DEEDS ROOT CITY

*Information about added varieties on page 3*​

 
 
Hey everyone! Long time lurker here... been using this site as an incredible resource for my everlasting search for face-melting heat. Decided to finally put all the knowledge I've gained to use, and grow my first super-hots!
 
This year was my first ever outdoor garden (and things went great!) along with many typical garden veggies, I grew some Thai chili's and orange habanero's. It's so awesome seeing all your hard work end up at the kitchen table. That being said... I've got growing fever now! Our outdoor season here in Idaho ends in Sept. - Oct. if you're lucky, and doesn't start back up until April-May'ish. That leaves me all winter with nothing to grow. So I decided to move things indoors to hold me over. I've always been fascinated with hydroponics and figured this would be the perfect time to dabble.
 
Enough with the boring background... and onto the juicy part: details and photos!
 
My grow includes:
Two 7 pots: Brain Strain and Douglah 
Thai Chili (saved seed from summer plant)
Nature's Bites: a cherry tomato (had some new seeds I wanted to try)
 
I had some storage under my stairs that I was able to convert into a makeshift grow room. I am using a 600w HPS bulb, and General Hydroponics Flora 3 part nutes.
 
In addition to my grow, I decided to conduct a mini experiment on seed starting... I read tons of stuff online about soaking seeds to speed up germination. Especially when soaked in a mild Hydrogen Peroxide solution. There was much debate whether soaking made any improvements so I though the best way would be to answer the question myself. I planted 12 seeds of each variety, 6 natural and six soaked for 24hours in a H2O2 solution. The "Natural" (un-soaked) seeds went in 11/13/13, and the soaked went in 11/14/13.
 

 
11/18/13: my tomatoes popped (no difference between soaked/natural)

 
11/20/13: my first Thai chili's popped (natural first)

 
11/25/13: several Brain Strain's and Douglah's are up (mixed between soaked/natural)

 
12/02/13: starting to see some real progress in the seedlings!

 
12/07/13: even more growth all around

 
12/07/13: first look at my grow area

 
12/09/13: first transplant! (Needless to say I nuked those poor plants with a blast furnace right above them) Its a learning experiment, right!? Good thing I started way more than I needed for backups.

 
12/27/13: after several rounds of trial and error I was able to get my plants to take in my new grow room

 
 
 
NOTES:
 
Brain Strain-
11/22/13: 1st sprout up (Natural)
11/25/13: 4 H202 sprouts up, 2nd Natural
12/2/13: 5/6 Natural + 6/6 H202, first set true leaves on couple plants
12/3/13 First fertilizer soak (diluted)
12/6/13 Second fertilizer soak (diluted)
 
Douglah:
11/25/13: 3 Natural sprouts, and first tip of H202 sprout up
12/2/13: 5/6 Natural + 3/6 H202, first set true leaves on couple plants
12/3/13 First fertilizer soak (diluted)
12/6/13 Second fertilizer soak (diluted)
 
Nature's Bites (tomato):
11/18/13: 6/6 Natural + 5/6 H202 (over weekend)
11/22/13: Most plants have first true leaves (still small)
11/25/13: First fertilizer soak (diluted)
12/2/13: Multiple sets true leaves
12/3/13 Second fertilizer soak (diluted)
12/6/13 Third fertilizer soak (diluted)
 
Thai Chili (Hybrid? saved seed from summer garden):
11/19/13: First glimpse of sprout (Natural)
11/22/13: 5/6 Natural + 2/3 H202
12/2/13: Most plants have established true leaves
 
 
Fertilizing (nutes): General Hyroponics Flora Series 3pt (Grow/Bloom/Micro):
Waited to add any nutrition until first true leaves had formed, but added fertilized water immediately after since rockwool is sterile and inert, I figured the little plants would get hungry fast.
 
While plants were still in the propagation tray I would flood the bottom with nutrient solution and allow the rockwool to soak up as much as it could, and drain out whatever water was left. I would do this as often as the rockwool felt dry: initially about once a week, moving to multiple times per week as the plants grew larger. At this point I was using 1ml grow + 1ml bloom + 2ml micro / gallon water. ~300ppm
 
When plants were first moved into their grow buckets, I used 2tbsp grow, 1.5 tbsp micro, and .5tbsp bloom / ~4 gallons water. ~7-800ppm
    -May be a little high for some varieties, Thai and tomato loved it, 7pots got some serious nute burn. Maybe try 500ppm
 
First signs of blooms/blossom drop on tomato nutes were changed to 3tbsp bloom + 1.5tbsp micro + .5tbsp grow / ~3 gallons water. ~880ppm
 
Tap water here is about pH8+ so I was being lazy at first, and not testing or adjusting my pH. Once I noticed some iron/magnesium deficiency symptoms in my peppers, I realized I needed to be checking my pH as some nutes were getting locked out. After testing, and realized I needed to add about 1/2 cap full of pH Down to each nute refresh and check to make sure pH was starting around 5.5 and climbing over the time it was used. This cleared the symptoms pretty quickly.
 
 
Transplanting:
12/9/13 first transplant: WAAAAYYYY too early, absolutely fried those things. Need to wait much longer 3+ true leaf sets, and keep the light high until they plants are used to it.

 

[Penny]

Looks great and more good pics too.

 

[Nick08*]

Looks great and more good pics too.

 
Thanks Penny! More when that came from...
 
 
I did another nutrient solution refresh today:
 
2/13/14
Tomato: 1.5 tbsp micro, 2 tbsp bloom, 1.5 tbsp grow, 1 tbsp CalMag  ~875ppm - 5.5pH
Thai'brid: 2 tbsp micro, 3 tbsp bloom, 1 tbsp grow, 1 tbsp CalMag  ~980ppm - 5.5pH
Douglah: 1 tbsp micro, 1 tbsp bloom, 1 tbsp grow, 1 tbsp CalMag (general purpose/mild vegetative) ~720ppm - 5.5pH
BrainStrain: 1.5 tbsp micro, 3 tbsp bloom, 1 tbsp grow, 1 tbsp CalMag (blooming and ripening) ~900ppm - 5.5pH
 
NOTES:
I found it a little odd the ppm is higher on the Douglah with nutes added same as last time (and lower on the Thai with same nutes) must have not done a very accurate job adding equal amounts of water
 
I also did a drain water check today, and found some VERY odd numbers, Need to start doing a much better job of changing weekly now that the plants are larger:
Tomato: ~1300ppm - 4.5pH   - 3 gallons water left
Thai'brid: ~1200ppm - 6 to 6.5pH - 1 gallon water left
Douglah:  ~560ppm - 6.5 to 7pH - 2.5 gallons water left
BrainStrain: ~569ppm - 7.5 to 8pH  - 1.5 gallons water left
 
I noticed a few more blossoms dropping off the Brain, and Thai (but the plants look otherwise great so I'm not going into worry mode) but I did tweak the nutes to what I thought might fit a little better. I also increased the lighting a little  from 12/12 to 14(on) / 10(off). We'll see if the plants like it. Could also be due to the 8pH on the Brain, WTF! I also took a Q-tip and tried to do a little help pollinating, I know the flowers were loaded with pollen, I could see it falling out, so hopefully that helps some of them take.
 
Tomato leaves were nastily curled, and burned. Thinking lockout definitely due to the 4.5pH (again WTF!) no more 9 day checkups.
 
While snapping a pic of my timer for thirdcoast, I also took a quick shot of what is going on behind the false wall in the closet:

 
And got a profile pic of all the plants lined up:

Nick what kind of timer are you using? I have found nothing but crap locally like the ones that stay on for 8 hrs and then cycle off for 24. Thinkin I might have to buy online.

 
Couldnt find a brand... but I got a pic: (it was hand me down from my brother)

Pretty comparable to this:
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/products/light-timers/timer-15-amp-24-hour-grounded.html
 
or this (but with 2 plugs)
 
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/products/light-timers/titan-dual-outlet-mechanical-timer-apollo-8.html

 

[thirdcoasttx]

Thanks buddy im gonna order something like that sometimes its easier to keep things simple. I tried to go with a fancy digital timer and the instructions were in chinenglish never could get the thing to work right. On the "bright" side my new t5 setup came in so I got some work to do. Pics on my glog as soon as its done.

 

[Nick08*]

Thanks buddy im gonna order something like that sometimes its easier to keep things simple. I tried to go with a fancy digital timer and the instructions were in chinenglish never could get the thing to work right. On the "bright" side my new t5 setup came in so I got some work to do. Pics on my glog as soon as its done.

 
Yeah, admittedly when i first got it, I looked at it and was skeptical. But it has been flawless.
 
Nice, cant wait to see the new setup! I'm going back and forth about whether or not I want to go down the floro road, or LED.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Plants are looking good.

 

[JJJessee]

.......
 
Since we were talking about bee's over in JJJesse's glog, and I recently found a pic of an old inspection I was doing, I thought I'd share...

 
 
Looks like a brood frame, a very, very active brood frame.

 

[Nick08*]

 
 

Looks like a brood frame, a very, very active brood frame.

 
Yes sir! It was very warm that day, and this yard was not too happy we showed up. Good eyes on the brood frame... a solid queen in this hive, with the strong consistent pattern. Can't wait for things to warm up around here and get back at it! Hard to beat honey straight from the comb

 

[Jeff H]

 
 
I also did a drain water check today, and found some VERY odd numbers, Need to start doing a much better job of changing weekly now that the plants are larger:
Tomato: ~1300ppm - 4.5pH   - 3 gallons water left
Thai'brid: ~1200ppm - 6 to 6.5pH - 1 gallon water left
Douglah:  ~560ppm - 6.5 to 7pH - 2.5 gallons water left
BrainStrain: ~569ppm - 7.5 to 8pH  - 1.5 gallons water left
 
I noticed a few more blossoms dropping off the Brain, and Thai (but the plants look otherwise great so I'm not going into worry mode) but I did tweak the nutes to what I thought might fit a little better. I also increased the lighting a little  from 12/12 to 14(on) / 10(off). We'll see if the plants like it. Could also be due to the 8pH on the Brain, WTF! I also took a Q-tip and tried to do a little help pollinating, I know the flowers were loaded with pollen, I could see it falling out, so hopefully that helps some of them take.
 
Tomato leaves were nastily curled, and burned. Thinking lockout definitely due to the 4.5pH (again WTF!) no more 9 day checkups.
 
While snapping a pic of my timer for thirdcoast, I also took a quick shot of what is going on behind the false wall in the closet:

 
IMHO,
 
Those blue tubes are for more than draining the buckets, they are water level indicators. You should check on them daily and add water as necessary. 
 
Those bubble buckets hold 3-4 gallons depending on how deep the net pot is. Don't let it get low and your measurements won't go so out of whack. 
 
 
Plants look pretty good though. Glad you caught it. 

 

[Nick08*]

 
IMHO,
 
Those blue tubes are for more than draining the buckets, they are water level indicators. You should check on them daily and add water as necessary. 
 
Those bubble buckets hold 3-4 gallons depending on how deep the net pot is. Don't let it get low and your measurements won't go so out of whack. 
 
 
Plants look pretty good though. Glad you caught it. 

 
I know, I know. They make it so easy to check the water level... but i still somehow manage to be lazy.   But you're totally right, I need to just make it a habit.
 
One concern I have, is that since my water is just tap, not well or RO and it has chlorine, and pH of about 8 is that it will mess up my numbers even more when I top off... I should get myself another extra bucket I can have filled with pH adjusted water for the topping off.
 
What I also need to do is just have a full set of extra buckets I can fill with water, and let the chlorine offgass, and then add the nutes, and let them sit a day or two before I pH since my nutes arent pH buffered... dont you think that would add some more stability?
 
 
Thanks for your input, and Cheers for motivating me to stop being a slacker.

 

[JJJessee]

I'm going through  a gallon and a half+ per day on my little plants. 
I couldn't guess what your monsters consume a day.
 
Today I packed several tubs with snow. That's at least some spring water I won't have to carry for them.
 
It tested good on pH and ppm

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Just now saw the bee pic.  MY grandparents used to raise bees and my dad used to hit up some wild honey.  Never had it straight up before.

 

[Devv]

Bees!
 
You reminded me, I need to fill up their watering station. It's been real dry and they're on the move with the warmer weather. Yet another sticky note!

 

[Nick08*]

Wow, I am just having a hell of a time keeping up with my own glog, let alone everyone elses!! I dont know what this place used to be like, but I keep seeing alot of posts saying how busy it is now... things are CRAZY around here! So much interesting stuff, and not nearly enough time in the day.
 
Pretty bummed my brain is having some awful blossom drop. Nearly all those big beautiful flowers are now gone. I even tried pollen transfer with a q-tip. Plant is absolutely going CRAZY though. Its almost up to my chest now. Going to have to trim soon before it touches the HPS and burns my house down. :/ Still TONS of new buds though, so I'm hoping the first round of flowers were like the tomato, and it's just settling into bloom.
 
 

I'm going through  a gallon and a half+ per day on my little plants. 
I couldn't guess what your monsters consume a day.
 
Today I packed several tubs with snow. That's at least some spring water I won't have to carry for them.
 
It tested good on pH and ppm

 
The tomato (before it toppled) was absolutely demolishing the water. But now, its barely suckling. And surprisingly... the other plants really arent drinking as much as I had expected.
 
What were the numbers on the snow?
 

Just now saw the bee pic.  MY grandparents used to raise bees and my dad used to hit up some wild honey.  Never had it straight up before.

 
Wild honey would be awesome to find... these days though (depending on what part of the country) you'd have to be careful what you were stumbling upon wasn't Africanized!! That could be very dangerous...
 

Bees!
 
You reminded me, I need to fill up their watering station. It's been real dry and they're on the move with the warmer weather. Yet another sticky note!

 
Oh the ever multiplying sticky-notes! How many hives do you have?

 

[JJJessee]

I was just using spa strips but, the pH was 6.8-7.0 and the ppm didn't budge discernably off of zero. Just what you'd hope I guess.

 

[thirdcoasttx]

Nice, cant wait to see the new setup! I'm going back and forth about whether or not I want to go down the floro road, or LED.[/quote]

I think If I had the money I'd give the leds a shot everything I've seen is pretty freakin pricy. I'd love to do a dwc grow because your plants look amazing. The wife already gets jealous when I spend more than an hour messing with the plants and hydro looks to require a lot of attention. It looks like you've got it down pretty good though.

 

[Nick08*]

Made it into work after the long weekend, and had a few more pops. Still no Fatalii's or Rocoto's however
 
Reaper: 4/4
Goat: 1/4
Fatalli: 0/4
Starfish: 3/4
Pineapple: 4/4
Rocoto: 0/4

 

I think If I had the money I'd give the leds a shot everything I've seen is pretty freakin pricy. I'd love to do a dwc grow because your plants look amazing. The wife already gets jealous when I spend more than an hour messing with the plants and hydro looks to require a lot of attention. It looks like you've got it down pretty good though.

 
Yeah, agreed. All the "good" LED's are outrageously expensive. Definitely dont have the cash for one of them, but still toying with the idea of building my own. We'll see.
 
Haha I know what you mean about the women getting jealous. Hydro does take time... but I think (like most things) once you get it down its really not so bad... but damn the plants seem to love it! I'm thinking about moving on to a flood table eventually, seems like less work than 4 individual buckets.

 

[stc3248]

Some awesome stuff going on over here! Hope you can get those stubborn ones to pop soon. That timer is very similar to the ones I use now. I used to use digital thinking it had to be better, but I had one quit on me and I found some of the push tab types in the Christmas clearance section for only a couple bucks at Wally World and bought two...much simper and practically fool proof. They turn out to be more versatile since you can easily set it up to run many different types of cycles. Greg (Pic1) uses them and his lights to maintain germ temps by running them on short on/off cycles. 
 
On the bee note...I dated a bee keeper's daughter once upon a time and was therefore free labor. I was helping (the other high school kid employee) run the extractor and we forgot to change the catch barrel. Made a huge mess...never had to help with that process again!!!

 

[Nick08*]

Some awesome stuff going on over here! Hope you can get those stubborn ones to pop soon. That timer is very similar to the ones I use now. I used to use digital thinking it had to be better, but I had one quit on me and I found some of the push tab types in the Christmas clearance section for only a couple bucks at Wally World and bought two...much simper and practically fool proof. They turn out to be more versatile since you can easily set it up to run many different types of cycles. Greg (Pic1) uses them and his lights to maintain germ temps by running them on short on/off cycles. 
 
On the bee note...I dated a bee keeper's daughter once upon a time and was therefore free labor. I was helping (the other high school kid employee) run the extractor and we forgot to change the catch barrel. Made a huge mess...never had to help with that process again!!!

 
Thanks stc! I have high hopes they are just taking their sweet time, because in my impatience I did a little investigating... and there are now radicles on at least one of the Fatalii's and Rocoto's (I stopped there as to not disturb the others). I would love to find some of those timers on clearance... I agree that they are awesome and despite "older tech" they are bulletproof.
 
Yikes!  I can imagine that would be a terrible mess to try and clean. Double yikes dating a beekeeper's daughter! ...Not the kind of fella you'd want on your bad side!
 
Well, on another note... some AWESOME news today! Went downstairs to check up on the plants and found the beginnings of at least 2 pods on the brain!   That thing is an absolute BEAST now!!   It's the new tomato (dominating the grow room). Not sure if it;s dues to the pollinating trick, keeping a better eye on the nutes/water level, or just the plant "coming of age" but whatever it is... I'LL TAKE IT!!!
 
QUESTION: do you guys notice that the plants always drop the first few flowers for a while, and then they start taking (happened with my tomato as well) or if conditions are perfect, will the first flowers turn to fruit?
 
Didn't have the time/want to mess with the plants TOO much today (doing a full nute change tomo) so I'll have a better chance to do a full over inspection on all the plants... It's super tight in there now, and I don't want to get greedy and mess things up.
 
As always, pics or it didnt happen!
 
PODDAGE (BRAIN STRAIN):

 First one I saw
 

Second I saw
 
MONSTER BRAIN (from a couple days ago):

 
Today's quick canopy shot:

 
I'll try to get some better shots tomo when I have the plants out of the room, and maybe some root progress as well!
Thanks for stopping by!    I'm pretty stoked to see my first ever super's over here!!!!

 

[JJJessee]

Congrats!!!
Where's my cigar?

 

[stc3248]

Most plants drop some flowers before they start setting. It's usually a combination of not quite mature enough and environment not optimal. Once they're convinced they can support them they'll set them. Nothing to sweat.