Zen_seeker’s DIY Mixmash

[Pipecarver]

Nice! Glad someone got a good deal. Only good ones I found were in the states. G$ found a marshydro buy one get one free for $59 on the actual Black Friday. Nope, states only.


Excellent. Lee Valley is expensive but they carry and deliver hard to find things.



I like the top right one. Looks real, like my old cat Sam(antha).

You can do the old man or bear silhouette leaning against a tree that was popular in the 90’s.
View attachment 81909View attachment 81910

Just don’t make those dam lighthouses you see everywhere in the Kawartha lakes.

Does this mean you’re starting the shop back up? Been a while. Like watching your creations and hearing about your efforts and successes. I miss wood work but your heart has to be in it. Need to pay attention, have focus.

Yes, Its a long winter I need something to do. I'm still trying to clean up my mess in the basement, stuff everywhere and not enough space to organize it. I gotta go give them some of my blood today. Hi potassium on my last test 1 month ago. Too many banana's I guess or a poor test and he wants another to see if I need to cut back a banana or 2 or if there's another issue.

Ya lee Valley is expensive but the scroll saw was on sale and was comparable in price to the Home Depot 16" saws. $259.00 and Rikon is a good brand. I just need a place for it now, its on my work bench but that won't do for long, looks good though...lol

 

[Zen_seeker]

Yes, Its a long winter I need something to do. I'm still trying to clean up my mess in the basement, stuff everywhere and not enough space to organize it.

Preaching to the choir sir.

I gotta go give them some of my blood today. Hi potassium on my last test 1 month ago. Too many banana's I guess or a poor test and he wants another to see if I need to cut back a banana or 2 or if there's another issue.

My grandmother had to eat bananas all the time. Didn’t know you could have too many.

Ya lee Valley is expensive but the scroll saw was on sale and was comparable in price to the Home Depot 16" saws. $259.00 and Rikon is a good brand. I just need a place for it now, its on my work bench but that won't do for long, looks good though...lol

Nice score. I hope it works well. Always good to have long lasting tools. As for where to put it…good luck.

Got bloody cold last night. 5am and I’m wearing a hoody around the basement because it’s only 14*.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241207: Day 68F W10



Chopped Strawberry Lemonade. Have high hopes for her.


Haunted Banana looks to be the next on the chopping block with Jilly Bean being last. JB is usually ready after day 80 so we’ll see how this goes.

Popping seeds and keeping seedlings alive will be tricky with this cold snap. Never do well this time of year unless I have clones.

VG should help with the one but I’ll need to change things up a bit if son is going to have any chance at success.

Son printed a few more tent toys. A cup to hold wire, scissors, clips and things. Along with different S hooks which I needed. Handy I guess if it saves me getting up and down while working on the plants.

 

[Max]

might have to get a small 500w finned heater buddy or one of these.my mate has one but unsure how safe they are.

Mini Electric Heater

Warm up the room to a comfortable temperature wherever you are with this cute mini electric heater! It comes with a timer, automatic shut-off, and a remote control.

ozerty-australia.com

 

[Zen_seeker]

might have to get a small 500w finned heater buddy or one of these.my mate has one but unsure how safe they are.

Mini Electric Heater

Warm up the room to a comfortable temperature wherever you are with this cute mini electric heater! It comes with a timer, automatic shut-off, and a remote control.

ozerty-australia.com

Actually looks not bad for $60.

I have one of these oil filled heaters for an extra boost in the winter.

They run up the electric bill but work. I usually hold off until we really need them.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Enjoying some Strawberry Lemonade.

Son ordered these for me. Way more than I need but buying less costs 2x to 3x more!

 

[Max]

Hmm.i think I had a stoner moment at my mates house.I’m sure it wasn’t 500w as he’s a tight ass.being a ceramic would b no good for us either as it would glow lights off…nice one with the finned heater.I’d b f#$*@d without mine.has 3 settings.. 450 or 550 watt or flick both buttons down for 1000w.I’ve got mine on now and it’s summer lol .

 

[Pipecarver]

Hmm.i think I had a stoner moment at my mates house.I’m sure it wasn’t 500w as he’s a tight ass.being a ceramic would b no good for us either as it would glow lights off…nice one with the finned heater.I’d b f#$*@d without mine.has 3 settings.. 450 or 550 watt or flick both buttons down for 1000w.I’ve got mine on now and it’s summer lol .

I couldn't grow without my fined heater running 8 months of the year, 2 switches 750w & 1200 w I think they are & I've no idea what mode is better to run on. Thermostat works well I can dial it to 79f after a few days of tinkering with it, 1200w gets it to temp faster so is that cheaper to run than the 750w taking longer to get up to heat? No idea but I can't live without it

 

[Max]

it sorta depends where you are through the grow doesn’t it .mine sorta boils down to controlling the rh when the plants are in flower more than early on when rh isn’t such a problem I can select a lower setting.but the majority it’s on 550 and the occasional 1000 when she gets freezing .you guys got it way worse.we don’t even get snow..my best grows are through winter .not as much humidity ..

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241209: Day 70F W10





Haunted Banana

Jilly Bean



Strawberry Lemonade

Chopped three days ago. Temps are between 18-21* and RH is 45-65%. (I have had to keep replacing a sink full of hot water each morning due to the cold snap.)

 

[Zen_seeker]

Son made me some S hooks to help support the colas. Clipping to the yoyo string is handy.

While tending the HB I rubbed against her. I’m sorry @Bandit420 but your girl smells like a baby pooped out an orange or something citrus.

Warmer, 6* daytime high and 4* atm. Tents are good if a little cool, temp low 20’s and low 50’s for RH.

Changed the feed mix a couple weeks back. Buds don’t seem to be swelling as much…or it’s about to happen. Most notably Jilly Bean. Getting impatient as there’s little for me to for them at this point. Smells are getting richer. I notice them on the main floor and when the furnace comes on at night. But if I’m outside for a time it’s a smack in the face stepping inside.

Trying Pipecarver’s acid and water trick to clean the salts off all the soft pots. About 4 gallons water at 1 tbsp per gallon. Doing three 3Gal and six 1Gal pots. Some are pretty nasty. I agitate when I think of it. Should be good by tomorrow if I got the mix right. I’ll dump it into a few saucers when done. See if a few stubborn stains will come out before dumping down the drain.

 

[Bandit420]

Son made me some S hooks to help support the colas. Clipping to the yoyo string is handy.

While tending the HB I rubbed against her. I’m sorry @Bandit420 but your girl smells like a baby pooped out an orange or something citrus.

Warmer, 6* daytime high and 4* atm. Tents are good if a little cool, temp low 20’s and low 50’s for RH.

Changed the feed mix a couple weeks back. Buds don’t seem to be swelling as much…or it’s about to happen. Most notably Jilly Bean. Getting impatient as there’s little for me to for them at this point. Smells are getting richer. I notice them on the main floor and when the furnace comes on at night. But if I’m outside for a time it’s a smack in the face stepping inside.

Trying Pipecarver’s acid and water trick to clean the salts off all the soft pots. About 4 gallons water at 1 tbsp per gallon. Doing three 3Gal and six 1Gal pots. Some are pretty nasty. I agitate when I think of it. Should be good by tomorrow if I got the mix right. I’ll dump it into a few saucers when done. See if a few stubborn stains will come out before dumping down the drain.

South of the Mason/Dixon line here we call that stinkin' purrty

 

[Zen_seeker]

@Pipecarver you da man!

Nine soft pots sitting in about 4 gallons of water with 4 tbsp of PH down. After three days I nly three straps had a little left on them. And these ones were caked in. (Dollar store pots aren’t as easy to clean for some reason.) I did change out the water the first day as it was a extremely dirty. I also used hot water the first time and agitated it by hand a while.


I dumped the old acidic water into the saucers, put an elevator in upside down and left it a day. (These are ones I already failed to clean all the way.) A lot came off on its own but a little brushing and the rest came off as well. Just two more to go it the bathtub and done.


I flip them over to get the feet and middle base too.

Sooo much easier and a much better job. Hardly any effort.

As long as the material can take it I’ll keep doing this going forward.

Thanks for the tip man.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241213: Day 73F W11


Keeping the doors zipped all the time lately. Trying to keep things at 24* is tricky when you don’t have much control over the environment. The early morning hours are the hardest.

Lots of change this last two weeks.


HB chopping Saturday I think.


JB just a little more time.


Almost forgot, Strawberry Lemonade after hanging 5 days.

 

[Pipecarver]

@Pipecarver you da man!
View attachment 83052View attachment 83053
Nine soft pots sitting in about 4 gallons of water with 4 tbsp of PH down. After three days I nly three straps had a little left on them. And these ones were caked in. (Dollar store pots aren’t as easy to clean for some reason.) I did change out the water the first day as it was a extremely dirty. I also used hot water the first time and agitated it by hand a while.

View attachment 83055
I dumped the old acidic water into the saucers, put an elevator in upside down and left it a day. (These are ones I already failed to clean all the way.) A lot came off on its own but a little brushing and the rest came off as well. Just two more to go it the bathtub and done.

View attachment 83056
I flip them over to get the feet and middle base too.

Sooo much easier and a much better job. Hardly any effort.

As long as the material can take it I’ll keep doing this going forward.

Thanks for the tip man.

I suggested Citric Acid, You went with PH down, I have a full bottle of it I bought years ago and never use. I may try your trick next time. I also have a full bottle of PH up....hmmm What other uses could it have? toilet bowl cleaner?

 

[Zen_seeker]

I suggested Citric Acid, You went with PH down, I have a full bottle of it I bought years ago and never use. I may try your trick next time. I also have a full bottle of PH up....hmmm What other uses could it have? toilet bowl cleaner?

I just happened to remember citric acid was in it.

I bought a big jug before I found out my soil was buffered.

 

[Pipecarver]

I just happened to remember citric acid was in it.

I bought a big jug before I found out my soil was buffered.

I grew for about 20 years without knowing about PH, When I started learning more online I thought PH adjustments were all I needed for a perfect grow. Then things started going down hill. But why I ph'd everything perfectly?...Seems my ph down was accumulating in the soil giving me a run off of 4.8. I got her fixed up and I don't use it any longer, I don't care what it is as long as they are healthy. Don't know the ph or ppm, I just go by memory now and feed as I think they need with the Autopots its pretty simple.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I grew for about 20 years without knowing about PH, When I started learning more online I thought PH adjustments were all I needed for a perfect grow. Then things started going down hill. But why I ph'd everything perfectly?...Seems my ph down was accumulating in the soil giving me a run off of 4.8. I got her fixed up and I don't use it any longer, I don't care what it is as long as they are healthy. Don't know the ph or ppm, I just go by memory now and feed as I think they need with the Autopots its pretty simple.

I’ve flip flopped back and forth. In the beginning I tried to buy as little tools as possible. Knowing most aren’t needed, they either make things easier or are a nice to have.

A few time I’ve followed advice that pushed me into buying things like TDS or PH meters. Sometimes it helps others it doesn’t. It is nice to have a few tools just in case but then you need to look after them and store them.

Each grow is different even when it’s the same strain or clones. I usually learn something from each. Not always good things. On occasion hard lessons.

You and others I trust I’ll copy, or try suggestions. Especially when it’s something annoying or time consuming I’ve had issues with. Cleaning the salts out of the soft pots is a perfect example.

 

[kaw900r]

I’ve flip flopped back and forth. In the beginning I tried to buy as little tools as possible. Knowing most aren’t needed, they either make things easier or are a nice to have.

A few time I’ve followed advice that pushed me into buying things like TDS or PH meters. Sometimes it helps others it doesn’t. It is nice to have a few tools just in case but then you need to look after them and store them.

Each grow is different even when it’s the same strain or clones. I usually learn something from each. Not always good things. On occasion hard lessons.

You and others I trust I’ll copy, or try suggestions. Especially when it’s something annoying or time consuming I’ve had issues with. Cleaning the salts out of the soft pots is a perfect example.

What do you grow in? I use coco coir and PH seems to be important, at least when mine is 5.7-5.9 my plants seem to like that better. I've never checked PH in the pot or runoff, just when I mix i chk 1 and assume all the others should be in the same range.

I agree, each grow i learn something new. Even if it's a strain I've grown before.

 

[Pipecarver]

What do you grow in? I use coco coir and PH seems to be important, at least when mine is 5.7-5.9 my plants seem to like that better. I've never checked PH in the pot or runoff, just when I mix i chk 1 and assume all the others should be in the same range.

I agree, each grow i learn something new. Even if it's a strain I've grown before.

I think we both grow in Promix type soils, right now I'm in ABS Greenworld vpw30. Its cheaper than PM and just as good. It has buffers in the soil that help stabilize the PH, adding PH UP or down kills the buffers.

I think I've every grow tool made and don't use any of them any longer. I haven't check this grow yet at 2 weeks into flower. I just know my feed schedule, this week I drop the Epsom salts and start with Cal/mag I have a feed load of 5/6/6/8/5/4/5/1...ml/gal this week and 5/4/4/10/5/4/5/1 next week I'd guess a ph of 6.2 and a ppm of 1000ish

 

[Zen_seeker]

What do you grow in?

Currently Sunshine Mix #4. A buffered Canadian peat with perlite.

Pipecarver soil I’ve only found at Home Hardware.

I use coco coir and PH seems to be important, at least when mine is 5.7-5.9 my plants seem to like that better. I've never checked PH in the pot or runoff, just when I mix i chk 1 and assume all the others should be in the same range.

Since my soil is buffered I don’t need to PH it. I’ve done the checking and PH’ing the nutes until in the sweet spot but had it pointed out that it didn’t really matter unless the buffer was gone.

I still check if things go wrong or I’m chasing a deficiency but for the most part I don’t check any longer.

I agree, each grow i learn something new. Even if it's a strain I've grown before.

Hardest thing I deal with lately is keeping multiple strains happy at the same time in the same tent.

One will be fine, another a little off, while another excels.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241216: Day 77F W11

Jilly Bean is on her own.


Chopped and hung Haunted Banana to hang with the rest.

Strawberry Lemonade is almost dry. Purple Diesel, Haunted Banana and Jilly Bean are just starting.

Bathroom reeks so strong your eyes water when you go in and close the door. (Funny, wife says the same thing about me when I use the bathroom. )


The branches i pollinated are showing swollen seed pods so I’m hopeful that was a success. I’ll trim off these three branches first and do separately. I tied orange string to each so as not to lose them.


Neoprene plugs/collars arrived too.


Son started his grow. Had him follow Bandits online instructions. Pretty straightforward.

These are my regular seeds so popping four hoping for two or more females. He’ll take two for SCROG and I’ll take two for a side grow as backup in case any of his end up male.


I hate these mats but I fear we’re going to need one. I’ll pick one up in the next day or so. Give him the best chance at success.


Trimming will start any day now. Cold temps are just dragging it out an extra few days. Strawberry Lemonade was hung 10 days ago. Took just enough to do a vape test. Wife tried it with me. She likes it. Says it’s like a kief joint.

Lots of cleaning still to go. One plant left to chop. And a new grower to help out. (He’s not keen on doing a journal so I’ll just update here.)

 

[Pipecarver]

I bought a heat mat without a temp controller too. I have to use a spacer under my cups or they get too hot. Those neoprene plugs work well under the cups or lids off my water jugs, just enough lift to not cook the seeds. But $15? I paid $30+ a good deal you got there.

 

[Zen_seeker]

I bought a heat mat without a temp controller too. I have to use a spacer under my cups or they get too hot.

I have these I use when things don’t have switches.

Those neoprene plugs work well under the cups or lids off my water jugs, just enough lift to not cook the seeds.

Nice. I have plenty to spare. Great idea.

Hard parts making it flat at the moment. Colds not helping so going to plug it in with weight on it later.

But $15? I paid $30+ a good deal you got there.

Hope so. I did get a $140 tent for my son. Got it for $95 plus tax. It’s the 2 in 1 so he can put all his printer stuff in it.

Oh, and some Christmas swag like this shirt along with a few lighters and a plastic grinder/stash jar.
That’s fancy talk for pot snob.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241217: Day 78F W12



Jilly Bean is still swelling some.


Two tops.



Good chance I’ll be trimming Strawberry Lemonade tonight. Colds taken it to day 11 hanging.


Never seen a Medtainer before.


Works.


VG is fine but I need to find a place for it and the heat pad. Probably setup in the top tent zone I made for clones and seedlings.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Put his tent together yesterday. Need a proper table then move it into a corner.

Wondering if a bathroom mat/rug that’s like a bed topper would be good for keeping things vibration free, dampening noise too? Put that in the tent with a steady table.

Still cleaning things. But it’s time to see if I can find a gear my son can print to fix the clip fans oscillation.

I clean this every grow. This is one of the worst. Need to vacuum when the house is awake.


Only issue I’ve had with these cheap fans, other than the tent stopping the oscillation, is the speed. It has off, high, and to fucken high.

I thought I had an in-line dimmer switch that acts as a switch at the plug but it’s gone. Just the on/off one left.

 

[Zen_seeker]

After taking the fans apart ones fixed as it was the swing arm that was loose. But the other still stops oscillating once in a while. None of the gears are worn as expected.




I’ll have to open the one again and look deeper at the gears and the pull pin that enables oscillating. How it’s seated seems part of the issue.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241219: Day 80F W12





One more week. Then this grow is over. Just the trimming and jarring remains.

 

[Zen_seeker]

Got the tent for son. Early Christmas present. Needed it to keep the temperature in check. He says it’s stopped the stringing and has helped with infills.



That was before we put everything inside. Shorter than I expected but a good size.

Newest grow item(s) printed. To be used/tested on his seeds shortly.


I made sure we could use it for clones and seedlings. Has to fit on the heat pad and under one of my domes. Looks good I think.

I like the built in scoop for removing the plant later. Jiffy peat pucks fit fine too. I’ll use them for the veggies still.

Now I just hope the reservoir doesn’t leek so I can put it on the heat pad/mat.

 

[Zen_seeker]

20241221: Day 0

Seeds have been in the VG for about 5 days. Moved to the heat pad three days ago. Put a dome over it last night. Don’t care about the humidity much but the bathroom can get to 17*.

Heat mat doesn’t seem very hot to the touch. But the hygrometer sitting on it says it’s 91*f. So 30*c.


I have some foam I use for my coffee can cloner that should insulate just enough. Already helping.

I think it was too cold this week. I never do well with seeds this time of year. I don’t want my sons first run to stall out but we have more of these seeds if needed. We can wait another week.