Getting ready to quit for good!

Before I rip down my grow room and throw out all my gear I figured I'd check with the experts here and see if they have any advice. I've been growing using hydro for nearly a year. I just harvested my last batch 1 week ago. My first 2 grows using Foxfarm gave me great yields, about 7 oz from 3 plants on each grow.My 1st batch were Mandela Hasberry beans and the 2nd Joey weed AK47xCinderella99. This last grow was Dutch Passion Blueberry. My problem is all the herb taste like crap. I flush the system on every other nutrient change and stop feeding 10 days before harvest. On this last grow I switched nutrients and started using Pro Blend Pro Grow and Bloom (I noticed with the Foxfarm there was quite a build-up of nutrient salt). I use tap water which is at 110ppm (didn't feel that I needed an RO system). I just tried smoking a tiny bud from my latest batch and that crappy taste is STILL THERE! I know about drying properly and curing. I'm sorry if I sound pissed, but I've wasted a year and a ton of money and all I end up with is junk that I throw out. Does anyone have any ideas?

You just harvested a week ago. The drying and curing process can take over a month. Take what you know about drying and curing and use it. I almost guarantee that they will start to taste better.

Thanks for the advice Lit Up. I just figured smoking a small bud even after only a week of drying would give me a good idea if I had finally succeeded and had something that didn't taste so bad. My last batch I cured for 2 months and tasted so bad I used like 5 oz to make a little bubblehash, which was pretty good. As you can see I never post online (paranoid), but I've been reading up for a least 2 years. I get the impression I'm missing something somewhere. I guess I'll cure for a month or two and hope. I currently have 5 plants going in the veg room, but I think I may just kill them and start ripping down the rooms.

Gotta follow your heart....

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Originally Posted by GanjaDude

Before I rip down my grow room and throw out all my gear I figured I'd check with the experts here and see if they have any advice. I've been growing using hydro for nearly a year. I just harvested my last batch 1 week ago. My first 2 grows using Foxfarm gave me great yields, about 7 oz from 3 plants on each grow.My 1st batch were Mandela Hasberry beans and the 2nd Joey weed AK47xCinderella99. This last grow was Dutch Passion Blueberry. My problem is all the herb taste like crap. I flush the system on every other nutrient change and stop feeding 10 days before harvest. On this last grow I switched nutrients and started using Pro Blend Pro Grow and Bloom (I noticed with the Foxfarm there was quite a build-up of nutrient salt). I use tap water which is at 110ppm (didn't feel that I needed an RO system). I just tried smoking a tiny bud from my latest batch and that crappy taste is STILL THERE! I know about drying properly and curing. I'm sorry if I sound pissed, but I've wasted a year and a ton of money and all I end up with is junk that I throw out. Does anyone have any ideas?

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How do the plants look after 10 days no nutes? How are you flushing?

exactly why im so worried right now

my last batch did not smell nice or taste great

hopefully this time around it will :/

OK, so it tastes like crap, but what kind of effect does it produce?:stoned:or:wtf:

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Originally Posted by KingSloth

OK, so it tastes like crap, but what kind of effect does it produce?:stoned:or:wtf:

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good effect but a pain to ingest

The plants looks fine after 10 days with no nutes, very little yellowing of the leaves, which seems weird to me. I'm using Clearex when I flush. I always use much less nutes than the feeding schedule says to, usually a little more than 1/2 strength.
It does get me high alright, but it taste so bad it makes me not want to smoke at all. If I wanted crappy tasting weed than I would just keep buying the same stuff I've been getting for the last 20 years (that was my original reason for growing my own).

10 days of flushing should make for some real smooth smoke. Maybe try a flush product. I have tried not flushing and it was real stong and everyone who tried it loved it. Same strain same buzz and a good 10 day flush and the smoke is almost neutral and everyone wants to know where that good strong stuff is.
You should have some great smoke. you only need to flush at the end.

What all are you putting in your hydro ? List everything no matter how small. This should not be a problem for you.

Couple of things... first, while flowering use some blackstrap molasses in your nute mix, second as was suggested dry and cure properly..that will help, third, you don't say how your smoking it....what are you using?? joints?? bowl?? what?? I have found that a waterpipe can make even the nastiest weed palletable. and finally, its a lot easier to grow dirty...its a lot less expensive, and you get great results.

BTW... you don't say what the weed tastes like.... is it real heavy on chlorophyl?? or heavy nute taste?? or??

Dude, don't give up-you know you'll regret it. Pissing away 4 mos I know really sucks. I know it is some simple shit your missing. Very unlikely all three strains were just dogshit genetics. Fill us in on your entire process/methods and supplies. Are there any signs of any stressors in the cycle? Are they very healthy throughout? Are the buds that taste like ass thick nugs or kinda small and wispy? I see you mentioned the different strains you tried, you know the same process may not be as effective on one breed as another and the run times are diff as well. Also as I just learned from switching to a diff nute, they are rarely the same blend or strenth. 1/2 strenth on one nute may starve a plant and another may be toxic depending on a whole slew of variables. (PH, lamp watts, veg time, temp, feed schedule, water quality, substrate) Tap or well water also changes a process depending on the type of TDS in it. Most wells contain more iron and sulfur than municipal scources. Some city water contains an ass-load of calcium that can work into a lockout situation if nutes contain high levels designed for RO water and your not careful with the Ph down.(this was my prob) Bad thing is...these girls sometimes don't tell the truth about what's wrong so avoiding pissing her off like any woman is best advised. I am 3 wks from starting another run in which I will be trying the formula top the hydro page that is a tried and true process. Give it a try before you give up, worst can happen is you learn the gro show is not for you or you find that little fuck-up and the next run blows your mind with the ickiest of the sticky.:stoned:

Does the crap taste mean it taste like grass or hay? I need more description on the taste

What is your hydro setup?
Where are the pics?

Do you check them under a scope to see when they are ready to rock?

They should be yellowing hardcore by the time you chop, maybe try a second flush on day 5 of flushing?

And if your willing to give up after a year.....?

my .02
Booya

Guys,
Thanks very much for the reply's and the great ideas. All I'm using in my hydro set-up is the Pure Blend Pro grow and when flowering the Pure Blend Pro Bloom, nothing else. The taste is a chemical harsh taste which I thought indicated I wasn't getting the nutes out of the plants. All 3 harvests were large, full, thick buds that look killer. I don't have a camera so I can't post any pics. I'm vegging for about 5 weeks in a separate grow room using CFL's. Then switching to a 400 Watt HPS in the Grow room. Both systems use drip emitters and I do have PH and TDS meters. Like I stated previously I use tap water that has a TDS of 110. I know I'm being a pussy, I don't want to quit, I love herb. It's just i so disappointed 11 or so months with all that work and money and nothing to show for it. This last harvest I flushed every other nute change which is around 2 weeks. I stopped feeding the girls with 10 days left till harvest and flushed, then fed them only water, changing the res every other day for the 10 days. the strange thing is the plants were still nice and green when I finally harvested. That tells me something is wrong.

i just took all the buds hanging, that have been drying for the last 5 days and put them in brown paper bags to finish the dry, before moving them into my curing jars. I noticed that everyone of the stems was hollow is that normal? Also on my previous harvest using Foxfarm nutes I noticed that the hydroton had the white nutrient salt all over them, where on the harvest all the Hydroton looks clean. Maybe with a month of curing the buds won't be so bad. Thanks again for all the advice.

A harsh metallic taste and super quick burn? Like overdry weed just fries right up? Then you haven't gotten your nutes out.

I use Pro Blend and as long as I flush no problems. But hydroton is notorious for "hanging on" to excess salts and ferts with all it's cute litte airy holes and can cause overfert/salt build up issues. It's one of the reasons I don't use hydroton.

I say change your medium, use a good flushing product and RO water (and Cannazym) for at least a week to flush and you should be good.

then, if you're still not happy......grow in soil.

WeedHound,
I'm using a 3ftx3ft tray with 4" Grodan cubes, what other medium could I use to cover the Grodan cubes? Sorry if I sound dense, I just don't know what else I could use.

WeedHound forget my last post. I just checked out the different mediums. Something like a Bud Blanket would probably do the trick. All I need to do is make sure the roots growing out from the cubes are covered. Thanks very much for the guidance that's what I'll try.

Just a quick thought, you say you flush for 10 days and change water every other day during this process but when you go to cut them down they are still basically green? My thought might also be that the plant (for some reason) hasnt finished using up all of its own stored energy. Maybe extend flush time a touch also? Good luck man I'm with ya, just coming up on the 1 year mark and it's been a bumpy ride.

That's a good idea Tinytoon. I think I'll give them 14 days of just water and instead of 10 and take WeedHounds advice and replace the Hydroton with something else like maybe a Bud Blanket. I think I'll give it a try one more time with the 5 plants currently vegging.

Sounds like ur right, too many minerals and prob alot of chlorophyl too. Was the bud n leaf really dark when harvested? Does it make some snap crackel when it burns? That together with the shit taste usually tells all. With good green veg I think 14-16 days maybe a little more of flush would be more beneficial. This usually brings mine to a pale green by finish which really makes for tastier goods. I have also found using a really weak nutient solution for flush one time at veg to bloom nutrient change washes away salts and what not better than that high dollar flush shit. I also think it may not be benefiting you to change tank every other day and have to try and get it ph stable before the next day. Try giving it at least 5 days in between dumping the tank and alow the tank and run-off water time to balance. The black strap is a good idea but I use it as a foliar spray a few times in the 3-4wk of bloom stage. It does have some nutrient values so be really easy on it.(lots of info on here and web) misting with RO water as soon as the light comes on will also help wash out chloro/nutes. Also, have you checked accuracy of tds meter, 110ppm sounds low for tap. But with a good formula the meter isn't a must. BTW I did dirt grows for years but after trying hydro for the first time I think it is much easier. Ha Ha... Ileft this response sit unfinished for too long and others pretty much said the same thing. LOL

A couple harvests ago I had some horrible tasting stuff...unsmokable in a joint...I had to use a bong...it smelled nothing like bud

Now my hydro guy told me he didn't think it was wise to go longer than 2 weeks on straight water or it can create other problems in the plant. I would cut your nutes in half for the last week BEFORE you flush, then do your flushing routine for up to 14 days.

And damn dude.......if you're going to throw it out send it to me cause I'll sure find SOMETHING to do with it. :D

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Originally Posted by Weedhound

Now my hydro guy told me he didn't think it was wise to go longer than 2 weeks on straight water or it can create other problems in the plant. I would cut your nutes in half for the last week BEFORE you flush, then do your flushing routine for up to 14 days.

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I agree with the flush, as I stated above, I do this only if solid green vegetation. If the plant is already a more pale lush green, i've found 2wk flush comes out perfect for me. I lean mine out more than most though, kinda like the color of this little guy:smokin:sometimes even lighter. The fan leaves end up light yellow by finish to achieve this. Ultimately it depends on the strain and how it was grown as well as many environmental variables(temp, humidity, or even type of nutes and run time. Women are different from one to the next and respond differently to what you do to them:lol5:, these girls are no exception. Just my opinion

Cannakeeper I think I may try your idea of using the weak nutrient solution as a flush between the veg and bloom change. The plants are dark green when I harvest so I think your on to something. The reason I was changing the plain water every other day on the last 10 days was because I thought since the drip system I use recirculates the water I would be adding the removed salts right back into the plants if I didn't change the res so often. I calibrate both the TDS and PH meters I have so I think the PPM of the water is fairly accurate. I would have went out and purchased a RO system, but I rent the house and didn't want to put a hole in my landlords pipes, plus I figured I didn't need RO water if my PPM was so low.

Weedhound-Last night I ordered a Bud Blanket online. I'm going to get away from Hydroton and see if that helps. I read somewhere that you should cut the nutes back before you get to the flush, so I think I'll try that. Thanks to everyone for the replies, you have given me a bunch of great ideas. I think I was premature on quitting I'm going to keep trying.

I think this whole thread has been enlightening, I too after only one time using clay peb product, don't care for it either. It may have had alot to do with the type of nutes I used, also the first time. I should have known better than to use crystaline nutes on the stuff. I had always used rockwool with hydrofarm crystal. I may have better luck not leaving salt crust on it on the next run since i'm switching to the GH-3 part but still not sure if I want to risk it again. I'm gonna look into this "bud blanket"..never heard of it since I had never swayed from the wool. Is that the same as cocconut mat? I'm steady trying to decide on a better combo to my drip system so I can start my next run.

CannaKeeper sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, work and X-mas shopping. I was researching an alternative medium for my drip system and read a couple of things about this new Bud Blanket. I figure all the Hydroton is doing is covering the roots from the light and providing some kind of base for the rockwool cubes, so the plant doesn't tip over when it gets large. Here is the product description:
The Bud Blanket is used in hydroponic systems that utilize a tray (flood & drain, drip, etc.). It works especially well when growing in rockwool blocks, but can also be used with net pots and other types of containers. Follow these simple directions:

1. Roll the pre-cut Bud Blanket out onto the surface of your tray.
2. Place rooted plants in rockwool cubes, etc. directly on the Bud Blanket.
3. Watch in amazement as the plants root system develops in the high humidity layer that the Bud Blanket creates!
4. Clean up is a snap! Simply roll the Bud Blanket up with roots and all and you're ready to grow again.

I figured there's not much to lose since it only cost $15 for a 48"x48" mat. I should be setting it up this coming weekend.

Cool bro, sounds like the coconut mat i've seen. I am soo undecided and stressed about it. I have read ass-loads of info on the DWC buckets and the convience and simplicity of them so I may lean that way and take my first step away from the drippy way. I have used the 20 gal tank and slab trays style forever and i'm bout over it. Buckets seem to work pretty champ for ALOT of others. I think I will gather some more log formulas/combos info from some of the pros and make a decision by this wkend as well.

Good luck Ganja and if ya want start up a log so we can follow ya :jointsmile:

Are you lowering the nutes towards the 2nd to last week in flowering?

Someone else had mentioned that earlier. I wasn't doing that and that may be one of my problems. I am definitely going to cut down on the nutes towards the end of flowering. Concerning the Bud Blanket I just received, it looks more like a fiberglass than a coconut mat. I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Dude if it doesn't work for you this time I think it is your water. Even at 110 PPM's if it's tap water from city could be a good amount of solid chlorine, bad for taste. If it's well water could be minerals that you don't want because of taste. I have not seen anyone who uses R/O or distilled have this problem and flush so much. Get clean water and some cal-mag plus and flush the last week you won't have the problem any more.

I know some peeps that like that crappy stong taste. The last I did I flushed for 2 weeks and no one thought it was the same. To bad I loved it, all for me. LOL

Just saw some white widow that smelled like stank dog crap. The guy loved it but you could smell it from down the street like a steaming pile (Still Smokin)

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Originally Posted by LOC NAR on probation

Dude if it doesn't work for you this time I think it is your water. Even at 110 PPM's if it's tap water from city could be a good amount of solid chlorine, bad for taste. If it's well water could be minerals that you don't want because of taste. I have not seen anyone who uses R/O or distilled have this problem and flush so much. Get clean water and some cal-mag plus and flush the last week you won't have the problem any more.

I know some peeps that like that crappy stong taste. The last I did I flushed for 2 weeks and no one thought it was the same. To bad I loved it, all for me. LOL

Just saw some white widow that smelled like stank dog crap. The guy loved it but you could smell it from down the street like a steaming pile (Still Smokin)

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Loc Nar makes a very good point about your water and the possibility that it may be your issue. If there are nasty chemicals in your tap water, they can transfer to your weed. That's why I suggested flushing strictly with RO water and a root product such as Cannazym.

That's some good advice guys. i had previously looked into getting an RO system, but it seemed just about all of them involved putting a hole in the faucet pipe. That's something I didn't won't to do being that I rent the house I live in. I'll see if I can find a system that I can hook directly to the faucet without damaging the pipes. I had assumed with the water that what I really needed to worry about was how high the PPM was, I never thought about all the crap that might be in it-live and learn. I already have some Cal Mag plus, so I'll pick up some Cannazym and get an RO system. I'm switching my ladies over to flowering today, hopefully in a couple of months I'll be indulging in some sweet tasting herb. Thanks guys

They come ready to screw on your faucet or in our case....the garden hose. You'll need a container to store your RO water in and a 2 stage should do you fine for hydro purposes. We can unscrew ours and put it quietly away within a few minutes.

Well guys I know I haven't been around for a while but just wanted to give you an update on what's been going on. Since my post in Dec. about my hydro weed tasting like crap, I've had 2 more grows and both have ended the same way. The herb looks amazing, but taste like crap! Two entire years, a couple thousand dollars and more hours hauling water up and down stairs than I care to remember and I'm still smoking s**t. I tried the good advice from the generous members here and changed from Hydroton media and got myself an RO system. I thought after my last grow that my problem was that when I was flushing I was using plain RO water and that I should have flushed with water that was PH adjusted, but that didn't solve the problem.
About my only option now is to try a soil grow or just quit altogether. Because of where I live there is no option to just buy the dank stuff, it's always below average stuff that cost from $300 to $400 an OZ. The last time I smoked really good stuff was 25 years ago in college. I thought growing my own would finally fix this problem, but I'm an idiot! Thanks for letting me vent I feel better.:mad:

how long are you drying the buds before you put them into jars? what are your temps and RH in your drying area? If you're using clearex during your flush, you shouldn't be having any issues with salts lingering... I would look at your drying process as the possible culprit. overdried buds can at times have the harsh metalic taste you described...

I certainly can understand your frustration and anger. But I hope you stick with it and figure this out. It seems like you are sooo close. I have a few ideas for you.

I agree with above poster, maybe the drying process isn't working for you. Drying is more complicated than one would think. I found that no matter how careful I was, if I tried to dry when my RH was very low, I ended up with yucky tasting weed. My best drying attempt I was able to keep RH around 50% and temps at 65~70F. The longer you can make the drying process last, the better everything tastes. My best attempt occurred during a cool, moist spring. The plants hung for a couple of weeks and the buds were not "crunchy" even then, but dried to perfection.

So, even though I may know the right way, I'm not able to recreate the best conditions at other times of the year. I need to invest in a humidifier, I guess, just for drying. I'm lucky in that I haven't run across any mold at all, at any time. Kinda counterintuitive, as I live in the hot, steamy south.

Are you cutting the buds from the stems when you harvest or do you leave the plant intact while drying? I leave all buds on the stems. I don't even cut the stems off the main trunk until everything is dry and ready to be jarred. I don't do paper bags or such, just hanging, then to the jars. The stems and stalks help to pull the bad tastes and moisture out.

What to do with your not so good tasting (but potent) weed? You could try to water cure a batch to see if you like that. I understand it removes pretty much all taste from the weed, so not optimal, but workable. You could also make canna caps or canna butter with it. I find that the canna caps work extremely well for me, so much so that I'm not smoking nearly as much dried and cured bud. I generally make them with fresh trim and popcorn buds, but have used nasty tasting, cured bud with the same results.

You might try a vaporizer. I don't like them at all, but some swear by them. To me, they totally remove or change the taste of weed, which for your purposes, may work. You could also try putting a bit of orange peel or apple in the curing jars with your nasty weed. I've done this with crappy street stuff when desperate. As you stated, you could make hash, but I'm way too lazy for that involved process.:smokin:

I hope some of these suggestions work for you. I hate to see a fellow grower throw in the towel without attaining success. Please post back and let us know how you get on.