1st grow advice, C4 and Royal AK auto

[Insanevisions]

What strain, Seed bank, or bag seed (photo or auto) C4 auto and Royal AK auto

-Method: rocks on bottom, Coco coir, pearlite, organic premium soil mix with worm castings, alfalfa meal, Endo and Ecto Mycorrhizae, and also some organic soil from my friend with bat shit in it

-Vessels: Type and capacity of container (fabric, plastic, etc) … 2.5 gal plastic

-PH and TDS of Water, Solution, runoff (if Applicable)

-PPM/TDS or EC of nutrient solution if applicable

-Method used to measure PH and TDS … I have a digital pH meter that I need to calibrate

-Indoor or Outdoor if indoor, size of grow space … indoor , 2x2x4 grow tent

-Light system List brand and wattage/spectrum … Mars Hydro TS600, 100w

-Actual wattage draw of lights … idk

-Current Light Schedule … 16/8

-Temps; Day, Night … up to 82F Day, down to 68F night - I have not installed the cooling system yet, using small fan inside

-Humidity; Day, Night … need to monitor, around 50%

-Ventilation system; Yes, No, Size … yes, 4" fan with carbon filter

-AC, Humidifier, De-humidifier, … No

-Co2; Yes, No … No

Hi all, new here and wondering if I can get some advice or critiques of my setup. I started these seedlings off in a seed starting mix then transferred them to 2.5 gal pots. I initially used this Sta Green soil mix not knowing any better but I am going to switch to the mixture I listed above in a couple days. A little worried about replanting these but I think I’ll be ok if I’m very careful.

I plan on letting the plants get established (5 weeks or so) before I start introducing fertilizer. I am trying the Growth Science Nutrients starter kit available on Amazon.

Plants are about 12 days old and looking happy!

I did have to add some more seed starting mix to the top of the AK because it started falling over, due to very slight over watering.

Thank you!

[Spiney_norman]

Hey @Insanevisions ,Sundays are sometimes a little slow.
Can you be more specific about the general percentages of the coco to soil ratio.
Each one likes a different pH and mixing them together can make it lean one way or the other. If its 20% or less of coco you can probably treat it like soil and be fine. 50/50 and its trial and error as to what pH it will like. You get the idea.
Coco likes a pH of 5.8, and soils like 6.8

[Insanevisions]

Hi there. This is where I had a ton of confusion. If it is mostly coco then then I need to fertilize right?

I planned on using a 3:1 mix of the coco and pearlite + that soil mix for the top portion and then mixing some of that organic soil in underneath that. This way the roots have something to grow towards? Im not sure if that method makes sense…

I need to learn about the proper pH values, that’s something I’ve been neglecting in my research.

[Spiney_norman]

I have no clue how to manage that. Just watch the plant and feed it when it looks hungry I guess.

[Insanevisions]

I think I’m going to test the pH of my soil mix first then adjust the water I’m using to slightly raise or lower it. I want to maintain it between 5.8 and 6.2 right?

[Spiney_norman]

@Insanevisions

I planned on using a 3:1 mix of the coco and pearlite + that soil mix for the top portion and then mixing some of that organic soil in underneath that.

I dont know what pH this will do best with. SO start with your plan and see what happens.

[Insanevisions]

So things were going pretty well for a while. Then I got spider mites and the plants started looking yellowish. I treated for the mites with captain jacks dead bug multiple times and it seemed to work, for the most part.

The C4 started flowering early most likely from stress, buds are small but at least it’s growing! I had to trim back a bunch of yellow leaves though.

The Royal AK is dying. Leaves have been yellowing for a couple weeks now. I started treating them again for spider mites and now fungus gnats.

I fertilize with Growth Science Nutrients and cal mag every other watering following their instructions for plants in transition and now in flower. I adjust for and measure a pH of about 6.5 for my mix. I just tested the runoff and it was 6.65.

A friend thinks it may be a fungus issue? He suggested using neem oil. The buds look great but all the other leaves are yellow and dying.

[Insanevisions]

My Banana Dream photo looks incredible though. I’m following the same fertilization schedule and dosing. So I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

[Insanevisions]

Apologies for the bump but can anyone help?
Should I just scrap the AK?

I am a novice grower and to this site. Apologies if I am going about things incorrectly.

[Insanevisions]

Hi all,

Is this one ready to harvest? I tried to take the best pictures of the trichomes I could.

I don’t think I want to wait until they turn amber, I’m looking for a more energetic high so I should harvest soon right?

[MidwestGuy]

It’s not time to think about harvesting until all of the white pistils have browned and receded. Plants are typically ready for harvest a few weeks after that happens. How many weeks has the plant been flowering? Most plants will be ready for harvest at 8 to 10 weeks from the time the plant started flowering.

I have a couple of suggestions:

Your temps are fine.

@Insanevisions

5.8 and 6.2 right

Mixing coco and soil isn’t really a good idea. Managing pH and watering is done completely different between soil and coco grows. Pick soil or coco and go with that. Combining them creates problems. The soil pH sweet spot is 6.5 and the coco sweet spot is 5.8. Coco should be watered daily. Soil should be left to dry out before watering again.

You’ll have far more healthy plants with adequate lighting. Two-hundred watts of quality lighting (LEDs built with Samsung LM301 diodes) per plant for flowering is a good rule-of-thumb. You can get away with a little less for the veg stage of growth.

Neem oil isn’t intended for use during flowering. Capt. Jack’s Deadbug is a better option. A dilute hydrogen peroxide / water mix is very effective at treating mold problems.

As your pH seems to be in line, the yellowing is due to nutrients. Grab a PPM meter and feed as necessary to maintain a runoff PPM of ~1,000.

Gnats (and most bugs in general) are often a symptom of overwatering. Water to runoff and then let the soil dry out before watering again. I would water slowly, as coco becomes hydrophobic when it dries out.

[Insanevisions]

It’s been flowering for about 4-5 weeks. I will wait until all the pistils turn brown and recede, then wait the few weeks like you suggest.

This plant is under 120w of light that I kind of just rigged up haphazardly. Somehow it looks like it’s doing better than the ones in the tent!

For the two autos, I definitely messed up with substrate, I threw too much at it. Next run will be Coco coir only.

I will upgrade my lighting for the tent as well. But I think trying to stick two plants in a 2x2x4 was a mistake also.

My friend insists I use neem oil but damn does that stuff stink! I will take your advice and use the diluted hydrogen peroxide instead. Thank you.

I will measure ppm of the run off next watering. I don’t use an exact science when fertilizing, I have just been adding a 1/4 tsp of each to a watering can and then adjusting the pH. Obviously this method is not working! I guess I thought I would luck out with hitting it with exactly what it needs. Seems I have been poisoning it instead!

This has been a learning as I go process rather than doing all the research upfront. I thought it was pretty straightforward, water the plant and then toss in some fertilizer and you are good to go! But no, there is so much more to it than that.

Thank you for the advice, I will apply it to my grow. I definitely need to dial in my fertilizing.

[MidwestGuy]

@Insanevisions

4-5 weeks

You have another 4 to 5 weeks to go before the plant will be ready for harvest.

@Insanevisions

friend insists

Neem oil can be toxic and should not be used on flowers. It is very difficult to remove it after harvest with a bud wash, as the Neem oil soaks into the flowers. Neem is fine to use during the veg stage.

Neem oil poisoning: Case report of an adult with toxic encephalopathy - PubMed

Toxicological evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil: acute and subacute...

[Insanevisions]

Oof! I will share this with him! Thank you so much!

[Insanevisions]

What a disaster this first grow has been! I’ve definitely learned a lot though. Next grow I’ll get it down. I’ve decided to use soil because of how well the Banana Dream did.

C4 left. Royal AK right.

The c4 has mites that will just not go away. I treat them then the next day webs are back and they are just trotting along like nothing happened.

C4. I’m thinking of harvesting all of my plants and just starting a new.

Royal AK.

Banana Dream. I will be harvesting this one this weekend.

[Firstimer1299]

Hey sorry to bother man but how’s the royal ak?
I just bought the photo version and was curious

[Insanevisions]

Hey, the royal ak is my favorite strain I have grown yet. I only got 18.4 grams from my auto but it’s a very potent 18.4 grams. Smoke is very smooth and the high is very relaxing without making you tired or couch locked.

I think you will be much better off with a photo, I got twice the amount from my photo vs my autos.

[Firstimer1299]

Thanks for taking the time, appreciate it

Can’t wait for the seeds to arrive gonna be sprouting one royal ak and one chocolate haze

[Firstimer1299]

Oh and those buds look good, good luck on your next grow growmie

[Insanevisions]

Thank you and no problem. Chocolate haze looks like it will be a good strain too. Best of luck to you as well.

Definitely use this site for help, there are a bunch of very helpful people here.