Strawberry Fields Forever - A Dinafem Strawberry Amnesia Diary

[dannychoo]

Heya all. Dannychoo is back from wandering around lost and stoned. : :

So a couple months ago I decided to pop 4 Dinafem Strawberry Amnesia beans that was kindly gifted by @Dinafem-Mark and switched over to 12/12 on the 20th December.

This first part of the Diary will be a few posts about the vegetation period and then carrying on with the current flowering period which I'm 2-3 weeks into.

So without further ado...

-:### DINAFEM STRAWBERRY AMNESIA ###:-

Gallery:

Environment Equipment:

3x cool white fluorescent bulbs in PC case

200w fluorescent bulb

250w lamp for grow/flowering

Hydrolab 60(x60x140)

5" fans in/out-put

2 PC fans strapped to end of Reflector

9" fan over canopy

Media and nutes:

Canna Terra Pro Soil

PM Grow; Bloom; Bio-Silicon; Root; Catalyst; Bio-wetter; Granules

Seaweed Extract @ 3ml/litre

Germination:

Of the five pack I was gifted, I germinated four. I inspected the seeds for anything that may discourage me from germinating them but they were all of good size, nice stripes, ripe (rather than the white empty husks we get sometimes) and ready.

I popped the four of them into a small container of water with one drop of PM root and left them near the exhaust area of the PC (It gets warm when I play games - which tends to be very often).

Temps were around 21C and after 48+ hours I had some nice looking Taproots:

I decided to give the taproots a bit more growth and left them in for 72 hours before transferring to some small 2" pots and left to do their business under some cool white fluorescent bulb(s) 24/0 for 3 days (adding 2nd and 3rd bulbs as they progressed) and then switched to 18/6 to give the roots a chance and my electricity bill some respite later on in the grow.

All pots were drenched and drained with 0.5ml root to a litre of tap water before transferring the taproots.

These were then topped up with soil to the brim, to give stability to the stem and more media for roots, as they progressed the next 10 days.

Day 3 from potting taproots

In terms of feed, there wasn't any over this period and they were only sprayed with water every 6-12 hours or so to keep the humidity up.

Seedlings next to a bonsai Mother Bomb seeds plant

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1st Transplant

Day 10 from Germination, time to transplant to 4" pots. I used a blunt object to help separate the pot and gave them a light tap to ease them out. I then rolled it around in some PM Granules before transplanting. For the transplant pot, I put some soil in first and then an empty 2" pot into the larger pot to make a hole before sprinkling some PM Granules in the hole.

Feed was 500ml each of which 1ml root + 0.5 catalyst per liter

They were put into the tent and under the 200w florescent lamp (which is a dual-spectrum I need to replace but can't be arsed to buy another bulb (6500k) : : ).

Some Growth Pics:

48 hours from transplant

96 hours from transplant

More to Follow...

Edited January 3, 2015 by dannychoo

[BigJohnny]

Smoking some of this atm, nice heady, sativa effects. Based on this strain, I've ordered some more Dinafem strains today. Good luck with the remainder of your grow, mate.

[K-B]

Seems off to a flying start. I'll keep a keen eye on this one mate. I hope to be cracking some dinafem beans in the next couple of weeks myself. Atb with matey.

[dannychoo]

@@BigJohnny thanks man, it's smelly really Hazey in the GRoom Looking forward to the chop. I like how they are growing too - more of that later.

@ From what I've witnessed so far, these Dinafem have been nothing but a joy to grow. Really easy, they just look after themselves with a helping hand .

10/11

First feed after transplant:

The next feed was a week after transplant. I fed each of them 500ml each of which a litre consists 1ml Seaweed Extract, 1ml root stimulant and 0.2ml silicon.

I wanted to give it some beneficials that would help it be healthy and stress-free (seaweed), stimulate the source of nutrient uptake (root stim) and help it produce strong healthy stems (bio-silicon). I won't be introducing grow nutes for a few weeks yet..

12/11

Can already see the difference in nodal development.

16/11

Transplanted to 3 litre pots

watered 1 litre each of 2ml root and 1ml catalyst

Plants before transplanting:

SA#1

SA#2

SA#3

SA#4

Edited January 3, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

23/11

Switched over to 250w MH.

Watered each 1 litre of 2.5ml root; 3ml seaweed; 0.75 silicon; 0.5ml grow.

I believe it was around this time (~day 17-21) when I started to notice the pre-flowers and even a few pistils. All were confirmed female later on, which means it was 100% Fem seeds that I germinated from this batch.

Some Pictures:

SA#1

SA#2

SA#3

SA#4

It was around this time when I started watering every 3 days or so. These are the dosages I used at the time:

23/11/14

2.5ml root; 3ml seaweed; 0.75 silicon; 0.5ml grow

26/11/2014

2.5ml root; 1.5ml catalyst; 0.5ml grow;

30/11/2014

2.5ml root; 0.75silicon; 3ml seaweed

Each were given around 1 to 1.5 litres depending on excess.

29/11

Some more Photos

SA#1

SA#2

SA#3

SA#4

Edited January 3, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

2nd of December

SA#3's growth within itself has been nothing but amazing. I love how bushy it has become and the way it just looks overall. It was probably around this time that I felt an affinity towards #3 being a keeper, however it was still early and I could wait a little later to take a proper cutting.

Photos:

In terms of cuttings, I've had 100% rates with every cutting I've taken from these SA plants during veg. I just follow Tony Montana's guide and make sure my medium is the same as the original plants'.

---

4th Dec

I can't remember the exact reason but I chopped down SA#4 around this period. I think I was stoned and started to wonder whether I had enough space for 4 plants in 6.5litres. This was mainly due to my lazy vegetation which seemed to have no set date for 12/12 . Looking back on it, it was probably something to do with how they were all growing and SA#4 was lagging behind with characteristics I didn't like.

(Looking back on it, it was actually a wise decision as these plants grow crazy, filling spaces and a couple of them grew so well, it was almost like they scrog'd themselves)

~More to follow tomorrow

-transplant to final 6.5ltrs

-flip to 12/12

-LST

-Photos

Edited January 4, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

5th Dec

Transplanted all SA to final 6.5ltr pots

So the time had come for them to be transplanted to their final pots. I chose 3 out of 4plants to flower in the end and this fits nicely with the space I have within the hydrolab 60x60x140 due to the other equipment (e.g. lights, fans, extra fans etc).

I've done 5x 6.5 ltrs before in this space and whilst it was only Autos, it wasn't a great fit nor was it manageable towards the end. I've also done 3 plant 6.5ltr scrog, which were all different varieties, and for the space I have, I'm a little regretful that I didn't just do 1 or 2 pots of the same strain: mainly due to the different growth rates and managing them.

The next scrog I'll do, I'll most likely use a 10-15 litre pot and either one strain from seed, or SoG-esque using cuttings from this grow and plugging a load into a 10-15 litre pot. Undecided.

If you've got a similar space to me, and currently contemplating how many pots you can put in, you could put 9x6.5ltr square pots in easily and I think I worked it out as 16x3.5ltr or something. However, the trouble for me bunging in so many plants is the heat issue. My Groom isn't exactly in the best of places and it can get quite hot so I don't mind having less plants, giving it more TLC, and taking a little more time to fill the Groom.

TL:DR - Can fit 9x 6.5ltr square pots in a 60x60. Would make production times faster but without proper ventilation, can get very hot.

Back to the transplant - similar to the previous ones in this diary: Soil into large pot; similar or current plant pot into the larger pot; fill around with soil; sprinkle granules into hole; transplant, feed and drench properly.

Feed this time was 2 litres of which 1ltr consisted of - 3ml root, 1.5ml catalyst, 1ml grow.

Photos and root pR0n :

This time, I decided to put the stem tilting towards one side of the pot, allowing for easier access for watering and also plant placement in the GRoom. I hope to keep them growing to the sides and make a bowl/crater shape so the middle is clear for air and heat.

More to follow

Edited January 5, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

Next set of pics is 20/12 so I'll just list the dosages I gave each plant from the last set of photos to the next:

10/12/14

watered SA#1-3 1 liter 3ml root; 1ml grow; 1ml silicon; 5ml epsom

14/12/14

watered SA#1-3 2 liters of 3ml root; 1.5ml grow; 3ml seaweed

18/12/14

watered SA#1-3 1 liters of 3ml root; 1.5ml grow; 1ml silicon

19/12/14

trimmed lower branches - SA #1-3

That last entry reminds me: I've trimmed the lower branches twice in veg - when they were in 3.5 and final pots. Looking at it now, I really should have done a 3rd a week or so after 12/12 flip. I also experimented with the lower branches I cut off and made cuttings with them: they all rooted. In any case, I guess I'll just chop the top branches when the time comes and let the lower branches catch up in flowering later on.

20/12

Flowering Period:-

Le Big Flip 12/12

SA#1

SA#2

SA#3

SA#1 and #3

(favourites at the time, I've since shifted faves over to #2 and #3)

Tune in next time for more updates

Edited January 5, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

I found a tub of sugar leafs and trimmings probably 8 months old in the back of the cupboard over Xmas and made some bubble hash out of it. It weighed in at 46g (yes I zero'd the tub) and I think I got just under 3 grams of 45 and 90 micron. I used my crappy 1 gallon fleabay bags but only used the 220, 160, 120, 90, 45. In hindsight I could have probably got some 25 but meh

I think I only did 2 or 3 washes... Separate bucket, then poured into the screens.

Anyway, photos is what you came here for so photos you shall have (click to enlarge...):

Taken today:

90 micron

45 micron

(ETA: This picture really doesn't do Bubble Hash any justice in that it looks like someone had the runs and this is the tissue.... Then again, I wish I would shit out bubble hash... Maybe if I had a dog... A Labrador? )

Edited January 5, 2015 by dannychoo

[KingBlueRizla]

Nice hash. I find if you use a 45µ bag and don't mix too hard you don't get much 25µ worth collecting. Enjoy your hash.

[Tony Montana]

Looking spot on mate

[dannychoo]

Nice hash. I find if you use a 45µ bag and don't mix too hard you don't get much 25µ worth collecting. Enjoy your hash.

Cheers KBR ( Not a touch on your hash though )

Thanks Tony Your cuttings guide was spot on pal.

---

Boxing Day:

Took the ladies out (they were all confirmed around 20-30 days from potting, very early on) for a spin. Excuse the poorly taken photos:

SA#1

SA#2

SA#3

[Dinafem-Mark]

I'm sorry I have come in late to this great thread may I say I love the detail and way you have done/doing your grow log . We saw some great strawberry amnesia on the uk420 forum in 2014 and it looks like 2015 is off to a flying start

Ill pull up a chair to see how they turn out and would love to see some sa (strawberry amnesia) bubblehash from the sugar trim maybe?

All the best and thank you for doing this great, detailed grow log

D-M..

[dannychoo]

Heya everyone, sorry for no updates - I've been trying to bury myself with work and forget about a few things. Lets just say it's working too well

In terms of the growroom to date, I'm in week 8 of flowering now and have had a few stupid mistakes that could have been prevented if I was of sound mind. Oh well, onwards and upwards!

For this post however, I'll just post some photos of the next few weeks of flowering in this topic to show the buds developing (first few weeks). I received my Oppo Find 7 a few months back and they keep changing the format in which the camera works... I've yet to get to grips with the colour and light exposure at this point so apologies for the poorly taken pictures. In any case, hope you enjoy them

---

01/01 - 04/01/2015 (Week 1 (i count first week as week 0))

(click to enlarge)

Edited February 17, 2015 by dannychoo

[dannychoo]

Day 18 / week 2/3

07/01/2015

Today I decided to take the ladies out for a glamour shoot This also allowed me to run the rule over anything wrong with them and also to prune them for the last time before letting them continue flowering.

There were also slight signs of clawing / start of nitrogen toxicity in the leafs, but minimal enough to ignore at this stage since it was the first week of not using grow nutes.

I tend to feed grow nutes until the first or so week of flowering, then easing them into bloom nutes. Thinking back on this, it was probably around this stage my problems started with over-nuting them and not noticing my mistakes. In terms of feed, this is my record of what I did since the 12/12 flip :-

Before flip:

23/12/14

2 liter of 3.5ml root; 1.5ml grow; 0.5ml bloom; 1ml silicon

After flip:

26/12/14

2 liter of 4ml root; 1ml grow; 1ml bloom; 3ml seaweed

trimmed lower branches

SA1 43cm from top of pot

SA2 53cm

SA3 50cm

30/12/14

3 liters of 1.5ml bloom; 1ml grow; 4ml root; 1ml silicon;

3/01/15

2ltrs of 2ml bloom; 0.5ml grow;

7/01/15

2 ltrs of 2.5ml bloom ; 5ml epsom

Thinking back on what I should have done, I probably didn't need to increase the bloom feed to 2.5ml so quickly. I didn't give them a good enough settling in period. I think in future as well, I'll add epsom salts as is, rather than adding with other nutes/beneficials.

Other problems I encountered was the ridiculously cold weather we had over winter, and the distance between plants and lamp. For example, in pic 82c, you can see upturned edges of the leafs, which I believe shows signs of heat stress.

In the coming weeks, I had to battle with heat issues in the G'room as well as drops in temperatures at lights-out. Whilst I tried to warm the roots with a tube heater, it didn't really do much in my opinion and I will try to rectify that the next winter's grow.

----

Some G'room photos:

||

(Click to enlarge)

SA#1

||

SA#2

||

SA#3

||

In hindsight, I should have noticed how droopy and stretched SA#3 was and this added to problems later on (more to follow on that). The leafs that I was so pleased with earlier in this diary, have now shown somewhat mutated growth.

Edited February 17, 2015 by dannychoo