Zen’s Summer Autos 2026

[Pipecarver]

The main reason is I’m tired of looking after my sons grow. He leaves at 5:20am so lights out at 5:30am. Then he makes plans after work or weekends and expects his mother or I to look after things. I was also told, but didn’t verify, that raising the lights power and shortening the time on can work out to the same as longer term and weaker power.

Our hydro off-peak hours are 7am-7pm. It goes from $0.09kwh to $0.21kwh after that.

I was hoping to bump it to 80% this week but if you say my above logic or information is wrong I’ll go back to 12/12 and leave it at 70% unless burning starts.

Lazy ass kids…

That's what timers are for, I must have a dozen around here, I think I'm using 4 now,. I was buying them cheap at value Village but I had to buy some good minute timers that I could program for 5 -10 min on off stuff off amzone

 

[Zen_seeker]

That's what timers are for, I must have a dozen around here, I think I'm using 4 now,. I was buying them cheap at value Village but I had to buy some good minute timers that I could program for 5 -10 min on off stuff off amzone

I got four mechanical timers that are dual outlet. Work great and haven’t failed yet. Also, thanks to Oldcro the light is now controlled by the AC Infinity 69+.

Thing is we need the door(s) open to maintain the proper temperature and humidity. Even with AC and the dehumidifier on. So at lights out the tent(s) need to be closed up. Too much light from the other rooms windows otherwise.

I double checked everything yesterday and even discussed it with AI. I’m not wrong about the duration vs intensity but it seems how much dark time you get matters too. That’s when the bud growth gets the most action while daylight is when it stores the energy to use.

So I put it back to 12/12 last night after your 11/13 warning. It’s still at 70% but I raised the light almost to the max. We need to vacuum the exhaust intake before we can put it all the way up.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260818: Gorilla Blue #4


After warnings/concerns from @Pipecarver & @OLDCRO I’ve bumped the lights timer back to 12/12. Since it’s still at 70% I’m keeping an eye out for leaf burn or any drooping or leaf curling.



Transplanted the new GB seedling the other day so I’m waiting for the roots to get established before heavy watering. My plants are using Gaia Green and my sons are using Botanicare KIND nutrients.

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The garden is doing okay but everything but cucumbers are slow to grow and ripen.


The Cayenne pepper tree seems to actually be a Thai pepper tree. I had both last year and thought I saved the other. It’s had peppers for weeks but only started to turn red on the weekend.


So far no more rat, squirrel or rabbit issues. Nets are keeping the birds and moths out too. I set two rat traps with peanut butter bait just in case.

We need rain. A good downpours worth. The rain barrels are almost dry. Maybe one watering of the vegetable gardens left. They keep saying it’s coming but it hasn’t in two weeks. Just a few drops here/there.



Have a good day people.

 

[Zen_seeker]

The red onion seeds are doing better than I thought they would in a germinator.



I guess I need bags big enough to hold a full grown onion but how will that work? As they grow they push out soil. So I’ll have to cut the bags before planting in the garden.

 

[Stoneyluv]

The red onion seeds are doing better than I thought they would in a germinator.

View attachment 134175

I guess I need bags big enough to hold a full grown onion but how will that work? As they grow they push out soil. So I’ll have to cut the bags before planting in the garden.

Zen, is this the time now to start onions and garlic for next year production? never had muck luck with either, but never tried from seed always from bulbs.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Zen, is this the time now to start onions and garlic for next year production? never had muck luck with either, but never tried from seed always from bulbs.

I wouldn’t. I haven’t had luck with garlic either but it’s never been tried properly. They were just stuffed on holes in garden beds we were trying to keep pests out of.

I know some plant in late fall for the next spring season but you’re better off waiting and popping in April to plant in May for a summer harvest. You should be a little sooner than me with better temperatures.

I only popped some now to make sure I had viable seeds. I’ll put them in the seedling bags just to see how far they go in the time they have left but I’m not expecting much.

If they get a decent size I can put them in the fridge or leave them outside in the hope they go dormant over winter. Then I can get more seeds when the bolt.

This might help you a bit.


Next time I put a card of seeds together I’ll include some red onion for you. I’m still impressed so much organic matter comes out of these pin head size seeds.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260821: Gorilla Blue #4


My sons SB#22 & GG#4 are doing well. He’s been following my lead on feeding and tending, when he’s actually taken the time to do it.


The lights still at 70% 12/12 but was moved the last few inches up to the ceiling of the tent. Now it’s just watching for burn and dealing with the temperature and humidity swings.

The first Gorilla Blue #4 is looking good. It’s matching my sons plants and flowering. The new seedling is about 6” tall but falling behind. I’d like it a little larger so I can put it outside. I’d rather not run a second tent at this time but we’ll see what the future brings.


Even my son noticed the smell of new weed when he opened the tent up last night.

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Now… what to do with these guys.

Last night.


This morning.


The gardens.














The only sunflowers to survive the cold snap and wildlife attacks.


The new blueberry bushes.




We mowed down the tall grass we let go to seed so the wildlife has one place they can go most of the year. The two young rabbits that stay in our yard now hide in the left fenced in garden.


One of the little guys.


Cicadas everywhere.



That’s about it on the growing front. We need rain. The four 50 gallon barrels are down to the end. Temperatures have been better, especially at night, but humidity still gets high most days but never gives us much rain.

Thunderstorm warnings keep getting announced but miss us. They say Saturday and Sunday now.

 

[Zen_seeker]

View attachment 80883559348__8B5BCADF-0439-497E-B4DE-711ABBC8BC66.mov

She’s a very animated dreamer. After I took this video her tail went crazy for 5-10 seconds and she was making happy noises.

 

[Zen_seeker]

While I had a break in the rain I harvested a bunch of vegetables.



Finally got the much needed rain. I filled every empty container I could find last night.



That and the four 50 gal rain barrels should last us a few weeks.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Plants are doing fine, inside and out. Some of our Maple trees are losing leaves like crazy. It’s like a month early mass drop. News says it’s from wide spread drought but it just seems to be the Maple trees around here.

Got new glasses Saturday afternoon. Progressives and transitions. Taken a few days but I’m getting used to them.

They must be working as the second day I wore them to billiards I cleared table first game. He broke but couldn’t follow up with a second solid pocket. I stepped up and liked the positions of the stripes better. Ten minutes later I managed to pocket them all.

I picked up a 4” cue extension to put on my break/jump cue. It’s a Crical cue but it’s only 54” long.

I’m not liking the shorter shaft as it chokes my stroke. However I’ve been unsuccessful in finding a butt plug that will fit so I can thread the extension on. It’s a smooth bore, no threads.

I tried this to thread into the centre weight channel but it’s the wrong diameter.

Now I’m looking at just the end plug that I can use to cut threads into the end, slowly. I’ve already done that for my Dufferin backup cue with the plug that came with the extension.

Trying to find the right size is driving me nuts. Almost no one lists the thread, diameter, depth or even cues they will fit. How are we supposed to know if it will fit?

Other than the break/jump cue the rest of the equipment has been great. I like wooden cues but I have to admit the carbon are great once you get used to them. I like a dime tip except for the break cue which is still a nickel tip.

Still looking for a good fit but it’s going to take a while I think.

 

[Pipecarver]

When I played pool I never used a break cue, I found that leaving the cue ball near the centre dot gave me more opportunities to pot a ball should one go in off the break. So instead of a hard top spin shot I'd centre mass the shot to bounce the ball back off the racked balls just a bit. I would scratch too many times off the break with a hard blast but controlling the cue ball left me in a better position for the next ball with about a half of a full hard shot........

I'd like to get back at it, its been a long time since I've racked the balls but I like you would have difficulty with eye sight. I never wore glasses when I had a table, it might be awkward trying to focus on the long shots and I'm sure I'd completely whiff a few right past the ball I'm looking at without touching it let alone pot it.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I’m making it so all the cues I use can share the same extensions.

Ones 8” that came with the Crical case and cue. The other is the 4” I want on the break cue. They even connect together for a total of 12”+ for long shots.

Being tall 58” is the shortest I can comfortably use. Even then I’m holding the end of the cue.

4” extension.


Both extensions.

 

[Zen_seeker]

When I played pool I never used a break cue, I found that leaving the cue ball near the centre dot gave me more opportunities to pot a ball should one go in off the break. So instead of a hard top spin shot I'd centre mass the shot to bounce the ball back off the racked balls just a bit. I would scratch too many times off the break with a hard blast but controlling the cue ball left me in a better position for the next ball with about a half of a full hard shot........

I break with medium hard strokes. Depending on how I’m doing I break from either 1 cue ball to the right of the centre line or 1 cue ball distance from the right rail. This usually gets me one or two balls pocketed. But with the shorter cue it’s been a struggle.

Up until I got the free break/jump cue I used a house cue to break so as not to flatten my cue tip. Rarely didn’t sink a ball on break.

Who knew, women were right, 4” shorter does make a difference.

I'd like to get back at it, its been a long time since I've racked the balls but I like you would have difficulty with eye sight. I never wore glasses when I had a table, it might be awkward trying to focus on the long shots and I'm sure I'd completely whiff a few right past the ball I'm looking at without touching it let alone pot it.

Yep. Done it a few times. But then I’ve done it without the glasses too.

From one end to the other is too blurry to be dead on. Across table is fine without glasses.

So far long shots are still hard with the glasses. I’m either sort of looking over them or I get a weird fish eye effect. Part of the problem is getting down low on the table to see flat and then get my neck/head to be level and on line. On a good day with little pain and no stiffness all is good but most days for real long shots I’m not low enough or my heads cocked on a slight angle. Yesterday the weed and my old running shoes made a huge difference along with the glasses. Everything jelled together.

Turns out my new Sketchers slip on shoes are crap for me. No support. So after wearing them since March I got pain in the ball of my foot, Achilles tendon, and knee on my left leg. Switch back to my old sneakers for a few days and most pains went away or are muted and fading. So now I need better shoes with arch support.

If you still want to try long shots without making changes just walk to the other end and look back to the cue ball. Once you are sure what to do and where to strike go back, see your line, bring the cue down to shoot. Once you’re down you should be in line and able to make the shot without much adjustment. But honestly this was the first time I’ve been able to wear glasses and play. Usually I go without. I only took them off for two shots because of the fish eye effect I mentioned.

I hope you can find a reasonably close place to play. It was hard here to find a good spot and NONE have great tables. Few look after the felt/cloth like they should. The one or two places that do look after the tables are the most worn. My daughters area North of you had almost new tables in great condition according to my son. He regretted not bringing his cue. Maybe you’ll find a bar like that?

 

[OLDCRO]

Plants are streching the one at back already touching light after i took photo she got bent back and tied down.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Plants are streching the one at back already touching light after i took photo she got bent back and tied down. View attachment 134450

They look great! That one in the back left you bent over a different strain or an over achiever?

You have six or nine in there? Hard to tell from the pic but they look good.

Do you do 12/12 or stick with 18/6?

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260825: Gorilla Blue #4


All the plants are looking good. My sons are dominating the tent. The older GB#4 is holding its own but the other is having issues getting enough light I think. Doesn’t seem to be growing as vigorously.





I need to check my notes but I think the larger GB#4 needs a top dressing.

Things are getting stinky down here.

 

[OLDCRO]

They look great! That one in the back left you bent over a different strain or an over achiever?

You have six or nine in there? Hard to tell from the pic but they look good.

Do you do 12/12 or stick with 18/6?

All the same strain i have had many autos stretch like that. There is 8 plants in tent and yes running18/6. Light is installed 2 inches from top of tent and run the light at 330 watts 18/6 start to finish never moving light up or down. The light is a 600 watt photonteck

 

[Max 2]

All the same strain i have had many autos stretch like that. There is 8 plants in tent and yes running18/6. Light is installed 2 inches from top of tent and run the light at 330 watts 18/6 start to finish never moving light up or down. The light is a 600 watt photonteck

Awesome..you run the same light as me but with a different name..it’s funny photontek say they aren’t associated with lumatek in any way yet run the same lumileds and osram diodes.is yours the 2.9 Oldcrow…mines the first one 2.6

 

[OLDCRO]

Awesome..you run the same light as me but with a different name..it’s funny photontek say they aren’t associated with lumatek in any way yet run the same lumileds and osram diodes.is yours the 2.9 Oldcrow…mines the first one 2.6

mine is the 2.7

 

[Zen_seeker]

Awesome..you run the same light as me but with a different name..it’s funny photontek say they aren’t associated with lumatek in any way yet run the same lumileds and osram diodes.is yours the 2.9 Oldcrow…mines the first one 2.6

Lumatek is/was Photontek. When I bought mine UK was the only place I could get specs and hight info from. Took a year or two before the same Photontek info came out.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260826: Gorilla Blue #4


At this point I had to remove my plants from the 3x3 and put them in the 1x3.

The Gorilla Glue #4 & Sherbanger #22 need the space to spread out.




The Gorilla Blue #4 is doing fine. I didn’t top or even trim anything other than the very first leaves at the base. The smaller one is at least two weeks behind and coming along slowly. I matched the LUX from the 3x3 to get them going in the 1x3 without too much shock, 42500 LUX. I’ve also set the mechanical timer to 18/6.




I’m expecting this run of my sons plants to be the best. I’ve had enough experience with the Botanicare nutrients that I should be able to avoid any major issues and correct any surprises should they arise.

I’m still experimenting and finding a balance for the Gaia Green and other dry nutrients. When things go smoothly it’s great but dealing with a deficiency is a royal pita.

The red onion tester seeds were left alone a few days. Partly forgot really. Too small to plant in the garden directly I decided to put them in red cups for a while. Out of the seven seeds all popped and came up. One was small and the slowest so I culled it. A few lost half their tap root during the transplant. It will be interesting to see how they do in the tent for a while.

 

[adge]

I’m still experimenting and finding a balance for the Gaia Green and other dry nutrients. When things go smoothly it’s great but dealing with a deficiency is a royal pita

Definitely feels like a lot of guessing! I'm going to focus on making the best base soil mix I can for my next grow, hopefully that will help overall.

 

[Stoneyluv]

how'd those pickles taste pimp? you like em?

hey i finally sent your card along to the owner.. be there next week.. you get mine yet?

 

[Zen_seeker]

Definitely feels like a lot of guessing! I'm going to focus on making the best base soil mix I can for my next grow, hopefully that will help overall.

It’s not a lot of guessing. It’s more refining. I had to go through the same thing with liquid nutrients. It was just easier and faster to see results with liquids.

New strains also tend to require a little different feeding from each other. It becomes apparent when feeding them all the same over time.

I usually grow the same strain two or three times before I get my best results. (Doesn’t help I get greedy and let them go bushy with branches.)

I’ll find the best baseline with what I use and note changes that require a different approach as I see them.

When you grow in your tent remember anything that goes outside doesn’t get brought back in. You don’t want an undetected pest over running your indoor grow.

 

[Zen_seeker]

how'd those pickles taste pimp? you like em?

Yes and no. I put in too much salt. I need to fix it but haven’t gotten around to it. Otherwise we like it.

I’m guessing I did tbsp and not tsp?

hey i finally sent your card along to the owner.. be there next week.. you get mine yet?

Oh, I thought you sent it already.
I check every few days but it’s not moving fast. It sat until the 23rd. Not is stuck at JAMAICA NY INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

I’m in no hurry. I just hope it gets here. Not the best year for things or people to cross the border.

US and Canada have always had a reasonable if not good relationship my entire life. What’s been happening over the last decade has been disappointing to out right ridiculous. It’s going to be a while before it’s fixed. Places like BB help with that if only a little.

 

[Stoneyluv]

Yes and no. I put in too much salt. I need to fix it but haven’t gotten around to it. Otherwise we like it.

I’m guessing I did tbsp and not tsp?


Oh, I thought you sent it already.
I check every few days but it’s not moving fast. It sat until the 23rd. Not is stuck at JAMAICA NY INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

I’m in no hurry. I just hope it gets here. Not the best year for things or people to cross the border.

US and Canada have always had a reasonable if not good relationship my entire life. What’s been happening over the last decade has been disappointing to out right ridiculous. It’s going to be a while before it’s fixed. Places like BB help with that if only a little.

it's four teaspoons per cup of mix.. so a tablespoon and a teaspoon... did you use canning or kosher salt? that matters... must be the purest form of salt.

.

i just checked it out, looks like it left the US on monday.. i don't think that link i sent you tracks any further than it leaving customs which it has. so maybe use that tracking number in your countries tracking system? this is true coming into the states so i'm sure its the same going out for tracking.

about a year or so ago i made a decision to stop following any news or politics. my life is better because of it now.

 

[Stoneyluv]

yeah man use this site now to track that same number... https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/track-reperage/en/home

looks like its right in between us now... total middle!!! hahaha

 

[Zen_seeker]

Found this guy near the gardens.


He let me walk around up to him.


Then he led me around the gardens only to stop at our down spout. He sat in front of the opening for a bit but when I took a step closer it jumped into the downspout!



Tried to get a pic but my back wouldn’t let me get a good one. You can see it’s outline and the glow off its eye.


I never would have guessed it would hide in a downspout.

 

[Zen_seeker]

it's four teaspoons per cup of mix.. so a tablespoon and a teaspoon... did you use canning or kosher salt? that matters... must be the purest form of salt.

The second jar was better so I’m guessing the one that got the last pour had the most salt.



I dumped out half the vinegar and replaced it with cold water for both jars. Testing later this week.

i just checked it out, looks like it left the US on monday.. i don't think that link i sent you tracks any further than it leaving customs which it has. so maybe use that tracking number in your countries tracking system? this is true coming into the states so i'm sure its the same going out for tracking.

USPS tracking stops at the border. Then CP takes over. Your side sucks, our sides worse. I’ve gotten packages days before the website updated.

about a year or so ago i made a decision to stop following any news or politics. my life is better because of it now.

My mom does, and said, the same thing a few years ago. My wife’s always putting it on. I tend to ignore most of it. It’s not even news any more. It’s opinionated entertainment.

 

[Zen_seeker]

yeah man use this site now to track that same number... https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/track-reperage/en/home

looks like its right in between us now... total middle!!! hahaha

Yep, been sitting on the 23rd for over a week now.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20260831: Gorilla Blue #4

They have adjusted to their new location. Turned down the light a bit as the leaves looked droopy the other day. They seem fine now.






Sons GG#4 & SB#22.






Our son was up in Bancroft for the weekend. So the wife and I slipped out for a few treats.

My reward for raking the leaves for the fourth time this month.

Yesterdays garden harvest.

Two tomatoes are half red but not ready yet.

No rain yesterday but they updated the forecast and now it’s raining.

Was a busy weekend cleaning up the yards and packing away summer stuff. Still need to trim back the large cedar hedge.

Might get out for some billiards today if my back and knee cooperate.

Hope everyone had a good if not productive weekend.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Yep, been sitting on the 23rd for over a week now.

This arrived yesterday afternoon.

Thanks to all that voted and support the POTM contests!

Now I don’t know what to grow next.