Does this mean it's OK to remove the big fan leaves that are blocking light to lower branches? I've tucked a couple of them but they just end up pressed against other leaves, creating the potential to trap moisture and cause mildew etc.
When to begin nutes in rdwc
- Thread starter 420Mn
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OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
Don't worry about the lower branches now. The large fan leaves make more food that gets sent all over the plant so the lower branches will get more if there are large leaves on the plants. Don't remove anything that's healthy and green at this point.
Thanks, man! I untucked the fan leaves and plan to leave them alone. Think I will try some LST training to pull those branches to the side and expose them to more light. But I plan to wait on your reply before going that route as I can already hear the responses saying "you shouldn't have done that" lolDon't worry about the lower branches now. The large fan leaves make more food that gets sent all over the plant so the lower branches will get more if there are large leaves on the plants. Don't remove anything that's healthy and green at this point.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
The more you angle the side branches out the bushier your plants will get and overlap each other so there is that to consider. When I have plants in close proximity like yours are I'll top the main stem to allow the side branches to catch up in height so the top buds on them end up near the top of the main stem colas in flower. The lower nodes and leaves can be removed while still in veg so the plants aren't wasting energy growing what will end up being little popcorn buds. I would leave just the top 2 or 3 nodes on side branches by the time you flip to flower.
Three of the four plants were topped recently. I'm letting the fourth catch up in hight a bit before topping her.When I have plants in close proximity like yours are I'll top the main stem to allow the side branches to catch up in height so the top buds on them end up near the top of the main stem colas in flower.
Are you referring to lollipoping? I plan to do that before switching to flower.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
I'd remove a lot of the lower nodes any time now. The plant is still using energy to grow them out that could better be used growing the whole plant and bigger bud sites up top. If leaves associated with the nodes are getting light you could leave those on but take out any smaller ones that are completely covered. Just snip the little emerging nodes out with some fine-point scissors. They will eventually become side branches on the side branches if left alone and yield nothing but tiny popcorn buds.
I'll sometimes leave a few for future use as clones or for dusting with pollen to make some seeds.
Remove all the lower growth on branches or just nodes at the base of the branch? And should I do that with all branches or or just those not recieving light?I'd remove a lot of the lower nodes any time now. The plant is still using energy to grow them out that could better be used growing the whole plant and bigger bud sites up top. If leaves associated with the nodes are getting light you could leave those on but take out any smaller ones that are completely covered. Just snip the little emerging nodes out with some fine-point scissors. They will eventually become side branches on the side branches if left alone and yield nothing but tiny popcorn buds.
I'll sometimes leave a few for future use as clones or for dusting with pollen to make some seeds.
OldMedUser
Well-Known Member
Just the lower nodes for now and you'll see which to take off later when the plants get taller. They'll get taller faster with less junk to growing down below.
It's not a big deal if you don't take off too many right away. Could leave 2 or 3 below the top of each branch now and in a week or so there will be more as the top grows taller. It's not an exact science.
Thank you for the advice! I'm sipping on my cup of coffee with excitement over the idea that I'm about to have my first experience with defoliation. It's a far cry from a few weeks ago when my noob mentality had me convinced the crop likely wasn't going to make it.
I'm still not sure whether you mean to remove the nodes on just the lower branches or the upper branches as well? My impression is that cleaning up the lower branches will cause them to grow faster, allowing them to catch up in height with the uppers. I presume you won't see this message until later tonight and Im not sure I will have time to work on the plants the next couple days, so I'm going to clean up the lower branches for now and do the uppers in a few days if you recommend I do those as well. Hopefully that's the right choice lol
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
how's the plants?
Thanks for asking, man! They seemed to perk up and the root system has exploded. But I'm dealing with a deficiency. Not sure if it's potassium, calcium, or both. Any idea what's happening? It was just on some lower leaves for a while but seems to have gotten worse almost overnight.
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rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
rust spots like that is Calcium. your pH is in range?
and IMO, i wouldn't be doing too much defol if you still have issues.
Ph has been climbing 0.1-0.2 daily. I've been adjusting daily to get it back to 6.0-6.1.
I presume it's time to up the calmagic a bit? I wasn't 100% sure its calcium related as the spots start lower on the plant and work their way up.
I only upped the calmagic to 50-60% of the recommended dose. I'm sure it's lower now as the plants have been consuming it and are deficient
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
when i did dwc, i liked letting it get up to 6.3 and then adjust down to 5.5 and let it climb to 6.3 again
That makes sense considering the ability to uptake each nute/element is based on the ph level. Should I hold off on the calimagic and drop the ph closer to 5.5 to see if climbing and dropping corrects the calcium deficiency?
A quick Google search shows that calcium uptake happens at the higher end of recommended ph levels for hydro. @6.2 and above
Edit: correction it's 6.0 and above with closer to 6.5 being more of a maximum uptake
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rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
could you post up what your nutrients and amounts are ?
were you the one that was using Lucas formula? or was that another grower?
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
realistically, 5.5 to 6.5 is fine for hydro as long as you kinda let it roam throughout that range. like i wouldn't want it at 5.5 all the time and i wouldn't want it at 6.5 all the time either.