This is ripped from another forum, but thought this thread could use the reference...
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131611&highlight=ryder
Hey everyone, for those of you that dont know me,, i have been working AFs for the past 6 yrs, a few weeks after JointDoctor released his first batch of pure LR#1, I saw the light early and began my madness. I did a lot of work on HB.net for yrs, doing many experiments, grows, and such on True AF strains. That 400watt sog Sticky here is just 1 of many. During all this I have fine tuned my work to be easy as possible on myself to produce the best AF plants possible. I want to share that info here now to help people succeed with True AF stains as I do. I see a lot of AFs on here that just seems so small and dinky, time to change all that.
I grow 100% Organic in Soil /Soilless mixes, and I will never use chemical ferts on my plants for many reasons. That being said I will show you how it can be done very fast, clean, and easy.
Light Schedule for True Auto Flowering Cannabis:
There has been a lot of debate about what is the best lighting schedule for True AF cannabis. I have done many experiments about this and have found leaving the plants in 24 hours of light from sprout to 1 week after sexing/preflowering has begun, then switch the Lighting Schedule to 20/4 until harvest, this method has yielded the very best results.
Organic Growing Medium:
Use Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Mix
Your soil / soilless mixes must be high grade, you can use OTHER soil/less mix you want to and this will still work. I will NOT garuntee your success using anything other then Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Mix. BUT never use mixes with CHEMICAL added slow release food with this TEA. You run the risk of heavy burning.
Soil Preperation: Optional* Add 1/2 cup of FoxFarm Peace of Mind 'Fruit and Flower' Per 1.5 cu ft bag of this mix. Mix WELL!
Planting: Now you got your medium ready, it has enough food for the first week of life. Before planting water well to get some run off. I plant directly into this soil/less mix, with the seed no deeper then 1/2 inch. Keep them watered well during sprouting by adding a Little water after every 2 days until sprouted. Just enough water to wet the area where the seed it. After sprouting water normally. Note: Pre-Cracking/Scuffing AFs seeds... I dont know why this topic became an issue. NEVER have I had to do this with any cannabis seeds, my only explaination for it is bad seed stock went out and required such action to grow.
Organic TEA: Using Fox Farm Peace Of Mind Fruit and Flower ( 5-8-4 ).
This is one of the easiest ways to make an organic based TEA, that is like giving your AF plants steriods. You will see incresed growth after the first 24 hours. I make this TEA again using the Fox Farm Peace Of Mind Fruit and Flower ( 5-8-4 ). This form of grow is considered in my eyes slightly HOT and is strain dependent, so adjust where needed. After one run you can dial it in to each specific strain you use. Feedings with this TEA are very easy and and go in 2 week intervals,, The First Feeding starts on day 7-10, 17-21(sexing), 28 (pre-mid flowering), 42 (flowering), 56 (Ripening), Flush, Harvest.
NOTE: You can use anothing dry mix Organic feritilzer called
Black Gold® Rose & Flower
4-6-2 for a bit lighter food,, Use this the same way as you do the Fox Farm Fruit and Flower. I am currently doing a test of the 2 differernt ferts and will show you the differece. They are both still using the Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Mix, so far the only variation between the 2 are the FoxFarm Fruit and Flower is just slightly bigger, I will continue the comparison and update.
Brewing: When brewing the TEA add the fertilizer first to the empty container then add water. Your water temp should be room temp 65-80 degrees F, dont use hot water as it can kill the micro organisms. The pH of the water before adding the FF Peace of Mind must be 6.5-7. You must bubble this solution with a good quality air stone, and Medium sized air pump at least,, you really want a lot of bubbles. For best results bubble for 4 hours. Watch out some foam can form and spill out if your container isn't big enough.
Application: You apply the tea directly to the soil, try not to get it on the leaves. When you feed with this TEA please do so carefully. If your soil is dry PLEASE water with pHed 6.5 water first then apply the TEA and get Run Off.
Run Off: When you apply this TEA make sure you get some run off, kinda like a mini flush each time you water so it pushes out plant wastes and build ups replacing it with fresh. Run off should be around 8-16 ozs. at least. All that water used in this method gets to be a pain in the ass if you don't have some sort of draining tray. That is why i use the 10 x 20 inch trays, and the 5.5 x 5.5 pots, make a very clean and easy grow room. NEVER LET INDOOR PLANTS SIT IN STANDING TEA WATER! You must drain the Run Off and dispose of it as it is full of bacteria, and will rot if stored.
Mild TEA- For Weeks 1 - 3
First you must test your pH of the water use,, bring it down to around 6.5-7. Then add 1 table spoon of Fox Farm Peace Of Mind Fruit and Flower, per gallon of water. You will need an air stone to bubble this solution for at least 4 hours. Water your plants very well with this TEA until you gets some run off,, if your soil is very dry before applying the TEA please water it first with plain pHed water, then apply.. you want some run off. Only use this TEA at days 7-10, and again around day 17-21.
Medium TEA - For Weeks 4-6
Again pH your water to 6.5-7. Then Add 2 table Spoons of FF Peace of Mind Fruit and Flower per gallon of water. Bubble it for at least 4 hours. *Optional* Add 1/2 teaspoon of Mild unsulfered molasses per gallon. This TEA is very strong and should NOT be used when your soil is dry. Water first then feed the TEA to get run off. Feed this on Day 28 and again on Day 42.
Hot TEA- *Optional* For Week 7-8*Warning* very hot tea can burn!! Be careful!!
You can use this during the last few weeks of your AF strains grow cycle to boost end yield and qualtiy. If you use this TEA only use it 1 time before flushing for harvest. Use at day 56 ONLY! Most Strains will be fine with the Medium Tea used on days, 28, 42, 56. If you think your plants can handle this HOT TEA then go for it but I am not responsible for burnt buds.
Again pH your water to 6.5-7, then add 3 table spoons of FF Peace of Mind Fruit and Flower per gallon of water. Add 1 teaspoon of mild unsulfered molasses per gallon of water. Bubble for at least 4 hours. Again make sure your soil isn't too dry before applying this TEA.
Additives: Use at own risk, making the TEA to hot will burn your plants, know your strain and it's limits.
Super Thrive can be added to the TEA, "ONLY AFTER SEXING" has occured.
Mild Unsulfered Molasses 1/2 tsp, can be added to all TEAs, Mild, Med, Hot. To boost micro organism production and add a bit of sugars to the root zone. Making food more availible to the roots.
Watering Between Feedings.
Water your plants normally with pHed water around 6.5. be sure to get a little run off every time you water, remember to dispose of run off.
Flush: When harvest time is getting near, about 7-10 days away you will need to Flush your soil. Flushing should be done with plain pHed water 6.5, but at a much higher dose,, get at least 16oz of Run Off per 5.5 x 5.5 inch pot. Larger pots require more Run Off. Your plants will start to yellow up during this stage which is a very good thing.
Optional* you can add 1 teaspoon of molasses per gallon of Flush water, seems to help with the end quality of harvest.
Harvest: Harvest buds after a 36 hour dark period.
*(2 Conditions That Can show up using this system, Strain Dependent!)*
Magnesium and Calcium demanding Plants! You must add the 1/4 tsp of Mild Unsulfered Molasses to get the Mg and Ca you need for these strains, in all TEAs, mild, med and Hot. You will know if you have a problem with Mg or Ca,, the viens in the leaves die and you get large dead rusted looking spots on them, and will consume the entire leaf. Left unchecked you will have all bigger fan leaves mostly at the top half of the plant die off, then it will start effecting your buds!! SO, please add the Molasses for these strains,, if you dont know your strain then just add 1/2 tsp Molasses per 1 gallon of water, always.
Rust Spots on Upper Leaf.
A very few newt sensitive strains get rust spots on the leaves on the upper part of the plant later in life, this condition looks a lot like the Mg or Ca but it is not! To stop this fast or to prevent it from happening at all Add
Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed to the waterings between feedings every other week or so.
Well there it is ,, let me know if you have any questions or if i can edit anything to make it more clear. Now all you have to get is get your AF beans and put this method to the test. It works and works well, I will do another 400Watt HPS SOG using this exact method to show you how well it works soon,, look for it if interested. But in the mean time ,, i am doing this on 32 LR#2 FEM seeds, now showing sex at day 24,, look at this growth for 24 days. Those are in 5.5 x 5.5 sq pots, and will stay there the entire life cycle. Oh and they are only under a veg chamber, 4 x 40watt 4ft Flouros!
Rate of growth comparison, Day 25 - Day 28
Now some measurements at day 28, growth between 72 hours, they are really going strong now, stretching like mad before bud set takes hold. LR#2 seems to be a bit unstable for hieght,, everything else is good but hieght and branching are being a pain in the butt to keep the canopy level. Branching is much heavier then LR#1 and a bit to much, I have had to cut some off,,hummm. I will take pics tongiht to show thier continuious growth rate and flower stretching.
Day 36 Upated pics, most are around 17 inches.
DAY 36, flowering has come on strong the last 5 days, They have been on 20/4 lighting for the last 2 days. I usually switch the lights earlier but I wanted to make sure she is TRUE AF. LR#2 is a TRUE AF, flowering in 24 hour light. just much bigger then LR#1. I have a Sativa Dom Pheno,, must be the Santa Maira? And a more LR#1 pheno.
PICTURE UPDATE!
These LR#2 stretch more then normal and over grew the space they where in, small cabs, they were planned to go under the 400Watt HPS when it was ready but it was delayed. So, that being said ,, they didnt do too bad in there under 4 x 40watt shop lights! I will replace these pics with better plants to show you the REAL potencial of this method, It will be a 400watt HPS AF SOG.
LR#2
They are really sticky and SKUNKY! If you havent grown LR#2 I do suggest that you give it a try. There are 2 very distinct phenos that show up ,, 1 indica dominant pheno, and the more Sativa pheno. The indica dom finish with much tighter buds and are almost done at Day 52, I will chop them at day 60. The Sativa ones will go to day 65-70 easy. I little more variation then i like to see, but most plants are keepers, you wont be disappointed.
The yeild will be only 8-12 grams each plant (a little more for the big ones), under these lights,, crappy lights for full flowering.
Expect much higher yeilds under HID lighting. Which will be shown next.
Here is the, Indica and Sativa phenos,, you can see the differences, bud structure, rippening time and resin coverage, all are different. Also, the indica ones smell like SKUNK ASS! You need oder control, Sativas sweet with musky light skunk smell.
Day 52 Indica dominant LR#2, harvest day 60.
Day 52 Sativa dominant LR#2, easily go 70days under these lights.
Harvest time for 2 SEXY LADIES!
Yield is great for what light they where given.
Velvety Buds.
Harvest PICS!! DAY 65.
I harvested everything on day 65, the Sativa phenos started to ripen much faster then expected catching up to the Indica phenos. Most plants reak of ROAD KILL SKUNK, a few of the Sat phenos have a bit more sweetness to them. Definantly serious Order Controll needed! For being grown under 4 x 40watt Standard Shop Lights used for vegging clones ,, I would have to say they did awesome in terms of yeild,, I will have a total yeild number for you soon. NOW FOR THE PICS!
Sativa Dom Plants Harvest Day 65.
Indica Dom Plants Harvest Day 65.
Dry Pic of a small Indica dom that was cut at day 58, hard to tell where the flowers start and the resin ends.
I will update this 1st post until it is perfect. If you ask questions please review this 1st post as I will edit/answer it here.
ICC.
If they survive Im excited to see the growth, that will be amazing!
