Done a major pruning in veg this week, cleaning the lower third and larfy branches. Still learning how each strain puts out foliage and best ways to train each one. We're at week 7 in here.
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I also had to thin out the numbers due to running way too many in a small space. Kicked out 6 Larry's and a couple of Black Jack's. Wasn't easy but its for the greater good.
This along with the pruning brought the room humidity down to more manageable levels (was hitting 72%, now low 60's).
It is still very dense in there but flipping a bunch this week so not worried.
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Small plants in the SIP trays are doing ok, but they have been in cups a little too long and looking root bound. Again, they will benefit from the flip this week and moving up to 1gal pots in veg.
Getting closer to the correct plant count in each area to maximize capacity whilst being able to select the best plants at transplant. Timing just needs to improve so they're not hanging around too long.
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Over in the bubble cloners, these were cut 15 days ago and roots have been booming the past 5-6 days with lots of new shoots up top also. I topped where necessary to force two branches right away. No time to waste!
Still undecided and what additives to run, so with two cloners I was able to do a quick side-by-side test with the same strains cut at the same time, all dipped in Hormex IBA powder. Bubblers running tap water at pH6.0.
"A-Bubbler" had H&G Roots Excelurator, which was a free sample from the rep who said it would smash anything else.
See what you think:
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Nice clean white roots all the way up the stem:
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"B Bubbler" had Clonex Solution, apparently developed specifically for bubble/aero cloners and not the same as the gel. Bottle looks nothing more than a weak feed.
I also added my own mix of fulvic acid and kelp (2:5 ratio) as soon as roots showed. Spoils the control of the experiment somewhat but I will be repeating so whatever.
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Roots discolored from the kelp additive, but are noticeably thicker, more robust and certainly longer (ie. more root mass) than A-bubbler. Also rooted slightly quicker.
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I did get fast and healthy roots from the previous run using the Clonex solution so it may well have some leprechaun spunk in it after all.
Regardless I am confident this increased rooting is due to the fulvic + kelp combo boosting P uptake. This has been proven by a study and is evidently a smart and simple approach for anyone wanting hardier roots.
In summary: f*ck RE and Clonex.