I apologize for that - I remember being super new to growing and feeling like I was drinking from a fire hose just to understand short answers that the old timers would give if you have any confusion about the jargon I’m spewing please feel free to poke me and ask for it in English. I’m especially bad with chemistry that overlaps my profession.
Silica is the supplement missing there, I believe. It contributes to the cell structure of the plant - hydro and coco growers are at a serious disadvantage because soil naturally contains lots of silica in mineral form. Without it, we end up with floppy branches, and stems that are unable to bulk up, heal properly from damage, or support the weight of the buds as they build.
The most common silica supplements you’ll see aimed at hydroponics users are going to be Silica Blast (botanicare, the folks who make hydroguard, which is also a waste of money compared to some other beneficial bacteria products), Silica Boost (Bloom City), ArmorSi (general hydroponics). They’re all potassium silicate (slow acting silica).
The better silica supplements will be PowerSi, Alchemist Stout MSA, Dune (Impello bioscience) - I did a fair bit of searching around and those are the only Monosilicic acid forms of silica supplements I can find easily. MSA (Monosilicic acid) is the same thing as potassium silicate, just already in the form the plant can utilize so it’s faster acting.
Yeah the price is what has kept me away from Mammoth P. I get good results using Tribus or Fish Shit for a fraction of the Mammoth price.
Myfriend is right - a 4x4 would be best served with 600-800 true watts. Think 30 watts per square foot on the “extremely high quality light” spectrum, and 50 watts per square foot with meh lights like SpiderFarmer, Mars Hydro, BestVA, etc etc.
One of my Hindu Kush grew 5ft tall and is skinny like that. I’m hoping it means it’ll fill in a ton of bud. I have one large in ground bed that has other stains and that aren’t stretching so thinly.
I second the recommendation for a HLG refurb if looking to save money. I’ve had a 150 watt light that I do ok with, but the 150 watt light (their 150 Patriot, I bought a refurb) that I just received from HLG is much brighter, there really is a difference. As suggested, you need more than 150 watts to optimize your space, but I wanted to mention my experience as a means of comparison.
Imo this exactly what you should want. Not quite having enough light will probably keep these from being best possible, but you have some great cola formations. Even being underpowered they will fill in quite a bit.
So basically it’s been a week since I posted my first conversation regarding tall and skinny with this grow. Banana Kush Auto feminized seeds. Tomorrow will mark week seven for total grow, three weeks of flowering. I like where this is going. Performing the low stress training methods with the metal stakes looks like I’ve got some really nice branches that should provide some nice buds. I just have to be patient and hope these things will fatten up.
Hopefully I will need the yo-yo hooks this time. I’ve been getting away with some repurposed tomato cages to support branches. The hooks look like they would be easier.
I thought the more you looked at them the faster they grew… If only. I would be like Jack in the beanstalk
High again. I was thinking about the yoyo hooks that were mentioned. They look like a good solution, as long as I do not move the plants once I begin to utilize. I still drag them out during watering/feeding. Not 100% necessary, more habit than need. What nutrients do you use? Do you have a grow journal or youtube I can follow?
Same strain from ilgm banana kush, one super soil, one straight canna coir. Two tall bushes 12/12 each with potential to stack. This is our first, we did nothing other than water one and mix nutes for the other, lights dialed down,
Your plants look really good. You are getting some great buds.
My plants just finished week 8 (56 days total). I have two freaks, which started this conversation. Tall and skinny. They are starting to fill out. Three are much shorter but much fuller. All seeds same, bought from ILGM. I did LST using metal stakes. Worked great, easier than tie downs. I am thrilled with how they are going.
This is grow number 4 for me. AK47 photo, Bruce Banner auto (2x) and now the Banana Kush auto. As I tell my wife, “Every retried person needs a hobby, growing pot is mine!”
Week 9. Buds gaining some weight. Plants did not grow much in height, only 2-4 inches. Started to add Cal Magic as part of feeding schedule. Minor browning on the tips. Lights at 18-20 inches away. Hard to pick a favorite!!
if you have any confusion about the jargon I’m spewing please feel free to poke me and ask for it in English. I’m especially bad with chemistry that overlaps my profession.
glad you gave them the time to show us.
