8 Tips for Growing NYC Diesel Marijuana [Grower’s Guide]

The NYC Diesel strain is a slightly sativa-dominant hybrid. It is a cross of Hawaiian, Afghani, and Sour Diesel. With a THC content of between 18% and 21%, NYC Diesel commands respect. Users enjoy the happy and energetic feelings they get when trying this strain.

It offers a moderate yield of around 14 ounces per square meter planted indoors. Outdoors, you can expect approximately 12 ounces per plant. However, it is a difficult strain to cultivate and is best left to experienced growers.

This guide outlines eight helpful tips that enable you to get the most out of growing NYC Diesel.

1 – Where to Cultivate NYC Diesel

NYC Diesel can thrive in either an indoor or outdoor setup. However, it requires a warm and dry climate to perform well outside. As a result, you are better off sticking with an indoor grow room.

NYC Diesel can thrive in either an indoor or outdoor setup.

As we discuss below, this can prove problematic due to the height of this particular strain. Its flowering period is 10-12 weeks when cultivated indoors. When grown outdoors, NYC Diesel is ready for harvest by the start of November.

2 – Trim it Regularly

Soma Seeds created NYC Diesel. The Amsterdam-based company bred it in 1997 and renamed it to honor those who lost their lives after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. This award-winning strain can grow to an incredible 12 feet tall!

If you fail to trim it properly, it can get out of hand in a hurry. When you cut off selected branches and leaves, you enable the NYC Diesel plant to direct its energy to the quality buds. It is also important to remove dead and yellowing leaves. They serve no useful purpose and drain the plant’s resources.

Begin by removing branches low down on the plant that receive little light. Then focus on the dying leaves, and finish by removing bud sites at the foot of the plant. Begin trimming NYC Diesel when it starts becoming taller and bushier. Continually prune the plant until it is 3-4 weeks into the flowering stage. Invest in a couple of pairs of high-quality Fiskars or Chikamasas pruning shears.

3 – NYC Diesel Feeding

It is best to stick with an organic feeding plan. This means placing your NYC Diesel plants in healthy soil with plenty of micro and macronutrients. Ideally, you will make some compost tea for your plants. This will provide your crop with all the organic nutrients it needs.

During the vegetative stage, combine base nutrients (Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus) with supplements like Voodoo Juice. Emphasize nitrogen, but don’t overdo it. Once you force the plants into flowering, increase phosphorus feeding.

4 – The Right Lighting for NYC Diesel

These plants don’t have any special lighting requirements. Pick one of the following types of grow lights, but please note their pros and cons:

Fluorescent Grow Lights (CFLs):

These are ideal for small indoor grows. The standard 40W CFL bulb is inexpensive. CFLs are widely available, don’t get hot, and are suitable for beginners. They are excellent for seedlings and clones and are easy to set up. However, CFLs don’t work well when the plants are in bloom. They also have a shorter lifespan than other bulbs and a low light output.

HID Grow Lights:

Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) are the two primary HID lighting types. A complete kit with a lamp, ballast, and reflector is available for under $200.  HIDs produce high yields and are reliable and consistent. On the downside, the intense heat they emit can burn plants. HID usage will also significantly increase your energy bill.

LECs:

This form of lighting emits a natural light spectrum. The UV-B rays they give off could boost trichome production. LECs also have a longer lifespan than HIDs. However, they are costly and generate plenty of heat. Also, UV-B rays are harmful to humans.

LEDs:

This is the most energy-efficient form of grow light. Their long-term costs are low, but the initial outlay is rather high. Also, there isn’t an industry standard for LED lighting. As a result, you could end up purchasing a low-quality option.

5 – NYC Diesel Temperature & Humidity

You can also follow standard procedures when it comes to temperature and humidity. Both measures vary as the plant’s growth cycle progresses.

Seedling:

Keep humidity between 65% and 70% because the plant’s root system isn’t established yet. This high level of humidity ensures proper water intake via the leaves. Keep daytime temperatures between 68- and 77-degrees Fahrenheit. At night, you can reduce it by 5-8 degrees.

Vegetative Stage:

Begin lowering humidity by 5% each week. You can increase the temperature slightly, but there is no pressing need. These actions help the roots absorb more water. The evaporation of water through the leaves helps the plant cool itself.

Flowering Stage:

The humidity level should be around 40% by this stage. Keep the temperatures in the high 60s Fahrenheit. In the last two weeks before harvest, reduce the humidity to 30%. Decrease the daytime temperature to 65 degrees. At night, it can be 55-60 degrees.

6 – Should You Increase CO2 Levels?

According to experts, increasing carbon dioxide levels in the grow room could result in a 20% increase in yield. If you use CFLs or a similarly low-powered light for your NYC Diesel, there’s no need to increase CO2 levels. Your plants will already get enough in regular fresh air to process the light they receive.

Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the grow room could result in a 20% increase in yield.

CO2 supplementation works well with LEDs and HIDs. Aim to maintain a carbon dioxide level of between 1200 and 1500 parts per million (ppm). Doing this also enables you to increase the daytime temperature to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For reference, CO2 levels in regular air are approximately 410 ppm.

7 – Watering Your NYC Diesel Plants

Watering your plants seems like the simplest task. However, a substantial number of growers continue to overwater their crops. It is important to note that your NYC Diesel plants need different water amounts according to the growing stage. For instance, seedlings and clones don’t need too much.

When your plants are seedlings and in the early vegetative stage, water them gently. If you use an excessively powerful stream, you could interfere with developing roots.

When deciding whether to water your plants, place your finger into the first two inches of soil. If it feels moist, don’t add any more water. If it feels dry, add a moderate amount of water. You should also weigh your plants to ascertain whether they need further watering.

Once your NYC Diesel plants are mature enough, opt for the ‘water well but less often’ method. This means watering the growing medium to a maximum of one-third of the pot’s capacity. Make sure the plant’s container has holes at the bottom to collect runoff. You need to dump this excess water.

8 – What Is the Right Soil pH Level?

The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. The scale ranges from 1-14. The most acidic substances are close to 1. The most alkaline substances are closer to 14. The pH of pure water is 7.

When growing NYC Diesel in soil, the ideal pH is between 6.3 and 6.8. When cultivated hydroponically, a pH of between 5.5 and 6.0 is more suitable. Keeping the pH level at the right level has plenty of benefits. Your plants will grow more vigorously and produce bigger yields.

There are pH UP and DOWN products on the market. These make it easy to increase or decrease the pH of your soil. It is also worth investing in a digital pH meter or a measurement kit.

If the pH of your NYC Diesel plants’ soil is too high or too low, problems such as nutrient lockout can occur. This is when your plants can’t absorb nutrients from the soil. pH imbalance is one of the main causes of a nutrient lockout.

Final Thoughts on Growing NYC Diesel

We must reiterate that NYC Diesel is a strain best left to expert cultivators. It requires a lot of maintenance, and you must take care not to overfeed it. You’ll get the best results by growing it in organic soil.

Although you can grow it outside, it requires the ideal set of climate conditions. When cultivating NYC Diesel indoors, make sure you trim it regularly as it can become incredibly tall. You can increase the yield with CO2 supplementation, but this works best when you use powerful grow lights.