Megamoo's 2011/2012 Grow Log

Megamoo's 2011/2012 Grow Log

It's the 4[sup]th[/sup] of August and time to start a grow log. This will be only my second year and second grow log. Because I tend to go on and on talking about crap I will make a commitment to only post if there are pictures to post with it so it stays entertaining.

I've already germinated some seeds inside and am eagerly awaiting the end of winter so I can begin construction of my forest of chillies

Firstly a recap of what has happenned up to now.
Being bored in the off season I started three Jalapeno seeds in on 17[sup]th[/sup] may. One week later I got a hook.

This got me gander up and I jumped in

On 7[sup]th[/sup] June I soaked in chamomile tea and planted seeds of:
Jaimca Scotch Bonnet
Aji Amarillo
Aribibi Gusano
Congo Brown
Limon
Trinidad Scorpion
Peruvian White Habanero
Fatalii
Peter Pepper Orange
Cochiti
Bishop's Crown
Naga Morich
Red Bhut Jolokia
Choc Bhut Jolokia
Red Habanero
Hot Cherry
Cayenne Gold
"Mystery Pepper"

Two weeks after sowing I got this

5[sup]th[/sup] July planted some more after the same soaking method.
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
Rocoto Peru Bitumi
Manzano Amarillo
Guampinha De Veadho
Scotch Bonnet TFM
Bahamiah Goat Pepper
Antillais Carribean
Topaz Chili
Fresno
Peppadew
Purple Tiger
7 Pot Brain Strain
Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot
Poblano
Bolivian Rainbow
Big Jim
Naga Morich
Asian Birdseye
Tabasco
Chilli Fiesta
Peter Pepper

Also trialled soaking 27 Gold Cayenne in different concentrations of acid.
The result was far from disaster but not good enough to excite me.

On 11[sup]th[/sup] July the older sprouted ones got a new fluro tube home on a shelf.

Red Bhut
Jamiaca Scotch Bonnet
Choc Bhut
Habanero Red
Mystery Pepper
Limon
Congo Brown
Trinidad Scorpion
Fatalii
Cochiti
Cayenne Gold

15[sup]th[/sup] July Soaked some seeds in Hydrogen Peroxide solution before planting. Left them in for a 14 hrs but the recommended method is only 5 mins... oops I chose seeds that I wanted more plants of and others I have had trouble germinating in the past.
Hot Cherry
Chilli Costa Rica
Bishop's Crown
Limon
Peruvian White Habanero
Asian Birdseye
TS Butch T
Bahamian Goat Pepper
Peppadew
White Labuyo

Had some hooks pop up and the older ones got bigger. Everything was going along fine...... until :O ! ! !

 

[megamoo]

All my bad decisions caught up with me. Bad potting mix. Bad watering schedule. Bad temperature control. Bad air circulation. Bad bad juju.

I got purpling of leaves, browning of leaves, dropping leaves, wilting leaves, fungus gnat infestation, one or two fried seedlings and then I had to have a rent inspection.

 

[patrick]

Best of luck to ya Moo. Hope things get on track real soon for you.

 

[megamoo]

So I took down my growing shelf and hid it away, so I wouldn't have to explain what I was doing with the purple marijuana grow lights. Then afterwards I reassembled it bigger and better and tried to address all the problems.

5 lights instead of 3

Fan for circulation. Look closely in the center you can see the grey wire of the thermometer probe.

Everything potted up into new soil and new containers. Not sure how long the paper cups will last. Plants, roots and soils rinsed with H202.

That's where I am at right now.

 

[thaichillihead]

Good luck mega, hope your winter's mild.

 

[Justaguy]

This will be a good log to follow, methinks.

 

[Alphaeon]

Good start! can`t wait to see this taking off as ours wind down!

Gigabyte and Asus? Top brands there!!!

 

[MGOLD86]

Good luck! I cant wait to follow you though my off season. Definitely keep me addicted to THP.

 

[muskymojo]

Best of luck to you this year!

 

[Trippa]

Good luck Mega ... may the bounty in summer be plentiful and MEGA!

 

[SmurfKing]

How did it all turn out!!? You had quite a bit of varieties there!!?

 

[megamoo]

Well thanks to the server problem my latest two posts are gone ... can't really remember what I said but here goes again.


Thanks for all the replies everyone

I have been watering very infrequently with Hydrogen Peroxide solution. It kills the fungus that was growing on the soil tops, which is the food source of the fungus gnats, and it also kills the fungus gnat larvae. I think it also brings oxygen to the roots.
I watered them once with half of weak strength chilli focus as well and they responded well to that.

From the pictures below that were taken a week after the last ones you can see the plants have grown. The plants look healthier, I haven't seen a fungus gnat for a while and the leaves yellowing, drooping and dropping has stopped.

 

[megamoo]

Some more close up shots

I made some comments I can't remember, except that this white stuff on the leaves isn't an infection because I think its from water residue.
Someone replied and said it was the variegated leaves of the Purple Tiger. Either way its all good.

I just picked up a big bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide cheap at a hydro store so I can continue using it for a long time.

 

[harry]

I made some comments I can't remember, except that this white stuff on the leaves isn't an infection because I think its from water residue.
Someone replied and said it was the variegated leaves of the Purple Tiger. Either way its all good.

I just picked up a big bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide cheap at a hydro store so I can continue using it for a long time.

I was the one that mentioned the Purple Tiger variety having variegated leaves. The variegation is normal for the variety although I do read it is the result of a genetic defect.

 

[Pablo_h]

Did you ever find out what causes purpling on your seedlings?
i) All my czech blacks and jalapenos have gone purple dark purple.
ii) Most of my chinense or other anuums aren't happy either (yellowed or white tips), soil stays pretty dry due to lights so can't be overwatering.

I'm talking about my older June seedlings here, and I think it is the 2x24W CFLs causing my troubles, so stopped using them for the current seedlings and I'll see how I go.
I think I'll have to go flouro tubes as CFLs are either too intense and hot, or too far away for any real lumens.

 

[megamoo]

Did you ever find out what causes purpling on your seedlings?
i) All my czech blacks and jalapenos have gone purple dark purple.
ii) Most of my chinense or other anuums aren't happy either (yellowed or white tips), soil stays pretty dry due to lights so can't be overwatering.

I'm talking about my older June seedlings here, and I think it is the 2x24W CFLs causing my troubles, so stopped using them for the current seedlings and I'll see how I go.
I think I'll have to go flouro tubes as CFLs are either too intense and hot, or too far away for any real lumens.

I suspect it has something to do with heat or intensity of light adding to the stress that the overwatering (or underwatering) was causing. Don't know for sure because I changed a lot of factors to make it stop. Do you have a temperature reading in the soil? Mine is currently staying between 22C and 26C depending on the lights or fan cycles.

This plant is the tallest so far, it just wants to grow up. When I repotted it I also buried the stem as deep as the pot is! so it's taller that the picture shows. Despite the growth rate the leaves show a purple tint. The leaves that fell off it went yellow and/or purple. I'm thinking its the type or quality of light. Fluorescents are only really good for starting seedlings. In my opinion for growing on either you use better lights or the sun.

As soon as I can I will be moving all the plants that are big enough outside and into the greenhouse. Most of the winter poddage has finished, I just need a day to clean it out and put a shelf in. I have still have lots more seeds I want to start and spring is coming!

 

[megamoo]

I messed up my ratios of hydrogen peroxide and managed to kill two of the very tiny seedlings. The rest survived and have grown a bit since the last photos a week ago. I think some of them are ready to move on to hardening off.
Had to use crappy phone camera.

These two are budding. Not sure if I should pinch them out or not.

 

[megamoo]

Yesterday on the 28/8 I potted up about 15 of the larger plants into 9.4 litre buckets.

Started taking progress photos but forgot to take any more (Got distracted by insane domestic dispute two houses up! Screaming and people running about with lead pipes, police called and helicopters It's not a bad neighbourhood really!)
Anyway here are the first 8 done.

They are hardening off for the next few days in the greenhouse, open during the day and closed at night. When they're out for good I can pot up the next lot. Now ready to start some more seeds, only waiting for the room on the grow shelf inside.

Because I killed two seedlings with the H202 without knowing how I'd stopped using it and the fungus gnats have made a comeback. So I stopped watering them as frequently and they started yellowing and dropping leaves from thirst. Just tonight I finally figured out the problem before with the hydrogen peroxide - only diluted it down to 3%. Problem corrected and regular watering now.

 

[megamoo]

On 31/8 I soaked about 70 seeds in hydrogen peroxide solution for five minutes then for 24 hours in chamomile tea.

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
7 Pot Brain Strain
Douglah
Nagabon
Bahamian Goat Pepper
Orange Lantern
Peruvian White Habanero
Antillais Caribbean
Scotch Bonnet TFM
Jamaica Scotch Bonnet
Congo Brown
Aribibi Gusano
Limon

Then put them into jiffy pellets with a heat mat underneath and a thermostat set to 30C.

Each pellet has three or four seeds and if I get a few sprouting from one I will try to separate them and pot them up before they get too big.

No hooks yet but its only been three days.

The weather is turning so these will probably be the last ones I will have to bring on under lights. I still have another lot of seeds to start for this season but they are mainly annums and we have a long season so I'm sure there will be enough time.

 

[Pablo_h]

Is this the first time you've used jiffies?
I notice you haven't used them before.
I bought a pack of jiffies only to use when I ran out of 50mm x 50mm x 75mm seedling pots, so haven't used them yet.
I'm interested in the results you get with them compared to your pots and potting mix.
edit: I chuck 2 seeds into each pot, and separating them in the case of 100% germination is the main reason why I use pots instead of jiffies. Most of the time I've only got 10 seeds of each type to play with, so I don't want to cull any viable seedlings.