Roberts put an Auto Banana Kush seed into play with the kind of determination that only a grower who has been scared a few times can have. The setup included a Medic Grow Mini Sun-2 LED and a five-gallon DWC bucket.

Athena's blended line fed the plants. The goal was clear: teach, cut, and care for this autoflower as it went through the ups and downs of hydroponic life.

It took 86 days from sprouting to harvesting, and during that time there were worries about damping off, nutrient imbalances, and a potassium deficiency that wouldn't go away.

The jars still told the story of success: tropical-sweet Banana Kush nugs with a balanced, uplifting kick.

Grow Setup

ParameterDetails
Strain Name & SourceBanana Kush Auto by WeedSeedsExpress
Grow MediumFive-gallon DWC with hydroton and rockwool
Nutrients BrandsAthena Blended Line: Grow A/B, Bloom, CaMg, Cleanse, Hygrozyme
Lighting SetupMedic Grow Mini SUN-2 LED, 320 watts
Indoor/OutdoorIndoor grow tent
Training TechniquesLST during weeks three through eight, defoliation through week twelve, lollipopping, root-tip pruning
Pot SizeFive-gallon DWC bucket
Environmental Range26 °C day, 22 °C night, 47 percent humidity, 5.8 pH, ~456 ppm in early veg

Grow Diary

Week 1 & 2: Vegetation

She scratched the seed, soaked it, and put it in rockwool. By the end of the first week, it had grown [2.5:cm], which was pretty shy. There was some drama, though: damping-off almost took her early.

Roberts kept the temperature steady at 26 °C during the day and 22 °C at night, with humidity around 47%. The substrate was at 23 °C, the solution was at 22 °C, and the feed was at pH 5.8 with a mild 456 ppm.

The little survivor had grown to 5 centimeters by the second week. Roots touched the water, new leaves opened up, and Roberts finally let out a sigh of relief.

Banana Kush Auto Week 1Banana Kush Auto Week 2

Week 3 & 4: Vegetation

By the third week, the plant had found its rhythm. It was 5 inch tall and did well with its first round of low-stress training. To make the roots denser, Roberts had to prune the tips back.

He also had to deal with a small pH drift that could have thrown things off. A quick change of the reservoir brought things back into balance, and the plant kept growing strong.

By the fourth week, she was 6 inch tall, had a wider canopy, and healthy roots that showed she would be able to handle the change.

Banana Kush Auto Week 3Banana Kush Auto Week 4

Week 5 & 6: Flowering

The start of flower was in week five, when pistils were 9 inch long. Roberts changed the feeding schedule to include Cleanse and CaMg from Athena's line. The stretch was happening.

By the sixth week, she had grown to 13 inch and had another lollipopping and defoliation to make room for new buds. The smell was faintly sweet with a tropical hint, which was a hint of what the Banana Kush would smell like.

Roberts said she was "doing great at the moment," which was a good sign that the hydro setup was working well.

Banana Kush Auto Week 5Banana Kush Auto Week 6

Week 7 & 8: Flowering

She grew to 15 inch in the seventh week and kept adding new sites. She kept going by regularly changing the solution and removing leaves.

She was 20 inch tall by the eighth week, and Roberts came in to do more lollipopping and leveling of the canopy. He could see the shape of the harvest ahead as buds began to grow.

"She is ready to go for another week," he said with the confidence of a grower who knows he has gotten the plant past the first few problems.

Banana Kush Auto Week 7Banana Kush Auto Week 8

Week 9 & 10: Flowering

The stretch reached its highest point at 27 inch in the ninth week. The plant put all of its energy into making the buds bigger because it wasn't growing up as quickly. Roberts was happy, but the tenth week taught him a hard lesson.

A lack of potassium set in because the reservoir's pH level dropped. He said this wasn't his best run, and the leaves showed signs of deficiency.

But a reset of the reservoir and careful feeding helped the plant get back on track, and the flowers kept growing despite the setback.

Banana Kush Auto Week 9Banana Kush Auto Week 10

Week 11 & 12: Flowering and Harvest

She stayed at 27 inch for the last few weeks, gaining weight and making a sweeter, more floral smell that hinted at the Banana Kush genetics. Roberts did one last defoliation, kept the reservoir fresh, and let her grow until day 86.

On harvest day, the flowers weighed 17.6 oz wet, but after drying, they weighed [121.9:gr]. The buds were thick and frosty, and they tasted like sweet tropical fruit with a flowery finish.

The effects were balanced, relaxing, and had just the right amount of energy to keep stress away without making you feel like you were stuck on the couch.

For a grow full of problems, the end result was a good reminder that hard work pays off.

Banana Kush Auto Week 11Banana Kush Auto Week 12

Detailed Observations & Grower’s Reflections

Roberts saw how easily autoflowers can get stressed out when they're young. He almost lost this one to damping-off before the roots could get to the water.

Later, the potassium deficiency was a harsh reminder that DWC needs constant pH control. The plant still held her weight, though.  The canopy stayed open because she kept defoliating it, and training gave her a balanced structure.

Roberts said this wasn't his best grow, but he still got tasty jars and a greater respect for the patience that hydro requires.

Challenges & Solutions

The first problem was early damping-off, which was fixed by keeping the air flow high and the moisture low.

The second one happened in the middle of flowering when the pH level changed, causing a potassium deficiency that left marks on the leaves but not the buds.

The problem was fixed by changing the solution and keeping a closer eye on things, which let the plant finish strong.

Banana Kush Auto: Final Result and Strain Review

It took eighty-six days from germination to chop, and the final dry yield was [121.9:gr] from one plant. The flowers had a tropical-sweet smell with a floral undertone, and they made you feel relaxed and energized at the same time.

Roberts said that even though the leaves were damaged by mistakes, the buds still lived up to the Banana Kush name: they were sweet, strong, and satisfying.

Banana Kush Auto Week 12Banana Kush Auto Week 12

ParameterResult
Grow Duration86 days
Dry Yield[121.9:gr]
Wet Yield17.6 oz
Final Height27 inch
Smoke ProfileSweet, tropical, flowery, relaxing and uplifting
DifficultyIntermediate – hydro requires strict pH control

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