Animal Mints — Legends of the Frozen North Week 8 from Seed | Week 4 Flower Another chapter unfolds in the frozen north. For anyone joining this diary now, here is a quick recap of how we arrived here. This run explores Animal Mints grown primarily under a 12/12 cycle from seed, allowing the plants to naturally express their structure while moving efficiently into flowering. Most of the plants followed this path from the beginning, with one small exception in the room — a plant that spent about two weeks in vegetative light before joining the 12/12 cycle. Interestingly, that plant ended up being the smallest of the group, showing how genetics and environmental response can sometimes surprise us. But despite those differences, the room now feels unified. The canopy is alive, vibrant, and moving together into the deeper stages of flowering. This week has been a big one. With more than 300 photos captured, the goal was to document every angle of development — structure, branching, flower sites, and canopy behavior — as the plants continue their journey through bloom. ⸻ Environmental Snapshot The room is currently running with fairly aggressive parameters, but supported by strong airflow and active air exchange. Current conditions • Canopy temperature: ~28°C (gradually tapering toward 26°C) • Relative humidity: ~70% (slowly reducing toward ~60%) • CO₂: 1000+ ppm through passive enrichment • PPFD: 800 → 1300 µmol across the canopy These values are slightly on the upper edge of traditional recommendations, but with strong airflow and healthy transpiration, the plants are responding very well. Air movement remains one of the most important elements in this environment. The goal over the next weeks will be to gradually tighten the climate window as flowers develop further. ⸻ Light Strategy The lighting across the canopy currently ranges between: 800 and 1300 PPFD This allows the plants to maintain strong metabolic activity without excessive stress during early flower development. Additionally, we run a 15-minute red light pulse after lights off. This small far-red window helps accelerate the phytochrome transition between light cycles, effectively signaling nightfall to the plants and assisting the flowering rhythm. It is a subtle adjustment, but one that helps maintain consistent flowering signals. ⸻ Under-Canopy Lighting One of the key elements of this room is the use of under-canopy lighting. As plants grow bushier and develop dense foliage, the lower zones of the plant often receive very little light. Under-canopy lighting helps: • increase light penetration to lower bud sites • reduce excessive shading • maintain photosynthetic activity deeper into the plant • improve overall bud development throughout the structure Combined with careful defoliation and strong airflow, this approach helps keep the entire plant active rather than only the top canopy. ⸻ Airflow — The Invisible Engine Airflow is one of the most underestimated tools in indoor cultivation. In this room we rely heavily on constant air circulation and active air exchange. This helps: • regulate leaf temperature • support transpiration • prevent humidity pockets inside the canopy • strengthen plant structure • reduce risk of fungal pressure Plants are living organisms interacting with their environment, and air movement is part of that conversation. ⸻ Feeding Strategy The plants are currently feeding very actively. Feed EC: ~2.4 Soil EC: ~0.9 This indicates that the plants are absorbing nutrients efficiently from the medium. As long as the plants continue eating and the runoff remains stable, the feeding program stays consistent. If nutrient uptake slows or runoff EC begins climbing, adjustments will be made accordingly. For now, the system remains balanced and responsive. ⸻ Nutrient Recipe Current weekly top feed includes: • CalMag Pro • Terra Bloom (base nutrient) • Power Buds • Green Sensation • Pure Zym • Sugar Royal • Vita Race (foliar where applicable) At this stage of flowering, foliar applications are used sparingly. Once flowers begin forming, keeping the canopy dry becomes increasingly important. ⸻ Why Add Power Buds + Green Sensation As plants transition fully into the flowering stage, the goal shifts from structural growth toward flower formation and metabolic support. Power Buds helps stimulate the plant’s flowering response and encourages the development of early bud sites. Green Sensation acts as a metabolic enhancer, supporting: • bud density • terpene production • nutrient transport • overall plant energy during bloom Together, these additives help guide the plant’s resources toward productive flower development. ⸻ Mixing Order — Why It Matters One of the small details that can make a big difference in nutrient stability is the order of mixing. Our mixing process always follows the same structure: 1. CalMag Pro first 2. Base nutrient (Terra Bloom) 3. Additives CalMag is added first until the base EC reaches around 0.7. This creates a stable mineral foundation for the rest of the solution. After that the base nutrient and additives are introduced gradually. Proper mixing order helps prevent nutrient precipitation and instability, keeping the solution balanced and available for the plants. In simple terms: Chemistry matters. ⸻ Defoliation Update This week also included selective defoliation. Some plants had not yet received any canopy thinning, and their structure had become quite dense. Those plants were defoliated more deeply than the others to restore: • airflow inside the canopy • light penetration • structural balance Despite the heavier pruning, the plants responded beautifully. Leaves remain vibrant, growth continues strong, and the canopy quickly reorganizes itself. ⸻ Structural Observations Across the room, the Animal Mints plants show distinct structural expressions. Some lean toward tighter node spacing and compact branching, while others stretch slightly more. These differences highlight the diversity within the genetic expression of the cultivar. Yet despite those differences, all plants are developing healthy flower sites and strong green foliage. ⸻ What To Expect Next Over the next weeks we expect: • vertical stretch slowing down • bud stacking intensifying • resin development beginning • stronger aroma expression Environmental parameters will gradually shift toward slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity as flowers continue forming. The focus will remain on airflow, canopy balance, and metabolic stability. ⸻ Gratitude Before closing this update, a moment of appreciation. To the long-time followers, the OG readers, the new growers discovering this diary, the skeptics, the critics, the silent observers, and everyone who spends time following these plants. Thank you. Gratitude as well to: • the platform hosting these diaries • the sponsors supporting the work • the genetics that make these explorations possible • and everyone contributing to the community. If you are here reading, learning, questioning, or simply watching quietly… You are part of this journey. ⸻ The legends of the frozen north continue. 🌿❄️ 📡 Please stay tuned they can try and take us down but we never quit https://www.youtube.com/@DOGDOGTHEDOCTOR NEW 🙏 Thank you for your patience and continued support. FOR DISCOUNT CODES AND MORE JUST FOLLOW THE LINK https://website.beacons.ai/dogdoctorofficial 📲 Don’t forget to Subscribe and follow me on Instagram and YouTube @DogDoctorOfficial for exclusive content, real-time updates, and behind-the-scenes magic. We’ve got so much more coming, including transplanting and all the amazing techniques that go along with it. You won’t want to miss it. GrowDiaries Journal: https://growdiaries.com/grower/dogdoctorofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial Deleted by Youtube Vimeo : https://vimeo.com/dogdoctorofficial Under construction stay tuned ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: 🔆 Lighting & Environmental Control • Future of Grow — Advanced LED lighting technology https://www.futureofgrow.com/ DISCOUNT CODE: DOG20 • Lumiflora — Under-canopy LED lighting https://lumiflorade.com/ • TrollMaster — Environmental controllers and automation gear (past collaboration) ⸻ Genetics • Zamnesia Seeds — Genetics used in this project https://www.zamnesia.com/ ⸻ 🌱 Soil, Substrates, Boosters & Root Support • Plagron — Substrates, bio mixes, and supportive products https://plagron.com/en/ ⸻ 🎒 Storage, Curing & Preservation • Grove Bags — Curing and storage solutions https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ 📸 Photography Equipment & Tools (Not sponsors, but part of my creative toolkit) • Sony A6700 • Sony full-frame macro lens + few more • Stacking photography workflow - learning • iPhone (for behind-the-scenes shots) We’ve got much more coming as we move through the grow cycles. Trust me, you won’t want to miss the next steps, let’s push the boundaries of indoor horticulture together! As always, this is shared for educational purposes, aiming to spread understanding and appreciation for this plant. Let’s celebrate it responsibly and continue to learn and grow together. With true love comes happiness. Always believe in yourself, and always do things expecting nothing and with an open heart. Be a giver, and the universe will give back in ways you could never imagine. 💚 Growers love to all 💚 📸 P.S. – The Eye Behind the Lens All photos in this diary (for now — except for the ones showing the camera, which I took with an iPhone) are taken with a Sony A6700 paired with a Sony full-frame macro lens and a few more. Photography is part of the story — it’s how we share the fine textures, the glow, and the quiet details that words can’t always capture. I’ve also started experimenting with photo stacking — a technique where multiple images, each taken at a slightly different focus point, are layered together to create one perfectly sharp image from front to back. It’s not digital enhancement or AI; it’s pure photography — a way to reveal the plant’s beauty in microscopic depth, from trichome to petal. You’ll even see a few shots of "ghost me" capturing the shots — camera, lens, setup — because every grow deserves not just to be cultivated, but documented like art. FOR DISCOUNT CODES AND MORE JUST FOLLOW THE LINK https://website.beacons.ai/dogdoctorofficial NEW DISCORD - Official Server Invite Link : https://discord.gg/ksjAkA5T74 P.S.2- not all filer were uploaded but i think enough to get the idea wore, i will try and upload them o next week update if not over crowded with files also

Went home for Mardi Gras for 3 and a half days and came back to ladies loving life. I kinda over watered these ladies because I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to water them while gone and it worked out perfect I guess clan ask for anything more. The Black Cream auto shod be on the path to just focusing on bud development. She grew a half an inch this week so hopefully that the most she gonna stretch. Buds smell sweet somewhat strong. The Green Poison is on her way to be a monster jus now entering her flower phase. She may be going for 12 weeks at this rate none the less I jus going with the flow making sure I’m paying attention to plant and how she reacting each day. I don’t really see anyone using the dry amendments ,let alone the medium I’m using, so I I’m jus doing what’s recommended on the bag and letting the plant tell me so far can’t complain

Actualización 05/10/2024 ¡Hola, growers! Perdón por no poder compartir las semanas completas, pero poco a poco volvemos a la normalidad. Las fotos que ven corresponden al día 01/10/24 y, como pueden ver, están llenas de terpenos y tricomas por todas partes. Tanto la Fruit Gum como la Biscotti x Candy Rain son dos de las cepas más resinosas que he cultivado y, además, desprenden un olor increíblemente fuerte. La Fruit Gum tiene esos toques dulces y nostálgicos, como a chicle de mascar, que me transportan directamente a mi infancia. En cuanto a la Biscotti x Candy Rain, su aroma es como el de una clásica galleta americana casera, ¡muy intenso! Ambas cepas me están impresionando mucho por su resinosidad y aromas únicos. Cabe destacar que las genéticas de Uktha Genetics me han sorprendido gratamente; los resultados están siendo fantásticos. Eso sí, estas cepas comen como camiones, pero mientras se mantenga un control exhaustivo de las fertilizaciones y del medio de cultivo, no hay problema de sobrefertilización. Pronto cortaremos una de las plantas que está bastante adelantada. Espero que disfruten tanto como yo este proceso y, como siempre, ¡buenos humos para todos! 🌱💨

December 29 day 15, growth is fine, I will likely top the plant later in the week. Roots are developed enough to remove humidity dome, although I am still running a humidifier. December 30, day 16, topped the Malasana cookies and removed growth at the first node. I am not mainlining as I don't think it would give me an even canopy across the 8sqft growing area this plant will take up. The topping won't give the same symmetry, but with a bit of training I will end up with an even, wide canopy. I removed the branches from the first node as I would have to end up removing a lot of that growth. In my experience those first branches never fill in as much anyways. December 31 day 17, recovery from topping going well. Put the humidity dome back on to keep the VPD at around .8kPa. January 2 day 19, despite the large pot causing a bit of overwatering leaf droop the Malasana cookies continues to recover well. I am done with the humidity dome after waffling back and forth quite a bit. I posted an image in more natural light to so that the leaves are a healthy green. Just that edge curling that will work itself out when the plant grows into its big container. January 4 day 21, growth is taking off as it should at this age. Its still going to be a long veg to get an 8sqft flowering size. Recovery from the topping is good, and new leaves are healthier with less clawing. I applied LST with plant ties to get growth to head toward my plant training frame (atlas plant trainer).

Chelsea is doing well. Resin is starting to show on her leaves. Some hairs are showing orange on bud sites. She’s officially taller than my first grow with Durban Poison. I added a bit of Golden Tree this round. Because why not? It’s golden tree!

Week starting off good end of week we got a lot of good growth seeing explosive growth from MephistoWedding and MangOreoz , the Chemdoggin is a little behind I think it’s gonna be shorter and bushier Indica , 24Carot is a day behind the rest but she’s catching up , overall week 2 has been good excited to see what week 3 brings ! As I will start introducing small amounts of nutrients Advanced Nutrients Connisour Blend Grow A and B at 3ml/ gal as well as 1/2 tsp per gal of Humboldts Counties Own Snow Storm Ultra

Day 41 Final trim for the Candy Rain! Also increased the ec from 2.75 to 2.90. I slightly decrease the temps now from week to week, till I am at about 18 degrees Celsius when it’s time to harvest.

Everything looking a lot better

3/8 - We're at 66 days and she continues to grow wider and denser a few days after I defoliate. The tent real estate is pretty tight right now, so I'm shopping around for a 4x4. After looking at other GL diaries, this strain is known to grow huge! I'm just anxious as to when I'll start seeing buds! 3/10 - Goldie is definitely getting some sunburn on top so I've raised the lamp a few more inches and she's now about 20 inches away and the lamp is dimmed to 75%.. gave a good nute-filled watering with cal mag. Fourth flowering week, so I'm guessing 4 more weeks? I still don't see any developed nugs yet. She's going to be a biggun'!

The Buds gettin thicker. I also added some Canna Terra Flores for the phosphorus. Maybe 2-3 Week I think. You can recognize the intense smell. I also cut away all those fan leafes so the light gets deep down to the buds . Have you got any tip for me? Let me hear your opi

New week, seems ok for first morning, will do heavy feed on day 52. I already gave away one plant ( strawberry cough photo ) now one of fast diesels still stucked in pre-flower, would love to return to 18/6 regime, just dont want any reveg or hermie. Still lost. Fingers crossed ;) Day 53 Morning, leaves a bit down after night, everything looking not bad, thinking to defoliate two midle babies. Had a big mistake on day 52, they where down, i stayed for one night out and was late with watering for a day, they looked totaly down, like my mobile, thats why no photos, never seen any plant so bad in my hole life... But they are ok now, quess it was on the verge, but damadge was done 100 % Day 53 evening. I wouldnt be me if i wont be searching ways to screw up the crop ;))) After many hesitations i decided to do very light defoliation. And ..... They hated it. Lets give couple days, but 2 huge stresses in 3 days dont give me and girls joy for sure .... In that rush forgot to make third Fast diesel photo, but i quess she didnt made mind to flower, took like 5 leaves down and left her for a bit,very annoying , she will be a big delay at the end or very early harvest, both ways waste of time.... Plus had to reduce light to 15.5 of day, maybe those 30 min will force her ... All 3 Fast Diesels are very mag hungry, fed them with epsom salt extra. Day 54 . Fast Diesel 3 went to 24 hours darkness prison with a heater ;))) hope that will teach her a lesson ! Others got feed with silicic acid, they drink, thats a good sign tho ! Fast Diesel 3 was a day behind from all, even 5 leaves was too much. But its a good time for me to give last trick i can, before downgrading day hours even more. Day 54 Evening. Girls are praying again, silica always boost them to hapiness ;) Day 56. Girls are growing, looks like last Fast Diesel starts to make buds from preflower, but a lot of pistils going brown, so either its heat, which i will check today or its hermie ;))) Could be wind damage, i will check all options today, returned from work, made short shitty video and thats all ;) End of week.

All is great with my ladies this week the buds are fattening up nicely I got alot of bud sites and they are all developing beautifully the 2 plants that were approximately a week behind are also now fully flowering thankfully The extractors are working hard keeping the humidity low temps are around 28.5 lights on and humidity is 42 they are drinking more and they are getting the full recommended monkey nutrients and the Zues pro 600 is on 100% finally. Let's hope the ladies keep improving Stay blessed 💚

I’m very happy with this strain and would highly recommend. The grow went well despite having some nutrient issues on my part off the bat, the plant over stretched and burnt the main cola on the light. But overall the plant ended up very large and beautiful. I’d guess i get 3+ ounces from this plant.

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Day 66. First girl down, found Bud Rot, so even happy to chop her ! Fastest plant ever, 66 days from seed touching soil !!! Day 74. Second down and bud rot again !!! Lost nicest part of the plant ... In panic chopped two other girls too early and one close to good time.... But now the rest have more space ... Day 78. First girl jared. Day 84. Second girl is curing. Happy Growing !

Not too much to report on this week besides beginning LST. I did a few pistils appearing, may be in pre-flower, but not positive as it’s my first auto. Will progress as normal. Video/photos taken 21 days after breaking soil.

On the start of week 4 flower the gals are doing well :) The Blueberry scent is getting stronger. I defoliated lower growth sites and cleaned up the top canopy to let more light and air in. I couldn't get everything I wanted to prune because I cant reach the back of the canopy, so some larf will be expected on my plant in the back of the box. On day 2 its all on cruize control now not much else to do but keep my reservoir on point and wait for the girls to bulk up and mature :). On day 6 I mixed up a new 5 gal reservoir with my bloom nutes. At the end of week 4 flower the girls smell great :). the smell is building every day along with the buds :) I'm really happy and surprised with the production at only week 4. It seems my clone may be optimized to my growing environment and or the increased light levels from being too close to the grow lights have accelerated the flowering process.

The plant is looking great, there isn’t much to say. The weather has been a great help on this grow, and apart from the little N over feeding all is looking good. Buds are starting to get FAAT.

Will increase the nutes slightly during the week and back off the Root Juice. Loving the Biobizz and loving the soil instead of Coco for a change. They are very healthy and loving life.