outdoor growing south africa

[homegranny]

Trees are about 4 - 5 metres and have been pruning to expand growth laterally. I think they started about July 2012 and now almost end of Jan 2013 and no signs of budding. Have about 7 plants of different types. I dont usually prune so radically but cant let them get too high or they will be seen. Some are under shadecloth. Do you think I am doing ok so far? They are fed well point water and also some koi pond water.Try hard to only water at ground level but sometimes this is also tiring so i use the hose against the wall to water. It has been extremely hot and windy and i have lost a few finer plants.No signs yet of male plants. In previous years i just took off yellowing leaves and a few small side growths. Concerned that I have overdone it this year. I check for bugs almost every day and have removed mealie bug and a black shiny beetle or two. Otherwise reasonablly bug free as i have eliminated the ants.Usually get a good crop round about march or april. Your comments would be appreciated, getting nervous that i have a dummy crop! Thanks [ATTACHAttachment 289033Attachment 289034Attachment 289033

homegranny Reviewed by homegranny on 01-20-2013. outdoor growing south africa Trees are about 4 - 5 metres and have been pruning to expand growth laterally. I think they started about July 2012 and now almost end of Jan 2013 and no signs of budding. Have about 7 plants of different types. I dont usually prune so radically but cant let them get too high or they will be seen. Some are under shadecloth. Do you think I am doing ok so far? They are fed well point water and also some koi pond water.Try hard to only water at ground level but sometimes this is also tiring so i Rating: 5

[low_rdr]

We don't know the strains, so its hard to comment. I'm not sure on the lighting in SA, are they starting to get a full 12 hours of darkness? Lets say this - The plants look great, I'd love those in my garden, so everything is going well as far as health, but if you've had to wait til april to harvest before, then I'm sure you'll start seeing some hairs soon. As far as a dummy crop, I think they're just waiting to adjust to the lighting Remember, even after 12/12 starts it can take a few weeks before you see your first hairs!

[homegranny]

HI, thanks for the info...At the moment only getting about nine hours of darkness, so that was my gut feeling,but always good to get an opinion.Thank you for the reply,much appreciated.Think I was just having a panic!!

[Micooy]

We don't know the strains, so its hard to comment. I'm not sure on the lighting in SA, are they starting to get a full 12 hours of darkness? Lets say this - The plants look great, I'd love those in my garden, so everything is going well as far as health, but if you've had to wait til april to harvest before, then I'm sure you'll start seeing some hairs soon. As far as a dummy crop, I think they're just waiting to adjust to the lighting Remember, even after 12/12 starts it can take a few weeks before you see your first hairs!

I Threw some seeds on my compost heap after a clean. It was there for over 6 months before I was surprised with a plant. Initially 3, but now only 2 (one male, one female) due to my dogs running everywhere. They broke the stem of the smallest.

Seeing that this is my first own plant. I looked into this site for guidance for the past 3 months. I can post pics of it if you would need it, but "HomeGranny's" comment of 4-5m high plants really worry me. Mine is 1m high and shows the female v hairs already, but there is about 15cm left before the tips will be visible to the back neighbor.

How long will it still take to make buds? And how tall do you think it will get?

I'm a new member here, so forgive if I replied wrong,....weird buttons on the forum screen...

Thanks

Micooy

[Micooy]

I decided to download the pics for you to see. Maybe a strain would be visible for the trained eye. Btw, homegranny, your's look beautifull! Wish I could be there for the testing...

Here is mine...

[Mal420xl]

nice looking. but id be highly dubious of anyone who says they can look at a pic and tell you the strain....pretty much impossible. the only thing anyone could be sure of indica dominate vs sativa dominate. even that can be tough if the plant is a 50/50 mix and doesnt really display traits of one over the other.
yours look like sativa by the leaves and indica-like from the spacing between nodes.
the only i can be sure of is it looks healthy. being in south africa probably a good guess its maybe durban or malawi?

[Mal420xl]

just saw your first post. flowering times vary by strain etc. as for height you may want to look into low stress training to keep out of the neighbors eye.

[Micooy]

Hi Mal420,

Yes South Africa. Gauteng province,....right in the middle. Inland.

I thought it is indica probably from a flawed assumption that sativa goes high up. Maybe because I just didn't want to cross the border of that back wall.

Any guesses on what stage she is? My phone didn't take such great pics, but the female sex is showing and the "bark" is getting a thin white film on it close to the nodes and upper parts of the plant.

Thank for your reply.

[Micooy]

Just saw your new post....low stress training? For the plant or me?......lol!!

Would that be like pruning it lower? Won't that mean me loosing a lot of heads?

[Micooy]

Hi Homegranny

You got a bb pin? we can share recipes...lol. You're the first South African I see here.

Regards

Micooy