Sonoran Survivors 2022

[UncleB]

First seed sprouted yesterday, and I figured we ought to get a journal started. Will be 100% outdoors in a tiny Arizona back yard surrounded by brick and rock.... conditions at times will be near kiln- like. Let's see what makes it!!!

Night temps are a little cool, still - so we're getting back in the groove with a few forgotten freebies from over the years. Pictured is an OAseeds Mandarina Auto .

Plenty of runts and crispy leaves to come....???

 

[thesunnyvalekid]

Nice start I will follow along.

 

[Senokai]

You may want to consider something like Silica Blast from Botanicare. It is supposedly helpful for plants in extreme environments.

 

[UncleB]

You may want to consider something like Silica Blast from Botanicare. It is supposedly helpful for plants in extreme environments.

Thanks for the suggestion. Will examine that one for sure. Did use Power Si granules last year - hard to say how much they helped, as I used them on everything....?

In addition, thanks to a @Frimpong post, I'm going to try Mikro H2o.

From the product description:
Mikro-H2O offers drought-relief to plants and is an essential product for plants that live under mild to severe drought, and extreme heat conditions. Mikro-H2O contains high concentrations of 2 Rhizobacteria strains (Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus Subtilis), which build biofilms in the root zone. Biofilms formed by Bacillus help retain water and prevent fertilizer from leaking out, enhancing efficiency and retention of fertilizer applications. Because of these properties, Mikro-H2O is the farmer's answer to drought & heat management and the gardener/houseplant owner's answer to irregular watering (i.e. when plants go unwatered for prolonged periods of time because of busy schedules, vacations, etc.)

In addition to drought/heat relief, Mikro-H2O also promotes plant growth and leaf health. Plant growth is boosted by Bacillus, a PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria), and leaf metabolism is activated when both sides of leaves are sprayed with the water solution of Mikro-H2O. The combined water-retention and PGPR properties of the proprietary strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis in Mikro-H2O makes Mikro-H2O the ideal response to one of the biggest modern-day challenges in agriculture and gardening – growth during droughts and heat.

 

[UncleB]

Night time temps outside are still bouncing around the low 30's, so it would be preferable to hold off on the autos for just a few more days - I like to plop the cracked seed into their final home.

Been getting back in the groove w/ germination using some Attitude freebies from the same promotion 11yrs ago. Pictured is one of the 2 TH Seeds Heavy Duty Fruity (regs), also above soil are 2 DarkStar (regs). Cracked, and just now in the cups are 2 reg SAGE.

Probably not the cheapest, but I love getting the square Solos and just clipping the corners really lightly, rather than the hot poker. Pretty sure it's old news to most, but I only learned it last year....

 

[Brokehoe]

Oh yeah both of those should be great. Look up heavy duty fruity it says one word monstrous. Lol

 

[Frimpong]

This is going to be awesome ??

 

[UncleB]

As you can blurrily see, one of the 11yo Heavy Duty Fruity reg freebies failed to thrive. Not surprised, and honestly it was a win just to get it to crack. So far, the other reg freebies are above ground including the SAGE . Currently trying to germinate 2 Cali Connection Boss Hogg reg freebies from the same Attitude promotion, but no sign of life so far....

 

[UncleB]

Not a lot of visual interest to update the journal, but things are happening. Best looking thing in the yard right now is a faithful aloe Striata....


Still popping old freebies - 2 Emerald Fire OG autos from Hembra are now above soil.
The TH Seeds freebies are hanging in there, just the one Heavy Duty Fruity casualty. The other HDF is the strongest of the bunch (pictured below)


Will keep staggering in as many as I think I can manage.

Typing in between shuttling focaccia loaves in and out of the oven. Better stop before I burn something...?

 

[BH]

You may want to consider something like Silica Blast from Botanicare. It is supposedly helpful for plants in extreme environments.

100% agree silica is such a need for success and so many pro’s to use it! Product wise not Not trying to sound argumentative but raw npk silica is pure and 1/16th-1/8th teaspoon per gal! ( 50 gal water = 1-3.5T)
key is always pre-mix ur dry amendments in water and than Add to ur rez. Key is to also add silica first, than your micro nutes than your base than everything else Inless w/e ur buying says its in order of other.

2lb Bag of raw silica will last ya multi seasons np Inless your growing quite a bit . Been using this for over 10 years ( bought a 10lb version a few years ago and still have 75%) . A lot of Raw npk is a great bargain but also very soluable vs many are def not worth ur buck or don’t work like they should . Good example is do you really want to have to stir for countless minutes before its usable or have to use warm water ? sorry I want it simple , works and a good deal. I’ll pass on bending over on liquid version when it’s 99% water if that’s the case for product, which so many are!

RAW Silica

RAW Silica contains 45% Silicon Dioxide which is the highest concentration of silicon dioxide available to the home gardener. RAW Silica is flowable and suspend-able in water and naturally available to the plant. Since RAW Silica is a natural form of silicon dioxide, it is PH neutral and does...

npk-industries.com

Amazon product

 

[UncleB]

100% agree silica is such a need for success and so many pro’s to use it! Product wise not Not trying to sound argumentative but raw npk silica is pure and 1/16th-1/8th teaspoon per gal! ( 50 gal water = 1-3.5T)
key is always pre-mix ur dry amendments in water and than Add to ur rez. Key is to also add silica first, than your micro nutes than your base than everything else Inless w/e ur buying says its in order of other.

2lb Bag of raw silica will last ya multi seasons + (depends on ur grow size ) and works great! Been using this for over 10 years . A lot of Raw npk is a great bargain but also very soluable vs many are def not worth ur buck or don’t work like they should . Good example is do you really want to have to stir for countless minutes before its usable or have to use warm water ? sorry I want it simple , works and a good deal. I’ll pass on bending over on liquid version when it’s 99% water if that’s the case for product, which so many are!

RAW Silica

RAW Silica contains 45% Silicon Dioxide which is the highest concentration of silicon dioxide available to the home gardener. RAW Silica is flowable and suspend-able in water and naturally available to the plant. Since RAW Silica is a natural form of silicon dioxide, it is PH neutral and does...

npk-industries.com

Amazon product

Man - I haven't heard of RAW - but just took a look at the link. That info is GOLD. Thanks a bunch. I need every edge I can get!!!

 

[UncleB]

Still working through some of the ancient Attitude freebies to start the season off. Couldn't help but think of our buddy @Psychobilly when coming across the Confidential Cheese - really pleased at how promptly it complied. Connie Chung is acting as slow as you would expect for 12+ years....but *maybe* the seam is splitting...?

 

[Frimpong]

Still working through some of the ancient Attitude freebies to start the season off. Couldn't help but think of our buddy @Psychobilly when coming across the Confidential Cheese - really pleased at how promptly it complied. Connie Chung is acting as slow as you would expect for 12+ years....but *maybe* the seam is splitting...?

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Yesssssss this is very exciting. Had Boss Hogg couple yrs back and it was amazing. Love the selection man !

 

[Psychobilly]

Still working through some of the ancient Attitude freebies to start the season off. Couldn't help but think of our buddy @Psychobilly when coming across the Confidential Cheese - really pleased at how promptly it complied. Connie Chung is acting as slow as you would expect for 12+ years....but *maybe* the seam is splitting...?

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!!!!!!!!!!! YES!

Fragrance​

Confidential Cheese is a tempting strain, even if you only get a whiff of it. It is so fragrant that you will notice its presence rightaway, its strong cheesy smell following it around and creating a stir. This hybrid contains a pungent and sour-sweet aroma that is also earthy and pleasant.

Flavors​

Confidential Cheese has a very strong cheesy smell to it that is equally obvious in its flavors. Its smoke tastes creamy and sweet, but its chemical and pungent flavors become quite overpowering on the exhale, leaving a definite taste on the tip of your tongue, long afterwards.

Talking these panties RIGHT off bro! Haha!

 

[Psychobilly]

The Silica may help too cause like Blue Cheese seems to like it and it's in Fiji water, which is what I give my Blue Cheese Seedlings to get them started

 

[UncleB]

Well....Connie Chung did indeed sprout a tail, and is above the soil, still sporting a helmet this afternoon. Way too early to declare victory, but we're hopeful.

Going to start popping a few seeds from the Phenohunter family. My buddy @Brokehoe hooked it up with some of his work, and I'm pretty excited to see how these do down here. We've DM'd in the past in regards to Lebanese varieties, and his Panama/Lebanese/Purps Secret especially has me intrigued. Thanks again Broke Daddy!!!








Popped a single Geneseeds Black Lebanon last Fall and really liked it (pictured below in early Dec). Might introduce some of that Pan/Leb/Purp pollen back into another, if it's the will of the gardening gods....

 

[Brokehoe]

The PLP isn't mine, but I'm glad you popped them.
Blak and blue cookies will throw magenta pistils outside.
Hope you enjoy. Hope you get a banger and send me some seeds. Lol

 

[UncleB]

Just a check-in. Plants are in the slow seedling stage, and really not much to look at. Connie Chung never shucked her helmet. Was too scared to perform surgery, and just kept a loose sandwich bag over the cup, hoping she'd break through... Came home to a shrunken neck yesterday. Onwards!!!

4 out of 4 of the Panama Haze/Black Lebanon/Purps Secret seeds that @Brokehoe sent are above ground.....and 7 of 7 Queen Of The Damned cracked super quick. Will drop 'em in soil tomorrow evening.

For visual interest, I snapped a quickie of the Confidential Cheese for @Psychobilly when I got home from work today. It's doing great so far!

 

[Psychobilly]

Ohhhhh that's nice! Can't wait to hear about the smell lol!

 

[UncleB]

Has it really been a month since updating? I'll take a picture here and there, but evenings get hectic, and I wind up just utilizing the time I have to catch up with the Phenohunter notifications....

Starting from seed outdoors is slow - even for Autos...???

Still not too much to get excited about visually.

Some items of note:

Wound up with 8 (freebie) Kalichakra regs coming up. Sprouted them in a community pot, but the separation was a breeze two days ago without killing anyone.

Queen of the Damned (qty 7) are in a community pot, but it won't be long before busting them up.

All 4 of the Panama/Lebanon/Purps Secret (PLP) seeds sprouted right away, and will be needing a real pot soon.

Popped all 6 of the Quixter Auto regs that I got from a chap on Instagram last year. They're vigorous! So far 3 males.... Wanted to run them before pollen management becomes an issue.

Lastly - those 11/12 year old Attitude freebies - the Lone Heavy Duty Fruity flowered on me, and is a male, as are both SAGE. The DarkStar are both ladies. I snuggled each DarkStar against a male to see if a seed could possibly be generated from a start of season flowering....doubtful, but felt there was nothing to lose.

Should be updating more often going forward. Lots of odds and ends not worth mentioning at the moment.

A couple pics below:

Quixter male day 17 -



HD Fruity male leaning over DarkStar lady (feel free to laugh...?)



Panama/Lebanon/Purps Secret gifted by my buddy @Brokehoe