Fall/Winter grow 2024-25

[TomH]

Ya know, it‘s the middle of August, but time marches ever onward, I started preparing my shed to house the more sensitive cactus and succulents this fall and winter.

The shed was used for a couple grows, very successfully but at a considerable cost to keep the shed at a comfortable temp during the summer. True up was moving into the thousands! PG&E effectively made it cheaper to buy top shelf bud at the local shop than grow it myself indoors.

But we have a significant investment in some uncommon and certainly interesting cactus and succulents. Since we’re going to run a small heater, humidifier and dehuy for the dry plants, might as well turn on the tent and run a winter grow!

With that, my daughter and I selected three beans, Skywalker OG, OG Kush and Platinum GSC. Two indica leaning hybrids and one sativa leaner! I’m hoping at least one bean pops and lives for me, its been my achilles heal lately (getting seeds to grow successfully).

At any rate, into a soak this afternoon, the will then move into paper towels tomorrow.

Looking forward to the grow, but need to shift mind sets from the outdoor environment.

As beans pop, I’ll update pictures of the new baby(s). I’ll get pics of the shed next week when I return to the foothills.

 

[TomH]

We have one seed above soil.
Platinum GSC popped up overnight.

Only two days in soil, still waiting on the OG KUSH and SKYWALKER OG to show.

They soaked 18 hrs in distilled water with a small amount of epsom salt and a pinch of alfalfa meal.

Then wrapped in paper towel for two days and into soil.

Two days, I’m impressed, I hope they are all that lively.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Love your gardens man.
Always new and interesting plants/cactus.

 

[TomH]

Well, looks like I’m two for three on seedlings.

Platinum GSC is up for five days and pitching the second set of serrated leaves.

Skywalker OG is up for 6 days, a little leggy and not quite as far along with the second set of leaves.

The saga continues.

 

[TomH]

The babies grow so fast.
They are three (fingers) already.
Looks like some fat fingers. I’m guessing the indica side is expressing well.

 

[steamroller]

Good seeds and or good light.
Very tight spacing right off the rip when most have no control.
Looks like future bushes~!
I see now how you do it.

 

[TomH]

they are under a series of Barrina 5000 lights, I don’t recall the vendor, my daughter obtained them about a year ago.

I’m very happy with how they look.

 

[TomH]

Week old seedlings got bit dry overnight but didn’t sag, just praying for water.

 

[TomH]

Getting bigger by the day.

Their final home is ready in the shed, about a week or two before I move them into three gallon baskets and flip.

No long veg here, I plan to flip as soon as the roots are comfortable, probably third or fourth week in September.

 

[SSgrower]

Ya know, it‘s the middle of August, but time marches ever onward, I started preparing my shed to house the more sensitive cactus and succulents this fall and winter.

The shed was used for a couple grows, very successfully but at a considerable cost to keep the shed at a comfortable temp during the summer. True up was moving into the thousands! PG&E effectively made it cheaper to buy top shelf bud at the local shop than grow it myself indoors.

But we have a significant investment in some uncommon and certainly interesting cactus and succulents. Since we’re going to run a small heater, humidifier and dehuy for the dry plants, might as well turn on the tent and run a winter grow!

With that, my daughter and I selected three beans, Skywalker OG, OG Kush and Platinum GSC. Two indica leaning hybrids and one sativa leaner! I’m hoping at least one bean pops and lives for me, its been my achilles heal lately (getting seeds to grow successfully).

At any rate, into a soak this afternoon, the will then move into paper towels tomorrow.

Looking forward to the grow, but need to shift mind sets from the outdoor environment.

As beans pop, I’ll update pictures of the new baby(s). I’ll get pics of the shed next week when I return to the foothills.

My seed popping is very trying in winter, I am popping Lemon Jeffry for winter today! SS

 

[Zen_seeker]

My seed popping is very trying in winter, I am popping Lemon Jeffry for winter today! SS

You and me both brother. I got the next Gen just waiting for the 3x3 to be free.

 

[TomH]

You and me both brother. I got the next Gen just waiting for the 3x3 to be free.

My tent is available, the lung-room isn’t yet habitable.
I can’t use any AC, I can use an oil heater on low if temps drop, so fall/winter and early spring it will be.

Doggone PG&E jacked costs and decreased what they buy KWs back for.
Even with solar, trying to cool the shed in the summer is a Herculean effort.
I’m going to overwinter some of my most sensitive plants in the shed/lung room, which probably isn’t recommended, but I’m space limited and everything will be double checked clean before entry…

It’s a little different, keeps life interesting. A little work but nothing too difficult.

If you stop moving, you die!

 

[SSgrower]

Side ways again, 4K x2 rear, 1 gorilla goat.

 

[TomH]

They are both about 18 days above soil.

I’m irritated that I forgot to mark which is which?

I’m sure I can crack the code if I refer back to photos when in cups. Just an extra step that some non stoned individual wouldn’t need to take

Okay.

These girls (feminized) will get enough time in 24:0 light to settle their roots, get a quick topping then flip to 12:12.

I’m looking forward to how much they stretch with such a short veg time.

 

[steamroller]

I’m irritated that I forgot to mark which is which?

I’m sure I can crack the code if I refer back to photos when in cups. Just an extra step that some non stoned individual wouldn’t need to take

I always seem to have one mystery plant or my numbers don't add up.
I guess no denying being stoned?
But still, I end up often not be able to figure out who the mystery date is~!
Not sure if that is related to still being stoned?

 

[TomH]

Not much change, since yesterday.
They look like they’re happy discovering their new homes.

As long as nothing goes south, flip to occur later this week.

 

[TomH]

Today was yard work day.

Cleaned up the yellow leaves. Should be ready for a drink tomorrow.

Settled on lotus nutrient as my pots are probably too small to correctly manage an organic garden.

They are looking strong but need to thicken up the stalks a bit.

 

[TomH]

Looking closely, I believe that the Platinum cookies is an auto!
Pistils are showing in the top terminal node and they are only 24 days about ground.
Going to be interesting nursing an auto and a photo at the same time.
I don’t recall it being marked as such, but that order was so seriously messed up, this wouldn’t surprise me.
My daughter bought these a year or two ago, many didn’t even pop.
Oh well, I guess it’s going to pop into flower about the time frame I was planning, just wasn’t my idea!

 

[TomH]

Well darn, platinum cookies is probably going to win awards for smallest plant with a bud.

I don’t remember seeing it marked as auto, so I just repotted it as it was beginning stretching.

If I end up getting a pipe full, I’ll be surprised.

Skywalker og looks happy and growing fast.

18:6 light will continue until skywalker grows up a little, then both go to 14:10 hoping to split the difference between when a photo will flower and still giving an auto everything she can take.

Oh the webs we weave.

 

[TomH]

Mid week update, not much to report, I’m out of town this week so everything is coasting along nicely.

Platinum cookies is in week two of flower, it’s not marked as an auto flower so I have very little confidence that it’s actually platinum cookies.
But it’s weed, so I’m going to enjoy it.

Skywalker og looks beefy, it’s going to go to 14:10 light schedule on Saturday.

Hopefully a photo and an auto can split the difference in lighting.

 

[TomH]

Platinum cookies, day 1 of the third week. It stretched about 3x, and it’s still not very tall. It does seem to have a lot of bud sites so maybe it’ll surprise me.
Started Lotus bloom and ca-mag today.

The plant that isn’t in flower is Skywalker OG. Tonight it’s lighting goes off early and it begins a 14:10 light schedule.

I’ll let all y’all know if this works out or is a total FUp.

Happy Saturday everyone.

 

[TomH]

Been a few days and they are changing rapidly.

Skywalker OG in week 1, Platinum GSC in it’s fourth week.

Cookies needs to up its game, not much beef there yet

Skywalker looks like it could be a hefty one to be sharing the tent with.

 

[TomH]

Correction to the previous comment, Platinum GSC is mid week 3 not week 4.

Still seems small for its age, but I see promise.

 

[SSgrower]

You deserve th

Good seeds and or good light.
Very tight spacing right off the rip when most have no control.
Looks like future bushes~!
I see now how you do it.

is coin, what a grower. Salute! SS

 

[steamroller]

Correction to the previous comment, Platinum GSC is mid week 3 not week 4.

Still seems small for its age, but I see promise.

Plans on defoliating?
I'd take the lower large fans.
Looking real nice there imo.

 

[SSgrower]

You bad muther ! Grow! Win!

 

[TomH]

Plans on defoliating?
I'd take the lower large fans.
Looking real nice there imo.

I’ve been meaning to ask for recommendations, getting right about time too.

Thank you

 

[TomH]

Plans on defoliating?
I'd take the lower large fans.
Looking real nice there imo.

I removed a small amount of the riff-raff that was down low including a number of hidden budsites and a couple small low branches.
I left but defoliated the larger branches from nodes 2 and 3.
Those appear as aggressive as the main cola and have similar light levels.

Should I cut more?
I tried to keep my clean up to less than 5%

 

[SSgrower]

You are fine for now.

 

[TomH]

You are fine for now.

Thank you sir, greatly appreciated!

 

[TomH]

Not in the foothills this week, but my lady sent a pic of the little ladies.
Platinum GSC on the left is just past week 3, it's literally a pole with a couple drum sticks!
It's now where near as filled out as I wish it was, but there is still time.

On the right (or back if you will), is Skywalker OG, it's robust but I don't see a lot of flower yet, only flipped about 9 days ago, so I'll keep an eye out.

I need a good feminine and diminutive equivalent of "Mutt and Jeff" for these two, definitely weirdly different structures.

BTW, the heavy weight here was the chunky seedling while the skinny drink of water was a leggy seedling!! Two data points, probably means nothing!

 

[TomH]

Platinum GSC just finished week 4 on Saturday.
It’s not beefy but there is a lot of potential. I hope that the middle weeks provide weight.

Skywalker looks like she woke up ready to rumble.

It’s grown significantly in the past two weeks, but looks ready to stretch.

 

[Max]

The GSC was a fraction late flowering .usually by bout week 6-7 I know what I’m getting so I’d say week 7-8 she should b good.she has a nice structure .looks strong.

 

[TomH]

Well, my great experiment with flowering at 14:10 didn’t pan out.
She would get all “flipped“ looking, bet never pump out pistils.
I tried dropping the light to 13:11. It did the same thing.

Saturday, I finally dropped it to 12:12, it started pumping pistils almost immediately.
She also dramatically thickened up the main stem and most of the branches.

 

[Max]

Ah I missed that bit…so she will now start stretching Tom.

 

[steamroller]

I have used the slow flip as I call it.
Dropping light by 1-2 hours every week from 18-6 until I get to 12-12.
I would not think 14 would work to finish but surprised the 13 did not show you more.

 

[TomH]

I have used the slow flip as I call it.
Dropping light by 1-2 hours every week from 18-6 until I get to 12-12.
I would not think 14 would work to finish but surprised the 13 did not show you more.

It acted like it really wanted to flower, but “stage fright”.
There’s that color at the growth points that usually announce that the stretch begins, it did that when I went from 18:6 to 14:10, then the color went back to normal and no stretch.

It did it again when I dropped from 14:10 to 13:11, with the same results.

12:12 looks like it couldn’t wait to get out of the gate!

I’d love to see the chemical changes that were occurring inside the plant during those weeks.

 

[TomH]

I’ve added a five gallon jug with 1/3 strength lotus ca/mag and bloom nutrients.

I’ll monitor it as it should fertigate for two minutes, every third day.

I’m looking for a solution for when Laura and I head out of town for two weeks in November.

The jug is aerated with an air stone and pump. I built the water horseshoes from garden irrigation supplies. Works well, now to verify my schedule, takes three days for one pass.

 

[TomH]

platinum cookies in front left, completed week six last Friday, 10/25.. about 50% red hairs, it needs to bulk up.

Skywalker og is end of week three on Wednesday. Looking like it’s going to be a lot busier than platinum. Bud sites everywhere.

I’m using lotus nutrients on this grow. The plants look like they love it, no complaints other than it doesn’t mix well with water. Even warm water wouldn’t dissolve it. I left it in water for 2 days and shook it like a madman and still wouldn’t dissolve.

 

[stonemason]

Mabey try one of these