Glue Auto #1

For week ending July 31: Began training main stems above the 3rd nodes in order to relegate vegetative growth horizontally. Still removing alternating leaves on Northern Lights, planned to trim corresponding branches when (if?) they grow large enough. First flowers appeared on gorilla Glue. At this point, I was still concerned about growth of N.L.

Comment for week ending August 7: Gorilla Glue has spread fully across the pot and able to spread out most of the branches. Flowing will accelerate over the next few weeks. Northern Lights is not spreading far or fast. Although it should take about 2 weeks longer to finish than gorilla Glue, expecting 25-50% of the yield at this point.

Comment for week ending August 14: Begun removing training wires on Gorilla Glue while Northern Lights is actually spreading out some, giving hope for larger yield than I expected. Moved to side photos to show flowers as they do in over time. First feeding of weak solution, mainly to replace what's been lost from the soil and supplement for flowing.

Still only removing yellowing leaves (and there have been few of them). Training finally completed on Northern Lights while Gorilla Glue continues to bloom. Most of my work is now done.

This week the bud on the Gorilla Glue continued to fill in and fatten up. It may not be clear in the the photos, but about 3% of the pistils have turned orange. I estimate 3 to 4 weeks until she ready for harvest, which would be in line with the seed specs (70 days from germination). I continued to remove dead and dying leaves. The Northern Lights plant has continued the surprising trend of last week's explosive growth. It's hard to beekeeping but a month ago it looked like she'd produce half (or less) of the Gorilla Glue. Now it's clear she will exceed that yield. Began removing the first few leaves that had begun to yellow (it may not look like it, but I removed about 2 dozen leaves this week). For comparison, look at photo of Gorilla Glue from 2 weeks ago. She's about 2 weeks behind the Gorilla Glue, which matches the spec of 80 days. Some have gotten the idea that I'm against defoliation. @Gottagrowsometime read last week's entry and says that I'm moving a nutrient deficiency around by removing leaves that start to turn yellow. Neither is close to the truth. I don't cut the stem or any branches. They're all still there. I don't defoliate during vegetative growth, I tuck instead. And watch the humidity, and use a fan. When flowering begins in earnest, the plant gives up on the fan/sun leaves, beginning at the base, to concentrate on the flowers. The leaf begins to yellow from the tips. I give her a hand and remove the leaf. Yes, I wind up with popcorn buds. But I don't mind, I actually want them. They, with the rest of the trim, make up a large chunk of what I use to make oil for edibles. Between 40 and 50%of what I grow goes for that purpose. Another 20% or so I donate to a couple of friends, along with some edibles, to help offset their costs (they're worse off than I am and unable to grow there own). There are many ways to grow cannabis, and this one is right for me, now. I used to grow tall plants, but my back cannot take the up and down to maintain them, so this is easier. Topping works, but it delays the harvest without increasing the yield. I don't need to grow a single (or 4) perfect cola(s). I'm not trying to impress anyone, not even myself. I'm just making my medicine. And sharing my research.