Harlequin - Week by Week Grow Diary & Strain Review

MyrceneCB1 decided to test Harlequin feminised in a custom RDWC system, chasing that clear-headed CBD glow this strain is famous for.

The arrangement was high-tech and harsh, with hydroponics, LEDs, ScrOG, and every training trick in the book. The grow lasted 18 weeks, from July until harvest.

There was a lot of hands-on defoliation, careful fertilizer dialing, and just enough stress to make a grower sweat. The prize? Tight jars of earthy Harlequin with a hint of citrus that helped me focus and relax.

Grow Setup

Grow Diary

Weeks 1 & 2: Germination & Seedling

The run began on July 23 with seeds that had been treated in Nitrozyme and put in rockwool cubes under domes. Five of the twelve Harlequin feminised beans grew and pushed out robust taproots into the RDWC system.

The water was clear, the temperature was about 24 °C, the humidity was about 65%, and the HLG 550 was high above to help them get used to it.

The seedlings had roots, the leaves were stacking up, and the system was holding stable without any leaks by the end of week 2.

Weeks 3 & 4: Early Vegetation

The newborn plants became used to their new environment and started to eat Terra Aquatica's base nutrients with CalMag help. By the fourth week, topping had started, which meant cutting off the main shoot and getting ready for main-lining.

The plants grew thicker stems and more lateral development. The canopy started to spread evenly throughout the net, and the temperature stayed around 25 °C during the day and 20 °C at night.

Weeks 5 & 6: Veg in Full Swing

Main-lining went on, instructing each branch to grow outward. LST bent the shoots down, while defoliation opened up light routes to the lower nodes. The plants grew twice as big because the roots loved the water with a lot of oxygen in it.

By the end of week 6, the frame of the ScrOG net was full of healthy plants that were evenly spaced out, and the Harlequins appeared ready to flip.

Weeks 7 & 8: Transition to Flower

The light cycle changed to 12/12, and the Migro Aray 8 took over. Stretch started right away, with branches winding through the ScrOG. Nutrients moved toward bloom formulations.

By week 8, pistils had grown at the nodes, giving off the first traces of a citrus-herbal smell. The canopy remains flat, with each top battling for the same amount of light.

Weeks 9 & 10: Early Flower

Buds started to stack, and sugar leaves were just starting to frost. Defoliation got rid of fan leaves that were blocking bud sites and kept the air flow tight.

The RDWC mix was carefully regulated so that the EC stayed the same and the pH stayed at 5.8. By the end of week 10, each branch had several blossoming sites on it that were covered in white hairs.

Weeks 11 & 12: Mid Flower

This was the turn of the resin. The buds became bigger, the pistils got thicker, and the tent smelled like spicy lemons. Another round of defoliation cut off the bottom.

BioBloom and Top-Max dosage found their stride and fed the flowers that were getting bigger. There were no free places left in the ScrOG net; the canopy was completely locked in.

Weeks 13 & 14: Bulking Up

Colas got plump because of the thick, sticky bracts. The smells got stronger, and the Harlequin profile was clear: earthy base notes with a citrus sting.

To keep mould from growing, the temperature and humidity were carefully controlled. It was 25 °C during the day and 20 °C at night, and the RH was as low as 45%.  

The buds were shiny with resin, and the trichomes changed from clear to hazy.

Weeks 15 & 16: Ripening

The pistils got darker and curled in, as resin production reached its pinnacle. The tops were covered in frost that sparkled in LED light. Feeding was cut back a little, with a focus on ripening formulations.

There was only a little bit of defoliation now; only a few leaves were cut off to let air flow. Plants stopped growing up and put all their energy into making blossoms.

Weeks 17 & 18: Final Ripening & Harvest

The flush started with plain water going through the RDWC system. As nutrients went away, the leaves turned pale green. The smell of citrus and spice reached the tent full blast.

By the time of harvest, the trichomes were primarily hazy with a few amber ones. This was the best mix for balanced CBD effects. After a slow dry, the chop gave us [99.33:gr] of dry flower, which we put in jars.

Detailed Observations & Reflections

The RDWC was both a blessing and a problem. The constant flow of oxygenated water made plants develop quickly, but the pH and nutrient levels had to be checked almost all the time.

Harlequin did well with training, especially with topping and ScrOG, which made the most of the 4×4 tent's canopy size. The taste was locked in: it was earthy and aromatic, with a citrusy lemon top note.

The results were just like what people said about Harlequin: clear, relaxing, and good for focusing.

Challenges & Solutions

The most difficult part was being sensitive to nutrients. At the start of flowering, the EC was a touch high and the leaves looked stressed. It was fixed immediately by turning down the feed strength.

Defoliation was also important because the thick ScrOG canopy would have been a mould trap if it hadn't been carefully trimmed.

It was also hard to find the right spot for the lights, but both the HLG and Migro LEDs did a great job of covering the area.

Harlequin: Final Result and Strain Review

The drying process was slow and steady, with a RH of about 55%. Buds dried to a hard, resinous finish.

The yield of [99.33:gr] may not seem like a lot, but the quality was clear: the flowers were dense, sticky, and had a high CBD profile. The smoke was smooth and had earthy citrus aromas with a soft, peppery aftertaste.

The effects were relaxing, which was great for times when you need to relax or focus on something creative.

Ready to get these results? Buy Harlequin Seeds Here