Namaste Indoor Gardens Grow Log (Grow Number 14)

May 19th: Germination

On May 13th I planted 3 seeds found in a purchase of Berry Kush OG after they had soaked overnight. All three were planted over 1" deep and I was surprised to see the first seedling emerge this afternoon after only 6 days. It will continue to grow in this larger pot until it has produced its second set of true leaves and then it will be transplanted into a 1.5 liter soda bottle.

This is the third group of plants that have been started from found seeds. I have noticed that the least expensive medicinal cannabis is oftentimes that which has been grown outdoors and occasionally contains a few seeds. In the past I've tried to germinate them but never was successful. To date though I have currently germinated 14 out of the last 14 seeds.

This strain has an amazing terpene (flavor) profile which reminds me of a well aged Merlot or Zinfandel ... a woodsy bouquet with fruit and floral overtones. Which isn't surprising given its parentage - a cross between OG Kush and Hashberry both of which are noted for their resinous undertones.

If this is a female it will be grown as a mother plant and cloned for future grows or, possibly, for cross breeding.

May 23rd: Vegetation Week 1

Decided to transplant the first seedling into a 1.5 liter bottle on 5-21 as I discovered a second seedling about to emerge through the soil. The bottle was prefilled with 650 grams of semi moist Happy Frog organic potting soil. The dry weight (when the bottle needs watering) will be around 400 grams after the plants have vegetated for 2 - 3 weeks.

5-26: Even though the container still weighed 590 grams 1/4 cup plain water was added around the edges bringing the wet weight to 650 grams. At this early stage in the seedling it is important to keep the upper 2 inches moist to encourage rooting. The second Berry Kush seedling has emerged and is about 1/4" tall.

May 30th: Vegetation Week 2

Plant put on another inch bringing it to 2" however more soil was added to the container to support the elongating stalk so the first inch is buried but will be added to all subsequent measurements to reflect actual growth. Changed the date on the label back to 5-13-15 which is when the seed was actually planted - not when it first germinated. This was done to be consistent with the other grows. The second Berry Kush seedling is now 1" high and will be ready to transplant into a 1.5 liter bottle next week.

Another 1/4 cup plain water added to container bringing the weight to 700 grams. The second seedling was given 1 tablespoon of plain water.

6-1: Went ahead and transplanted the second seedling into a 1.5 liter bottle. Added 1/4 cup plain water bringing weight to 700 grams. The bottle was filled to the top with soil since the plant already was over an inch tall.

Number #2 was moved to the top shelf in the vegetation chamber just 4" under the overhead 28 watt T5 Fluorescent light. All seedlings need to be that close to the light to get a good start and to prevent over stretching. Once they are 3-4" high they can be dropped down to the lower shelf to complete their vegetation. Normally that would be too far below the top light for plants that short but this chamber also has 56 watts of T5 lights mounted vertically at the back wall to provide supplemental lighting.

June 6th: Vegetation Week 3

Both seedling are doing well having put on another 1/2 each. #2 is still on the top shelf until it is 3-4" tall. It was accidentally knocked off the shelf and spilled its soil. The seedling and its root were recovered and replanted just even with the replaced soil at 1/2" below the rim.

6-9: Both seedlings were given another 1/4 cup of plain water bringing the containers to 650 grams each. In the future all height will begin being measured as soon as the plants clear the top of the container.

June 13th: Vegetation Week 4

Both seedlings were given another 1/4 cup of plain water bringing container #1 to 700 grams and #2 to 650 grams. The first container had more soil added to it which increased the wet weight by 50 grams.

6-18: Both seedlings were given another 1/4 cup of plain water bringing their weight weights to 650 grams.

June 20th: Vegetation (Week 5)

Plants added 1/2" this week. They will spend part of the day in the flowering chamber to benefit from the better light.

6-24: Both seedlings were given another 1/4 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weight weights to 650 grams. The Grow was added for the supplemental nitrogen.

June 27th: Vegetation (Week 6)

Growing at a normal pace - still spending the day in the flowering chamber for the stronger light.

July 4th: Vegetation (Week 7)

Both plants transplanted to 1 gal pots filled with 1250 grams of semi-moist Happy Frog organic potting soil.

When the current grow (#12) is harvested on 7-18 the photoperiod will be reset to 18/6. These two plants and the Pineapple Express will be permanently transferred to the flowering chamber and allowed to vegetate until they are at least 12" tall. At that point the photoperiod will be shortened to 12/12 and the plants will begin to flower. In about 10-14 days the plants will start to show their sex and the males will be discarded.

July 11th: Vegetation (Week 8)

Good progress this past week ... plants now 4.5" tall.

7-14: Both plants were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1150 grams.

7-17: Both plants were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1150 grams.

July 18th: Vegetation (Week 9)

I just realized that I do not need to maintain two separate chambers ... the LED lit chamber can be left on an 18/6 photoperiod and those plants that are ready to flower just need to be removed at 6 pm to a dark chamber until morning to meet the required 12 hours of darkness that flowering plants need each day.

This allows the not quite ready plants to continue their vegetation under the best light. Seedling and clones can still be started under fluorescents in the former vegetation chamber until they are ready to be transferred.

Now that Grow 12 has been harvested the photoperiod in the flowering chamber was reset to 18/6 and all of the remaining plants transferred over to continue their vegetation.

7-21: Both plants had additional soil added and were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1250 grams.

July 25th: Vegetation (Week 10)

The plants were topped at the uppermost node in order to increase the number of active growing tips. They will continue to vegetate for another 2-3 weeks or until the plants in Grows #'s 13 and 15 are also near 12" tall. At that time the photoperiod will be reset to 12 hours of darkness and all the plants will be forced into flowering

Both plants were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1250 grams.

7-27: Both plants were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1250 grams.

7-31: Both plants were given 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1200 grams.

August 1st: Vegetation Week 11

The two plants are shown here in the rear row on the left in this 'before the lights come on' photo. Overnight temperatures range between 65 - 75F.

8-3: Both plants were given 1 cup of plain H₂O bringing their weights to 1200 grams.

8-7: Both plants were given some additional potting soil and 1 cup of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Grow bringing their weights to 1240 grams.

August 8th: Flowering (Week 1)

In order to force the plants into flowering they were removed to the vegetation chamber which goes dark at 6 pm increasing the photoperiod (darkness) to 12 hours. This will be done every evening for the next two weeks or so until they show their sex. Any males will be discarded. The remaining females will continue to be swapped back and forth until the other plants, now vegetating in the flowering chamber, are themselves ready to be flowered and sexed.

8-9:

The plants from Grows #13 and #14 have been in total darkness for 36 hours as I had read that would better prepare them for the change in photoperiod. This morning they were reintroduced to the light. Notice how the centers of the growing tips have lightened turning yellow green and begun to spread apart so that the future flowers can get more light.

8-10: Both plants were given 2 cups of RO H₂O with a heavy (2 tbls p/gal) of Biothrive Bloom bringing their weights to 1350 grams.

August 15th: Flowering (Week 2)

Disappointedly both plants turned out to be male.

Here are side by side images of sexed plants ... the Berry Kush is on the right. Notice the male plant forms clusters of these little football like pollen sacks whereas a female plant produces yellow white thread like pistils which emerge in pairs just above the stipules at the node where the calyxes (ovaries) form.

My previous experience is that the process is completed in 7 -10 days and those that were on the late end of this continuum were either male or turned out to be hermaphrodite and later went on to produce seeds because they weren't caught in time. Unfortunately both plants will have to be destroyed to prevent fertilization of the other plants in the flowering chamber.

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