How thick???

[pipefitter]

Just curious, how thick your main stalk is at the end of flowering? Really, This question should only be suited for indoor growers as it would only seem fair. Pictures would be great but, well will trust you... no really. And does the size of your stalk make a difference. :jointsmile:

[oldmac]

Hello pipefitter,

I grow SOG size single cola plants so I'm not the best one to answer this, but it will get the ball rolling for your thread. I'm talking plants that have very little veg time and go to flower almost immediately. Main stalk, heck the only stalk, never branches. :D

I've found that the finished size varies according to strain.
But even grower's I know of who grow bushes indoors, it is never as big as outdoors. So growing conditions must play a part also.

Good growing to you.
OM

[Dutch Pimp]

Thicker is probably better....but, not critical. If you grow them tall and lanky?...like I do... they want to fall over.
The colas make them top heavy. I have to tie them up or lean them against the wall...:)

It's said that a silica suppliment increases stem strenght. (silica blast)

[oldmac]

See, 7 minutes later and someone else chimed in. ;)

Hey Dutch, I think I like the new avatar.:thumbsup:
Up early, no. I got up very early to load the wood burning stove, it's cold as Siberia this AM.

OM

[Dutch Pimp]

See, 7 minutes later and someone else chimed in. ;)

Hey Dutch, I think I like the new avatar.:thumbsup:
Up early, no. I got up very early to load the wood burning stove, it's cold as Siberia this AM.

OM

High ...oldmac...:smokin:

It's cold here too, was 5 degrees; Tuesday night.
The new avatar is in honor of some Rez Dog seeds/genetics a friend in Cali sent me....:D..that starts in Febuary.

Happy Holidays...Y'all

[RAINHAZE]

Its cold here too brr. 9 degrees. ....but it feels like 8½.

[TANKJR]

My 3 footers @ 7 weeks into flower are about an inch dia. in 2 gal pots...for good or bad, that's what they are...AK47 BTW if a strains DNA plays a role, as I'm sure it does...

I dunno if it makes a diff or not, but since the stem is the main "pipeline" from the roots to the leaves/buds, I would think thickerer is better ;)

Having said this, I have LST'd, trimmed and staked these and I haven't really payed attention to stem thickness that much (or at all, as long as it held the bud up) and have no idea if the manipulating altered natural stem thickness....ah, another question needing answering...guess we need a side by side on this....I'll see about it next batch...

[pipefitter]

Cool. Thanks guys. I was just a little curious... The stalks on my currrent grow are a bit thicker than usual. Maybe an inch in diameter and are about a week and a half or so into flowering. Im not bragging about size or anything...just saying;) The conditions are certainly better than ever before as well. That could explain it. Always kinda tripped me out too how they are hollow like straw. Anyhoo, thanks again.

[Farmer Rich]

Hey pipefitter,

My experience is: Bigger Plant = More Bud

I personally like to veg my plants fairly large for plants that finish in 7-8 weeks, usually 3-4' in total height dependent on strain. I also repot them a couple of weeks before flipping to 12/12 in procan #5 containers (around 5 gallon/20 Liters). This size pot generally yields about 5+ oz dry per plant with the stalk getting to about 1.25 inches on the largest plants..

I getting ready to flip a couple of sativa strains, with one possibly going 13 weeks to finish. These aren't going to be as tall when they go in as I think they'll stretch more, maybe as much as tripling in height.. Be interesting to see how large the stalks get here. Super Lemon Haze is already .3 inches at 6 weeks from seed..

Sorry to hear everyone is freezing!! Washington state isn't too bad this time of year, especially compared to the midwest lately!

Peace, Farmer Rich

[WashougalWonder]

I have noticed that the very first grow from a seed leads to the largest and strongest base stalk. As a plant gets cloned it does not get as quite as thick.

It all seems to be height related other than that

[oldmac]

Good observation W'Wonder.

And if you think about it, since the cutting for a clone is usually a branch and not a stalk, it would stand to reason the size of the stalk would be smaller.:thumbsup:

@ Farmer Rich,

"Bigger Plant = More Bud" spoken like a true believer of the indoor Bush/Tree grower! :D And that's a fine philosphy.....
.....but I'm only interested in the part of the plant that I use, the bud. The branches, extra leaves, extra stalk and even the roots, are all parts of the plant I'm going to throw away anyway. Why spend the time and money to grow all that stuff when all you're going to do is shit can it?

I still think that indoors, under artifical light the single cola SOG size plant out produces anything else, for finished bud wgt vs. time/money (read energy).

Good growing to all :)
OM

[canniwhatsis]

Large SCROG plants are good for those of us who are limited to plant count.

If I could do a 30-40 plant SOG I'd much rather do that, but I can't have that many total,... let alone that # in flower at once! :(

[oldmac]

Absolutey Canniwhatsis!

ScrOG would be may choice also if limited by plant count. I ususally mention that. When you have the screen nicely filled in, it even looks like SOG when growing. Lots of branches growing buds just like a bunch of single cola plants.

As StinkyAttic used to preach, "It's all about the canopy." What you want is a dense, even plant growth canopy to take advantage of your light.

ScrOG also has the advantage of being able to harvest the buds and then reveg the screen and grow again. That can be pretty cool.:cool:

OM

[Farmer Rich]

Hey OldMac,

.but I'm only interested in the part of the plant that I use, the bud. The branches, extra leaves, extra stalk and even the roots, are all parts of the plant I'm going to throw away anyway. Why spend the time and money to grow all that stuff when all you're going to do is shit can it?

I definitely see your logic.. don't I remember some crazy aero system you have that has some obscene number of plants?

During my veg cycle, I trim the wimpy ass branches from the bottom to push the energy toward the canopy, while also topping the plants to create a larger canopy on each plant. Seems to create a more nodes and ends up kinda like a bush atop the stalk (at least on one strain I have). I ended up going back to this style after getting somewhat fed up with aero/nft after realizing the yield really wasn't much different than growing in pots with soilless mix.. I also have dedicated rooms for each cycle allowing me to go this way. I think if I had just one room, SCROG would be the way for me too..

As far as shit canning the trash, I generally turn the crappy lower buds, along with the trim into hash. :D

In regard to clones being smaller, not sure I agree.. out of the gate, seed do make much bigger stalks, however; those trees I grow are all from clones, just takes more time in veg.

Peace, Farmer Rich

[canniwhatsis]

@ Farmer Rich,..... there's no need to vege on a screen and have the plant in a fixed location for it's entire life cycle. ;) :hippy:

I've taken to some LST during vege, then LOTS of bending and training under the screen that is a permanent part of my flowering room, Typically drop the canopy about 4-5" below the height of the trained tops.

Check out my Vanilluna (http://boards.cannabis.com/medical-strains/192299-vanilluna-vanilla-moon.html) half assed grow log to see what I mean.