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How to Set up an Automatic Watering System for Cannabis

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Cannabis plants need adequate hydration to thrive and achieve maximum yield. When grown in an ideal environment, you’ll see just how thirsty they can get. Your cannabis plants need water and naturally consume a lot of it –  especially photos. Remember, they’re made of 80% water!

Keeping cannabis plants properly hydrated in optimal growing conditions can be a challenging and time-consuming task. Often, plants grown in pots require daily hydration, which can be a chore. This is where an automatic watering system for growing marijuana can make a big difference.

What is an automatic watering system?

An automatic or automated watering system, also called a self-watering system, is designed to keep your plants hydrated without manual intervention. They provide hydration (H2O & O2) to the plant’s roots as needed, based on a set schedule, moisture sensor, wick, or gravity feed.     

This technology is especially helpful when you have a large garden or canopy to maintain or want something else to deliver hydration (with or without nutrients) to your plants.

These irrigation systems have many names and methods of delivery, such as hydroponics, aeroponics, ebb and flow, nutrient-film technique (NFT), deep water culture, drip irrigation, sub-irrigation, aqua mats, autopots, blumats, octobubblers, and self-watering pots. Not sure which one to choose?

Read this autopot forum thread or our best pots for growing cannabis guide for help choosing the correct pots.

Automatic watering systems work well for plants needing consistent watering. Delivering consistent hydration to your plants is fundamental to generating above-average yields; however, it must be the correct amounts. That’s why one of the primary advantages of an automatic watering system for growing marijuana is its ability to regularly deliver water to the plant’s roots without drowning them. 

Proper watering is essential for cannabis. Consistently under-watering your plants can result in stunted growth and poor yield, while over-watering will drown the roots, ruin soil biology and kill cannabis plants. If you aren’t using an automatic watering system, read our guide to understand the best time to water weed plants and avoid these costly mistakes!

Components of an automated watering system 

You’ll need the following materials to build an automatic irrigation setup for cannabis plants (in any environment):  

Components of an Automated Watering System for cannabis plants
Components of an Automated Watering System

A Water Reservoir

This can be as simple as a plastic container or bucket for a couple of plants or as large as a 55-gallon drum – even for home grows. There are even 200-gallon reinforced reservoirs for larger commercial grows. Some fertilization systems are piped to existing structural water lines and drip fertilizer directly into outgoing water. 

A water pump

Most small to medium-sized systems use a submersible pump to move water to plants through drip tubing. Larger systems often use externally mounted pumps to move water through rigid pipes.

Tubing

Use tubing to connect the water pump to your distribution system. Vinyl or air pump tubing is a popular option for a small or medium-sized cannabis automatic irrigation system because it is durable and easy to work with.

Drip irrigation system

 Install an automatic drip irrigation system to distribute water evenly to your plants. Most drip emitters are labeled in LPH (liters per hour), so make sure you properly size them for the growing containers you will use.

Programmable timer

 A programmable or digital timer is an essential part of your automatic irrigation system setting since it lets you control and adjust the watering schedules for your garden. A proper watering schedule gets more oxygen in the root zone without overdoing it. Keep in mind it is more beneficial for overall growth and yields to use less water more often (more “on” cycles) than using more water less often.

Other tools

Scissors, razor knives, or pipe cutters for irrigation lines. You can also use pliers, drills, hose clamps, pressure regulators, and fasteners to create mounting points.

Other Important Steps

Take samples of the water you’ll use to determine their hardness. Hardness levels reveal how much calcium and other minerals are in your tap water. You may need to use reverse osmosis if you have particularly hard water. 

A typical a self watering system for growing marijuana in an indoor grow tent
It might look daunting and expensive, but an osmosis filter can be a good investment to optimize the water quality for your cannabis plants

Filter the water you start with to reduce the potential for problems. This will reduce the amount of chlorine and chloramines in your water, which is detrimental to plant roots and soil biology. Be sure to learn more about preparing water for irrigating cannabis plants before setting up and running your system for the first time.

Automatic watering systems for indoor gardens

Systems for auto-watering cannabis work well in indoor environments with excellent climate control and relatively stable growing conditions. This stability will help ensure consistent, predictable results for the absorption of water and nutrients by marijuana plants with relatively little adjustment needed. 

The type of substrate you use will partly determine the frequency of your hydration schedule. Indoor cannabis grown in soilless substrates like coco and peat hold air better under wet or saturated conditions than indoor plants grown in soil. If you are growing in soil, read our tips for watering marijuana grown in soil for the best harvest possible, and be sure to download our famous Grow Bible by Robert Bergman to ensure maximum results for your indoor grow!

Expert Tip

Be sure to leave enough room for performing plant maintenance when setting up an indoor automatic drip irrigation system, including the reservoir and distribution lines. It’s easy for a grow room watering system to take up excess room, so plan it out visually before building your system. You should especially consider electrical needs, such as the power outlets where your water pump’s power cord and your digital timer’s power cord will connect.

When possible, set up the reservoir and delivery lines outside of the room and bring them into your room through the path of least resistance.

Before filling your reservoir, check out our guide on the best water for marijuana plants.

Grow tent irrigation systems

Grow tents are soaring in popularity, and a grow tent automatic watering system may be the first one that many new growers will experiment with. These portable grow rooms come in many sizes. They start at 2’ x 2’ but go larger, saving growers the time and effort it takes to build a room. 

Grow tent irrigation systems can be relatively small and simple to set up, and one grow tent watering system may be able to accommodate multiple tents at once. Again, they are small, so ensure you properly size your plants and pots for your tent, or you’ll run out of space. Read our article on growing cannabis in pots for more on choosing the best pots for your grow tent setup.  

A simple DIY grow tent watering system may consist of an elevated 5-gallon bucket above the canopy that hydrates plants via drip tubing using only gravity. Drip irrigation systems like a Blumat system are an example of this. This easy watering system for grow tent hydration works best in typical grow tents that are around 4 to 6 ft wide and deep.  A larger grow tent may benefit from an irrigation system with a pump.

A typical a self watering system for growing marijuana in an indoor grow tent
A typical a self watering system for growing marijuana in an indoor grow tent

Greenhouse irrigation systems

Greenhouse irrigation systems can be installed sub-grade (buried in the ground) and used to water the plants from below, using an autopot or capillary mat, or from above with a drip emitter staked into the top of the soil. Sub-irrigation can save valuable space. 

Greenhouses also provide consistent light, humidity, and temperature, so the watering system you select should work efficiently in these conditions. A greenhouse with built-in floor drainage or elevated growing tables is a great candidate for a cannabis drip system with coco or a coco auto watering system.

Automatic watering systems for growing outdoor cannabis

When it comes to outdoor self-watering systems for cannabis, the best auto-watering system for outdoors will accommodate your environment’s specific needs.

  • How big are your plants going to get?
  • What medium are you using?
  • In full sun?
  • How much wind or exposure?

These factors will help determine the type and size of your outdoor automatic irrigation system.

Outdoor automatic irrigation systems may require a bit more planning. You will need a good water source and adequate pipe or tubing to reach your plants’ location if you use a natural water source like a stream or creek. You will also want to camouflage your system components to avoid detection if growing guerilla. 

An automatic drip system is one of the most efficient ways to deliver water to outdoor cannabis plants. However, you may need to oversize your pump and pipe or tubing to deliver hydration effectively over long distances from a reservoir. You might also need to account for sun and wind exposure drying out your plants more often.

A simple automatic irrigation system setup for your outdoor cannabis plants
A simple automatic irrigation system setup for your outdoor cannabis plants

Automatic watering systems for soil-less hydroponic systems

Soil-less hydroponic systems were developed largely for indoor growing environments to help maximize the amount of biomass and yield from an indoor space. Example systems include ebb and flood tables, NFT, and aeroponics. These systems depend entirely on electrical pumps to circulate irrigation water and are used widely for growing many crops in commercial CEA operations (Controlled Environment Agriculture). The downside is the quick death plants can face if a pump fails or system power is lost.

Pros and cons of automatic watering systems

An auto-watering system for growing marijuana can save time and reduce labor. This is a convenience when growing a couple of plants and an absolute must for commercial operations. These systems will improve the efficiency of your growing efforts.

On the other hand, self-watering systems can make controlling the water flow to the plants difficult, especially with systems that work on set intervals. These systems can lead to overwatering, which can kill your plants. If you’re already on the wrong track (or worried you might be), read our article on underwatering and overwatering weed plants for help.

The best automatic cannabis plant watering systems are reliable, accurate, and specifically designed for cannabis plants. To avoid overwatering, it’s important to size and set up your watering system correctly and ensure it’s calibrated to the specific needs of your plants.

In general, you can use any irrigation system that meets these criteria, but some popular brands include Netafim, Grodan, and Blumat.

In summary

An automatic watering system for growing marijuana is essential for growers who want to keep their plants hydrated without the hassle of manual watering. Whether that is an auto watering system for a grow tent, an irrigation system used indoors, or a DIY drip system outdoors, many options are available to suit your needs. With proper installation and calibration, you can ensure healthy growth and a bountiful harvest.



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Best Places to Grow Cannabis In The House

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Cultivating cannabis indoors lets you control the many variables marijuana plants face while growing. Indoors, you can grow cannabis plants year-round, train them to stay small or trigger them to flower when needed. All of these things are quite hard to do outdoors. That’s why, whether you’re just starting out or if it is a lifelong passion, growing an indoor cannabis garden is an excellent option. You just need to decide where to put it.

Even though cannabis can grow in many conditions, this article will help you determine where your best home grow should be. 

Determine how to grow cannabis first

No two cannabis grows are the same; plus, there’s an almost unlimited combination of cultivation styles, cultivars, techniques, and equipment. When you are ready to grow, start by considering the size and output you’d like your weed plants to achieve. Then use ILGM resources such as the Grow Bible and Harvest Guide to determine your cultivation methods and techniques before considering the space needed to reach your goals. 

Indoor growing has three main categories: grow rooms, grow tents, and micro grows. For some, the decision is easy; if there’s no space in the house for a grow tent or room, then a micro grow makes sense. 

Budget is another thing to keep in mind. The cost of a grow will go up as it gets bigger, more complicated, and more secure. You can build or buy a micro grow box for a few hundred bucks (USD) instead of renovating an entire grow room. The grow tent falls between those extremes, bridging the mobility of a micro grow with the space and capacity of a grow room. If you plan to maintain mothers, cut clones, and run a perpetual harvest indoors, you’ll need two grow tents/micro grows to cover your vegetative and flowering stages

Where to place a micro grow

Micro grows can pack a punch for a small footprint. With sizes ranging from window-side grows under a light to small enclosed boxes like old PC cases, they’re also stealthy and easy to start.  

One of the best features of Micro grows is the ability to put them just about anywhere. Due to their easy setup, they’re great for experimenting with new methods, running autos, and other small-batch projects. They are especially ideal if you’re not ready for a tent or room. 

However, Micro grows have their drawbacks. They have hard limits on your capacity and harvest output since they’re small. They can also be tricky to control. In fact, the smaller the grow, the more temperamental it can be. 

Read our articles “What You Need to Know Before You Micro Grow” and “Cannabis Micro Growing: Grow Weed in a Small Space” to learn more about setting up your own micro grow. 

Placing a grow tent

Grow tents can be a flexible option if you’re interested in growing marijuana in larger batches indoors. You can choose from small 2x2x3 tents to large 10x10x6 tents with no restriction on where they can go.

In terms of space, a tent has a bigger footprint than micro-growing; however, using a grow tent can better control the temperature, humidity, and airflow. Plus, the increased capacity means you can cultivate bigger plants and harvest more flower.

If a tent seems like a lot to put together, do not fear. Many companies sell complete solutions with everything you need to set up your tent. If you prefer to do things yourself, check out our articles on how to build a DIY grow tent and our grow tent buyer’s guide for all the ins and outs of the possibilities. 

Building a grow room

Indoor grow rooms are the Cadillac option, offering the most versatility, space, and security. Unused spaces, including basements, garages, attics, closets, or converted bedrooms/bathrooms, are ideal grow rooms. Once you identify the location of your room, everything from simple grow light setups to complex CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), temperature, and humidity controls can exist in it. Thanks to their bigger space, increased number of grow lights and resource availability, you can customize grow rooms for every type of growing technique.

If you have the space, budget, and time, consider creating your own grow room. Check out our various articles on indoor setups and methods to build a dream grow room in your home.

Basement Grow

A basement is the classic solution when growing cannabis indoors since it provides privacy and security for your grow. The basement also has added perks like temperature and humidity stability, good ventilation options, and less concern about noise and smell. But basements can be a problem. If the humidity is too high, stagnant air can grow mold and mildew. You may also have lower ceilings, which limit how tall plants can grow.

Your budget, space, and goals will determine whether a room or tent placed in the basement is the best place to grow cannabis at home. On a lower budget, a tent can help control some of the moisture and keep the temperature higher, but it can’t replace the benefits of a room.

Attic Grow

Even though the basement is often the first place people think of, an attic cannabis grow can be a close second.  Like a basement, an attic offers a high degree of privacy and security, but height can be an issue. Some attics might be tall enough for full-grown plants, whereas others have ceilings that cannot support mature sativa plants

Certain attics aren’t suited for a grow room; either they’re too small or low, or the temperature and humidity are too hard to control. A grow tent might help keep your plants cool and stabilize other factors, but that’s not always guaranteed. You’ll have to be critical about your available space and determine if your attic is a good spot for growing marijuana indoors.

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  • For windowsill or under lamps
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Garage Grow Room

You can grow weed indoors in your garage; it’s private, secure, and easy to keep discrete. Ventilation is also fairly easy to handle. However, temperature and humidity can be problematic, like in the attic. It may also be easier for others to break in or discover your grow compared to a basement or attic. Be smart and critical when deciding if your garage is a good option for growing weed indoors.

A garage can house a grow room or a tent. If you prefer a room, make sure to consider insulation and space. If you still need to park a car or store stuff in the garage, a grow room can take up a lot of space. However, a tent can be a more manageable garage option. You can place a grow tent to the side and have it take up very little space. 

Growing cannabis in a bedroom

A bedroom grow space is also an option. In some instances, it might even be ideal, giving you full-height ceilings, convenient space to work with your plants, and the most temperature-controlled option in your home. However, it may be difficult to secure a room and keep it private, but that depends on where you live. Odor and noise may also be a concern depending on the living situation.

In most cases, it’s easier to start with a grow tent when you’re growing in a bedroom. However, if you’ve got the time, money, and interest, a bedroom makes a great grow room because you can run perpetual harvests with multiple smaller spaces or one large canopy.  

The Summary

Choosing where to grow indoors can be tricky, thanks to many different options and cultivation methods.  Where you grow depends on your goals as a cultivator; your budget and living situation determine the rest. Consider a Micro grow if you’re just starting out or want to be stealthy. A grow tent is the next step, giving you more space and harvest potential. And for those ready to invest, grow rooms offer unlimited potential. 

As a long-time grower, I like growing in tents in the basement or a bedroom because it balances space, mobility, and control. However, cultivation is about finding out what works best for you and your environment.  With time and care, any method will create quality cannabis

Keep on Growing!



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Cannabis Seeds

Cannabis Seed Finder For Easy Selection

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When you’re considering growing your own weed, you’ll eventually run into the question, what seeds should I be growing? Researching what cannabis to grow, one can get lost in the myriad of choices you find online. Indica, sativa, feminized, autoflower, thc, and many strains, are just some of the indications you’ll come across. 

We have many guides for those who want to educate themselves on all these topics. You’ll even find some of the info below. But you’re just here for seeds and not for a cannabis Ph.D., are you? For you, we built this seedfinder tool, AKA the ILGM Strain Quiz. 

By taking a minute and going through this quiz, you will learn what type of cannabis strains and which seed types are best for your personal needs.

Start the seedfinder quiz immediately, or read on to learn more about its contents.

Experience level

Are you new to growing marijuana? Or are you a seasoned grower looking for their next delight? By sharing your experience level, we can filter out strains that are more of a challenge to grow. As a new grower, you probably don’t want a plant that is unforgiving towards minor mistakes in watering, fertilizer, or other forms of plant care. This will save you from unintentionally killing your plants.

If you’re really new at this, you will want to download my free eBook, the Marijuana Grow Bible. This guide will save you from finishing off your grow.

Where will you grow?

Where your plants will be growing is very important to the type of seeds you pick. Some plants are more sensitive to catching a bug or some other misfortune. These are better grown indoors, where you control the grow conditions. 

When growing outdoors, you will want a type of plant that thrives in the climate that you live in. Lanky and sleek sativa plants are beautiful to grow when you’re in a very sunny and hot climate whit lots of sunlight hours. But when you live up north, some sturdier indicas will do better in the colder days and nights of early Spring and Fall.

Plant size

Next up, you must consider the space you will be growing in. Some autoflowering cannabis plants don’t grow larger than a foot or two. But other strains that you’ll find through the seed finder can sprout towering monster plants of almost ten feet in height. You wouldn’t want one of those filling up your stealthy grow tent.

How do you like your high?

Some people get up early to wake and bake. A great way to start the day, but you wouldn’t want to kick off with a relaxing couch-lock strain if you have errands to run and things to do. The same goes for toking up an energizing strain just before bedtime. That thing’ll keep you up for hours while you were really looking forward to a night of deep and dreamless sleep. Here’s where our seedfinder helps you select a strain that affects your day in just the right way. You’re welcome 🙂

THC vs CBD

Consuming cannabis is not always about getting high. Though some people like the strongest, highest THC-level strains available to mankind, others prefer just a light buzz. Then there are folk who just prefer to get the CBD cannabinoid in their system. Let the seed finder help you get the perfect dose for you.

More to consider

Once you’ve entered all your preferences in the seed finder, you’ll be greeted by a set of strains that fit your needs. If you like, you can delve deeper even. Here are some additional considerations that may be important to you.

Photoperiod vs Autoflowering Seeds

Cannabis plants grow over the Summer season and start flowering when days become shorter towards Fall. This process can be simulated indoors. We call these plants photoperiod cannabis plants. Contrary to light-dependent photoperiod plants, autoflowers automatically go into flowering after a few short weeks. This makes them smaller and quicker to harvest. 

All our seeds grow feminized plants. This means that you will never have to worry about male plants which yield no weed at all.

Want to harvest soon?

Grow autoflowers if you’re short in time and want your bud a.s.a.p. Autoflowering plants finish in two to three months from the moment you sprout the seeds.

Want a heavy yield?

If you’re in the market for the biggest yields possible, you will want to grow photoperiod feminized seeds. They take longer to finish than autoflowers, but they grow more flowers and heavier buds.

Terpenes for taste and aroma

In our store, you will find that each strain has a terpene profile. A lot can still be learned about terpenes and their effects on the flavor and even the type of high. For the aficionados out there, you can do a deep dive into our store for more information and to find the seeds that fit your needs!

Learn more about seeds

If you made it all the way here and you’re hungry to learn more about cannabis seeds, check out this set of guides to help you on your way!

That’s about it when it comes to selecting the right seeds. Try our seedfinder for yourself, and you will be growing the perfect plant in no time. New to growing? No sweat! Download my free Marijuana Grow Bible and learn all about growing your own!

Happy growing!



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Cannabis Seeds

Learn About Fast Flowering Cannabis Strains and Seeds

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Fast-flowering strains combine photoperiod genetics with autoflowering genetics. They have been engineered to grow and mature faster than traditional cannabis plants. This means quicker harvests and increased yields compared to autoflower strains. Fast flowering strain yields can match those of photoperiod cannabis varieties.

Understanding fast flowering weed and how it differs from established photoperiod and autoflower cultivars is key for growers of any level. This article’ll dive deeper into these differences, how fast-flowering cultivars are made, and their added benefits.

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The difference between fast-flowering and autoflowers

The primary difference between fast-flowering cannabis variants and autoflowering cannabis variants is how they flower. Fast-flowering variants are photoperiod dependent (they need light manipulation to flower and mature). The light cycle will need to be turned back or “flipped” from 18 hours on and 6 hours off to 12 hours on and 12 hours off for the plants to transition from their vegetative stage into their flowering stage. 

This is in contrast to autoflowering strains, which automatically go into their flowering period within 4-6 weeks of germination from seed. Thus, fast-flowering cultivars give growers the benefits of sturdy and potent photoperiod strains in a shorter period of time.

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How fast-flowering strains are made

There has been a surge in the development of fast-flowering strains due to the increased demand for cannabis products. Breeders utilize selective genetics and hybridization techniques to produce these fast version strains. In the case of fast-flowering cultivars, the breeders selected genetics from plants that flowered faster than some of their sisters.  

Sometimes, fast-flowering cannabis varieties are made by introducing photoperiod plants to pollen from autoflower plants. This introduces even more fast-flowering genetic traits to the new phenotype (strain). After that, breeders stabilize the Ruderalis genetics by reintroducing photoperiod genetics through a process called “back-crossing”. 

This produces fast-flowering, photoperiod-dependent, and cloneable cultivars.

Growing fast-flowering strains

One of the significant advantages of growing fast-flowering cannabis strains is that they’ll reach the flowering phase quicker than traditional light-cycle dependent strains. The flowering time for these strains can range from 6-8 weeks, while many traditional photoperiod strains can take 7 -to 10 weeks or longer. 

The shorter flowering period allows growers to turn over more crops. Additionally, fast-flowering strains can be grown multiple times a year in the same space, potentially increasing yields and profits.

Fast-flowering strains can have a longer period of vegetative growth and training if desired, giving growers more options.

Pros and cons of fast-flowering strains

Besides the reduced growth cycle time, fast-flowering plants are also more resistant to pests and diseases than traditional strains. This is likely because they mature quicker, leaving less time for diseases and pests to take hold. 

Fast-flowerers are also more resistant to environmental factors such as temperature changes and extreme weather conditions, making them easier to grow in a wider range of locations. The shorter growing times also allow for more potential harvests on a yearly basis.

While fast-flowering strains have many advantages, they also have some drawbacks. One of the main disadvantages is a potentially smaller yield than traditional strains. Lower yields occur because these strains complete their life cycle much quicker than traditional strains. That means they have less time to develop and grow. Additionally, fast-flowering strains may produce lower levels of THC and other cannabinoids than traditional strains.

Fast-flowering strains may also require more immediate attention from growers due to their shorter lifespan. Any potential errors or mistakes may mean extending the growth cycle or delaying flowering for the plants to recover.

Are fast flowering strains good?

This is a tough question to answer. It all depends on what you consider “good”. Fast-flowering strains are a good option for growers looking for decent yields of potent flowers in less time than photo cultivars take. But, due to shorter growth cycles, as I stated before, the yield might not be as high as with ‘regular’ photoperiod plants, which get all the time they need to fully flourish. 

Fast-flowering cultivars also offer more customization for growing and training than autoflowers, as well as more time to recover from any potential mistakes or accidents that might occur.

So, yes. Ultimately, fast-flowering cultivars are “good” if you want training flexibility and production speed with a decent and potent yield compared to most autoflower varieties. But if you’re looking for fully optimized yields, our feminized photoperiod options are a ‘better choice.’ 

What is the fastest-growing cannabis strain?

There may be some debate as to which cannabis strains grow the fastest. Afghani and Skunk strains tend to be the fastest-growing from what I’ve experienced. However, those were regular photoperiod cultivars. 

When you look online, pretty much every site has its own lists, each with different strains of claiming to be the fastest. But are those claims justified? It’s hard to say since no one has really tested it. The only thing we can say for certain is that autoflowering seeds can be harvested earlier than many of their photoperiod counterparts. And when it comes to subspecies, sativa tends to need longer than indica plants.   

Check out our list of fast flowering strains to see which ones we think are our fastest. And if you’re new to growing or just want some great information on enhancing your current skills, download Robert’s free Grow Bible here.



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