120V America NEMA 5-15P plug; Mounting the ballast outside the tent or away from the light can reduce ambient heat and extend your light’s service lifespan.

Dimmable & Uniform Lighting: Comes equipped with a dimming knob with 6 levels of light intensity ranging from 0% (off), to 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 100%; The light bar design has IP66 water prevention, benefits from heat dissipation, and enables uniform light density throughout the plant canopy at all stages of growth.

High Efficiency & Stability: With Samsung 3030 & OSRAM 3030 and the Inventronics driver, this grow light achieves 40% higher PPFD than HID lamps and delivers high-efficiency (2.8μmol/J) LED light with low power consumption (645W) for real energy savings; Ideal for efficient and effective gardeners and specialists.

Daisy-Chain-Ability: The daisy-chain ability allows connections of up to 160 lights in a series — simply control the main light with a VIVOSUN controller to dim or brighten all the lights in the series; We offer you a digital timer to control/preset the light, making it easy if you are not home; It can be used for indoor planting, grow tents (perfect for 4’ x 4’ or 5’ x 5’), hydroponics, gardens, and commercial cultivation in large rooms.

Warranty: 5-Year Warranty Guaranteed
Features: ETL certification Highly efficient, reliable branded driver

Tech Spec:
Input Voltage (V): 120-277V
PPE: 2.8 μmol/J
PPF: 1800 μmol/s
Input Power: 645W
Frequency: 50/60 Hz
Driver: Inventronics
Spectrum: Full Spectrum
Certification: ETL / CE
Lifetime: Q90 >54000 Hrs
Weight: 26.5 lbs
Power Cord Length: 9.8 ft
Waterproof Level: IP66
Light Distribution: 120°
Spectrum: 6500K, 3000K, 660nm
Dimensions: 41.3”L x 43.5”W x 3.2”H
Light Source: Samsung LM301 & OSRAM 3030
Dimming Options: OFF / 40% / 50% / 60% / 80% / 100%

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
More about the @VIVOSUN Upgraded Grey 5x5 tent
Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent4.jpg

  • Featuring a controller mounting strip, VIVOSUN Upgraded Gray Mylar Reflective Grow Tent is a up-to-date solution to a grower’s needs. Whether you’re starting a new growing operation or have mature plants, this grow tent will be the perfect environment for them. The tent is suitable for different places in your house, such as the domestic garage, balcony, laundry room, closet, and so on; Various sizes of grow tents are provided to meet your daily demands.
  • 100% High Reflectivity: High-density 600D Oxford fabric prevents light leakage and keeps your growing area well-insulated; The interior walls, ceiling, and floors are all lined with 100% diamond reflective mylar for multidimensional lighting
  • Reliable Ventilation: The grow tent is outfitted with ventilation ports to fit both duct fans and carbon filters for optimal airflow and ventilation; Comes with double-cinching ducting ports that effectively seal the tent while allowing air to travel freely in and out of the grow rooms
  • Controller Mounting Strip: This tent features a controller mounting strip for easy hanging of a controller (No ABS Mounting Plate Included)
  • Sturdy Frame & Strong Zipper: The thickened 22mm poles and durable metal frame enhance the overall load-bearing capacity, up to 100 lbs.; The strong zippers and tightly reinforced seals prevent light seepage and maximize the reflectivity of usable light
  • Observation Window + Removable Floor Tray: Our easy-access observation window makes it easy to observe your plants; The detachable floor tray captures any spilled soil and keeps the tent clean
Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent1.jpg


Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent2.jpg


Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent3.jpg


Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent5.jpg


Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent6.jpg


Vivosun Upgraded Grey 5x5 Tent7.jpg


And here is mine se tup in the basement:




#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
The Vivosun Bud Factory is equipped with a custom Vivosun Smart Grow System (SGS). At the heart of the SGS is the GrowHub. It has both internal and external temperature and humidity sensors and inputs for all of the SGS equipment. It can be used by itself or sync (via wifi) to the Vivosun app and you can monitor/control multiple GrowHubs right from your smartphone. The Advanced grey Vivosun tents have a mount for the GrowHub on the front, along with a pocket for the cables to go into the tent.

The GrowHub can control almost any light with a RJ11 or RJ45 plug, and the Vivosun VSF6450 is no exception. I can change the spectrum (seedling/veg/flower), intensity, and even mimic sunrise/sunsets using the GrowHub. And of course I can set the schedule, eliminating the need for a separate timer.

For ventilation I have a 6" AeroZesh exhaust fan. It's mounted outside the tent and pulls from the back-left corner of the tent. Using setpoints for temperature and humidity I can control the VPD in the tent for each stage of growth. I'll start at .8-1.0 VPD in seedling (with the help of a humidifier). Once the roots hit the water I'll move to 1.0-1.2 VPD to encourage them to drink more from the roots. In the 5th week of flower I'll starting going up .1 VPD every week to encourage denser buds and discourage mold/PM. I have a Vivosun carbon filter, but I'll only use that in late flower if needed.

For circulation I have an AeroWave E6 plugged into the GrowHub. I'll schedule different settings for this throughout the grow. I'll start on low for the seedlings, then go to natural wind mode for veg and early flower. Later in flower I'll go to 100%.

Using the Recipe function in the Vivosun app, I'll pre-set parameters for all of these components for each stage of growth. When I put the seedlings in the system, I'll start the 'Seedling' stage. I'll schedule the 'Vegetative' stage to start automatically two weeks later, changing all the settings for that stage of growth. I'll probably set the 'Flower' mode to start four weeks after that just in case I forget.

I also have an AeroWave A6 6" fan and a 13" Air Circulator with remote in the tent, not connected to the GrowHub. These will make sure the top and bottom of the tent are the same, and keep the air moving in the tent.

Finally I have a Vivosun warm and cool mist humidifier to keep it nice and moist while the seedlings are in there.

Thanks again to @VIVOSUN for sponsoring this grow and letting me show off all of this fantastic equipment. The Vivosun Bud Factory gives me all the tools to set up the perfect growing environment for these beautiful dessert strains.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
I went through the seeds I had, mostly prizes from 420 contests. I found four that had 55-65 day flowering times. That allows me to schedule a 9-10 week flower for the nutrients.

Three are from @Herbies Seeds Dessert Mix Pack:

Perfect For: Dessert Lovers Wanting Potent Effects

Wholesome dessert flavors
High THC levels between 21-33%
Indica-dominant genetics

Dessert Mix Pack Smoke Review
These three strains are fresh out of the Herbies pantry, delivering classic, down-to-earth flavors and an exciting array of Indica-dominant effects. Between the lineages of Jack Herer, Chem’s Sister, and Purple Punch, you’ll definitely be coming back for seconds!

Dessert Mix Pack: Effects
While each strain is high on the Indica side, you’ll find that their effects wax and wane with perfect levels of classic Indica and Sativa to rock your world.

Banana Pudding
The old wives' tale of cooking up a banana before bed has never been more accurate than with Banana Pudding. Just a couple of hits of this 25% THC fruity delight will slowly but unrelentingly lull you into deep full-body relaxation with an uplifting mental linger.

Apple Betty
Like Grandma’s famous apple pie with a secret ingredient you wouldn’t expect, Apple Betty leaves you glued to the couch with heavy-handed euphoria after just one bite! And no wonder – its THC levels reach 33%! Enjoy staring at the wall watching psychedelic patterns emerge while your mind melts into a happy relaxation.

Mango Mousse
Smooth and creamy to smoke, the 21-26% THC Mango Mousse melts in your mouth, leaving you exceedingly calm and relaxed for hours on end. Her effects are perfect for classic Indica heads and although relaxing, are still very potent.

Dessert Mix Pack: Flavors
This mix pack is exploding with terpenes. From fruity to spicy, if you love classic old-school desserts straight from your childhood, this one’s for you!

Banana Pudding
Featuring creamy banana with a dash of spice, this delicious strain is better than a banana split on a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy tropical fruits and a strong ripe banana aroma when you crack open the lid.

Apple Betty
Get ready for a trip down memory lane as Apple Betty shares a slice of mouth-enveloping wood-fired apple pie, along with hints of cinnamon and chocolate to keep you coming back for more.

Mango Mousse
Mango Mousse throws a tropical spin on desserts with her nuanced coconut and mango appeal. Expect intense fruity flavors and aromas that may surprise you!

Dessert Mix Pack Grow Info: Appearance and Grow Tips
A trifecta of fast-flowering feminized seeds, this mix pack will deliver three medium-sized plants that you can grow alongside each other and expect to harvest at the same time with a flowering period of just 55-65 days. With Apple Betty leading at an outdoor grow of up to 2,600g/plant (91oz/plant), Banana Pudding at up to 1,000g/plant (35oz/plant), and Mango Mousse reaching 900g/plant (32g/plant), prepare for a jaw-dropping harvest.

Before you get too excited, remember that great results come from great care, so follow this grow info to give your plants the best possible chance at impressing you:
  • All three plants grow thick and bushy with dense buds. Space them out adequately to allow for better airflow.
  • Mango Mousse grows long branches. Try adding some support to help these branches hold heavy buds.
  • Be prepared for buckets of trichomes. Keep some of your harvest or trimmings aside if you like couch lock-inducing edibles.
  • Mango Mousse turns purple as she matures. In climates with hot days and cold nights, watch your plant transform with an exotic purple eruption!
  • Growing to heights of about 150+cm (60”+) outdoors, make use of LST methods to control these strains' sizes.


I really wanted to find another strain that flowers about the same, and one of the seeds @CannaPot sent looks perfect. Here's what I could find:

Forbidden Fruit is the mouthwatering cross of Cherry Pie x Tangie. This sumptuous genetic cross expresses a beautiful dense bud structure with deep purple hues, dark green foliage, and wiry orange hairs. Forbidden Fruit is a mostly Indica that is easy to grow, she is great grown indoors and in a greenhouse (with good ventilation).

Flavor
The terpene profile is a perfect mixture of Cherry Pie’s musky, sweet cherry undertones and Tangie’s loud tropical flavors. There are also notes of pine, mango, and passion fruit candy.

Effect
The Indica effects hit hard between the eyes and lay into the body with each hit. Forbidden Fruit’s deep physical relaxation and mental stoniness make it perfect for dulling minor physical discomfort and discarding stress.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
Thanks again to @VIVOSUN for sponsoring this grow. I'll also be using @Herbies Seeds @CannaPot Seeds @Prescription Blend @DYNOMYCO and possibly a few other sponsored products along the way. Thanks for joining along on my first multi-strain grow in the RDWC. It seems like just last week I was starting a new grow ;) Luckily I have five of each of these seeds, so we'll get it going this time!

With all of these strains at 55-65 days of flower, I'm hoping to have them harvested in 12-14 weeks. Please let me hear your questions, comments, suggestions, and even a few wisecracks. If I forgot you then please let me know. Everyone is welcome!

@7Dust2
@Amadeus Forzin
@AutoNautPsychoFlower
@Azimuth
@Bill284
@Buds Buddy
@CaptainLucky
@Carcass
@Chasev89
@Chuckeye
@Cola Monster
@Costanza
@CultivationArt
@danishoes21
@Darade
@DonkeyDick
@DV8
@East Coast Marley420
@EastcoastArn
@Emilya Green
@EZCalyx
@farside05
@FelipeBlu
@GainesvilleGreen
@Gandalfthewhite
@garybo
@Gidorah
@GratefulBud
@Grand Daddy Black
@GreenFingaz
@gwhunran
@HappyHazmat88
@HashGirl
@HPS Only
@InTheShed
@Joe The Chro
@Jon
@Jungle Joseph
@Krissi Carbone
@Lisa2265
@Listersmeghead
@Melville Hobbes
@mk2SMOKEY
@Morda Grown
@Mountainman80
@Mycelium Farmer
@Nine Toed Hippie
@OGpapa
@oldmanjj
@paintedbudman
@Paul Squiggle
@PGA Caddie
@RedskinnedRhino
@Regrowth
@ReservoirDog
@Rolling Green
@Roy Growin
@Rexer
@scottreid1966
@Skunksta
@Smilemeds
@Smokey0418
@SmokeLake
@sneekymofo
@spab1311
@Sobergrower
@stinker
@StoneOtter
@The70’s
@Timhomegrow
@Tokin Roll
@Trala
@TrilliumBubble
@UpInSm0ke
@Venturisix
@Verbalist
@VetSmoke85
@WenworG
@West Hippie
@Zephyrs
Thanks for the tag n wishing you a very happy +healthy grow Bman. CL🍀:goodluck::thumb::420:
 
Strains: Banana Pudding, Mango Mousse, Apply Betty, Forbidden Fruit
Nutrients - None yet
Medium - EZ-Gro plugs
Water - Carbon-filtered well water (100ppm)

As soon as I realized that my last seeds were not viable I popped four new seeds into pucks (on Monday, April 10). One of each, I was optimistic.

I use EZ-Gro plugs (like rapid rooters but not pre-moistened). I soak the plug for an hour or so in plain tap water to make sure it is saturated. I put this in the tray with a drain under it. Then I stick the seed about 1/2-3/4 inch into the plug, pointy end up. I've found that the combination of putting the seed a little further down (1/2 - 3/4") and pointy end up gives me the best chance of getting the seed to pop without a helmet. Pointy end up because I want the root to come out of the top, then turn down. I want it to be far enough down so that the seed head is scraped off as it comes up.

I use a tooth pick to push the seed down into the plug, then scrape some of the plug into the hole to loosely cover the seed hole. I put another plug in the dome, but this is used for the temperature probe for the heat mat. I want to control the temperature inside the plug, if possible. I have a dome with a notch I use for the probe cord.

I set the dome on my Vivosun heat mat with the controller set to 76f. With the dome on and vents closed, the heat mat warms the water in the bottom of the tray and creates lots of humidity under the dome, usually above 98%. Almost as good as sitting in a glass of water, but the seed can still breathe.

See THIS POST for pictures of my process.

So, why am I having so many problems lately with my seeds? For some reason, I've decided to leave too much water in the bottom tray. The plugs, basically peat sponges, were staying saturated. I was drowning my seeds.

Unfortunately, I put too much water in when I put these seeds in too. Two of them (Apply Betty & Mango Mousse) didn't care and popped on day# 4 (April 14), and it looked like the Banana Pudding was right behind them.
20230414_100824.jpg


What I didn't realize at the time is that the Banana Pudding was coming up root first. On the 6th day (April 16) with no other sprouts, I opened up the pods and took a peek. The auto seed was still intact, no germination. The Forbidden Fruit was cracked and looked good, so I closed it back up. The Banana Pudding was turned around, with the root sticking straight up. The root looked mushy too. I turned it around and put it back in the puck but wasn't hopeful.

It was then that I realized that all of the plugs were way too wet. I emptied the tray and even squeezed a little water out of the plugs. I also planted two more seeds, a Banana Pudding and Forbidden Fruit. I put both seeds into saturated plugs, but with plenty of room for them to drain underneath.

The next day (April 17), the original Forbidden Fruit emerged looking pretty bad. Almost like she had been water-boarded for a couple of days ;(
20230417_171220.jpg

Yesterday, I looked at the auto seed I had in the tray. It was a freebie from NASC, a Gorilla Glue Auto. Unfortunately, it still looks exactly like it did when I put it in the puck, only wetter. It never cracked at all. Sad, but I have other auto seeds and I'll find one to do next. I was looking forward to trying GG, though.

This morning (April 19), on the third day after putting the two new seeds in pucks, the Banana Pudding is up and the Forbidden Fruit looks like it will be up later today! That's what I'm used to seeing. And it looks like this grow can finally get started!
20230419_102316.jpg

So, I learned two important lessons. One is to make sure the starter plugs can drain. The other is to stop changing things that are working well, just for the sake of changing them. I did it when I started bottom-watering seedlings, and I did it again when I started leaving more water in the propagation trays. Both processes were working well before, why change them? I guess I just wanted to keep things interesting? Next time I decide to change my seed process, though, I'll try to remember all the seeds I got from the skunks and use them to test.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
While I've been playing around with seeds, I've also been getting the RDWC system ready.

The @VIVOSUN Bud Factory has a PA Hydroponics 4 plant RDWC with 13g buckets, and a fifth 13g bucket as a reservoir. It holds about 45 gallons with the water 2" under the netpots. With an inline 400 GPH pump, each plant site gets about 100G of nutrient solution per hour, keeping everything mixed. In addition to the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) from the 'falloponics', each plant site also has a @VIVOSUN 4" air stone hooked to a Vivosun 332 GPH Air Pump (14W 21L/min). The air stones increase the DO and create bubbles that splash on the bottom of the netpots and increase humidity in the root zone.

I filled it up a couple of weeks ago with dilute H2O2 pH'ed to around 4 and let that run for about a week. Then I scrubbed everything down one more time, drained the RDWC, and let everything dry out for a week or so. Sunday nights I filled the system with clean well water. Since my well water is about 100ppm/8.1pH, I added 15ml of pH down. Monday I added Silica, some Hydroguard, and a little more pH down. Today I added 50 grams of MC (about 1g/G), more Hydroguard, and some Voodoo Juice and Pirhana, beneficial bacteria and fungus. I'll keep monitoring pH over the next couple of weeks and keep it as close to 5.8 as possible. Time to put some seedlings in the RDWC!
20230417_171056.jpg


#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
VIVOSUN Grow Hub - Recipe Setup for Dessert Mix RDWC grow​

With the VIVOSUN Smart Growing System (SGS) you get real-time feedback on all aspects of your grow: light intensity and spectrum, temperature and humidity, and the air speed both inside and moving out of your tent. But it not only lets you know more, it lets you control more. With the GrowHub Controller, you can change the ventilation, light intensity, and light spectrum inside your tent to create the perfect grow space depending on what you want to grow and what stage of growth your babies are in.

You can do everything the GrowHub Controller can do from anywhere with the @VIVOSUN App. It puts all the data about your environment right on your smartphone. Control your lights, ventilation, and air circulation from an intuitive interface that turns beginners into experts and experts into pros. You can use one of the pre-programmed 'Grow Recipes' or create your own custom recipes. Custom recipes allow you to design your own environment and set your own grow schedule. Either way once you're ready you can just set it and forget it.
Screenshot_20230419_124616_VIVOSUN.jpg

You can set up a new recipe from scratch, or you can copy from an existing recipe (sample photo and auto recipes are provided) and edit it. A Vivosun recipe allows you to define the parameters for the lights, circulation fan, and exhaust fan for three stages of your grow. In the app the stages are named Seedling, Veg, and Flower but you can use them however you need. You set up each component for every stage, starting with the light, then circulation, then duct fan.

For this grow I've decided to set up two recipes. I'll set up three different stages in each recipe, giving me a six stage grow.

Recipe#1 - Dessert Mix RDWC Veg - The three stages will be:
- Seedling - VPD .8-1, DLI 14-16
- Early Veg - VPD 1-1.1, DLI 20-25
- Late Veg - VPD 1.1-1.2, DLI 35-40
I'll be increasing VPD, circulation intensity and light intensity at each stage. All veg stages will be a 18/6 light schedule.

Recipe#2 - Dessert Mix RDWC Flower - The three stages will be:
- Early Flower (Weeks 1-3) - 1.1-1.2 VPD - Stretching and stacking
- Mid Flower (Weeks 4-6) - 1.4 VPD - Building buds
- Late Flower (Weeks 7+) - 1.6 VPD - Ripening
This allows me to dial down the RH as the buds get bigger and fatter. All flower stages will be on a 12/12 light schedule.

Since I had just done this for the Colombian Gold grow, I just copied those recipes over and re-named them. See THIS POST for a tutorial on setting up a recipe.

There were a few changes for the dessert grow but they were quick. Here's a summary of the veg settings I chose for the recipe 'Dessert Mix RDWC Veg':

- Seedling (Seedling)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Seedling, Intensity:40%
- Circulation Fan
- 00:00-24:00 Speed 2
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 75% RH, Speed 1, Default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 80% RH, Speed 3, Default off
- Vegetative (Early Veg)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Vegetative, Intensity:60%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 00:00-24:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 High 66% RH, Speed 4, default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 70% RH, Speed 6, Default off
- Flowering (Late Veg)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Vegetative, Intensity:80%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 00:00-24:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 60% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 65% RH, Speed 8, Default off

And here's the flower settings I chose for the recipe 'Dessert Mix RDWC Flower':

- Seedling (Early Flower - Weeks 1-3)
- Light
- 20:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:80%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 60% RH, Speed 8, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 82F / 65% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- Vegetative (Mid Flower - Weeks 4-6)
- Light
- 20:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:100%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 56% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 80F / 60% RH, Speed 8, Default off
- Flowering (Late Flower - Weeks 7+)
- Light
- 120:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:100%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 50% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 78F / 55% RH, Speed 8, Default off

The first stage has been started. The humidifier is on 70% and the tent is staying right at .8 VPD. The VSF6450 is at 40% measured at 14 DLI.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
Sorry if I'm running through these posts, I'm trying to get caught up! This morning I put Apple Betty and Mango Mousse in the RDWC system. I've had them sitting in the Vivosun Auto Oasis since they sprouted five days ago, still in the starter plugs. They have grown a bit and are ready to go into the RDWC.
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I'm using the same Hydroton from last grow (and the grow before that). It's been rinsed three times, soaked in peroxide, then dried. I put it in a bucket with pH'ed water this morning so that everything is nice and wet for the uppot.

First I put a base layer of hydroton in the netpot. Then I spray the plug to make sure the outside is wet and coat the plug with myco dust. Then I place it in the netpot as close to the middle as possible and fill in around the outside to hold it in place. For the leggy seedlings I carefully stack some hydroton around the lower stem as well. Finally, after completely filling the netpot with hydroton, I put on the 'light covers'. This time I'm using a mylar sheet over the top. This will keep the light out and hopefully reflect some of the light/heat off of the buckets.
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I'm hoping to put the other two seedlings in the RDWC by this weekend. Hopefully these two don't get too much of a head start.

#Vivosun #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
My friends at @VIVOSUN hooked me up with a new humidifier. I usually only use a humidifier for the first few weeks, until the plants can keep the humidity > 65% by themselves. So let me introduce you to:

VIVOSUN 2-in-1 Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier, 5L Indoor Ultrasonic Air Humidifier
Vivosun Humidifier 1.png

Warm & Cool Mist: The 5L large water tank works optimally in a 220 sq. ft. area; Comes with 3 adjustable (high/medium/low) mist levels; Choose the warm option, the water temperature reaches 35C/95F within 15 min

More Than a Humidifier: This air humidifier also can be as an air ionizer; Air ionizer produces 300 million cleansing oxygen ions per min
Vivosun Humidifier 2.png

Smart Humidification: Humidity adjustment range 40-95% with three mist levels
Vivosun Humidifier 5.png

Ultra-Quiet Sleep Mode: Our mini humidifier is almost silent (<35 dB), as quiet as a ticking clock; Set it on sleep mode to turn off all lights and sounds; Matches with timer function, supporting 4 types
Vivosun Humidifier 4.png


It hold 5 liters of water, which will last more than 24 hours in my 5x5.
Vivosun Humidifier 3.png

What I like about this humidifier:
- It's black! My last humidifier was clear and grew algae inside all the time. This one is black and you can't see inside, so it shouldn't grow algae in there.
- It has warm mist! I find that cool mist humidifiers cool my tent down 5+F, down to the low 70s. The warm mist keeps my tent in the high 70s, right where I want it. It definitely feels more tropical.
- Ionizer - This produces negative oxygen ions which cleans and refreshes the indoor air in addition to humidification. Negative ions attach themselves to dust particles, microorganisms and other unwanted substances in the air and bind them together. The particles become heavier than the air, fall down and are thus filtered out of the air.
- RH% - I can set a specific RH target and it will shut off above that target.
- Three mist levels - I usually leave it on the lowest level to use less water, but it's nice to have higher levels if needed.
- Touch screen controls are easy to use
- It's rather compact and easy to fit in small spaces, with the mist coming out of the top
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Vivosun Humidifier 7.png

What I don't like:
- Filling - It's not top-filled, you need to remove the res, turn it over, and open the valve to fill. Top-filled is so much easier.
- LIGHTS! - While it does have a sleep mode, there is still a small indicator on the panel that it is in sleep mode. I only use a humidifier for seedling/early veg, so it's not really an issue for me. I'd love to see an option to turn off all lights, though.
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- Settings not saved when powered-down - Especially for a grow tent, I'd love to have everything come back on at the same settings. This does not, and it comes on with a light.

All of the negatives are the same with every other humidifier I have, so the positives win! Right now I have it set to 70% with a low warm ionizing mist. With the SGS set to vent above 80% RH it shouldn't need to work too hard to keep it nice and tropical in the Vivosun Bud Factory.
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#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 

I have one of these in the Vivosun Auto Oasis and I love it. I've added one to the Bud Factory as well.

I found early in growing that without proper airflow you'll get microclimates in your tent. I thought a couple of canopy fans would be enough. I was surprised to find the top and bottom of the tent can be 10f / 10-15%RH different. Using Govee hygrometers around the plants, I saw that even individual plants could have their own microclimates without proper airflow. After that I added floor fans in my tents, usually blowing diagonally from the bottom to the top. This works great to mix the air in the tent, but I usually have a streak of brown leaves where the fan burns them, especially when growing in the SCROG.

You can set it to oscillate horizontally

You can set it to oscillate vertically

You can even set it to oscillate both horizontally and vertically at the same time!
**NOTE** These .gifs were sped up x4 speed

If that's not enough, it has 'natural wind' mode! This is the same 'natural wind' as the AeroWave E6 & the AeroLight fan, where it pulses the fan speed from low to high to mimic natural wind. It is designed to create the optimal growing environment for your plants.

The fan has other features, like a start and/or stop timer (1-9 hours) and Eco Mode (Automatically switches fan speed based on ambient temperatures). It comes apart easily for cleaning, with one screw and a twist. It's all controlled by the remote, which attaches to the side of the fan when not in use. And yes, there's a button to turn off the lighted display.

Right now it's pointing at about a 110 up angle and oscillating horizontally on speed 1. As the canopy fills in I'll step it up to natural and leave it there throughout the grow. I'm hoping with the oscillation and the natural wind it will keep the leaf burn off the bottom leaves.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
I've used Govee since I started growing. They have several devices that are really useful:

Thermometer/Hygrometer - I have several different types of these (bluetooth, bluetooth+wifi, wifi) and I've found them all really reliable. They can be calibrated, you can set alarms, and they even tell you when they are running out of batteries (they last about 6 months). They can also show VPD and dewpoint. As the @VIVOSUN Smart Grow System has all of this functionality as well, I use the Govee in the Bud Factory as a backup only.

Water Sensors - Especially in hydro these are really useful. I also have a 'sink' in my basement made out of a tote and a sump pump. I have several of these sensors in different parts of my house as well. Like seat belts, when you need them it's nice to have. They've saved my basement from flooding several times, not to mention my hydro salad tent.

Smart Plugs - I only have one of these right now, on the RDWC pump. The idea is that if the water sensor goes off in the Bud Factory, I can turn the pump off from anywhere. Their 'automation' functions don't work with the water sensors now, but they make upgrades all the time so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
 
Grow Hub - Recipe Setup for Dessert Mix RDWC grow​

With the VIVOSUN Smart Growing System (SGS) you get real-time feedback on all aspects of your grow: light intensity and spectrum, temperature and humidity, and the air speed both inside and moving out of your tent. But it not only lets you know more, it lets you control more. With the GrowHub Controller, you can change the ventilation, light intensity, and light spectrum inside your tent to create the perfect grow space depending on what you want to grow and what stage of growth your babies are in.

You can do everything the GrowHub Controller can do from anywhere with the @VIVOSUN App. It puts all the data about your environment right on your smartphone. Control your lights, ventilation, and air circulation from an intuitive interface that turns beginners into experts and experts into pros. You can use one of the pre-programmed 'Grow Recipes' or create your own custom recipes. Custom recipes allow you to design your own environment and set your own grow schedule. Either way once you're ready you can just set it and forget it.
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You can set up a new recipe from scratch, or you can copy from an existing recipe (sample photo and auto recipes are provided) and edit it. A Vivosun recipe allows you to define the parameters for the lights, circulation fan, and exhaust fan for three stages of your grow. In the app the stages are named Seedling, Veg, and Flower but you can use them however you need. You set up each component for every stage, starting with the light, then circulation, then duct fan.

For this grow I've decided to set up two recipes. I'll set up three different stages in each recipe, giving me a six stage grow.

Recipe#1 - Dessert Mix RDWC Veg - The three stages will be:
- Seedling - VPD .8-1, DLI 14-16
- Early Veg - VPD 1-1.1, DLI 20-25
- Late Veg - VPD 1.1-1.2, DLI 35-40
I'll be increasing VPD, circulation intensity and light intensity at each stage. All veg stages will be a 18/6 light schedule.

Recipe#2 - Dessert Mix RDWC Flower - The three stages will be:
- Early Flower (Weeks 1-3) - 1.1-1.2 VPD - Stretching and stacking
- Mid Flower (Weeks 4-6) - 1.4 VPD - Building buds
- Late Flower (Weeks 7+) - 1.6 VPD - Ripening
This allows me to dial down the RH as the buds get bigger and fatter. All flower stages will be on a 12/12 light schedule.

Since I had just done this for the Colombian Gold grow, I just copied those recipes over and re-named them. See THIS POST for a tutorial on setting up a recipe.

There were a few changes for the dessert grow but they were quick. Here's a summary of the veg settings I chose for the recipe 'Dessert Mix RDWC Veg':

- Seedling (Seedling)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Seedling, Intensity:40%
- Circulation Fan
- 00:00-24:00 Speed 2
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 75% RH, Speed 1, Default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 80% RH, Speed 3, Default off
- Vegetative (Early Veg)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Vegetative, Intensity:60%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 00:00-24:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 High 66% RH, Speed 4, default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 70% RH, Speed 6, Default off
- Flowering (Late Veg)
- Light
- 22:00-04:00 OFF
- 04:00-22:00 Spectrum:Vegetative, Intensity:80%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 00:00-24:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 22:00-04:00 60% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 04:00-22:00 High 82F / 65% RH, Speed 8, Default off

And here's the flower settings I chose for the recipe 'Dessert Mix RDWC Flower':

- Seedling (Early Flower - Weeks 1-3)
- Light
- 20:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:80%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 60% RH, Speed 8, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 82F / 65% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- Vegetative (Mid Flower - Weeks 4-6)
- Light
- 20:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:100%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 56% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 80F / 60% RH, Speed 8, Default off
- Flowering (Late Flower - Weeks 7+)
- Light
- 120:00-08:00 OFF
- 08:00-20:00 Spectrum:Flowering, Intensity:100%, Simulate Sunrise/Sunset
- Circulation Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 80%
- 08:00-20:00 Natural (Simulates natural wind)
- Exhaust Fan:
- 20:00-08:00 50% RH, Speed 5, Default off
- 08:00-20:00 High 78F / 55% RH, Speed 8, Default off

The first stage has been started. The humidifier is on 70% and the tent is staying right at .8 VPD. The VSF6450 is at 40% measured at 14 DLI.

#VIVOSUN #LoveWhatYouGrow
I love your setup and if I had to do it all over again that’s exactly how I’d go. I’m still waiting for it to brew my morning Coffee though, maybe you could mention it to someone in development Bman. @VIVOSUN Rocks! CL🍀. :bravo:
 
WooHoo have a bone break! Sweet tools of the trade on board! I'm in love with the fan in a big way! Bottom wind is a must! That's awesome!
Genetics :thumb:
Thanks SO. I feel good this morning, I finally have four seedlings up! By this weekend the RDWC will have four seedlings ready to fill that 5x5!
I love your setup and if I had to do it all over again that’s exactly how I’d go. I’m still waiting for it to brew my morning Coffee though, maybe you could mention it to someone in development Bman. @VIVOSUN Rocks! CL🍀. :bravo:
Thanks CL. I've spoken to the @VIVOSUN dev team and they're coming up with some really neat gear. I actually just heard this morning that I'll be getting a new toy but I'll need to keep it secret for a little while. I love new toys... and secrets ;)
 
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