BigPretzel’s Crowded Closet

[BigPretzel]

I figured it’s about time I let everyone see what I’m up to and how my grow and experience has evolved since becoming a member here.
I had just bought my first ever light and smart pots. Then dove deep into the how to indoor grow from forums and grow weed easy to the YouTube’s. I don’t know anyone personally that grows nor do I have someone to kinda help guide me through the process. So I learned everything by studying, hard work and many of failed experiments/bro science and the few tips and the For me growing attentively was completely new but a venture i was interested in None the less.

I had been throwing a few bag my seeds in the garden since I was a teen. But never really did the whole defoliating or LST. I was oblivious to actual cannabis cultivation.
My first real indoor grow with real genetics was in my closet. They were Goat Yogi from Cannabeizen and Copper Orgi by Briscos Bargain Beans. Both were sourced from my first and favorite bank DCSE.
1st closet set up:
Early 2020
Veg light-blurple 1000w LED (80w true)
Flower light- Mars hydro ts600 (100w true)
3gal fabric pots
70/30 mix of potting soil/perlite
General hydroponics flora trio nutes
Real growers Recharge n
(Copper orgi is pictured below with my grow buddy)
Personally I was not impressed with the first run of Goat Yogi. It was very airy and the buds didn’t have all that much frost at all. The flavor and aroma didn’t even come in on this grow. Now the copper orgi was amazing. Nice thick colas took to me trying to manifold it and screwing up in stride. Also produced a good quality flower. Very dank with a nice chem and lemon prominence in the aroma and smoke. Definitely want to grow that again!
Well I’ll add more every day until I get caught up to where I am right now.

 

[Umpty Candy]

Watching this space with keen interest..!

 

[GthaEnigma]

Nice. For a first grow that cooper orgi looks killer. Looking forward to the rest of the saga.

 

[BigPretzel]

After my first indoor “Growing experience” ? Umm more like a lucky harvest. But all in all I did get some smokable product so it was still a success.
I went back to trying to understand where I made my mistakes...
1.My light was my biggest mistake I was keeping it too far away (20”-30”) for what it was (a $40 Amazon Blurple with 80 true watts) but supposedly equivalent to a 250w HPS.
2.Soil was junk, I was using some for cheap ass too soil from Ace Hardware (this shit had solid ass tree branches in it and mulch with stones. It was definitely not for indoor gardening use.
3. Over training and manipulating it to the point of stress(I wouldn’t stop fucking with them and I think that may have lent to the poor quality)

I went back and took a thorough look at everything I was doing wrong and decided maybe I needed some more practice, better equipment and/or a smaller scale to play with, this way I can experiment with the plants more and try different training techniques and maybe figure out a proper feeding schedule to go with.

This grow I’m running all autoflowers and since my grow area is so small at the moment I am going to run them in solo cups this way I can have a smorgasbord if you will of different strains and flavors. Should be easier right?

The Set Up:
Closet- 36”x36”x84”
Light-Mars Hydro ts600
(upgraded from blurple ?)
Pots- 400ml Solo Cups
Medium- 75%Coco Coir brick (Amazon) 25% Perlite
Planter stand- styrofoam form to keep planters off cold floor.
Nutrients-General Hydroponics Flora trio, Blue Planet Cal Mag plus, Botanicare Root&Grow
Light cycle- 18/6

The Goods: Binary Selections
3xNurple Auto F2-Binary Selections
(BlackBerry Kush Auto (DP)X Nami)
4xJogi OG Auto F3-Binary Selections
(Chikara X Alien Overlord)

The prep-
Soaked coco brick in 6.3 ph water, each brick had its own bag that the Manu. said to just add water to. I did that and mixed in the perlite until 75:25 ratio was achieved. Created 7 filled solo cups from medium.
I pre soaked all 7 seeds in a cup of water placed each one into medium watered with 20ml of water+botanicare R&G until damp
Placed on hermit crab heat mats and left alone for a few days

Germination:
Day 1 all 3 of the nurples and all 4 of the Jogi og popped within 48hrs of being placed in the Coco which is awesome! 100% germ rate, I decided to water them with 1ml calmag per 1 gallon water ph to 6.3

Day 4 no seedlings have grown past first set of serrated leaves. Also 2 of Nurples the stems got very skinny and fell over. I just pulled them. 3 Jogi are left and 1 Nurple.

Day 7 still barely any growth which is super unusual. I did some reading and I’m thinking the coco I used wasn’t buffered properly if at all. It doesn’t matter what I do these seedlings won’t grow and keep dying. I’m down to 1 Nurple and 3 Jogi.

Day 8 Transplanted remaining seedlings back into Soil/perlite mix.

(Nurple Auto) Day 8 post transplant
(Jogi OG 1-3) Day8
After being transplanted all 5 plants started looking much better. Darker greens coming back into the fan leaves. I’m pretty positive these girls will still produce some nice buds. Probably not very much now because of my fuck ups.

 

[BigPretzel]

It turns out that the type of coco bricks I used were loaded with salt and wasn’t pre buffered at all. It didn’t help thay my super green ass didn’t take the time to buffer it when I even knew that step was important but in my eyes it was too much extra.
Learned my damn lesson from now on I only buy prebuffered coco coir or I buffer it myself before even thinking about using it.

If anyone else has any tips or Their own medium you mix up yourself I’d love to find that perfect grow medium for my babies.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

I find that when your just getting your feet under you it's often best to just pony up and buy a good premixed potting soil. Roots Organics, Coast of Maine, Ocean Forest etc. Obviously it's not the most cost effective but it helps limit the variables you have to deal with yourself. They also automatically buffer pH and you usually don't need to add nutrients for 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

When you were using that coco before were you feeding them at all? Coco is inert so without added nutrients they will just starve. I've honestly never buffered my coco, but I don't know what specific product you were using.

Also, just my 2 cents, but I'd go to at least a one gallon pot myself. My experience with autos in solos and smaller containers is its a balancing act that's not always the easiest for newer growers. You have to feed often and it's easy to end up with salt build ups that acidify your medium. They also dry out a lot. Sometimes they even want water twice a day.

 

[BigPretzel]

I find that when your just getting your feet under you it's often best to just pony up and buy a good premixed potting soil. Roots Organics, Coast of Maine, Ocean Forest etc. Obviously it's not the most cost effective but it helps limit the variables you have to deal with yourself. They also automatically buffer pH and you usually don't need to add nutrients for 4 to 6 weeks.

Yep your totally right! Couldn’t agree with you more. I’m starting this thread from when I first joined this site and everything I’ve learned along the way and that is one thing I learned fast. But giving where I live it’s hard to get good soil especially anything cannabis related as it’s not exactly a common practice where I live to grow cannabis. So I was afraid and uneducated if my resources besides Amazon and I didn’t want them to drop bags of soil on my porch that would red flag my whole community lol. But yes I couldn’t agree more just spend that money and get something good you won’t regret it in the long run!

 

[BigPretzel]

When you were using that coco before were you feeding them at all? Coco is inert so without added nutrients they will just starve. I've honestly never buffered my coco, but I don't know what specific product you were using.

Also, just my 2 cents, but I'd go to at least a one gallon pot myself. My experience with autos in solos and smaller containers is its a balancing act that's not always the easiest for newer growers. You have to feed often and it's easy to end up with salt build ups that acidify your medium. They also dry out a lot. Sometimes they even want water twice a day.

So yes I was. I did a very very light seedling feed as coco has no nutrients in it and I know for a fact you always have to add cal mag even when just doing a watering so I’m positive I was doing that part right. I had the name of the coco here somewhere.... it was called Coco Bliss by Platonix and its garbage. It like killed the bottom part of my seedling but the tops were still going because of the foil at spray I guess they just wouldn’t grow anymore. But after the transplant back to soil perlite they were good to go.
Your right about the solo cups too they can be a pain for ppl but I actually would bottom feed mine. So I use two cups. Inside one has holes in the bottom while the outside one is solid and has a few pebbles in the bottle to give it an air gap/ to keep the water from pouring over the sides. I’d top feed until it would run off a little, then fill about 1/8 the cup up with the feed/ water and they would be good for a day maybe two but I’d check at least once a day. My whole reason for using the cups was because I was such an attentive gardener the first go around I figured this would keep. E busy and away from messing with the plant itself. Especially since training an auto is so controversial. So I’m my eyes then this was a great idea... as I look back now, it was a headache and you will see why as the thread goes on lol. Thanks for your input! Love the feed back

 

[BigPretzel]

Nice. For a first grow that cooper orgi looks killer. Looking forward to the rest of the saga.

Thank you, that makes me feel a little bit better about it. I’ve grown out doors before but it was always a plant some seeds, check days later to see if they pop. then don’t go back till harvest amd hope it’s there. I’ve never had a place I could set up a grow before till this year. So it’s definitely been a learning process but one that I’m just falling in love with more and more every day.
That copper Orgi is Primo! I recommend that strain to anyone who likes a citrusy Chem. I’m running it again right now beans just popped yesterday so maybe this time I’ll do it some real justice.

 

[Jewels]

I would agree that it is very difficult to garden on the DL. It is a dirty, bulky affair.
Do you have space for an out-door flower or veg garden ? Makes for good camouflage.
,,, perhaps a bunny ,

or two?

In time, you will find what works for you.
I can't wait to hear about it.

 

[BigPretzel]

I would agree that it is very difficult to garden on the DL. It is a dirty, bulky affair.
Do you have space for an out-door flower or veg garden ? Makes for good camouflage.
,,, perhaps a bunny ,
View attachment 60564
or two?

In time, you will find what works for you.
I can't wait to hear about it.

Man do I wish!!!! I live in a trailer park. In a state that is rather greedy. They don’t institute homegrow because of all the commercial growers that lobbied against us amd won because they lined the pockets of everyone opposing them. So I have to be very very covert. If you would plant outside I’d have a knock or boot on my door within a week. The ppl here are weirdos, a lot of them are over 60 so they still think weed is the devils lettuce. I had to stop smoking outside cause my neighbor told ppl I was a drug dealer because I smoke pot. ? I was like damn I wish maybe I’d be out this fucking park by now. Anyway It’s fucking sickening that to be legal here I have to pay 200$ a year for my med card and then 60$+ for 1/8 of seedless mids.
That’s the whole reason I said fuck it and pulled the trigger on an indoor setup. I have a rather nice set up I think for where I’m at. (I will show pics of it as the journal goes on) I run my ventilation straight to my dryer exhaust vent so it doesn’t look suspect at all. And you can’t even tell I have a grow going unless ur ear is right against the door. Otherwise you wouldn’t have a clue,no smell, no light leaks, quiet fans and LED lighting keeps the electric bills under $70/month

I am running into problems with the heat now that I got bigger lights. It’s like I can’t pump enough air in to keep up with the heat from the light. I don’t even have the drivers in the tent or else it probably be over 100F daily. Its stays about 87-92F in my auto tent but then at night it drops to below 70F. The autos I’m running seem to love it but I know some of my other stains wouldnt put up with that. I feel it’s a little small to put an A/C in there. Any ideas? The closet is
32”W X 108”L X 96”H I currently have 1x 3x4 tent it had 3 sections but I just made it one big one (right side of closet) then I have 1x 2X2 (left side) then I have a 1.5ftx1.5ft side table with a 5gal water reservoir constantly bubbling. I just don’t know what else I could fit in there. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BigPretzel]

About 6 days after transplanting there was still very little growth. I read online about microbes and bought some recharge on Amazon Prime.
Within a week of using the recharge all of the girls started to take off and grow normally again. Or so I thought...
Around 8 days after transplant the Nurple Auto just got this insanely thick main stem and started stretching a lot then went into flower with hardly any warning. I’m thinking I may have made so many mistakes with her that the plant figured I better flower or die off luckily it picked the good one.

On the other side of the grow area my Jogi OG plants are doing fantastic. I ran out of solo cups so #2 and #3 are in solos while #1had to be put in a clay pot. Each are around 15-18 days from sprout. They were severely stunted from that unbuffered coco coir.

Actions:
I began feeding them Nutrients on day 14. I’m giving them an extremely light feed of 1.5ml micro, 1.5 ml gro, 1.5ml bloom, 1.5 ml calmag+ and 1/4tsp recharge per gallon. The recharge is doing wonders for these girls. It is like they actually recharged the plants batteries. All three of these Jogi og are growing wonderfully taking the fuck off. No signs of flower yet for them though.

 

[GthaEnigma]

Autos do that. Usually 20 or so days after germination. The others if they are photoperiod won't start to flower til they get 12/12 light cycle.

 

[BigPretzel]

Autos do that. Usually 20 or so days after germination. The others if they are photoperiod won't start to flower til they get 12/12 light cycle.

Yeppers! I just thought back when I did this grow that they at least got to a certain size before flowering, but nope they just flower when they feel like it lol.

I actually just got a few autos going that didn’t flower for 38 days.. they did now but damn was I stressing. Same with some wicked Pissah I grew out a few months ago. The one didn’t flower for over a month and a half then one day I saw pistils and it was like a 5ton weight came off my back.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

Many autos don't like small containers unless your using coco and fertigating frequently, and even then they tend to flower early. If the main tap root bottoms out they just decide its go time... part of why I don't love autos except in certain situations (outdoors, short growing season or single tent perpetual)... not enough control

Also your experience with Wicked Pissah mirrors mine exactly, they took forever to start flowering in comparison to my other autos

 

[Frimpong]

Many autos don't like small containers unless your using coco and fertigating frequently, and even then they tend to flower early. If the main tap root bottoms out they just decide its go time... part of why I don't love autos except in certain situations (outdoors, short growing season or single tent perpetual)... not enough control

Also your experience with Wicked Pissah mirrors mine exactly, they took forever to start flowering in comparison to my other autos

Some of my phenos take a bit longer I think cause of the lambsbread male. But it can be worth it yeild wise .

 

[BigPretzel]

Many autos don't like small containers unless your using coco and fertigating frequently, and even then they tend to flower early. If the main tap root bottoms out they just decide its go time.

Also your experience with Wicked Pissah mirrors mine exactly, they took forever to start flowering in comparison to my other autos

I am definitely seeing this now that I have moved on to I guess what are known as tall fabric pots. So instead of the usual 3 gallon that is on average 11.5x8.5 the talls are 9x12 and the 5 gallons I have are 11inx13in this Ive found actually keeps them from flowering early like you stated above.

Some of my phenos take a bit longer I think cause of the lambsbread male. But it can be worth it yeild wise .

Yeppers! I can’t wait to see what the yield has to offer now that you say this.! ?

 

[BigPretzel]

Nurple Auto Day 50-67 chopped at day 68. She was a wonderful grow after getting the medium straightened out. Got very frosty and ended up being the pheno #2 with the purple buds and green leaves. The aroma was something I have never smelled from weed before it was this very dark fermented berry with a musky earthy funk. ? Sadly I don’t have any do dishes bud pics. However the smoke was like a smooth expensive cigar with a hint of dark berries. Very enjoyable. Made me upset a little I only had 5gs to smoke.

Overview: This was an interesting grow I learned a ton about coco coir, PHing soil and how to kill fungus gnats. Most of all I learned solo cup growing is for the birds. It was a fun little venture and maybe if there is a contest or something I’d do it.
but what a fucking waste of some good seeds..

 

[BigPretzel]

above is my Jogi OG #1, I ran out of solo cups so I decided to put this one in a clay pot. The training was kind of difficult because of the pot size. I bent it over then started training it around the pot. Harvested at day 65( definitely could of went another week or two)
Above and to the left are my Jogi OG #2 and #3. They both grew with ease. I didn’t. Have a lick of trouble until about day 60 when they just stopped taking water. I then figured out there was nothing but roots in the cups so I cut the bottoms off and placed them into a big bow filled with fresh soil.
They loved it, not missing a beat. Eventually I can got impatient and chopped them too around day 68. Sadly I don’t have any finished product shots of these either.
The aroma I can’t even remember but the taste of that j I smoked is the whole reason I bought another pack to rerun them properly.
Overview: Jogi og is more of an extractors plant with a very high leaf to calyx ration but frost from top to bottom on the fan leaves, leaf stems shit even on the main cola stem it was covered with frost. I would with out a doubt grow this strain again but this time it’s getting the SQUISH!