Pink's Perpetual Experiments

[Pinktiger777]

Update on Flowering Tent
Defoliation was a good idea. The plants have developed a bunch of "main" stems that are now exploding into bloom. Anytime you trim the plants, they produce a growth hormone that stimulates production of whatever mode the plant is in. Since it is now in blooming mode, this produces more blooms. I have left most of the fan leaves above the top net, but I did take some toward the bottom of the top part.
Temperatures are a concern this time of year, as the tent is in the basement, under the stairs, and it rarely gets above 65 there. The lowest temp so far has been 59. I've been giving the tent bursts of hot air during the day to bring it up to the 80's. I'm doing this to see if it is true that if you give the plants a 20 degree span in temps during a 24 hour period that it will induce purple. Of course, this plant, being Mazari Grape, is supposed to be purple. But if the air is too warm all the time, purple doesn't show until the last, past where I consider the plant to be in prime condition. The only thing I've noticed is a step up in bud production. But give it time, Pink!

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 6, 2019

tent.jpg

• Pinktiger777
• Nov 6, 2019

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 6, 2019

 

[InTheShed]

Production time!

 

[Pinktiger777]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I’m saving all the fan leaves. Putting them in the refrigerator to dry. Going to extract them later.

 

[InTheShed]

Extract what?

 

[Pinktiger777]

Extract what?

I’m going to decarb them, pulverize them with a mortar and pestle, and extract medicine with Everclear.

 

[Pinktiger777]

Or I may make canna butter.

 

[InTheShed]

Not much THC in fans but whatever there is you'll get with Everclear. Most folks doing QWET decarb after evaporation. Keeps the final product from developing the toasted flavor.

No need to go through the mortal and pestle routine for Everclear, so save your wrist!

 

[Pinktiger777]

Not much THC in fans but whatever there is you'll get with Everclear. Most folks doing QWET decarb after evaporation. Keeps the final product from developing the toasted flavor.

No need to go through the mortal and pestle routine for Everclear, so save your wrist!

Now you are taking all the fun out of this. lol

 

[InTheShed]

Oh, sorry...I had no idea that grinding bags and bags of dried leaves by hand was fun . Have at it!

 

[Pinktiger777]

Oh, sorry...I had no idea that grinding bags and bags of dried leaves by hand was fun . Have at it!

I have a Mason and Cash mortar and pestle. A joy to use. I plan to do a quick wash to avoid plant waxes and chlorophyll and grinding them facilitates that.

 

[Pinktiger777]

As for decarb, I prefer to do it first.

 

[Pinktiger777]

I have a Mason and Cash mortar and pestle. A joy to use. I plan to do a quick wash to avoid plant waxes and chlorophyll and grinding them facilitates that.

Myharvests are small enough that I never feel overwhelmed. But also, remember that most of my life I lived on a farm, and every summer it was can, dehydrate and freeze. It’s more fun to trim and play with MJ than green beans. One weekend I put away 120 quarts of those. And then made salsa with 50 pounds of onions, two bushels of Roma tomatoes, a pound of garlic, and a peck of jalapeños. I also made pickled green tomatoes and made my own tobasco sauce. I love doing this.

 

[Pinktiger777]

The Importance of a Second Scrog Net
The last grow suffered from congestion in the back of the tent that I couldn't reach to reposition, and after the colas got big, they collapsed over other less developed ones and caused them to die or not ripen. So, this time I added a second scrog net, a flexible one, about eight inches above the other one. I can change the height as necessary, and I'm able to reposition colas so they get optimum exposure to the light. I got it from Amazon - HORTIPOTS Grow Net 5x5 Elastic Plant Trellis Netting

But these trellises are everywhere. My local hydro store has them, same price. I recommend them for people growing with SCROG in small tents like mine. My plan is to eventually reach optimum growth potential and harvests while continuing to do it in small spaces.
Yesterday I realized I had done a good thing with this second net. I was able to position several colas to keep them from bunching up in the same air space. It is amazing to me that the plant does this; it must be after the best light or something. Or it could be that the rapid growth doesn't allow shoots to disperse themselves for best light position around the rest of the plant shoots.
Anyway, let's see if this makes a difference. I'm hoping to go over my normal results, which are about seven ounces dried.

Update on Everything
We are in week 5 of flower. The temps are staying low, and I'm supplementing during the day, when necessary, to bring the temp up to 75 or so. At night I let it fall, usually going down to 60. Without the supplemental heat, daytime temps stay around 65. The plants appear to like it. Bud production is in full swing and stretch is long over.

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 18, 2019

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 18, 2019

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 18, 2019

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• Pinktiger777
• Nov 18, 2019

I have not seen any purple yet. But I'm hoping.

Clones
Clones are in limbo. Nothing to see there, LOL. Three are in fantastic shape, with roots and growth. Three are not as good, but that's ok. One was an experiment to see if a middle piece of a branch would root. It did. And new growth is appearing on top. But it still looks puny. The other two were cuttings I had on hold, and instead of discarding them, I cut them on the diagonal, dipped in Clonex, and put them in a collar. The first thing they both did was to act like they were dying. The green leaves on top withered. But green remained in the middle, so I let them stay. No roots yet. We will see. They are only in this new cutting for a week.
Yesterday daughter was not well, so my wonderfully supportive and non-imbibing husband helped me to drain and clean the big tent. Small tent later this week, but a one-person job. It takes two to do the large tent, because I'm not able to remove the hoses and carry the empty res to the porch on my own. I'm not strong enough, unfortunately.
Our daughter has a seizure disorder, which is why she lives with us - she is almost 40. We love her dearly and it isn't a problem. But yesterday she was seizing all day.
I'll talk later about the medical application of cannabis for her, but it is a primary reason for our stealth grow. She needs it and so do I.

 

[InTheShed]

Sorry to hear about your daughter Pink. I hope yesterday was a rare occurrence and she feels better soon.

 

[Pinktiger777]

Sorry to hear about your daughter Pink. I hope yesterday was a rare occurrence and she feels better soon.

Thank you, @InTheShed. I'll discuss that here. I've only been in her life for a bit more than six years, when her father and I got together. (Both of us were widowed about two years before we met.) She is his daughter. But I claim her! We each have daughters, close to the same age. We are very happy. But back to her issues.
She started having seizures when she was in her early 20s. Doctors can't find a cause. They don't cause brain damage, and don't show up as seizures on an EEG. But they are terrible. It happens in the middle of a sentence, or in the middle of walking across the floor, as well as while sitting. She fights the seizure usually, and bangs her fists on her head; if she falls, she bangs her head on the floor. When the thrashing ends, she goes out for a bit, as long as 30 minutes but usually about 10 minutes. Doctors believe they are caused by anxiety and depression. They call them "pseudoseizures," to differentiate them from true epileptic seizures. They treat the anxiety and depression and it doesn't make a difference. Sometimes on a wonderful day she will have them. Every night they keep her awake; I've watched her do this. One night she had to stay up all night for a test they were running the next day (she had to be up for at least 24 hours.) I stayed up with her to keep her company; she had a seizure every 30 minutes or so.
The only thing that works for her is cannabis.
She will eat the edibles, but she doesn't smoke. The edibles are helping, but I want to create a potent oil and put it in capsules for her. She hates the taste. LOL.
I'm reading up on @SweetSue's methods of making oil and I'm going to infuse olive and put it in capsules and try this.

My health issues include type 2 diabetes, neuropathy and nerve damage from something (not sure, but not diabetes, as I had this way before I got that. My father had a familial autosomal dominant disorder, HSP, but I don't appear to have that. I haven't had the dna test, but my symptoms are different. He had foot drop on one side; I have bilateral issues (both sides) and it takes me a bit to get going when I stand up. I sometimes use a cane. I've had two back surgeries on my 5th lumbar vertebra, to repair a herniated disc. It re-herniated a year later, which is why I had the second surgery.
Lately my left leg has been not cooperating - I'm going to see my internist next month and we will have the usual discussions. I doubt if I can get any help from her on this. The hospital she is affiliated with has made a blanket announcement that none of its prescribers will be filling out medical marijuana prescriptions. But that is OK. I've got it covered. I'm starting to think that my symptoms are MS. A mild form that is now causing me issues. I've had it in some form since I was 14. Early problems were painful leg cramps and electric shocks on my legs and arms and hands.
In my 30s my legs began to hurt all the time, and at night my feet would feel they were on fire. A few years later, my feet were cold all the time and I started wearing socks at night to be able to sleep.
I've suffered from sciatica all my life.
But don't worry, I'm happy.
The pain goes away with cannabis.

 

[InTheShed]

I'm so glad you are both finding relief from cannabis. Has your daughter tried straight CBD? That is what they have found helpful for certain seizures, and the FDA has even okayed a CBD drug from the UK for sale here (epidiolex). Maybe you could find a quality oil from the internet (there are legit and illegit places to get oil) to see if it helps her, and if it does you could add a Candida plant (pure CBD) to one of your grows. I make mine into oil and have it lab tested to make sure I can dose it consistently.

Let me know if you have any oil questions, as I make capsules from infused EVOO all the time!

 

[SweetSue]

Candida came to mind in both cases, although I’m a fan of including at least some THC, since word is it’ll potential the CBD effectiveness. It’s a strain I’d take a look at, along with Grandaddy Purple, which has one of the most interesting overall profiles. Just thinking off the top of my head there.

And Shed’s definitely familiar with cannabis kitchen alchemy. You’re in good hands over here.

It made me smile to read all that and then end it with “....I’m happy.” We’re wired to heal best in joy, IMHO, so any deliberate thought that feels better is a good choice. What you present as your challenges for relief can appear daunting, but you’re roaming through a neighborhood that drives right past daunting to being open to solutions.

A capsule regimen sounds like a sound approach. You might want to consider using some of those capsules for suppositories. It may bring a level of relief from the back discomfort and sciatica that wouldn’t be possible with other pathways. At least entertain the thought. You deserve the relief.

CBD can do amazing things for neural storms, and even if your daughter’s may be from a different source than what we commonly see that doesn’t in any way diminish the potential for CBD to help sooth whatever inflammatory response is causing hers. You probably already know, but it bears repeating that accepted practice is to start sub-therapeutically and very slowly and thoughtfully increase doses so you can find the minimal dose that’ll work for her. Take your time. It’ll pay off in the end.

It’s easy to be lured into jumping to higher doses. Resist that urge, if you can. Spreading a daily dose up into smaller doses and scheduling them across the day tends to have good results. It helps the ECS acclimate to the incoming cannabinoids without freaking out. Lol!

Good luck in your quest for relief. I think I like your chances.

 

[InTheShed]

Also, CBD is better absorbed sublingually than by swallowing capsules. I use a dropper and put it under my tongue on the way out the door every morning.

What's the Best Way to Absorb CBD (Cannabidiol)? - CannaHealth.org

CBD is likely the easiest and fastest way to get cannabidiol into your bloodstream, with some preferring smoking hemp flower as the easiest way to take CBDs

www.cannahealth.org

 

[Pinktiger777]

Sorry to hear about your daughter Pink. I hope yesterday was a rare occurrence and she feels better soon.

Thanks so much. She is such a dear person, and without her I couldn't do the grow. She does the heavy work.
She's college-educated, brilliant, funny and sweet and kind. We have a lot in common, and I told my husband when I married him that she was part of the reason! LOL. We have a wonderful life. She and I go to Vegas every year, and this year I talked about our trip to the dispensaries in a report on 420.
I appreciate all the help from you and @SweetSue, as well as many others on this site. I really wouldn't have been able to grow without it.
I'm planning to grow some CBD plants. I like to smoke the cbd herb, too. A good alternative to cigarettes, which I'm finally getting ready to pitch. I'm a hard case.
I'm going to look at Candida and Grandaddy Purple. The strain I smoke now is supposed to have a high CBD content. (Mazari Grape). But it also has a high THC content. LOL. Daughter prefers straight CBD.
I've been making and using suppositories that I made with RSO. I'm not sure if they work, but I need to give it time. I do know that the strain I'm smoking is working (MG) because the difference in my nerve "storms" - Thanks for the term, Sue! - the difference after smoking is amazing. It doesn't make it go away, but it lessens the pain and sensations.
I have the stuff to do the capsules - the filler machine and capsules - but it looked scary to do. When I figure it out, LOL, can I use all the RSO I have already made to put in them? I'm not sure what to put in them for the best effect.
Thanks again for the comments!

 

[InTheShed]

Grandpa Tokin makes capsules from QWET over in his thread here:

Grandpa Gets Oily! Everclear Extracts For Shatter Or Oil!

Hello everyone! Grandpa’s making some killer oils and I want to share the process I go through. The goal with this particular batch is to get the best I can from the material I’m using. I’m in search of trichome heads and as little green (Chlorophyll) as possible. We want the Everclear to do...

www.420magazine.com

You should read the first couple of pages and then ask any questions there. He's always willing to help.