opinions? experiences? thoughts? your couple pennies?
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opinions? experiences? thoughts? your couple pennies?
how many threads on this now? :wtf:
P.S. HENNESSY IS BACK BITCHES. yall really helped with my first two grows...thanks a million!
two words : do it
im having trouble searching the forums for some instructional/explanatory threadsQuote:
Originally Posted by Hennessy1414
can you point me to some threads peaz :):jointsmile:
Here is some good info!!!
This is a from an Interview with Adam of T. H. Seeds
:rastasmoke:Quote:
before you put your garden into flowering from 18 to 12 hours, give the plants 36 hours of darkness; by doing this it, will reset the plants natural body clock. After 36 hours (or anything between 24 and 40 hours) the plant will go straight into flowering rather than adjusting from 18 to 12 which in some strains can mean an extra few weeks. When the plant is finished give it another 36 hours, this will reset the body clock again this time the plant knows it is finished and will push out all remaining energy into its last trichome production try it.
Interesting, I'm assuming that would work on clones. I'll have to give it a look-see.
If the strain is stable...likely it (the darkness technique) isn't doing harm. However, I'm very doubtful about the assumption that a cannabis plants response to darkness is to increase trichome production. Increased trichome production has nothing to do with darkness, or lack of light, and if there is no genetic cause-and-effect, doubtful the technique is valid. To me, it makes more sense that the darkness period could possibly reduce the quantity of trichomes needed to protect the leaves from the sun, and increase the desire of the plant to start an emergency pollination. (forming nanners on females, is an evolutionary trait designed to self-pollinate during times of extreme stress, thusly assuring the survival of the species)Quote:
Originally Posted by AfricanAlien
Knowing what trichomes are for (or believed to be for) may help here.
"Purpose of the Trichome:
For evolutionists, the purpose of the trichome, or the reason the cannabis plant evolved to have them, is a topic with many speculations. Of course without understanding the basic activities of the secretory cavity, it is not possible to truly understand their purpose. Some of the current theories require the use of cannabinoids, while others do not, it is possible that all the theories are true in part, or all of them make up the true purpose.
Insect Protection:
Many insects find the thick coating of trichomes unpleasant, this offers a level of protection for the developing seeds.
Animals:
The layer of trichomes and cystolith hairs (similar to bladder stones, calcium carbonate deposits) makes cannabis less palatable to many herbivores & omnivores.
Desiccation:
The layer of trichomes helps to protect the pistilate (female) flower from drying out, while in environments with low humidity levels and/or high wind.
Sunlight:
Extensions of the epidermis (outermost layer of skin) of the plant, that provides shade and protection. UV-B Light:
UV-B light is harmful to living things, THC has very high UV-B adsorption properties, thus cannabis evolution may have favored the evolution of genotypes that produced these THC laden capitate-stalked trichomes as a built in 'sun-screen' for protection against UV-B light rays.
Fungal Protection:
Some of the compounds present in the trichomes actually inhibit the growths of some types of fungus.
Humans:
Human modification of the plant , favoring species that produce copious amounts of THC laden Trichomes.
Human Attraction:
Similar to the method that flowers use nectar to attract insects to spread pollen, cannabis exudes resin, to attract people, in order to spread its genetic material around the world. (I'm not too sure cannabis plants are that organized)
Harvesting Trichomes:
Capitate-stalked Trichomes, as you now know, is the location of the primary production of cannabinoids. Harvesting Trichomes, is in fact, harvesting the resin, for medical or recreational purposes. The time to harvest, is a debated one, as different growers, strains and environments will have different determinations of when it is best to harvest. In addition, what you are attempting to achieve, will also change the harvesting process for you. For example, if looking to experiment with other cannabinoids, other than THC, harvest times will differ if you are looking for maximum THC content.
Firstly, you must remember that large amounts of trichome production, does not necessarily mean a potent plant. In specific strain, this may increase the chance of a higher potency, but this is by all means, no guarantee.
Secondly, obtain a pocket microscope with at least 25% zoom, so that you can get a closer look at your trichomes. Specifically looking at the secretory cavity, most strains will start off with a clear or slight amber colour, than gradually become opaque or slightly cloudy.
Thirdly, is to determine when you will harvest. Some growers will harvest once the majority of secretory cavities are clear, in order to capture the peak of produced THC cannabinoids. Though, others will wait until half of the cavities turns opaque, which may have a very high THC content, but also have additional types of cannabinoids such as CBN.
It is important to note that the harvesting window will vary, for example with sativa and indica/ Sativa hybrids you may have 10-25 days to harvest, while indica varieties may have between 10-15 days. There is no real danger to the plant in missing the harvesting window, though you may have to wait until the next harvest window to harvest resin with a high THC concentration. There is benefit to the plant and the environment by allowing it to grow for a longer period, and in fact simply collecting resin and allowing the plant to live, is a much better method than chopping up the plant, as you can make pure hash amoungst other things."
Trichomes - the source of Magic - Woyano
I guess you could say I'm a doubter that using darkness before harvest to promote trichome growth, development or psychoactivity, is a valid technique. Perhaps if the technique was combined with certain lunar phases...lol. (kidding)
Wish I could rep you again Rusty!
thanks for the save once again
the darkness thing did sound a lil fishy:jointsmile:
Thanks anyway for the attempted rep, lol.
Keep in mind that these are my opinions on the subject based on what I have read, and what does/does not make sense to me. Some folks will swear by it, but can show no proof of validity other than to profess that it is true. Same goes with other 'techniques', such as pyramid power, phases of the moon, astrology, kabbalah, balah, balah, balah...
Altho I'm sure these <ahem> techniques are harmless in themselves, but I believe they should not be a substitute for sound (advanced) gardening techniques. Old wives tales will only take you so far. :thumbsup:
Yea ill stop lighting the day before i harvest just because I tend to do my lighting during the night and night period during the dayQuote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
just for the sake of easiness
Keep in mind that this has not been disproved either!!!!
[QUOTE=Rusty Trichome;1955561 I'm very doubtful about the assumption that a cannabis plants response to darkness is to increase trichome production. Increased trichome production has nothing to do with darkness, or lack of light. [/QUOTE]
University of Mississippi (where your govt. grows pot) studies recommend harvesting marijuana plants at night....before dawn to be exact for increased potency.
This leads me to believe that an increased dark period or any dark period will increase levels of resin.
I tend to believe the scientists at University of Mississippi. I have read about this technique in many "experts" books. Surely authors of millions selling grow guides can't be wrong.;):)
well the reasoning behind that is (from what I hear) is that the nutrients are in the roots at night and so harvesting at night does not increase potency but rather makes for a smoother smoke that tastes betterQuote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
So, harvesting before dawn has now morphed into days of darkness? Even if I were to believe you...I'd want proof of your insight, and to view the findings myself. Facts seem secondary to you "proving" your points, as you never seem able to provide them.Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
I would most certainly love to see this study by U. Mississippi. A copy of the summary, or the link to the report in it's entirety would suffice. Since you seem too have the report, or have at least seen it yourself...by which mechanism within the plant biology does the trichome production increase as a method of self-preservation due to extended dark periods? If anything, this is the only lunar phase I'd be willing to believe in. Just because I have more sleep in my eyes in the morming, doesn't mean I make more during the night...just means it has accumulated and not evaporated, not been wiped away, is not retracting from sunlight or blown by the wind...
Yes, I can see where your insight is soooo keen.Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
Again...you fail to provide proof, and your hypothesis is flawed.Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
So because someone publishes a book touting the existence of martians, you would, simply by the context of "they can't be wrong", determine it true simply by the sheer volume of books on the subject? And that their motives were of genuine belief, not for financial gain...? Or that horoscopes are guides to wend our way through life, as the stars have ordained?
lol. Too funny.
I am one of the University of Mississippi scientists. Working on my Masters right now, so I took this job for the free tuition. Yes, we did make G-13.
have you done double blind studies confirming this data?Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
if so can you give the level of THC with the dark period and without?
go ahead and throw in the statistical mumbo jumbo
(I just took an applied stats course and I would love to try to decipher it for everyone else)
Ok scientist aside (congrats btw) how MUCH of an improvement are we talking? Seriously, enough to make a difference? There's so MUCH crap out there.....C02 fizzies, 3 days of darkness, a nail through the stem. How MUCH does getting up in the middle of the night to harvest help your grow? Enough to do it or something merely recordable on a graph or something?
with the scientists at workQuote:
Originally Posted by Weedhound
they could potentially tell us whether there is a significant difference (or whether the differences could be explained by chance*depending on the sample size) and how big of an effect is by computing additional formulas:D
I don't know anything about computing formulas.....we're talking about a plant, not an inert object Revanche.
But I sure am not getting up at 3 to harvest my plant to get one less hit off the joint to get high.
If it's REALLY significant I'll try it. But I have a feeling if it WERE really significant we'd have heard about it by now.
One thing about cannabis growers.......they tend NOT to follow the mold..... which is both good and bad. (But in growing.....usually bad :D)
Without lab testing equipment, you are not going to be able to discern ANY difference in effect from plants harvested in the morning or at night. The difference is too subtle and slight.
A couple days of pure dark will definitely kick-start flowering, and is the trick to finishing a long-flowering strain in a short-summer area. 4 days darkness, then put out August 1st for a mid-October harvest before frost.
When to CHOP is totally up to the grower. IT doesn't hurt either way so it's a matter of preference. If you are going to do anything special to your finishing plants, flush them instead. THAT will give a marked improvement in product quality.
ok not to throw everyone off track but in Rusty's post he has a quote saying Trichs go clear-amber-cloudy. Now I know when I first starting reading on this site that it was stated that Trichs went clear-cloudy-amber and cloudy was what you were shooting for. Anyone want a shot at this?
...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
Yeah...after posting I noticed the author's error, but it was too late to edit.Quote:
Originally Posted by tinytoon
Gee...I'm impressed. Perhaps you will now grace us with those studies and results. Being a masters candidate, (in science...?) you must have access to the material, to be so persistent in your claims of technique validity.Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
However, you are supposedly going to U. Mississippi, evidentally a masters candidate, yet you can not wrap your head around the need to support ones scientific claims with testing and proof? Is this how one get's a masters at U. Miss...to plagiarize folk authors' trying to make a buck on a quazi-unprovable concept, and to support your position by saying:Some of your statements just don't add up. Like the fact that in the above quote, you use U. Miss scientists in the third-person, yet in the first quote I cited, you so nonchalantly include yourself in the creation of G-13. (lol)Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
Altho it has been asked repeatedly of you to provide proof of your statements, it's looking like you have none. Doesn't surprise me at all, as nobody in the past has provided proof that the lunar phase concept is valid, either. But honestly...I'd love to see something other than inuendo and folklore to help prove your points. But barring any tangible evidence...it's just wishful thinking, and definatelly not an advanced technique.
Can you tell us...have you even tried to germinate off-cycle, and honestly done a test as to whether your barking up the right tree? (rhetorical question...I'm pretty sure I know the answer)
edit:
It's not the technique that get's under my skin. It's likely a benign technique that at it's worst may only cost a few weeks of waiting for the "correct" time of the month. It's the unsubstanciated claims of being a fact. Show me proof, and I shut up rather quickly with the proper acknowledgements.
:cool:
G = government
13 = M (13th letter of alphabet)
How G-13 escaped the government test facility: The true story.
Working late at night at UofMisss in secret government test labs, I came across this new strain of marijuana called G13. Wow, best plants in the lab. So at great risk I smuggled a cutting home in my sock. Now in order to do this I had to get past the drug sniffing dog. You will never believe it, but it's name was "Rusty". Now Rusty was a vicious, snarling beast of a dog. Quite a few people at the lab enjoyed stirring Rusty up to see him foam at the mouth. I however, had a plan. I would befriend Rusty and escape with my cutting of G13. For weeks I worked on trying to get Rusty to be more friendly, but it was hard work. Finally, I had a plan I thought might work..I brought my female dog to work every day and left her in the parking lot near Rusty's kennel. Sure enough, Rusty fell in love. On a night when she was in heat and Rusty was distracted, I slipped the G13 cutting into my sock. I knew if I got caught the world would never know the joys of G-13. Whew, I made it past the distracted Rusty, sprinted to the parking lot and escaped with my dog. I soon cloned the G13 and spread this lovely plant across the world, leaving Rusty alone and frustrated back at the lab.
You're killing me here......I still can't rep you but when I can .......:S2:Quote:
Originally Posted by LolaGal
Interesting twist to the fable. I've heard it before. But Rusty is rarely distracted. (especially by a bitch in heat) Plus, you forgot the best part. You know...the part where a "scientist" being watched, was deemed irrelevant to the program due to slipshod scientific technique, lazy standards, inability to show work...and ultimately theft. Apparently, the dean of curriculum was wary of a certain "scientist" spouting fiction as fact, (this "scientist" was also a suspect in a string of thefts) so in the interest in keeping their institutional accreditation to the highest standards, had Rusty and a handful of other purists there to keep an eye on those that may do it harm. Come to find out...the person wasn't a scientist at all, but a temporary janitor at the facility. Tiz a shame, too. Working soooo hard trying to advance one's pet technique, and ultimately not being trusted in such a fine community as this. But sometimes a story (and it's author) just goes astray. :jointsmile:
But I digress...
If you had the proof, you'd have offered it by now. But as your story continues...you seem to make statements that get more and more difficult to accept on face value. But please, by all means continue...your story is, at the very least, quite entertaining despite the lack of facts. :thumbsup:
Dutch: Is trying to distinguish fact from fiction retarded? This is after all the advanced growing forum, right?
Sorry for the hijacking, Revanche. But ya gotta admit...this has added an extra dimension to your thread. (thanks for the rep, Dai) :thumbsup:
I don't mind its a nice chuckle:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
I heard that Carl Spackler was the one to get g13 out of the lab, he crossed it with kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent and northern cali. sensemilia you could play 18 holes on it then get stoned to the bejeezus afterwards!
I am gonna have to read this everyday when I get home from work....... normally need a good hehe by then. Thank you very much Rusty for clearing up the Trich color question I had, was changing to plain water week and wanted to make sure I had read correctly :smokin:
the only advantage I have seen about leaving plants in the dark... I found out by accident when I lost power for 3 days.
I was about 3 weeks into bud when we lost power ....when I did get the power back there was a noticable difference in the size of the buds, they filled in & were bigger.
Now whenever I go out of town for 2-3 days ...I just leave my plants in the dark if they are in bud cycle.
I have tired harvesting after a 12hr light cycle and after a 12 dark period I've never noticed a difference in taste or potency in my strain.
I have also tried letting the rootball/plant dry out before cutting it down and watering right before harvesting....also no noticable difference
I thought part of the appeal of a prolonged dark period before harvest had to do with breakdown of chlorophyll. I will give mine around 48 hours of dark before I chop, I don't figure it can hurt and loads of experienced growers swear by it, whatever their reasons.
I suppose the problem could be solved by a scientific experiment! lol
so I've never grown by clone, but would that give it completely the same genetics
who am I kidding, even if it did, It would be incredibly hard to simulate the exact same conditions for both plants and then to see a noticeable difference I would need a GC-MS??? to see the molecular differences
stinky is right, theres no way to tell at this point :(
What plants do at night
-Plants make sugars out of starch at night
hey doesn't hurt right?
...continuing from sections of the missing parts of this post...
Before I go on with this post, I got the e-mail from MedicalMarijuana.org (James Burton) When asked about the subject...this was his reply..."Hallo,
Three nights work best...test your self." (I did 48 hours of darkness, once, with no visible difference)
When pressed about the quantification of percentages of increase, or the effects of darkness on a trichome's psychoactive properties, or darkness bringing-out the recessive gene that triggers increased trichome production, (extended darkness isn't a condition the cannabis plant has ever had a need to survive, thusly there is likely no triggered response from extended darkness) and the effects of not providing darkness, or any reports or insights that may back his answer...he never responded.
My opinion has remained unchanged after our exchange.
Regardless...isn't it quality you should strive for?
This video, might be able to shed some light on, not the darkness before harvest supposedly increasing trichomes, (a doubtful concept) but actually increasing the potency of your trichomes, and why it might work this way. (a very plausible concept)
Within this video, is a statement I was trying to point-out regarding the 24 hrs of darkness technique...it refers to "cause and effect". Very interesting information. Gets a little bogged-down with facts, which I'm aware isn't always taken very well in here, but it's still interesting. I strongly recommend paying attention to the content. He helped teach me, early in my gardening education.
YouTube - THC and Me
Oh...and with regards to the statement I heard about light degrading thc on cannabis...it's refering to post-harvest handling.
If you'r bored...here's a post I lifted from somewhere, but the posters name was Finalopagus, I believe...
Read and Remember:
Forget big colas and stinky buds: it's all about the resin.
Marijuana is perhaps the only plant in history grown primarily for its trichomes. Whether used for hashish or marijuana the objective is the same: production and harvest of THC-rich trichomes (crystals). Yet often the cultivator loses sight of the real goal of growing this plant. Bud size, density, coloration, flavor and odor are all of little value if they do not produce the euphoric sensations we seek.
Trichomes and resins
Trichomes come in many shapes and sizes and are used by plants for many different purposes. Cannabis uses its trichomes for a variety of purposes, some of which require THC and other cannabinoids to be effective, and others that do not.
The primary goal of any plant is to create and nurture seeds to the point where they will be viable for future growth. Trichomes help prevent seed damage from dessication, insects, animals, light degradation and fungal disease. Perhaps the most successful function of trichomes in the proliferation of cannabis is their attractiveness to humans. What better a creature to protect and spread a genus than the most advanced organism on the planet?
An important thing to remember is that heavy trichome production is not necessarily an indication of a potent plant. Some hemp strains have moderate layers of trichomes yet pack only a headache. In drug strains a dense stand of trichomes is a sign that it could be of high potency, but certainly not a guarantee.
This is because the resins that flow within may or may not hold the THC and other cannabinoids that we are looking for.
Indica varieties often look more heavily crystallized than Sativas, yet typically don't have the same mind-warp capabilities. Even with a known high-THC clone, THC level and cannabinoid ratios may change depending on environmental conditions.
What defines drug strain cannabis is the plant's ability to convert cannabidiol (CBD) or possibly cannabichromene (CBC) into THC.1 If we as growers do not provide the plant with reason to make this conversion it likely will devote its energy elsewhere, to aid in its survival.
Environmental Influence
It takes high quality genetics to produce high quality marijuana, but genetics is only half of the equation. The genetic structure (genotype) only plays 50% of the role in determining the appearance and quality (phenotype) of a given plant. The other half is determined by environmental conditions such as light, temperature, humidity and soil nutrition. All these factors play a role in both the physical and chemical nature of marijuana's trichomes.
The best way to take a look at how environment affects THC production is to look where on the planet cannabis has naturally adopted a high THC profile. As cannabis has spread around the world it has taken on many different traits to help in its adaptation to varied areas. The best drug varieties have always been found at equatorial or high altitude locations. The one thing which both of these variables have in common is high light intensity and a large amount of ultraviolet (UV) light in the spectrum.
Recent Swiss trials in outdoor plots of clones grown at different altitudes have shown that there is correlation between higher altitude and increased potency (although there seems to be a trade off in yield). This likely means that THC-rich resins act to protect the plant and its seed from both higher light intensities and ultraviolet presence. It's no surprise that cannabis has developed a chemical to protect itself against the Sun's damaging UV rays, as they can be injurious to all forms of life.
In a plant's search for survival, energy put towards unneeded processes is wasted energy. Therefore a high-THC plant grown in a low THC environment will likely produce a medium THC result.
Humidity also plays a role in plant resin production. Although some potent equatorial strains do seem to occur in high humidity areas, most high-test land races have evolved in drier areas, like Afghanistan. The aridity of the areas of Afghanistan where Indica strains have evolved is quite apparent by the trait of large dense flower clusters. This would only be an advantage in an area of low humidity, as flowers will mold in anything more.
There are many examples of non-cannabis plants producing resins in order to protect themselves from drying out. The waxy coating on cacti and other succulent plants is a prime example. Marijuana flowered in humid conditions will often have a longer stalk on the glandular trichome than the same strain grown in drier conditions. While this may give the appearance of being very crystallized, it will likely contain less THC than the same plant grown in a drier environment. Another problem with longer trichome stalks is that the gland heads are more likely to break off during handling.
Flushing: pros and cons
Much time and thought has been put into the feeding needs of each part of marijuana's life cycle, yet for some reason the final stages of resin development always seem to be ignored. But the vegetative period of plant growth is only setting the platform for us to produce the trichomes that we are after.
Flushing in particular seems to be something that is over-emphasized by many of today's growers. Many growers "flush" their plants with straight water or clearing agents during the final weeks before harvest in an effort to improve taste and smokeability. The theory is that this forces the plant to use up stored nutrients that may affect these qualities. Although this is certainly true to some extent, what many are forgetting is that not all nutrients can be moved within the plant.
Nitrogen, which is the main factor in poor-tasting bud, can be moved within the plant. If not present in the root zone a plant will take it from the older leaves to support newer growth. Calcium, however, is a nutrient that cannot be moved within the plant, if it is not present in the root zone it is not available for growth. Little research has been done on nutritional requirements of cannabis during the final stages of flowering, but it seems likely that calcium is vital as it is crucial in cell division. A calcium deficiency at later stages could therefore adversely affect trichome production.
This is not as serious of a concern for soil-based growers, as lime or other calcium sources which are mixed into the soil likely will provide sufficient nutrition even while flushing with pure water. But hydroponic growers using very pure water sources with little naturally occurring calcium could have problems. Flushing is certainly a valid technique, but is easily overdone and is not a quick fix for overfeeding earlier in the flower stage.
(edit from Rusty...some of us flush to release salt build-up, not just flushing nutes...)
Some studies have shown that high potassium levels have a negative influence on THC production, which would correlate to the general belief that while hemp crops uptake more potassium than phosphorous, the reverse seems to be true for drug and seed cannabis crops. A study on how to minimize THC levels in hemp crops showed that THC levels in newer leaf growth decreased as nitrogen levels were increased. As no THC measurement was taken from floral clusters we can only speculate that the same would likely hold true in buds. This would also explain the good results that most growers have flushing their plants, as nitrogen is the nutrient most easily flushed from the soil.
Companion planting
Much research is still needed on the interrelationships of plants in the garden. Little is known about common vegetable garden plants effect on each other, let alone how they may react with cannabis.
Growing certain plants in proximity to each other has been documented to cause noticeable effects on growth, both positive and negative. The main companion plant that has attracted interest with underground marijuana researchers is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) which has been said to increase essential oils in many plants.
Breeding for potency
Marijuana is unique from an evolutionary standpoint in being the only plant in history that in some cases has been grown and bred for over two decades under nothing but artificial light. It is very likely that there have already been some genetic changes that have taken place as a result of this. All plants, especially cannabis, will quickly adapt to a new habitat by adding or dropping traits over successive generations. With breeders doing potentially as many as three or four generations per year, over 20 years there is great opportunity for drift from original genotypes.
Some "oldtimers" of the cannabis community have theorized that the use of high pressure sodium (HPS) light as a sole source of lighting has resulted in unconscious selection for lower THC parents during breeding. This theory is based on the assumption that ultraviolet light is a large causal factor in the plants production of THC. As HPS lights produce little in the way of UV, the lower potency plants could look the most vigorous in early selections (before flowering) as they would have a genetic advantage over high THC plants (less wasted energy).
A common way of conducting a breeding program where space is limited is to start large seed lots and then select the best individuals for flowering. Vic High and others have done some preliminary research into creating high UV environments by adding tanning or medical UV lights to their regular lighting for early seedling selections. As most Dutch breeding is done behind closed doors it is unknown whether this is used by any breeders in Holland.
Tricks (theories) of the trade
Delving through the history of marijuana cultivation you will find a myriad of techniques used to supposedly increase THC production. Much of this is little more than hippie folklore, but over the years some techniques have appeared which seem based on some amount of science.
Although some of the younger growers these days may never have used a metal halide light, many of the older set still swear by them as a complement to high-pressure sodiums in the flower room. With the advent several years ago of the Son-Agro HPS bulbs and others like it, which offer a higher amount of blue in the spectrum than standard HPS, many growers have felt that that they can do away with metal halides altogether. Growing strictly under sodiums has its advantages in terms of yield per watt, but is still lacking as far as a balanced spectrum when compared to a mix of HPS and halide.
Anyone that has ever seen a mixed light garden can testify that the healthiest, most crystallized buds occur where the two spectrums overlap. Again this brings us back to the UV factor, as metal halide bulbs emit a fair amount of UV while HPS emit almost none. Most growers employing halides in conjunction with HPS do so at a 2:1 HPS:halide ratio. Many growers, especially those restricted to one light, have been having good success using one of the new enhanced metal halide bulbs such as Sunmaster, which have a more balanced spectrum than either sodium or regular halide alone.
Glass and plastic materials used in greenhouses and air/water cooled light reflectors will block most useful wavelengths of UV from reaching plants. Luckily, recent research has shown that allowing UV to enter the greenhouse has many advantages on non-cannabis crops, and so some European greenhouses are beginning to switch to UV transparent glazing materials. Trade names for some of these products are Planilux, Diamant or Optiwhite. Plastic made from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) also transmits UV-B (the type that we are looking for). Traditional greenhouse coverings such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fiberglass, polycarbonate or regular glass allow little if any UV-B transmission.9
Harvesting in the morning ensures that your plant will be at peak THC content, as cannabis has shown THC fluctuations peaking in morning and dropping during the day. Some growers leave their lights off for several days before harvest to increase potency. This seems to have some scientific validity as light has been shown to degrade THC, hence the morning peaks. As light is the degrading factor and the plant still has the ability to manufacture THC during darkness, leaving the lights off for a day or two before harvest likely utilizes the plants stored potential for THC conversion without any opportunity for it to be degraded into cannabinol (CBN) and other breakdown products.
Your magnifying glass is your friend.
Traditionally marijuana has been harvested when the pistils die and the calyx starts to swell into a false seed pod. These days the best growers are getting much more detailed in their harvesting criteria. They take a close look at the trichomes themselves to judge peak harvest. Evidence that this is the only real way to tell peak maturity is in Sagarmatha's strain Matanuska Tundra, which ripens resin glands while most pistils are still alive and white. This seems an odd twist of evolution but proves that the pistil color and ripe glands do not necessarily have any correlation.
A small 25x or more pocket microscope, which can be picked up inexpensively at any electronic store, works well for taking a closer look at trichome development. What we are examining are the capitate stalked glandular trichomes, which will be a round gland head supported on a stalk. The coloration of these gland heads can vary between strains and maturity. Most strains start with clear or slightly amber heads which gradually become opaque when THC levels have peaked and are beginning to degrade. Regardless of the initial colour of the resin head, with careful observation you should be able to see a change in coloration as maturity levels off.
Some cultivators wait for about half of the heads to go opaque before harvest to ensure maximum THC levels in the bud. Of course nothing tells the truth more than your own head, so try samples at various stages to see what's right for you. While you may be increasing the total THC level in the bud by allowing half of the glands to go opaque, the bud will also have a larger proportion of THC breakdown products such as CBNs, which is why some people prefer to harvest earlier while most of the heads are still clear.
Indica varieties usually have a 1-2 week harvest window to work with, while Sativas and Indica/Sativa hybrids may have a much longer period to play with.
Glandular conclusion
With the growing popularity of personal hashmaking through precision screening, many growers are starting to pay closer attention to the development of glands. The use of different size screens to separate glands of different sizes can only broaden our knowledge of the subtle nuances of trichome quality.
Growers using the same clone line over many crops have an excellent opportunity to play with some of these different techniques, as the main variable will be the environment, not the plant. Keep in mind that different strains may react very differently to the same techniques so be careful about drawing general conclusions.
Marijuana growers must look closer at their crop than the average farmer to achieve a premium product. Rows upon rows of beautiful plants are of no use if they do not glisten with the THC-laden trichomes that are the object of our quest.
Nurture your trichomes and feed your head!
References:
1) Starks, Michael. 1977. Marijuana Chemistry Genetics, Processing and Potency. Ronin Publishing, Inc., Berkeley, CA pp. 17-86.
2) McParland, Clarke, Watson. Hemp Diseases and Pests; management and biological control, CABI Publishing, New York, NY
3) Pate, DW, 1994. Chemical ecology of Cannabis. Journal of the International Hemp Association 2: 29, 32-37.
4) Kutscheid, 1973. Quantitative variation in chemical constituents of marihuana from stands of naturalized Cannabis sativa L. in east central Illinois. Economic Botany 27: 193-203.
5) B?csa, M?th? and Hangyel. Effect of nitrogen on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in hemp leaves at different positions. 1997. Journal of the International Hemp Association 4(2): 78 -79.
6) Helen Philbrick and Richard B Gregg. Companion Plants and How to Use Them. 1996. Devin-Adair Company, Old Greenwich, CT.
7) Oldtimer1, 2001. Personal communication
8) Vic High, 2001. BC Growers Association. Web site and help desk.
9) Hoffman, Dr Silke. 2001. Ultraviolet radiation in the greenhouse. Floraculture International, May 2001. Ball Publishing, Batavia, Illinois. pp18-27.
? An excellent general reference is Marijuana Botany, by Robert Connell Clarke. Ronin Publishing, Inc. Berkeley, CA
ya i actually emailed burton also and he said that three days works the best, but also didn't give any facts and couldn't lead me to where it was further studied. That video is pretty helpful... i just wish he used clearer graphs and images.
By the way why was it closed down for so long. I remember it saying closed for critical maitence but what the hells different? And why is that giant section missing?... someone doesnt want this method to be studied.
Great read right here everyone!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
Ok love the evolutionary explanation (I still can't believe there are people out there who don't believe in evolution when it is clearly evident)
I use HPS only grows, great to have your knowledge on the subject. What do you think about Fluoros for Veg and HPS for Flower. I use a Sun-Agro HPS bulb
:thumbsup: for all the info!
No, it's not a conspiracy. However, to me...it's a technique that belongs in the Theories and Folklore section, were we to have one. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by joeiskrunk
I just harvested this weekend...I gave em 24 hours of darkness right before chop and harvested at midnight...I have no idea why I do the darkness thing but I read about it somewhere and it became tradition...
As far as the midnight thing,I didn't wanna harvest on Friday the 13th so I waited till 12:01AM Saturday to harvest...Sounds silly I know,but we all have our little quirks and should do what makes us feel comortable...
I've heard some people talk about jump starting their flowering stage by giving 24 or even more hours of darkness before flowering...I've never done this so I can't give any hands on experience to this but I'd be hesitant to try this method on my grows...If I put 7 weeks into veggin' a plant,I can wait the 9 to 14 days for flowering to be established under a regular 12/12 schedule...I grow fem beans and do whatever I can to avoid the dreaded "H" word...:)
It's just another day...honest.Quote:
Originally Posted by DTRave420
Going from low intensity bulbs in veg (CFL's or fluoro's) to the HID's in the flower room, the ladies react pretty quickly, and are in full-blown PMS within a week. (PMS = Pre Motherhood Stretch) But if going from one HID in veg, to an HID in flower...it can take a while for results. (makes the 'change of season' more pronounced...? IDK)Quote:
Originally Posted by DTRave420
Doubtful they would hermie, with 24 hours of darkness between the switch. Not sure if it helps with the changing of the plants physiology to help it begin flowering, (plants need energy for this...sun energy) but doubtful it would hurt. (much) :jointsmile:
If you do happen to stress one of your ladies into hermying, you could re-veg her. Comes back just fine, no nanners. This doesn't apply to weak genetics (hermies) or autoflower strains... But the technique works on properly femmed genetics, too. (speaking from experience)
its like you read my mindQuote:
Originally Posted by Hennessy1414