Strawberry Banana & Mephisto Fugue Autoflowers in 5 x 5 Tent

[icthruyou]

Said I'd give it a try so hopefully I can keep up on this....here we go......

AC Infinity 5 x 5 setup with 600W Full Spectrum LEDs, Controller, Humidifier, 8" in-line fan w/carbon filter and two oscillating and variable speed controlled fans. Inlet has a 12" x 20" x 1" filter box with home-filter style in-line box and 6" output to tent.

Genetics: Fastbuds Strawberry Banana Auto Fem
Mephisto Fugue Auto Fem

SB - popped 5 seeds in plugs on 2/11 with perlite lined bottom and Mykos added kept moist used PH adjusted to 6.8 unsoftened well water with 2.5mg silicate by Humbolt (ratioed the 2.5mg per gal, watering seedlings)

All five cleared the plugs, 2 stretched a bit and head fell over on two - buried the two up to bend. They hung in for a few days but in the end 3 made it.

MephistoFugue - Since I only got 3 SB, I put 4 Fugue into plugs with the same regimen as above. The Fugue are officially in Veg as of 3/5/25

So presently I am:

Strawberry-Banana is Day 21 (week 3) in Veg (went from plug to 1 qt plastic pot (with Mykos) and then to a 5 gal fabric pot (also w/ Mykos)
Fugue is Day 3 (week 1) has gone plug to 1 qt pot w/Mykos and will get into 5 gal when ready. I'm actually waiting on the HP Promix to arrive before moving to 5 gal pot

Both strains are under 18/6 lighting

I have been very reserved with nutes using only minuscule amounts, favoring PH adjusted Tap.

Feeding will be:

1/4 Epsom, 1/2 tsp CalNit (jack's 15-0-0), 1/2 tsp Jack's classic All per gal. In flower Jack's bloom will replace the Classic

The Strawbana Pics: When you get to the LST pics on SB I have a yellowing at the base of one plant. The other two are looking great. Any ideas on what to do to determine problem? The pics are of 3 plants over the 4 or so weeks I've had them.

My other question on this SB is am I doing the LST for a floater correct? The pics show how well the plants are responding to just going horizontal. It's fucking crazy, the colas are racking up and I think I'm getting the concept. Any advice or criticisms are welcomed.....I am clueless and just doing what looks right.

The 3 that progressed as seedlings......

From here they went into 5 gallon Fabrics.......

I mugged all three ladies 2 days later.......pipe cleaners were used initially and then I staked coated wire, it blocked less light.....

You can see on the first photo of her pinned the yellow is present......

Then I switched to coated with good results....

There are a couple more pics but you can probably tell if I'm on the right track for a floater. I know they are autos so time is of the essence. I'll put the rest below.......I'll try to keep this up. Input is appreciated

 

[icthruyou]

More pics:

 

[WeedHopper]

Pulling up a chair

 

[greenmobster440]

Looks good. I'm in for the ride.

 

[MariJan]

Mmmkay

 

[chillkoots7]

Looks good

 

[icthruyou]

Straw-Banana was in good shape this morning with all three perked up or praying as greenmobster calls it. I did some leaf work and tied down more.

Being too busy this week Fugue became an upotting priority because i dont know when I'll have time. The MF is planted in 5 gallon fabric pots the difference being they are iin HP Promix. Wow is that stuff light compared to happy frog. I wish i could run at least 1 SB in it.

Here's the MFs transplanted with Mykos. All three popped identically… ..you'll see the difference. The little lady had to come along now. She looks scared in that big pot.

I'm switching to my keyboard for some more details.

 

[icthruyou]

Okay so this grow will be 3 Strawberry-Bananas in Happy Frog and 3 Mephisto Fugue in HP Promix.
2 SB's will be on AC Infinity XL Autopots wick
2 MF's will be on the same autos
The remaining two, one of each strain will be top-fed only

Makes it a little interesting for me anyway. Might show me something useful, might not.

My intention on feeding is as follows (tsp per gal ratio) (the Autopots will need time for the roots to get through the bottom, so everyone is top-fed for a bit:

1/4 tsp Epsom's salt - I know there are varying places people like to drop this in so I'm asking now for opinions on when, knowing the flip is usually the other time for ES or the outset of Veg the 1st. Can it harm in Veg? It's always my first ingredient.

1/2 tsp Calcium Nitrate, Jack's 15-0-0

1/2 tsp Jack's Classic 20/20/20

I already have the Jack's Bloom 10/30/20 for the flowering portion of the program

I know many do not PH, I plan on documenting it anyway which FORCES adjustment because it's plainly stupid not to IF I KNOW WHERE IT IS AT. The bigger question I have is what is the consensus optimal PH level? I ask due to the variety of levels I've read spanning different delivery systems. Using FF Happy Frog and HP Promix may have different best levels.....IDK that's why I ask it. I know the outside ranges from mid-5's and read tolerating at 8. Never fed anything north of 7.0 and that was RO/DI for flushing. I aimed for 6.6 to 6.8 in my first go-around. I know that 6.2 to 6.4 is often targeted, everyone seems to aim for lower numbers. I know nothing of hydro growing but I think those are the sub-6 ph growers. Just looking for nuance and what success targets in its levels.

Outside of that my setup is controlled under a veg program. I've ported the autopots to accommodate meters for PPM & PH.

Does anyone out there track PPM thru stages with the Jack's? I know it is contrary to many people's whole point in using it in the first place, but I know there are peeps out there documenting in and out if I had to guess. If there isn't there will be one at least. I suppose it may be critical when moving to flower feeding and the overlap there with Veg. That's a lot of parts per mil going in. I plan on using the autopot's consumption to inform the top-feeder's needs. We'll see I guess. Any insights or shit I'm missing (I'm sure it could fill some of the biggest voids) please let a brother know.

On a side note I'm putting in this thread the results of my 2nd round of LSD25 autos that were messed with, missed, neglected and victims of circumstance but the only real bitch I have will be in quantity. The buds from these lanky but short twigs are effing rocks. The first LSD I did was topped. Did a two-step harvest and even the top colas were fluffy in comparison to the 2 little ugly LSD's that thought they could be real buds and managed to become granite. I couldn't make my mind up on harvesting, the lower parts were popping tons of pistils on big buds making them look like all new growth. Triches were pouring out, again it seemed, even on the old top colas. The bottom was teeming with new triches. I literally pulled them both 3 times from the tent intending on chopping them and couldn't make my mind up.

So there is SOMETHING to look at.......here are some of the buds from round two LSD-25:

This ones a little older of the hard-bud LSDs

 

[icthruyou]

The above compared to:

These are fluffy and not hard like the seconds. These did not dry impressive obviously. But the buds themselves are so far removed from the 2nd round. Those are sticky, hard, dense I wouldn't think they were related at all. I know it was the trimming and topping but is that the only explanation or is it due to the low number of colas allowed?

I also learned that MJ plants specifically release growth and development hormones based on angle of branch orientation? I really screwed up there, especially as relates to growth and development. The plant produces one hormone if the plant is horizontal and an entirely different one if oriented vertically. One does growth (IIRC that's horizontal) and the other does development (IIRC the vertical hormone). I guess it makes sense in a way. If the branches are parallel to the ground......grow, grow, grow we need to find light......then when it does it turns vertical and say develop the buds after a good stretch......pack the buds with all you can. I literally topped them both, went horizontal for a short bit and then let them turn. Growth over and development hormone run rampant? They were lost in the daily shuffle right as they turned north, that's when they got away.

I write too much, I talk too much. Go easy I'm still learning and I'm not intending on abusing these ladies forever......just till I learn how they work.

 

[SahPel]

The above compared to:

View attachment 372176
These are fluffy and not hard like the seconds. These did not dry impressive obviously. But the buds themselves are so far removed from the 2nd round. Those are sticky, hard, dense I wouldn't think they were related at all. I know it was the trimming and topping but is that the only explanation or is it due to the low number of colas allowed?

I also learned that MJ plants specifically release growth and development hormones based on angle of branch orientation? I really screwed up there, especially as relates to growth and development. The plant produces one hormone if the plant is horizontal and an entirely different one if oriented vertically. One does growth (IIRC that's horizontal) and the other does development (IIRC the vertical hormone). I guess it makes sense in a way. If the branches are parallel to the ground......grow, grow, grow we need to find light......then when it does it turns vertical and say develop the buds after a good stretch......pack the buds with all you can. I literally topped them both, went horizontal for a short bit and then let them turn. Growth over and development hormone run rampant? They were lost in the daily shuffle right as they turned north, that's when they got away.

I write too much, I talk too much. Go easy I'm still learning and I'm not intending on abusing these ladies forever......just till I learn how they work.

Very interesting, I am going to learn more about this.

 

[Bugus_Monkey]

Genetics unless they came from the same mother plant as clones.

 

[icthruyou]

Genetics unless they came from the same mother plant as clones.

They were in the same order and fastbuds genetics. I think i will be better suited to photo. Im only on round 3 of ever growing anything.

I think i will stop chasing autos and start getting ahead of photos.Lead the plant, dont let the plant lead you kind of thing. Thanks for the response

 

[Bugus_Monkey]

I have posted a couple past rants on how... how can the exact same seeds, that came out the exact same package, in the exact same hydro, under exact same lights and grown at the exact same time, can turn out so 100% different than each other. This whole FEM seed deal spoiled everyone, ME TOO !!!! for sure... Then every time you turn around there is a new strain on the market. Probably several a day. No way is anyone doing the Cube ing thing... No one... @Carty and I got talking about this a year or 2 back and came up with it would take at least 3 or 4 - (I forget, I would have to look through my history) - - Anyways it takes a couple years to actually cube a strain and no one is putting that kind of time in anymore. All it is going to take is the wrong pollen chucker to hit the right plant and it is going to be like an EMP went off and send many a grower back into the stone age. At least the ones who do not have a decent stash of older seeds built up over the years.

OK OK - Rant over - again
About 2 decades ago now, I was running from clones - - I know this is crazy - - but they all turned out the Same!!

 

[greenmobster440]

I'd monitor that calcium nitrate and dial it down to at least 1/4. It's a nice calcium booster but also throws a lot of N at plant. I've been using it every other watering and it's worked well.

 

[icthruyou]

I have posted a couple past rants on how... how can the exact same seeds, that came out the exact same package, in the exact same hydro, under exact same lights and grown at the exact same time, can turn out so 100% different than each other. This whole FEM seed deal spoiled everyone, ME TOO !!!! for sure... Then every time you turn around there is a new strain on the market. Probably several a day. No way is anyone doing the Cube ing thing... No one... @Carty and I got talking about this a year or 2 back and came up with it would take at least 3 or 4 - (I forget, I would have to look through my history) - - Anyways it takes a couple years to actually cube a strain and no one is putting that kind of time in anymore. All it is going to take is the wrong pollen chucker to hit the right plant and it is going to be like an EMP went off and send many a grower back into the stone age. At least the ones who do not have a decent stash of older seeds built up over the years.

OK OK - Rant over - again
About 2 decades ago now, I was running from clones - - I know this is crazy - - but they all turned out the Same!!

Oh I definitely think it's the marksman and most assuredly not the arrow.

I do think it is interesting. Explicitly illustrates the great deal of influence the grower DOES have (outside of the mundane obvious) in addition to genetics, environment, etc.

I haven't heard of "cubing" but I know little about the propagation of seedlines so I will look it up.

At least the great deal of variation caused me to back up and completely readdress my approach. Slowed me down and made me look at what I am doing differently. I did have a level of success first time out and am okay with the results. Since it'll only get better as I go......I'm in, it's been educational for sure. Thanks for the time.

 

[icthruyou]

I'd monitor that calcium nitrate and dial it down to at least 1/4. It's a nice calcium booster but also throws a lot of N at plant. I've been using it every other watering and it's worked well.

If you're talking about the LSD-25 bit, they're already curing. I was wanting to document that result somewhere so I put it in this journal. I intended on showing a bit of the progression to maybe show some point where it went south........I know this, the buds from the plant that looked the worst are going to be the best and vice versa on the full, bud-filled plant.

So if it is known what drove the different result I could exploit it. The spindly plants had sticky, resinous buds with sugar leaves unfurling so well it showed me how buds stack down and this was just before I was tired of those two plants dictating shit in my 5 x 5 so instead of topping four colas and going back in to see where it went, I terminated those two in favor of moving forward with the new.

I'm just too busy and have 6 new plants I'm dealing with that deserve all I can give and I'm better positioned to do so without playing whatthehellhappenedisms

If you're talking the Strawbana I'm doing now I've been watching closely since the yellow popped out in the one SB plant. I've actually reduced the yellowing across all 3 SB plants and will post some pics in that journal of progress shortly.

I've got a screen question I'm putting up here for some direction.

Thanks for the help

Edit: Typos

 

[icthruyou]

I do have a screen question for anyone who can help:

Since I've folded the plants over, pinned them down and began taking them horizontal the result is the plant's trunk is pinned over and down right at the soil. How long can I keep the plant close to the ground before keeping it pinned will be counterproductive?

Does letting the plant go upward play a role in trunk thickness and strength? I hope that makes sense......when the plant is unpinned it will have to lift the entire plant on only the trunk, whereas being low to the ground and getting help from it an the sides would ease the plant while pinned, so does that make the timing on unpinning important?

Hope that makes sense if not let me know and I'll try again.......

 

[Bugus_Monkey]

If I get the pleasure to live long enough to retire, I am going to cube a strain with everyone's who is willing, help from here. Call it the Passion or something of this sort. My real job is very unpredictable and I got a couple years to go to retirement, and they keep moving it up. I do have more than enough stash built up. I've gotten to the point that I actually enjoy growing it more than I enjoy smoking it. I am ADDICTED to growing it. I am wanting to make a Blueberry run (Next) and I promised Carty I would do one of Gabagoo (I killt the first one - My Error) Then I will try and cube one with everyones help... They will not be fems though... But at least they will be somewhat a purebred - but not a landrace - sort of.. I need to do more research into the cubing thing myself. A person should not be able to make a name up for what they hatched until they have been cubed. - - I got to get back to work. Smoke one for me - Bourbon and a couple Pinch Hits tonight once everything is accomplished... I'll be back... Sorry to run on your thread @icthruyou !!!

 

[greenmobster440]

I do have a screen question for anyone who can help:

Since I've folded the plants over, pinned them down and began taking them horizontal the result is the plant's trunk is pinned over and down right at the soil. How long can I keep the plant close to the ground before keeping it pinned will be counterproductive?

Does letting the plant go upward play a role in trunk thickness and strength? I hope that makes sense......when the plant is unpinned it will have to lift the entire plant on only the trunk, whereas being low to the ground and getting help from it an the sides would ease the plant while pinned, so does that make the timing on unpinning important?

Hope that makes sense if not let me know and I'll try again.......

Typically I don't start to train a plant over till it's maybe 3-4 deep in nodes and about 6-8" high. That's usually around the 3-4wk mark. I do that to give the plant some space for ventilation from below.

Allowing your branches to extend upward a little between training sessions is a good idea. Let them grow 4-7days and then pull them all outwards once more.

If you've got that main still tied down I'd turn it loose. Let it get some space above the medium. It can get damp down there so ya may consider cleaning out the small growth down below to help it stay not so muggy down in there.

 

[icthruyou]

Run away my friend, run away. It's all learning to me so benefit is appreciated. I will join the cube discussion when I can get a working understanding of it.

The bourbon and bud are frequently consumed so one more in the schedule is no problem..........except I like Congac and not the gut-rot shit. Closest thing to smoking dope in a bottle there is. So a pinch and some Kelt and I'll probably expand the pinch.