Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures & Photos From The Garden - 2012

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

*smacks self in face* thats right i saw you had a tiny chocolupe seedling going in the pic above your male plant thats right!! i heard about 12/12 its a shame his girlfriend did that to him. he was a good grower and breeder. his firestorm was incredible! looking forward to hearing about your attempt. i hope you didnt pollenate everything i'd be pissed for you.

Hey Chief! I'm not too worried even if I did, and I don't think I did. In fact, I'll show you why in an upcoming post...

Yes, what a bummer with Twelve12, he's a good guy. I'm really hoping he gets things worked out well and can resume pursuing his passion.

 

[253Chiefin]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey Chief! I'm not too worried even if I did, and I don't think I did. In fact, I'll show you why in an upcoming post...

Yes, what a bummer with Twelve12, he's a good guy. I'm really hoping he gets things worked out well and can resume pursuing his passion.

yea im looking forward to seeing some pic updates on the breeding process.I don't know enough about it and i'd love to watch and learn. going to be keeping an eye on your journal to see how your breeding goes

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hey Xlr sorry haven't stopped in alot as of late. I've been alittle busy myself.On That purp you grew last year' I have a weak spot myself for Purple herbs. Maybe it's just that it's 'not' what marijuana is suppose to look like, or maybe fond memories of purple haired sensie back in the 70's. I don't know they always look great.
Hey that OG Kush you got going, were the leaves dark emerald green during veg? I have a OG Kush sprout I 'think?' I can't rememeber if it was OG or Bubba Kush. Good thing about grow journals, you can back tract if ya need alittle info.
Looking great. Hey Lookie +'s Keepem Green

Hey buddy! Yes, the OG has had deep green leaves throughout - I would definitely call them emerald green.

Purple is definitely cool and fun to grow. The Blueberry I grew wasn't very strong, and it didn't yield well, but it sure was pretty and fun to grow. It was a really nice high, with good flavor, just had to take another hit or two each time. The Skywalker I grew had Blueberry in it, and tasted way more Blueberry than the Blueberry I grew. If the Blueberry I grew would have had that kind of taste/high it would have really been something. But, the Skywalker was a much better plant aside from "looks" (to me).

One of Snow White's on my first grow had some purple buds that were really pretty, but the plant leaves never turned - just some of the buds. In fact, I didn't even notice until I chopped it as it was so hidden/obstructed by the plant in front of it.

Hope all is well with you - I've been enjoying the gorgeous buds on the plants you've been growing lately. You have so many great pics to drool over. Always inspiring stuff!

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Xlr8, your plants look superb. The mutant leaves are interesting kinda cool.

Thanks HMG!

I absent mindedly plucked the one that I thought looked the coolest last night (though the ones with buds on them are tough to beat). Each night I look for troublesome leaves that could cause mold issues, or might be blocking a budsite, etc. on all my plants, and I sometimes pluck them or tuck them. Last night, I plucked this one without thinking, but it was in the way of a promising budsite, so it was probably best anyway:

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

yea im looking forward to seeing some pic updates on the breeding process.I don't know enough about it and i'd love to watch and learn. going to be keeping an eye on your journal to see how your breeding goes

I noticed last night, that the buds I pollinated are starting to look a little different than the other buds. In addition to some dead/dying pistils, the buds that I pollinated appear to have more calyx swelling, too. This is all new to me, but when I look closely, there is a difference on the pollinated buds. The other buds have yet to start much calyx swelling - at least not like the pollinated buds. I tried hard to get a couple of good pics of the pollinated buds, and these are the best I could get. If you look close though, I think you might see what I mean - it's like you can see how the pods are going to be filled (it's more obvious in person when you can compare easier):

This is a pollinated OG Kush bud:

Here is a pollinated bud on the Deadhead OG:

I should also note for further info, these are small buds below the main canopy, as I didn't wish to pollinate premium budsites...

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

I thought the budlett was cool, but this takes the cake! What an interesting mutation! From which "Bloodline" does that come?

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

I noticed last night, that the buds I pollinated are starting to look a little different than the other buds. In addition to some dead/dying pistils, the buds that I pollinated appear to have more calyx swelling, too. This is all new to me, but when I look closely, there is a difference on the pollinated buds. The other buds have yet to start much calyx swelling - at least not like the pollinated buds. I tried hard to get a couple of good pics of the pollinated buds, and these are the best I could get. If you look close though, I think you might see what I mean - it's like you can see how the pods are going to be filled (it's more obvious in person when you can compare easier)
<snip>
I should also note for further info, these are small buds below the main canopy, as I didn't wish to pollinate premium budsites...

The pistils turning, is indicative of a successful pollination, and fertilization of the ovum has occurred. Congratulations, Papa!

 

[BudTester420]

So you can pollinate a bud site without screwing up the entire plant?

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

I thought the budlett was cool, but this takes the cake! What an interesting mutation! From which "Bloodline" does that come?

The 10 point leaf, you mean? I don't know for sure, but I've heard these sort of leaf mutations are pretty common in Cindy99, which is in the Jack the Ripper genetics.

I did some g*ogle research one night, and if I remember correctly these sort of leaf mutations seemed to usually come up with Cindy99, or JTR (again, which has Cindy99 in it). Sometimes it's an extra leaf blade in the center, sometimes a bud, sometimes both. Mine has several of the budded leaves, and a few with both, and some just the extra leaf blade. I think they all go hand in hand somewhat... I don't think it's unheard of in other strains, either - but maybe they have Cindy99 in their ancestry too - it's a common breeding strain to say the least! Heck it might be from one of Cindy's ancestors - who knows! (If someone does, please let me know!)

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

So you can pollinate a bud site without screwing up the entire plant?

Hi Blazin' -

In theory, yes. It can be done, but it's tricky as you must be very very careful as pollen is very small and can float on the slightest breeze.

All fans and circulation must be turned off, and other precautions such as spraying the plant down with water, must be taken (water will kill excess pollen lying around). I took a shortcut, though, so we'll see. I pollinated the buds on each plant, and once they had time to consumate, I sprayed down just the part of the plant where the pollen was applied. As long as I was careful, this might work, lol. I should have taken even more precautions, but I didn't have the time or energy, and wasn't overly concerned with seeds as a bad thing...

Having said all that, as of now I only see the unique calyx swelling on the buds I pollinated, so it's possible I succeeded. We'll see!

But, yes, if you're careful, you can pollinate an individual bud (or two) on a plant and only that bud will produce seeds. The rest of the plant would be, ideally, seedless. Seemed like fun to try, since I had a decent Jack the Ripper male to work with, and JTR is a strain used as a daddy in several other strains by Subcool, for example.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

A couple more pics - This is my Super Lemon Haze mom (only a couple pics weren't all blurry, and they're not the best shots - but here she is. Veg plants are boring, but she's a nice healthy gal:

Here is my future Deadhead OG mom, she got topped and trimmed this morning to start her mom training (this pic is from last night after watering). She's a clone of the one I have in flower:

 

[BudTester420]

Hi Blazin' -

In theory, yes. It can be done, but it's tricky as you must be very very careful as pollen is very small and can float on the slightest breeze.

All fans and circulation must be turned off, and other precautions such as spraying the plant down with water, must be taken (water will kill excess pollen lying around). I took a shortcut, though, so we'll see. I pollinated the buds on each plant, and once they had time to consumate, I sprayed down just the part of the plant where the pollen was applied. As long as I was careful, this might work, lol. I should have taken even more precautions, but I didn't have the time or energy, and wasn't overly concerned with seeds as a bad thing...

Having said all that, as of now I only see the unique calyx swelling on the buds I pollinated, so it's possible I succeeded. We'll see!

But, yes, if you're careful, you can pollinate an individual bud (or two) on a plant and only that bud will produce seeds. The rest of the plant would be, ideally, seedless. Seemed like fun to try, since I had a decent Jack the Ripper male to work with, and JTR is a strain used as a daddy in several other strains by Subcool, for example.

That's awesome to know. I think I might do that if I ever get a NL male so I can stock up on seeds.

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Lookin' good, brother! Veg isn't boring! Different from flowering and seeing trich action, yes, but never is it boring! Mom training's going well! Nice and deep green. With that deep a green, you might want to nitrogen (N) starve for a few days to a week before you take any clones. Faster clone time because (N) won't be stored in the tissues.

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Hi Blazin' -

In theory, yes. It can be done, but it's tricky as you must be very very careful as pollen is very small and can float on the slightest breeze.

All fans and circulation must be turned off, and other precautions such as spraying the plant down with water, must be taken (water will kill excess pollen lying around). I took a shortcut, though, so we'll see. I pollinated the buds on each plant, and once they had time to consumate, I sprayed down just the part of the plant where the pollen was applied. As long as I was careful, this might work, lol. I should have taken even more precautions, but I didn't have the time or energy, and wasn't overly concerned with seeds as a bad thing...

Having said all that, as of now I only see the unique calyx swelling on the buds I pollinated, so it's possible I succeeded. We'll see!

But, yes, if you're careful, you can pollinate an individual bud (or two) on a plant and only that bud will produce seeds. The rest of the plant would be, ideally, seedless. Seemed like fun to try, since I had a decent Jack the Ripper male to work with, and JTR is a strain used as a daddy in several other strains by Subcool, for example.

I just wanted to add that if pollinating single buds, as an extra line of defense, collect the pollen from the male in a bag big enough to cover the flower(s) to be pollinated. Then, CAREFULLY place the bag over that flower and give it a turn, or a a few taps or a combination of both till you feel that the pistils have all contacted pollen. Twist-tie it snug (not tight) and leave it on for about half an hour. At this point the pistils should have turned a different color inside the bag, indicating that they have received the pollen, and if the ovum inside is ready, it will have been fertilized. When removing the bag, spray with water as the bag comes off to wash away any unused pollen. Wipe up and then clean up the area with a good spray of water and dry again. Then, turn your fans back on to help dry the leaves faster. Wet plant now and again is okay, but not for long, and definitely not every other day.

Sorry if I stepped on toes; I just wanted to add extra lines to stress how careful one must be in order not to pollinate the entire plant.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Hydroponic Adventure...

Back to you, Xlr8.

 

[Xlr8]

No, I don't mind you weighing in at all Jandre. I appreciate you sharing your method and some good tips.

What I did (not necessarily the best method) was collected some pollen in a clear glass bowl, then I used a q tip to "paint" it on the bud/pistils.

Then, I waited 15 minutes (I've heard fertilization is almost instant, but it seems like waiting 10-15 minutes is often recommended) and sprayed the pollinated bud and the buds near it with water (drenched) and left under t5s for duration of the light cycle. I could have taken more precautions, but I wanted to see how this worked out.

What I was going to do, was put a bag over the bud sites I wanted to pollinate, drench the entire plant with water, then remove the bags exposing the buds to be pollinated (kept dry by the bag). After that I was going to do my Q tip, paint on bud thing, wait 15, and drench those buds as well.

Instead, I decided to live dangerously as I would prefer this simpler method if it works. Figured, one way to find out!! And, everyone her will find out with me! (can you say... crash and burn?).

If anyone is curious, I let the glass bowl sit in the room with the male, under flower(s) of his that were about to open. It was pretty fascinating, with no fans in the room, it fell straight down in little powdery circles. I might have a picture from where he did this on one of his leaves (dirty bugger!) Captured plenty in the bowl this way, then just swirled the end of the Q tip lightly in it to apply it to the chosen budsite.

It can't be stressed enough. No fans or circulating air, ever, around males in flower or near pollen. In that regard, I was very careful. Aside from that, I felt like I was using the (sorry to be crude) "pull out method" of contraception, lol. Followed by a morning after pill... perhaps?

Oh, one last note... The females were pollinated at aprox. Day 23. I took a tip from breeder Subcool, who suggests day 21-25 or so as best timing. You need about 6 weeks for the seeds to mature. I should have plenty of time, but a trick on a shorter flowering strain would be to harvest the rest of the plant, and leave the pollinated branch to be harvested after the fact once seeds have matured.

 

[Xlr8]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

With no air movement, pollen just falls straight down and "splats" like this when it drops from the male flowers. I kept the plant in a shower, and put glass bowls under a couple of male flowers that were ready to open - this one didn't have a bowl under it. Once I collected my pollen, I turned on the shower and drenched him and the shower before carefully removing him and discarding him, then cleaning the bathroom carefully as a future precaution.

I didn't get a picture of the pollen in the glass bowl, but here is some pollen that fell onto one of his leaves - this was taken right before he was put to death via drowning and maming:

 

[Aaron Quix]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Ooohhhh goodie goodie!! I love the seed making adventure X!
Just a couple notes. Yes, those swolen calyxes should indeed mean there are seeds a brewin! Thats the only thing that told me I had a herm 2 grows ago...
Second, thanks for the tid bit about the timing (21-25 days)...But just so you know, my herms popped up at around 5 weeks in, pollinated, and plants were harvested at around 9 weeks. I've done a couple "test germs" with those seeds, just to see how viable they were. They all popped in a couple days, and were strong growers too!
So, for the record, theoredically, one could pollinate at least as late as the 5th week of flower, and the seeds would be ready within 4 or 5 weeks. Of course, I'd trust Subcools methods from years of breeding experience over my one time accidental experience...But the info could be useful to someone whos timing is off for whatever reason....
Cant wait to see your seeds, though, keep rockin!!

 

[jandre2k3]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

Heheh, yeah, males are pretty messy when they do their thing and empty their "bananas".

The paintbrush method has been used for centuries to pollinate hundreds of types of plants, from trees, to critically endangered plants that live on a clifftop. They'd used it for a number of years in Greece for their olive trees when honeybees declined in the area due to "Collony Collapse Syndrome". They use it in Japan for pears. It is quite effective all over the globe.

To confirm, the act of pollination is immediate as the pollen becomes instantly attached to the pistils (stigma for flowers that show them), however, it takes a bit longer to grow the "pollen tube" so that the transfer of genetic material down the pistils, or "style" and into the ovum can occur. In cannabis this causes the pistils to begin to turn or change color. This is how we know that pollination was a success. Now it's all up to the fertility gods to do the rest, and in 37 days there should be a ripe seed bursting from the calyx.

 

[thinkerr]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

can you freeze the pollen once collected for future crosses or does it have to be at cryogenic temperatures to be viable once thawed for future use ?

 

[Aaron Quix]

Re: Xlr8's Hydroponic Adventures and Photos from the Garden - 2012

can you freeze the pollen once collected for future crosses or does it have to be at cryogenic temperatures to be viable once thawed for future use ?

There is a lot of talk in this thread regarding the storage of pollen...Although its a long read...