Uncle Ben's Gardening Tweeks and Pointers

Wolverine97

Well-Known Member
UB, I hope this isn't too off-topic. I'm looking for the "opaque (but breathable bag)" I can cover a branch with, NO light leaks, and leave for a week or so and inspect. Per a couple of your old posts in '09. I'm looking to sex the plants as fast and as early as possible without any setbacks. I'll be topping the plants and transplanting when done picking females.

Some bag methods require taking the bag off every 12 hours and that may take two weeks. You describe the method of leaving the bag on for a solid week, then looking. This seems to be my quickest and least invasive method I've seen.

Where can I find this "opaque bag" that is breathable? Or can I rig up a toilet paper tube with dark fabric? Thanks for any assist!

I have heard it is of no use to try this prior to three weeks. Would you agree?
Tyvek seems viable, though I've never tried it.
 

TicKle

Well-Known Member
Took me ages to read through all this, but noted many things, mainly..

DONT REMOVE ANY LEAVES!!

Read the plants to determine best feed level, not a forum.

Dont flush.

Knowing that it's the NPK that matters, not the marketing scheme used to sell certain products out there is one of the main things i reckon i have gained from this thread.

Thankyou for this advice UB and everyone else who added in a positive way to it....
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
UB, I hope this isn't too off-topic. I'm looking for the "opaque (but breathable bag)" I can cover a branch with, NO light leaks, and leave for a week or so and inspect. Per a couple of your old posts in '09. I'm looking to sex the plants as fast and as early as possible without any setbacks. I'll be topping the plants and transplanting when done picking females.

Some bag methods require taking the bag off every 12 hours and that may take two weeks. You describe the method of leaving the bag on for a solid week, then looking. This seems to be my quickest and least invasive method I've seen.

Where can I find this "opaque bag" that is breathable? Or can I rig up a toilet paper tube with dark fabric? Thanks for any assist!

I have heard it is of no use to try this prior to three weeks. Would you agree?
You could use dark fabric, but really this can be a PITA. Just look for pre-flowers. Plant has to have a certain amount of chronological age or have ruderalis genes before you can sex it.

LOL you must be about my age UB 45-50. this some good music
I have you beat by far. :) I saw Jimmy Hendrix, Mothers of Invention, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, War, etc. back in the 60's.
 

kinetic

Well-Known Member
I have you beat by far. :) I saw Jimmy Hendrix, Mothers of Invention, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, War, etc. back in the 60's.
If you ever get a chance to see Zappa plays Zappa I highly recommend it, I've taken my father twice now and got him to meet Dweezil. The 'kid' can play that hell outta that SG.
 

Hemlock

Well-Known Member
Saw Hendrix...Damn My Brother!! Boy those were the days!. Back then It felt like anything was possible. I don't envy these kids today.
to much government in there lives.
 

Rob0769

Active Member
Hey UB. I have been reading your posts and found a lot of useful info. I will be adding n to my flower cycle.
I was hoping you could help me find ways to maintain healthier plants for bigger yields. I have grown a few years but this is my first time in a 2x2 tent.
My plants are 2 weeks in veg in a 2x2x5 tent with a 600w hps. The tent is as sealed as it gets and I enrich with 1,500ppm co2. Temp is a constant 85. Constant 75 if co2 runs out. Night temps are 75 for both. I am using the Lucas formula (I know how much you like that :P) with silica, cal, mag, iron and phos boosts. I use ro water and mix nutes at 70% the recommended dose except phos is around 85%. My ppms are 1200. They grow super fast, about 3 inches a day now. (Almost 2 months old) Humidity is always 35-40%. I recently added a screen of 1" squares bending the plants in half. 2 days later over 60 shoots are sticking up through the netting. The light is about a foot away. Air flow under and over the canopy, oscillating. Some are in a rockwool slab for fill drain, one in a water farm and 2 in empire builder coco. I just use ro water for that with slight cal/mag/iron. So far no fan leaves dead.
Is there anything you can suggest to improve my environment? Thanks a lot!
Rob
 

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Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Sounds good to me except for the night temps. You need at least a 15F drop in temp. They look great though. Now the real challenge comes - maintaining the leaves in a healthy and green condition until harvest.

Good luck,
UB
 

Rob0769

Active Member
Awesome thank you. I left the ac on all night and got a 10 degree drop. Tonight I'll lower it a bit more. I have one other question. I have been looking at my nutrient %'s so I can add more nitrogen. As i said I'm using Lucas so Gen. Hydro 2 and 3. That is "5% nitrogen". However, the Botanicare Cal/Mag/iron says it has "2% nitrogen" and the GH powdered Kool Bloom has "2% nitrogen" as well.
Now I look at the GH step 1 grow formula and it has "2% nitrogen along with small amount of mag, phosphate and a surprising amount of Potash." So, with that extra "4%" nitrogen from the additives, should I still add more nitrogen? As I said I haven't has any leaves yellow or die yet except a tiny amount on new growth.. which I'm able to eliminate with a combo of a foliary spray called true blooms which I use every 4 days and I have epson salt if I need it, however the new yellowing quickly turns dark green without the salt. I will only treat foliary 1 more time then stop.
So will the extras in the grow formula add too much of something or is there a way to just get nitrogen in there? I can always lower the Kool Bloom to offset the extra potash/phos but I'd also lose nitrogen from kool while adding from the grow.
How much nitrogen do you add? I should have written down the nkp levels you use. I'll look for it again but repeating yourself one more time would be awesome. Thanks again!

Micro: 6ml/g
Bloom 12 ml/gal
Silica, cal/mag/iron 4ml/gal
Powder Kool Bloom 1/5 tsp/gal
That is 1200ppm with RO water. I also used root enhancers during veg.
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Awesome thank you. I left the ac on all night and got a 10 degree drop. Tonight I'll lower it a bit more. I have one other question. I have been looking at my nutrient %'s so I can add more nitrogen. As i said I'm using Lucas so Gen. Hydro 2 and 3. That is "5% nitrogen". However, the Botanicare Cal/Mag/iron says it has "2% nitrogen" and the GH powdered Kool Bloom has "2% nitrogen" as well.
Now I look at the GH step 1 grow formula and it has "2% nitrogen along with small amount of mag, phosphate and a surprising amount of Potash." So, with that extra "4%" nitrogen from the additives, should I still add more nitrogen? As I said I haven't has any leaves yellow or die yet except a tiny amount on new growth.. which I'm able to eliminate with a combo of a foliary spray called true blooms which I use every 4 days and I have epson salt if I need it, however the new yellowing quickly turns dark green without the salt. I will only treat foliary 1 more time then stop.
So will the extras in the grow formula add too much of something or is there a way to just get nitrogen in there? I can always lower the Kool Bloom to offset the extra potash/phos but I'd also lose nitrogen from kool while adding from the grow.
How much nitrogen do you add? I should have written down the nkp levels you use. I'll look for it again but repeating yourself one more time would be awesome. Thanks again!

Micro: 6ml/g
Bloom 12 ml/gal
Silica, cal/mag/iron 4ml/gal
Powder Kool Bloom 1/5 tsp/gal
That is 1200ppm with RO water. I also used root enhancers during veg.
For whatever reason, all cannabis specific foods have way too much K to N. Also, just because you add more NPK doesn't mean the plant will "see" more N. It's all about the NPK ratio. The only hydro type food I trust is Dyna-Gro. When their (complete) grow food aka Foliage Pro, is a 9-3-6, that should tell you something.

Regarding your listed names, they mean nothing to me. I only go by what's in the product and most times cannabis snake oil salesmen won't tell you what's in them.
 

Rob0769

Active Member
For whatever reason, all cannabis specific foods have way too much K to N. Also, just because you add more NPK doesn't mean the plant will "see" more N. It's all about the NPK ratio. The only hydro type food I trust is Dyna-Gro. When their (complete) grow food aka Foliage Pro, is a 9-3-6, that should tell you something.

Regarding your listed names, they mean nothing to me. I only go by what's in the product and most times cannabis snake oil salesmen won't tell you what's in them.
Yeah I did notice that as well.

That's why I wonder if there is a way to just add nitrogen? I am keeping your balance strategy in mind.

Next grow I will definitely try Dyna gro. Do you recommend any elements be added to it for any stage? Like root enhancers for veging? Do you use the foliage pro during flowering and add any phos?
 

Lady.J

Well-Known Member
Yeah I did notice that as well.

That's why I wonder if there is a way to just add nitrogen? I am keeping your balance strategy in mind.

Next grow I will definitely try Dyna gro. Do you recommend any elements be added to it for any stage? Like root enhancers for veging? Do you use the foliage pro during flowering and add any phos?
Blood meal is almost entirely nitrogen and it's organic. You can get a bag from wal-mart, lowe's, home depot for cheap.
 

Huel Perkins

Well-Known Member
Over the years I've taught myself many things regarding reading my plants, taking internet idiot's advice, snake oil products that "increase yield up to 33%" and just flat out growing a LOT of plants testing myths, multiple nutrient lines, additive products, and a whole lot of trial and error.

One of these potential snake oil products I've always been on the fence about is silica. I know all the manufacturer touted benefits and i even use it myself in good faith. However, this is one product i have never really seen proof of its benefits or any logical dismissal of its benefits. As someone who i actually value's opinion, what are your thoughts???

BTW, i'm a hydro grower if you were wondering...
 

Foothills

Well-Known Member
New here and came across this thread.Just wanted to thank "uncle ben" for sharing his knowledge with us all.He is a great asset to have as part of this community, along with many others, I'm sure.
Here is a pic of a healthy 7' plant, about 2 weeks into flowering, that was grown with a little bit of basic knowledge,some common sense, and some cheap fertilizer from Walmart. Enjoy !!
And may you all have a "Great Harvest" !!! :leaf: :leaf:
 

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Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
New here and came across this thread.Just wanted to thank "uncle ben" for sharing his knowledge with us all.He is a great asset to have as part of this community, along with many others, I'm sure.
Here is a pic of a healthy 7' plant, about 2 weeks into flowering, that was grown with a little bit of basic knowledge,some common sense, and some cheap fertilizer from Walmart. Enjoy !!
And may you all have a "Great Harvest" !!! :leaf: :leaf:
What? No silica or electrolytes? :spew:

That's how it's done! That is about as 'perfectly grown' as perfect gets. Now, the real challenge - retaining that abundant foliage in a green and healthy condition as possible until harvest. DO NOT start hitting it with a blossom food. Keep the balance you have achieved and that means in your choices of plant foods.

Good luck,
Uncle Ben
 
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