Cultivation - Radiometer's Kratom Grow Log

[radiometer]

SWIM has two seedlings currently trying to adapt to the No. California climate and the current heatwave. One looks like it will make the transition. SWIM would like to put them in a closet with a humidifier until they are more established, but she hasn't had time to go get a suitable light.

SWIMs got his plants in the closet with a humidifier and a cheezy incandescent plant light. The healthier one is doing great, she's started to make new pairs of leaves! There's not much hope for the less-hardy one, however, it's likely that the one which is doing well is much happier in low humidity than the other, so will make a better candidate for long-term growth and cloning.

SWIMs plant is doing well, growing slowly but surely.

Does anyone have any recommendations for aritificial lighting for kratom? Specifically, SWIM is wondering about light spectrum, wattage, and photoperiod.

Reputation Comments on this post:

nice growlog

[Alfa]

Photo's of those plants would be nice!

[radiometer]

Your wish is my command. The two large leaves on top are new growth, they just grew in about a week or two ago, and a new pair is forming. Most of the leaves which came with the plant are gone, due to the time it spent in a dry climate before getting moved into the closet with a humidifier. Also visible is a cheapo thermometer/hygrometer. Temp is on the left side, humidity on the right.



2nd photo awaiting some approval process I guess...damnit I was comitted to changing all these pics over to regular size tonight, oh well!

[radiometer]

SWIMS camera sucks but the plant is doing pretty well. I think it wants a lot more wattage!

There's now one leaf still left from when the plant was received, three new pairs of leaves, and a pair about to pop open in the next couple days. The yellow cast on the left is just from the lighting, all of the leaves except for the one original are a bright, happy green!

[radiometer]

What a difference a half year can make! The plant is around 2.5 - 3 feet tall now and vigorous. The leaves featured in the 2nd photo are a hair over 10" in length. It is growing in a white cheapo cabinet with two plant lights and a humidifier which is run manually from time to time each day. This strategy isn't going to work forever - SWIM needs to figure out how to get this plant acclimated to the relative lack of humidity in CA. I figure the plant will outgrow the closet in which it's growing in a couple more months. No new camera yet, but here's two new pics from a webcam, one of the full plant and a closer shot from the top:

[Alfa]

Looking good Radio!

[Nagognog2]

Indeed. Get out the ornaments for holiday decorations. A Buddhist Christmas-Tree is growing!

[radiometer]

SWIM is not sure what's going on, but apparently this plant has suddenly decided to emit six new leaves from the growing shoot visible in picture #2 above, rather than the up-til-now customary two! If it looks interesting, a photo will follow.

It's official - the plant has started growing branches! The top node has split, there are now six leaves forming where only two grew previously. Edited to add picture:

[radiometer]

The plant has not changed too much since the last pic, which showed six new leaves growing. Of those, the two branch stems have grown to about 5-6" in length, the two top leaves are 10" and the four new branch leaves are each about 6", but it has not made any new leaves yet. From what SWIM has seen, the plant seems to go through growth spurts and then chill out for a while.

SWIM has started taking the plant out of the closet into indirect sun light for 2-3 hours a day, in an effort to acclimate it to his house.

SWIM really needs to get a new digital camera. These webcam pics are lousy.

[radiometer]

I thought it was time provide a new picture. The newest shoots have finally started growing out with new leaves. It is high time to get this plant into a larger pot. At present, the medium is roughly 1/2 gallon and the plant is just under 3' tall.

The plant has been in a period of very slow growth, with each shoot only showing one new pair of leaves (which only started appearing a few days ago) since the last month's picture - this despite growing conditions remaining stable. I conclude that kratom may grow in spurts.

Reputation Comments on this post:

I approve very much of this members post, and I find it to be very helpful information that he has provided.

[tayo]

So these were clones? lighting... maybe 400watt ballast grow light full spectrum ceramic metal halide. SWIM was thinking about growing hydroponically. Keeping nutrient levels in the rapid vegetative state.

[radiometer]

It was a purchased as a 6" seedling. Right now it is under a pair of cheesy incandescent "plant lights" and is being weaned for a couple hours a day into the natural spectrum in SWIMs living room. The plant seems to enjoy all the nutrients it can get, so far.


p.s. please leave some feedback if this thread is enjoyable to you. The lack of replies and relatively few reads makes me wonder if it's worth bothering.

[geophagus]

Originally Posted by radiometer

p.s. please leave some feedback if this thread is enjoyable to you. The lack of replies and relatively few reads makes me wonder if it's worth bothering.

This thread is very enjoyable to me, and I am grateful that SWIY has taken the time to share all this wonderful data.

Please keep up the good work, and thanks for the great information!

[bigfish1980]

swim loves this thread, and would be upset if swiy stopped posting. Tis is a great thread keep it going!!!

[Nacumen]

SWIM appreciates threads like this because he often toys with the idea of growing something of his own, and these threads further such musings. The only obstacle in SWIM's way is the amount of time that it will take to get a nice-sized plant. SWIM will be living in small quarters next year, and even if he could find enough space for the plant to grow in, he wouldn't want to be transporting it back and forth to new residences every year or so, because he fears that it would kill the plant and all his work would be for naught.

Reputation Comments on this post:

SWIM's musings on his musings are inspirational. and ps>lots of plants can take road trips easily even if other types...

[kalininin]

Originally Posted by bigfish1980

swim loves this thread, and would be upset if swiy stopped posting. Tis is a great thread keep it going!!!

y same here, especially as i read it in march 08: how is it doing !
looking at the pix, a seriously larger pot might get the growth better.

[Nagognog2]

You're likely sparking interest, hence the few replies (aside from a newbie banging up the rules).

[Swimster]

Swim enjoys it. go on!

[radiometer]

Thanks guys, I wasn't sure if anyone was reading!

[Br00klynB0y87]

Very nice Kratom tree swiy got growing there! Swim himself debated on growing his own awhile back but due to the strict climate Kratom calls for, swim thought it would be a fruitless experience.

However after viewing this thread you gave me sort of an encouragement and I may try it some time soon. Anyhow just curious as to what kind of strain is that, from the pictures I would assume red-vein possibly Thai?

Again nice post.

__________________________________________________ ____________________
"I believe in a long, prolonged, derangement of the senses in order to obtain the unknown."
-- Jim Morrison

[tayo]

SWIM has a plant that just has a stalk and a few twigs sticking out, the leaves fell off during the winter, it is still green and about a foot tall, can it grow this summer or should SWIM just eat the plant and roots now? can it grow w/o leaves? is photosynthesis occuring in the stems?

[radiometer]

Anyhow just curious as to what kind of strain is that, from the pictures I would assume red-vein possibly Thai?

No idea. I only know that it was a seedling. They were sold as seedlings rather than clones so that the buyer could start their own hybridization program if they wanted to.

I do not know if kratom can grow once it's lost all its leaves. My instinct says no, but deciduous trees do so, so it may be worth a try. Try getting it into a high-humidity environment with not too much light. Humidity made a big difference for SWIMs plant, as you can see from the pictures.

[Swimster]

this may incourage swim to put his green thumb to use

[bigfish1980]

Is A flower pot 12" in diameter and about 6-7" deep sufficiant for SWIM to start his Kratom plant untill it is healthy enough for transplant??

[radiometer]

Originally Posted by bigfish1980

Is A flower pot 12" in diameter and about 6-7" deep sufficiant for SWIM to start his Kratom plant untill it is healthy enough for transplant??

How big is SWIY's plant? SWIM's plant pictured above is grown in medium which is about 5" tall X 6" diameter, only maybe a few pints bigger than the pots in my first pictures, and it is quite healthy, although it would probably benefit from being transplanted into a larger living space. So IMO SWIY's plant could thrive for quite a while in such a container as you describe if properly fed and cared for. Think about going bigger when it/they get taller than two feet.