Chief’s Den

[chiefer888]

@chiefer888 i have everything in one bedroom or lung room. 2 flower rooms ( 1 closet and a 4x4 tent) 1 2x4 mom cabinet and a open nursery and veg area. I have a 9000btu mini-split HVAC heat and cool. A good dehumidifier and 2 humidifiers and i use them all at different times of the year. Somehow i make everything work although the new 4x4 is giving me a small fit getting things dialed in. I am now doing some additional tuning after seeing your problem. I think i am okay but i am on the edge. I know a lot of folks do put the dehumidifier right in the tent but damn those things through off a lot of heat. Not easy creating miraculous growth indoors like Mother Nature does outdoors

Right on, part of my problem is that my space is in the coolest dampest corner of the house, but I don’t have a good space in any part of the house.

 

[Capt. C]

Right on, part of my problem is that my space is in the coolest dampest corner of the house, but I don’t have a good space in any part of the house.

A 72 QT dehumidifier is about all i have room for . Even that during heavy use will need to be emptied twice a day unless you can put in some kind of drain line. My latest unit is one i have been running for a couple of years now is a 72QT Friedrich that works well. Some of the cheaper units throw out a lot of noise the one i have is not to bad. It will add some heat to the lung room but will defiantly work to get the numbers where you want them. I do not think my mini split does a very good job controlling humidity because the room is to small for the unit causing it to short cycle. At least that is what i think is going on with it. Probable would have been better off putting in a window unit because most mini-splits are 9000 btu and above. Sorry for the ramble but environment is everything in growing indoors.

 

[macsnax]

I am using water from a kangen water ionizer right now.. it kicks the shit out of pm. It hasn't gotten a foothold after starting at the first sign early on. Knocked out the few aphids and mites i have seen too. Doesn't affect thrips, just tested that this week after a rogue swarm hit my girls. The plants seem to love it. Been alternating 2.5 and 11.0 at any sign of pm on a 3 day rotation.

Very cool to hear man

 

[chiefer888]

Honey Sundae parting shots

 

[chiefer888]

I’ve had the den powered down since chop. I’m planning a good cleaning of the tent before I bring everything back up.

My plan is to take a shot at organic living soil. I have a bale of peat moss, some store bought worm castings as well as castings to be harvested from my worm bin, Dr Earth organic fertilizers (bloom and bud, and tomato and herb), and perlite. I also have insect frass (mealworm, thanks for the suggestion @Kind024 !!) on the way and am planning in buying some DE. I also started an experiment yesterday where I’m trying to make some fermented fruit juice. I had a cantaloupe and some pineapple scraps and have been trying to keep my fruit inputs into my worm bin down, so I figured it was worth a try. Anyhow, LOS is a new experiment for me and I will keep myself open to input and suggestions (@Kind024 @JL2G @SCJedi @Jewels @jpcyan2 and anyone else here who has messed with building and maintaining soil).

My plans for the next round are to do an all pH grow!

Orange Julius by @HydroRed
Orion by @Dino Party
Double Dawg Biscuits by @macsnax
... maybe more IDK, I’m hoping for 3 ladies (2-4 is okay) next round so that it doesn’t get as crowded and I can hopefully keep my humidity in better control for the next round.

 

[Dino Party]

Oh man I cannot wait to smoke that orion

 

[chiefer888]

Oh man I cannot wait to smoke that orion

Based on your pictures it looks like you are getting pretty close to chop, how many more days do you think you will take her?

 

[Dino Party]

Based on your pictures it looks like you are getting pretty close to chop, how many more days do you think you will take her?

56 sounds nice right now. So on that day I will reevaluate. Probably end up doing 63 just cause, but I am really really impressed with her so far. Just chugging along. One of those ones with no fruity or sweet or nasty tones, just funky earthy hash. Smells like it will be eye blistering

 

[chiefer888]

56 sounds nice right now. So on that day I will reevaluate. Probably end up doing 63 just cause, but I am really really impressed with her so far. Just chugging along. One of those ones with no fruity or sweet or nasty tones, just funky earthy hash. Smells like it will be eye blistering

Awesome, I’m searching for those classic hashy incense terps. My heavenly hashplant has some of that, but after cure some strawberry milk and bubble gum tastes have developed too. It is good chill smoke, but I am looking for that heavy blanket feeling.

 

[Jewels]

Ahh Chief, my heart is heavy. I tossed finished plants on my last run. Part of my soul went in that bin.
Sloan said it best,
" I feel like I just ate my young "
However, same song he mentions,
"It is one of those things that I learned - in my school days "

I guess 'hindsight' in this case is literal,,,identifying what bit your ass.

Here is soil building tip I learned pursuing my favourite past time.
I am a cereal killer.
Flakes , granola, whole grain, or junk.
I love me crispies !
One thing I despise is eating half a box of bran flakes, followed by half a box of raisins.
Have you ever noticed the last serving, in any bag , is dust ?
Bare in mind - Compaction, percolation, settling and aeration. Everytime I water, the finer grains settle lower. By harvest time a container has reoriented itself, top to bottom, coarsest to finest.
Mostly beating around the aeration bush here. As much as I like my soil, at the moment, it is waaay to heavy. Probly 80% organic. Next time around I would prefer closer to 50: 50.
I keep finding fine concrete at the bottom of my harvested pots.
Thats is what I am driving at. Dirt will not social distance ! I suggest going really heavy on the inert fluff. I believe that will hasten wet/dry cycles, promote oxygenation, even promote CO2 production.

Consider.
If I uncap a water bottle and left it to evaporate , until it is empty. Bottleneck'd -that could take days- To slow
Consider, If I roll up my wet swim suit in a towel. What does that look like next week ? - Septic (Jewels mud)
Consider, emptying a water bottle onto a parking lot. 5 mins later - gone (hydroton f and d)

I dont aim for a water only soil. I like to feed.
I do hold soil above all others, as this is the only place you can find the long con. Humic action. Natural chelation.
I am all about the CEC.

And rambling.
And Lemon Candy Og
,
,
,
Jewels shows himself out.


☮

 

[chiefer888]

Ahh Chief, my heart is heavy. I tossed finished plants on my last run. Part of my soul went in that bin.
Sloan said it best,
" I feel like I just ate my young "
However, same song he mentions,
"It is one of those things that I learned - in my school days "

I guess 'hindsight' in this case is literal,,,identifying what bit your ass.

Here is soil building tip I learned pursuing my favourite past time.
I am a cereal killer.
Flakes , granola, whole grain, or junk.
I love me crispies !
One thing I despise is eating half a box of bran flakes, followed by half a box of raisins.
Have you ever noticed the last serving, in any bag , is dust ?
Bare in mind - Compaction, percolation, settling and aeration. Everytime I water, the finer grains settle lower. By harvest time a container has reoriented itself, top to bottom, coarsest to finest.
Mostly beating around the aeration bush here. As much as I like my soil, at the moment, it is waaay to heavy. Probly 80% organic. Next time around I would prefer closer to 50: 50.
I keep finding fine concrete at the bottom of my harvested pots.
Thats is what I am driving at. Dirt will not social distance ! I suggest going really heavy on the inert fluff. I believe that will hasten wet/dry cycles, promote oxygenation, even promote CO2 production.

Consider.
If I uncap a water bottle and left it to evaporate , until it is empty. Bottleneck'd -that could take days- To slow
Consider, If I roll up my wet swim suit in a towel. What does that look like next week ? - Septic (Jewels mud)
Consider, emptying a water bottle onto a parking lot. 5 mins later - gone (hydroton f and d)

I dont aim for a water only soil. I like to feed.
I do hold soil above all others, as this is the only place you can find the long con. Humic action. Natural chelation.
I am all about the CEC.

And rambling.
And Lemon Candy Og
,
,
,
Jewels shows himself out.


☮

I’m with you on adding some nutrition along the way. My goal if for the soil to carry the mail and for small intermittent organic inputs to help push the plants just a smidge further.

 

[Jewels]

Yup yup.
Mama knows best on some of that stuff. The dirt knows what to do.

Like these "Carbo" products I see advertised. They wont come out and tell you that a cannabis plant cant actually uptake the product. From what I can tell, they seem to "sweeten" the soil - accelerating , hastening or simply acting as a catalyst for soil processes. Humic acid operates the same.
In a world of instant gratification; "let go and let grow" seems incomprehendable.

Chelated iron is very tricky. Very expensive.
Yet, a hand-full off steel filings, top-dressed, and given couple years, will give a lilac blossom new colour, like one could not imagine.

I put faith in a blended approach. Although I have yet to find the best blend.

 

[JL2G]

I’ve had the den powered down since chop. I’m planning a good cleaning of the tent before I bring everything back up.

My plan is to take a shot at organic living soil. I have a bale of peat moss, some store bought worm castings as well as castings to be harvested from my worm bin, Dr Earth organic fertilizers (bloom and bud, and tomato and herb), and perlite. I also have insect frass (mealworm, thanks for the suggestion @Kind024 !!) on the way and am planning in buying some DE. I also started an experiment yesterday where I’m trying to make some fermented fruit juice. I had a cantaloupe and some pineapple scraps and have been trying to keep my fruit inputs into my worm bin down, so I figured it was worth a try. Anyhow, LOS is a new experiment for me and I will keep myself open to input and suggestions (@Kind024 @JL2G @SCJedi @Jewels @jpcyan2 and anyone else here who has messed with building and maintaining soil).

My plans for the next round are to do an all pH grow!

Orange Julius by @HydroRed
Orion by @Dino Party
Double Dawg Biscuits by @macsnax
... maybe more IDK, I’m hoping for 3 ladies (2-4 is okay) next round so that it doesn’t get as crowded and I can hopefully keep my humidity in better control for the next round.

Happy to provide any info I've got. Been my grow method since the beginning.
I really like the DR earth products too.
They make a really good product if your not wanting to buy a shit ton of diff amendments to go full organic soil.
I use their products for the base mix primarily, and top dressings as needed.
Any reammending of old soil I do is usually with separate ingredients as each plant kinda sucks what it wants from the soil, not everything that's there.
In addition to a light general fert spread, I reammend any used soil according to what the last plant was using alot of, or acting deficient in. Basically only resupplying what it's likely lacking in imho.
I've been known to misread my soil. Lol.
Look at some of my pics and you'll see. Lmfao.

When I do an initial mix I'll take the peat moss and do a slurry test with it to see the pH starting point. Some peat moss vendors prelime it to a mid 6.5 ish pH. If it's not been limed it will likely be quite acidic.
I go for the non limed stuff as my amending will alter it to where I want it to be.
I add in a composted soil to the peat for a 50/50 ratio. If buying it, Eko has some good stuff, or if you have your own even better.
If using Dr earth premade stuff I'll add close to double what they say is recommended.
Weed is hungry. Lol.
I also add in a good bit of bone meal for that steady calcium and phosphorous supply that my plants like. Epsom salt as needed for some quick mag dosing.
Also keep in mind that any amending will need up to a month or so to be digested within the soil. Some faster, some slower.
So in that respect you'll kinda need to anticipate any hungers and or deficiencies they may have.
I do a bloom type top dress at flip, so the P and K start becoming available about the time the plants really start wanting it real bad.
I've had some hungry basterds want a full top dress again come mid flower, act I g like they're starving n shit. Lol.
Ask away if you need or want, or if I was all incoherent n stuff. ???
You're gonna love the results man, good shit going full Organo. ???

 

[JL2G]

I’m with you on adding some nutrition along the way. My goal if for the soil to carry the mail and for small intermittent organic inputs to help push the plants just a smidge further.

Dope shit there. You stealing my MO? Ahahaha

 

[JL2G]

Yup yup.
Mama knows best on some of that stuff. The dirt knows what to do.

Like these "Carbo" products I see advertised. They wont come out and tell you that a cannabis plant cant actually uptake the product. From what I can tell, they seem to "sweeten" the soil - accelerating , hastening or simply acting as a catalyst for soil processes. Humic acid operates the same.
In a world of instant gratification; "let go and let grow" seems incomprehendable.

Chelated iron is very tricky. Very expensive.
Yet, a hand-full off steel filings, top-dressed, and given couple years, will give a lilac blossom new colour, like one could not imagine.

I put faith in a blended approach. Although I have yet to find the best blend.

A man that can speak my language. ???
What the Fuck did you just say?
Ahahahaha.
Your metal filings are like greensand. It's benefits are not seen right away, but a few cycles of the soil and it show it's beauty and benefits. Lol.
Edit, I should quit drinking and eat.
Oh well, beer for dinner it is. Lol.
Correction. Weed and beer for dinner.
Pizza for dessert. Lmfao.

 

[chiefer888]

I did a little dry sifting of the Honey Sundae trim and some larf. I pressed the best material into a hash coin and will make coconut oil out of the rest.

 

[chiefer888]

I’m thinking of getting things cracking again. I’ve taken each round in the tent as an opportunity to learn, and I look forward to continuing with that trend. One of the learning opportunities that has been constantly in front of me is environment. My space runs on the cooler side and last round the tent got crowded and I lost control of my humidity control. I was fortunate to have not lost more of my crop than I did, but things were cut early and didn’t get the chance to fill out, frost up, or put in the full fall foliage show. I will eventually get around to finished bud shots and smoke reports, but I have a full awareness that I didn’t hit full potential for any of the plants, but I’m alright with that. The yield was plenty for my needs with Air Trigger and Honey Sundae pheno #1 putting out the majority of the harvest.

I’m looking to mix up some soil today or tomorrow, but have been dragging my feet trying to figure out how to incorporate my home farmed worm castings. I’m aiming to make a simple soil mix somewhat similar to Coot’s blend, put I wanted to simply the organic amendments by utilizing some blended organic nutrient mix. For my base I will use sphagnum peat moss, my compost is worm castings and insect frass (heavy on the castings), and perlite for aeration. This will be mixed with Dr Earth organic nutrients and a bit of garden lime pellets. I’m really trying to hone in on my IPM strategy and am planning to try some neem oil for a soil drench and a little DE mixed in the soil with a thin layer also dusted on the top of the plants.

 

[chiefer888]

Time for a quick visit to the spa for this crew. 2x Double Dawg Biscuits @macsnax , 2x Orange Julius @HydroRed, and an Orion @Dino Party. Time to get cracking!

 

[DopeDaniel]

Bout time you got to the good gear.

 

[Dino Party]

nice, cracked my bean with a tab of acid in the water. I see you, friend.