If you enlarge the photo you can clearly see the trichromes and the Stigmas. Trichromes are all still clear but the Stigmas are starting to turn. My best guess is harvest in two to three weeks. This is from the dwarf plant, the other three are about a week behind.
I started running two hours of UVB each night to increase trichrome production. The 2025 grow is getting into the short rows.
I have a dwarf plant in pot #1 (24", 61cm tall) and a giant in pot #4 (42", 1070cm tall). I almost killed the dwarf early but decided to let it grow, it didn't grow much but it has an amazing amount of buds. The giant just keeps getting bigger. On Feb 15th I posted the #4 pot's plant was 28" tall, less than a week later it has grown 14" and it is not just getting taller, it has taken over more than a quarter of the 5'X5' tent space.
This grow is finishing up week 5 (started flower mid week 3). If the info sheet is to be believed it is half way thru, harvest after week 10. If true it would be a nice 82nd Bday present. From looking at the buds I don't think it will happen, I expect harvest will happen around week 12 or 13.
Next up is programing the UVB light's timer. I want to run UVB for a couple of hours (Midnight to 0200) for the last 3 weeks to try to raise THC levels. I'm not sure it works but it is worth a try.
The side plants are about a week behind the tent plants and are ~30" tall. I had planned on moving them outside after the 1st of March. While that may happen I expect they will remain in the side grow space so I can compare production between RDWC and Coco Coir.
It has been a busy couple of weeks. MsBubba is closing down her ceramics studio and selling it's contents as I am the wood shop. She is doing a much better job than I am, hers is almost gone, I've sold two planes. At this rate my shop will be closed sometime mid next century.
The start of week 5. Harvest in 5 to 9 weeks:
The three Coco Coir plants have been moved to the side of the tent so they could receive necessary DLI.
My auto Water Transfer from holding tank to Central Feed tank has worked like a champ until this AM, four hours before leaving for a two day trip. It never fails to happen when there is nothing you can do about it. It could be one of three things, in order of likelihood: Not enough "Head Pressure" (water in holding tank too low), kink in feed line between holding tank and Central Feed tank, or something blocking the Central Feed tank's float valve.
I expect it is likely a slight kink combined with lower head pressure. For this trip I will top off the Holding tank and will make sure there isn't a kink in the feed line. Worst case: The feed from holding tank to Central Feed tank stops again is no water from Central Feed tank. Each of the Grow tanks holds ~2gal of water when the Central feed tank's water level is at the top of the "stand pipe". The four plants are currently using ~one gal/day. So worst case: No water from holding tank for two days, the grow tank's water level goes down a gal., no a biggie for a day or two.
It is still a concern and something to worry about while we are camping.
The RDWC plants are ending week three, the Coco Coir plants are starting week three. Coco Coir is kinda like soil but is also a little like hydroponics in it has no nutrients and it does not buffer as well as soil. Like soil, to monitor nutrients and pH you need to measure runoff where with hydroponics both measurements are direct.
Other than time the most important factors with a hydroponic grow are EC, pH and DLI. Water temp is also important to prevent root rot but with a water chiller water temp is just something to note. EC or electrical conductivity is a measure of salt content. EC is a Goldilocks kinda thing it needs to be enough but not too much, too low and the plants do not get enough nutrients, too high the plants do not get enough nutrients because they are locked out. Cannabis likes a slightly acid environment (pH 5.5 to 6.5). I like to vary the pH slightly as some of the nutrients absorb better at the low end, some at the high end. The third factor is the Daily Light Integral (DLI), a measure of how many photons the plant receives over a 24 hour period. Photone makes a good phone app for measuring DLI.
This AM the EC tested 1.37, target range 1.3 to 1.5, pH tested 6.3 and DLI was adjusted to 51, target range 45 to 55 DLI. I added 10 ml of pH Down, 50ml of nutrients and will re-test EC and pH this afternoon.
BTW, I have a "dwarf'" plant in the #1 bucket. It is the same age, same grow environment, same lights, and nutrients as the other three but as you can see about a quarter the size of its sisters.
Tent 77F
Water 67F
EC 2.0
pH 6.3
EC is still a little high but coming down, EC at this stage should be between 1.3 -1.5. Plants look good over all. Plant #2 has some evidence of early over heat on lower leaves and Plant #1 is a dwarf. Plant #1 has had the same feed, light, and conditions as the other three, it is just going to be small. Plant #4 has huge Indica leaves and a main stem to go with them.
An Overview of the tent, 4 RDWC pots with 3 fabric pots with Coco Coir, all plants from ILGM LSD Auto seeds. The RDWC plants are starting their 3rd Week, the three Coco plants are a week behind; In a couple or three weeks when the RDWC plants are getting big the Coco Coir pots will be moved from the tent to the side area and WX permitting maybe outside.
Pot #2, #3, and #4 are all healthy. This is Pot #2
Pot #1 is a dwarf, same start, same water, pH, and light, just a very small plant:
Click 'em to big 'em.
Lights have been changed to a Flower setting Red and White full power, Blue about 60%. The last three weeks I will add UVB lights for 2 to 3 hours a day. Now it is just keeping the EC and pH where they need to be and watching 'em grow for 70 or so days.
