Dark Star Diary

21 March 2021 The plant is looking great! It is growing very well and looks healthy. The soil is very dry, so today is watering day!! I fed it with a gallon of water that had a small amount of runoff water. Today I increased the nutrient level to half the recommended dosage for an aggressive vegetative state vice the normal veg state. I used 1.5 tsp. floraMicro and 2 tsp of FloraGro. I used the pH drop tester today for the first time. It was relatively the same as my digital pH pen, except the pen give decimal points and the drop only gives whole numbers to a color chart. The pH of the water and nutrients were 6.7, and the runoff water was tested to be at 6.13. Hopefully increasing the nutrients don’t have any negative effects. I’ll guess we’ll see in a day or two. 23 March 2021 The plant’s soil is already dry to the first knuckle (maybe deeper), so I am feeding it again today. I’m using the same dosage of the nutrients from the other day. 1.5 tsp of floraMicro and 2 tsp of FloraGro. The pH of the feeding water today leveled out at 6.74. The runoff water was a little more extensive today compared to the last feeding, and the pH of the runoff leveled out at 6.14. According to the data I’ve researched; the best range for pH is between 6.0 - 7.0, with the finer optimum level is between 6.2 - 6.5. I’m hovering right along this area trying to provide the best environment for it to grow healthy and strong. It’s looking good, and I’m starting to wonder if it isn’t time to contemplate the transition to the flowering stage. I’ll need to get another light to aid in bud formation. The more light, the bigger and stronger the buds will be (or so the literature says). We’ll have to see. 26 March 2021 Feeding time again. Earlier today I defoliated the plant by taking off about 10 larger leaves that had grown to block the light from penetrating the plant. It is more open now, but not too much. I believe that I can finally determine the sex, and it appears to be a female, which is what I’m hoping for. I ordered some Cali-Mag nutrient supplement to add to my feeding regimen because it may be needed to make the buds FAT! At least I’m hoping it will at least keep the plant healthy. So far it’s looking great! I’m feeding today with the same nutrient mix of 1.5 tsp of floraMicro, and 2 tsp of FloraGro. pH of the solution is 6.68. The runoff water pH was 6.06. I also bought some trimming shears yesterday and topped the plant today and put the top in a glass of nutrient water I am feeding with today. I have some cloning powder that I’m thinking about using on the top to try and keep it growing into a healthy clone of the plant. I’ve still not decided on whether to try and clone it or not. As soon as the new light shows up I plan on switching to the flowering stage. 27 March 2021 The plant is looking great after removing the extra leaves covering the lower branches. However, my first attempt at cloning had failed. I expected as much because I used the main stem cola that I cut off when I topped the plant. In the process I cut the stem at a flat angle, and not the 45 degree angle that I was supposed to do. It was also rather weak and it would have been a miracle if it rooted. The plant looks like it needs some water already after just 2 days, but I’m going to wait until tomorrow morning to water and feed the plant.