🍰 Lava Cake – Week 8 (4th Week Flower) | The Bulking Phase The fourth week of flower has arrived, and both Lava Cakes are showing their full potential. Their structure is strong, pistils are snow-white and thick, and bud sites are stacking beautifully. This is the week where the promise of flowers begins to turn into visible production, every day, you can almost see them swelling. ⸻ 🔬 What’s Happening in Week 4 Flower By now, stretch is nearly finished. The plants are redirecting their energy: • From vertical growth ➝ into flower bulk. • From nitrogen demand ➝ into phosphorus & potassium demand. • From building structure ➝ into packing density. This transition is crucial: the roots, the soil microbiology, and the nutrient profile all work together to feed flowers instead of stems and leaves. What we see this week: • Thick, healthy pistils at every site. • Calyx swelling beginning, the first signs of true bud stacking. • Leaves still dark and strong — proof of balanced nutrition. • No stress, no burn, no deficiencies. ⸻ 🥤 Feeding Strategy – Why Boosters Matter Now This week, we removed the Aptus All-in-One Liquid, despite it being in the photo. The reason: the soil’s super soil base + slow-release pellets still carry enough NPK to support the girls. Overfeeding at this stage could risk tip burn or nutrient lockout — and we want the roots to stay clean and active. Instead, the focus is on precision boosters: Recipe (per L water): • Aptus Regulator – 0.15 ml → strengthens cell walls, stress protection, and nutrient uptake efficiency. • Aptus CalMag Boost – 0.25 ml → keeps calcium steady (critical for bud structure) and magnesium strong (photosynthesis & chlorophyll). • Plagron Power Buds – 1 ml → directs plant energy into flower production. • Plagron Sugar Royal – 1 ml → provides organic nitrogen + enzymes to stimulate terpene development. • Plagron Green Sensation – 1 ml → PK booster + biostimulant, promoting dense, resin-rich flowers. Why this mix? • Because the NPK in soil is still sufficient → boosters fill in the extra needs of flowering without overwhelming the root zone. • Because boosters provide specialized roles → each product targets a specific physiological process. • Because balance prevents problems → overdoing NPK at week 4 could backfire, while focused boosters guide the plants safely into mid-bloom. ⸻ 🌡️ Environmental Notes • Temps: Still ~31–34°C until AC arrives. High, but plants are adapting. • Humidity: 55–60%, VPD ~1.8–2.0 kPa — slightly high, but still manageable. • Watering Rhythm: Once substrate moisture falls near 19–20%, measured by TrolMaster WCS substrate sensor. This ensures roots get oxygen before each feed. Even under warm conditions, the plants are drinking heavily — proving they are metabolically active and thriving. ⸻ 🌸 What to Expect Next Week (Week 5 Flower) ✅ Expect: • Noticeable bulking → flowers will become rounder, denser, and begin to “stack.” • More pistils → a full carpet of white hairs covering colas. • Aroma development → the first hints of Lava Cake’s dessert-like terpene profile may start releasing. ❌ Not to Expect (yet): • Full frost coverage → heavy trichome production usually comes weeks 5–7. • Final density → buds will continue swelling for several weeks, so patience is key. ⸻ ✨ Closing Thoughts Week 4 flower is the foundation of yield. It’s when the plants finish their stretch, define their bud sites, and begin to convert light, water, and nutrients into the weight and density we harvest later. Our Lava Cakes are in perfect rhythm: • Strong genetics, showing symmetrical growth. • Balanced feeding, keeping roots clean and buds fueled. • Stable environment, with monitoring from TrolMaster guiding every adjustment. From here forward, every day brings visible progress. The journey of seeds to now feels like preparation — this is the beginning of the true show. 🔬 Science Spotlight – The Unsung Heroes: Calcium & Magnesium Many growers focus on NPK during flower, but two “quiet players” — calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) — are just as vital to ensure flowers bulk properly. 🌿 Calcium (Ca): • Strengthens cell walls, making flowers denser and less prone to collapse. • Improves nutrient transport, ensuring phosphorus and potassium (the bloom drivers) actually reach the buds. • Helps roots resist stress in warm environments (like our 31–34°C room). 🌿 Magnesium (Mg): • The central atom in chlorophyll → without magnesium, photosynthesis collapses. • Supports enzyme activity, converting sugars into energy for bud building. • Directly influences terpene production, giving flowers their aroma and flavor. Why CalMag Boost now? • In soil mixes, calcium can sometimes get “locked up” as the pH fluctuates. • With daily watering at slightly acidic pH (5.8–6.0), we guarantee Ca and Mg are immediately available. • This ensures strong, vibrant leaves → which means more energy for flower sites. In short: while NPK builds the skeleton of yield, calcium and magnesium are the glue and spark that hold it all together. Skipping them would weaken the entire flowering process. ✨ Grower’s Analogy: Think of your plant like a construction site: • NPK are the bricks and beams (the main structure). • Calcium is the cement holding every wall together. Without it, the structure would crumble. • Magnesium is the spark plug in the engine — it makes photosynthesis “run” and fuels the work crews building the flowers. No cement, no structure. No spark plug, no engine. That’s why CalMag support is never optional — especially in flower when the demand skyrockets. 🌸 📲 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.woodroom.tel/grower/dogdoctorofficial • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogdoctorofficial/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dogdoctorofficial ⸻ Explore the Gear that Powers My Grow If you’re curious about the tech I’m using, check out these links: • Genetics, gear, nutrients, and more – Zamnesia: https://www.zamnesia.com/ • Environmental control & automation – TrolMaster: https://www.trolmaster.eu/ • Advanced LED lighting – Future of Grow: https://www.futureofgrow.com/ • Root and growth nutrition – Aptus Holland: https://aptus-holland.com/ • Nutrient systems & boosters – Plagron: https://plagron.com/en/ • Soil & substrate excellence – PRO-MIX BX: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en-us/products/pro-mix-bx-mycorrhizae • Curing and storage – Grove Bags: https://grovebags.com/ ⸻ 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 💚