What specifically produces trichomes and THC?

[MidnightToker54]

Is there a specific nutrient that promotes trichome/THC production? Or some kind of stress method?

I've heard that one of the uses for trichomes in nature is to protect the plant from insects and that the oil protects the leaves from excess sunlight. So how can we reproduce that effect indoors?

And what is it that makes strains such as White Widow so much different than other strains and how can we encourage extra trichome production in an average commercial plant?

I hope I'm explaining this right and I know that's a lot of questions.

MidnightToker54 Reviewed by MidnightToker54 on 08-13-2006. What specifically produces trichomes and THC? Is there a specific nutrient that promotes trichome/THC production? Or some kind of stress method? I've heard that one of the uses for trichomes in nature is to protect the plant from insects and that the oil protects the leaves from excess sunlight. So how can we reproduce that effect indoors? And what is it that makes strains such as White Widow so much different than other strains and how can we encourage extra trichome production in an average commercial plant? I hope I'm Rating: 5

[slowthestone]

UVB

[keeko]

some people go and buy reptile lights at a pet store that have specifically uva and uvb rays, i have never tried it but i have heard it promotes more trichomes

[Dutch Pimp]

Does HPS lights, like Hortilux, have a good range of UVA -UVB?

[IanCurtisWishlist]

If you are growing an indoor crop and want the most trichomes (resin), leave your plant in the dark the last 2 or 3 days before you pull them up. this is when you should flush the plant of nutrients.

in leaving the plant in the dark, you will force the plant to produce more resin because the plant thinks it's going to die. the marijuana plant produces resin as a means to help catch more pollen from the male plant. however if it's not pollinized, the plant keeps producing resin. well when you leave it in the dark it goes into "overload" and vigorously tries to catch pollen--by producing resin.

in response to your question as to why white widow is so different, it is determined by the plant's genetics. some humans are more prone to develop cancer due to genetics--some marijuana plants are more prone to develop higher THC levels for the same reason.

i got that from the cannabis grow bible.

[keeko]

great info, will try that next time

[Arklenao2]

doves uvb really help?
on the box it says it encourages mating

[Arklenao2]

BUMP
they have cfl uvb lights at petco, what will it do for my plant, if anything?

[DeepFriedBrain]

two weeks before cropping you want to drop the temp in your room as low as possible for a very short time each 'morning', the plant feels winter in the air and speeds up resin production.
This crop I will be treating my ladies to a burst of CO2 from an extinguisher to drop the temp and replicate the onset of winter.
And bang on as much light as you can.

[Abattoir Dream]

in leaving the plant in the dark, you will force the plant to produce more resin because the plant thinks it's going to die. the marijuana plant produces resin as a means to help catch more pollen from the male plant. however if it's not pollinized, the plant keeps producing resin. well when you leave it in the dark it goes into "overload" and vigorously tries to catch pollen--by producing resin.

this statement isnt ENTIRELY true...

Darkness enduces the flowering hormone in cannabis, this is why the lights go to 12/12, when you leave the plant in the dark, it will constantly enduce the hormone, but, without the right amount of stored energy, (from light the previous day) and light to develop the bud after darkness, all you end up with is pre-mature buds. also resin doesnt catch pollen, thats what pistils are for.

if you are thinking of giving your plants and extended dark period, do it a week and two days before harvest, then, a week from harvest, flush and switch back to 12/12 for the last week, that way the extra buds produced in the extended dark period can mature, and any light/energy the plant recieves would usually be used to mature those buds, thus meaning the plant wont create many more immature buds, and the bud will be a little more consistently and evenly grown...

leaving you with more bud/active resin...