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

[Jon]

It makes sense to appreciate those reasons for why to look closely when possible.

But wow, 100% amber when outdoor grown? The plant I originally droughted I harvested at about 15%. It was great but I probably have never gone to that since. Only after that I had heard that some people may go to 70/80%. So at 100% I presume you'd expect the range of all trichomes would be from amber to dark? That's really interesting! How different would you find it if only 50%?

I have so often heard the 'rule', that when you think it is ready then wait another 2 weeks. Or basically just delay to some extent. I always thought I naturally were in the harvest later camp, but now your thoughts cause me to reflect on this which is a good thing! I may be chopping too early!

A plant harvested with ALL the trichomes amber? Whoa. What's that like? Heroin? Oxy? My god. Isn't the couchlock extreme? What's the taste like in that case?

 

[Azimuth]

I read somewhere on here that judging outdoor plants for percent amber is not a good way to determine ripeness as the sun is different from indoor lighting.

I don't remember where I read it so I'll just ask @InTheShed to post it here as I'm sure he has it at his fingertips.

 

[BakedARea]

I read somewhere on here that judging outdoor plants for percent amber is not a good way to determine ripeness as the sun is different from indoor lighting.

I don't remember where I read it so I'll just ask @InTheShed to post it here as I'm sure he has it at his fingertips.

What ever could you mean?! He probably types out the links from memory at this point.

All jokes aside, you are correct that Shed and quite a few other outdoor growers do not use the typical indoor amber percentage for determining the chop. I did an "experiment" last year and let some outdoor plants go deep into the season. I left a couple branches with lower buds to see just how long they could go. I ignored the weather and just let 'em ride. They were oozing with trich heads and had a overall potent smell and finish. I ruined them when I decided to cover them to protect them from an impending frost. I will be doing it again this year, except I won't be covering the plants. Going to see just how far out I can leave flowers to mature in my area, frost or not.

 

[Timhomegrow]

Wow stunger, the MS buds look great!!! Definitely looks like more tricomes than then the other two. And by the looks of the pruned stem, seems like you'll have a test smoke soon crazy seeing trics on the stem too.

I'm surprised MS didn't yellow alit more from the infrequent watering. Do you attribute that to the organic soil? When I used pre-mixed nutes, if I missed a watering the leaves turned really quick.

Looks great my friend!!!

 

[InTheShed]

I don't remember where I read it so I'll just ask @InTheShed to post it here as I'm sure he has it at his fingertips.

@Amy Gardner always told me that outside amber isn't like tent amber because of the impact of the sun on trichomes, and @BeezLuiz discovered that harvesting based on the standard tent-based reading of amber left him with low THC numbers and zero CBN. Here are his tests results.

 

[Stunger]

A plant harvested with ALL the trichomes amber? Whoa. What's that like? Heroin? Oxy? My god. Isn't the couchlock extreme? What's the taste like in that case?

Yes wow, that really opens up the amber conundrum, I'm all ears!

I read somewhere on here that judging outdoor plants for percent amber is not a good way to determine ripeness as the sun is different from indoor lighting.

For me, there are many different factors coming into the decision of when to chop. Compared to having nothing, just harvesting anywhere around late flowering is great. But if all these factors permit, I'd like to harvest with a bit more amber this time.

All jokes aside, you are correct that Shed and quite a few other outdoor growers do not use the typical indoor amber percentage for determining the chop. I did an "experiment" last year and let some outdoor plants go deep into the season. I left a couple branches with lower buds to see just how long they could go. I ignored the weather and just let 'em ride. They were oozing with trich heads and had a overall potent smell and finish.

I think that is a very worthwhile experiment, I hope with pests and weather permitting that I can do that this time.

Wow stunger, the MS buds look great!!! Definitely looks like more tricomes than then the other two. And by the looks of the pruned stem, seems like you'll have a test smoke soon crazy seeing trics on the stem too.

Cheers Tim, I am not sure if there is any more trikes, or whether it is simply that I am making more effort to get in close where they look more pronounced. The test smoke is already very nice, but if I can just keep her going for just a bit longer!

I'm surprised MS didn't yellow alit more from the infrequent watering. Do you attribute that to the organic soil? When I used pre-mixed nutes, if I missed a watering the leaves turned really quick.

I don't know, she started off nice and green at the beginning of the 25 days, but was looking gnarly, tough and tatty by the end of it. The organic soil presumably gives some support that a non living soil may not.
I do feel surprised and impressed that even in her state, when wilted and given a drink she still musters the strength to lift up those tatty half dead leaves.

@Amy Gardner always told me that outside amber isn't like tent amber because of the impact of the sun on trichomes, and @BeezLuiz discovered that harvesting based on the standard tent-based reading of amber left him with low THC numbers and zero CBN. Here are his tests results.

Thanks Shed, that's very interesting. Because I am growing outdoors, most of the time when my plants are getting to the end of flowering, the weather is deteriorating quite badly and that is usually my over riding 'chop factor'. But it seems potentially very worthwhile to eek out an extra week or three if possible. What sort of amber percentage would you like to see for outdoor grown plants?

 

[DV8]

I love this journal.

The amber discussion is one of my favourites for a host of reasons. I cant speak for Stunger, but he faces it seems similar challenges as I do in the back end of the season.

The way I see it, my perspective only, to push a plant so deep into flower development would require artificial management into the Autumn (Fall). The RH mostly would need to be semi regulated, and the wet and frosty environment controlled. Im thinking greenhouse. Its the introduction of too much moisture as the limiting factor that induces harvest.

Which is pretty much what Stunger was saying. Unless we get lucky.

Id love to see the numbers at say
50 Rh/60 to 70 (imp) 50RH/15 to 21C showing how long it took from say 25% to 80% ambers and above. My gut feeling is like a very long time, many weeks, even in a controlled environment.

Often I think we end up with more questions than answers. Because its not science. For example we dont regulate the UV, and to be sure that will vary widly. Let alone media.

But I love the questions. Can we push a bud into deeper trichome development and does it make a significant difference? Great question.

How long should we drought a plant to extract the greatest benefit? Great question.

 

[BakedARea]

The RH mostly would need to be semi regulated, and the wet and frosty environment controlled. Im thinking greenhouse. Its the introduction of too much moisture as the limiting factor that induces harvest.

that's what did me in last season. The late season RH. A couple wet nights ruined most of the flower I had kept going. I was going to put a "cover" over mine this year. Just to keep frost and condensation from building on the buds.

 

[InTheShed]

We have a common friend here on 420 that suffers terrible pain and I wanted to get him some rezinated medicine and see if that don't help. Unfortunately, the rules won't allow my intervention.

We definitely can't talk about it here, but that's where it's handy to have email addresses of folks. It makes interventions possible.

What sort of amber percentage would you like to see for outdoor grown plants?

Since weather isn't my determining factor, I go mostly by when the plant stops (or greatly slows) drinking, along with changes in smell or overall appearance. Or as Grand Daddy Black likes to mention, also when I'm sick of looking at it.

 

[tangwena]

I like to pick at peak aroma and 90% red pistils I have left them longer and they get way to narcotic.
But I'm talking about sativas I have no interest in Indicas and have never grown them myself.
Also I cure them cob style which changes the resin and terps completely so cant be compared to jar curing.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Stunger]

I love this journal.

The amber discussion is one of my favourites for a host of reasons. I cant speak for Stunger, but he faces it seems similar challenges as I do in the back end of the season.

The way I see it, my perspective only, to push a plant so deep into flower development would require artificial management into the Autumn (Fall). The RH mostly would need to be semi regulated, and the wet and frosty environment controlled. Im thinking greenhouse. Its the introduction of too much moisture as the limiting factor that induces harvest.

Thanks DV8. When you love doing something, there is always something we can take away and ponder, and sometimes those ponderings can hit gold.

that's what did me in last season. The late season RH. A couple wet nights ruined most of the flower I had kept going. I was going to put a "cover" over mine this year. Just to keep frost and condensation from building on the buds.

That is so gutting when that happens BA.

Since weather isn't my determining factor, I go mostly by when the plant stops (or greatly slows) drinking, along with changes in smell or overall appearance. Or as Grand Daddy Black likes to mention, also when I'm sick of looking at it.

Cheers Shed, that sums it up!

I like to pick at peak aroma and 90% red pistils I have left them longer and they get way to narcotic.
But I'm talking about sativas I have no interest in Indicas and have never grown them myself.
Also I cure them cob style which changes the resin and terps completely so cant be compared to jar curing.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks Tang, you undersell yourself haha. I'm looking forward to the sativas which are a little behind the Mango Sherbert who will get the chop before them. I'll be looking to make some cobs too.

 

[Stunger]

Update - rainy days on the balcony- further thoughts on the droughted Mango Sherbert test buds

Greetings 420 enthusiasts! I have been recently focusing far more on the Mango Sherbert because she will be the first out of the gates. Once she is chopped I can be dedicated to the 2 sativas which I am really looking forward to. As once the balcony grow is finished, then it is the big lull, while waiting for Spring time again. So I am pleased that I have a couple of late finishing sativas to watch over for a little longer.

Malawi/Ethiopian x Mulanje; Honduras/Panama x Purple Honduras; Mango Sherbert

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

Mango Sherbert

It has been raining these past few days and look at her! With so many damaged half dead leaves, she still manages to lift them. Her buds now have that stiff rigid quality that I remember from that original droughted plant, like the buds had been blasted with hairspray.

Mango Sherbert

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

I smile when I look at her, as she has had a hard last 4 weeks, and yet on sipping some rainfall she still proudly lifts herself!

Mango Sherbert

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

Here is pic of small lower bud from the early tester stem of the Mango Sherbert. Next to it on the right is similar bud of Chronic Widow (not mine) that was grown outdoors but not as heavily droughted as the Mango Sherbert on the left. The Chronic gives a very nice high, but the Mango Sherbert I think gets it closer to the next level. So I am looking forward to what another 10-14 days will bring.

Droughted Mango Sherbert bud, with outdoor grown Chronic Widow

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

What I immediately noticed was how 'soft' the Chronic Widow felt in comparison to the crusty' stiff Mango Sherbert, whose sugar leaves could carry her weight and more without buckling, they seem more coated with trichomes on both sides. When I looked at the back of the Chronic's sugar leaves for comparison, there were lots of trichome 'hairs' but many hadn't developed into the glandular stems with bulbs on top. I assume from being droughted, that the extra trichome production assists the plant against insect attack too.

Mango Sherbert - back of sugar leaves crusty with trichomes

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

When cutting thru the buds with my trimming scissors, the Mango Sherbert was like cutting through fudge. This pic didn't come out well, but shows a little of the caramel stickiness of what is just a small laff bud.

Mango Sherbert test bud cut in half

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

Mango Sherbert test bud cut in half

• Stunger
• Apr 19, 2022

We have a some more rain days ahead but some sun predicted too. It's all fingers crossed at this point!
Thanks for dropping by, keep well, and I hope you're enjoying some lovely smoke!

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

That nug looks like it's loaded with goodies, Stunger! Have you tried it yet?

 

[Stunger]

That nug looks like it's loaded with goodies, Stunger! Have you tried it yet?

Thanks GDB! Yes I have, and it's everything I hoped it'd be, another week or two more and it should be pretty special.

 

[DV8]

Im just riding right along with you mate, that MS shot and the bud pics look the real deal hey, not everything of beauty is beautiful.

Shes got that sexy last gasp fade kicking in, and if Im not mistaken those buds look to be moving toward the sugar leaves hue on a good many of those colas.

I wish Old Mick was still around to give him a gander, she would have fit right in with his lot.

Good show.

 

[Azimuth]

If there is more rain in the forecast, could you drape a garbage bag or something over the pot to keep the water out?

 

[Stunger]

If there is more rain in the forecast, could you drape a garbage bag or something over the pot to keep the water out?

I was thinking about that the other day, but I wondered if it could exacerbate the humidity situation. I think my balcony growing means there is generally more wind to counter the rain/humidity, and the plants sit on stone tiles that dry quickly and radiate heat. But yeah, this grow is the latest into Autumn/Fall that I have gone, I am thinking hmmm.. wondering how they'll cope, but we'll soon see!

 

[Jon]

I was thinking about that the other day, but I wondered if it could exacerbate the humidity situation. I think my balcony growing means there is generally more wind to counter the rain/humidity, and the plants sit on stone tiles that dry quickly and radiate heat. But yeah, this grow is the latest into Autumn/Fall that I have gone, I am thinking hmmm.. wondering how they'll cope, but we'll soon see!

Might I suggest a small umbrella? I know you're pressed for space, but an umbrella with a small circumference might be able to cover the rain side of the pots without compromising your humidity situation, if you have enough room under the plants...

 

[Stunger]

Might I suggest a small umbrella? I know you're pressed for space, but an umbrella with a small circumference might be able to cover the rain side of the pots without compromising your humidity situation, if you have enough room under the plants...

Thanks Jon, that's a good suggestion. I potentially could even attach a larger cover of sorts directly to the railing. The only concern is, that the wind can carry a lot of force and really pummel the glass, it would be a bugger if any cover/structure loosened/broke causing it to flap loudly all night, as you ideally don't want to open the doors when the weather is beating against them. But we'll see soon enough what happens!

 

[BakedARea]

That test bud is looking gooey!!! How amazing would those in a rosin press?! MmmMmmmMmmm

If there is more rain in the forecast, could you drape a garbage bag or something over the pot to keep the water out?

but I wondered if it could exacerbate the humidity situation

I was going to warn anyone against doing that for the precise reason you mentioned Stung. I covered my winter aged buds last year toward the end of the season because of an incoming storm that was going to last a few days. The plastic opaque sheeting I used kept out the much needed air and wind. Ultimately causing a sauna for the buds to slowly suffocate in. It was a wonderful experiment nonetheless but this year, I will using something much easier. A more permanent solution to what Jon suggested with the umbrella.

As caked with trichomes as my late season buds were last year, I don't think rain would have bothered them honestly. They were like duck feathers with water beading off them. It was in between the buds where the water can and will pool up and cause the rot to set it without enough wind.