Turning 75

[Sticky Sat]

You're right Ratz ! The only positive thing with high rh is that it makes cloning easier.
No need for hormones (they'd speed up roots growth though...) or dome but i'd gladly trade that advantage against a drier weather...

 

[Ratzilla]

I love looking at my plants there are 24 of them all the same hybrid.
They show equally 12/12 on groups.
12 are showing just a touch more Indica ,a bit shorter and broader, not like a full blown out Afghani about 6-7 inches and most starting their 8th node.
The taller 12 a look much the same only taller at 8-9 and also most starting the 8th mode .
They all have nice shape leaves with much of a serrated edges.nice and green they are.
All the cotyledons yellowed and shriveled away, only 1 plant is showing signs of wanting more by stealing from the very first set of leaves.
I think this is important in seeing this sign early so they don't go cannibalizing then selves, once things are set in motion they can be much harder to stop then if they never stated in the first place.
I am thinking bat guano 10-2-1, as the main cure for this over the years i am using more bat all the time mostly the high N or the low Phosphorous like 0-4-0.
I am VERY careful about how i present phosphorus,
Do you know that much of the plants Phosphorus uptake is done by the mycorrihzsal fungi and ADDING high ratio P elements retards the fungi growth and well being.
I mean in flowering when we want whats best for making flowers ,we all know it's P&K but by adding a high P source surly only means less or none at all.
I have set a 8 as the highest P ratio fertilizer that i will use.
My two favorite P source especially in flower is 0-4-0 bat guano and soft rock phosphate 0-3-0 .
I know most of you Wizards already know this stuff a most symbiotic relationship for sure and not to forget using ANY kind of liquid P in flower does the most harm of all.
Ringing bells!!!
Ratz

 

[Emperortaima]

Thank You!
Went to the DMV got a personalized licence plate.
It says GNG CRZ How many get this it looks easy?
It takes 2.5-3 months to get this plate from the state.
Nov.7th is my birthday,a big one for me.
Turning 70 was big but the next 4 were not now another big one.

So is The Rev still around? No body knows?
I don't want to go to the stinky to find out.
Is he per·so·na non gra·ta???
RatZilla

Hey brother love your thread but to answer your question if you are referring to the REVski as in Tlo author and skunk mag editor Ibelieve.

He is doing well from what I see on FB he posts mainly pertaining to his current projects from which I need to get some dark matter f2 by him blessings friend and keeping going strong what you are doing is inspirational!

 

[Ace Rothstein]

Great thread Ratzilla, Good choice on the T8's. T5's put out too much heat in my opinion.
However, LED's are the superior choice for sure.
You mention T8 for your seed run, is that separate from your head stash What do you flower 10 plants under?
I have 6 Chem 91 just two weeks older than yours, although the heatwave of August almost killed and set them back a bit. ( I knew better but lacked the patience).
I need a seed run. The price of seeds is just astounding to me. Seeds used to be a by-product now they are $10 a pop.
Best wishes.

 

[Ace Rothstein]

Don't go and disappear on us. More people are interested than are compelled to post.
I was on here for years before I posted.

 

[OkieSmokie]

I do wish IC had a way to view the number of times a thread had been viewed. It would be a good indicator in addition to post count.

Your sharing wisdom my friend. Teaching the next generation the old ways is a noble endeavor and I for one respect you for it.

While i would love to see pictures, you do paint lovely pictures with your words.

What part of the world do you call home?

 

[Ratzilla]

Great thread Ratzilla, Good choice on the T8's. T5's put out too much heat in my opinion.
However, LED's are the superior choice for sure.
You mention T8 for your seed run, is that separate from your head stash What do you flower 10 plants under?
I have 6 Chem 91 just two weeks older than yours, although the heatwave of August almost killed and set them back a bit. ( I knew better but lacked the patience).
I need a seed run. The price of seeds is just astounding to me. Seeds used to be a by-product now they are $10 a pop.
Best wishes.

Once a few years ago I spent$1400 for 2 4'x2' LEDs lights.
I did not like them from the start.
The purple glow changed the way my plants look to me.
I finish the whole grow under these LED's and thought that i grew bonsai plants ,every thing was in diminishing size including my harvest.I quickly abandon the led'S.
I veg under 400 W MH while I flower under a 1000 W HPS.
Have used many different makes of bulbs but today I try for a vegetative bulb with a kelvin rating around 5600 and my HPS K bulb around 2000.
While loving electronic ballast i became aware depending if your cable provider runs fiber cabel or not that electronic ballast could have peeps at your door wanting to talk to you about how your house is making noise .RFI radio frequency, a feedback that they detect on there lines that they'll will come looking for.
This has happened to me.
I only use electronic ballast when my cable provider wire is the fios type!
I don't so much worry about who makes the bulb ,but what the kelvin rating is.
Ratz

 

[Ratzilla]

On making seed it does not matter much to me what kind of bulb you put them under so I opine.
I have used T-12 mostly but sometimes I'll used compact florescence now T8.
It's only for a few days .
I will separate my males and keep usually 4, i try and go with different geno types,like 2 taller and 2 shorter or any other diversity that looks good to me.
I'll try and grow them out for 1.5-2 weeks after isolating so that their flowers are as potent as they are going to get and that there is plenty of them.I keep the males in their 6 in. veg pots.
Again height is sometimes a problem but the males can take a lot of abuse, I might have to tie them over to keep them out of the lights.
In the mean time the females flowers are growing in giving me a look at what i have.They also need some time to get enough flowering sites to make many seeds.
This is where it can get amusing females in my closet,males in a small space under a set of stairs, usually after 2 weeks they are ready to do the deed!
I'll pick 2 of what strikes me most pleasant about certain females and set them up in a bath tub on chairs, now the 4 males come out and sit before them also set up now the little fan that i sit in front of the males blowing its pollen into and on the females.
I'll use a couple of compact florescence for the lighting .
This all takes 48 hours then i give the females a good spray down with plain water so no stray pollen gets about, twice maybe three times before putting them back with the other ladies.
This seed making takes around 36-40 days for viable seeds.
I flower my plants usually 8.5-10 weeks.
They are growing a inch a day and getting inter nodal growth.
They the taller ones are now @ 10 in.,so if 28 inches is my maximum height i only have 18 days to find 10 ladies.They are 30 days old today so by day 48?
I'll give them another week to 10 days before looking!
Yesterday I laid down a wonderful top dressing @ 11 days since the last one.
Another tip is whatever top dressing you decide to use make a tea using those same ingredients so that you will cleave the microbe life that feeds on those ingredients.
Most of my tea's are for the beastie's rather then introducing a fertilizer so use smaller amounts.
3 parts WC, 1 part alfalfa, 1/2 part Agricolas best 4-5-3 and 1/2 cup of 10-2-1 bat guano.
Today you could not find happier plants!!!
RatZ trying to pass on his knowledge so you also can grow like a wizard or at least a Druid.
Just say NO to soggy bottoms!!!

 

[OkieSmokie]

Just a a heart valve replacement 1 day in the Hospital unreel Huh?
Ratzilla

Hows the old ticker doing RatZ? Are you all healed up these days?

 

[Ratzilla]

Hows the old ticker doing RatZ? Are you all healed up these days?

The day that it was done that night was one of the worst night of my life. It was a transcatheter procedure so not a lot to get over.
I was lucky to be a Chosen to get this new procedure know as TAVR [Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement}
But that was it one night and i was well looked after, not bad for the gains i could get out of having it done.
I still have problems in doing much especially if it contains strength or endurance in any way ,hell i cant do shit i'am a shell of my former self.
Yesterday i was trying to trim all these wild trees-bushes down for they have overgrown their spot. I wanted them gone.A few min. after starting to cut with my trusty pole saw[electric chain saw on the end of a pole] i was done before i even got a few limbs cut.I needed to sit down bad and being i was out by my curb and no chair to be found i decided to lay down ,all i know i needed to get down.
Cripes neighbors came from everywhere all i could do was yell don't call 911 that i was ok and just needed to rest for a few min.
I wound up hiring a neighbor to cut the trees down for me .
Much cheaper than a ambulance ride.
A old man rolling around on the ground!That's what i become! LOL
RatZ
A real drama queen i have become!

 

[Ace Rothstein]

I'm only 60 and can't do shit anymore. I almost got stuck on my roof a while back. My extension ladder was extended 4 feet above the eves and I couldn't get around it to descend. I felt like kissing the ground when I made it down.
Golden years my ass.

 

[Ace Rothstein]

I'm going to use the 12/1 veg Thanks for the tip. That's some nice savings.

 

[Ratzilla]

I'm only 60 and can't do shit anymore. I almost got stuck on my roof a while back. My extension ladder was extended 4 feet above the eves and I couldn't get around it to descend. I felt like kissing the ground when I made it down.
Golden years my ass.

A few years back I had to get on my roof and being it a two story the moment i crossed the peak my knees started shaking.
My thought was when did i become afraid of heights, never was before.
Then it dawned on me it wasn't fear ,it was wisdom telling me that a man my age has no business on a two story roof.
RatZ

 

[Ratzilla]

I'm going to use the 12/1 veg Thanks for the tip. That's some nice savings.

Trust me Ace you will love the 12/1.
In veg i use two timers ,one for my main light 400 W MH and set it on for a 12 hour period.
Another for 2 compact fluorescence that comes on directly in the middle of your 12 hour dark period.
This 1 hour of light in the middle of the dark period fools the plant into NOT releasing it's flowering hormone.
The plants will stay in a vegetative state forever until you stop that light interruption in its dark period.
Being the plants are in veg you need not worry about any other light interruptions.
Now when switching to flower go to 11 on /13 off then every 2 weeks reduce light on period by 1/2 hour until 9 on 15 off is reached and hold it steady from there.
It is important to make sure no light leaks during plants dark time!!!
I have been doing it this way for years now and never had any problems.
Biggest gain is that the plants love it and will respond better when they are HAPPY.
Not to mention the amount of $ saved in one grow when you do the math , it's huge! And wear and tear on your equipment.
Why everyone is not using the 12/1 confounds me and think FLAT EARTHERS!
RatZ loving that another peep has joined the 12/1 stable.

 

[Ace Rothstein]

I was vegging under 1 or 2 t-8 Fixtures 24 hours a day 9 months a year. Savings!!!
I am a So Cal Edison customer and get what I call SHAME ON YOU letters telling me that I am the top user in my neighborhood. Shame on them. What happened to the customer is always right?

 

[Ratzilla]

I was vegging under 1 or 2 t-8 Fixtures 24 hours a day 9 months a year. Savings!!!
I am a So Cal Edison customer and get what I call SHAME ON YOU letters telling me that I am the top user in my neighborhood. Shame on them. What happened to the customer is always right?

My opion is Cal used to be a free state now it's a bunch of socialist more caring about illegals then american citizens.
They tell you what you can use and how much don't forget about the plastic straws, not to mention what happen to all the water.
Soon they wont have enough to grow much crops!
Moonbeams shinning on you!

Any who using 2 t-8 ,4 footers, twin bulbs ,thinking ea. bulb uses 32 watts 24 hours a day=3,072 watts /day on the 12/1=1,664 almost 1/2 your cost.
Maybe you will get a attaboy letter?
RatZ

 

[wetdog]

A few years back I had to get on my roof and being it a two story the moment i crossed the peak my knees started shaking.
My thought was when did i become afraid of heights, never was before.
Then it dawned on me it wasn't fear ,it was wisdom telling me that a man my age has no business on a two story roof.
RatZ

I just turned 70 the end of August, not long after my Dad passed away at 89. Milestone? Not so much for me, but 75 will be if I make it.

Just like you and the other poster, I learned years ago to stay off the roof and pretty much avoid ladders at all times. I break easily and balance left the building long ago.

"What a drag it is getting old", Rolling Stones 1963/64.

Wet

 

[OkieSmokie]

I just turned 41. Been fighting cancer since 36 (im winning by the way). I feel old but i cant complain. Chemo ages a man quickly.

12/1 is on my list. That light schedule makes total sence in terms of cost savings. I wonder why more people dont talk about it?

 

[Ratzilla]

I just turned 41. Been fighting cancer since 36 (im winning by the way). I feel old but i cant complain. Chemo ages a man quickly.

12/1 is on my list. That light schedule makes total sence in terms of cost savings. I wonder why more people dont talk about it?

Congrats on winning the battle so far, I wish you well!

I see so many peeps myself included as creatures of habit.
On the other hand I see some peeps take this 12/1 to other extremes like screwing with all kinds of different cycles of light & darkness.
Human kind comes in all shapes and sizes it seems.
He he he
Growing indoors will make peeps consider all sorts of light,LED's ,Florescent's,HPS & MH as well as different bulbs until we develop some success and with success comes style.
Knowing that the amount and type of light will grow different size bud.
Being I am forced to grow indoors power is not cheap but I know what I want in the size of the cola's that I want to grow.
I personally would not consider trying to grow donkey dicks with anything less then a 1000 watter.
That's my style!
RatZ

 

[Ratzilla]

Today I double watered @ 6 days.
The first watering was 1 1/4 C of plain rain water.
The 2nd was 1 1/2 C of tea but most important was the watering in of the last top dressing that i laid down.
I just love watering in top dressing it is one of my favorite things to do for my plants.
The plants are coming along fine with the tallest @ 14.5 in. and the shortest @ 8 in.with most on their 9th node @35 day of veg.
What I find to be the most tedious task of growing is sexing all though a thrill runs threw me when I spot a set of pistils.
My Skunk A Rella usually takes around 40-45 days for me to find 10 ladies and sometimes i need to flip them into flower because of height limitations.
My preference is to find 10 ladies and transplant them into the flowering pots that i pre-built for them and give them a week to settle in before flipping them.
We will see starting in a few days.
RatZ