We've made it. We are now in WEEK 7 of the Dirt to Dank Grow!! A couple of new and amazing things have happened this week.
First, if anyone remembers any of my earlier posts, setting all my plants inside that tiny space was getting cramped, and the plants, I think, were feeling it. Luckily, I have an associate who has allowed me to re-locate my production to their spot, providing me with greater room, and even a built-in exhaust fan!!
Check it:
Here are some pics of another phenomenon I've been experiencing with my plants during this grow: cannabis's own version of Morning Wood!!
Isn't that funny? It's usually in the mornings, when I go check on the girls and see if they want breakfast, they all have their leaves all spread out and fanning up like this
I just find that so amusing :)
After reading up on the phenomenon, it appears it is exact;y that: Happy plants!! And they seem to be doing very well (knock on wood.)
Like I said, we are now into the 8th week of veg (next Friday will be 8 weeks exactly since germination), and the plants are right on schedule. I have planned to "make the switch" when the girls get 1 foot tall, and they are just at around 10 inches now. (I have also been reading about multiple growers who swear by vegging for what seem to be very long times--one guy said 10 months vegging! But I would imagine the yields were ridiculous.. Perhaps someone else can interject with their experience here...)
I have steadily been adding lights when and where I can (as you can see, the wires everywhere and lamps lying around don't make for the most visually appealing, or frankly most efficient set-up, I know... I'm currently working on improving that by building some light set-ups I've seen others use on youtube. Hopefully that will clear things up a bit in there..)
I did want to make just a brief comment on a topic I mentioned in last week's post that I would talk about today, so, I am.
Water
The topic of water may sound like a relatively mundane one, compared to all the other issues that go along with cannabis cultivation: lights, nutes, timing... But, from everything I've seen and read, making sure that liquid which is so vital to your growing buddies--H20--is properly tempered to your plants, and even more importantly, has its pH levels within an acceptable range is crucial.
Some folks take this to the "extreme;" buying distilled bottled water and feeding their plants with it. (Hey, if you have the extra cash, why not?)--but for me, it's too easy to just get it out of the tap... BUT--here's the catch--not everyone's tap water is the same. Luckily, my tap water is within the acceptable range for cannabis--somewhere between 5.8 - 6.4 range of pH. (Don't know about other areas, but I got my water tested for free at the local Petco pet store. Technically, the service was for aquarium water, but, hey ;)).
So my pH is fine-- but does that mean my water still ready to go straight from the tap? Not necessarily. And I emphasize this again because I feel like it's an overlooked issue. Many people's water (I know mine) contains relatively high levels of chlorine.
While (probably) fine for human consumption, marijuana is much more sensitive to this chemical. To remedy this, I am sure to leave any water intended for the plants sitting out for 48 hours ahead of time. This is a simple and effective way to allow any excess chemicals to evaporate from your water, leaving it nice and fresh for your plants. I'm also mindful that the water I give them is room temperature, or, as close as I can get. In other words, not burning hot or freezing cold.
It would be my own personal estimate that most of the "issues" I have seen with my grows had something to do with either improperly pH'd water (or soil--soil pH is another topic, but, to test your soil pH, simply take your plant after it has been watered, and gently squeeze the plant to get a small amount of "run-off" water at the bottom, then test that with your strip) or just straight-up over-chlorinated water. With the latter problem probably being the more insidious of the two. So check your water! (Any comments or suggestions regarding water quality would be much appreciated!!)
So there is my little "rant" for the day...
I'm about to light up a phatty of one of this guy, DJ Short Blueberry's, ancestors .... Peace
