Big Bud autoflower, 1st indoor grow.

[MadMel]

I started just a single seed 1 week ago, using the cling film method in a "Cow Pot" ( pot formed from compressed, and composted cow manure @ the same size as a small plastic pot/ solo cup) and reusing soil from my outdoor container grow earlier this year.

After the seed sprouted, I put it under a CFL light (largest size batteries plus had at the time in the "cool" spectrum) for 2 days of uninterrupted light, then a night of "rest" and back under the light to repeat the above cycle. I want to get as much growth as possible in the "veg" stage.

I am using Greenleaf Nutrients Mega Crop fertilizer, (a shout out to @GreenleafNutrients) and have already used some, at full strength for the veg period, fully intending to put MC to the test from the beginning.

You may be as surprised as I was that after using the MC only as the source of water (gotta push it, without killing it lol), that the sprout is thriving. See for yourself with this picture I took this morning.....

 

[GreenleafNutrients]

tagged

 

[kit10]

I can't believe the auto's still standing! Sometimes, I feel with the autos, that a wrong look in their direction can kill them, lol! Am I seeing a bit of yellowing around the tips? If so, and that's the worst that happens, you're still winning!

I'll be following your journal with interest, I started 2 girls on MC over the weekend, 1 in veg and 1 in flower. Exciting!!

 

[Ronbowe63]

Very nice, seems like some good soil I’ll be watching. I used 24hour lighting for veg, with no ill affects.

 

[MadMel]

I can't believe the auto's still standing! Sometimes, I feel with the autos, that a wrong look in their direction can kill them, lol! Am I seeing a bit of yellowing around the tips? If so, and that's the worst that happens, you're still winning!

I'll be following your journal with interest, I started 2 girls on MC over the weekend, 1 in veg and 1 in flower. Exciting!!

The cotyledons have started to yellow and there's just the barest hint of yellow on the leaf tips that I can see. It could also be the flash that I used.

 

[MadMel]

Okay, so the leaf tips are a little yellow on the tips only.

I guess that this means that Mega Crop has passed my first test. That of a new grower fertilizing too much, too soon. The seedling looks pretty healthy considering that I used about a cup of nutes in just a couple of days right about the end of the first week after sprouting.

The good thing is that the cow pot allows for a faster evaporation rate than a plastic pot or solo cup to avoid root rot and drowning them. As the root reaches the sides, it's easier for it to breathe, similar to the air pots functions. I really suggest these, or other pressed peat moss type of "starting pot" for that reason. Just my opinion.

For now, I have watered the plant with plain water, no nutes for a bit, so it can recover from my little test. The new leaves don't show any yellowing, which I take to be a good sign.

I will check back in a few days, to keep you all updated.

 

[Ronbowe63]

Glad you didn’t kill her. Thanks, I laughed when I read a cup of nutes. But I’m laughing with you as we all make mistakes. Just today I was turning my plants and one of my main shoots on one was almost broke in half,Lol. That’s what’s tape is for.

 

[MadMel]

Glad you didn’t kill her. Thanks, I laughed when I read a cup of nutes. But I’m laughing with you as we all make mistakes. Just today I was turning my plants and one of my main shoots on one was almost broke in half,Lol. That’s what’s tape is for.

Oh no, you misunderstand what I was meaning. I INTENTIONALLY used too much nutrient. It was meant to test the GLN Mega Crop fertilizer that I won some back in August. I meant to do something that seems to be a common newbie mistake. Too much nutrient, too soon. So far it is a successful test of the Mega Crop, at least in that regard.

 

[MadMel]

On with my grow journal

So I checked on my plant yesterday morning and was surprised to find that the roots had already penetrated the pot at the very bottom of the pot!!

Whether or not I wanted to, it was time to transplant.

Following this discovery, I got busy. Unfortunately my phone died and I couldn't finish the journal update until it was charged sufficiently. So here it is.

Still using the depleted soil from my outdoor grow, I transplanted the seedling. The peat pot was only half full of soil at the start of the sprouting pot. This is so when I transplanted it, I could tear the pot above soil level and fold the sides inward to act as a mulch and helping with water retention. I don't like watering my plants until they need it.

Below are the pictures of this process. I like sand instead of perlite. I guess you could say that I am old old school lol. I remember when you couldn't find perlite anywhere, so we used sand instead. I still do, sticking with what I know.

I seem to be having difficulty uploading pictures, but at least you can see the roots growing through the bottom of the pot. I will try to upload more pictures later if I can get a better connection.

You can see 13 root tips poking through the bottom! Holy Smokes Batman!!

 

[kit10]

This is so when I transplanted it, I could tear the pot above soil level and fold the sides inward to act as a mulch and helping with water retention.

I like that idea! I use woodee pots myself so must remember that for my next grow.

 

[MadMel]

Let's try this again...
hopefully they will load this time around.

 

[Colo MMJ]

Mega Crop rocks. Grizzly Adams dude is rocking the house with MC.

 

[MadMel]

Okay, so this is how she looks now, after just plain old water, no nutrients added. From now on though, that will change. I will start with alternate watering/feeding as of today. Today was the first time that nutes should have been used. Cotyledons are dead and will fall off before long.

The leaves are showing a slight deformity, with the leaf tips curving. Otherwise I think that it looks fairly good. Space between nodes is pretty short. Far shorter than the seedlings of my outdoor grow by a good bit.

 

[kit10]

Mega Crop rocks. Grizzly Adams dude is rocking the house with MC.

 

[MadMel]

She seems to be growing remarkably well! Cotyledons still haven't fallen off. I have given her her first feeding of the Mega Crop fertilizer (now that she is ready for it). The soil is still damp, so no need to water it yet. Probably not for a couple of days yet. I may use a fork to aerate the soil a little bit so that the roots can breathe a little better.

Still under 24 hours of light ....

 

[MadMel]

This was an enlightening comparison. The picture on the left was taken on November 1st. The picture on the right was taken on Veterans Day, November 11th.

Growing pretty well I would say. Tomorrow it will be 3 weeks from seed.

 

[MadMel]

Unfortunately due to a medical treatment that I had to go through, this plant was neglected for a while. Still, it's alive, surprisingly.

Although there was quite a bit of light burn, it's a trooper and kept on keeping on. I cut away all of the fan leaves since they were burnt. This is how she looks now. Afraid I will have to start over again for a good look at GLN's Mega Crop. Until then this will have to do.....

 

[kit10]

That's a pity, she was doing so well! But you never know,, she might still give you gold, just not as much as you hoped.

Hope you're doing OK yourself?

 

[MadMel]

That's a pity, she was doing so well! But you never know,, she might still give you gold, just not as much as you hoped.

Hope you're doing OK yourself?

Doing well, so far at least lol. Thanks for the well wishes!

She has seemed to recover fairly well. This lovely little lady just won't quit! (Thank goodness!)

Hasn't started flowering yet but getting closer all the time. This is how she looks now....

 

[Lite]

autoflowers are very unforgiving to mistakes. Remember, no topping or any high stress on the plant. No transplanting. Any stress and shock to the plant = less bud.

Her rate of growth tells me you need more light. She could be twice that size,