Stunger's Organic Soil Stealth Balcony: Landrace Mulanje & Other Sativas

[Stunger]

Have you grown MS before and maybe have at least a reference point in your head to how this compares trichome-wise with that (I assume) undroughted plant? Cuz she's all kinds of frosty, you don't even need trichome pics!!!

Thanks Jon, I grew MS last year you can see some of her trichome pics --> here. They are pretty, and well nurtured buds. But I think trichome pictures can be misleading. When I take photos, most of the day the sun is shining at me so it is often tricky to capture them well. Also, the MS was a very frosty plant already last year and visually looked better than this year. But what I am after is less about the 'prettiness' and more about the resulting potency etc.

One more question @Stunger, and thanks for putting up with me. Lol. So the increase in trichome production....do you think it's MORE trichomes or BIGGER trichomes or both? It certainly looks like more, at least.

I can only really go on my experience that I have previously mentioned of an 'accidental droughting' that occurred to a newbie grow I did years ago. Back then, the resulting buds were real tacky sticky and hard, like they had been varnished. They weren't 'nice and pretty', they looked gnarly and different, but their look suggested there could be a rare potency and there was. It came from bag seed and is still the best smoke I have grown. I don't even know if the difference was in the trichomes, visually it appeared like they had repeatably 'melted' and 're-coated' the sugar leaves. There isn't really a comparison with plants that have been well attended with food and water every day of their lives, compared with a plant growing out of a rock crack surviving wind and sun, and rain when it can get it. I have already had an 'early tester' of the droughted MS and it is already comparable I feel to last year's MS, and it still has 2-3 weeks more droughting to go, so I feel it is going well so far.

Hey fella, in my musings I was really only referring to the trauma associated with your ties, and referenced an insight from a professional. It was an attempt to point to a possible cause, or additional cause to that particular plants sudden and overwhelming demise.

What Im really saying is please dont let my analysis of one particular situation colour the rest of your grow, or paint you into a corner.

Through all your documentation of this and other grows Ive never had reason to suspect your growing style or inputs were anything but prime, and appropriate.

That Malanje kinda thrown everything for a bit of a loop, but I feel its more an aberration stacked against all the other girls youve raised and the 3 still being raised.

Im watching with interest in your droughting, takes à bit of fortitude to strangle out a plant, and you're holding the line superbly. Hope the weather remains on side. Im as good as certain when she finishes and goes on to cure it will have been well worth it.

Hey DV8, yeah nah I'm not being all fixed on it. But I think it makes sense that given the stress she's going through that it would seem a bit better to leave them on, I don't need to rock the boat unnecessarily at this point, and plus I want to give credit where credit is due!

One more congrats from me on the win, Stunger!!

Thanks Dutch!

 

[DV8]

I have already had an 'early tester' of the droughted MS and it is already comparable I feel to last year's MS, and it still has 2-3 weeks more droughting to go, so I feel it is going well so far.

If nothing else youll have a side by side. I think tents and controls in place can lead to a bit of uniformity that outdoors cant rely on. The trichs can be a bit hit and miss, often those cool cloudy days come in and the light intensity isnt strong enough to add significant production. Even a difference in daylight strength and orientation in the grow area can significantly lift their presence.

Hey DV8, yeah nah

Are you sure your not Aussie? Did we export that saying?

I'm not being all fixed on it. But I think it makes sense that given the stress she's going through that it would seem a bit better to leave them on,

Outdoors is almost always better right up until the final 2 weeks. I can get the theory behind supercrops, or lollipopping, but those solar reflectors should stay until theyve finished their purpose. Ive seen it here, severe defols that knocked them around and growers pleas of help in despair.

I don't need to rock the boat unnecessarily at this point, and plus I want to give credit where credit is due!

Good call mate. Gently does it, just a cruise on idle to safe harbour.

And Thanks mate. I try to stay out the way in most journals, as I just assume unless told otherwise the grower is much more in tune with their plants than I could possibly be at a distance, and no 2 grows are the same.

 

[Stunger]

Are you sure your not Aussie? Did we export that saying?

Born in NZ, but at one stage in my 20's I felt 1/4 Ozzie as I'd spent a 1/4 of my life there!

Outdoors is almost always better right up until the final 2 weeks. I can get the theory behind supercrops, or lollipopping, but those solar reflectors should stay until theyve finished their purpose. Ive seen it here, severe defols that knocked them around and growers pleas of help in despair.

I think that was a really useful thing that you mentioned. As up until then I hadn't given any consideration about how that could negatively affect the plant's wellbeing, and it seems particularly pertinent in the case of the Mango Sherbert where I am deliberately putting it under stress. Anything else like that, please just chime in, I appreciate it.

 

[Azimuth]

The upcoming rain will be an interesting additional 'forced' experiment. As in, "how does a thorough watering after a period of draught, followed by more draught, affect things?"

I'm enjoying learning through you. Great job, Stunger!

 

[Stunger]

The upcoming rain will be an interesting additional 'forced' experiment. As in, "how does a thorough watering after a period of draught, followed by more draught, affect things?"

I'm enjoying learning through you. Great job, Stunger!

Thanks Azi! This is all by the 'seat of the pants'. But I do have some confidence in that I am familiar seeing these plants wilted in the sun many times. And going by that very first accidental droughting, where the plant was under drought stress for the majority of it's flowering, for the Mango Sherbert I am trying to do the same, keep her alive but at the same time encourage her to evoke a suitable drought response to hopefully pack those oils/resins in.

 

[Timhomegrow]

Girls are looking great and congrats in the win!!!

 

[Stunger]

Girls are looking great and congrats in the win!!!

Thanks Tim!

 

[DV8]

Born in NZ, but at one stage in my 20's I felt 1/4 Ozzie as I'd spent a 1/4 of my life there!

Well Im sure we were glad to have you. Weird aside, but one of my two best mates had a kiwi stepfather. Horrible bloke.

Any how, had a house I wanted to move out from, and a kiwi lady moved in, that rent paid for mine. She was such a wonderful person, her boys were great fun, and their relatives and friends were fantastic to spend time with.

From that I always wanted to go and live there for a while, not just tourist. I think maybe time is running out but its been a dream for 20 years.

I think that was a really useful thing that you mentioned. As up until then I hadn't given any consideration about how that could negatively affect the plant's wellbeing, and it seems particularly pertinent in the case of the Mango Sherbert where I am deliberately putting it under stress.

They are hardy, tough, for sure, but like I said Ive seen others get caught. Look it could be strain dependent a bit, but I see naked sticks above the bottom 3rd happen (like probably way more than it should) and the result is a crashing plant. Im old school though, hem a skirt sure, if needed, dont remove the dress.

Anything else like that, please just chime in, I appreciate it.

Np. Will do.

 

[ZebraCat]

Well done on the win and an awesome journal. The girls are looking suitably parched and nicely frosted. Should be a ripper result .

 

[Emeraldo]

Hey Stunger! Looking very droughted, worse for wear, and sticky! I was wondering if you have some of the Mango Sherbet left from last year, as that might help you determine whether the 2022 droughted bud is more potent. Or maybe you'll be able to (still) rely on memory?

 

[Stunger]

Well Im sure we were glad to have you.

Cheers DV8! I really enjoyed my time there, about 7 years from the age of 19. A great place and a great time of life to have been there.

Well done on the win and an awesome journal. The girls are looking suitably parched and nicely frosted. Should be a ripper result .

Thanks Zeb, the Mango Sherbert's fairly parched I'd say, but she's doing well even if her lipstick's got a bit smudged and her hair's a mess. I reckon she's producing the goodies.

Hey Stunger! Looking very droughted, worse for wear, and sticky! I was wondering if you have some of the Mango Sherbet left from last year, as that might help you determine whether the 2022 droughted bud is more potent. Or maybe you'll be able to (still) rely on memory?

Cheers Emeraldo! Yes I thought of that, it would have been good to have saved some of last year's bud to make a real comparison with, rather than just from memory. But in saying that, last year I used half the bud from each plant to make cobs - I still have about 12oz of cobs! I keep forgetting I have them, I remember and think I must try those, they've been curing for close to a year now.

But I feel this year's droughted Mango Sherbert is going to come up trumps. I had some early bud that had undergone the first week of droughting and I thought it was quite close already to last year's bud, so when I harvest in another 2 or 3 weeks with further drought stress, as long as I don't overly push her then I think she'll be more potent, I hope so. That accidental one I did a dozen or so years ago was instantly recognisable as being spectacularly potent, I shared some with several 'experienced' bud smokers who all said the same, it was a lot better than average. But that was done a little different in that I was trying to keep it hydrated but the small ceramic pot and hot sun and tiles all came together to drought stress her every singe hot day. I am having to do it different now, where I had to wait for days for the large container of soil to dry out sufficiently for her to wilt. It has been 16 days since she last had a real thirst quenching day, it took about 7 days to begin badly wilting, and since then she has only had 'survival sized' drinks in order to let her raise her leaves a bit, and she has been doing a lot of wilting between survival drinks. She still has a lot of clear trichomes currently.

 

[Jon]

Cheers DV8! I really enjoyed my time there, about 7 years from the age of 19. A great place and a great time of life to have been there.

Thanks Zeb, the Mango Sherbert's fairly parched I'd say, but she's doing well even if her lipstick's got a bit smudged and her hair's a mess. I reckon she's producing the goodies.

Cheers Emeraldo! Yes I thought of that, it would have been good to have saved some of last year's bud to make a real comparison with, rather than just from memory. But in saying that, last year I used half the bud from each plant to make cobs - I still have about 12oz of cobs! I keep forgetting I have them, I remember and think I must try those, they've been curing for close to a year now.

But I feel this year's droughted Mango Sherbert is going to come up trumps. I had some early bud that had undergone the first week of droughting and I thought it was quite close already to last year's bud, so when I harvest in another 2 or 3 weeks with further drought stress, as long as I don't overly push her then I think she'll be more potent, I hope so. That accidental one I did a dozen or so years ago was instantly recognisable as being spectacularly potent, I shared some with several 'experienced' bud smokers who all said the same, it was a lot better than average. But that was done a little different in that I was trying to keep it hydrated but the small ceramic pot and hot sun and tiles all came together to drought stress her every singe hot day. I am having to do it different now, where I had to wait for days for the large container of soil to dry out sufficiently for her to wilt. It has been 16 days since she last had a real thirst quenching day, it took about 7 days to begin badly wilting, and since then she has only had 'survival sized' drinks in order to let her raise her leaves a bit, and she has been doing a lot of wilting between survival drinks. She still has a lot of clear trichomes currently.

Wow, didn't realize you've been experimenting with this drought thing for so long. When one droughts and looks at trichomes to see when she's done, is it exactly the same as looking at them for doneness on a non-droughted plant? Do the trichs, say, stay clear longer or anything like that as a result of the drought?

 

[Stunger]

Wow, didn't realize you've been experimenting with this drought thing for so long. When one droughts and looks at trichomes to see when she's done, is it exactly the same as looking at them for doneness on a non-droughted plant? Do the trichs, say, stay clear longer or anything like that as a result of the drought?

I wasn't clear in expressing that. The accidental droughted plant occurred 12 or more years ago, this is the first year that I am intentionally applying a drought regime to a plant. I did semi drought a plant about 3 years ago but abandoned when pests invaded. I am using that initial accidental experience I had, as well as the experiences and investigations of @Maritimer, and that of @Krissi1982 to guide my attempt this year towards a nicely droughted harvest point. But when you a stress a plant you sort open it pest and infection so I think one has to be careful to let it get overwhelmed.

I couldn't say on the trichomes. Only that I notice so far, there is still a lot of clear ones. Compared to last year's undroughted Mango Sherbert this year's doesn't look as nice and pretty or as trichome laden, but neither did the accidentally droughted one, it looked like the trichomes had repeated melted and swelled and melted. I don't know, I am only speculating, but the appearance seemed different than well nurtured buds. But anyway, the early tester I had suggested it was on track.

 

[Emeraldo]

Compared to last year's undroughted Mango Sherbert this year's doesn't look as nice and pretty or as trichome laden, but neither did the accidentally droughted one, it looked like the trichomes had repeated melted and swelled and melted. I don't know, I am only speculating, but the appearance seemed different than well nurtured buds. But anyway, the early tester I had suggested it was on track.

Stungi can you get a photo of those repeatedly melted and swelled and melted trichomes? It's probably hard to get at, and maybe they don't show very clearly, but if you can it would be appreciated!

 

[Stunger]

Stungi can you get a photo of those repeatedly melted and swelled and melted trichomes? It's probably hard to get at, and maybe they don't show very clearly, but if you can it would be appreciated!

Hey Emeraldo, I am not describing what is actually happening there but just using that phase to describe a different appearance. The initial accidental droughted plant I did, looked as if the buds and sugar leaves were varnished several times, they were hard and stiff like they'd been given a few coats. I'll put an update up today with a couple of closeups, they look different, and they don't have the same prettiness of the cola closeups of the other 2 plants.

 

[InTheShed]

Another journal another win...you're on a roll! Congratulations Stunger and

The plants are looking amazing, each in their own way!

Update - Pest control + Mango Sherbert's 11th day + trichomes

What does it say about my brain that I saw this as a math problem when I read it? I wanted an = at the end.

 

[Jon]

Another journal another win...you're on a roll! Congratulations Stunger and

The plants are looking amazing, each in their own way!


What does it say about my brain that I saw this as a math problem when I read it? I wanted an = at the end.

I don't know, but here, I completed the equation for your brain:

Pest control + Mango Sherbert's 11th day + trichomes = a large amount of very good weed!!!!

 

[InTheShed]

I don't know, but here, I completed the equation for your brain:

Pest control + Mango Sherbert's 11th day + trichomes = a large amount of very good weed!!!!

Thanks Jon, but it starts with Update minus. That's when my brain turned it into an equation!

 

[Jon]

Thanks Jon, but it starts with Update minus. That's when my brain turned it into an equation!

Ah....I interpreted the "minus" as a "dash," ie, like a colon. If it's a minus, I indeed got it wrong.

Glad you're back for the moment Shed. Things are more fun.

 

[Stunger]

Another journal another win...you're on a roll! Congratulations Stunger and

The plants are looking amazing, each in their own way!

Thanks Shed! And yes the plants are all quite different in appearance, not withstanding that one is getting droughted while the other 2 slurp loudly and regularly!