SickofPain's first grow

Before I start this journal a couple words about me & my growing skills LOL I have always wanted to grow houseplants & have never been able to keep ANYTHING alive. ( I killed Cat Grass that I bought at WalMart. With a family of green thumbs you'd think one of them would try to help. Last year I moved where I am now & my landlord helped me grow the first vegetable garden ever. Confidence is up & this grow is showing I really CAN do it. Am starting this journal on day 51 of Veg. I'm growing in a 10'x10' spare room, using 2 HydroFarm Sunburst 400W HPS/MH Convertable lights, have a 6" inline exhaust fan and a regular box fan for air circulation. I have mainly Random Bag Seed, but did purchase 10 Kalashnikova feminized seeds from The Additude (only 8 survived) and three clones a friend gave me to raise. Have just transplanted to larger (1gal) pots and changing up my nutrient regimen . I originally tried to use everything that was recommended and found out quickly that wasn't the way to go. And now use FoxFarm's Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula - Big Bloom,Grow Big & Tiger Bloom and am doing soooo much better. I am trying a couple growing techniques that I'm impressed with. LST (Less Stress Training) seems to be GREAT! and a couple days ago I tried "Super Cropping" on a couple that seemed too tall & bushy. A friend gave me 3 clones to put under my lights & the improvement is unreal! Will post the before & after pics that I have. Since the transplant everything looks lovely! Now if these babies grow into their new homes it will be great!
Here's the first clone I was given to help....saddest Lemon Skunk on earth

And this is today

This is another clone that I was given to raise (BubbleGum) I had it for a couple weeks before I took this (who would think of a camera on their phone? LOL)

And this is same plant today
So, so far so good.

Here's a couple shots of the grow room in general:
(this one is today)

and the better LST plants. I use twist ties on them & secure them to rim of pot instead of using wire to secure them to the dirt. I like my way better.


So, this is my first attempt...at growing & journal. Let me know what you think.

Peace!

Great job on your first grow.

Way to take that overwatered underfed Lemon Skunk and turn it around! You seem to be well on your way, keep it up and this



will be you, soon!

Thank you MB, I really needed to hear that. They look good to me (some may be a bit small, but I think that is because of the LST

Has anybody ever heard of Kalashnikova? It's an AK-47 x White Widow. I haven't found much on it except a couple vids on youtube. (I got them from The Additude...http://www.cannabis-seeds-bank.co.uk/green-house-kalashnikova-feminized/prod_3099.html) They seem to be growing well& I am going to clone one anyways. She's too pretty not to. Cloning will be my next endeavor, any advice before I even begin to think about starting?

Everybody has been so awesome & helpful to me, I'd like to thank you all again!

Peace!

Hey Sick and Top of the Mornin to Ya! (Because of your comment about having a camera on the phone, I nearly choked on my coffee as I read it !) Reminds me of how Maxwell Smart from the 60's / 70's Get Smart series used to take off his shoe and call his boss or Agent 99 !! Anyhow ....

I am so glad that you have taken the plunge and growing ! I too did not think that I had the "Green Thumb" in doing so, but so far, with the help of all of my "Great Buddies" on here (Especially the Mainer's), WE can do it together! I hope and pray that everything goes well for you, and keep up the great work !! Looking very forward to some great posts, along with some pics from "Your Phone Camera" !!

Merry Christmas and All The Very Best in 2012
The MaineYankee Family

LOL, Get Smart! I haven't thought about that nut in years! Thanks for the great memories! I couldn't have done this without all of you on this forum, you all have become an important part of my life in a short time, & I appreciate all your support & advice. Here's part 2 of my First Grow...

Continuing with the Fox Farm nutes, my girls are going to town! I have several that are ready for flowerig, but have to wait for that room to get set up. All the lights & equiptment are in now, so by mid Jan, I should have the 6 I'm allowed in flower. The Kalishnikova will sat in veg for a while longer, so I can get the best medicine I can.

This is the poor little Lemon Skunk I was given to save



and here's some of the ones ready for flower



and my very successful LST Kalashnikova



I'm so excited about these girls, like I said before, I'm the one who has killed Chia Pets & Cat Grass all my life. Never have I been able to grow anything. I thank you all for your advice & suggestions, I can't do it without you! Thank you all!

I (may) have a wee bit of an issue. I didn't think anything of it yesterday when I saw some lighter colored new growth & some yellowing leaves near the bottom. Today however I had to take a bit closer look. After I removed the sad yellow lower leaves, and started moving some of the fan leaves out of the way on my LST, I noticed the new growth was more of a yellow. So out came my handy little camera phone & knew I was running in here to you (typical female huh? always running to the men for help LOL)
Anyways, does this look like a Nitrogen deficiancy to you? Before the pics though, I should tell you that yesterday I added the Nutes again (only second time since I got them) But I guess I should mention that since I got the Fox Farm nutes on 12/16, my plants were only dry enough to water (not nutes tho) again on the 22nd, and I added the nutes yesterday. I think I need to add nutes more often, am I right?

Here's some of the leaves I removed already



And some of the new growth that concerns me



and a different Lemon Skunk




Anyways, thanks in advance for the help that I know I'll be getting, you guys rock! Luv ya all!

i think you are having an N deficiency. lock in or lock out can happen from over and under feeding. plants should fed only enough to stay wet a day or 2. they do need to dry out between feedings. can you test soil pH? how long have they been in that dirt? most good dirt comes preloaded with enough nutes to supply plant for around 30 days. judging by what you said about feeding frequency you may want to use more nutes. overall great work. that first pic is sad. i typically feed my veg about every other day. i'll feed lightly(15 fl. oz. per 2 gal. pot) with nutes and then a day off and then straight h2o and then a day off and the nutes again and so on. one thing i can tell you for sure from my wife working for 5 years at boulder, co's oldest grow store is that the directions on nutes are dosed on the higher end. that is done so you will use nutes faster and have to buy more faster. that is straight out of a few different company reps mouths. always use 1/4 to 1/2 strength of what bottle says. you'll be sure not to burn and your money will go further. again though, nice work.

I already got this straightened out I think. But I did exactly what you said. I'm now feeding to stay wet a day or 2 & am giving now alternating nutes & water.
I just transplanted these into the 1 gal pots on Dec 17. And I use ProMix, Perlite, Earthworm Casings, Dolomite Lime, Fox Farm Peace of Mind 5-5-5, and Blood Meal. I was given this recipe by a friend, and so far has been working great.
I have been told that very same thing about nutes being dosed on the higher end & to use it 1/4 to 1/2 strength, and my Ph is 7. You definatly seem to know what you're talking about! I am so glad you found this site
Nice to have someone else knowledgable in the group!
Happy New Year!
Peace!

right on. good to hear its been taken care of. happy new year to you as well. oi!

Looking at plants every day, yellowing lower leaves, yellowish new growth, I knew they were N deficient so, I fed them 2 times in a row. After days of nothing changing at all in appearence and looking back on all my notes, I figured they probably were in Nute LockOut. So yesterday I spent the day flushing the hell out of all the plants. GREAT choice, cause today they look beautiful! I haven't given them any nutes up to now, but have a gallon of worm tea that I got from my "Can of Worms" worm farm. This is the first mentionable amount so far, and don't know if I should feed ONLY the worm tea, or should I add nutes to it also?

Here's some pics I took this morning of them.





This is the poor little almost dead "Lemon Skunk" which turned out to be bubblegum lol
He labeled the clone wrong....like I always asked my kids...."Why do you think they call it dope?' LOL

It has been 6 days since my cloning experiment, and so far they're looking great! I spritz them several times a day with water, keep the humidity fairly high in the dome, and add some Hormex water to the cells every other day, to help with root formation. Here's how they look today:



I think I read somewhere that some leaves will start to die, but not remove them because it is basically eating the nutrients out of them. I have so many pages bookmarked that I actually can't find this tho. So, question is, Is this looking right? it's only 2 clones turning & am wondering should I remove the black leaves? They look so bad



Also, On Saturday I put 6 of my girls out to flower. These pics are from the day I put them out there (my landlords photography studio on other side of property)



This is the set up out there. It kind of sucks because there is no water supply out there, so I have to lug water over every time they need feeding. But the end result will be so worth it I believe. And I still have quite a few in Veg stage waiting on their turn in the studio.

you should be very proud !!

Oh, I am most definatly proud. Can't wait for first harvest as I have no meds at this time & haven't for quite awhile. Don't know anybody on the black market to get anything, so I have been patiently waiting. I'd get a CG, but it's not fair for them to have to pay $300 just for a few weeks.
Anyways, here's some more of my grow progress

Well, it's been awhile since I updated this journal, and have some sweet things happening.11 days into my first cloning attempt, and I figured I cooked the poor babies because I couldn't keep their temp within range (70-80º f) I bought a heat pad with the dome trays & it was shooting the temp to over 90 & if I turned ir off it would plummet down to below 70 at night (only 2 nights of this & I turned the heat pad back on with 2 towels over it, still too high. So yesterday these poor babies were all yellow & brown cooked looking & decided I'd give them a quiet burial this morning. When I started to get rid of them, I noticed one was getting a root, and checked the others out. 11 out of 21 had some kind of root growth, so I am going to see how it goes. I am going to get a control for the heat mat tomorrow, but have them raised about an inch above the mat (still with 2 towels on it) but will only turn it on at night when the temp goes down. (the day time temp was at 72 consistently when I took em off the mat) So this is what I am dealing with for clones right now. Are they actually suppose to look this sad? I have read the leaves turn yellow & brown, that it's ok because the leaves are absorbing the nutrients.



I started a dozen more yesterday, from the first Bubblegum clone I was given. Decided she is definitely a "mother" plant.
Attachment 1999010

I had a beautiful surprise in my flower room yesterday. They're starting to flower!!! YAY ME!!
Looking quite healthy & happy. Conditions in room seem to be perfect from what I have read. temp is a steady 72, humidity is hanging around 50% I'm feeding them once a week & watering them once a week.
here's some pics from yesterday, though I couldn't get anything good of the flowers with my phone, but here is what DID turn out



Overall I am quite pleased with what I have going, will keep you all informed

They are a "Bevy of Beauties" just like you !! I too have a hard time with the overall "Cloning" thing, although this last batch of 3 gave me 3 that I just placed (2 in the veg room) and (1) that I stuck low in the flower room station (Doing a test or experiment thingy).

Hope that your mat gets off it's "High" horse, and get back within it's "Home on The Range". I must admit, that when they get that sad looking as you so mentioned, I too have read what you had read, but also this .... "If you have bad clones, you will get bad veg and flowers", so it's a toss up. Like everyone says ... It is your garden, and You are the pilot. Reminds me of a joke .... Remind me when we hook up.... It's kind of a long story

Looks like you are well on your way sweetie. They look great (to me, but then again, what do I know) ... Just like you, we are on a learning curve, and thank those friends that we have on here for direction. Overall ... You get an A+ Class Dismissed for the night

Peace, Love and Happiness
Bob

I don't know how I missed that post Bob. Thank you very much, you know I couldn't do it without you guys!

But I am here because I think I may have a problem in my flower room. When I went in this morning, 2 of my plants look like they may have turned Hermie. (they were definately NOT male) Here's the best pics I could get off my phone, please let me know as soon as possible if they are hermie & what the hell do I do with them now? along with the other plants in there
. last one is very blurry, but you can still see them.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!


Well, I decided that they are hermie & just pitched em out, not worth risking all of what I have in there any more than they have been

Ok, Now I have another question regarding hermies. Can they pollinate other plants? Like my others in flowering? Not sure how to procede with this, are they in danger? Do I need to toss them too? (please say no...and mean it lol) Thanks guys!

Man theres no pistils thats a full fledged male about to burst! and it WILL pollinate anything else in you garden and give you bud full of seeds. TOSS THEM NOW. Put a garbage bag CAREFULLY over the top before moving them incase some pop open and release pollen.

Sad times bro.

Your other ladies should be ok as long as none of them pods burst open.

djlifeline said:

Man theres no pistils thats a full fledged male about to burst! and it WILL pollinate anything else in you garden and give you bud full of seeds. TOSS THEM NOW. Put a garbage bag CAREFULLY over the top before moving them incase some pop open and release pollen.

Sad times bro.

Your other ladies should be ok as long as none of them pods burst open.

Click to expand...

OK, so after getting kinda upset from this post (I mean c'mon I have been checking these for well over a month & all signs pointed to female...had the "V" instead of the "dick") but I want to apologize, after REALLY thinking about what I observed during flowering, I realize what I was looking at wasn't a really nice budding female, but actually a male. Oh well there's always the learning curve in the first time growing.
Now my question is, why the hell didn't it have the the "balls" like this pic?

Now, not only me, but 2 friends that know (I thought) how to sex said they were females too.
Why did it take so long in flowering stage to show signs of being a male?

I am really having a hard time with this. My not knowing....I love to learn...especially about something as important as this. This IS the first time I had grown ANYTHING in my life, so this is extra special to me.

The other 5 in flower are definatly female....looking AWESOME and will post some good pics as soon as I can get my photographer landlord to take some better ones than my phone takes. Thank you for making me realize my mistake!

Again, djlifeline, I'm sorry for getting additude (in my own head anyways) you done me more right than I could possibly have thought. Apparently, I was taught WRONG how & when to check sex. Had someone who really knows came over & took me out to my flower room & we had "Weed Sexing 101" and I believe I have it down now. I was told before you checked for sex during Veg (WRONG!) Now I know you can tell within a couple weeks of flowering. Now the flower room is basically broke off into 2 sections. One for the ones I know are def female & the other side for pre sexing. Should work well...I hope. Today is day 24 in flower & they are looking great. Maybe a bit smaller than I hoped for at this stage, but being my first grow, with so many things contributing to growth stunt (mainly overwatering I believe)
But here are the 3 pics that actually turned out. Will try to get some clearer ones


I just planted some Auto Flower White Russian, so will start a new grow log for it.

So, just went out & got a few more pics of flowering...



I sure wish I had a better camera! They are soooo beautiful when I look at them, but these pics don't do my girls any justice