New Generation LST

That's one of the reasons I've decided to flower. There's so much new growth that it's hard to keep track of, plus I don't know if all this new growth will actually turn to bud. I'm anxious to see how many continue their growth upwards, or if any fizzle out.

The other issue is leaves and stems are touching the walls of the tent, which caves a bit from negative pressure. The tent is homebrew, and is really designed to hold three ten-inch pots (it's 24 x 27 inches). With four pots full of foliage, it's getting crowded down there. When they start growing upwards, it should be easier to wrangle them into the "sweet spot" of light coverage.

A group shot prior to flowering:



Since things are getting crowded in the tent, I ran a couple of bamboo stakes top to bottom front and back to lessen the caving of the sides. Here's a shot of the tent while empty, to show the design of the tent:



(Yeah, I Photoshopped it to make the lighting even).

They look freakin amazing bro you'll be happy come harvest time!

kroost said:

A group shot prior to flowering:

View attachment 2766990

Since things are getting crowded in the tent, I ran a couple of bamboo stakes top to bottom front and back to lessen the caving of the sides. Here's a shot of the tent while empty, to show the design of the tent:

View attachment 2766991

(Yeah, I Photoshopped it to make the lighting even).

Click to expand...

Nice work Kroost! Those ladies look brilliant - am loving your LST, well done. I can't wait to see how they develop. Lady Hx

Thanks. all. Friday morning I watered them, set the timer to 12/12, and left for a weekend camping trip. Just got home, and frustrated that I can't check on them yet because the timer doesn't turn on for three more hours .

I was camping at a small privately-owned campground, where the Wild Things are:



This disreputable bunch was right at the edge of my campsite, with the rest of the weeds. I sure hope I didn't bring back any pollen from the boys; I made it a point to not touch them.

I was so glad I'm not a kid anymore. Back then, I would have cut one down and try to dry it over the campfire.

As of this morning:



Onward and upward!

Made an addition to the tent. The length of bamboo I ran vertically front center does lessen the negative pressure caving, but not entirely. There was still plenty of caving between the strut and the sides. It was hard to keep enough distance between the leaves and the walls of the tent.

So, I added two loops of black duct tape at the point of greatest caving, about three inches above the level of the rim of the pots. I stuck a length of bamboo through the loops, long enough so that it goes past the ends of the tent, thusly:



I counted how many likely bud sites likely to develop, and it looks to be over 20 per plant. I'm hoping for more, if some of those little bits of new growth in the open areas decide to join in the fun.

I should add that the inside of the loops is not sticky, so I can slide the bamboo out when opening the tent, and returning it when shutting it.

Update:


I had a small mishap with one of the girls this morning, and tipped the pot over while grooming her. Luckily, only a bit of soil fell out; easily replaced.

I'm trying to decide what to grow next. Although these are super easy to grow, they're such a bitch to clone that I'll likely go with seeds next time. Plus, after smoking the first two (all gone, already!), I've decided I want some sativa. I'm thinking of Sannie's Killing Fields; anybody tried this?

The girls are responding to 12/12 quite nicely. I had to raise the light several inches, so that spread of light covers the whole canopy. I'm thinking next week I will switch over to the HPS, so heat will be more of an issue. However, the ventilation is good, the lights ar off during the hottest part of the day, and it's been a very mild summer here, so the add heat from the HPS shouldn't be hard to manage.



Striving for that even canopy:


I'm wondering what to do about the intake port:


It's a connector for offsetting the heat exhaust from a clothes dryer (the other, outside, end is on the upper half). I painted the inside black, and it makes a good light trap, but the "Snoot" is getting in the way of arranging four pots in a space meant to hold three

Here's the plan: I bought these:


I would move the light trap part down to where the timer and fan are, and rig it so the fresh air comes out the grilel, which will be flat on the "floor" of the tent. However, this will entail major surgery to the tent. Now, I'd have to do it when the light is on, and the plant would have to sit in ambient light for the duration. I'd have to be sure to wrap it up before lights out.

I'm planning on doing a number of other refinements to the tent between this grow and my next, but that's not for another two months (assuming all continues to go well for this one!). I suppose I can live with it until then . . .

Damn. the edges on that sheet metal thing are nasty! I sliced my hand in two places while handling it in the store. I wrapped Duct Tape around the edges, to keep things safe.

Some shots from this morning:

There looking beautiful bud sites everywhere. Im sorry if I missed you saying this already but how far into flowering are you?

I flipped the light just about two weeks ago, so, subtracting the usual week, one week. Glad you asked; I was sure it had been longer. I wanted to veg under MH for two weeks before switching to the HPS, so I guess it'll be another week until that.

On my previous grow, https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/650955-my-new-grow.html#post9040583 , towards the end, I found I kept wishing I'd vegged for just one more week. So, on this grow, I just kept on vegging until I couldn't keep track of the new growth. As a result, lotsa bud sites. I'm curious to see how many thrive, and how many fizzle out. There's a bunch of little newer growth "down in the depths", that I try to give as much light to as I can. I hope they respond.

I'll be honest, though. Nice as all those bud sites are, I can't wait until they're just plain BUD!

This part of flowering is not as exciting as the last weeks but it is beautiful to watch em grow.. Your girls look very healthy bro good job..

kroost said:

I flipped the light just about two weeks ago, so, subtracting the usual week, one week. Glad you asked; I was sure it had been longer. I wanted to veg under MH for two weeks before switching to the HPS, so I guess it'll be another week until that.

On my previous grow, https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/650955-my-new-grow.html#post9040583 , towards the end, I found I kept wishing I'd vegged for just one more week. So, on this grow, I just kept on vegging until I couldn't keep track of the new growth. As a result, lotsa bud sites. I'm curious to see how many thrive, and how many fizzle out. There's a bunch of little newer growth "down in the depths", that I try to give as much light to as I can. I hope they respond.

I'll be honest, though. Nice as all those bud sites are, I can't wait until they're just plain BUD!

Click to expand...

I agree lol I cant wait till they are plain buds either. Im subscribed and buckled up for the ride

Here's the moms flowering:

The day I Flipped the light to 12/12
View attachment 2792653

One week later:
View attachment 2792654View attachment 2792655

Four days later:
View attachment 2792656View attachment 2792657

Two weeks after the flip, one week since first pistils
View attachment 2792661View attachment 2792662

Five days later


Two weeks since pistils


Three weeks


Four and a half weeks, chopped one (too soon )


Sister still going


A week later


Seven weeks since pistils, day of chop


Much as I liked that big cola, it required keeping the light farther away form the lower buds.

Writing this post has been a good review for me of how the buds on this strain develop. More gradual than my rose-colored-glasses memory. Now I know how long they take, and I won't be anxiously checking trichs and calyxes until near the due date.

I plan on doing some sativas for my next grow, though, which will require even more patience. I hope I get enough yield from this grow to see me through, until I harvest the next.

Counting my chickens before they hatch? I haven't even bought the seeds for the next grow yet

I decided to change over to HPS now, rather than next week. We had several very hot, humid days recently, so I was worrying as I watched the temps rise, but it cooled off a bit last night. Soon it'll be September, so it shouldn't be an issue for much longer.

Some shots from this morning:





All together now



In the tent. The light had just turned off, so I got them back home just in time


The one I used to refer to as the "funny-looking" one (in the beige pot) still seems to be lagging the other three. It's healthy, though, and it always gets there, even if late, so I'm not concerned. Likely I'll harvest it after the others.

In other news, I finally got myself a real watering can with a long spout. Sure makes things easier; why'd I wait so long?

They're not getting much taller now, but the buds are starting to fill in. As CP said, not an exciting phase. I'm still watching those "newer growth" branches, but I'm starting to think they will only be popcorn - I hope they prove me wrong.

The buds are starting to look like buds, rather than just flowers, but still a way to go. Beginning to see some trichs, too, but not a lot yet. If these follow the schedule of the Moms, they should need at least six more weeks. Until then . . .


Under the light. Yellow from the HPS removed with Photoshop


My anal canopy, and detail of the "skeleton"


Just after lights out, taken with the flash



Peace -