NorthernCosmos' First Indoor Soil Auto Grow: 2019

[NorthernCosmos]

She's fine! Well, apart from the yellowing which is only a few days from creeping into the colas. I wonder if a red plant works/tastes different than a green plant... Guess I'll find out soon

The Amnesia has gotten a few Deep Purple leaves as her autumn colours set in. All these colours are quite fascinating.

How about you then - starting up anything at the summer house?

 

[CraZysWeeD]

I wonder if a red plant works/tastes different than a green plant... Guess I'll find out soon

Don't be surprised if she tastes Tomato then.

How about you then - starting up anything at the summer house?

Life slowly starts to get there now, finally got the water turned on so it makes being there a lot easier not having to drag fresh water cans every time going there.

Got this older Bosnian neighbor who has been harassing me with work he wants me to do for him. Just because I work at a waterplant I don't know every pipe or threading there is....

 

[NorthernCosmos]

Don't be surprised if she tastes Tomato then.

I wouldn't mind - tomato, garlic and chili taste would be perfect

BTW, the cured AK420 tastes very sweet on the tongue, and if I lick my lips after smoking there's a sweet taste. The buds smell like candy too.

 

[InTheShed]

Maybe that's why they call trichomes "sugar"!

 

[NorthernCosmos]

Maybe that's why they call trichomes "sugar"!

Well, it does taste nice and sweet. So does my latest Amnesia after 2 months of curing. I thought sugars were meant to go away during curing, lest you get harsh smoke - but it might not the that sugar I'm tasting(?)

Anyway, this is exactly where I wanted to be - having several strains in different stages of curing, so that I can gain some experience in this area. A week or two ago I spent the last of the almost 4 months cured Amnesia and White Widow and it just reeked of quality.

A couple of the plants in curing currently got a little bit dry despite the 62% RH packs in the jars, I think (could be the initial drying that was slightly overdone). I did a slow and careful rehydration with alu-foil wrapped wet paper packets, and they have bounced back. My BCN went from an almost unpleasant hay'ish smell to starting to develop a sweet/citrus aroma.

While the growing process and strains and so on is obviously important, the drying and curing seems to be where you make or break the quality of the finished buds. So far I'm finding that at around 2 months of curing, the taste and smoothness is really good.

 

[InTheShed]

The curing can make or break the quality of the smoke so well-done on getting it down! I make sure no one smokes my weed until at least four weeks after I seal it for the cure, and I get compliments on how smooth it is all the time.

I thought sugars were meant to go away during curing,

I'm not sure what this means. Most of what goes away during curing is all remaining chlorophyl, slowly digested by microbes.

 

[NorthernCosmos]

I'm also in the privileged position of being able to offer my guests "luxury" cured weed Well, that is, when things get normal enough to have guests again...

I'm not sure what this means. Most of what goes away during curing is all remaining chlorophyl, slowly digested by microbes.

Every time I read an in depth curing guide, they mention breaking down of sugars too - some don't even talk about the chlorophyll (I know the breaking down of that is crucial), e.g. this random pick (there are more like this , saying the same things):

From the moment the crop is harvested it begins to degrade as enzymes and aerobic bacteria break down excess sugars and starches. Curing cannabis essentially forces the plant to use up those sugars, starches and excessive nutrients before they’ve had the chance to dry out and get stuck inside the plant.

(link)

I know very little about this, so I'm just trying to learn for now. And that's going reasonably well - at least I imagine I have a reasonable feel for the practical tasks of basic drying and curing - hopefully enough to progress in the right direction with that

 

[InTheShed]

Interesting information there NC! Thanks for finding it! Microbes eat the sugar and leave us with the sugar .

 

[CraZysWeeD]

I know very little about this, so I'm just trying to learn for now. And that's going reasonably well - at least I imagine I have a reasonable feel for the practical tasks of basic drying and curing - hopefully enough to progress in the right direction with that

I think you seem to know a lot about it Cosmos, you just need to get more practical knowledge about it. You are doing great and it's clear you are a very enlightened person!

The No.1 thing for me is always the smell of it and hopefully I get a good result in the end but I think my methods work good.

I'm envious of your curing stash, I'm running really low now think I got about 10-15g left in total now before Spliff Berry gets chopped. Got to get those autos going soon.

Have a great 420 friend and stay safe!

 

[NorthernCosmos]

Let's hope the Spliff Berry carries you through to the next chop! If not, we'll have to meet up for some emergency supplies transfer.

A great 420 to you and all my 420 friends!

 

[CraZysWeeD]

You are too nice Cosmos.

 

[NorthernCosmos]

This being 4/20 day, I had a nice walk in the woods listening to music and enjoying a spliff - can you guess which strain that was?

Spoiler: Mystery strain on this day

AK420, of course, which gives me a nice mellow high perfect for a stroll

And I guess today's tent picture must be posted. I'm extending the seniors one feeding - I want to see a few more amber trichs before it goes down. The four Northern Lights are chugging along.

All is well on my first 4/20 as a grower

 

[StoneOtter]

This being 4/20 day, I had a nice walk in the woods listening to music and enjoying a spliff - can you guess which strain that was?

Spoiler: Mystery strain on this day

AK420, of course, which gives me a nice mellow high perfect for a stroll

And I guess today's tent picture must be posted. I'm extending the seniors one feeding - I want to see a few more amber trichs before it goes down. The four Northern Lights are chugging along.

All is well on my first 4/20 as a grower

Such good use of the spoiler thingie!

 

[CraZysWeeD]

This being 4/20 day, I had a nice walk in the woods listening to music and enjoying a spliff

All is well on my first 4/20 as a grower

Sounds like a great 4/20 Cosmos!

We come from wood!

 

[InTheShed]

Such good use of the spoiler thingie!

I didn't know the spoiler thingie was a thingie!

 

[StoneOtter]

I didn't know the spoiler thingie was a thingie!

Same here.

 

[NorthernCosmos]

Amnesia and White Widow autos have been chopped at 89 days from seed in soil.

These are the most trichome dense plants I've had. Much of the sugar leaves had fur all the way to the very tip and around the edges. Total wet & trimmed is: Amnesia = 366g, Widow = 263g, total = 629g, so looking at ca. 150g dry (90g for the Amnesia alone), which I chuffed with - It's the best for a pair of plants so far

This is the starting point:

Amnesia & Widow + trim + throwaway:

In the drying box, Amnesia in the back, Widow in front. The passive evaporative humidifier setup at the bottom is needed, and even so I struggle to keep 50% RH. When it gets way too dry I run a steam humidifier in the room:

 

[InTheShed]

Those area some chunky looking buds NC! I never get that kind of coverage on my sugar leaves, which is probably why I dump all my trim in the salve bin.

 

[CraZysWeeD]

Just like Shed said, very fat and swollen colas on them. Looks like an awesome run Cosmos. You got more weed than the entire Stockholm region now for sure!

 

[NorthernCosmos]

I never get that kind of coverage on my sugar leaves

I find that hard to believe There are at least 4 more levels of furry coverage above what I had... I mean, I've seen buds on here where you can hardly see the leaves for trichomes. Mine were not like that, but in my little world they were raddest thing

And yes, the colas are fat and dense, hence the high weight for those small autos which are topping out at around 35cm in height. And the smell is strong, sweet and flowery - can't wait to sample some of this, but I'll try to wait for one month of curing first...

It took me 3 hours to trim the two plants, including, setting up, hanging for drying and cleaning up. For the Widow, the dry parts of many leaves were just creeping in between the buds and had to be removed by "surgery", which was time consuming.

Looks like an awesome run Cosmos. You got more weed than the entire Stockholm region now for sure!

...or perhaps I shouldn't be laughing. I know that on the other side of the border, there's practically nothing to get hold of. That sucks for sure.

Of course, parts of the credit for the good grow goes to my 420 friends for the coaching and encouragement