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

[donpaul.p]

with them fem seeds that was male, well ive been reading that if you soak the seeds then transplant them then this damages the root and gives more males, basically when you take the seed out of the paper towel and put it in the soil it causes the fine hairs on the tap root to become damaged and its during this time that the seed decides if its male or female, im not sure if this is true but i have plantd all my regular seeds and i found that putting them in soil made them germ and break out the ground days quicker then using the paper towel, all my ak47 seeds took around 5 days to crack the seed and another couple before they went in pots, i had 2 left of the same strain from the same pack, i placed them in soil only twice as deep as the seed and lightly covered with soil, withing 48 hours the seedling where a inch out hte soil so they did grow quicker, plus i had low fem count with the ak47 so if i get fems this time round then their might be something in it.

if the seeds you ordered where fem then contact the seed bank and tell them what happened and they should send you some sort of replacement, your never 100% to get fems, thats why they call them femenised and not female seeds, it covers their backs when their is males growing instead of fem, but having that many would suggest their was a mistake somewhere, either wrong seeds or they was not fem seeds, at the most you should of only had 1 male, so id contact them and explain and most seed banks will sort you out replacement seeds or worse case give you a discount code for your next order or extra free seeds next time you order

 

[naphtali5725]

donpaul.p,

I always plant my seeds directly into the grow medium, either soil or rock-wool, I did all these as well, so that wasn't the issue... I don't think so anyway. I'll contact the folks I got them from, see if they give me some free auto's now that would be nice!

Kind regards

 

[sfttailpaul]

X - Yeah, I love their videos. I have not made Charas. It's on my bucketlist though! Charas is similar to hashish. With Hash you dry and process it however you do it. In Morocco I think they literally just beat the plant on a screen. Charas is an Indian (India) product and is made with the fresh wet bud. They pluck a bud, wet right off the plant, clean the leaves off, then gently roll the bud in their hands. Over and over and over. Then another, and another. You end up with hands coated in resins. Then you collect the resins and that's it, as far as I know. It becomes a sticky little ball. Highly inefficient, IMHO. A lot of waste. It's been said that on average a man can make up to about 6 grams in one day. I only want to try it because it's a cultural thing, a cool, old world way of doing things. I would grow Himalayan JUST to try it.

OMM - Yeah, the sea of Church was awesome!

Somewhere, a long, long time ago, I read how hashish was originally made (I believe Morocco or Afgan., not sure). They had slaves run through the fields of the flowering plants, naked (I love it) and brushing against the plants the whole time. This caused the "pollen" to stick to their flesh. Then they had these slaves stand over large linen cloths and they'd rinse them off, causing all the plant material to get collect on these linens. They'd then dry in the sun and roll into balls (of hash). I can even remember getting hash like this, quite some time ago. If memory serves me, it was really good. Couldn't get much when it was around in limited supply. Hash was such a treat then as it is now. I love the hash I make...

 

[sfttailpaul]

Cool Naph - I hope you get some good seeds from your pollen experiment. I think you'll get slightly better yield under 18 hours of light, personally. One of the things I did with the auto I grew, was constantly "tucked" leaves that were blocking budsites, trying to keep as many budsites exposed to the light as I could. It'll be interesting to hear what you think of the Himalaya Blue Diesel - that one sounded really good to me.

You got 3 males from feminized seeds? That sounds like they made a mistake of some kind. I bought a pack of 5 feminized "Pure Power Plant" seeds once from Nirvana, and ended up with all 5 being males! I was so bummed, and I still can't believe that every one turned out male (well, I guess one never germinated). I'd have expected much better odds from even non-feminized seeds.

Hmmm. I have to wonder, how would an autoflower plant do using the 12-1 lighting schedule (Gas Lantern Routine) I wonder??? Anyone try this?

Kool Xl... I read briefly about this, I think. Goes something like this? (Question, not fact). 12 on, 1 off, 5.5 on, 5.5 off or something crazy like that. I always have me ears bent for anything new or different from my familiar ideas and experience, but this one takes the cake! Supposed to trick the plant into thinking it grew 2 days in one 24 hr. period, but I'm a bit skeptical. Please, if you or anyone finds more on this, please post. I'm always looking to get this plant to do better, grow faster and yield more and better. Aren't we all?
Edited for, I forgot...
If I got any males from feminized, I'd be really pissed. I got all males from 40 seeds once (10X 4 strains) and I was pissed. Breeder could care less (Cali). This was gotten between three growers too. I'd expect a 50/50 ratio from regular and at least 95% from feminized. Most reputable breeders (you'd think) would want to make good on such bad ratios, just to keep customers happy, but then again, people would undoubtedly take advantage of it.

 

[OldMedMan]

Hiya Heirloom -

Thanks for explaining that a bit better about the Charas. I really think that sounds interesting, but yes not very efficient! I like cultural things like that, too, and can relate to wanting to give that a try. Sounds like scissor hash a bit, in that you are essentially rolling up a gooey ball of resin. Wouldn't it be great if we could all have our own little mountain top with colas as far as the eye can see?!

Wikipedia Charas for the full definition. Most are hand made.

 

[Hash Hound]

Why wouldn't this work? Here's a hydro system that I think would grow monster plants (soil growers, you can choose to avoid reading this if you are bored by such contraptions!):

I'm considering making a combo "top drip" x DWC hydro unit for fun, too. My thinking is, a tote with a botanicare flood fitting/risers keeping the DWC water level consistant, while a top dripper periodically waters from the top down. The drippers are pulling from a secondary res that is recirculated through the flood risers in the unit that contains the plant. (the main reservoir is below, and gravity will be what returns the overflow to the main res underneath through the flood fitting).

Xlr8

I did something similar about 15 yrs ago when I was doing veggies in hydro outside dreaming one day I might be able to grew mj.

Other than the heat issue of outdoor hydro, it turned out fine. I used a dual line air pump, one line fed a air stine, and the other used the venturi effect that uses a T upside down where the air line goes in one end, and air comes out the other causing a vacum in the top hose allowing water to rise up the tube. It comes out more like its percolating than a steady flow, but it works well.

All the experimenting that I did back then and I'm now only doing soil because of my limitations. One day I hope to be able to implement some of my hydro experiments.

 

[sfttailpaul]

Xlr8

I did something similar about 15 yrs ago when I was doing veggies in hydro outside dreaming one day I might be able to grew mj.

Other than the heat issue of outdoor hydro, it turned out fine. I used a dual line air pump, one line fed a air stine, and the other used the venturi effect that uses a T upside down where the air line goes in one end, and air comes out the other causing a vacum in the top hose allowing water to rise up the tube. It comes out more like its percolating than a steady flow, but it works well.

All the experimenting that I did back then and I'm now only doing soil because of my limitations. One day I hope to be able to implement some of my hydro experiments.

What you describe is basically what the "Water Farm" system does (by Hydro Farm: WaterFarm Controller Kit -Terra Cotta (Kit of 8 Farms & Controller) ). They circulate the solution constantly with one air pump and then there is the top feed drip rings which are operated by another air pump. I applied the top ring drippers (called Hydro halo, 3 sizes: 6/8/12": Hydro Halo Water Ring 9") to my flood and drain buckets (C.A.P. ebb and gro) and use this for about 2-3 weeks to get the roots more established and down into the circulating water. The buckets get almost filled then drain down to about 1-1/2" at rest.

 

[donpaul.p]

gas lantern routine is this
12 hours on
5.5 hours off
1 hour on
5.5 hours off
using this method it tricks the plant into stretching as it thinks its coming into flower, but by giving it the 1 hour light during the 12 hour dark period it stops it flowering and keeps the plants growing like crazy, i had better growth results with the clones than i did when i used seeds, it took the seeds a couple of weeks to benefit from the glr schedule, hope thats some help to you

 

[sfttailpaul]

gas lantern routine is this
12 hours on
5.5 hours off
1 hour on
5.5 hours off
using this method it tricks the plant into stretching as it thinks its coming into flower, but by giving it the 1 hour light during the 12 hour dark period it stops it flowering and keeps the plants growing like crazy, i had better growth results with the clones than i did when i used seeds, it took the seeds a couple of weeks to benefit from the glr schedule, hope thats some help to you

Thank you donpaul... I gotta' at last try this. My curiosity gets the best of me and I figure I got nothing to loose except some clones...

 

[naphtali5725]

gas lantern routine is this
12 hours on
5.5 hours off
1 hour on
5.5 hours off
using this method it tricks the plant into stretching as it thinks its coming into flower, but by giving it the 1 hour light during the 12 hour dark period it stops it flowering and keeps the plants growing like crazy, i had better growth results with the clones than i did when i used seeds, it took the seeds a couple of weeks to benefit from the glr schedule, hope thats some help to you

How does this light schedule help bud output, if the 1 hour of light in the middle of the cycle stops flowering?

Kind regards

 

[naphtali5725]

XL,

A separate question,

I know that carbon filters remove the smell from the grow room. Do they also work if you want to have a smoke/vaporize room? Will it also take the burnt/vapor smell out of the air, for stealth?

Hope all is well buddy.

Kind regards

 

[Xlr8]

We would all be very happy growers!



Wow. All males? Sounds like Nirvana has issues. Thanks for sharing that.

Hi Heirloom!

To be honest and fair, I don't think Nirvana has issues per se', and that was a few years ago now already. I've ordered other seeds both from them, and of theirs through other seed resellers, and had excellent results. Snow White is a strain of theirs that was very consistently a nice plant for me (I've grown several of them that weren't journaled on here, in addition to the 2 in my first grow journaled here). I think they mislabeled a package or had some mix-up with the one order of mine, but I don't think that it was indicative of any larger problem. There are many on the site here who've had nothing but good luck with their seeds.

Nonetheless, it did happen, however. Just wanted to honestly say my overall opinion of them is that they are still a reputable seedbank with some truly nice strains.

 

[Xlr8]

Are you still going to use an air stone in the grow chamber?

EDIT: I ask, only because of stratification. If your using 1 air store in your res and none in your chambers, you could end up with stratification. Don't know if you know this already, but top dripping into a pool, then having the run off draw from the top of the pool will create stagnate water and you'll end up with different 'layers' of water (nute) densities in the grow chamber. This is why I always draw return from the bottom and feed from the top. With an air stone in the chamber it makes no difference, the water is circulating.

Oh, I would definitely put an airstone in the individual grow chambers. You do have me thinking though, are you sure that an airstone actually circulates the water sufficiently in a setup like this? I've been a little unsure on that point myself. I'm thinking I'd want to get a pretty strong airpump and decent diffusers or stones to really keep it roiling if possible, as airstones are good at adding DO, but not great at circulating. Otherwise, I'd need to do it a little different. Good point! +rep

 

[NorCaliwood]

Just a drive thru, where's the bud porn? That gas light routine was done to keep plants from flowering when daylight hours are short. Wish I wood've done that this year with my outdoor crop. Helps when you are taking plants froma nice bright tent. then placing them outside in the shorter day of the outside world. Plant tend to start floweringing the shorter spring time light, if you put them outside when they are damn near full grown. I had afew that had to go thru the reveg again this year. If I wood've gotten them use to the shorter days but useing that 'Gas light' routine they woodn't have flowered out.
Everyone has a method that seems to work for them as far as germination. Least I'm talking about peoples that have been growing for awhile. I'll stick with my method. It's been growing for me for damn near 35 years. But I have found afew plants lately that where not what they suppose to be, Fem Seeds being male. LOL, the first time I ordered seeds online, I'll not say who but I ordered Auto Flowering. What I got I'll never know, cept it wasn't a Auto Flowerer. I had gotten 10 seeds and NONE was auto. I wrote them they claimed everything from I wasn't useing enough light to the nert's I fed them. I was under a 400 watt in a 2X4 tent. Whats to little light then? Oh well they did correct the problem but only if I ordered more seed. Very rarely but happens. I just had that Bubba plant flip over to a male. There are afew varibles that can affect a plants sex. Things like nitrogen levels, kind of lights, ect ect.
Well my friend I'll be peeking back in looking for some great pic of some great pot. Mom's said I should've learned to read, but I still skim for pic's. Till then Keepem Green

 

[Heirloom]

Thanks!

I think a good stone or diffuser would mix it fine. However, I do draw my return from as low as possible just to keep a definite top down flow. You simply have to make an external 'hump' in your return line set at the level you want inside your chambers. That way if you have a water pump failure and your reservoir is remote and/or lower than the chambers, you don't get a flood and you don't empty the chambers. They stay at your set level, bubbling away until you discover your water pump failed. Another thing to consider is if you are going to be away from your grow for more than, oh, maybe 2 days, twin air pumps would be a good idea. I use one to aerate the reservoir(s) and one to aerate the chambers. If the water pump fails, I'm covered. If an air pump fails there is another in the system. If two things fail.... God didn't want me doing it!

Oh, I would definitely put an airstone in the individual grow chambers. You do have me thinking though, are you sure that an airstone actually circulates the water sufficiently in a setup like this? I've been a little unsure on that point myself. I'm thinking I'd want to get a pretty strong airpump and decent diffusers or stones to really keep it roiling if possible, as airstones are good at adding DO, but not great at circulating. Otherwise, I'd need to do it a little different. Good point! +rep

 

[Xlr8]

Yeah, I got 3 males... I was bummed too, but at least I had 2 females. I wonder if it was environmental...will a feminized seed turn male if it is in a bad environment? My tent got hot as crap(91) before I cut a 4 inch hole in the floor. I wonder if the heat did it?

I'll be stoked if I get some good seeds out of the cross, I just wish I knew what strain the bag seed I pollenated was.

pssh... the Himalaya Blue Diesel... after a 1 day dry, I put a little bit of it in my vaporizer and I was blitzed for awhile so I know after it's completely dry and cured, it will be awesome

Kind regards

Hi Naph -

Unlike with many living things, it is thought that environment does and can play a role in male vs. female with cannabis seedlings. However, I believe it is thought to be a relatively minor role player, so I doubt it was the reason for 3 males for you. Sounds like they may have been reg seeds mislabeled perhaps? With feminized seeds, they should be either females or hermaphrodites as far as I know - so I'm not sure what happens in the situations like you and I had?

Cool on the HBD!!

 

[Xlr8]

thanks for all the info, ill let you know when i get the seeds, ill start a seperate journal just for my autos, thinking about getting a few and try them at the same time, ill try the one you said and i have just receieved and email saying super skunk auto has won the highlife cup, so that auto must be ok as well else it would not of won so might try that as well, i have also posted a 15% discount code on my journal for that strain, their are 3 auto strains that the offer works for, its from sensi seeds, but the breeder who produced the winning auto was the white label seed co, so if you get it from sensi seeds their is a 15% offer so let me know if you want the discout code or check out my journal and it the last post i made,

ill pm you the link to my journal when i start my autos, hoping to order them in the week, so il start a new journal when the seeds come, it will be easier then starting them under my journal i do now, so ill do a strictly auto journal and all been well ill be doing my breeding on them as well,

Sounds good DonPaul - I need to pass on ordering seeds for a while, but thanks for offering up that discount code. I have a lot to grow already, and $$ are sparse right now. Too little time and money - but isn't that always how it goes?

 

[Xlr8]

with them fem seeds that was male, well ive been reading that if you soak the seeds then transplant them then this damages the root and gives more males, basically when you take the seed out of the paper towel and put it in the soil it causes the fine hairs on the tap root to become damaged and its during this time that the seed decides if its male or female, im not sure if this is true but i have plantd all my regular seeds and i found that putting them in soil made them germ and break out the ground days quicker then using the paper towel, all my ak47 seeds took around 5 days to crack the seed and another couple before they went in pots, i had 2 left of the same strain from the same pack, i placed them in soil only twice as deep as the seed and lightly covered with soil, withing 48 hours the seedling where a inch out hte soil so they did grow quicker, plus i had low fem count with the ak47 so if i get fems this time round then their might be something in it.

if the seeds you ordered where fem then contact the seed bank and tell them what happened and they should send you some sort of replacement, your never 100% to get fems, thats why they call them femenised and not female seeds, it covers their backs when their is males growing instead of fem, but having that many would suggest their was a mistake somewhere, either wrong seeds or they was not fem seeds, at the most you should of only had 1 male, so id contact them and explain and most seed banks will sort you out replacement seeds or worse case give you a discount code for your next order or extra free seeds next time you order

I agree with you on planting seeds direct into your media as a good thing, but I don't think that stress should make fem seeds turn male - perhaps hermaphrodite, however. I'm no expert on fem seeds though!

 

[Xlr8]

Kool Xl... I read briefly about this, I think. Goes something like this? (Question, not fact). 12 on, 1 off, 5.5 on, 5.5 off or something crazy like that. I always have me ears bent for anything new or different from my familiar ideas and experience, but this one takes the cake! Supposed to trick the plant into thinking it grew 2 days in one 24 hr. period, but I'm a bit skeptical. Please, if you or anyone finds more on this, please post. I'm always looking to get this plant to do better, grow faster and yield more and better. Aren't we all?
Edited for, I forgot...
If I got any males from feminized, I'd be really pissed. I got all males from 40 seeds once (10X 4 strains) and I was pissed. Breeder could care less (Cali). This was gotten between three growers too. I'd expect a 50/50 ratio from regular and at least 95% from feminized. Most reputable breeders (you'd think) would want to make good on such bad ratios, just to keep customers happy, but then again, people would undoubtedly take advantage of it.

Yes you have the 12-1 technique (GLR)almost correct, it's 12 on, 5.5 off, 1 on, 5.5 off. Cannabis plants need roughly 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness to flower, and 12-1 puts the 1 hour in between to keep the dark periods from fully triggering flower hormones. It doesn't really make the plant think there's 2 days instead of one (that I know of) but it keeps the plant in a state of veg with minimal daylight time (saving money).

Plants do seem to also exhibit excellent growth with this method. Also, theoretically at least, the plants vegged this way should transition slightly quicker to flower due to bloom hormone build up.

Thats crazy about those 40 seeds?! I wonder what causes the ratios to be so out of whack?

 

[Xlr8]

Xlr8

I did something similar about 15 yrs ago when I was doing veggies in hydro outside dreaming one day I might be able to grew mj.

Other than the heat issue of outdoor hydro, it turned out fine. I used a dual line air pump, one line fed a air stine, and the other used the venturi effect that uses a T upside down where the air line goes in one end, and air comes out the other causing a vacum in the top hose allowing water to rise up the tube. It comes out more like its percolating than a steady flow, but it works well.

All the experimenting that I did back then and I'm now only doing soil because of my limitations. One day I hope to be able to implement some of my hydro experiments.

I've done just that same thing - "waterfarm" style. Part of why I feel like it could grow large plants (the success with the DIY waterfarm/DWC bucket I did). DIY hydro stuff sure is fun to dream up and build, huh?!