Cookies in the oven - 3x3 Organics grow

All comments, suggestions etc... welcome.

1st time organics/Led grow, and first time with this set-up. Thought I would start this from first day in 12/12

Plants:
Red Hot Cookies, Gorilla Cookies, Amnesia Lemon (From seed)

Equipment:
3x3x6 Home box tent.
Lumatek 200w ATS pro LED
5" extraction Fan

Grow medium
Organic soil that I have produced after three- or four-years growing vegies. Includes cow manure, rabbit manure, and compost, also has small amount of clay balls from previous hydro grows. This has been very successful with vegies and an outdoor plant a couple of years ago.

Feed
Most of the nutrients should be present in the soil, but have used teas made from manure and grass (Water that was mixed with rotting grass for nitrogen in veg)
Also just started with a product called "Charlie Carp"
Had some serious growth since feeding the Charlie carp, new growth is yellow but not as bad as the pictures look

I feel I have things fairly well dialed in now, the temps could be a few degrees higher on average, but the days are starting to warm up.

The Lemon amnesia was topped early, I will tie down some it's branches again to spread it out a bit.

Day one of 12x12 light (What is the general consensus for starting flower count, first day of flip or first sign of flower?)
I'm not after a big yield, just hoping for a smoke, and a decent strain to keep going for a while. I figure by the time these are done I can clone from the clones outside for next start in hydro.





Also took a few clones a few days ago, using my ghetto home-made clone bubbler thing. Seems to be working well so far. These will be used for the outdoor season


I will update once a week.

Quick little update.

I made the call to up-pot the Gorilla cookies, I know it's not advised to do after flipping, but she suddenly started showing signs of early root bound (at least that's what I think) It felt like a smooth repot so hopefully minimal stress.

The red Hot cookies is showing some nice structure now, and fast growth. I did a little LST on her to try and even the canopy.

They are drinking a lot now, and have slowly increased feed

While far from my best attempt, the tent is starting to fill in, and I'm glad I decided to flip a little earlier than planned.
All the clones are looking good, although no roots showing yet, but they are solid and no droop at all.

I will find a better solution for the fans tomorrow, will try to get a fraction more space in there.

****I would love to hear from anyone who has smoked any of these strains

Day 5 @ 12/12
First signs of flower Hopefully see some pom poms in a few days.

The Gorilla has not missed a beat after the re-pot, the droop has all but gone.

Done some minor LST with all three and fixed the fans in a better location, they are starting to fill out the tent nicely. The growth is really pleasing, and noticeably each morning. The stretch is there but not crazy.

Been watering every two days, but they are really sucking it up fast and getting dry after a day.

I really love the tent. I'm not sure if it has much if any advantage, but the white just feels better to me than silver.

Start of day 7 @ 12/12

The lemon amnesia (back), has minimal stretch and was first to show flowering. It's a nice bushy little thing and looks a bit bigger than the angle of photo shows.

The RHC (left) is chugging along with nothing special to mention. It's still the heaviest feeder and loves dinner time. I also think it has taken really well to LST, the lower branches have formed fast, they seem good at finding their own way into the best place.

The Gorilla cookies is stretching the most.
I took a closer look at her, and the node spacing, and thick branches (even the upper stretch parts) are really impressive. The structure is very indicitive of a solid strain, and the leaves are getting massive. So I'm really hoping the smoke is good. She also had the strongest nice smell with the finger stem rub (only just learned that)

I took a couple more clones from her just in case. I took them from front facing side and lst'd her towards the space I cleared.

The humidity was high when the lights came on, so I have a fan pumping some fresh air into the room, it has started to drop.


This is the Gorilla, hopefully you see what I mean about the chunky stem and node structure (zoom up)


Happy grows to all.

Day 8 @12/12
I wasn't going to update daily, but I did a little shuffle around, and gave a very slight de-fol and leaf tuck.

All 3 girls look to have started producing flower sites. Seems fast, so hoping they pull some solid colas.

I'm slowly bending the Gorilla cookies down to level out the canopy and fill in that side of the tent. She looks a little sparse now but all her tops are getting better light now.

Gave them another feed of carp, will slowly bring in higher feeds of phosphorus, and decrease the nitrogen from here.

Day 10 update.
A little more LST, and super cropped two branches that were stretching without any room to tie down.

The flowers are noticeably bigger each day now, forming nice little pom poms.
I'm really happy with the overall health. the RHC has finally got a better green. The slight purple streaks in the stems have all gone, and the leaves have a nice shine without being too glossy.

day 14 @ 12/12
Just want to mention I went from 18/6 to 14/10 for two days then 12/12.

I have to go away for two days, so might not get the two-week update.

The girls are cracking along.

I brewed a banana ferment, still haven't decided if I will use it yet as I don't want to change a good thing. Starting to see some trichomes and a few nice-looking size flowers for just shy of two weeks.







First sign of trichs

Two week update.
I had to pull down my tent and relocate, not to mention hire a truck and drive for over 1000km's all for a crazy and unappreciative female, I'm devasted, tired and dumbfounded (but that's a different story I'm sure no one's interested in)

The ladies are still going strong even after a disturbed move and a slight mix up in their light period. I have never seen them preying so hard, very erect. Maybe a little thirsty?

The tent is nearly full.
The Gorilla cookie is exciting me. great looking flower for so early, good resin, and stating to stink like smelly socks.

Day 17
I was resigned to not doing another soil grow after being underwhelmed early on in this grow.
But now I'm really impressed. I don't want to put the mockers on my self, but everything is rocking. Loving the light and tent so far.

The buds are nicely spaced on all the plants, and imo showing great development for so early in flower. Now the Amnesia Lemon is putting some resin on. The main cola on the Gorilla is already starting to plump out sideways. It looks a lot better from the other side, but turned her around to make it easier to tie down.

They are praying hard and sucking the water dry daily now.

A couple of shots with an actual camera.

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View attachment _D806496.JPG

Day 24,
Moving along nicely. Time to focus on getting some dense nugs.


The RHC is Sativa leaning.
Starting to show some red on the underside of leaves. I'm thinking she will want the longest finish time.


The Gorilla is killing it. The main cola on her is going to be a chunk.


The Amnesia lemon is most Indica looking. Sticky little skunky nugs. She is starting to get some interesting colour changes.
Some of the heavy frost on the lower bud sites. I'm betting she will be the smallest yielder but the most potent.


They have really started to smell now. Almost like shoes and rotting fruit.

A second before lights on for the day. Taken before the above pics (pre small defol)

Just dug out my old filter, thankfully it still does the job and has reduced the smell.

I noticed last night the RHC was starting to lose colour on her lower leaves, so I'm going to feed her a little of the banana ferments I made a couple of weeks ago, and add a little carp fert.
.
Temps are getting warmer here quickly, so I might look at an extra fan or cooler. Humidity is a lot better now, between 50 and 60 and dropping.

So far I'm really happy. It felt like a backward step going from a 600w in a 4x4 using DWC. But there is some satisfaction growing with 100% that is new to me.
With this downgrade in tent size, and a change to LED, I would be happy with between two and three oz of decent quality, and some variety.

I could have done a better job with training, and in the entire veg period, but much has been learned

A couple of artsy pics.
It's a shame I have to reduce the file size so much on these, the originals have so much detail. I still recommend clicking on the image for larger size.

a group shot.
Still not sure what is doing with the upper leaves on the Gorilla. Either from getting close to the lights, or the flowers are squashing them up. I'm not too concerned right now as they are otherwise healthy looking and while the buds are forming so rapidly, I don't want to change much.

Pics from day 31.




Noticing some size in the nugs now.

The Amnesia is looking to be a fast finisher. Showing some colour and calyx swell already.




The Gorilla is putting on a lot of weight and frost. Still showing the erect leaves but seems to be thriving.




And the RHC is starting to show frost. Still not much red or pink except for its fans.


I love the LED temp, and white tent. Makes photos a joy