First Grow (Wedding Cake)

thx for the journal, following as well. Very informative for absolute noobs (like me) I started a Northern Lights a week ago in a SpaceBucket as a first grow. I see that you are using Neem spray. Is this as precaution or did you notice anything during veg? I'm not sure if I need to order this or wait until I see indications of pests.. ? A bit worried about my first LST in a couple of days / weeks (topping, lst, removing fan leaves) but hopefully it will go smoothly

insr33 said:

thx for the journal, following as well. Very informative for absolute noobs (like me) I started a Northern Lights a week ago in a SpaceBucket as a first grow. I see that you are using Neem spray. Is this as precaution or did you notice anything during veg? I'm not sure if I need to order this or wait until I see indications of pests.. ? A bit worried about my first LST in a couple of days / weeks (topping, lst, removing fan leaves) but hopefully it will go smoothly

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The Neem i use as both a precaution AND I noticed some bugs. I spray every 2 weeks just to keep the bugs away.
I have one plant indoor(wedding cake) and one outdoors(farmers fire) .
For a while I was trying to keep the farmers fire both indoor and outdoor, I brought pests from outside into my grow space, so I needed to spray. Now it’s just outside.
I’ve always just sprayed neem in case anyway.
For the LST and topping, don’t worry!! I was super stressed about it but even if you miss you still get more tops!! The Wedding cake REALLY responded to the LST.. here’s a pic of here this morning. I really yanked those branches down and none of em got close to snapping! Plus even if they do just clone it!

Wedding cake is a very dank strain.. I usually go for the gelato cake, is one of my faves. Pretty much any cake strain is dank if it’s from seed junkies.

DAY 34
Got a new light today!! So excited It’s the HLG 100v2 3000k.
set up the HLG when I got home from work today
In the mean time (2 full days) the lights I used produced some awesome results..
Two 9w led grow bulbs
17.5w 5000k led
Some blurple light (no idea what it is)
Grew like 3-4 visible inches yesterday and last night..

*First pic is before I set up the HLG.
*second pic was the set up for a day until I added the extra LED panel as well
*rest are from today after I set up the HLG

The LST has worked amazingly. The top growth tips are a beautiful even canopy and it allows light into the inner nodes as well. I’m unsure wether I should untie the bottom branches or leave them tied down. I’m thinking they’ll catch up in the pre-flower stretch but I have no clue.

Thinking I’ll flower pretty soon. A week or two maybe. I’ve been saying that for the last two weeks now though.. I cut two clones a few days ago so I’m basically just waiting for them to be stable so I can get them out of that grow box and give to a new home!

I’m really looking forward to what this HLG has in store for me it was recommended on all the forums and I’ve heard amazing things.

SPIDER MITE REMOVAL
This’ll be quick. NOT related to my indoor plants, unless I need it. Hope I don’t.
Anyway I got spider mites on my outdoor plant.
Going between grow spaces I wash hands, change clothes and shoes (or leave em off)
I used an organic spray I found the recipe on here for.
Basically you cook down about 15 habaneros (finely chopped, SEEDS TOO) in 4 cups of water.
Strain and let cool.
BLAST your fucking plant, bottoms first. Work your way up the plant then drench the bitch from the top too. Get in all the tight nodes, budsites, EVERYTHING. killed em all.
Apply every 3 days till about 2 weeks from harvest

DAY 40
This week has been kinda weird. Added the HLG on Monday and ever since it’s been getting kinda droopy.

My first thought was PH issues, but I checked with a soil meter and it was perfectly 6.5 in like 4 spots.

Second suggestion I got was overwatering. I don’t think this is the issue as I water every 3-4 days when the pots light and dirt is dry.
I did water a little extra the day after I put the HLG up and let the pot sit in the runoff for a few hours longer than it normally does. I raised it up on a rack on some 2”x2” blocks to help circulation underneath the pot. This COULD be the issue

My third thought after doing some reading and looking at pictures is that it could also be a slight amount of light stress from the new, much stronger HLG. I think it’s hardening off much like if I had put it outside.
Along with this I’m thinking maybe the different spectrum is messing with it? I could add my blurple panel in the box as well as the HLG and see if that helps.

I also took off all ties and removed the lst so as not to give any extra stress so she can pop back quicker hopefully!

I’m looking forward to her popping back up!
On the bright side I think I have noticed the beginning of sex and she’s a female!!

Weouthere said:

DAY 40
This week has been kinda weird. Added the HLG on Monday and ever since it’s been getting kinda droopy.

My first thought was PH issues, but I checked with a soil meter and it was perfectly 6.5 in like 4 spots.

Second suggestion I got was overwatering. I don’t think this is the issue as I water every 3-4 days when the pots light and dirt is dry.
I did water a little extra the day after I put the HLG up and let the pot sit in the runoff for a few hours longer than it normally does. I raised it up on a rack on some 2”x2” blocks to help circulation underneath the pot. This COULD be the issue

My third thought after doing some reading and looking at pictures is that it could also be a slight amount of light stress from the new, much stronger HLG. I think it’s hardening off much like if I had put it outside.
Along with this I’m thinking maybe the different spectrum is messing with it? I could add my blurple panel in the box as well as the HLG and see if that helps.

I also took off all ties and removed the lst so as not to give any extra stress so she can pop back quicker hopefully!

I’m looking forward to her popping back up!
On the bright side I think I have noticed the beginning of sex and she’s a female!!

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My guess would be light stress hope it turns around soon for you

So it was light stress!! This morning I checked on her and she has popped back up to her former perky self! So happy man I was nervous shit..
I tied the 4 tops back down for an even canopy, the other two I had been using the stakes to keep in place no longer need them.
Looking to flower as soon as I get this other come out of here. It has some weird green tinting on half of the perlite and I’m not sure it’s gonna make it. I’ll give it a few more days and if it doesn’t improve I’m just gonna ditch it and flower!!

DAY 43
Flipped to flower last night, today is the first official day of flowering!
I’m not going to start counting “actual” flower time until I see pistols.
I am already noticing that the sex organs (I’m leaning female) are getting bigger too.
Pulled off a few leaves that were covering the lower new nodes. Tried to count and it looks like I’ll have at least 16 nice colas hopefully..

I’m planning on watering with half strength (2 tsp/gal) Botanicare bloom pro.
Thinking about doing feed, water, feed, water.

She’s totally recovered from the light stress and is growing great agin!

Will uppload pics when I get home from work!

You all having trouble uploading images?

HeatlessBBQ said:

You all having trouble uploading images?

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Yessir. Trying to upload pics from tonight and it says the file is too big?? Wth is up with this update

DAY 44 (DAY 2 of 12/12)
I went to check on the plant today around 1, and I noticed the first pistols!! Very small but it is for sure a female!
I’m so excited, didn’t waste all that time for nothing..

For sure going to start feeding soon. I already mixed 1/2 strength nutes for the first feeding, which will be either tomorrow or the next day.

She’s really brushing out as well. I noticed on all the branches that came out of where I topped there are tons of new little side branches/nodes appearing and filling/leveling the canopy.

Still wish I could upload pics but I’ll take them to have anyway..

Finally can upload pictures!!

Anyway here is the plant today and the first pistol I have seen!!

DAY 47 (Day 5 of 12/12)
Gave her her first feeding yesterday.
1/2 strength mix of Botanicare Bloom Pro. 2tsp in 1 gal tap water left out

Going to slowly up to maybe 3/4 strength depending on reactions.

So far so good, just picked up a sack of Wedding cake from the dispo and I love this weed.. so excited to have my own stash of it

DAY 54 (Day 12 of flower)

Counting days since flip since she immediately showed pistils!!

I’ve fed her 3 times now. Have more mixed but I should probably just water for the next few times. She’s doing amazing though. She’s grown at least a few inches vertically (around 13” now from pot). REALLY bushes out and the whole middle is full of new branches and tips.

What I had thought (and many others) was overwatering is the plant actually being thirsty. Started looking closer and I realized that the stems were droopy (thirsty). She was dropping 2 days ago and I fed her, and the next morning she was all perked back up. She’s just growing a lot and needs a lot of water right now!!

Humidity seems a little low (30-40) most the time except after watering.
Temps are pretty solid 68 at night and 81 during the day.

I have everything except ducting to make a carbon filter, she’s really starting to smell. That’ll be done on payday.

Pistils are coming out of everywhere like crazy now!! Excited for the stretch to end and see these buds start to form

DAY 58 (Day 16 of Flower)
Nothing much to add except that she is still stretching like crazy. Lots of branches coming of the bottom big guys are making a nice even canopy with a ton of tops.

Pistils are everywhere and budsites are starting to really form! Will probably need to water tomorrow as she’s grown another 4” vertically, sitting at almost 18”.

I took off the lowest and smallest branches and budsites today to reroute that energy to the bigger tops. Coulda cloned em all but I don’t wanna deal with that right now

Looking forward to the buds really taking shape. This whole process has been amazing and I’m definitely hooked on growing. Pics are from yesterday and the last one is from today.

Day 72 (Day 30 of Flower)

Oh man she’s lookin good!

Been watering with nutes and normal water as I feel she needs it. Probably should have a schedule but it’s sort of been feed feed water feed water water. She’s been REALLY thirsty, drinking a little more than a half gallon every 3 days.

Went in three days ago and raised the light up and removed the grate the plant was raised up on, My tops were 7” from the light.. now we’re sitting at 11-12”. At the same time I also did a lot of defoliation and a little pruning to clean up the bottom and whatever wasn’t getting enough light. The next day the buds had visibly fattened up..

Speaking of the buds, they’re getting so frosty. Everyday I can see more and more trichs on her.

I’m thinking 4-5 more weeks but that’s just based on a quick google search, definitely just gonna go by how she looks!
If anyone has input as to how much I might yield off of this plant that’d be great.. I’ve never finished a grow and I’m guessing between 3-8 oz but shit that’s a wild guess

Day 78 (Day 36 of Flower)

I’ve noticed some yellowing the past few days. Some big fan leaves have been full of deficiencies. I’ve been going through and pulling them off as I think they need or look bad.
I think the soil is about out of nutrients and I’ve been giving it a weird dose of bottled ones. I’m ditching those unless I really need them

but..

Yesterday I did a top dressing of FFOF. I gently scraped all the perlite and loose dirt off the top 1/2”. I then added about 1/2 gallon of new dirt on top. I watered in with half normal water and half my Kelp Extract mix.

Hopefully this will slowly add the nutrients I need and I won’t have to worry about burn.

I had also thought that on the upper small (almost) sugar leaves the edges were showing a toxicity/deficiency but today I realized they’re turning purple, not brown like I was worrying about.

Just gonna keep watering her and hope for the best! I might drop lighting to 11/13 for the last few weeks to see if that speeds up flowering/increases resin. Pics are YESTERDAY when I was doing the top dress.

Weouthere
You have posted a very nice grow journal.
IMO, it's well thought out, informative and the right about of photos to show us as you progresses.
I hope it continues to go well for you till harvest.
I can tell by your narrative that you have spent a lot of time researching how to grow, and it shows.
Cheers,
WillieP

WillieP said:

Weouthere
You have posted a very nice grow journal.
IMO, it's well thought out, informative and the right about of photos to show us as you progresses.
I hope it continues to go well for you till harvest.
I can tell by your narrative that you have spent a lot of time researching how to grow, and it shows.
Cheers,
WillieP

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Hey thanks, I appreciate it friend!
I killed my plant the first time I tried growing because I tried hydro with no knowledge on anything.. I hadn’t even taken a biology class yet (never took one in high school or even middle school)
Now a few years later and A LOT of research (plus some biology classes) I think I’m getting a handle on it.
Looking forward to harvest!
Much love and happy growing