Well said @FloridaSon. The pendulum swings wildly these years from one extreme to the other. I’m getting to the point of un-plugging from society for the most part. Don’t want it, don’t need it. I have zero tolerance these days for the mean and stupid. Bahhhh, don’t I sound like a crabby old lady this morning hahahaha I better have another cup a coffee
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@mulegal @BIGE @Covertgrower @smitty87 @Sasquatch @Happy_Pappy @Mrcrabs @merlin44 @Myfriendis410 @DieHigh55 please pass on there are so many great people to tag
This is mainly aimed at container grow people but all are welcome. When was the last time you actually stuck your hand into your ‘bucket’ and dug in deeply and loosened the soil, especially around the edges? This is a must and by touching and connecting with your plants environment is what keeps her healthy and growing. Root binding is a problem in all of above ground planters, and it is tricky keeping a healthy balance between the plants ability to overcome this or dying. Here is a good example of how entangled, tightly packed roots can get. I saved this from last years grow and I was amazed! From a 5 gal. bucket.
This is without the trillion tiny micro roots I had to remove to get to this mass!
I used those tiny roots as chinks in a rock border I made to fill those spaces that always leak and they are still there and no water gets through! There was not very much dirt left and it took me over 3 days to squirt the dirt out and little lava pebbles from the soil.
So hopefully this will allow you to see what’s going on in the bucket and the importance of keeping the soil loose and workable as possible. Don’t be worried that by getting in there and digging it will harm the roots, it won’t. Your hands are your guide to potential dry spots or clumping. Water must be able to penetrate this mass effectively! Use the ‘poker’ as a tool as well. You should be able to easily stick your hand in about 3 inches and turn it with your hands no tools.
The actual plant these roots came from grew to a little over 7 feet in a 5 gal. bucket. I try to do this about once a week to keep it maintained. If the soil level is low add some more being careful not to bury the stalk, because if you notice the tiny little roots that get exposed to air after a while are visible and that means frying.
Hopefully this will be of help. So let’s go grow!.
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That is excellent @highcountrygal, it is funny because I was just thinking that I might clean and rinse the root ball on at least one of my plants after harvest just to see what is going on below ground. It never really occurred to me to mess with the soil during the grow.
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This is my youngest. She is 22 days old give or take. This air pot is supposed to stop root binding by air pruning the roots so it should eliminate this problem. Has been watered 3 times in three weeks. Totally different looking plant from the other plant. Big wide leaves and side stems are growing very fast. Yes, your method probably save my other plants life. I topped it to keep her canopy low for light penetration.
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Thank you Magic man! @merlin44 I love to teach! so if there is any thing you can think of that would be a good subject I am open. I am never speech-less:)
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WoW @Happy_Pappy Look at how deep green and beautiful she is! She’ll be your pride and joy. Throw a pinch or two of the ‘g’ word for added strength. You’re makin’ me a proud Queen
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Think I should? I put two big double handfuls in when I mixed my soil. If you think I should I will. But I did do it at soil prep. Whatever you say.
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Okay then no not yet. Dang she is purty!
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Same strain, just explosive compared to the other. No nutes, just water.
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Well my, my! Not many stranger things have happened! Imagine that dirt and water.
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Almost like it should be, huh?
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Good job prof @highcountrygal . Popeye learn me to drive hahaha.
I like your grow advice HGC. Clear and simple
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I love teaching, not school type, but things I know about, I loved patient teaching (psych only)
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@highcountrygal amazing root bucket there my friend. Nice healthyroots. @Happy_Pappy Your babies glowing with life my friend keep up the good work.
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unless you saw it with your own eyes I’d call bs on that @highcountrygal Yes their are some real snow flakes out there… But that’s even a bit extreme for California.
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I don’t know. Look at everything going on with the Confederate memorials.
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I posted this in another thread because I’m looking for answers as to what is going on. Ok so, I am a few days over a month on my White Widow. I went in and measured their height and 1 is 2 inches tall, and 2 are only 1 1/2 inches tall. I’ve been giving them half strength of floranova grow (1/2 tsp) every other water. Any ideas why they are stunted. I mean they are growing, but they are growing really slow. Pictures of other growers of this strain suggest they should be bigger by this age.My temps are normal [72f-77f] and my humidity is around 55-60%. My light cycle is 18/6 with a 600w LED. What can I do to help them or is this normal for white widow. I am using ffof, and it is not the soil because I had them in Miracle-Gro for seedlings and it wasn’t good so I transplanted them into ffof about 2 weeks ago. They are better but still sluggish. I’m beginning to think that’s these Girls are gonna take longer than the description stated.
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Times frames listed for various strains are usually flowering time. They do that because they don’t know how long we will have our plants in veg. I tend to go longer than advertised time frames.
Humidity may have slowed them some. Your levels are good for flowering, but 80% would be better for veg, I think.
Another way to see it is when you don’t notice growth above, it’s usually happening below…
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@Rickandbobbyd Good morning! I think I may know what’s up. She is too young to be feeding for above ground growth. When they are that young the main focus should be on the root system. In order to have strong healthy gals the roots have to develop first then the top part can be nourished. She’s not growing because she is now having to work on 2 things vs 1. I say this a lot as you will read, she is preprogramed to grow, reproduce and flower. She knows what she needs to do and will do it as they have for many thousands of years, if she needs something she’ll let you know. Don’t assume they need all that rich food, you have good soil and her dna, utilize that first, and then if there seem to be problems go from there. Hope this helps! I’ll be around all day:)
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So just water? @highcountrygal
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