Grand Daddy Purple Auto from RQS: LST, Nutrients, and Working on Photography

For those that have been following the start of my other journals (Green Gelato and Hyperion F1), you may see that this is actually the older plant of the three. That’s an astute observation and absolutely correct! I started this GDP Auto close to 4 weeks ago, so you’ll see some work in progress in the photo-documentation of my plants. Nonetheless, GDP Auto is looking great and I look forward to providing weekly updates, just like my other journals!

The first three weeks of my Grand Daddy Purple Auto grow have been all about building a strong foundation. After some less-than-ideal experiences with my last autoflower grow (where I tried to rush through LST), I’ve decided to take a much more patient and deliberate approach this time around.

Before we get into the journal, here are some initial specifications for seeds, soil, nutrients, and grow environment:

Seeds: Grand Daddy Purple from Royal Queen Seeds

Soil: Paonia Soil Co.: The Bomb 50/50 Mix

Nutrients:

Root Boosters and Blends Great White Mycorrhizal Fungi Root Enhancer, DYNOMYCO Premium Mycorrhizal Inoculant, Mykos Mycorrhizal Inoculant, Tribus Organic Microbial Inoculant

Main Nutrient System: Ventana Plant Science (VPS), FlavUh, Stash Blend

Grow Environment:

Light: AC Infinity IONBOARD S44 – LED Grow Light Board 400W

Tent: AC Infinity CLOUDLAB 642, Advance Grow Tent 4 x 2

Humidifier: AC infinity CLOUDFORGE T3

Ventilation and Circulation: AC Infinity CLOUDLINE T-Series Duct Fan 4 Inch, AC Infinity Duct Carbon Filter, Australian Charcoal, 4-Inch, AC Infinity CLOUDRAY A6, Gen 2 Grow Tent Clip Fan 6”

Pots: AC Infinity Heavy Duty Reusable Fabric Pots 1 Gallon

Weeks 1-3: My Grand Daddy Purple Auto: A Slow and Steady Start

Focus on Health & Minimizing Stress: My primary focus during these early weeks has been on fostering optimal plant health and minimizing any unnecessary stress. I’ve been meticulously monitoring her water needs and ensuring she receives consistent and ample light. Most recently, I watered with 750 ml PH balanced water with 1 ml/Gallon of Tribus and ½ tsp Great White.

Slow and Steady LST: I’ve been implementing low-stress training techniques gradually and carefully. Instead of aggressively bending and manipulating the plant, I’ve focused on gentle adjustments, allowing her to acclimate to the changes at her own pace. I have yet to find a plant wire that I like, holds up well, and can be driven into the soil to hold strength during the training process.

Early Observations: The plant is responding well to this slower approach. She’s showing signs of vigorous growth with healthy, vibrant green leaves. I’m particularly pleased with how she’s responding to the low-stress training. The branches are starting to spread nicely, and the plant is developing a strong and sturdy structure.

Have a look at this Day 2 to 28 timelapse to see how she is looking!

Looking Ahead: Throughout the next week, I’ll continue to monitor the plant closely and adjust my approach as needed. There may be a dose of Ventana Plant Science or Stash Blend, but I want to be sure to monitor the plant’s needs (especially with Nitrogen). I’m excited to see how she continues to develop and ultimately express her full genetic potential.

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morning @Aeromatics

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Good morning, @Retiredoldguy!

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Hey Grow Lovers!

As I mentioned in my previous entry, the first few weeks of my 1-gallon GDP Auto have been all about laying a solid foundation. My focus has been on nurturing overall plant health and minimizing stress by making gentle, gradual adjustments with low-stress training.

Training has been going well, and the plant is definitely on the smaller end heading into flowering. However, that is both a trait of GDP in general, as well as by my design!

I decided to introduce some Ventana Plant Science, FlavUh, and Stash blend on Day 34 of the grow in order to bolster plant health and feed the well-developed root structure. I want to be careful about over-fertilization and cognizant that I can always add more, so let’s see how this dose, delivered in 2-3 watered heading into week 6.

Have a look at my notes, pictures, and my ongoing timelapse and let me know what you think!

Day 27:
I gave my plant a gentle hydration of 750 ml total—500 ml to the bottom and 250 ml to the top—using a mix of Tribus (1 ml per gallon) and Great White. The plant responded beautifully and is thriving without the need for extra nutrients!

Day 30:
I stepped things up with 1 liter of Tribus water, evenly split between the top and bottom. The plant’s overall health looked excellent, and it’s already starting to bud, so I might try bud-specific nutrients at the next watering. 1 liter of water for a 1 gallon plant might be too much, so I want to monitor how long it takes to need watering again.

Day 31:
I made a subtle adjustment to my low-stress training by removing a few fan leaves near the base to improve light penetration and airflow.

Day 33:
I noticed some wiry leaves today and found that the pots still felt quite heavy, so I decided to hold off on watering until day 34.

Day 34:
I watered with 500 ml of a fresh solution enriched with 1/4 teaspoon of Stash, along with 1 ml each of Structure, Grow, Expand, and FlavUh.

Day 37:
I applied 500 ml of nutrient-rich water—250 ml to the top and 250 ml to the bottom—and trimmed away some dying leaves.

Overall, I’m super happy with the progress. Heading into the next 2 weeks, I expect to see some major bud development, so I may adjust back to 750 ml of water, but for now, 500 ml is working great.

What do you all think?

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