STC3248, Just Another Grow Log! Holiday Harvest!

Still waiting on the supers...but the rest are sprouted and under lights. This will be my first attempt at supers. Fingers crossed. I am so lost in the labels. I don't know how some of you keep them all straight??? I know I got most of them right...but had a couple random seeds pop up under the starter pellets...lolEdit: This was my STARTING listJalapenoBlack CobraMucho Nacho JalapenoBellPoblanoCaribbean RedChocolate HabaneroAnaheimCayenneTrinidad ScorpionBhut Jolokia Red/Yellow/Chocolate/White/PurpleFataliPequin ChiapasAmigo Diablo Bombay MorichDorset NagaLg Yellow 7 Pot7 Pot RedDouglahBishops Crownand OrnamentalsHere is the FINAL revised list! lol yeah right! Got some slow movers on here...GREEN: planted last night 3 February...didn't soak, so they may take a bit longer than normalORANGE: Planted 25 JanuaryBLUE: Planted 13 JanuaryBLACK: Planted 5 JanuaryFish 0/2Wild Brazil (Cumari) 0/2Tepin 0/2Aji Omnicolor 0/2Yellow Scotch Bonnet 0/2Goccia d'Oro 0/2Red Lantern Habanero 0/2Brain Strain 0/2Billy Boy Douglah 0/2Peruvian White Bullet Hab 0/2Kaval F-1 0/27 Pot Primo 0/27 Pot Monster Infinity 0/2Devil's Tongue Brown 0/2Bhut Jolokia Orange 0/2Black Naga 1/2Bhut Jolokia Purple 4/4 Bhut Jolokia White 4/4 Bhut Jolokia Red 4/4Bhut Jolokia Yellow 2/4 Bhut Jolokia Chocolate 4/4 7 Pot Red 4/4 7 Pot Lg Yellow 4/4 Fatali 4/4 Chocolate Hab 4/4 Bishops Crown 4/4 Pequine 4/4 Trinidad Scorpion 3/4Established Plants:Caribbean Red x5Black Cobra x6Jalapeno x6Mucho Nacho Jalapeno x8Cayenne x6Bell x4Poblano x3Anaheim x3

My 10 year old is responsible for the artwork on the cups!

 

[PaulG]

Thanks for re-posting this, Shane. Pretty remarkable. Glad to
hear the rescues are gaining color and vigor!

 

[PIC 1]

Hey Shane,
Your plants look happy in the new soil.
As far as the Goat Weed goes, I overwintered a plant this season. The plant grew through the season in an upward conical growth. When I dug it out of its container it had the smallest root system compared to the other overwinters. The smaller root ball didn't effect the size of the plant 3ft. but Thats just how it grew.

Greg

 

[stc3248]

Thanks for re-posting this, Shane. Pretty remarkable. Glad to
hear the rescues are gaining color and vigor!

Thanks man! I am too!

Finally got around to some indoor pics...and messing around with Photobucket...

Grow shelf...My son's beans are coming in. Wish peppers were that easy! Aji Omnicolor, Tepin, Brain Strain first row front to back. Scotch Bonnet, Douglah, Fish next row...

Recovering White Bhut. The new growth is nice and green on all the recovering plants. They are really pushing out the growth too...FINALLY!

7 Pot Monster Infinity

Wild Brazil...

Chocolate Bhut...this one was a bit stunted, and is now really snapping out of it. Wish I'd seen that cat hair before the shot!

Fish Pepper...

Scotch Bonnet...

Well that does it for the weekend updates! I transplanted a few more today, and prepared for the cold snap and rain that is in the forecast for this week. Not looking forward to another week sans garden.

Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am this season,

Shane

 

[PaulG]

Great looking plants overall, 'Shane! That Chocolate Bhut
and Wild Brazil are going to be bushy little plants!

 

[Pash]

Here was my original post and opinions on the soils:

Here is my example...3 of the 4 soils are represented here. All very cheap varieties with cost for a less than $5 for a 1.5 cu ft bag...
Yellow represents the worst performing and somewhat toxic soil (Supersoil)...
Red the intermediate soil that performed ok but not great (Earthgro)...
And light blue is the best performing (Kellogg)...
The other soil I used was Miracle grow and although they are not represented in this photo those plants were on par with the red circles intermediate performer.
The best performing by far was the Kellogg potting mix I used (light blue) All these plants were started on the same day then repotted on the same day. One of theKellogg plants not represented in this photo is the cayenne pictured in my update which is now already potted up again and producing buds. Since this photo they've all been placed in Kellogg soil and I will post an after pic of the slow recovery later as well.

My opinions have obviously changed since then. The performance of the Kellogg degraded over the last month, although some plants were still doing very well in it. Many were not. Most of the "soil" sifted down through the wood chips and settled in the bottom. Making the soil very dry on top, but a soggy mess down low. During the repot I also noticed that there were several with large areas that were bone dry. It appeared as though the water ran around these areas through the mix. The soil also completely lost its ability to wick water up from the bottom. ​

Thanks for all the info on your soil experiences. I'm planning on getting Kellogg's Patio Plus, and I think I will heed your advice; sifting the wood chips and adding pearlite.

 

[stc3248]

Great looking plants overall, 'Shane! That Chocolate Bhut and Wild Brazil are going to be bushy little plants!

Yeah...but I'm shooting for bushy BIG plants!

 

[PaulG]

There ya go!

 

[stc3248]

Thanks for all the info on your soil experiences. I'm planning on getting Kellogg's Patio Plus, and I think I will heed your advice; sifting the wood chips and adding pearlite.

To be honest I think you're better off buying one of the "big names." If you do go with it...keep me posted on how you amend it, and how well it works for you. I would recommend adding a some peat as well to help it hold together a bit better. I noticed that the plants that did best in it all had one thing in common...their peat pellets were still in tact. When I changed soil, all the ones with their peat pellets had developed very dense rootballs within the pellet, but the rest of the root structure wasn't very good at all. I know peat/peat pellets get mixed reviews around here, but my experience has been good with them so far.

Good luck!
Shane

 

[Pash]

To be honest I think you're better off buying one of the "big names." If you do go with it...keep me posted on how you amend it, and how well it works for you. I would recommend adding a some peat as well to help it hold together a bit better. I noticed that the plants that did best in it all had one thing in common...their peat pellets were still in tact. When I changed soil, all the ones with their peat pellets had developed very dense rootballs within the pellet, but the rest of the root structure wasn't very good at all. I know peat/peat pellets get mixed reviews around here, but my experience has been good with them so far.

Good luck!
Shane

That's interesting about the peat. I'm going with the Kellogg's based on price (I'm on a tight budget) and the nifty organics in it. I've yet to put my hands in a bag. I have some homemade finished compost I may throw in the mix for structure. I'll definitely keep you posted.

 

[stc3248]

Just got a crazy surprise! One of the Yellow Bhuts that I planted back on January 5th just hooked up! 53 days!!!I also harvested some seeds for some store bought Manzano's and was just planning a test germ since the wife said no more peppers...well they hooked up too, oh well may as well grow them out! shhhhh other than that not a whole lot of germination action. I am more excited about my decisions to change soil and add CFL's to my grow area than ever. The growth and color change is so amazing! Every time I peek in on them the growth is noticeable.

So Germination update:
PURPLE: Planted 18 February
GREEN: Planted 3 February
ORANGE: Planted 25 January
BLUE: Planted 13 January
BLACK: Planted 5 January

Manzano 3/4

Fish 2/2
Wild Brazil (Cumari) 2/2
Tepin 2/2
Aji Omnicolor 2/2
Yellow Scotch Bonnet 2/2
Goccia d'Oro 2/2
Red Lantern Habanero 2/2
Brain Strain 1/2

Billy Boy Douglah 2/2
Peruvian White Bullet Hab 0/2
Kaval F-1 0/2
7 Pot Primo 2/2
7 Pot Monster Infinity 1/2
Devil's Tongue Brown 2/2
Bhut Jolokia Orange 0/2
Black Naga 2/2

Bhut Jolokia Purple 4/4
Bhut Jolokia White 4/4

Bhut Jolokia Red 4/4
Bhut Jolokia Yellow 3/4
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate 4/4
7 Pot Red 4/4
7 Pot Lg Yellow 4/4
Fatali 4/4
Chocolate Hab 4/4
Bishops Crown 4/4
Pequine 4/4
Trinidad Scorpion 3/4

Established Plants:
Caribbean Red x5
Goat's Weed x6
Jalapeno x6
Mucho Nacho Jalapeno x8
Cayenne x6
Bell x4
Poblano x3
Anaheim x 3


Pretty much have given up on the rest of the seeds. I actually almost unplugged the germ mat yesterday. I suppose I will leave them cooking a while longer. I am really disappointed in the Peruvian White Habs and Kavals 0 !?!?!?! Really??? I had great germ rates with every batch except that one. Oh well...I now have some Manzanos anyway!

Really need to do a recount and make sure I don't have any hanging chads around here. Do an actual inventory...I have a few that didn't make it...plus I think I have a few that I have forgotten to include. That'll have to wait for the weekend.

Thanks for looking!
Shane

 

[ZanderSpice]

That's interesting about the peat. I'm going with the Kellogg's based on price (I'm on a tight budget) and the nifty organics in it. I've yet to put my hands in a bag. I have some homemade finished compost I may throw in the mix for structure. I'll definitely keep you posted.

I've used a lot of Kelllogg's in my time. In my experience, it's much better the second time around if you recycle/screen it, but by then it's about half the volume of what you bought. All those big bark pieces need to break down. By itself and right out of the bag is not so good for vegetable seedlings or containers. I haven't bought any this season and I might be finished with it for good. It's pretty hard to find a good and cheap potting soil that is ready to go out of the bag. Best to either spend on the best or mix your own if you're trying to grow this season. If you've got good compost you're most of the way there.

 

[stc3248]

I've used a lot of Kelllogg's in my time. In my experience, it's much better the second time around if you recycle/screen it, but by then it's about half the volume of what you bought. All those big bark pieces need to break down. By itself and right out of the bag is not so good for vegetable seedlings or containers. I haven't bought any this season and I might be finished with it for good. It's pretty hard to find a good and cheap potting soil that is ready to go out of the bag. Best to either spend on the best or mix your own if you're trying to grow this season. If you've got good compost you're most of the way there.

Thanks for the post Zander!

Yeah...I already screened it and mixed with some compost. I also bought some perlite and peat moss and I think I will go 2 parts of the soil/compost mix to 1 part peat moss...then add perlite till I think its right. I will post the final recipe and put a few plants in it and see how they do compared to the rest....

 

[MGOLD86]

That is some pretty damn good germ rates Shane. I think the only things that I did not have any pop up were the Yellow 7s and SB7Js. I still have one SB7J that I planted about a week ago so keepin my fingers crossed on that one

Awesome job keeping track though. I REALLY fell apart in that department after I started to replant everything, but all that I know is that there are like 100 seedlings in the tent. I gotta keep better track like you do. Keepin an inventory....I should know all about that.

But good luck with the next stage and congrats on that Yellow Bhut, 53 days, Dayyyyuum!

 

[stc3248]

Had a few minutes today...so a couple before and afters and a few new photos...

Chocolate Bhut Before...

After!

Wild Brazil Before...

After!

Proof of puberty! Two of my Manzanos...

Tepin going NUTS!

The before and afters were 2 days apart...the Scotch Bonnet and Fish are even more impressive. Ran out of time...

Thanks for looking.

Shane

 

[MGOLD86]

Your photo skillz are pretty BA, you should check out the Photo Album in the lounge.

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Looking good Shane. Like the before and after shots. It's cool to see plants reacting differently at different stages. Some of my runts have turned on and are passing some of the initial brutes. keep up the good work.

 

[stc3248]

Your photo skillz are pretty BA, you should check out the Photo Album in the lounge.

Thanks...just playing around with Photobucket. I would love to get into photography, but if I get another hobby it will come with a divorce!

 

[PaulG]

It is amazing indeed how fast plants grow and change. I really
want to try out your adapted light bar set up next year, only not quite
so big, and run it between my two 4' fixtures, after hearing you rave!
Great pix, buddy - always fun to check in here!

BTW congrats on the manzanos!

 

[jsschrstrcks]

Nice looking plants

 

[stc3248]

Crazy week so far...rain, hail and frost in SOCAL. Got me doubting my decision to plant out this weekend. There are no more frosts in the forecast, but the one earlier this week was a surprise as well. Going to wait 1 more week before plant out on my inground plants, but this weekend 22 will go into their final containers!!! Have to make some more room in the makeshift greenhouse!!! The plants are growing like weeds...I figure that although momma will not like it, I can move 22 plants in if need be. I may even stick a few more in the ground....see I can't even get through an update without changing my mind!

Also getting setup for some grafting experiments...photos soon.

Shane