Thank you Gentlemen and Hellraiser.
Got a bit smarter during this grow for sure.
5/05/2021 Update:
My Eureka PH moment, sponsored by @spankyjr1 (My PPM / PH hero of the week).
This grow I am nearing the chop down. I had a cup of reality and I accept the fact I am not going to make High Time Center Fold layouts with these 2 autos, but these things DO make my mouth water when I open the door to check on them! Gold Leaf is throwing some ambers and looking pretty. The Wedding cake has 2 Cola that are Coke Can Size plus in thickness, dense buds. WC is starting to amber also, but a little behind GL.
When I think it is really time to chop down the GL which is nearing I am going to have to make a game time decision on the WC. I am thinking, as part of the experiment with these two plants I may take WC down a little early just to see how the effects are when I smoke it. I will have that same drying, location, issue as before. Makes the fall grow easy to choose all the same strain.
All will be WC thinking they will all stay about same height and Finish at same time. Different strains in this tight space is not smart. I think tomorrow will be a feed with 2 watering events afterwards and I am probably going to take them down.
I am definitely going Wedding Cake X3 or X4 this Fall in this tight closet. I will be manifolding them as the results for the March Cut down plant WC did very nice in yield. Smokes nice. Even with all the stress I put on them cutting them and tying them down both those autos did nice. I am really hoping to get my sh*t together from Day #1 on the Fall grow and slay it with some nice plant leaf coloration all the way thru the Grow.
Here was my thought process for using RO water, with FFHF Dirt. The water around here is very hard. Nobody actually drinks the water around these parts. 759 PPM today from direct tap. Lots of minerals / Scale and pretty sure pollution as we do a lot of underground mining for dinosaur pools around these parts. Plants are most certainly not people and maybe I just guessed wrong deciding not to use tap water. Not sure why I did it to be honest. I realize my Diesel mechanic Friend may not have all the answers to weed growing but you know quite a bit.
Does the lower PPM initial numbers you are gauging the food uptake better and know what the plant is in taking in as you are mixing it yourself?
Is PH really the only thing to get wrapped around the axle fretting over, or is baseline PPM being high a real No-No also?
My guess for dirt growers the PH is a lot more important than PPM, only a guess though.
@spankyjr1, @hellraiser, @beardless, I would be very curious as to what is your water PPM out the tap, and do you use it? Well or City water source?
I see my outdoor tomato plants grow well in my yard with nothing but tap water. Could they do better with proper nutrients and PH, absolutely!
Why did I decide to go RO? Not sure exactly.
Some Numbers I pulled today just water, and if you care to offer up any thoughts, I am all ears. I think I am getting close to start off water with that 2 Gal RO and 1 Gal of Love Potion 759 ppm.
Tap Water = 759 PPM and 8.10 PH steady at 30 seconds
2 Gal RO water reading 42 PPM Initially
2 Gal RO + 16 oz Tap water = 90 PPM
2 Gal RO + 48 oz Tap water= 173 PPM
2 Gal RO + 64 oz Tap water= 203 PPM
2 Gal RO + 1 Gal Tap = 310 PPM and 7.05 PH at 30 seconds per PH Pen directions. Did not Lock Dead on, but pretty steady.
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5/06/2021 Update:
@spankyjr1 (My Current Weed Doctor)
Water / Fed using the Trio chems, Full Label Strength. Still lots of white Pistils on the WC buds. The GL is getting close so this very well may be the last feed, followed by two Flush Watering, 2 nights of total darkness would put me around 11 days to the chop. All is iffy and subject to change as I am still trying to figure out what right looks like.
The milky ness and the Loupes being the trigger point of the cut, Nope, I am just going with amber hairs.
The earlier chop of the 5 Gal bags were both at 90 days total grow. These 3 Gal Bags are approx. 96 days into the grow currently. I am not going to Fret over the milkiness until I get some better loupes, or better eyes. Not a make of break investment for me at this point. I am going to buy that PH pen before we kick off the fall Grow Season as I still am not going in at 6.5 PH. The PH Up was not having a huge reaction so instead of pissing in Blue to the solution, I just watered and Fed as I was not liking the oil Slick the PH Up appears to add to the feed. I am still going to replace the solutions too as cross contamination could be a reality as the same measuring tube was going into multiple bottles of stuff.
The solution sat over night in the bucket as 2 Gal RO with 1 Gal Tap. This AM I start with a quick fluid check was 6.8 PH steady. PPM measurement with feed in solution was 1250 PPM.
Each plant got close to 1.25 Gal, Run off:
GL 5.8 PH with 1680 PPM Run Off measurement
WC 6.08 PH with 1500 PPM Run Off measurement
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My city tap water is near 500 ppm at a ph of 8 or so, I use it like most people use ph up - add some to the RO water to bring ph where I want it.
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Yes
Both numbers are needed to make any changes they go hand in hand
If you had high PPM numbers without knowing PH you wouldn’t know if you are feeding too much or the plant is not uptaking because of PH out of wack
Knowing both numbers lets you create a better environment to avoid problems before they affect the plant
IMO both numbers are equally important
My ppm is about 140, Ph varies from 7.0-8.3 city water pretty clean I drink it I don’t buy bottled for myself
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@spankyjr1 Read that you added the light bar to run in concert with those HLG Lights you bought awhile back over on Hell’s thread. Got the Turbo Charged Cats running perfectly I’ll bet, so to speak. 
I saw the 20 Hour statement about the pistils. If you want post a pic or two, or 10 anytime, feel free. Anything you have to share, I am listening, watching, looking.
This thread here has about run its course. I will stay with it until I dry weigh these two plants with sporadic updates. I am going to go back and re-read it a couple weeks before I germinate this fall and see what the @Hellraiser threads are talking about. I’ll be so stoned between this an the next grow I will need a name tag to identify what is in the mirror.
To Grow the Magazine Centerfold Buds the more intense the Lighting the better the overall results. No way around it. Cheap Ass equipment produces fluff buds. For my space which is very limited…my current set up is producing better bud than I was buying, so I am happy unless Elon Musk of Grow Lights comes up with something better, I guess.
A few months ago, I smoked some Pepsi Bricked Weed Grown from who knows how long ago? LOL. Shit was definitely grown Down in Mexico…where the Pepper Grow,… anyway…
I am trying to go as low cost as possible, as I have chosen to retire. I have limited my choices of what I can buy, on purpose when I walked away from it all. I am not going burn up my entire life working for the man.
You, have a mechanic’s trade know how where you can pic and choose a few Huge Paying Rebuilds here and there to work as you want. Not alot of people have that skill set. You guys are like Plumbers and Doctors…LOL
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Yes I added 2 UVA light bars in between the 3 260’s you can see them in pictures to follow
Yes the trichomes started showing heavy after only12-20 hrs but I did have them hanging lower than the recommended 24" I since moved them up some I’m only a week or 2 away from harvest (I think) so next feed I will lower back down to just see what happens.
I only vegged these 8 weeks this time usually do 12 before flip so they are a little smaller I want to see if it’s worth the extra time vegging longer if I keep the grows going back to back
Hoping to see some bud porn of yours soon?
Blue Dream
Gorilla Glue
GDP
Bruce Banner
Zittlez
They are starting to bulk up nicely
I should have topped them a second time for a even canopy I just topped new plants for the second time today so I see what I did wrong and hopefully will be much better next time.
Any comments or tips are welcome @Work4iT @Hellraiser
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Here are some close-ups of the buds above
Zittlez
BB
GDP
GG
BD
@Hellraiser any guesses on when to chop I value your opinion
I would like to wait for 3 weeks as I have to go to Stlouis for a wedding at the end of the month don’t want to be curing or drying while gone.
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Your buds are looking beautiful! You got a candy store growing in there! That ZKittle will be some Sticky bud for sure. Nice tent. Did you Get Double Car Garage size? Looks like you could grow a small forest in there! Have to ask, with all them plants are you getting any wrench turning done? LOL
Is your root ball growing out to the 7 Gal bag Fullness? I think for these autos they grow so fast the 3 gal Bags are going to be my final container as 90-120 days they are finished.
I did a autopsy on the 5 Gal bags at initial cut down analyzing root fullness in the bag and I think for autos I will be good with 3 Gal size. I am looking to maximize my footprint space this fall.
I ain’t got nothing but bad advice…LOL.
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5/09/2021 Update- Final Big Wrap Up Post:
Going to tag a few that have commented a time or two along the way. Lots of Grow Tribes out here. All us NewB looking for that person (s) to follow. Nice having people like @spankyjr1 keep me thinking and pulling me back to reality. Thanks to everyone that added a word or two to keep me on track.
@MeEasy @Breezy @dbrn32 @Eagles009 @PharmerBob
Final flush 1 of 2 occurred this AM on the 2 each 3 gal bags. Gold Leaf is Ready to start the Flush Right Now, and Wedding cake is 50-60% Amber, but close enough as I am shifting operations in the closet to Dry Mode very soon. IMHO the WC needs to grow a bit longer. I am just eyeballing the hairs / pistils whatever they are called. I have two cheap ass loupes that I can’t make out shzt. My eyes are not the best either.
PH with PPM Measured Run off were as follows: Using 2 Gal RO with 1 Gal Tap 350 PPM PH unstable Guessing 7.
Gold Leaf Run off: 6 PH, 1500 PPM
Wedding Cake Run Off: 6.1 PH, 1570 PPM
You are looking at a Wedding Cake, and the shorter one is Gold Leaf, both ILGM Auto. At least I am sure I have identified the Strains Properly this time, LOL. I found that Gold Leaf is very hard to germinate the seeds, and I have lost a few 4 or 5 in the process over two grow attempt cycles, last and this year, using them. The GL are a late 2019 ILGM purchase. Not so sure about that get 10 seed Free / old seeds promo they are always offering.
Next Germination I will try the @Beardless approach with the dash of Hydrogen-Peroxide, adding the Jorge Cervantes light scuff combo approach. Finally, I will be using the @hellraiser Tweezer technique approach for Tweezering the seeds into the proper position into the dirt. Also his 3 Hole Solo Cup, and transplant timelines and techniques. I have got to increase the chances from Jump Street as I need to keep overall cost low.
I have had some real PH issues spring up on me as documented above in detail. These plants spent a few shady weeks outside with sporadic sun and getting way too cool into the night.
I cannot say enough Great things about the Wedding Cake Srain. I am sure with proper love and watering this MF will impress most growers out there. That is if you like Huge Buds. TIP: Manifold this WC-Auto Flower Strain. It can Take it! Not so sure about Manifolding the Gold Leaf though, it stayed a lot smaller.
I have created a situation where when I go to Chop and Dry Stage, I need the multipurpose box Grow-Dry Box / Closet to filter the smells. I am living in the Concrete jungle and I have a lot of “Real” people in the neighborhood / Hood close by and they spend time outside near that side of my house where my filtered exhaust is exiting the closet up into the attic space. I don’t want to be giving off any pungent smells during any of the process of the entire event.
I am wondering about Seed storage now as some of them are aging. I purchased some of my spare seeds as early / late as 2019 depending how you look at it. I had another Purchase of ILGM seed summer 2020. I have been storing all my spares in a dark cool place around 73F-75F. Should I be doing something Better storage wise? In reference to my spare weed seeds. Anybody care to chime in on that?
I started this Grow Season 1 Jan 2021. I have had that same 4” Infinity Filter running continually at speed #8 since Feb time frame. I am \starting to worry about that filter, and I need to climb my lazy butt up and check it.
I am about 8 days from the chop and that will put these both at approx. 115 days from popping out of the dirt.
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Looking good! I keep my seeds in original packaging if possible, inside of cedar cigar box that I store in refrigerator.
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The tent is a 5x5 I wanted some extra room to move plants around to hard for me to bend over I need to pull plants to water and work on them one at a time.
They are 5 gallon bags and yes the root ball takes up the entire bag next grow will be 7 gallon bags
I would rather grow then turn wrenches I do as little as possible wrenching these days doing more woodworking much cleaner and keeps my mind off the pain
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Nice size cola’s you got there brother much better than the first grow all we can do is keep trying to get better with each grow
I also store seeds in their original packaging in a glass container or prescription bottle in a refrigerator crisper
Looks like your low PH is fixed with those runoff numbers good job should be a good harvest for you
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Great looking plants and buds, looks like most of them could go another few weeks no problem but getting quite a bit of amber on that last pic - may be a pretty heavy couch-lock on that one in 3 weeks.
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Thanks @Hellraiser
That last picture is ILGM Blue Dream it’s supposed to be a 9-week flowering strain and I’m at 7 weeks 5 days since flip
6-week 2 days since the first flower about 10 days later
I don’t want to lose the strains natural high by going to long and getting couch-lock I did get my Grove bags today so hopefully, they are as good as everyone says so I don’t have to worry about burping
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The bags are of interest to myself also, but I think I am just going to buy another CVault, 4 Liter. The first one I have, I can attest it does holds a little over that 1/4 LB, just like @hellraiser said it would. I think I will just do that.
Starting to realize that with these Autos 90-120 days. These things are hard to FU, and there is not alot you can do to effect the outcome of the grow. I am sure some strains are more sensitive to stress, etc.
I know that out of town trip is not at the best of times and you got alot of future meds / good times sitting in those 5 Gal Bags. Beautiful Looking buds, Spankster! Nice work Brother!
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Thanks @Work4iT
If I went with the c-vault I would need at least 5 this round for the different strains that’s a pretty big cost and not as easy to store I like the idea of them just doesn’t suit my needs
The bags for 1oz are about a buck actually less cost than a ball canning jar and should be easier to store I also got the 1/4lb bags I’ll let you know how they work out. If I store in the 1oz size I won’t have to open the entire harvest to get out what I need just grab one bag and the rest will stay undisturbed.
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Makes sense touching small amounts as required allows you are keeping the Freshness locked into the bags waiting to be smoked. Keeps you smoking Fresh Weed longer. More exposure to air degrades the product, and if you are growing for 1 your strategy is sound.
I will pull 3 oz Plus Dry weight off these 2 shade plants. This with the earlier weed I cut down in March, I think I might be able to make it to a fall 100 day harvest early Dec without going to the ATM to purchase local herb, I hope.
That’s the plan for sure: 
Medical weed here went up when they decided to open up recreational I was paying about $90 a quarter and the last time I checked $120 for normal stuff higher THC strains are even higher it’s total ripoff
Recreational is taxed 15-40% based on THC content
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“Gen10” valid code to save 10% at freshstor for CVault purchases @Hellraiser @beardless @spankyjr1 @Eagles009 @MeEasy
Just picked up another 4 liter can.
Love these! Thanks, Hell!
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