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.

 

[Zen_seeker]

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.

I’ll be leaving the biochar out for the rest of the grow. I should have charged it first but due to time restraints I skipped that part thinking it would be okay and charge up on its own over time.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260322: GG#4 JW & SB#22


I think this will be the last week I feed liquid nutrients. They look much better but still have some lighter colouration.




I’ll be cleaning up the leaves and branches this week. I topped any of the longer branches to keep them even. Still no luck finding wider soft pots. I’ll use the green ones again if it comes down to it.

Still winter one day and spring the next. Need to start planning the vegetable garden out.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260324: GG#4 JW & SB#22

While the main tent is holding the plants while I try to “fix” them I found I/we forgot to clean the second 3x3. We started making hash and just skipped it.

So the last 48 hours have been cleaning and now the second tent is ready. Washer tray was a bit of a job but otherwise it was straightforward.

Now I can split the plants after the next up pot. Maybe one of each in each tent or a pair of the same in each tent…haven’t decided.



Need to setup the 18/6 mechanical timers next as I pack them up.

Cleaning out the green 3 gallon soft pots as I can’t find wider ones. I think I have some 5 gallon pots I can roll down and use.

Got to open a new bag of ProMix and mix the dry nutrients before up potting this weekend.

Enjoy your day people’s.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260327: GG#4 JW & SB#22


Plants are looking much better. Yesterday I dropped the Sensi Cal Mag Extra 4:0:0 and fed FFGB 6:4:4 and 1 TSP epsom per gallon instead. Some leaves have darker stripes or areas.

Talking with Pipecarver about these early yellowing or lime issues. He thinks about 15 minutes of far red LEDs 5 minutes before lights out will help with that.

The Photontek SQ300W has 730nm far reds but it’s always on, no separate controls for them. He thinks that might be overkill but doesn’t know for sure. It does explain why I get a lot of stretching.

So Mr Carver was nice enough to send me one of his far red LED puck lights.


Photontek specs.

Puck light.

I’m going to see if I can hook it up in the middle of the quantum boards in the second tent that has no far reds. It’s just two 220w panels joined in the middle so I should be able to put the light under the seam this weekend.

No one around here has wide shorter 3 gallon soft pots so I started cleaning the green ones from the last grow. They aren’t as wide as I want but these plants have been in small containers much longer than I wanted. I should have been able to flip by April 1st. Now it’ll be mid April after they have time to root in the new pot.

Very tired. Gas company finally fixed things and this weeks bill shows it’s fixed and over with. But the City Water and Property Tax bullshit is still going on. They can’t be this stupid or incompetent. He’s a director for f**k sakes. So it has to be intentional trying to get us to walk away. I’ve clawed back about $6750 of the stolen $8500 but they keep making excuses and sending the wrong paperwork. Even the director hasn’t been able to tell me where $865 he admits he owes us has gone? WTF? So I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall for the last however many years and it’s just draining and frustrating. But I’m not giving up, I can’t after all this BS.

I plan to get most if not all the plants transplanted this weekend in a new soil mix. Now that things are better I’ll stop the liquid nutes and let the dry nutes in the soil mix take over again. Still don’t know what went wrong this time.

Have a good weekend people.

 

[seeking_pilgrim]

In terms of your stretching -- what's your temp differential between lights on and lights off? Keeping those temps within a couple of degrees during veg, and actually inverting them during the first three weeks of flower (eg, 80F lights on, 83F light off) can help significantly reduce stretch.

 

[Pipecarver]

20260327: GG#4 JW & SB#22


Plants are looking much better. Yesterday I dropped the Sensi Cal Mag Extra 4:0:0 and fed FFGB 6:4:4 and 1 TSP epsom per gallon instead. Some leaves have darker stripes or areas.View attachment 127441

Talking with Pipecarver about these early yellowing or lime issues. He thinks about 15 minutes of far red LEDs 5 minutes before lights out will help with that.

The Photontek SQ300W has 730nm far reds but it’s always on, no separate controls for them. He thinks that might be overkill but doesn’t know for sure. It does explain why I get a lot of stretching.

So Mr Carver was nice enough to send me one of his far red LED puck lights.
View attachment 127442View attachment 127443

Photontek specs.View attachment 127445

Puck light.View attachment 127446

I’m going to see if I can hook it up in the middle of the quantum boards in the second tent that has no far reds. It’s just two 220w panels joined in the middle so I should be able to put the light under the seam this weekend. View attachment 127444

No one around here has wide shorter 3 gallon soft pots so I started cleaning the green ones from the last grow. They aren’t as wide as I want but these plants have been in small containers much longer than I wanted. I should have been able to flip by April 1st. Now it’ll be mid April after they have time to root in the new pot.

Very tired. Gas company finally fixed things and this weeks bill shows it’s fixed and over with. But the City Water and Property Tax bullshit is still going on. They can’t be this stupid or incompetent. He’s a director for f**k sakes. So it has to be intentional trying to get us to walk away. I’ve clawed back about $6750 of the stolen $8500 but they keep making excuses and sending the wrong paperwork. Even the director hasn’t been able to tell me where $865 he admits he owes us has gone? WTF? So I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall for the last however many years and it’s just draining and frustrating. But I’m not giving up, I can’t after all this BS.

I plan to get most if not all the plants transplanted this weekend in a new soil mix. Now that things are better I’ll stop the liquid nutes and let the dry nutes in the soil mix take over again. Still don’t know what went wrong this time.

Have a good weekend people.

Hey, the far red puck will help with the color and plant health but if there is an inherent problem IE: nute deficiency it won't do much to help. I wouldn't use 1st 3 weeks of flower unless you want more stretch. After using my blue lights for a bit too long I needed to stretch mine out a bit so just 4 days of the reds at lights out did what I wanted to them. I'll use again after 4 weeks in flower and stretching is over. I like playing with my colored lights......Did I mention my green light, I run it with the rest of the day lights on, not sure what it does, its supposed to enhance the other spectrum's ......what ever the fk that's supposed to mean...lol....its pretty so there's that....lol

 

[TomH]

Hey, the far red puck will help with the color and plant health but if there is an inherent problem IE: nute deficiency it won't do much to help. I wouldn't use 1st 3 weeks of flower unless you want more stretch. After using my blue lights for a bit too long I needed to stretch mine out a bit so just 4 days of the reds at lights out did what I wanted to them. I'll use again after 4 weeks in flower and stretching is over. I like playing with my colored lights......Did I mention my green light, I run it with the rest of the day lights on, not sure what it does, its supposed to enhance the other spectrum's ......what ever the fk that's supposed to mean...lol....its pretty so there's that....lol

I have some UV and IR lights that I will be putting in the tent after this grow. Really interested in what UV does for the plant

It’s all learning!

 

[Pipecarver]

I have some UV and IR lights that I will be putting in the tent after this grow. Really interested in what UV does for the plant

It’s all learning!

UV light scares me a bit. I know I'll look at the lights and fry my eye's eventually if I buy them. Its the only reason I haven't bought any already. I screw up far too many times to trust myself with dangerous lighting.

 

[Chemistry]

20260322: GG#4 JW & SB#22


I think this will be the last week I feed liquid nutrients. They look much better but still have some lighter colouration.View attachment 127295

View attachment 127296

View attachment 127303
I’ll be cleaning up the leaves and branches this week. I topped any of the longer branches to keep them even. Still no luck finding wider soft pots. I’ll use the green ones again if it comes down to it.

Still winter one day and spring the next. Need to start planning the vegetable garden out.

Have you tried upping your nitrogen, a few leaves look like they have been robbed of it, the yellow ones, plants do this to feed the new growth to keep it going. Bottom left plant looks better than the others, don't know why if they are on the same nuits.

 

[Zen_seeker]

In terms of your stretching -- what's your temp differential between lights on and lights off? Keeping those temps within a couple of degrees during veg, and actually inverting them during the first three weeks of flower (eg, 80F lights on, 83F light off) can help significantly reduce stretch.

I’ve been keeping an eye on it but there’s only so much I can do with the way the room is.

Lowest temp is probably 16*c and highest would be 29*c with typical being 18*-27* and often 20*-24*. It changes with the outside environment. I close the doors and use the dehumidifier to bump the temp if needed. Humidity has been holding between 50-60% almost steadily.

The Photontek has far reds on all the time which could be part of the stretch issue. I’ve been moving the light and going by PAR to help keep them down.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Hey, the far red puck will help with the color and plant health but if there is an inherent problem IE: nute deficiency it won't do much to help.

That makes sense as it’s not adding anything but light.

I wouldn't use 1st 3 weeks of flower unless you want more stretch.

I’ve only just set things up last night. First test of the far red light is a success. Came on 5 minutes before lights out and 9 minutes after it shut off.

I’ll turn it off after flip a few weeks or if I get too much stretch.

Then back on midway through flower.

After using my blue lights for a bit too long I needed to stretch mine out a bit so just 4 days of the reds at lights out did what I wanted to them. I'll use again after 4 weeks in flower and stretching is over. I like playing with my colored lights......

Sounds good. So blues keep them bush and short. That might be worth my looking into later.

Did I mention my green light, I run it with the rest of the day lights on, not sure what it does, its supposed to enhance the other spectrum's ......what ever the fk that's supposed to mean...lol....its pretty so there's that....lol

Green seems to be the safest to use around plants especially in flower. Still need to keep the brightness down and limit duration but I’ve used them for years in the grow room. Only other lights are in the tent.

I open the tent doors a lot to help maintain the proper environment. As much or as little as needed. Only lights out usually stays zipped up tight.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I have some UV and IR lights that I will be putting in the tent after this grow. Really interested in what UV does for the plant

It’s all learning!

I’ll watch what happens… I’m not ready for that yet. Lol

Put up one of those old black light posters.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Have you tried upping your nitrogen, a few leaves look like they have been robbed of it, the yellow ones, plants do this to feed the new growth to keep it going. Bottom left plant looks better than the others, don't know why if they are on the same nuits.

Yep. I posted that above. Boils down to I switched to FFGB 6:4:4 and Sensi Cal Mag Extra 4:0:0 with a couple epsom foliar sprays and now after a week or so they are much better with only two still looking off but with nicer new growth.

Prior I tried a suggested 0:50:30 but could see it getting worse after two days so used my original idea.

 

[Zen_seeker]

2260329: GG#4 JW & SB#22

Was finally able to up pot all the plants, set up the three sections, and move two into each section.

Tested the lights and timers and all seems good so far.

I split two of the plants into 7 gallon pots with about 23 litres of soil and the rest are in 3 gallon with 13 litres of soil.

Mixed into each soft pot 3g / 7g:

ProMix HP - 13L / 23L
(Including original 1g pot root ball with soil.)
Worm castings - 2cups / 3.5cups
Gaia Green 4:4:4 - 1.5tsp / 3tsp
Azomite - 2tbsp / 4tbsp
Gypsum - 2tbsp / 4tbsp
Dolomite - 1/2tsp / 1tsp
Epsom- 1.5tsp / 2.5tsp
Azos - 1tsp / 1tsp
Mykos - 1tsp / 1.5tsp

GM & GGB#4:


GG#4 & SB#22:


SB#22 & GG#4:


Setting things up to up pot.

Testing the far reds after installing under the quantum boards.

They looked pretty good before lights out. Hope it stays that way at lights on this afternoon.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. We’ve been doing yard work along with normal chores. 8* and mostly sunny today so far. Lots of rain coming next week though. L8r

Edit: Added epsom to the list.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260401: GG#4 JW & SB#22

The transplants seem to have been successful. They all have better looking growth but the two Sherbangers still need some time.

Last night was the first watering for the 3 gallon pots. 7 gallon will be later this week. I trimmed all the plants a bit and removed lowers and larf.

GM & GGB#4



SB#22 & GG#4 JW

GG#4 JW & SB#22


Other than watering I’ve moved the lights a bit. LST and/or topping is still required. I’m hoping the new soil mix is spot on and they continue to improve.

The middle pictures has the far red light coming on 5 minutes before lights out and shuts off 10 after lights out. I’ll turn it off before flip.

Temperatures still stay between 16*-26* and RH is 45-60%.

Rained most of yesterday and will most of the week, today being the only break. At least it looks nicer now that we cleaned it up.

Now we have to get ready to host Easter long weekend.

Take it easy guys.

 

[OLDCRO]

20260401: GG#4 JW & SB#22

The transplants seem to have been successful. They all have better looking growth but the two Sherbangers still need some time.

Last night was the first watering for the 3 gallon pots. 7 gallon will be later this week. I trimmed all the plants a bit and removed lowers and larf.

GM & GGB#4
View attachment 127676
View attachment 127677

SB#22 & GG#4 JWView attachment 127678View attachment 127679

GG#4 JW & SB#22
View attachment 127680View attachment 127681

Other than watering I’ve moved the lights a bit. LST and/or topping is still required. I’m hoping the new soil mix is spot on and they continue to improve.

The middle pictures has the far red light coming on 5 minutes before lights out and shuts off 10 after lights out. I’ll turn it off before flip.

Temperatures still stay between 16*-26* and RH is 45-60%.View attachment 127682

Rained most of yesterday and will most of the week, today being the only break. At least it looks nicer now that we cleaned it up.View attachment 127683

Now we have to get ready to host Easter long weekend.

Take it easy guys.

Still 5 feet of snow here and 10 foot banks they say spring is coming. When is this climate change thingy suppose to kick in !!!!!

 

[Pipecarver]

Still 5 feet of snow here and 10 foot banks they say spring is coming. When is this climate change thingy suppose to kick in !!!!!

We're a long ways from Spring here. Snow just melted after a few warm rainy days but its now 3C and a grey drizzle that will last until June ish with a few nice days mixed in, then the Black flies make it fun to enjoy the warmer weather.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Still 5 feet of snow here and 10 foot banks they say spring is coming. When is this climate change thingy suppose to kick in !!!!!

Moms south east of Orillia and they still have most of their snow. Rain just knocked it down a lot. She’s worried that the rivers too low again. Last time they did that it overflowed in May and everyone got flooded.

I’m sure it’s still going to be winter until May 1st. Last year we needed the furnace on until May. We are switching on/off this week depending on the temperatures.

At least you’re living the dream and got away from all the asshats long ago. We almost made it. Deal fell through and now prices up north are almost as stupid as the city.

 

[Zen_seeker]

We're a long ways from Spring here. Snow just melted after a few warm rainy days but its now 3C and a grey drizzle that will last until June ish with a few nice days mixed in, then the Black flies make it fun to enjoy the warmer weather.

Basement was 14* this morning. A damp chill from all the melting.

Outside was around 0* iirc, it’s 5* outside now and will be staying single digits for the rest of the week along with rain.

 

[Pipecarver]

We're a long ways from Spring here. Snow just melted after a few warm rainy days but its now 3C and a grey drizzle that will last until June ish with a few nice days mixed in, then the Black flies make it fun to enjoy the warmer weather.

Basement was 14* this morning. A damp chill from all the melting.

Outside was around 0* iirc, it’s 5* outside now and will be staying single digits for the rest of the week along with rain.

I have to keep the temps up to 69f at night, Qnight & Dusky can't handle the cold, Coal is thicker and it never seemed to bother him, I used to drop temps to 63f at night, we were warm underneath covers and Coal was fine but these other 2 have less fur and get cold. We'll get another monster bill before its all over, at least I hope its only 1 more. Gas went up again here last night, not sure about heating oil. We may have to look into wood again.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I have to keep the temps up to 69f at night, Qnight & Dusky can't handle the cold, Coal is thicker and it never seemed to bother him, I used to drop temps to 63f at night, we were warm underneath covers and Coal was fine but these other 2 have less fur and get cold. We'll get another monster bill before its all over, at least I hope its only 1 more. Gas went up again here last night, not sure about heating oil. We may have to look into wood again.

We used to be able to turn off the furnace mid March but not for a few years now. April is the new normal but when is still up in the air. So it’s off for a few days then off again if my wife’s cold. She’s up at 3-4 am at the latest.