I2KanGrow
Active member
Thanks #1 - always good to hear from ya!
-
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My new cab - Female seed NL
- Thread starter I2KanGrow
- Start date
Thanks #1 - always good to hear from ya!
G
guest 77721
You gotta realize that 90% of the growers are trying to harvest as early as possible and they are looking for a soaring THC high. The 50/50 amber/cloudy is sort of up to your discretion. The longer you let the plant go, the more amber the buds will get from the bottom up.
I think a lot of potency isn't realized by finishing early. One good toke or two from the bottom of 90 day Shiska cola was as much as 1/2 a joint of my other plants.
I think a lot of potency isn't realized by finishing early. One good toke or two from the bottom of 90 day Shiska cola was as much as 1/2 a joint of my other plants.
I2KanGrow
Active member
5-8-09 - flower day 67
5-8-09 - flower day 67
I understand what you're saying here, Red - and I can be patient with this grow - I have no problems waiting till I see ambers on the top-most part of the buds. I personally like a couch-lock, up/racy-highs make me paranoid.
I guess I'm still wondering though, is what actually makes the trichs cloud, then amber - is it just a part of the inner-clock of the plant, or is it caused by tapering the strength of the nutes, or a combination of both - or something else altogether? I'm just curious, ya know?
I decided to change-out my nutes tonight, I've only rinsed-out the rez once before, and this gave me an opportunity to get rid of all those accumulating salts in the bottom. My girls are now sitting in a fresh bath of pH 5.75-5.8 water, at 475ppms. This is a considerable drop of about 350ppms all at once, because the previous water was at 825ppms/pH 6.25 just before changeout. Here's hoping it's not too much of a shock to the girls!
It was only a slight challenge to untangle the roots from the airstones (aquarium waterwalls), I disconnected the air hoses, unclipped them from the suction-cup holders on the bottom of the rez & just slid the 4 wands out from the roots. Lesson learned - you really don't need a root net with the NGB-styled SWC set-up.
5-8-09 - flower day 67
I understand what you're saying here, Red - and I can be patient with this grow - I have no problems waiting till I see ambers on the top-most part of the buds. I personally like a couch-lock, up/racy-highs make me paranoid.
I guess I'm still wondering though, is what actually makes the trichs cloud, then amber - is it just a part of the inner-clock of the plant, or is it caused by tapering the strength of the nutes, or a combination of both - or something else altogether? I'm just curious, ya know?
I decided to change-out my nutes tonight, I've only rinsed-out the rez once before, and this gave me an opportunity to get rid of all those accumulating salts in the bottom. My girls are now sitting in a fresh bath of pH 5.75-5.8 water, at 475ppms. This is a considerable drop of about 350ppms all at once, because the previous water was at 825ppms/pH 6.25 just before changeout. Here's hoping it's not too much of a shock to the girls!
It was only a slight challenge to untangle the roots from the airstones (aquarium waterwalls), I disconnected the air hoses, unclipped them from the suction-cup holders on the bottom of the rez & just slid the 4 wands out from the roots. Lesson learned - you really don't need a root net with the NGB-styled SWC set-up.
Green Smoke
Member
Thats good to know. Thanks for sharing that.
G
guest 77721
From what I understand, all the cannabinoids are different oil compounds, THC, CBN, CBD... As the plant ages, the resins form more complex, less volitile forms and there is some oxidation and degredation. The clear trichs contain mostly higher volitile and less degraded compounds like THC, where the amber ones are the CBD and CBN types.
I2KanGrow
Active member
This makes sense - it's funny how it's so hard to find any information on the actual process... Here's all that I've found about it:
"Once the calyx swells, the glands begin to change color. The
THC in the head was previously a clear liquid. When the calyx is
getting a little overripe, the gland head tints an amber shade. This
indicates that the THC is beginning to degrade into two other can-
[FONT="]nabinoids, CBL or CBN, which are not nearly as powerful as THC."[/FONT]
From the Marijuana Growers Handbook.
I found an eBook that suggests turning the lights back to 10/14, or even 8/16 to "force ripening" - have you ever heard of this? They claim it could take as little as 2 weeks to "ripen" to amber trichs.
I'm doubtful - but hey, what do I know? On the other hand, it works with bananas, right?
G
guest 77721
I think the reduced light cycle is another way of reducing nutes to the plant. You can force ripening at anytime by cutting nutes off and waiting until the oils degrade as the plant stops growing and starts dying.
The same thing happens naturally when the plant decides to "give up" on flowering and stop taking up nutes. The tips continue to actively flower and pull nutes from the leaves, then the older buds. If you follow the plant through it's life cycle and reduce the nutes as the plant slows down, the buds will be tree ripened.
When you pull nutes and chop early, it's like the tomatoes in the grocery store. The are picked before they are ripe and when you ripen them on the window sill, they aren't the same as a field tomato.
Everyone on this site is concerned with how fast can I turn over a crop. These guys are growing grocery store tomatoes. I wanna grow the one's that come from my backyard.
The same thing happens naturally when the plant decides to "give up" on flowering and stop taking up nutes. The tips continue to actively flower and pull nutes from the leaves, then the older buds. If you follow the plant through it's life cycle and reduce the nutes as the plant slows down, the buds will be tree ripened.
When you pull nutes and chop early, it's like the tomatoes in the grocery store. The are picked before they are ripe and when you ripen them on the window sill, they aren't the same as a field tomato.
Everyone on this site is concerned with how fast can I turn over a crop. These guys are growing grocery store tomatoes. I wanna grow the one's that come from my backyard.
I2KanGrow
Active member
Day 71 into flowering:
Day 71 into flowering:
That's right - 10 weeks & 1 day, still showing cloudy trichs only:
Anyone see any amber trichs in there?
Fert levels are around 510ppms (it's actually up a tad from yesterday), and she's starting to show signs of starvation - just not as brilliant a green color:
- Or perhaps she's starting to get ready to shut-down and ripen-up?
Not much else to report, but wondering if I should bring the nute levels up a tad - any thoughts on this?
Day 71 into flowering:
That's right - 10 weeks & 1 day, still showing cloudy trichs only:
Anyone see any amber trichs in there?
Fert levels are around 510ppms (it's actually up a tad from yesterday), and she's starting to show signs of starvation - just not as brilliant a green color:
- Or perhaps she's starting to get ready to shut-down and ripen-up?
Not much else to report, but wondering if I should bring the nute levels up a tad - any thoughts on this?
Green Smoke
Member
I'm certainly no authority, but if you're at 10 weeks then you might want to think about starting your flush. 
Wouldn't that leave you chopping at approx. 12 weeks?
Wouldn't that leave you chopping at approx. 12 weeks?
I2KanGrow
Active member
Everyones $.02 is welcome here, Green Smoke!I'm certainly no authority, but if you're at 10 weeks then you might want to think about starting your flush.
Believe me, I'm certainly no authority either - that's why the flurry of questions about how trichs amber, according to "the literature", NL is supposed to be a 7-8 week strain.
I'm not seeing any signs of ambers, and I think (along with others on this thread) that it's best to "read the plant and let nature tell me when it's time", instead of forcing it.
This grow is in a cooler climate - temps never reached 70*F, so maybe that's why it's taking so long - I just don't know.
I'd certainly start a 2 week flush, if I knew that after the end of the 2 weeks, I'd see ambers - I'm a couchlock-kinda-guy! I guess I'll ask the question again - anyone know if nute starvation would force amber trichs?
Anybody - anybody... Buhler - Buhler -
luv2garden
Member
I'd let them go brotha I know it's tempting but it's worth the wait and your right about the fact that the low temps could have slowed her down. Also the flowering times and just marketing I thing the growing conditions play a huge part in the time/yield ecs....
Thing of banana's they could go from green to yellow in a week!
L2G
Thing of banana's they could go from green to yellow in a week!
L2G
Well you are still not alone I2KanGrow, just starting to cloud up too! Not gonna let them amber too much anyways. Figure this weekend, but only time will tell. They can change day by day, even have new growth overnight. Like luv2garden said, things can rippen in no time. Have to agree low temps slowed things down, but not so low on the temps anymore. Good luck, you can always take a sample and see what you think! By the way just topping with straight water from now on instead of complete rez dump flush.
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G
guest 77721
Looks to me like she's still in flowering production and hasn't slowed down. I'd drop the nutes down to 300ppm and wait. When she slows down, nutes will be pulled out of the fan leaves and she'll start showing fall colours in the leaves. Your leaves look hard and glossy, sort of a pre slowdown. I'd say 1 to 2 weeks and then a 1 week flush.
I2KanGrow
Active member
Flower Day 75
Flower Day 75
I'm agreeing with ya here, I've been feeding @ around 350ppms, mut my rez is at 480ppms - this is telling me that my girls aren't taking-up the nutes - they're there for the offering - but they're just now slowing-down. Leaves are turning, not a beautiful as some of the other peeps, but it's happening!
As your name sez, slowandeasy gets it done right - we're both gonna have great harvests!
You got it l2g - I'm a patient person. REALLY enjoying your new grow - looking sweeeeeeeet!! I'll be lurkin'.
OK - not much to report - ppms are @ 480 (oops, already told you that), pH is holding steady @ 5.75 - the girls are starting to look a bit... worn:
The 2 trich shots, 1 is taken near the top of a bud, the other, toward the bottom. Still looking cloudy - but no ambers yet.
Flower Day 75
I'm agreeing with ya here, I've been feeding @ around 350ppms, mut my rez is at 480ppms - this is telling me that my girls aren't taking-up the nutes - they're there for the offering - but they're just now slowing-down. Leaves are turning, not a beautiful as some of the other peeps, but it's happening!
As your name sez, slowandeasy gets it done right - we're both gonna have great harvests!
You got it l2g - I'm a patient person. REALLY enjoying your new grow - looking sweeeeeeeet!! I'll be lurkin'.
OK - not much to report - ppms are @ 480 (oops, already told you that), pH is holding steady @ 5.75 - the girls are starting to look a bit... worn:
The 2 trich shots, 1 is taken near the top of a bud, the other, toward the bottom. Still looking cloudy - but no ambers yet.
luv2garden
Member
I2KanGrow,
What's up buddy? it's been a while I'm itching for an update! has to be some amber by now no? let us know hope all is well.....L2G
What's up buddy? it's been a while I'm itching for an update! has to be some amber by now no? let us know hope all is well.....L2G
G
guest 77721
I've been wondering the same thing. My LUI has been flushed and has fall colours. I'll be putting her in the dark for 48 hours then it's chopping time.
Green Smoke
Member
Hey Red, what's the 48 hours of dark for?
G
guest 77721
Apparently, the plant at the very end will push out a bunch of resin to protect the seeds. 48 hours of darkness is the trigger. If you just keep the plant under lights until the end, as the plant is dying, the THC is degrading. The 48 trick is supposed to boost the potency. I'm trying it out for the first time. I'm using some of the "Old Fart" grow tips.
I2KanGrow
Active member
Hey Guys:
Haven't posted in a while because - well, to be honest - there's really not much to say! Trichs are still cloudy - no ambers. ppms are holding @ around 350ppm & pH is steady @ 5.5. I'm going to flush tonight, and fill the rez with plain water, we'll see if that forces the issue.
Waiting.... just-a-waiting
I'll post pics later tonight - it's still "nighttime" in the cab now.
Haven't posted in a while because - well, to be honest - there's really not much to say! Trichs are still cloudy - no ambers. ppms are holding @ around 350ppm & pH is steady @ 5.5. I'm going to flush tonight, and fill the rez with plain water, we'll see if that forces the issue.
Waiting.... just-a-waiting
I'll post pics later tonight - it's still "nighttime" in the cab now.
