BC Northern Lights Producer Grow #2

mrbill said:

Looking Good Ancap! Nice grow. As a proud owner of a NL Bloombox myself. I've found, at least in my case, I get bigger buds and bushier plants by limiting the total plants in the tub. When I tried utilizing all the netpots the plants tend to grow straight up - as your experiencing - rather than out. It seems to me it's just too crowded for all those plants. I'm currently in the mist of a C99 grow with only 3 plants on day 11 in the Flowering box. Everyone has their own twist on growing with these boxes and obviously your doing GREAT. I just wanted add my experience that's all. Again, great job!

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Thanks mrbill, your experience and thoughts are welcome on this thread! I'm going to try experimenting with different numbers of plants, but I definitely want to maximize the total yield. From what I hear from people, you may get less individual yields from a full capacity producer/bloombox, but more plants equals more total yield. What has been your experience?

ancap said:

Thanks mrbill, your experience and thoughts are welcome on this thread! I'm going to try experimenting with different numbers of plants, but I definitely want to maximize the total yield. From what I hear from people, you may get less individual yields from a full capacity producer/bloombox, but more plants equals more total yield. What has been your experience?

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Thanks Ancap for allowing me to add my comments. I'm here to learn as well and to improve on each grow. With regard to my experience...

Since I have no luck with clones I grow from seed. Seedling time or clone time to me is the same. The only downside of course is not knowing if the seedlings are M or F. So I start with 8-10 seeds. After vegging to a height of 4-6 inches, they go to flowering. After determining their sex I pull the Males and the Females stay. I always seem to end up with about 50/50 M to F split. Or at a minimum 3-5 females. So again, I never have all the tubs/pots filled.

All of this hobby/growing is for me and family. I don't own or need a scale. I'll usually end up with 4-6 mason jars (the big ones with metal locks and red rubber gasket everyone seems to use). Ancap, I really don't want to hijack your thread and I very much enjoy reading your journal. But if you would like I'd be happy to upload a couple pics.

mrbill said:

Thanks Ancap for allowing me to add my comments. I'm here to learn as well and to improve on each grow. With regard to my experience...

Since I have no luck with clones I grow from seed. Seedling time or clone time to me is the same. The only downside of course is not knowing if the seedlings are M or F. So I start with 8-10 seeds. After vegging to a height of 4-6 inches, they go to flowering. After determining their sex I pull the Males and the Females stay. I always seem to end up with about 50/50 M to F split. Or at a minimum 3-5 females. So again, I never have all the tubs/pots filled.

All of this hobby/growing is for me and family. I don't own or need a scale. I'll usually end up with 4-6 mason jars (the big ones with metal locks and red rubber gasket everyone seems to use). Ancap, I really don't want to hijack your thread and I very much enjoy reading your journal. But if you would like I'd be happy to upload a couple pics.

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Curious as to why you don't buy feminized seeds for 100% females. That would double your box's productivity. Feel free to post some pics man; thanks for asking.

ancap said:

Curious as to why you don't buy feminized seeds for 100% females. That would double your box's productivity. Feel free to post some pics man; thanks for asking.

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I had a "seed grow" last year and have enough c 99 seeds to last me forever - at least many years. I got them originally through Joey Weed last spring. I let a M pollinate my F. I just got tired of spending $$$ and hoping they arrived stealth-like. So I have plenty to germinate at one time without worry if they sprout or not. And as I mentioned earlier, my grow is a small personal one for me and family so 2-3 plants hold me over quite well.

Here are some pics - if I can figure how to post them properly! Again, they may not be the "big cola's" everyone talks about. But to me, they are big enough. Not to mention even the "biggest colas" have to be broken down to be smoked. Or in my case, used in my Volcano Vap!!

The first 3 are my current c99 grow. Pic's taken at 12 days in Flower. Last 3 are 44 days into last Nov. grow with 2-3 plants in the box

+ rep for Bill lookin out for his fam

mrbill,

Those are pretty flowers (My buds are in a similar stage of development). Here is a barrage of questions for you... Do you run them longer than 8 weeks or do you typically stick to the BCNL schedule? What are those hoses all about? Do you trim any underdeveloped branches at any stage? I also grow from seed, so I'd be interested to know when you typically flip to 12/12 (what day and height)? I guess with that last question I have to ask if the vertical space in the Bloombox is the same as the Producer.

By the way, the thumbnail pictures are tricky. You have to drag them where you want them after you upload or else they'll just break up your post.

Hey i noticed your plants are really close to each other. Enough for the leaves too be crossing.. Thats not too much of a problem for you? (Making sure the light penetrates?)

I only ask because im also starting a grow inwhich plants will be very close from each other

Mazon said:

Hey i noticed your plants are really close to each other. Enough for the leaves too be crossing.. Thats not too much of a problem for you? (Making sure the light penetrates?)

I only ask because im also starting a grow inwhich plants will be very close from each other

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Yeah, it's just a reality in these boxes. Of course, the proximity usually doesn't affect the main cola's growth on each of the plants (unless one is a runt and gets grown over, which happened on 1 of 13 plants in this grow). The side branches will grow, but only some will find a pocket of light. Those that do will produce decent buds. It all goes back to the age old question, to trim leaves or not. I've decided not to cut leaves since they store nutrients that feed the plants, and I've been able to successfully tuck away most leaves that are covering smaller colas. Most growers on this site will tell you to leave the leaves alone. On the flip side, if you trimmed 10% of your fan leaves, I think you'd be fine.

The most important part of growing in close proximity is trimming the lower branches. I really don't like to lollipop completely (trim everything on the lower 1/3 of the plant) because I have some big colas that are from lower branches that found light. My advice is to wait until the 3rd week of flowering and cut everything off the lower 1/3 that looks whispy, has tiny bud sites, and/or is not going to find light. These branches are going to suck energy away from the more productive sites and clog up the grow space, limiting airflow and increasing humidity.

ancap said:

mrbill,

Those are pretty flowers (My buds are in a similar stage of development). Here is a barrage of questions for you... Do you run them longer than 8 weeks or do you typically stick to the BCNL schedule? What are those hoses all about? Do you trim any underdeveloped branches at any stage? I also grow from seed, so I'd be interested to know when you typically flip to 12/12 (what day and height)? I guess with that last question I have to ask if the vertical space in the Bloombox is the same as the Producer.

By the way, the thumbnail pictures are tricky. You have to drag them where you want them after you upload or else they'll just break up your post.

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Thanks for the tip on the pic uploads!

As you know most Strains average about 8 weeks but I look at the trichomes with a Radio Shack cheapo microscope. When they look like the attached pic, I chop. I just looked at my last grow log notes and 1 plant was chopped at 50 days (c99) and other 2 on day 57. I could have chopped the last 2 sooner but had no room in my home-made dryer. You probably also know C99 is a fast/quick flowering strain. That's one of several reason she's my favorite strain. I don't follow the BCNL schedule if your referring to the Nutz schedule. I think that's a little too excessive. You can reduce the nutz by 1/3 and half of those "add-on" nutz in my opinion. The current grow today (day 14) has a PPM of 800. I use two-part Sensi and Bloom, Big Bud and White shark<~~NOT a Advanced Nutz product. I switch to 12/12 when the plants are about 4-6 inches and have at least 4 nodes. And maybe the good folks (and they are!) at BCNL can confirm the Producer and Bloombox are the same dimensions.

Those hoses are for my water chiller. (I live in the hottest place in the Country- but it's a dry heat!) It keeps my Rez at 67 degrees. The plants and roots LOVE it. No more root rot issues for me!

I've never trimmed underneath branches. Many schools of thought on that one. I don't grow "scrog," I just let them grow and I'm happy with the results. If one day I get disappointed, I'll try something different. But that hasn't happen yet. As I said in an earlier post here. Everyone has their own twist on growing with these NL Boxes. I just let the box do what I paid it to do - grow! All I do is change Rez and sit back and wait. I do change the watering duration and light schedule, but that's it.

mrbill,

Yeah, its hard to tell what nutes work well and which ones are hype. I do know that many experienced growers seem really pleased with results from some of the auxiliary AN products. The complaints I seem to read most is that people think similar products from other brands work just as well for less money. I rarely read that they don't work at all. For me, its worth the extra $200 if my bud growth is even 10% better on a full 18 plant load, and if the flush product improves the smoke (never tried Final Phase before this grow). I guess it's kind of a gamble though since I haven't done the experimenting myself. I take it you go sans co2?

I live in a hot and humid state, so temp is a problem here for me as well. On this grow however, I've been running the light cycle at night. I don't know if it's just the time of year still, but I don't even need to run additional AC. It's been really great. Probably the best move I've made.

Can you walk me through what you are looking for in that microscope shot?

I think most growers would agree that a mix of "cloudy and Amber" colored trichomes is what you want. As the plant grows, and you view it's flower's or flower leaf under a microscope, the trichomes at first appear clear. You can see through them. At this point the plant is not ready. The trichomes then turn "cloudy." At this point if you chopped the plant the "high" would be more of a "cerebal/head" high. If you let the plant continue to grow - and many people do - the trichomes turn "amber/golden" color. This will give you a "couch-lock" high some folks like. I prefer a 50/50 mix of "cloudy and amber" like in the picture I took your referring to. C99 is more of a cerebal high anyway - which is my "high" preference - when chopped at about 50 days. Always go by the trichomes - not the number of weeks.

Yes I do use CO2. Here's pic of my setup.

PDN247 said:

+ rep for Bill lookin out for his fam

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"Thank you" PDN! Family first always!!

Thanks mrbill, that was helpful. I guess I'll look for a cheap microscope then since my magnifying glass probably wont be strong enough.

Day 43 Flowering

I seem to have twelve really healthy girls here. My thirteenth plant was a runt that got overshadowed. This is the beginning of week seven for me. I've reduced my nutrient ppm from about 1250 last week to about 750 this week. I plan on continuing to add fresh water throughout the week as usual to keep the nutrient levels from creeping up. PH is about 5.6 right now, but has tended to stabilize at around 5.4.

I'm thinking about trimming all the fan leaves about five days before turning the lights off to allow more light penetration. Then I want to replace the res half way with just fresh water and ice cubes, and let the plants sit in darkness for a couple days. I got this idea from an established BCNL grower's blog (medicine man). What do you think?

nice man +rep mastering this thing now

I'm assuming ur talking about medicine man's blog. I did some research about shock ripening too, seems to be a mixed back, some swear by it, others thing it's horseshit.

I'm going to give it a go, why not? Just three days. I'm planning on flushing for 7, then chopping down a plant, then shock ripening the others for 3 days. Gunna do a side by side, and let that settle it for future grows. This coming monday i'll be beginning to flush I think, we're so close man!!!

You won't be disappointed whatever direction you take! Nice job, Ancap.

Here's all you'll need for a microscope. It cost $12.49 at Radio Shack
Model: MM-100 | Catalog #: 63-1313

View attachment 943924

i use to want 1 of those all in 1 grow boxes. looks good

stillcantroll said:

I'm assuming ur talking about medicine man's blog. I did some research about shock ripening too, seems to be a mixed back, some swear by it, others thing it's horseshit.

I'm going to give it a go, why not? Just three days. I'm planning on flushing for 7, then chopping down a plant, then shock ripening the others for 3 days. Gunna do a side by side, and let that settle it for future grows. This coming monday i'll be beginning to flush I think, we're so close man!!!

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Yep, Medicine Man's blog. That blog is definitely worth a gander. Check out the comment sections too. I need to do some more research on shock ripening too. How do you plan on executing that? Just keep the res loaded with ice? Please keep me posted on your experiment. Maybe I'll do the same thing...

@mrbill - Thanks. I'll go to Radio Shack tomorrow. Can't beat that price.

Yea, basically I'm going to buy 5-6 bags of ice, and drop a new one in one or twice a day... or whatever it takes to keep the temperature steady at those low levels, then just pH the solution once or twice a day as the ice melts. He said "maintain the temperature" but doesn't really say how

To MRBILL:

I noticed you have what appears to be a water chiller there, mind filling the rest of us in on how you managed to get that set up, and what model it is?


Also, how long does that 20lb co2 tank last you? mine only last 3 friggin weeks, did you dial back the PSI or something?