Cottage 420's Organic Perpetual Indoor Garden

[UncleCannabis]

Your mention of the setbacks in growth caused by the topping could be a key component in the reason for the lower per plant yields, at least in my case.

By topping one plant and not the other this would result in about a 1 week loss of veg growth time for the topped plant to recover and begin catching stride again. Whereas the topped plant would not experience any growth setbacks which would or should result in more green matter and potential bud sites when flowering time arrives.

This growth setback for the topped plant could have been the cause of the reduced per plant yield.

It may be worth mentioning that I was given a tip by a mentor of mine which greatly improved the yields of my topped plants.
When the plant gets to be about knee high I would top it.
Once the two main branches develop and grow to be about 4' long or so you bend them down towards the ground in opposite directions of each other and secure the main stem to ground with a piece of bent over metal re-bar or something similar.
Once this is done you then cover the branch where it touches the ground with a shovel full or 2 of dirt. It will take root where the branch is covered with dirt and keep on creeping further and further away from the main trunk. I
t will do this until bloom begins to set in resulting in a hedge row of a plant that is essentially many plants come harvest time due to the multiple rooted areas.

Another benefit is that if one part of the plant is damaged or uprooted by storms or animals the whole plant would not be lost, only the section where the damage occurred would be lost.

This worked like a box of lucky charms for me and was one of those ground breaking tips that really helped me a lot.

 

[ClosedCircuit]

I didn't know cannabis was a "runner plant." Other plants that grow similarly in stature to cannabis like rosemary or basil can be grown in this manner. Didn't know cannabis was one of them. The more you know!

 

[UncleCannabis]

It doesn't really "run". It will root wherever it is forced to take root. The newly rooted areas that are created will not continue to spread and create new plants.
What I meant when I said "keep on creeping further and further from the main trunk" is that IF you continue to anchor down the main branches every 4' to 6' or so and make them root at the anchor location you will create what is essentially a shrub row. Think of it as being a chain with main trunk in the middle but each link having it's own roots. If any part of the chain is broken (by an animal or storm for instance. PM and other nasty pest not included) the whole chain doesn't die off.

Apologies if my earlier explanation was misleading. If you'll forgive my lack of artistic skills I'll make a quick sketch later and post it here so that it's more clear.

 

[UncleCannabis]

I warned you about my lack of drawing skills..... LOL!!

 

[bobrown14]

I'm going to do a mini update ... only reason for mini is I had a crazy day at work and its time to puff puff puff and I'm late for that actually WAY late. Lunch time would have worked Grrrr_8.

OK so going WAY down the back stretch with this round of my last 2 Krystalica ladies. I have 5 more in VEG right now tho so not finished with this strain. Its a strain that just keeps giving and giving. I've been smoking it for over a year now and I'm still happy. I've been mixing it up tho so I don't get tired of the same taste but this one is mighty fine. I've ordered some more seeds from Mandela Seeds - Satori and Mandala #1 - they are regulars so at the end of the year I will start a new nursery with a bunch of regs and see whats what. From my readings the Mandala #1 has the THC AND the CBD for a good medical buzz - cover all my bases and more. Whats not to like about that?

Without more this and that ... bud porn:

Ladies coming down the back stretch - she's seeming to dry on the stem ... sheesh but the buds are big and frosty and DRENCHED with resins:

getting done here - time to harvest - this is going to be interesting as she's 7' tall, finding a place to hang dry will be fun!! I think I will be able to handle it!

More Big Girl Buds:

and some more.... a gift that keeps on giving...

Her sister Frosty... she's got a few more weeks, maybe

Frosty Girl

The next round in the VEG room - we got 6 of 6 clones (2 are in the nursery) and 7 of 7 seeds = 100% propagation I guess our green thumbs were all in...

Seedlings and clones are 2 weeks here! Not too shabby. I've already moved a clone into the flower room

 

[SBG]

That's some good growin goin on there. Looks amazing.

 

[santb]

Man that Krystalica is def on my next shopping list. They look literally fantastic. Well done!

 

[bobrown14]

Man that Krystalica is def on my next shopping list. They look literally fantastic. Well done!

Thanks for the reps guys - Krystalica is one of the easiest strains to grow. I've tried to f-up just about every way possible and still got decent yields. Right now fighting with Thirps and even the clone babies seem to fight them off.

I'm going to nuke em with Spinosad and Neem cake tea .. I mixed up a new batch of soil for the little ones in the VEG room and there's Thrips in the new soil or probably my compost.. results of the hot and humid weather. I'll do a little primer on IPM I guess when I get my sprayer fired up... I'm mad and I'm not gonna take it any more, those little bastards are history.

 

[UncleCannabis]

I'm mad and I'm not gonna take it any more, those little bastards are history.

Sound like the battle bugle has been blown. It's on now!!

 

[bobrown14]

Mini update today, nothing really going on... just big buds getting fatter and heavier!

I did 2 sprays with my new Chapin 20000 sprayer and some neem oil with a dash of soap nut water (saponin) and some Spinasad which is an all organic and OMRI labeled biological warfare agent to kill those little pesky thrips. They are soooo small the only reason I found them was my leaves were showing signs of something biting them, nothing serious and they only affect the lower leaves as they do not like a lot of light! The little bitches are light sensitive and its a good thing too.

So after this round the flower room gets a whole sale tear down and dis-infect top to btm cleaning before the next round goes in and thats going to be VERY soon so time to get busy.

So anyway we've got a handful of clones and a handful of seedlings going of regulars and a few autos to fill in. I'm growing the autos and give them away to my friends. Everyone loves those pretty flowers but I prefer the taste and effects of Krystalica or I wouldn't still be growing it. I'm adding in another one of Mendala's selections to the new round... hmm I forgot which one I popped. I'll get more into detail as the next round gets going.

I took these bud pics on Friday and never got to do my update.

Anyway, still chugging away with the blumat watering system. It's really nice I don't have to mess with the plants really at all, just go in and inspect for critters and say hi give them a little TLC and I'm out.. 5-10 minutes tops. The little ones require more attention and that's what I'm focused on right now. Getting the next round up and going. All my Krystalica clones have taken and after 3-4 weeks really are ready for the flower room but I've got to clean it first.

So basically all I'm doing with all the ladies is straight up RO water, tonight I did a SST (sprouted seed tea) with organic pop corn, and watered in. This SST (corn) has enzymes and growth hormones :


"The Enzymes are a catalyst that assist the other nutrients and help super charge your soil.

Corn is known to be high in Cytokinins.

"Cytokinins will increase the girth and tinsel strength of the side branches and stronger branches will produce larger and heavier flowers." -Clackamas Coots

Instead of buying an expensive enzyme product in a bottle, you can make your own!"

^^^ Quoted from BAS website ^^^

linky = Corn Seed - Heirloom Organic For Sprouted Seed Tea - BuildASoil

What I do is give the girls some Corn SST and another Alfalfa SST early in VEG and again early in flower, then late flower too - doing this in late flower brings on a bunch more new white pistols and it is not subtle. Then the plant will start putting out more resins to protect those beautiful new pistols.. its actually very beautiful, and it happens over night.

Ok here's the goodies getting ready for the chop!

Krystalica big girl - notice she's laying down on her side and not even tied up anymore - LST training is a beautiful thing, I didn't know I had it in me - I like to see the ladies all natural but hey whatever works first and foremost.

All of big girls buds are laying down or sideways ... this was the first one that had buds so big they wouldn't even stand up with wire helpers, this bud is a good 10-12 inches long doesn't fit in the screen shot.

I think she's done ... still white pistols tho so I can wait a few more days but we are very close, I wont have to trim much with this one!! yay me!

Ok on to Frosty ... she's got the goods with bud porn. She's got all kinds of colors and is very very sticky. Wow I have to wash my fingers with alcohol to get the resin off. I'm just gonna let this lady speak for her self. She's been one of the prettiest ladies I've grown for a while now. She started off very very good looking and look at her now! Attributing this to the 3rd round of no-til in that pot - the plants keep getting better and better.

This is the classic Krystalica Phenotype "C" = big ass main cola standing tall with a bag of friends off to the sides.

OK here's the nursery:

see the funky color to the lower leaves - that's from the Thrips. They are gone now (fingers X'd)

Got the thrips with this stuff - I'll post pics again tomorrow to show the difference a day makes!!

Hey ma looks whats we gots in the mail today.... this is the good'ns, will help plants fight off pests and diseases. I will amend/sprinkle some in to top dress just a little say 1/4 cup of each and sprinkle on soil. Bugs hate this stuff.

Cheers everybody and thanks for stopping by! it's that time again....

 

[brightlight]

Hey bobrown....great update, especially interesting for any who like organics. Gorgeous flowers. What is the intent of the Karanja cake? Insects? Good gardening!

 

[bobrown14]

Hey bobrown....great update, especially interesting for any who like organics. Gorgeous flowers. What is the intent of the Karanja cake? Insects? Good gardening!

Hey there Brightlight thanks for stopping by.

The Karanja cake is mainly known for an ingredient Azadirachtin which is also in Neen cake and the oils from both. If you notice on the label of those 2 bags they are organic and from the Ahimsa foundation. The Azadirachtin is a very effective insect growth disrupter and is found in both of those products. The Ahimsa brand is THE tops as far as quality and quantity of active ingredients.

Karanja and Neem are good soil amendments in addition to use in my IPM routine. Azadirachtin breaks down fairly quickly with light and water say 100hrs or so.

Here's a Cornell U write up on Azadirachtin:

Azadirachtin

I use these products as soil amendments for all the other side benefits as well as making teas to use for a foiler spray for my new found insect issues, but they work equally well as a fairly strong organic soil amendment along with a bunch of micro nutrients and helps with soil tilth as well.

I've been using neem seed meal in my no-til pots @ ~1/4 cup or so per cu/ft of soil and now will do both for soil amendments and as mentioned makes a good foiler spray for plant nutrients as well as insect control! Whats not to like, eh?

 

[bobrown14]

I was writing about collecting worm castings in Sweet Sue's journal the other day. We collect the worm castings in the woods where we live. Now is the time to collect, right before all the leaves fall again. What happens is the euro night crawlers like to hang out under logs I think for a few reasons. One probably is shelter from predators (birds and critters), the other may be they like the wood dust from the insects eating the fallen trees.

As all the leaves collect around the fallen limbs and debris in the forest, the worms eventually find them and start to eat them all spring and summer. By this time of year - beginning of fall the worms have pretty much eaten all the leaves from last year leaving nothing but castings all over the forest floor. The best place to take a bucket and scoop and find them is around the large dead trees and/or branches. We can fill a 5 gal bucket full in about 10 minutes. It takes me a month to have that much in my worm bins/compost piles at home. We collect this from the forest because this is European night crawler castings and our worm bin is primarily red wigglers. So this mixed with the home made EWC is VERY good for the bio-diversity and is a main ingredient in our soil mix.

So here's a few pics that show where to look for worm castings:

Find a log - see the dark soil around the edge of the log? Thats actually worm castings and you can tell by the texture - it sort of looks like little balls of soil but its actually worm castings ... this has EVERYTHING your ladies need to grow big ass buds. Thank me at New Years when you are firing up a bowl or J of your new harvest! This is absolutely THE BEST soil amendment you cant even buy - it's FREE.


Notice the sparkle - thats actually naturally occurring silica from the breakdown of the granite formations where we live. It's another good soil amendment - granite dust and the worms dig it up and put it right there on the surface for plants to absorb and use. Wow there's sooooo much those little worms have to offer gardeners. Worm castings is really the only soil amendment you really need, the rest is just bonus. To find it naturally is even better, this cannot be beat.

 

[kelticBlue]

So here's a few pics that show where to look for worm castings:

. . . .

Oh My Dear Me, I can see that. Great picture tutorial. I can understand and process that. So. I am in the 'inner city' but think I can find a place where I might see this. So do i use this right away, Will it keep in a bag, Will there be a threat of bugs?
Sorry for all the Q?
I would love to grab even a little tiny bit.

I am only running one pot of bas 'CC' style soil. But fresh worm poop is what I am looking for. There is local municipal compost but they seem to bag and retail it. My search is ongoing as ever. I should check in with the local grow store and stop being lazy.

 

[Radogast]

That is a beautiful image of worm castings. I read this described by Darwin, but had not seen it.

Different here, our local worms have digested less than 1/2 of last years leaf fall.

 

[Radogast]

Oh My Dear Me, I can see that. Great picture tutorial. I can understand and process that. So. I am in the 'inner city' but think I can find a place where I might see this. So do i use this right away, Will it keep in a bag, Will there be a threat of bugs?
Sorry for all the Q?
I would love to grab even a little tiny bit.

I am only running one pot of bas 'CC' style soil. But fresh worm poop is what I am looking for. There is local municipal compost but they seem to bag and retail it. My search is ongoing as ever. I should check in with the local grow store and stop being lazy.

This will be 6x superior quality to anything you find in municpal compost, and better than what you will find at your local grow store.

 

[SweetSue]

Hey there Brightlight thanks for stopping by.

The Karanja cake is mainly known for an ingredient Azadirachtin which is also in Neen cake and the oils from both. If you notice on the label of those 2 bags they are organic and from the Ahimsa foundation. The Azadirachtin is a very effective insect growth disrupter and is found in both of those products. The Ahimsa brand is THE tops as far as quality and quantity of active ingredients.

Karanja and Neem are good soil amendments in addition to use in my IPM routine. Azadirachtin breaks down fairly quickly with light and water say 100hrs or so.

Here's a Cornell U write up on Azadirachtin:

Azadirachtin

I use these products as soil amendments for all the other side benefits as well as making teas to use for a foiler spray for my new found insect issues, but they work equally well as a fairly strong organic soil amendment along with a bunch of micro nutrients and helps with soil tilth as well.

I've been using neem seed meal in my no-til pots @ ~1/4 cup or so per cu/ft of soil and now will do both for soil amendments and as mentioned makes a good foiler spray for plant nutrients as well as insect control! Whats not to like, eh?

I've taken to upping the ante here. When I mixed my last batch I took CC's advice and increased the neem meal to almost two cups per cubic foot of soil mixed. I've just started using that batch, so I've yet to see if there's any improvement. I have no insect problem at all, I can tell you that.

And I'm so excited about going out to find EWC in the forest tomorrow you wouldn't believe it.

 

[SweetSue]

Oh BB - I started a community grow thread on the Dark Devil Auto. Anything you'd like to repost about your own grows of the strain will be appreciated. Just trying to compile info on my favorite strain to date.

The link is in my signature.

 

[36Gr0w]

Ha ha what timing BB, I did this exact thing today! I went out in the woods scouting for downed rotting logs and trees for hugel veggie garden expansions. I was also searching for more worms to throw in my pots, and figured I'd gather castings as well. I also went looking for mushrooms to observe where they are growing and what conditions, but kept getting sidetracked following the deer tracks. I love what you are doing BB.

 

[bobrown14]

Oh My Dear Me, I can see that. Great picture tutorial. I can understand and process that. So. I am in the 'inner city' but think I can find a place where I might see this. So do i use this right away, Will it keep in a bag, Will there be a threat of bugs?
Sorry for all the Q?
I would love to grab even a little tiny bit.

I am only running one pot of bas 'CC' style soil. But fresh worm poop is what I am looking for. There is local municipal compost but they seem to bag and retail it. My search is ongoing as ever. I should check in with the local grow store and stop being lazy.

We live in the city as well, Philadelphia which has an extensive city park system which is where we go hiking! This is a 2nd growth forest and there are trees that are HUGE and very old. You can collect the castings and save them for use later yes, we put our extra in a bucket and a plastic bin and use as needed when mixing new soil.

Regarding bugs, if you could see our compost/worm bin its covered with insects and we are fine. There are many many beneficial insects as well, the big thing is to grow plants that can handle them. Using neem & Karanja meal in soil helps with that. Healthy plants can fight them and a little IPM takes care of the rest.