Sexing Northern Lights

Hi folks

Well after many years of smoking and tired of buying crap weed, a friend and myself decided to give it a go growing our own. I joined the board here and have read many useful things (thanks for those who lend their advice by the way).

In the end we went for growing northern lights in a smallish walk in closet in a bedroom which seemed perfect for the job.

We were originally gonna try to grow hydroponically but it didn't work out like that and having initially successfully germinated 6 seedlings, the two in rock wool cubes died and we were left with 4 others in peat pots.

We started the whole process in mind November 2007 and finally on 1 February we entered the flowering stage with the plants generally at about 2 ft in height. We have them on a 13/11 light cycle and they are growing under a 400W HPS light. Plenty of ventilation and everything on timers so that we maintain a tem range of 65-80 degrees. Water is boiled before being used and we have PH tested our compost a few times.

Here is a picture of all 4 of them which I took today when we took them out to try and sex them:

[attachment=o177378]

We have had our trials and tribulations and made a few mistakes but they look reasonably strong and healthy and I am confident we will make it to the end.

But we are now at that dreaded point where we have to sex the plants and if possible I would like the advice of those of you who have experience. Two of the plants look clearly to me to be female: they have the two white pistils growing on them and none of the 'club shaped' growths. Here is one of them:

[attachment=o177382]

Now these are the suspected male plants. They are both covered with club shaped growths:

[attachment=o177387]

Here is the other suspected male:

[attachment=o177388]

Have I correctly diagnosed these two plants as males? I would be grateful for your comments.

As a final point, I am aware through reading this forum that we should be giving the plants a nutrient which is higher in Phosphorus. At the moment they are getting a general purpose plant food from B&Q which is 5-5-5 but I have been struggling to find a product that is high in Ph. Today I bought some bonemeal granules which have a Nitrogen level of 3% and 20% Ph. Do you think it would be wise to fork some of these into the compost (which is a general purpose B&Q product)? And if so how much? A small handful once a week for example?

Anyway, thanks in advance for any comments/advice you are able to give. It is appreciated.

Cookie :rastasmoke:

Pic 1: Definitely female.
Pics 2-3: Definitely male.

I always use bonemeal in flowering, but I use it as a soil amendment, adding it in before planting into final containers. I'm not really sure how you'd add it as a fertilizer, but it shouldn't be too hard to do. If you're going to be using a synthetic fertilizer (like Schultz or Miracle Grow), I'd use something with a larger amount of P, but not something with an outrageously higher amount. 1-5-3, for instance, and not 1-50-30.

There are a lot of good organic choices as well... some can be picked up at nurseries or hydroponic stores, many others can be ordered online. Bat guano is a personal favorite of mine, especially during flowering. I like the taste of organically grown buds better than those grown with chemicals... but don't discount either, because they both have their advantages. Good luck! :jointsmile:

Thanks for your reply Mr.C!

I know a lot of you guys who post regularly on here grow organically and for our next grow we are seriously considering following this route.

Shame that I was right about two of them being male. Oh well..such is life I guess :(

Is there any benefit in keeping the males (separetly of course)? I know that they have a very low THC content but as Northern Lights is supposed to have a very high THC content to start with..perhaps the males would still be worth smoking? Or am I completely wrong on this?

I am also worried that keeping the males elsewhere runs the risk of pollinating the females by the transfer of pollen on clothes, hands etc. Am I right to think this?

Anyway, I appreciate your reply.

Cheers :rastasmoke:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DJCBrixton

I know a lot of you guys who post regularly on here grow organically and for our next grow we are seriously considering following this route.

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Getting ratios and application down can be a little daunting at first, but well worth it if you're growing in soil. Like I mentioned, there are advantages to every method of growing this plant, I've just found that the taste and quality of organic buds warrant the slightly less automated route.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DJCBrixton

Is there any benefit in keeping the males (separetly of course)? I know that they have a very low THC content but as Northern Lights is supposed to have a very high THC content to start with..perhaps the males would still be worth smoking? Or am I completely wrong on this?

I am also worried that keeping the males elsewhere runs the risk of pollinating the females by the transfer of pollen on clothes, hands etc. Am I right to think this?

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Some people smoke the males, especially when working with quality strains. Others say they've had good attempts at extracting the THC for cooking preparations. But I can't claim to have ever tested their potency before. I've kept strong growing males from some excellent strains, but I just did it to collect some pollen. I only cook with the highest grade stuff I have, and am not at all fond of smoking leafy matter.

If you decide to flower a male separately, it doesn't have to be a complicated. Keep a few warm fluorescent lights trained on it 12/12, and you can even go so far as to wrap the plant lightly with clear plastic when you see the pollen sacs about to burst. Keeping a small fan in the area isn't a bad idea, just make sure to keep it from stirring up the pollen. (I just turn them off.) Don't suffocate it if you use something to trap the pollen, but don't be too concerned with its welfare. It'll have served its purpose soon. Collect the pollen that collects at the bottom, and apply it to whichever buds you want to be seeded. Paintbrushes work nicely for application.

Still be careful about accidentally pollinating the females any time you came in contact with the male first. If some pollen is released a little earlier than the bulk of the rest, it'll of course be possible to transfer it through your clothes, hands, etc. But simple precautions will easily keep you from doing this.

Best of luck with your grows!

Thanks again Mr.C for your advice.

I think we will kill the males and dispose of them just to be sure: i couldn't bear the thought of messing up the only 2 females we have especially after all the efforts we have made growing them from seed.

Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DJCBrixton

Thanks again Mr.C for your advice.

I think we will kill the males and dispose of them just to be sure: i couldn't bear the thought of messing up the only 2 females we have especially after all the efforts we have made growing them from seed.

Cheers

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You're most welcome, and that's perfectly understandable. When I keep males separate from the females, they're only one room apart from another. I've yet to accidentally pollinate a female, even though the close proximity. But killing them works equally as well. :D

Do some plants have both male and female at the same time, if so, im guessing that you snip the males and keep the females????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ultimatefreak48

Do some plants have both male and female at the same time, if so, im guessing that you snip the males and keep the females????

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Females can become hermaphroditic, producing an abundance of female flowers (buds) and also producing anywhere between a few and a ton of male pollen pods. Usually stress during flowering is what triggers a hermaphrodite, but sometimes it can be genetic.