I go deep. I’ll remove a few upper branches to go deeper. Just make sure the bottom leaves don’t touch the soil. Like a tomato, you can scrape the side of the stalk and roots will grow out of them…
5 Likes
Id have to agree with what was said above. It would be ok to go a little deeper if you’d like but as mentioned just be cautious
1 Like
Ok, the Wednesday weekly report. The girls are happy in their new digs.
Let’s talk lighting.
I measured the LED full spec lighting at 21-25 DLI, which I think was great for the babies but I think it’s time to bring it up. Looking at the chart that was posted on my original “cry for help” post. It looks like DLI should be raised to 40 or 50 at this time. Is that right? Should I do it all at once or gradually?
Oh no, I just realized from looking at another topic that I planted my girls in 3 gallon bags to the rim because that’s the size I had cooking for a couple of weeks but I forgot about the top dressing. I will have to top dress with the boost in a couple of weeks. I’ll have to transplant them again at that time to 5 gallon bags. Right? I hope that won’t be too upsetting to them. UGH
@JaneQP @oldmarine @StonedCold13 @BigCat420 @Borderryan22 @MeEasy
3 Likes
Wish I could help but I’m of no use here for ya.
I wouldn’t transplant them, your soil will be broken down and eaten by the microbes and will go down especially once they get to flower it goes down pretty good. It’s not good to disturb the soil it disrupts the fungi and bacteria and slows the process of making food, even when you top dress It’s best to be careful not to work the food into the soil any more than an inch deep
Ok, that sounds like a plan. I’m supposed to top dress boost it in a couple weeks. Do you think it will settle down a bit by then? Could I top soil boost by cutting a few of the bottom leaves and pile the top dress around it close to the base that way, if it hasn’t settled?
1 Like
Oh wow didn’t think you meant that full lol I would probably take the smallest layer off the top (like 1/2 inch) and mix in the boost with about half of what you took off and then put the mix back on top. That way it’s not just sitting on top… make sure you keep that top moist for three or four days after you top dress, this brings all the bacterias and fungi to life and allows it to start migrating down into the roots. What I do is wet the top twice a day with like two cups of water this keeps it wet without overwatering
4 Likes
I’ve been reading up on some other threads on the living soil. I do have my girls in 3-gallon bags. I’m realizing that I will most likely need to add nukes with these smaller bags. I am 4 weeks tomorrow with these Auto’s. I’ve just been feeding water. Tonight, I feed enough to fully water with run off to check the ppms and they were all over the map.
It was my first ppm reading and I didn’t know I was to change the mode to ppm so it was an EC reading. I don’t want anyone to hurt themselves by doing the math.
My question is 2 part.
1 Like
- How often do I water the living soil, normally? I think some folks do this daily.
I got the impression that I was to let the soil dry out a bit and then water but I think that is more appropriate for chemical nute grows and not living soil. I would love some clarity on this. - Now that I’ve really wetted the soil, what do I do?
Next time I think I need to wet it again enough to test the runoff as well because I’m concerned, I’ll need more nutrients but how long should I wait?
Oh and what is the timeline for these Autos? I think it’s 3 months, right?
Sorry, that’s 3 questions.
@Borderryan22 @JaneQP @oldmarine @BigCat420 @MeEasy @Cap_Ron @StonedCold13 @Graysin
1 Like
I grow in soil. I water a couple of cups of water per gallon of medium every other day or so. I soak the plants every other week or so.
1 Like
Oh wow! I think I need to be watering a lot more then. I was watering just a couple of cups every other day or so in the 3-gallon bags and I’ve never really soaked them until tonight. I watered in about 6-8 cups in each tonight so soak them with run off.
1 Like
Autos avg like 12 weeks total grow time. They’ll start to flower usually 3-5 weeks in. Couldn’t tell you about living soil, I’m doing my first living soil in April.
1 Like
The way I can best explain watering living soil is on a scale of 1-10 1 is bone dry and 10 is soup you want the soil to stay between 3 n 7 … I water pretty much every day sometimes just a quick spray on top in the beginning and later they’ll drink a quart to a half gallon daily lifting the pots is how I determine how much they get
As for feeding them I top dress my autos 30 days from when the plants break ground and that’s it til harvest unless I see em get hungry I might make up a tea or throw a couple extra scoops on it
3 Likes
Can’t help there, sorry.
Wait for it to dry out some. Too dry and you run the risk of pests. Bone dry is when pests can lay eggs that will hatch. I’m not sure why but I only get fungus gnats if I follow a strict wet/dry cycle (dry being when I see the gnats emerge, little jerks). I’m sure all kinds of bugs like all different moisture levels, I’m just speaking from experience. And honestly this is a tangent anyway. You wanna water before the “too dry” phase. I’m not sure how to help you determine that other than to say if you can lift the pot with ease, it’s probably too dry.
Every auto has its own timeline. Generally, as mentioned by others, autos flower between 4 and 6 weeks alive, and will flower for 6 to 10 weeks after the beginning of flower starts.
4 Likes
I grow exclusively in coco and I just got some 3 gal bags and my ladies have been drinking up about a gallon per plant every 4 days but they are 2 months old as well. I water by weight or sticking my finger in the medium up to my first knuckle if it’s dry then its ready to water
1 Like
Hey Guys, did you forget about me? Sorry, I have missed a few weeks of updates. Here is where I’m at: These girls (CBD Kush Autos) were planted with tails on 1/3/2022 in the living soil.
Things have been progressing nicely, trying to maintain humidity and heat was a bit of a challenge but they seem to have survived the couple of cold snaps here.
I have noticed a bit of yellowing with slightly brown spots emerging now on the tips of some of the lower fan leaves. Should I prune those?
Should I try to tie back some of the other fan leaves to allow more light to the lower flowers?
How are y’all doing?
@Borderryan22 @JaneQP @oldmarine @BigCat420 @MeEasy @Cap_Ron @StonedCold13
4 Likes
I’m gonna say a few things-
One, yes I’d be pruning now. Your ladies are looking bushy bushy - time to strip half those fan leaves outta there to open up the room for airflow as your flowering kicks into full swing.
Two, it looks like probably the beginnings of phosphorus deficiency- not at all uncommon when your plants shift from veg to flower. They become more demanding for higher P and K values.
Looking incredible, though!
2 Likes
@Graysin got ya covered!!! Plants look pretty healthy except the minor deficiency. Looks like the buds in the close up with your hand are gonna have nice colors too!
2 Likes