Grow Diary Purple Kush

Background

For this run, I’ve moved away from my previous soil blend of Fox Farm Ocean Forest and perlite and switched to an inert medium: PRO-Mix HP-CC Mycorrhizae High Porosity Grower Mix. This change gives me much more control over the nutrient profile throughout the grow, helping prevent the early flower nutrient lockout issues I used to run into with hot soil mixes.

I’m still growing in 3-gallon fabric pots under a Spider Farmer SE-5000 with supplemental UV-A and Near-Infrared lighting. Environmental control is handled with a desiccant dehumidifier and a radiant heater, and I keep air constantly moving with six oscillating fans aimed at the upper, mid, and lower canopy. My plants sit on stands with runoff trays and funnels routed into containers for easy ppm and pH testing.

When it comes to nutrients, I keep things simple but effective with:

- General Hydroponics Flora Series
- Bloom City Professional Grade Ultra Pure Cal-Mag
- General Hydroponics Armor Si Plant Growth

I aerate my water for 24 hours before mixing in silica, Cal-Mag, and nutrients. Everything is always measured and adjusted for pH and ppm before watering.

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Germination Process

For germination, I start by soaking seeds in distilled water for 12–15 hours in a dark environment kept between 78–82°F. After soaking, I direct-sow them about ¼ inch deep into the soilless medium - slightly shallower than I would in a soil mix to avoid compaction and help seedlings push through more easily.

Once planted, I mist the surface and gently water a 3-inch perimeter around the seed’s location to provide moisture without oversaturating. I then place a humidity dome over the planting site to create a stable microclimate and accelerate emergence.

I monitor and mist or lightly water daily, keeping the ambient temperature between 78–82°F. While the tent’s overall RH fluctuates, the domes maintain a consistently humid environment that encourages healthy germination and early growth.

For this run, Purple Kush was the first to break through the surface - 72 hours after planting.