Cash Express – Pheno A | Week 4 Full Steam Ahead Welcome back to another chapter of the 8×8 Adventure, where twelve cultivars are being documented individually from seed to harvest under a strict 12/12-from-seed schedule. Every phenotype follows its own diary, allowing each plant to reveal its unique personality while growing under exactly the same environment and feeding program. Another week has passed, and the room continues to transform at an incredible pace. What started as twelve tiny seedlings is rapidly becoming a forest filled with individual characters, each responding differently despite sharing identical conditions. That’s one of my favourite parts of this project—watching genetics tell their own stories. This week also reminded me that Mother Nature has a funny sense of humour. The environmental controller proudly displayed 33.3°C alongside 63% humidity. Apparently the grow room has decided that three is the lucky number this week. Despite the higher temperatures, the elevated humidity helped keep the plants comfortable, and growth across the room never missed a beat. Every day the canopy became denser, greener, and noticeably more alive. ⸻ Week 4 Environment 🌡️ Temperature: 33.3°C 💧 Relative Humidity: 63% 💡 PPFD: 700–800 µmol/m²/s 🌱 Medium: Plagron Lightmix ? Growing Method: 12/12 From Seed One interesting change this week wasn’t caused by the lights—it was caused by the plants themselves. Some phenotypes have entered a much stronger vertical growth phase, naturally moving closer to the fixtures. Those taller individuals are now receiving around 800 PPFD, while shorter plants remain closer to 700 PPFD. The light hasn’t changed. The plants have. Watching each phenotype respond differently under identical conditions continues to be one of the most fascinating parts of this entire project. ⸻ Feeding Strategy The nutrition program has continued to evolve alongside the increasing demands of the garden. During the establishment phase, irrigation remained around pH 5.8, creating ideal conditions for vigorous root development. As those root systems expanded throughout the containers, the nutrient solution gradually shifted toward pH 6.1, allowing access to a broader spectrum of available nutrients within the substrate. At the same time, nutrient concentration was increased progressively throughout the week, finishing around EC 1.8. Nothing dramatic. No aggressive jumps. Simply allowing the plants to dictate the pace rather than forcing one. Healthy roots create healthy plants, and the steady growth throughout the room suggests they’re very happy with the direction we’re taking. ⸻ Cash Express – Pheno A If this lady had a motto, it would probably be: “Catch me if you can.” From the beginning she’s shown an incredible desire to grow, and this week that enthusiasm became even more obvious. While several of the other phenotypes are still building compact structures, Pheno A has decided she’s in a hurry. She’s stretching confidently toward the light while simultaneously producing an impressive amount of lateral growth, creating a plant that feels both elegant and powerful. What has impressed me most isn’t simply her height. It’s how well she’s responding to every bit of training. Throughout the week I’ve continued gently tucking leaves and applying light stress training wherever needed to open the canopy. Rather than slowing down, she seems to reward every adjustment by pushing even more vigorous side branches toward the light. It’s exactly the kind of response every grower hopes for. Each newly exposed branch immediately begins reaching upward, gradually transforming the plant into a much more balanced structure with multiple future flowering sites. The internodal spacing remains very attractive—open enough to allow airflow and light penetration, yet close enough to promise dense flower development later on. Her main stem has thickened noticeably over the past week, giving her a sturdy backbone that’s clearly preparing for the stretch that’s still to come. The foliage is lush, healthy, and beautifully coloured, while the fresh lime-green growth emerging at every tip is a constant reminder of just how actively she’s developing. Looking at her now, it’s easy to understand why this cultivar carries the name Cash Express. She certainly isn’t wasting any time. Every day she seems determined to be just a little taller, a little fuller, and a little stronger than she was the day before. ⸻ Looking Ahead Week 5 should become even more exciting. With flowering now beginning to establish itself, I’m expecting the stretch to continue while the first real flower formation starts becoming visible throughout the canopy. Over the coming days I’ll be watching closely for: • Continued vertical stretch. • Development of the trained side branches. • Early flower site formation. • Structural balance after continued LST. • How she compares to her sister phenotype as flowering progresses. If this week’s momentum is anything to judge by, she’s only just getting started. ⸻ Thank You A huge thank you to everyone following this 8×8 Adventure and joining me each week as these incredible genetics continue their journey. Thank you to the amazing GrowDiaries community for providing a place where growers from all around the world can learn from one another, share experiences, and celebrate this incredible hobby together. A special thank you to Plagron for supplying the nutrition and cultivation support behind this entire project. Thank you to Zamnesia for the outstanding genetics, equipment, and the opportunity to document every phenotype from seed to harvest. And finally, thank you to everyone who stops by, leaves a comment, shares advice, or simply enjoys watching these plants develop into their own unique personalities. Every phenotype follows the same path. None of them walk it the same way. Growers Love, and I’ll see you all next week. 🌱💚