Caveman’s Journal- Autos with Grow Dots

[Caveman86]

Hey folks, I’ve been growing autos in a new 4x4 the past few months with Grow Dots and AC infinity self watering bases. It’s been growing pretty good and I figured why not try a little journaling again.
Here’s the setup:
AC infinity 4x4 with exhaust and 3 circulating fans.
Humidifier
Heater
Controller 69 pro
Fabric pots
Ac infinity self watering bases
2 HLG 260 Rspec lights
Roots organics original soil
Grow Dots
Recharge
Calimagic
Regular tap water
A variety of different auto seeds.

I’m wanting to grow 4 autos in this tent at a time, harvesting one every 30-45 days. So far, I’ve harvested 5 and it was pretty close to the time frame I wanted. Last batch I got mixed up somehow and ended up with 2 close to the same 30 day age range right now, but it’ll work its way out.
Here’s what I have going right now.

In the back left corner I have a Sunset Sherbert auto from Delicious seed co. At least I think that was the breeder…it was a freebie from a seed vendor and I lost the package it came in.
She’s in a 3 gallon out and I used 7 tsp of grow dots for a medium-high dose.

She’s about 30-35 days from seed now and going strong. She’s been LST’d and I just gave her a trimming underneath a little tonight.

In the front left corner I have a Lilac Diesel auto from Ethos, she’s about 25-30 days old, LST’d and also was trimmed a little bit tonight as well.
She’s also in a 3 gallon pot and I used the same 7 tsp of grow dots on this one to.

The light is 18” off canopy at 3/4 strength right now with an average DLI of 52.3. My goal is to get that to 60 over the next week and let er ride there til later in harvest. (Shoutout to @Nicky)

On the right side of the tent I have a Banana Daddy auto from Ethos that was put in the dirt on the 22 and is just starting to break the soil tonight.
I put this one in a 5 gallon pot with 14 tsp of grow dots for a heavier dose.

I just harvested a different Banana Daddy out of a 3 gallon with medium dose of grow dots and it could have been better. It was my fault, it got away from me on the stretch, but I think it was also hungry. I figure up the pot, up the dots and we will see what happens.

The light is 24” off the pot and is turned last goes for right now. I’ll adjust accordingly.

That’s what I got going so far, hopefully I can keep you entertained and get some feedback along the way. Any help, tips and tricks are always greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Caveman

[Caveman86]

So for the past 5 plants I harvested I did not ph my water once. Nor did I add anything other than recharge once in a blue moon. I didn’t even add it once a week like they suggest. I was straight lazy style growing it with regular tap water aired out for a few days to a week before using it and just refilling the bases every 2-4 days depending. The two that are 30 days old have gotten the same treatment up until the other day.
My water tests at 7.6ph/.8 ec.
Figure I’m going to start ph’ing my water…least I can do, right?

So last watering which was yesterday for the two older plants. They each got a gallon with 2mls of calmag, ph’d to 6.6.

I do have a question though. Seems for a gallon it took about 1.5mls to get it down to 6.6. Does that sound right?
Also, if I wanted to scale that up to 5 gallons wo I just use 7.5mls right off the bat? Mix it into a 5 gallon jug and it should be the 6.6. Does scale like that?

I ditched the refilling gallon jugs for the 5 gallon water cooler jugs and a hand pump (best watering device ever for these bases!)
and would like to go back to that. It’s a pain pouring gallon jugs into these bases leaning across a 4x4. lol

Here’s the hand pump I use to water. Works great with a 5 gallon jug.

[Caveman86]

@Nicky @IP54 @STC_Cultivator @Hellraiser @kellydans @Not2SureYet @dbrn32 @Caligurl @Storm @Lacewing
There are more I want to tag, but I’m stoned and forget right now. I hope you don’t mind me tagging you all. Happy growing to you all.
You guys rock! Some of you it’s been a real long time, I hope all is well! Thanks for stopping by and hopefully you’ll follow along.

[Caveman86]

@Bulldognuts @GreenSnek @Borderryan22 @Twelve1 @TheAbu95 @Noobgrower82

Stupid it only lets you tag 10 at a time…

[TheAbu95]

Set to watch!!

[kellydans]

Hey, thanks for tag set to watch.

[Caveman86]

My plants looked really tired last night, thought I’d update them with a picture from this morning at lights on where they aren’t looking so sad.

[Growmoredank]

I love to LST then see the amazing result the next day!

Looking awesome!

Watching!

[kellydans]

Plants look great.
I love a even canopy bush style.

[Caveman86]

You helped me alot when I first started out in 2020 and ingrained the even canopy in my head. I try to get it as even as possible now, doesn’t always worked but it’s the plan lol

[Audiofreak]

Im watching with Both Eyes!

[Caveman86]

Thanks for tagging along!

[Caligurl]

Thanks for the tag! That looks like the water pump I used to use… its battery operated? I found mine difficult to use because my water buckets were situated lower than my plants and it didn’t have enough gusto to pullup… had to build a platform to put the buckets on for it to work. Then I just bought an electric pump and it worked much better!

I’m here in the back of the classroom!

[Caveman86]

The pump is battery operated. I found it in the forums suggested by someone on a thread from a few years ago. I forget who though, if it was you, thank you
So far it works great in the 5 gallon water jugs.
I’d like to keep using it, but ph’ing a 5 gallon jug vs a 1 gallon jug has me a little perplexed.

Do you guys think ph’ing would be linear in a sense? Am I using the right wording?
If I ph a gallon of water and use 1.5mls of ph down, would I use 7.5 mls in 5 gallons and be good?
Obviously I’m going to try it, I’m just asking for some input is all before I start the test.

Also it’s not the easiest to mix up one of the 5 gallon jugs like you can with a gallon. I’m going to do the old pick er up and shake it, but was thinking just pumping it into an empty 5 gallon jug…should mix it as it goes that way then be ready to use.

What do you folks think?

[Caligurl]

Makes sense but I find that water itself fluctuates. so I don’t take anything for granted… If you’re using bottled water, they should maintain a fairly consistent chemical and ph make-up.

With tap water, it’s a crap shoot, really. It depends on what they need to do to the water based on water coming into the plant, how hot (or cold) it is outside, etc…

I don’t ph anything anymore because of the nutrients I use and organic, living soil.

[Caveman86]

Good info, and I feel like an idiot not thinking about those factors. I’m used to my old well water…it was the same always and never changed.
But yeah, city water is going to be changing often huh? Bummer. Guess it’s just going to be a bit more of a relearning curve and constant testing.

[Caligurl]

Yeah, unfortunately, like during summer months, they have to add different things to control bacteria that blossoms in the heat. During rainy season, they have to add different stuff to balance out the excessive minerals from water runoff and other nasties in the runoff, etc…

[Audiofreak]

Aint like you can call the city up and bitch about thier chitty watter fing up your grow!

[Growmoredank]

@Caveman86 Glad you mentioned all this… Been on well water for over a decade…

We’re closing on a house, , August 27th…city water… House has RO system built in.

[Audiofreak]

Wow, you have some changes comming