Zen’s Spring 2026 Grow

[Zen_seeker]

20260313: GG#4 JW & SB#22

The changes seem to be helping. Compared to yesterday it’s greener.

Yesterday Mornin.


This morning.


If this keeps up I’ll mix up a new dry mix top dressing for the end of the weekend.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260319: GG#4 JW & SB#22

It’s been a week since the last check. The two foliar sprays and liquid nutrients have things looking much better. Not done yet but a good start.

A lot going on at home and I’m tired of this up/down weather.

 

[Pipecarver]

Looking better and they are sure getting tall, I'd have topped them, its not to late to help them fill in a bit. If it was me I hit them with far reds, just a week of it for 10min at lights out. Too me its like a wonder drug, do you have any? I have an extra one I can send you. I have these small Rapid led pucks 1 is good for a 3x3. I bought them before I bought the spiderfarmer far reds. Just let me know I'll send out tomorrow.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Looking better and they are sure getting tall, I'd have topped them, its not to late to help them fill in a bit.

These were in red cups for 80 days or so before I transplanted. They have been topped at least two or three times already. I bent a few over a week or two back but they are due again for LST or topping.

I’m waiting for them to get better before I stress them more. I’d like to up pot one more time but I’m having trouble finding shorter/wider 3 gallon pots. I’ll either use the green ones or use old black 5 gallon ones rolled down if I have too.

If it was me I hit them with far reds, just a week of it for 10min at lights out. Too me its like a wonder drug, do you have any?

The Photontek is supposed to cover more red but I have no idea if it does. It doesn’t have any separate controls for it.

I have an extra one I can send you. I have these small Rapid led pucks 1 is good for a 3x3. I bought them before I bought the spiderfarmer far reds. Just let me know I'll send out tomorrow.

If it’s cheap to send I’ll try it. I recall you use them for like 15 minutes either at the start or end of lights on?

Can it be attached to the middle of the Photontek light you think?
If it’s a puck light it should be able to fit in the middle underneath the ballast I’d think?

How’s the bathroom ceiling? Was it just from a fluke ice jamming up under the shingles or do you have a water issue?

This constant freezing/thawing/raining is getting to me but the roofs been okay. The basement has been in the 50-60’s for RH all month but hits 30’s on the odd day. Temps have hit 14* at lights out once or twice. At least the plants are in veg and able to handle the environment swings better.

Haven’t seen your clones recently. Are they doing well? G$ is popping a few seeds but they are growing slower than normal.

 

[Pipecarver]

These were in red cups for 80 days or so before I transplanted. They have been topped at least two or three times already. I bent a few over a week or two back but they are due again for LST or topping.

I’m waiting for them to get better before I stress them more. I’d like to up pot one more time but I’m having trouble finding shorter/wider 3 gallon pots. I’ll either use the green ones or use old black 5 gallon ones rolled down if I have too.


The Photontek is supposed to cover more red but I have no idea if it does. It doesn’t have any separate controls for it.


If it’s cheap to send I’ll try it. I recall you use them for like 15 minutes either at the start or end of lights on?

Can it be attached to the middle of the Photontek light you think?View attachment 127078
If it’s a puck light it should be able to fit in the middle underneath the ballast I’d think?

How’s the bathroom ceiling? Was it just from a fluke ice jamming up under the shingles or do you have a water issue?

This constant freezing/thawing/raining is getting to me but the roofs been okay. The basement has been in the 50-60’s for RH all month but hits 30’s on the odd day. Temps have hit 14* at lights out once or twice. At least the plants are in veg and able to handle the environment swings better.

Haven’t seen your clones recently. Are they doing well? G$ is popping a few seeds but they are growing slower than normal.

I mounted it on a piece of thin sheet metal then bent it around my ballast there's no weight to it like a couple grams. I use it for 15 min, 5 before lights out and 10 after. My timer on that light only has 15 min intervals. I saw a video recently that said 8 min was the sweet spot so I'm close enough. I'll ship it tomorrow, my wife has an eye appointment in Halifax so its an outing...lol. I get to sit in the car and wait a couple of hours while they spend 10 minutes looking at her then send her on her way until the next one..

 

[TomH]

The biochar can cause issues if it's not pre charged with microbes and nutes before you add it. It will pull nutes from the surrounding soil, just like fresh un aged wood chips do. The microbes use it as like a storage unit.if it's empty when you add it they will fill it. I dont realy think it has much nuitrient value,if your not reusing your soil you might just be able to get rid of it.

I’ve been using biochar for a couple years, but I also reuse the soil and just rebuild it (as long as there were no issues in the grow) so I’m hopoing at this point, the bio char that is the oldest is really cooked In well. I can’t actually say its made the grows better, probably more as a wholistic approach, it was part of the improvement. So were learning patience, better watering/dryout practices, better feed practices … in other words, many things have changed, which one(s) moved the needle in the right direction? Don’t know, I hope I am’nt moving the needle in the wrong direction with and recent changes.

 

[stonemason]

I’ve been using biochar for a couple years, but I also reuse the soil and just rebuild it (as long as there were no issues in the grow) so I’m hopoing at this point, the bio char that is the oldest is really cooked In well. I can’t actually say its made the grows better, probably more as a wholistic approach, it was part of the improvement. So were learning patience, better watering/dryout practices, better feed practices … in other words, many things have changed, which one(s) moved the needle in the right direction? Don’t know, I hope I am’nt moving the needle in the wrong direction with and recent changes.

We use it too .makes it hard not to having a wood burning stove.the biology is supposed to love it.