Second, I have decided that in order to select a proper specimen for the HerbGrow study, several should be grown initially and eventually culled back to one. In my opinion it is important to start with more than one; many things can happen to a single seed, especially if my single 'feminized' seed turns out to be a male.
HerbGrow is a cannabis grow study in which all active members obtain Master Kush seeds from nirvanaseeds.com and grow these species in an organic experiment. The experiment requires the use of micorrhizal and the application of AACT's throughout. All products and nutrients added - including liquids (water), gases (co2) and other relevant information should be provided to build a proper study portfolio.
Proper tools should be utilized, such as moister and pH gauges, and these readings should be provided in your entries. These entries can be daily or weekly, updated according to one's schedule.
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| pH Meter |
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| Moisture meter |
To omit crucial information regarding an HerbGrow project is detrimental to the integrity and the science behind what we aim to do.
Preparation
Soil base: Black Gold Organic potting soil
Amendments: Blood meal, Bone meal, Fish meal, green sand, Epsom salt, rock phosphate, earth worm castings, bat guano, Superthrive, fish emulsion, balanced 4-4-4, Cottonseed meal, Alfalfa meal, Diatomaceous Earth.
Nematodes will be added week 2.
Pots are brand new one gallon Rootmakers, sterilized in a H2o2 bath, including drip trays, instruments and watering container.
Inside grow box dimensions are 22" wide, 18" deep, 50" tall. The box is made of white melamine and includes one adjustable shelf. Box was later sterilized with H2o2 and water mix.
Light source: LED full spectrum light array with cooling fans.
Water Source: rural well water, heavy on sulfur; aerated daily at room temperature. Water analysis to be provided.
Seeds: Master Kush (5) from Nirvana Seeds.com.
Seeds will be germinated in between moist paper towels, slipped into a plastic zip lock baggie and pinned to the back wall inside a dark closet. This method shall allow sprouts to grow unhindered.
The best one of five starts will be selected by week 3 and designated as an official HerbGrow study. The first start to show limited growth will be culled from the crop. By the time the sex can be ascertained the best will be selected and the others will find a new home.
Temperature and humidity levels to be provided.
Four (4) soil samples will be sent to Soil Food Web Inc.: week 13 of vegetation; the week before beginning flowering stage; week 5 into flower and the week of harvest. All soil analysis results will be posted to HerbGrow.
Flower samples will be sent to a lab of reputation for analysis. Results will be provided.
1/20/2015 - Built five (5) one gallon pots with amended medium. Topped with EWC.
Plan: Spray water vigorously on top soil until seedlings pop, keeping constantly moist. Reason: I am starting in gallon pots, and medium is not yet settled. Before start takes root, the medium may hatch unwanted organisms i.e. pathogenic bacteria, fungi or fungus gnats. By limiting water to my seedlings near the surface, I hope to minimize other hatchlings before my plant begins to dominates the soil.
Beginning with proper containers is the first place one should start. I personally selected Rootmaker Containers to begin with. Even though these were purchased new, I prepared a sterilizing bath made up of water and H2O2. I also sterilized my drip trays, watering container and gauges.
The reason I chose one gallon pots is that I plan to transplant only once, deep into vegetation.
Day One Jan 19, 2015
I began by soaking my seeds over night, and even so leaving work early the following day to pull them out, so as not to drown them.
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| Soaking seeds overnight can soften shell |
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| Slip the napkin in first, dry, then carefully place seeds spaced out. Then water can be applied. |
Day 4 - Jan 23, 2015
All five seeds had germinated, displaying sprouts from nine millimeters long to less than (1) one millimeter long (No images available).
Using OregonismXL as inoculate, I added a half teaspoon of endo-mycorrhizae in one inch deep cavities, and gently placed sprouts with sterilized tweezers, covering with soil. I followed up with a vigorous spray with aerated water.
LED light was switched on with no timer.
My vegetation light cycle will run 24/7 until flower.
Day 5 - Jan 24, 2015
Two sprouted, both over night. First and tallest is named Alina; second is named Boopsie. Soil was only dampened on surface by spray for past three days, so as to mitigate other organisms from hatching in a soil with no dominant plant. Soil has begun to dry around outer edge of pots, so a spray soaking was performed around the perimeter of all 5 pots.
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| "Aleena" |
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| "Boobpsie" |
All five pots were watered with ecto-mycorrhizae OregonismXL (1/2 tsp per gallon).
Day 7 - Jan 26, 201
Two more sprouted; These are named Candy and Denise.
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| "Candy" |
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| "Denise" |
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At the close on Day 6 I prepared a 5 gallon AACT culture.
Actively Aerated Compost Tea brew: One cup of amended soil (see above amendments); 3 cups of earthworm castings, 1/2/ cup of excellent earthworm castings; 5 tablespoons of fish emulsion with kelp; 5 teaspoons of Jobe's balanced 4-4-4; 5 tablespoons of unsulfured black trap molasses.
Airstone is 1 1/4 inch by 3" attached to 1/4 inch clear hose. Air pump is (). AACT brewing is to be done off-site, in a location where room temperature conditions equal that of grow cabinet. Brew cycle details to be provided.
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Vegetation week: One
Flower week: N/A
Ambient Day Temp: 73
Ambient Night Temp: 73
Humidity: 60%
PPM: to be provided
PH: 6.9
Actions Taken: Began by spraying top soil three times daily. Soil drench on day 5 with OregonismXL.
Observations: Waiting for number five to pop.
