DAY 48
Hi Guys,
Everything's looking good. I checked the res last night and found that the girls had drunk 5-6 litres of water. EC had dropped from initial 0.8 to 0.7 and pH had moved from 5.8 to 6.1, res temps 19C, Air temp 28C CO2 between 680 and 850ppm (running out of gas).
Last night, I took 5 litres of RO water, added 1.6ml Cal Mag and 2.5ml Aqua Flakes A&B to replace lost nutrients, then added a further 5ml A&B in order to start increasing the EC. After minimal pH up adjustment with silicone and cooling down to 19C (to avoid shocking the roots), I added it to the res and noted the EC moving from 0.7 to 0.8. pH 5.8. I was hoping the EC would go to 0.9, but never mind... will add more tomorrow again.
The Girls are looking good for the increase in nutes. Lots of visible growth in every plant.
No1 had very small, thin looking leaves before, now they are thickening out and getting bigger. This plant used to get a lot of brown tips and patches, which now seems to have settled. The main branch was bent almost 90 degrees, and after fimming, the new side branches are spreading out nicely, some have been fimmed again, and growth is good.
Nos 2 and 3 are very bushy, most of the new side branches have been fimmed, and so there are lots of activity going on under the canopy. They are spreading out really well.
No 4 is getting there, she's very healthy, but she didn't stretch very much before I fimmed the main stalk. Consequently I have a very compact bush growing, but the side branches are developing nicely, and I expect to see some very noticeable spread from her in the next 2 weeks.
Looking at other growers' experiences with Pineapple Chunk, there has been mention of a variant which is slow to stretch, but then really goes mad later on, so maybe that's no 4.
Here they are, and compare them to the pics of days 43 and 45, they really have grown!
Tonight I am going to remove all my LST ties, and re-tie them down,maybe cut away some of the bigger leaves to get more light into the lower parts and develop those new side shoots. By tomorrow night, I expect another 5 Liters will need replacing, so I will consider bringing up the EC again a notch.
I'm still not happy with the CO2 situation... now I think my new regulator isn't letting any gas out!!!!!
I did various tests, plugging in directly, checking polarity, reversing polarity, to such a point I ran out of gas, dammit!!!
I called Esoteric - they were great - they immediately put a new regulator in the post, for next day delivery, and I just have to send them my old one in my own time!!! The owner (Jeff) is extremely knowledgeable - having written a brilliant Hydro textbook, and although they can be pricey in some areas, they literally stock EVERYTHING and more. Plus the customer service is brilliant (remember, they took back my Ecotechnics gear even though I bought it elsewhere).
I originally bought the (3kg) CO2 cylinder from an aquatic shop in Wales - just couldn't get one in downtown Rotterdam, I don't plan on going back to Wales again anytime soon, and no one will refill the cylinder (even though it's brand new). Luckily London Beer Gas delivers food grade CO2 in 6kg cylinders to your doorstep. It's for the plants in my aquarium mate!!! Their website even states that it can be used for that purpose - so no more making up stories about repairing old lawnmowers with a MIG welder. The new cylinder has arrived, meaning that I will be peeking round the curtain for Mister Postman tomorrow like an excited child waiting for my new regulator. I wanna crank up that CO2 to 1200ppm and get those girls BIG.
I wish you all the very best of smoking pleasure this evening!