Tom’s Dream Weaver grow

[steamroller]

The Importance of Chitin​

Closely related to cellulose, chitin is a naturally occurring molecule that is found in the shells of crustaceans like lobsters and crabs, as well as the exoskeletons of insects. In many cases, it is also found in algae and yeast. Chitin’s benefit to plants is that it causes them to be fortified from their cell walls out.

When used in fertilizer, chitin triggers the immune systems of plants. Thus, causing them to rev up and defend themselves against predators like root-feeding nematodes and disease pathogens in the soil. The presence of chitin triggers plants to think that insects are eating them. Thus, causing them to build up their cell walls and release natural insect toxins as a defense.

Though chitin doesn’t act as a pesticide, its presence prepares plants to better withstand a pest-filled onslaught, should one come.
Taken from ; https://growingorganic.com/soil-gui...ly from plants that herbivore insects chew up.

 

[Bandit420]

The Importance of Chitin​

Closely related to cellulose, chitin is a naturally occurring molecule that is found in the shells of crustaceans like lobsters and crabs, as well as the exoskeletons of insects. In many cases, it is also found in algae and yeast. Chitin’s benefit to plants is that it causes them to be fortified from their cell walls out.

When used in fertilizer, chitin triggers the immune systems of plants. Thus, causing them to rev up and defend themselves against predators like root-feeding nematodes and disease pathogens in the soil. The presence of chitin triggers plants to think that insects are eating them. Thus, causing them to build up their cell walls and release natural insect toxins as a defense.

Though chitin doesn’t act as a pesticide, its presence prepares plants to better withstand a pest-filled onslaught, should one come.
Taken from ; https://growingorganic.com/soil-guide/insect-frass/#:~:text=Just like bat guano or, insect frass is,entirely from plants that herbivore insects chew up.

Ha! Like a walk down memory lane!
Yeah this is what took me into the world of crab and lobster meals. I think you get more of it or a more available source thru crustaceans. One of those xtra benefits to crab meal that pretty much makes it the best calmag and silica + nitrogen & potash supplement you can buy.
Then when NH offered it in liquid form, game over! Ready for uptake and plants love the stuff in liquid form

 

[Stoneyluv]

I agree with all that... the lobster and crab is a game changer in soil growing. i tend to use the dry shell mixed in the soil and feed with the liquid every couple weeks. when i harvest and tear open the root balls pretty much all the shell has been absorbed and used up completely. seems like there's never enough.

i've used the frass a lot... i was getting it for free from a local worm farm at one point, you can't overdo it and it will not hurt your plants. at one point i was raising those worms for my chickens so i got all the frass from that and when i stopped using it cold turkey you couldn't even tell. the plants didn't care if i used it or not. the frass was not a game changer in my opinion.

 

[TomH]

I didn’t have any insect frass, nor could I find any, but I do have Bio-Live (5-4-2), lots of crab shell and other fishy smelling stuff.

I top dressed the two plants with bio-live, worm castings and some azomite. I followed up with 3 gallons of rain water. They look happy and I can begin smelling a heavy fruity smell.

The clones have all established tremendous roots, the blue dream clones will up pot to 1/2 gallon pots, working their way up to 3 gal felt planters (I’ve yet to purchase).

Pictures will be added later this morning.

 

[TomH]

The two blue dream clones have been moved to 1/2 gallon pots.

This was done with absolutely no root disturbance, the cups slipped off, roots held the soil together, right into a cup sized hole in the new pot.
The hole was dusted with great white and rooting hormone.

 

[TomH]

I have been lax in my updates.

Both plants are crossing into week nine after tomorrow. Still sporting lots of white pistils and bulking up.
The blue dream still has far fewer trichomes than the sativa.

 

[TomH]

Both sativa and blue dream are in week nine since 12/12 flip.

Most pistils are still white, estimated less than 10% red.

Fed ca-mag/iron and kool bloom powder.

Both plants bulking up well, blue dream is easily double the size of the sativa. It’s getting chunky.

Temperatures mid 60s day with mid RH in the upper forties and low fifties. They were low forties before feeding. They seemed to increase transpiration after a good soak.

 

[TomH]

This grow was done using Humbolt Secrets, parts A and B, golden tree, flower stacker and enzymes.
Recently, I added flower fuel, massive 1-2-3 and kool bloom, not in combination but at different feeds.

One thing I’ve done is keep most feedings at or below 450ppm.
I’m growing in about 15 gallons of ffof and happy frog each plant.

Every other water (average 4 days) is rain water only with a pinch of epsom salt.

I’m amazed how green the plants still are, w9d3 since 12/12 flip. The sativa has significantly increased conversion of white pistils to red, but the blue dream still has mostly white. Triceratops are still clear.

 

[TomH]

Week 9 glamour shots.

 

[TomH]

Spell check on the iphone: Triceratops are sill clear
translation: Trichomes are still clear! valiant effort!

 

[TomH]

Today, we’re down to 10 hours of light a day.
About 65 degrees with 30% - 35% RH.
I just gave everyone a drink of rain water and Epsom salt.
Girls remain green with very little seasonal fade or leaf drop taking place.
They seem to be happily chugging along.
Weeks to go, trichomes still glassy and pistils still mostly white.

 

[TomH]

We finish week 10 since flipping.
Both plants still have more than 50% white pistils, trichomes are nearly all milky. I wasn’t able to detect any amber yet though.

I didn’t expect them to remain this green, this late in the flowering cycle.
They are beginning to fade to yellow now, but slowly.

 

[TomH]

As we are doing week 10 things, all the colas are getting thick.

They now bob and flutter with just the least bit of breeze.

The blue dream took its last drink of water today, the sativa is waiting until about Monday or Tuesday.
The plants will then be allowed to drink their media dry with a harvest planned for the first week of April.

The sativa has had a great batch of trichomes since week three.
The blue dream just began to catch up. It’s getting closer.
We’ll see what a couple weeks do.

 

[TomH]

Mid-week 11

Pistils are about 50:50 white:red
Trichomes are white, with a sprinkling of amber.

They are probably at the beginning of the harvest window. They are scheduled to meet with the trimmers on Saturday 4/5, if I can wait that long. They look awesome now.

 

[TomH]

Week 13, day 1.
Both plants coming down today.
Sativa first, blue dream second.
Blue dream has turned very yellow over the past four or five weeks.

 

[steamroller]

Super nice looking buds there Tom~!

 

[TomH]

One of the best looking buds I can remember. But then ownership adds 10 points

 

[TomH]

Final results of the fall 2023 grow:

Two jars of blue dream, half gallon and a quart.
Two jars of bagseed sativa, half gallon and a quart.
Half a quart of crystal berry.

The crystal berry has smelled like cat piss since it was about three weeks before chop. It got really stanky about 10 days ago.
I thought, no way I can smoke this, it almost made me gag to smell it and not many things make me gag.
Now, all of a sudden, a floral scent wafted out of the jar this morning! Yeehaw.

A couple more weeks of cure, burping regularly and looking forward to the next grow.

Happy Friday fellow budbuilding buds!