Living organic soil from start through recycling

[IncredibowlBoss]

Here's a cannabis myth I've always sought a knowledge-based opinion on: peak ripeness and harvest time.

In my experience, I go with RC Clarke's determination of ripeness: when the bracts appear most swollen and then just begin to recede.

That seems relatively fact based, but harvest time is questionable: some folks like extra darkness periods, some (like me) have been 'taught' to harvest 1-2 hours before lights on to catch a spike in terpenes.

Who's got some real facts for me??

EDIT: Found this little bit in Rodale's:
"Definite differences in the amount of starches, proteins, fats, minerals and of vitamins as well may be found in plant subjected to different weather conditions, especially at and near the time of harvesting, or even in plants picked at different times of day."

But good old' JI Rodale doesn't get into specifics for our plant of interest.

 

[theJointedOne]

I always say its better to get them a little bit early than a little bit late. Especially when you play outside, fwiw. As far a time to harvest, imo its best to take them once the dew has dried off, but the sun isnt scorching yet, so around 9 am or so. They always look and feel like they have the most energy then, energy which is captured when you take them at the right time.

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

[
900+ pages - $3.50 at the used book store - over 200x as much good info as an issue of High Times at half the price

EDIT: LOL - forgot I pre-ordered this 6 months ago - funny this should be added to my library on the same day!

Also got my tax return & food poisoning at the same time today.... Guess that's just the sorta day it's gonna be...

 

[ClackamasCootz]

At the trade show today, the Farwest Show, a lot of new products are in the pipeline that may be of interest to organic gardeners.

Cascade Minerals - a fairly new company from Eastern Oregon which is mining and bagging Basalt rock dust It's only been available for 18 months or so.

Today they had a display of consumer packs - 5, 10, 20 & 25 lbs. I was not able to get pricing but the packaging is very professional and will fit in well with other garden products that you find at nurseries as far as shelving. Big win for organic gardeners as Basalt in the past was coming out of China & India. This local product has a far lower price than the imported material at farm stores.

SmartPots - they had their new Big Bad Bed which holds 1/2 cubic yard - measures 50" x 12" and costs $39.95. They gave me one of these and another CompostSak for free!

"You like me, you really, really like me!" Sally Fields

Alaska Peat, Sun Gro Horticulture (Sunshine Mix(es), Black Gold, private label packing) and Premier Tech Horticulture (Pro-Mix) all had their booths as you would expect. Nice booths staffed by qualified personnel.

By asking a question from this one and going back to that one and then over to the other one, I finally figured out why MM got the results that he did when using straight Sphagnum peat (Premier Peat) vs. Sunshine Mix. My initial suspicions were correct - straight Sphagnum peat moss is packed on site, i.e. there is no processing at all. All 3 companies pull out of Northern Alberta and in fact Alaska Peat's bogs are adjacent to Sun Gro Horticulture's bogs. Sun Gro packs their straight Sphagnum peat moss on-site as well.

But the Sun Gro Sphagnum destined for packing of some kind is moved in bulk to Hubbard, Oregon. This is their main plant west of the Mississippi River. This is the plant which packs Miracle Grow, Scotts and several others found at nurseries - all nurseries.

In order to get a better load factor, this Sphagnum is dried in large kilns to remove as much moisture as possible - water is heavy. That, I suspect, is the reason for the lower microbial levels in Sunshine vs. the straight Sphagnums that MM tested - Alaska Peat & Premier Peat (Premier Tech Horticulture).

For the majority of their customers that buy the Sunshine mixes this isn't a problem at all because less than 5% of licensed nurseries in Oregon (under OAN) are certified organic under Oregon Tilth.

I talked to at least 30 professional nurseries and asked about spraying milk and most thought I had lost my f*cking mind until I mentioned sea salt and then they were pretty much convinced that I had.

I also found bio-degradable tree 'cone' starts for MM which are made from a 'special paper' that is being used by a couple of tree growers I talked with. Another one coming to market are made from compressed cow manure. The rep said it takes about 3 months to decompose once the plant or tree goes into the ground. Not recommending it but it was an interesting concept. Perhaps they add milk since it is cow manure - cross-merchandising.

CC

 

[Microbeman]

Thanks Coot!

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

Coot - are those big bad beds in just the one size?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Coot - are those big bad beds in just the one size?

Yes - but the gentleman showed me their sales materials to nurseries where they offer custom bags. It would be impossible for any company to come up with a 'one size fits all' nursery container regardless of the type. I asked if the pricing on the custom sizes was 'goofy' and he assured me that they are in line with their other products.

I'll send you a PM with his name and phone number back in Oklahoma where they're based.

Their professional tree bags had a couple of new models for fruit tree growers specifically - really nice. These people definitely listen to their customers and act accordingly. The knock-offs don't stand a chance - never have and never will.

CC

 

[ClackamasCootz]

CowPots - biodegradable nursery pots.

Made from composted manure-fiber, our seed starter pots are made by American farmers for plant lovers everywhere. These earth-friendly “pots you plant” are made with biodegradable, 100% renewable composted cow manure and once planted quickly biodegrade giving you the benefits of manure and allowing roots to quickly expand and grow a stronger, healthier plant.

Zipset

Zipset™ Plant Bands are made of high, internal-sized, bleach board. It provides exceptional strength when wet, yet is still 96% biodegradable.

The Zipset wraps are made from poly-coated bleach board—a material that is ideal for extreme environmental conditions and lasts between 18 and 24 months. They are available in two styles: a heat-sealed drop-on or a staple-on wrap, which may be required for plants with larger canopy development. Each style comes in several sizes but the most common protectors are 3.75" square and 20" or 24" tall for vines and 2.75" square and 18" tall for nut and fruit tree growers.

 

[Microbeman]

Look at these big bad beds

http://www.interwrap.com/IFD/rhinovermi.html

 

[gregor_mendel]

I just want to give Horizon Herbs a bump.

My true comfrey (symphytum officinale) seeds were supposed to number ten but they sent twenty. 100% extra product is good business. (For the customer, at least)

 

[gregor_mendel]

Double post. First time in 12 years on various forums. I don't know how it even happens.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Here's a cannabis myth I've always sought a knowledge-based opinion on: peak ripeness and harvest time.

In my experience, I go with RC Clarke's determination of ripeness: when the bracts appear most swollen and then just begin to recede.

That seems relatively fact based, but harvest time is questionable: some folks like extra darkness periods, some (like me) have been 'taught' to harvest 1-2 hours before lights on to catch a spike in terpenes.

Who's got some real facts for me??

EDIT: Found this little bit in Rodale's:
"Definite differences in the amount of starches, proteins, fats, minerals and of vitamins as well may be found in plant subjected to different weather conditions, especially at and near the time of harvesting, or even in plants picked at different times of day."

But good old' JI Rodale doesn't get into specifics for our plant of interest.

I find this post very insiteful. I harvest at different times then pick the time where I like the effect best.

But the what time of day to harvest is fascinating and I had never given it a second thought.

I read on the NTS site about how plants move a bunch of sugar from above ground to the roots near the end of their light cycle so the roots can feed the soil. And you can see it with a brix meter...brix drops as the sun goes down.

Maybe we don't want to harvest at that time...like say indoors when we have the lights on at night but want to harvest in the morning.

Or maybe senscense stops that sugar flow???

I don't know...but it is something to find out.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Here is another question.

When you brew an alfalfa tea is the tria actually water soluble? In other words do you even get any of it into the tea?

 

[BlueJayWay]

Ok all you crazy SATIVA heads, what the hell am I growing here? I already know the obvious answer cannabis sativa for you smart arses

I think it came from a "Lucky Dip" freebie pack, last year. It happens to be my "most sativa" plant I've grown to date, and the little bitch has tripled in size in 11 days from 12/12, she was under a foot tall when she went into flower & into the bucket (same day) {all thanks to my living recycled soil & you wacky organic nerds here, sprayin' your plants with fricken' plant tea for christ sake }

maybe it's impossible to tell, shall we just call her HAZY (?)

 

[ClackamasCootz]

what the hell am I growing here?

More experienced?

Detective Regnad Kcin - (that's Nick Danger spelled backwards)
How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Nowhere at All? - Firesign Theater

 

[Seandawg]

Ok all you crazy SATIVA heads, what the hell am I growing here? I already know the obvious answer cannabis sativa for you smart arses

I think it came from a "Lucky Dip" freebie pack, last year. It happens to be my "most sativa" plant I've grown to date, and the little bitch has tripled in size in 11 days from 12/12, she was under a foot tall when she went into flower & into the bucket (same day) {all thanks to my living recycled soil & you wacky organic nerds here, sprayin' your plants with fricken' plant tea for christ sake }

View Image

maybe it's impossible to tell, shall we just call her HAZY (?)

I had a "kona gold" strain that grew like hulk when he got pissed! This thing was just too sativa for me. It had 0 body, and gave you such a head trip that it seemingly make your pain feel worse! I gave the whole thing away lol.

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

I find this post very insiteful. I harvest at different times then pick the time where I like the effect best.

But the what time of day to harvest is fascinating and I had never given it a second thought.

I read on the NTS site about how plants move a bunch of sugar from above ground to the roots near the end of their light cycle so the roots can feed the soil. And you can see it with a brix meter...brix drops as the sun goes down.

Maybe we don't want to harvest at that time...like say indoors when we have the lights on at night but want to harvest in the morning.

Or maybe senscense stops that sugar flow???

I don't know...but it is something to find out.

To me the question-when it comes to weed-is whether we want the bracts & calyxes full (of sugars, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, etc etc etc) or less full.

Standard myth suggests less full would lead to a smoother smoke & whiter ash. I've seen a graph SOMEWHERE (source potentially unreliable) of terpene levels - they seem to spike 90-60 minutes before lights on as they build in the buds, then drop drastically as the plants give off their aromas starting a little before lights on. It makes sense to me, but I'm not gonna claim its valid.

Coot? Got anything?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

It had 0 body, and gave you such a head trip that it seemingly make your pain feel worse! I gave the whole thing away lol.

That's what I look for, i.e. sativas whose effect hits the physical spot between the eyebrows said to be the 6th Chakra - 'concealed wisdom' (ajna)

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

More experienced?

Detective Regnad Kcin - (that's Nick Danger spelled backwards)
How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Nowhere at All? - Firesign Theater

Came across this passage in The Rev's new book and thought of you (and how funny it would be if you could insert your perspective on a post-it note on the inside cover of every copy so people don't shell out $20 bucks for it!)
[i pre-ordered it for half off 6 months ago and still regret it, but it's worth it for the LOLs]

 

[IncredibowlBoss]

That's what I look for, i.e. sativas whose effect hits the physical spot between the eyebrows said to be the 6th Chakra - 'concealed wisdom' (ajna)

PM me - you need a cut of Golden Goat