Slow growth / small stem

[AutomaticSlim]

First post so Hi to all,

Onto my second grow with my current set up (little space with a 600wt).  1st time was pretty good with a nice fat stem, good rate of growth and good roots despite not using root booster.  2nd grow has been very slow by comparison here's what I've done differently in hope someone can tell me where I've gone wrong. 

 

1st grow:  Used Cyco coconut and perlite and hand water every 2 or 3 days.  Pretty consistent temps at 22-24c.  Didn't pH balance for the most part.  I used Ionic and Heavyweight.  The strain from 1st grow was some old misc antiquated stuff I had, nothing too flash.  It had a big stretch, finished with a nice big stem and roots.  Tied down branches.

 

 

2nd grow:  I have been using a similar medium which was made up by the shop, watering via reticulated system 5 mins per day. 

My pH has been balanced each time.  I used 'the professor' with a root booster and Heavyweight for potassium.  Pretty consistent temps at 22-24c.    .  The 2nd grow is White Widow, with a few weeks to go the stem is only a 10 cent piece in diameter, flowers to match.    I lollypoped and used a scrog.  I have heated water to 22c and aerated the water in 30 litre mixes changed weekly.  Aerator in reservoir but not underneath the pots. 

 

Any advice Have I gone wrong?  Some thoughts I've had are mostly around O2 problems. eg Daily is too much water for coconut fibre thus low O2 accessibility?  Heater has lowered o2 levels bubbler is too crap and is in res.  Is WW a slow grower?

 

Cheers for any help

Slim

[Serrated edge]

Gday mate ,yes WW is a real slow one ,little stretch , but if looked after , a good yielder. So ten cent piece buds doesn't sound right

 

What's the PH like in the res , do you keep tabs on the ph?

 

You didn't mention EC ?

 

Photos would help.

 

SE.

[Matanuska Thunder]

you are over-watering 

both in coco mix?

 

1st grow - watered every 2-3 days

2nd grow - every 5min 

 

watering daily in coco is not an issue if the root mass/plant is big enough to us all that water

 

also sounds like you are mixing two types of grows 

Edited November 15, 2016 by Matanuska Thunder

[AutomaticSlim]

Thanks for the replies. Serrated its the stem that is 10 c sized ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　buds are pretty small too. I havent ever done EC and dont know alot about it, my pH is normally 6 - 6.2. Yes Matanuska both mixes were coco and pearlite. 2nd water was 5 min once per day. I was told "the professor" was suitable for both grow and flower, is not not rigｈｔ？

[Serrated edge]

Thanks for the replies. Serrated its the stem that is 10 c sized ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　buds are pretty small too. I havent ever done EC and dont know alot about it, my pH is normally 6 - 6.2. Yes Matanuska both mixes were coco and pearlite. 2nd water was 5 min once per day. I was told "the professor" was suitable for both grow and flower, is not not rigｈｔ？

Hey Autoslim, I'm pretty sure coco needs a PH of 5.8 , I have a friend who uses Professors ,works good for him. .for veg and bloom.

 

A photo or two would help.

 

I

[Carnage]

professor is the cheap stuff the hydro guy always says it to me too.

[Carnage]

to make the stem fat i add silica to the water in the bucket before i add all my nutrients

[AutomaticSlim]

Hey Carnage thanks for the silica tip I will try it next time. Serrated Edge I am a bit confused about pH.  As you say soil is 5.8, chems say something else, additives say another still.  So which pH range do I use, off which bottle if you get what I mean?

[Serrated edge]

Hey Carnage thanks for the silica tip I will try it next time. Serrated Edge I am a bit confused about pH.  As you say soil is 5.8, chems say something else, additives say another still.  So which pH range do I use, off which bottle if you get what I mean?

I said " I'm pretty sure COCO needs 5.8 PH ". If I'm wrong someone will chime in .

 

Higher ph for soil

[AutomaticSlim]

Sorry mate, I meant if my chems say 5.5 - 6.0 and my additives say 6.5 which do I balance my mix to?  Or do I always balance to the soil type?