"Ōdinus" C#5

We have 3 clones, 2 just regular clones taken in veg and 1 clone a few weeks later once in the early budding of the flower. Will be a good side-by-side visual comparison of the benefits of monstercropping. They have been kept at a minimal photosynthetic rate for 3-4 weeks under predominantly blue light 💙 to try to shorten internodal spacing. (Yes it could be faster) No rushhhhh. Starting diary at week 1 germination but in reality, they are fully stabilized and at least a month old. Just to get stuck right in I decided to super crop the base of the stem early hoping it creates a strong knuckle. This may backfire incredibly, only time will tell. Also topped it too, never topped a flower bud before but oh well, if this wee plant survives it's gonna be something. Initially, I wanted to start it in a regular pot as this creates a solid rootball base before upsizing it to air-pots.

Poor thing still got trichomes on its leaves. Transplanted up to 1 gallon (4L) airpots. Vermiculite base, soil then pumice stones on top, pumice stones act like perlite on steroids and acts as a good mulch to keep the heat off medium. Recovered very well from stress. I meant to top it but the main stem was mostly bud so I wasn't sure what I topped I would call it more of an FIM than a top. Either way, there are at least 4 main tops now, I dunno how many side shoots and it's still barely 8 inches tall. Very very 😊 Terpenes are aromatic oils found in all plants. These molecules are responsible for the distinct smell and taste of cannabis varieties and have an important role to play in the plant’s effects. Research has found that the cannabinoid and terpene profile of a particular cannabis strain can help the consumer to predict the experience they might have – either uplifting or sedating – along with other therapeutic effects. Terpenes may also hold their own pharmacologic importance as they seem to operate synergistically with cannabinoids, producing what is referred to as the entourage effect. While the science behind cannabis is still a work in progress — and a fairly complex one at that — what we do know is that these tiny molecules that exist throughout the plant world have an important role to play in the therapeutic effects of most plant-derived foods and medicine. Knowing the properties of the major cannabis terpenes can be a powerful tool when choosing a cannabis product. Specifically, you’ll want to understand the main terpenes found in high concentrations of cannabis, their aroma, effects, and potential therapeutic uses. Terpenes were first identified in the 19th century and got their name from turpentine, a product made from a pine tree resin that is rich in terpene known as pinene. Terpenes can be found in all plants, and are abundant in most fresh fruits, flowers, and vegetables. In fact, terpenes are the primary component of any “essential oil” and are also used all around the modern world, from flavoring ingredients to industrial cleaners. 1 2 Terpenes only recently rose to popularity among cannabis enthusiasts, but really, they’ve been around since the dawn of time. These molecules influence the smell and taste of different plants, and more importantly – they also serve ecological functions, such as protecting plants from predators, attracting pollinators, and fighting fungi. You may encounter the terms terpenoids, mono-terpenes, and sesqui-terpenes in terpene-related literature. The differences between these classifications are very minute and scientific, based on the chemical structure. For example, terpenes are made of hydrocarbons, specifically a five-carbon isoprene unit (C5H8). These “units” may be combined in any number of ways, much in the same way as Lego building blocks. They are building blocks for the plant to create a vast number of chemicals and are essential to plant life. If two units are combined you get a small smelly molecule like limonene. If you combine 8 isoprene units you get a larger molecule like lycopene. And if you combine millions of isoprene units you get a compound known as natural rubber latex–a very important industrial product used in everything from car tires to airplanes to yoga mats. 3 The mono-, sesqui-, and di- prefixes relate to the number of isoprene units. Terpenoids are simply oxygen-containing terpenes. Sure, this might not mean much to the average toker, but the nomenclature helps us to further appreciate terpenes and their significance in the cannabis plant. Research indicates that terpenes, along with cannabinoids, determine two of the essential functions of cannabis: The type of high a chemovar (strain) may cause. Which conditions it might help treat. Terpenes are produced in tiny resin glands on the surface of the cannabis plant known as trichomes. These glands are very small and often can look like crystals or even dust to the naked eye. The trichome is also where cannabinoids are made in the plant, but each of these molecules have their own unique therapeutic potential. Myrcene Aroma: herbal Also found in: sweet basil, bay leaves, lemongrass, wild thyme, parsley, mango, and hops Medicinal properties: sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic, muscle relaxant, anxiolytic, and antioxidant Also known as β-Myrcene (beta myrcene), Myrcene is the most common terpene in modern cannabis strains in the US and Europe. It is thought to be highly sedative and is suggested as the main responsible agent for the ”couch lock” effect in strains that produce a “physical, mellow, sleepy” high. In fact in Germany, myrcene-rich hops are used as a sleep aid. It has also been suggested (but not confirmed) that myrcene increases permeation of the blood-brain barrier, allowing other cannabinoids and terpenes to pass through more easily. Myrcene has a herbal aroma, with musky and earthy notes. 5 6 Thanks to its medicinal properties, myrcene is suggested as a potentially relevant treatment for conditions and symptoms such as: multiple sclerosis insomnia arthritis inflammation general pain Blue Dream, Bubba Kush, Mango Kush, Granddaddy Purple, Critical Mass, Mango Puff, Purple Urkle, Jillybean, and Harlequin all contain high levels of myrcene

BCP (beta-caryophyllene) Aroma: spicy Also found in: cinnamon, clove, black pepper, rosemary, oregano, basil and hops Medicinal properties: cardioprotective, analgesic, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulator Beta caryophyllene, aka caryophyllene or BCP, has a spicy aroma and is thought to be a relaxing and sedating terpene. It’s unique as a terpene because it also interacts with the body in a similar way to cannabinoids, via receptors in the endocannabinoid system, influencing its potential effects and therapeutic applications. BCP shows potent anti-inflammatory effects and pain relieving properties in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Through its stimulation of the CB2 receptor, it is suggested to be effective for the following: inflammatory bowel diseases (crohn’s/ulcerative colitis) Parkinson’s disease dementia anxiety depression Interestingly, unrelated to the ECS, BCP has shown potential in the treatment of alcohol and cocaine abuse. And if all that isn’t enough, it’s also considered to be a potent anticancer agent Beta-caryophyllene (b-caryophyllene or BCP) is one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis. Often simply referred to as caryophyllene, this naturally occurring terpene is not just present in cannabis — it is quite common among plants, including many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. B-caryophyllene is said to have an earthy, spicy, or woody smell, distinct enough that drug-sniffing dogs are trained to detect a version of it when looking for cannabis. Importantly, unlike most other terpenes, beta-caryophyllene can interact directly with the endocannabinoid system and has even been described as a dietary cannabinoid. Despite great advancements in scientists’ understanding of the endocannabinoid system, the past 30 years of research has generally created more questions than answers. While THC’s action in the body is well characterized and CBD’s complex mechanisms are becoming clearer, there are a multitude of other components of cannabis that we either don’t understand how they work or don’t even know they are present. To better understand the action of cannabis in the body, one must look beyond the cannabinoids and consider the terpene profile, which is the second-most abundant chemical group in the plant. What does b-caryophyllene do? Similar to other terpenes, b-caryophyllene contributes to the overall effects of cannabis by way of the entourage effect — interacting with and changing how other molecules in the plant affect the body. However, unlike most other terpenes, b-caryophyllene directly activates one of the two major receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex system composed of fat-based molecules, receptors, and enzymes that maintains homeostasis (balance) in the body. The ECS is best known for interacting with cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, like THC and CBD, and is responsible for much of the plant’s therapeutic effects. THC acts at the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system to cause intoxication and at the CB2 receptor to reduce inflammation. B-caryophyllene is a CB2-specific agonist, which means it activates CB2 but doesn’t have activity at CB1. In other words, it won’t get you high but it has tremendous medicinal value.  Whereas CB1 receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system, CB2 receptors are primarily located within the immune system, but also in the gastrointestinal tract, the brain, and other organs in lower quantities. These receptors are generally considered to be immunomodulatory and activating them tends to have a broad anti-inflammatory effect.  So what exactly does a CB2-specific agonist do? The answer is a lot. There is an abundance of evidence that b-caryophyllene may possess antibacterial properties, anti-proliferative potential, antifungal qualities, antioxidant activity, and potent anti-inflammatory effects. In other words, BCP may aid in treating or preventing a multitude of conditions like infections, spasms, pain, and other neurologic conditions. Importantly, the evidence supporting BCP’s effects is all at the pre-clinical level, meaning it has not been tested for relevance in humans. Most of this therapeutic potential comes from b-caryophyllene’s ability to selectively activate the CB2 receptor, mimicking the action of cannabinoids — making it a cannabimimetic. BCP is the only terpene known to have significant effects at the CB2 receptor Where is b-caryophyllene found in nature? B-caryophyllene, like many terpenes, is quite common in nature. While most abundant in herbs and spices like basil, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, hops, and oregano, b-caryophyllene can be found in over 1,000 other plants. It is a common component of many essential oils and is thought to be present in varying amounts in at least half of all flower-producing plants. B-Caryophyllene can also be found in everyday products. It is FDA-approved for use as a flavoring agent and also for use in cosmetics. It is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) according to the FDA, meaning companies may include it in products with relative confidence of its safety. Importantly, while b-caryophyllene may be safe and abundant in many plants and essential oils, not all terpenes in essential oil are considered safe for ingestion. Clove oil, while high in caryophyllene, is also high in eugenol — a potentially toxic terpenoid that can cause liver damage when taken in excess. Some cannabis strains that boast high amounts of beta caryophyllene include GSC, Bubba Kush, and Sour Diesel(1). Beta caryophyllene is also widely used in fragrance products and as a food additive for its peppery taste and spicy aroma.

Pinene Aroma: woody Also found in: pine trees, parsley, rosemary, dill and sage Medicinal properties: anti inflammatory, bronchodilator, antibiotic, anxiolytic and analgesic There are two main types of pinene, alpha and beta, but alpha pinene is more abundant in cannabis. It has a woody aroma and can be found in large amounts in the resin of conifer trees such as pines (hence the name). Interestingly, pinene can potentially help with the short term memory loss associated with THC. It’s also suggested as a potential treatment for conditions and symptoms such as arthritis dementia asthma SARS acne cancer (particularly neuroblastoma, melanoma, and hepatic carcinoma) Blue Dream, Shark Shock, Pineapple Express, Citrus Sap, Double Dream, Grape Ape, Frank's Gift, Vanilla Kush, Critical Cheese, Cherry Limeade, White Fire OG (WiFi OG), Blue Haze, and Blueberry are all strains high in pinene —

Ocimene Aroma: floral Also found in: pepper, mango, mint, oregano, basil, parsley, celery leaf, tarragon and lavender Medicinal properties: anticonvulsant, antiviral, anti inflammatory, antitumor and antifungal properties Ocimene has a fresh, floral aroma with woody notes, and is suggested as a potential use in seizure-related conditions such as epilepsy, inflammation and different types of cancer. Ocimene is also used in honey bee colonization to regulate social interactions of bees. Don’t be surprised if you’ve heard it mentioned a time or two with respect to “cannabis honey,” however this lies on the assumption that the bees collect resin from the plant instead of nectar. Strains that are often high in Ocimene are White Fire OG, Chocolope, Dutch Treat, Super Lemon Haze, Purple Haze, Arjan's Haze #3, Amnesia, Strawberry Cough, Golden Goat, Space Queen, or Himalayan Gold.

Humulene Aroma: earthy Also found in: coriander, ginger, sage, clove, l, spearmint and ginseng, and found in high concentrations in hops (humulus lupulus) Medicinal properties: anti inflammatory, anti carcinogenic, analgesic, antibacterial and antiviral Humulene is closely related to BCP from a molecular point of view (its original name is actually alpha-caryophyllene), and actually might perform better when in the presence of BCP – further supporting the entourage effect theory. Its aroma is often described as earthy and woody, sometimes associated with the “hoppy” aroma of beer. It is found in high concentrations in hops (humulus lupulus), from which its name is derived. Additionally the hops plant is a close cousin of the cannabis plant as both are part of the cannabaceae family, so the fact that they both produce humulene, beta-caryophyllene, and myrcene is of little surprise. Humulene is considered to be a strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, suggesting potential benefits for both local and systemic pain (especially inflammatory pain). It also showed anticancer activity in preliminary research, and there are some anecdotal reports of appetite suppression and weight loss, which could greatly affect obesity and metabolic conditions. Cannabis strains with notably high levels of humulene include GSC (fka Girl Scout Cookies), Headband, White Widow, Pink Kush, Bubba Kush, Super Lemon Haze, Sour Diesel, and Skywalker OG

Refitted the grow tent with a new 100gallon fabric pot packed full of the richest soil ingredients I could find. Blast-off will commence in 3,2,1. Terpinolene Aroma: floral Also found in: apples, pines, turmeric leaf, sage and cardamon, but it’s most abundant in parsnip Medicinal properties: sedative, antioxidant, antiproliferative, , cardioprotective, analgesic and anti inflammatory. Terpinolene is often considered to have a floral aroma with a twist of citrus and earthy fragrance. Though sedative in mice, subjective consumer reports suggest that cannabis varieties rich in terpinolene are actually stimulating in humans. The combination of THC and terpinolene might be the reason for this inconsistency. In cannabis, terpinolene is present in many varieties, mostly sativa-dominant ones, but usually in low concentrations. It’s thought to be of potential value for conditions such as hypertension pain (especially inflammatory) cancer (particularly neuroblastoma and chronic myelogenous leukemia) Terpinolene is found in lilacs, nutmeg, cumin, and apples. ... Although terpinolene-dominant strains are somewhat rare, you'll recognize a few of these flavorful favorites: Dutch Treat. Jack Herer. Ghost Train Haze. Golden Goat. Golden Pineapple. J1. XJ-13. Orange Cookies.

The lanky clones reached 3 feet or over, I planted these at the base of the 100 gallon pot and then filled the pot with medium, the main stem once deprived of light will sprout new roots, giving it a massive hydraulic channel deep into the medium (prebuilt) Linalool Aroma: floral Also found in: lavender, roses, basil, laurels, and cinnamon Medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, relaxant, analgesic, sedative, anti-depressant, and anxiolytic agent Though present in a lot of spices and flowers, particularly high concentrations of linalool can be found in lavender. It’s no surprise that lavender is commonly used in spa and relaxation practices due to it’s calming nature. However, this floral and spicy terpene has a long list of medical effects that suggest a potential application for conditions and symptoms such as: anxiety stress depression insomnia pain seizures Some well-known linalool strains are Amnesia Haze, Special Kush, Lavender, LA Confidential, OG Shark, GDP

Limonene Aroma: citrus Also found in: the rinds of all citrus fruits Medicinal properties: anxiolytic, antidepressant, antibiotic, chemotherapeutic, anti inflammatory, analgesic and immune stimulant As suggested by the name, limonene (aka D-limonene) has a citrus aroma and can be found in high concentrations in the rinds of citrus fruits. This terpene is believed to be responsible for the“cerebral and euphoric” experience, commonly attributed to some cannabis chemovars. It is also believed to be a permeation enhancer for oral and topical products that are produced with nano-emulsion technology. 7 8 9 Limonene has been suggested as a potential treatment for a myriad of conditions and symptoms, such as: multiple sclerosis IBD (crohn’s/ulcerative colitis) GERD anxiety depression inflammation pain asthma obesity arthritis cancer (particularly skin, breast, prostate and glioblastoma) It may also be helpful for Parkinson’s disease due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, but this is yet to be researched Limonene is employed in a variety of industries, including cosmetics, food and beverage flavoring, and even household cleaners. Limonene-rich strains include Berry White, Durban Poison, Jack Herer, Jack the Ripper, Lemon Diesel, OG Kush (as well as other OG cultivars), Sour Diesel, and Super Lemon Haze.

Understanding The Numbers: If you have been researching LED horticulture lighting systems for your grow space, you have likely been bombarded with a variety of metrics that lighting manufacturers use to market their products. Some terms and acronyms you are likely to see include watts, lumens, LUX, foot candles, PAR, PPF, PPFD, and photon efficiency. While all of these terms do relate to lighting, only a select few really tell you the important metrics of a horticulture lighting system. The purpose of this is to define these terms and acronyms, correct some common misunderstandings, and help growers understand which metrics are applicable to horticulture lighting systems, and which ones are not. Humans Use Lumens Plants and people perceive light very differently from one another. Humans and many other animals use something called photopic vision in well-lit conditions to perceive color and light. Lumens are a unit of measurement based on a model of human eye sensitivity in well-lit conditions, which is why the model is called the photopic response curve (Figure 1). As you can see, the photopic response curve is bell-shaped and shows how humans are much more sensitive to green light than blue or red light. LUX and foot candle meters measure the intensity of light (using lumens) for commercial and residential lighting applications, with the only difference between the two being the unit of the area they are measured over (LUX uses lumen/m2 and foot candle uses lumen/ft2). Figure 1 Using LUX or foot candle meters to measure the light intensity of horticulture lighting systems will give you varying measurements depending on the spectrum of the light source, even if you are measuring the same intensity of PAR. The fundamental problem with using LUX or foot candle meters when measuring the light intensity of horticulture lighting systems is the underrepresentation of blue (400 – 500 nm) and red (600 – 700 nm) light in the visible spectrum. Humans may not be efficient at perceiving light in these regions, but plants are highly efficient at using red and blue light to drive photosynthesis. This is why lumens, LUX, and foot candles should never be used as metrics for horticulture lighting. What is PAR PAR is photosynthetic active radiation. PAR light is the wavelengths of light within the visible range of 400 to 700 nanometers (nm) that drive photosynthesis (Figure 1). PAR is a much-used (and often misused) term related to horticulture lighting. PAR is NOT a measurement or “metric” like feet, inches or kilos. Rather, it defines the type of light needed to support photosynthesis. The amount and spectral light quality of PAR light are important metrics to focus on. (To find out more about spectral light quality click here). Quantum sensors are the primary instrument used to quantify the light intensity of horticulture lighting systems. These sensors work by using an optical filter to create a uniform sensitivity to PAR light (Figure 1) and can be used in combination with a light meter to measure the instantaneous light intensity or a data logger to measure cumulative light intensity. Three important questions you should look to be answered when researching horticulture lighting systems are: How much PAR does the fixture produce (measured as Photosynthetic Photon Flux)? How much instantaneous PAR from the fixture is available to plants (measured as Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density)? How much energy is used by the fixture to make PAR available to your plants (measured as Photon Efficiency)? The three key metrics used to answer these questions are: PPF is photosynthetic photon flux. PPF measures the total amount of PAR that is produced by a lighting system each second. This measurement is taken using a specialized instrument called an integrating sphere that captures and measures essentially all photons emitted by a lighting system. The unit used to express PPF is micromoles per second (μmol/s). This is probably the second most important way of measuring a horticulture lighting system, but, for whatever reason, most lighting companies don’t list this metric. It is important to note that PPF does not tell you how much of the measured light actually lands on the plants, but is an important metric if you want to calculate how efficient a lighting system is at creating PAR. PPFD is photosynthetic photon flux density. PPFD measures the amount of PAR that actually arrives at the plant, or as a scientist might say: “the number of photosynthetically active photons that fall on a given surface each second”. PPFD is a ‘spot’ measurement of a specific location on your plant canopy, and it is measured in micromoles per square meter per second (μmol/m2/s). If you want to find out the true light intensity of a lamp over a designated growing area (e.g. 4’ x 4’), it is important that the average of several PPFD measurements at a defined height are taken. Lighting companies that only publish the PPFD at the center point of a coverage area grossly overestimate the true light intensity of a fixture. A single measurement does not tell you much, since horticulture lights are generally brightest in the center, with light levels decreasing as measurements are taken towards the edges of the coverage area. (Caveat Emptor: Lighting manufacturers can easily manipulate PPFD data. To ensure you are getting actual PPFD values over a defined growing area, the following needs to be published by the manufacturer: measurement distance from the light source (vertical and horizontal), number of measurements included in the average, and the min/max ratio). Fluence always publishes the average PPFD over a defined growing area at a recommended mounting height for all of our lighting systems. Photon Efficacy refers to how efficient a horticulture lighting system is at converting electrical energy into photons of PAR. Many horticulture lighting manufacturers use total electrical watts or watts per square foot as a metric to describe the light intensity. However, these metrics really don’t tell you anything since watts are a measurement describing electrical input, not light output. If the PPF of the light is known along with the input wattage, you can calculate how efficient a horticulture lighting system is at converting electrical energy into PAR. As a reminder, the unit for PPF is μmol/s, and the unit to measure watts is Joule per second (J/s), therefore, the seconds in the numerator and denominator cancel out, and the unit becomes µmol/J. The higher this number is, the more efficient a lighting system is at converting electrical energy into photons of PAR. Conclusion In order to invest in the proper horticulture lighting system to meet your cultivation and business goals, you need to know the PPF, PPFD, and photon efficiency to make informed purchasing decisions. However, these three metrics should not be used as sole variables to base purchasing decisions. There are several other variables such as form factor and coefficient of utilization (CU) that need to be considered as well. All factors need to be used in combination to select the most appropriate systems based on your cultivation and business goals, and the take-home message is that PPF, PPFD, and photon efficiency are the proper metrics used by scientists and industry-leading horticulture lighting companies. If a company does not provide you with the correct metrics used for horticulture lighting, they should not be selling horticulture lighting systems, and you will not be able to verify the true efficacy of their system. Fluence Bioengineering always publishes these metrics in product literature and is one of the leaders in photosynthetic photon efficiency as verified by Rutgers and Utah State University.

Red Light and its Impact on Plant Growth Choosing the optimal lighting for cannabis cultivation can be challenging. There are many factors to consider, like light intensity, distribution, and spectrum. Spectrum can be especially complicated because there is a lot of conflicting information out there. This article is going to take a research-based approach to evaluate the spectrum and is part of a series exploring the effect of the spectrum on plants. This post will focus on our knowledge of red light and its effect on plant growth and reproduction (flowering). Red (R) light is radiation with wavelengths between 620 and 750 nm. These wavelengths are within the visible spectrum and red light has a pronounced effect on both photosynthesis and flowering. Vegetative Growth Red light fits with the absorption peak of chlorophylls, which do photosynthesis to produce sugars and carbons. Sugars and carbons are the building blocks for plant cells. Because red wavelengths are highly absorbed by chlorophyll, they also increase the photosynthesis rate and plant size [1]. Furthermore, red radiation at 690 nm may be more effective than 660 nm for increasing plant size [2]. Although a plant can be grown using just red light, it’s not a good idea. Most plants will have faster growth with a full-spectrum light source. Plants grown with red wavelengths alone often get skinny, stretched stems (“etiolation”) with fewer leaves [3]. Ideally, red wavelengths should be provided in combination with blue (B) light and other colors as well. The R+B combination results in a faster rate of photosynthesis compared to R or B light alone. Compared to just red radiation, the red-blue combination increases plant size, leaf number, leaf size, and chlorophyll content [4, 5]. How much red and blue light is needed for cannabis plants? One way to answer this question is to test what ratio of R:B light is ideal. Depending on the species the ideal R:B ratio varies. A higher R:B ratio increases biomass in tomato, strawberries, and marigolds [4 – 6]. Early research in cannabis suggests that a higher R:B ratio may increase plant height [7]. On the other hand, higher levels of blue light compared to red are documented to increase biomass [8]. The addition of other colors of light, especially green (G), further benefits plant growth. For example, a combination of R+B+G light increases plant size and height, and leaf size compared to a R+B alone [9]. Root Growth Some research has shown that red light can also impact root number and length, however, this is still a relatively unexplored area. Grape plants grown with red radiation produce a greater number of roots compared to plants grown under far-red or blue light [10]. Tomato plants grown with red LED light alone produce more and longer roots compared to white, far-red, or blue light [10]. Flowering Red wavelengths also impact the timing of flowering, the duration of flowering, the weight and number of flowers produced, and possibly THC and CBD content. Flowering time is in part regulated by the amount of red and far-red (750 – 780 nm) light available to the plant [11]. The effect of red radiation on flowering time is species-specific. For example, red wavelengths accelerates flowering in cranberry, wheat, and strawberry but delays flowering in mustard plants [12 – 15]. Red light can also impact the number and weight of flowers produced. Marigold plants produce five times more flowers when grown with fluorescent light supplemented with red light [16]. Early research in cannabis suggests that plants grown with high amounts of red (HPS) light produce more flowers [17]. In that same study, cannabis plants receiving high amounts of red wavelengths also produced less THC, CBD, THCV, CBG, and cannabinoids compared to plants grown under spectrums with more blue light [17]. Learn More Shimizu, H. et al. Light environment optimization for lettuce growth in plant factory (2011). Singh, D. et al. LEDs for Energy Efficient Greenhouse Lighting (2015). Samuolienė, G. et al. The impact of red and blue light-emitting diode illumination on radish physiological indices. Cent. Eur. J. Biol. 6, 821–828 (2011). Ouzounis, T. et al. Blue and red LED lighting effects on plant biomass, stomatal conductance, and metabolite content in nine tomato genotypes. Proc. VIII Int. Symp. Light Hortic. 8, (2016). Naznin, M. T. et al. Using different ratios of red and blue LEDs to improve the growth of strawberry plants. Proc. VIII Int. Symp. Light Hortic. 8, 125–130 (2016). Sams, C. E., Kopsell, D. & Morrow, R. C. Light quality impacts on growth, flowering, mineral uptake and petal pigmentation of marigold. Proc. VIII Int. Symp. Light Hortic. 8, 139–145 (2016). Hernandez, R., Eguchi, T. & Kubota, C. Growth and morphology of vegetable seedlings under different blue and red photon flux ratios using light-emitting diodes as sole-source lighting. Proc. VIII Int. Symp. Light Hortic. 8, (2016). Wu, M. C. et al. A novel approach of LED light radiation improves the antioxidant activity of pea seedlings. Food Chem. 101, 1753–1758 (2007). Wang, Y. & Folta, K. M. Contributions of green light to plant growth and development. Am. J. Bot. 100, 70–78 (2013). Vu, et al. Influence of short- term irradiation during pre-and post-grafting period on the graft-take ratio and quality of tomato seedlings. Hortic. Environ. Biotechnol. 55, 27–35 (2014). Cerdan and Chory. Regulation of flowering time by light quality. Nature. 6942, 881 – 885 (2003). Zhou, Y. & Singh, B. R. Red light stimulates flowering and anthocyanin biosynthesis in American cranberry. Plant Growth Regul. 38, 165–171 (2002). Kasajima, S. et al. Effect of Light Quality on Developmental Rate of Wheat under Continuous Light at a Constant Temperature. Plant Prod. Sci. 10, 286–291 (2007). Yoshida, H. et al. Effects of varying light quality from single-peak blue and red light-emitting diodes during nursery period on flowering, photosynthesis, growth, and fruit yield of everbearing strawberry. Plant Biotechnol. 33, 267–276 (2016). Eskins, K. Light-quality effects on Arabidopsis development. Red, blue and far-red regulation of flowering and morphology. Physiol. Plant. 86, 439–444 (1992). Eichhorn B., et al. An Update on Plant Photobiology and Implications for Cannabis production. Front. in Plant Science 10 (2019). Magagnini G. et al. The Effect of Light Spectrum on the Morphology and Cannabinoid Content of Cannabis sativa L. 1, 19 – 27 (2018).

Time to get the net on right before the stretch or it will be extremely hard later, I want to support as many fulcrums of branches as possible that may have trouble holding heavy buds and will fall to areas with less light slowing flower growth. Using Blue Light in Cultivation TL;DR: Blue light is a key wavelength for photosynthesis and growth. So buy lights that have blue light, whether for growing cannabis or any other kinds of plants. Whether you’re buying a light for a houseplant, indoor cannabis grow, or large-scale plant production, it can be challenging to pick the right light. There are multiple factors to consider and conflicting information online. While light intensity is the most important factor, spectrum can be important too. This article explains how blue wavelengths impact plant growth, based on peer-reviewed research. Blue Light and Photosynthesis Blue light is radiation with wavelengths between 450 – 495 nm. It strongly impacts photosynthesis and vegetative growth [1]. This is because the wavelengths of the blue correspond to the wavelengths that photosynthetic pigments absorb the most. Chlorophylls and carotenoids, two key groups of photosynthetic pigments, absorb blue light and convert it into chemical energy (sugar) that can be used for plant growth [2]. Even though blue wavelengths are highly absorbed by chlorophylls and carotenoids, they are slightly less effective than red light for driving photosynthesis [3]. This can be explained by the absorption and action spectrums of photosynthesis (see Figure 1). The absorption spectrum (dotted line) shows which wavelengths are absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments. On the other hand, the action spectrum (solid line) shows the photosynthesis rate for each wavelength. action and absorption spectrum blue light Figure 1: The absorption spectrum of chlorophylls and beta carotene correlates with photosynthetic output. Red light is slightly more effective than blue light for driving photosynthesis. (Modified from HyperPhysics Biology) The key is to compare the difference between the dotted and solid lines. The gap between the two lines in the 450 – 495 nm range means that plants absorb large amounts of blue light, but not all of it is converted into sugar energy. This leaves us to wonder — where does the rest of the blue light go? Some of it gets absorbed by lower-efficiency pigments (like anthocyanin) that don’t contribute to photosynthesis. This doesn’t mean that plants don’t need blue light — they do. But even better things happen when blue light is paired with red. Photosynthesis happens faster, plants produce more protein, more pigments, and more leaves, and they generally grow bigger [5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Blue Light and Stomatal Conductance Aside from photosynthesis, blue light has other effects on plants. Blue wavelengths increase stomatal conductance. Stomatal conductance is the process of gasses (like CO2) entering and exiting leaves through the pores in the leaf’s surface. Blue light impacts stomatal conductance by increasing the number, density, and size of stomata [10]. If the effects on photosynthesis didn’t convince you that blue wavelengths are important, this next part might. Gas exchange through the pores is critical for both photosynthesis and leaf cooling. Thus, providing plants with enough blue light is necessary for them to be able to control their temperature. Relationship to Stem Stretching Tall, leggy plants are undesirable because the plant can easily fall over. Plants often look nicer when they have short stems and compact leaves. Stretching happens when a plant doesn’t get enough light and so it grows taller to capture more. Blue wavelengths are a key way that a plant senses how much light it’s getting. Providing a plant with more blue light helps ensure that the stems stay short. Along similar lines, blue light can also decrease petiole length [3]. Petioles are the small stems connecting the leaves to the stem. For this reason, plants that are given more blue light tend to have more compact leaves [6, 14]. Blue Light and Seedling Growth Blue light also has an effect on seedling growth: it increases the seedling size and antioxidant concentration [15, 16]. Antioxidants protect plants from UV rays and harmful reactive compounds that can cause major problems for photosynthesis and flowering. Thus, increasing antioxidants in plants may be one way to offset the stresses that come along with intense photosynthesis rates. In addition, blue wavelengths increase the sprouting rate, fresh weight, and protein content compared to other colors of light [15]. Effect on Flowering Blue light impacts flowering in two main ways: timing of flowering and flower weight. Through the action of cryptochrome (a light receptor in plants), blue wavelengths can sometimes regulate flowering time. How blue light impacts flowering depends on light intensity and whether the plant is a “long-day” or “short-day” plant. Generally, blue wavelengths cause flowering to happen earlier in long-day plants and later in short-day plants. For example, mustard is a long-day plant, and exposing it to blue light causes flowering to happen 20 days earlier than it normally would [17]. In other species, blue wavelengths have no effect on flowering [18]. For some flowers, pea plants, and violets, blue light doesn’t change flowering time at all [18]! Impact on Cannabinoids Production Last, but not least, some recent research shows that blue light may affect cannabinoid production in cannabis. One study looked at the effect of light quality on the yield of THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis cultivation. Plants grown using LEDs (which had 6 – 16% more blue wavelengths than HPS lamps) had about 38% more THC compared to those grown under HPS lamps [12]. Cannabis plants grown under LED lights also had higher concentrations of CBD, THCV, CBG, and cannabinoids [12]. The authors suggested that UV-A and blue wavelengths might cause the plant to produce more CBG (a precursor of THC and other cannabinoids). The mechanisms underlying the effect of blue wavelengths on the cannabinoid pathways will also require further research. References Singh et al 2015. LEDs for Energy Efficient Greenhouse Lighting. Croce, Van Grondelle, Van Amerongen, and Van Stokkum. 2018. Light Harvesting in Photosynthesis. Cope, Snowden, and Bugbee. 2014. “Photobiological Interactions of Blue Light and Photosynthetic Photon Flux: Effects of Monochromatic and Broad-Spectrum Light Sources.” Photochemistry and Photobiology 90 (3): 574–84. Lu et al 2017. Uncovering LED Light Effects on Plant Growth: New Angles and Perspectives. Sabzalian et al. 2014. “High Performance of Vegetables, Flowers, and Medicinal Plants in a Red-Blue LED Incubator for Indoor Plant Production.” Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34 (4): 879–86. Chandra, S. et al. 2013. “Effects of Different Light Quality on Growth, Chlorophyll Concentration and Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Precursors of Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage (Brassica Campestris L.).” Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 35 (9): 2721–26. Hernández and Kubota. 2016. “Physiological Responses of Cucumber Seedlings under Different Blue and Red Photon Flux Ratios Using LEDs.” Environmental and Experimental Botany 121: 66–74. Naznin et al 2016. “Using Different Ratios of Red and Blue LEDs to Improve the Growth of Strawberry Plants.” Proc. of the VIII Int. Symp. on Light in Horticulture 8: 125–30. Ouzounis, T. et al. 2016. “Blue and Red LED Lighting Effects on Plant Biomass, Stomatal Conductance, and Metabolite Content in Nine Tomato Genotypes.” Proc. of the VIII Int. Symp. on Light in Horticulture 8. Kim et al 2004. “Effects of LEDs on Net Photosynthetic Rate, Growth and Leaf Stomata of Chrysanthemum Plantlets in Vitro.” Sci. Hort. 101 (1–2): 143–51. Zheng and Van Labeke. 2017. “Long-Term Effects of Red- and Blue-Light Emitting Diodes on Leaf Anatomy and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Three Ornamental Pot Plants.” Frontiers in Plant Science 8: 1–12. Hsu and Chen. 2018. “The Effect of Light Spectrum on the Morphology and Cannabinoid Content of Cannabis Sativa L.” Med. Can. and Can. (1): 19–27. Olschowski et al. 2016. “Effects of Red, Blue, and White LED Irradiation on Root and Shoot Development of Calibrachoa Cuttings in Comparison to HPS Lamps.” Proc. of the VIII Int. Sym. on Light in Horticulture. Massa et al 2008. “Plant Productivity in Response to LED Lighting.” HortScience 43 (7): 1951–56. Livadariu et al. 2018. “Studies Regarding Treatments of LEDs on Sprouting Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.).” Romanian Biotechnological Letters: 1–7. Samuolienė et al. 2011. “The Impact of LED Illumination on Antioxidant Properties of Sprouted Seeds.” Open Life Sciences 6 (1): 68–74. Eskins, K. 1992. “Light-Quality Effects on Arabidopsis Development. Red, Blue and Far-Red Regulation of Flowering and Morphology.” Phys. Plant. 86 (3): 439–44. Runkle et al 2001. “Specific Functions of Red, Far Red, and Blue Light in Flowering and Stem Extension of Long-Day Plants.” J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126 (3): 275–82.

Green light is radiation with wavelengths between 520 and 560 nm and it affects photosynthesis, plant height, and flowering. Plants reflect green light and this is why they appear green to our eyes. As a result, some growers think that plants don’t use green wavelengths, but they actually do! In fact, only around 5 – 10% of green light is reflected from leaves and the rest (90 – 95 %) is absorbed or transmitted to lower leaves [1]. Green wavelengths get used in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll pigments absorb small amounts of green wavelengths. Light that doesn’t get absorbed is transmitted to leaves that are shaded out from direct light. This means that leaves at the bottom of the canopy get more green light than leaves at the top. A high proportion of green wavelengths compared to other colors tells lower leaves that they are being shaded out, so they are able to react accordingly. Lower leaves may react by opening or closing their stomata or growing longer stems that help the leaves reach brighter light [1, 2, 3]. When it comes to growing cannabis, many cultivators are interested in the quality of light used for the flowering stage. In many plants, flowering is regulated by two main photoreceptors: cryptochrome and phytochrome. Both photoreceptors primarily respond to blue light but can also respond to green, although to a lesser extent. Green can accelerate the start of flowering in several species (although cannabis has yet to be tested) [1, 4, 5]. However, once flowering has begun, it’s important to provide plants with a “full spectrum” light that has high amounts of blue and red light, and moderate amounts of green, in order for photosynthesis to be optimized. Green light mediates seed germination in some species. Seeds use green wavelengths to decide whether the environment is good for germination. Shade environments are enriched in green relative to red and blue light, so a plant can tell if it is shady or sunny. A seed that senses a shaded environment may stay dormant to avoid poor growing conditions [1]. Some examples of plant species where researchers have documented this response are: ryegrass (a grass that grows in tufts) and Chondrilla (a plant related to dandelion) [1, 6]. Although green wavelengths generally tell plants NOT to germinate, there are some exceptions! Surprisingly, green wavelengths can stimulate seed germination in some species like Aeschynomene, Tephrosia, Solidago, Cyrtopodium, and Atriplex [1, 6, 7]. Of course, light is not the only factor affecting seed germination – it’s a combination of many factors, such as soil moisture, soil type, temperature, photoperiod, and light quality. When combined with red and blue light, green can really enhance plant growth [1, 8]. However, too much green light (more than 50% of the total light) can actually reduce plant growth [8]. Based on the most current research, the ideal ratio of green, red, and blue light is thought to be around 1:2:1 for green:blue:red [9]. When choosing a horticultural light, choose one that has high amounts of blue and red light and moderate amounts of green and other colors of light. Not many studies can be found about the effect of green light on cannabis growth or metabolism. However, if one reads carefully, there are clues and data available even from the very early papers. Mahlberg and Hemphill (1983) used colored filters in their study to alter the sunlight spectrum and study green light among others. They concluded that the green filter, which makes the environment green by cutting other wavelengths out, reduced the THC concentration significantly compared to the daylight control treatment. It has been demonstrated that green color can reduce secondary metabolite activity with other species as well. For example, the addition of green to a light spectrum decreases anthocyanin concentration in lettuce (Zhang and Folta 2012). If green light only reverses the biosynthesis of some secondary metabolites, then why put green light into a growth spectrum at all? Well, there are a couple of good reasons. One is that green penetrates leaf layers effectively. Conversely red and blue light is almost completely absorbed by the first leaf layer. Green travels through the first, second, and even third layers effectively (Figure 2). Lower leaf layers can utilize green light in photosynthesis and therefore produce yields as well. Even though a green light-specific photoreceptor has not yet been found, it is known that green light has effects independent from the cryptochrome but then again, also cryptochrome-dependent ones, just like blue light. It is known that green light in low light intensity conditions can enhance far red stimulating secondary metabolite production in microgreens and then again, counteracts the production of these compounds in high-intensity light conditions (Kim et al. 2004). In many cases, green light promoted physiological changes in plants that are opposite to the actions of blue light. In the study by Kim et al. blue light-induced anthocyanin accumulation was inhibited by green light. In another study it has been found that blue light promotes stomatal opening whereas green light promotes stomatal closure (Frechilla et al. 2000). Blue light inhibits the early stem elongation in the seedling stage whereas green light promotes it (Folta 2004). Also, blue light results in flowering induction, and green light inhibits it (Banerjee et al., 2007). As you can see, green light works very closely with blue light, and therefore not only the amount of these two wavelengths separately is important but also the ratio (Blue: Green) between these two in the designed spectrum. Furthermore, green light has been found to affect the elongation of petioles and upward leaf reorientation with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana both of which are a sign of shade avoidance symptoms (Zhang et al. 2011) and also gene expression in the same plant (Dhingra et al. 2006). As mentioned before, green light produces shade avoidance symptoms which are quite intuitive if you consider the natural conditions where the plants grow. Not all the green light is reflected from the highest canopy leaves in nature but a lot of it (50-90%) has been estimated to penetrate the upper leaves at the plant level ((Terashima et al., 2009; Nishio, 2000). For the plant growing in the understory of the forest green light is a signal for the plant of being in the shade of a bigger plant. Then again, the plants growing under unobstructed sunlight can take advantage of the green photons that can more easily penetrate the upper leaves than the red and blue photons. From the photosynthetic pigments in higher plants, chlorophyll is crucial for plant growth. Dissolved chlorophyll and absorb maximally in the red (λ600–700 nm) and blue (λ400–500 nm) regions of the spectrum and not as easily in the green (λ500–600 nm) regions. Up to 80% of all green light is thought to be transmitted through the chloroplast (Terashima et al., 2009) and this allows more green photons to pass deeper into the leaf mesophyll layer than red and blue photons. When the green light is scattered in the vertical leaf profile its journey is lengthened and therefore photons have a higher chance of hitting and being absorbed by chloroplasts on their passage through the leaf to the lower leaves of the plant. Photons of PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) are captured by chlorophyll causing an excitation of an electron to enter a higher energy state in which the energy is immediately passed on to the neighboring chlorophyll molecule by resonance transfer or released to the electron transport chain (PSII and PSI). Despite the low extinction coefficient of chlorophyll in the green 500–600 nm region it needs to be noted that the absorbance can be significant if the pigment (chlorophyll) concentration in the leaf is high enough. The research available clearly shows that plants use green wavelengths to promote higher biomass and yield (photosynthetic activity), and that it is a crucial signal for long-term developmental and short-term dynamic acclimation (Blue:Green ratio) to the environment. It should not be dismissed but studied more because it brings more opportunities to control plant gene expression and physiology in plant production. REFERENCES Banerjee R., Schleicher E., Meier S. Viana R. M., Pokorny R., Ahmad M., Bittl R., Batschauer. 2007. The signaling state of Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2 contains flavin semiquinone. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 282, 14916–14922. Dhingra, A., Bies, D. H., Lehner, K. R., and Folta, K. M. 2006. Green light adjusts the plastic transcriptome during early photomorphogenic development. Plant Physiol. 142, 1256-1266. Folta, K. M. 2004. Green light stimulates early stem elongation, antagonizing light-mediated growth inhibition. Plant Physiol. 135, 1407-1416. Frechilla, S., Talbott, L. D., Bogomolmi, R. A., and Zeiger, E. 2000. Reversal of blue light -stimulated stomatal opening by green light. Plant Cell Physiol. 41, 171-176. Kim, H.H., Goins, G. D., Wheeler, R. M., and Sager, J. C. 2004.Green-light supplementation for enhanced lettuce growth under red- and blue-light emitting diodes. HortScience 39, 1617-1622. Nishio, J.N. 2000. Why are higher plants green? Evolution of the higher plant photosynthetic pigment complement. Plant Cell and Environment 23, 539–548. Terashima I., Fujita T., Inoue T., Chow W.S., Oguchi R. 2009. Green light drives leaf photosynthesis more efficiently than red light in strong white light: revisiting the enigmatic question of why leaves are green. Plant & Cell Physiology 50, 684–697. Zhang, T., Maruhnich, S. A., and Folta, K. M. 2011. Green light induces shade avoidance symptoms. Plant Physiol. 157, 1528-156. Wang, Y. & Folta, K. M. Contributions of green light to plant growth and development. Am. J. Bot. 100, 70–78 (2013). Zhang, T. & Folta, K. M. Green light signaling and adaptive response. Plant Signal. Behav. 7, 75–78 (2012). Johkan, M. et al. Blue light-emitting diode light irradiation of seedlings improves seedling quality and growth after transplanting in red leaf lettuce. HortScience 45, 1809–1814 (2010). Kasajima, S., et al. Effect of Light Quality on Developmental Rate of Wheat under Continuous Light at a Constant Temperature. Plant Prod. Sci. 10, 286–291 (2007). Banerjee, R. et al. The signaling state of Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2 contains flavin semiquinone. J. Biol. Chem. 282, 14916–14922 (2007). Goggin, D. E. & Steadman, K. J. Blue and green are frequently seen: responses of seeds to short- and mid-wavelength light. Seed Sci. Res. 22, 27–35 (2012). Mandák, B. & Pyšek, P. The effects of light quality, nitrate concentration and presence of bracteoles on germination of different fruit types in the heterocarpous Atriplex sagittata. J. Ecol. 89, 149–158 (2001). Darko, E. et al. Photosynthesis under artificial light: the shift in primary and secondary metabolism. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 369 (2014). Lu, N. et al. Effects of Supplemental Lighting with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Tomato Yield and Quality of Single-Truss Tomato Plants Grown at High Planting Density. Environ. Control Biol. 50, 63–74 (2012).

Cola receiving excess Far Red (top left) showing vast growth compared to others. What seems to be a much fuller flower formation. Photosynthesis. Rate of which energy in the form of light is caught within a chlorophyll net and processed into chemical energy. Photomorphogenesis. A developmental process in plants in which the incident light determines the growth of the plant. During this process, the pattern of plant growth is controlled by the spectrum of light available to the plant as energy. I don't care how fast you grow, only that you reach your final form. But let the reader observe that each of the 66 books, as well as an almost countless number of ancient books of all races and languages, teach the same mathematical and physiological facts. Man has turned the mighty power he possesses into every object and principle of force in the universe except himself. When man focuses his divine thinking lens upon himself, he will realize that he is the epitome of unlimited Cosmic Energy. Then the "Heavens will roll together as a scroll "and reveal the Real Man as "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." ON EITHER side of the Thalamus, in the head, is a gland, known in physiology as the Pineal, on the posterior, and the Pituitary on the anterior side of the Thalamus. The Pineal is cone-shaped and secretes a yellow or golden fluid. The Pituitary Body, opposite it, is ellipsoid in shape and contains a whitish secretion, like milk. The fluids that are found in both these bodies come from the same source, namely, the Claustrum, which means "barrier" or "cloister," and is referred to as cloister for the very good reason that a precious and holy thing is secreted or secluded there. Saint Claus, or Santa Claus, is another term for this precious fluid, which is indeed a holy gift in the body of each one of us. The precious fluid which flows down from the Claustrum separates, part going into the Pineal gland and part to the Pituitary body, and these, being special laboratories of the head, differentiate the fluid from the Claustrum, and it takes on the colors above-mentioned, and in the Pineal Gland becomes yellow and has electric properties. The Pituitary Body, having the milk-like fluid, has magnetic properties. The claustrum is a thin sheet of isolated gray matter, found just medial to the Island of Reil. Santee says it “is a sheet of peculiar gray substance, and is made up of fusiform (spindle shaped) cell-bodies.” It is from this claustrum that contains yellow substance within its outer grayish exterior, that the wonderful, priceless OIL is formed that flows down into the olivary fasciculus, “descending with the rubrospinal tract through the reticular formation in the pons and medulla to the lateral column of the spinal cord. It terminates in the gray matter of the spinal cord, probably giving off collaterals to corresponding nuclei in the brain stem.” Santee. This is the OIL, the precious gift of which the Bible speaks, “Thou anointest my head with oil.” And not only is there oil manufactured within this special laboratory of the brain, but there is actually an olive tree, which bears actual olives so named in any anatomy. The two olives are two infinitesimal eminences on either side of the medulla, with the Pyramid between. They are one-half inch in length. It is found well developed only in the higher mammals. They are RELAY (Santee) stations between the cerebrum and the cerebellum and between the spinal cord and the cerebellum. This oil is the most sacred substance in the body it is the quintessence of gold the “Gold of Ophir” most truly a rare gift. Globules of oil are found in the vital fluid, the semen, and when the prodigal son has wasted his substance, he finds that it takes a long time to replace the deficiency and make good the looted bank account. the olives, which contain the oil, are the reservoirs the relay stations, of course, which furnish the oil for the lamp, the pineal gland, at the top of which is the flame or eye. When the Kundalini, the serpent fire that lies concealed within the sacral plexus is awakened, burns up the dross within the spinal cord, and reaches the conarium, it sets fire to this oil and thus lights the “perpetual lamp,” which “Gives the light to the whole house. A CHILD brought to its mother a piece of ice and asked: "What is this?" The mother answered, "it is ice." Again the child asked, "What is there in ice?" The mother answered: "There is water in the ice." The child desired to find the water in the ice, and it procured a hammer, pounded the piece of ice into little bits and the warm air soon changed all the ice to water. The child was grievously disappointed, for the ice that the child supposed contained water had disappeared. And the child said, "Where is the ice that contained this water?" And so it came to pass that the mother was compelled, by the child's persistent questions, to say, "ice is all water; there is no such thing as ice; that which we call ice is crystalized or frozen water." The child understood. A student brought to his teacher some water and asked, "What is water ? What does it contain ?" The teacher answered, "Water contains oxygen and hydrogen," and then explained how the two gases might be separated and set free by heat. The student boiled the water until all of the molecules of oxygen and hydrogen had been set free, but he was surprised to find that all of the water had disappeared. Then the student asked of the teacher, "Where is the water that held the gases that have escaped?" Then was the teacher compelled by the student's persistent questions to answer, "Water itself is the product of oxygen and hydrogen. Water does not contain anything other than these gases. In reality, there is no such substances or fluid as water; that which we name water is a rate of motion set in operation by the union of two parts of hydrogen with one part of oxygen and, of course, the phenomenon disappears when the union of the gases is broken." The student understood. A devout scientist presented himself before God and said, "Lord, what are these gases men call oxygen and hydrogen?" The good Lord answered and said, "They are molecules in the blood and body of the universe." Then spoke the scientist, "Lord, wilt thou tell me of the kind of molecules that compose Thy blood and body?" The Lord replied, "These same molecules, gases, or principles, compose my blood and body; for I and the universe are one and the same." Once again the scientist said, "My Lord, may I ask, then, what is spirit and what is matter?" And thus answered the Lord : "As ice and water are one, and the gases and water are one, so is spirit and matter one. The different phases and manifestations cognized by man in the molecules of My body that is, the universe are caused by the Word ; thus, they are My thoughts clothed with form." Now the scientist felt bold, being redeemed from fear, and asked "is my blood, then, identical with Thy blood in composition and Divine Essence?" And the Lord said, "Yea, thou art one with the Father." ^ The scientist now understood and said: "Now mine eyes are opened and I perceive that, when I eat, I partake of Thy body; when I drink, I drink of Thy blood; and when I breathe, I breathe Thy spirit." So-called matter is Pure Intelligence and nothing else because there is not anything else. Pure intelligence cannot progress or become better. There is nothing but Intelligence. Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience must mean Intelligence; therefore these terms are all included in the word. Let us adopt a short word that will express all that the above-written words are intended to express, namely, the word IT. "I" stand for all the eternal I. "T" stands for operation, manifestation, vibration, action, or motion. The "I" in motion is "T," or Crossification, viz., the T-cross. We say, "IT" rains! "IT is cold!" "IT is all right!" What do we mean by "It?" Who knows? Some say, "The weather!" Others, "Natural phenomena !" Very well, then what do we mean by "the weather," or "natural phenomena?" Why, just It, of course! IT does not progress; it does not need to. IT forever manifests, operates, differentiates, and presents different aspects or viewpoints of ITSELF. But these different phases are neither good, better nor best, neither bad nor worse simply different shades and colorings of the One and Only Intelligence. Every so-called thing, whether it be an animal, vegetable or mineral, molecule or atom, ion or electron, is the result of the One Intelligence expressing itself in different rates of motion. Then what is Spirit? Spirit means breath or life. Spirit, that which is breathed into man, must be intelligent, or man would not be intelligent. Non-intelligent substance, which is, of course, unthinkable, would not breathe into anything, nor make it intelligent if it did. Therefore, we see that Spirit, Intelligence and Matter are one and the same Esse in different rates of motion. So-called molecules, atoms, and electrons know what to do. They know where and how to cohere, unite and operate to form a leaf or a flower. They know how to separate and disintegrate that same leaf or flower. These particles of omnipresent life build planets, suns, and systems; they hurl the comet on its way across measureless deserts of star dust and emboss its burning path. From the materialistic and individual concept of life and its operations, it is pitiable and pathetic to view the wrecks along the shores of science. It is only when we view these apparently sad failures from the firm foothold of the unity of being and the operation of wisdom that we clearly see in these frictions and warring elements and temporary defeats and victories the chemical operation of Eternal Spirit operating with its own substance its very self. It is only through the fires of transmutation that we are enabled to see that all life is one Eternal Life and therefore cannot be taken, injured, or destroyed. The fitful, varying, changing beliefs of men in the transition stage from the sleep and dreams of materialism to the realization of the Oneness of Spirit show forth in a babel of words and theories, a few of which I shall briefly consider, beginning with the yet popular belief in Evolution: The evolutionary concept has its starting point in the idea (a) that matter so-called is a something separate from mind, intelligence, or Spirit; (b) that this matter had a beginning; (c) that it contains within itself the desire to progress or improve; and, finally, that the race is progressing, becoming wiser, better, etc. Against this assumption, I submit the proposition that the Universe one verse always existed without beginning or ending and is and always has been absolutely perfect in all its varied manifestations and operations. A machine is no stronger than its weakest part. If the self-existing universe is weak or imperfect in any part, it must, of necessity, always have been so. Having all the knowledge there is it is unthinkable that there is any imperfection anywhere. Everything we see, feel, or taste, or in any manner sense, is perfect substance, condensed or manifested from perfect elements, but all differ in their notes, vibrations, or modes or rates of motion. A serpent is as perfect, therefore as good, as a man. Without feet, it outruns a man; without hands, it outclimbs the ape and has been a symbol of wisdom through all the ages. Man is an evil thing to the serpent's consciousness. Neither are evil nor good. They are different expressions or variations of the "Play of the Infinite Will." The brain of the jellyfish is composed of the same elements, of the same substance as the brain of a man, merely of a different combination. Can a man tell what the jellyfish is thinking, or why it moves and manifests its energy thus or so? How, then, is man wiser than the jellyfish because his thoughts are of a different nature and operate to different ends? The dodecahedron: (26 + 20) 46 corners = 46 protons. Element = palladium. Uranium (92) is also associated with the dodecahedron but would be two dodecahedra side-by-side.

Chemical reactions in which, a single substance splits up into two or more simpler substances are called decomposition reactions. These reactions are carried out by energy, supplied by different sources. The required energy can be supplied by heat (thermolysis), electricity (electrolysis), or light (photolysis). Let’s talk about photolysis reactions (not photosynthesis): Photolysis (also called photodissociation and photodecomposition) is a chemical reaction, in which a chemical (an inorganic or an organic) is broken down by photons and is the interaction of one or more photons with one target molecule. The photolysis reaction is not limited to the effects of visible light, but any photon with sufficient energy (higher than the dissociation energy of the targeted bond) can cause the chemical transformation of the said (inorganic or organic) bond(s) of a chemical. Since the energy of a photon is inversely proportional to the wavelength, electromagnetic waves with the energy of visible light or higher, such as ultraviolet light, X-rays, and γ -rays, can also initiate photolysis reactions. Like all other peroxides, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) also consists of a relatively weaker O−O bond, which is susceptible to light or heat. The net equation for the reaction is: 2H2O2⟶2H2O+O2 The step-wise reaction mechanism is suggested as follows (Ref.1): H2O2+hν⟶2HO∙ HO∙+H2O2⟶HO−O∙+H2O HO−O∙+H2O2⟶2HO∙+H2O+O2 Using isotope studies it was confirmed that the O2 formed is cleanly derived from H2O2 (Ref.2). Notes: The rate increases rapidly in the presence of catalysts such as MnO2 and KI (Ref.2). The rate of decomposition is slow at room temperature, but it increases with temperature. It is believed to be due to thermal decomposition of H2O2, which seemingly accelerates the photolysis (Ref.3). References: 1.J. P. Hunt, H. Taube, “The Photochemical Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide. Quantum Yields, Tracer and Fractionation Effects,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1952, 74(23), 5999–6002 (https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01143a052). 2.A. E. Cahill, H. Taube, “The Use of Heavy Oxygen in the Study of Reactions of Hydrogen Peroxide,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1952, 74(9), 2312–2318 (https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01129a042). 3.F. O. Rice, M. L. Kilpatrick, “The Photochemical Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide Solutions,” J. Phys. Chem. 1927, 31(10), 1507–1510 (https://doi.org/10.1021/j150280a004). Interestingly, as early as 1934 Haber and Weiss (Ref. 1) proposed that HO2∙ is formed in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The subsequent reaction of the transient superoxide radical anion with hydrogen peroxide has been determined to also form the hydroxyl radical (Ref. 2). The higher pH version of the last reaction is, therefore, best represented as: O2∙−+H2O2⟶2HO∙+OH−+O2 And as H++OH−=H2O, the net product formation is not altered. However, alkaline H2O2 is well known to be less stable than acidic hydrogen peroxide (Ref.3) even in absence of light exposure, which accelerates its decomposition (which can involve radical pathways) liberating oxygen! References: 1.Haber Fritz and Weiss Joseph, 1934, The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by iron salts. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 147: 332–351 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1934.0221 2.TOSHIHIKO OZAWA, AKIRA HANAKI, Reactions of Superoxide with Water and with Hydrogen Peroxide, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1981, Volume 29, Issue 4, Pages 926-928. https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.29.926 3.https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Effect-of-pH-on-the-decomposition-of-hydrogen-peroxide-H-2-O-2-0-800-mg-l_fig1_234110563, from Yazıcı, Ersin & Deveci, Haci. (2010). Factors Affecting Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1530.0648.

Added 1 tablespoon of baking soda per gallon to watering and we are back to 6.5 24 hours later and holding, Pottasium becomes much harder to uptake with low ph and it was starting to cause yellowing and minor dark spots common from ph potassium deficiency, more understanding I gain of ph and its role to each individual nutrient, I'm going to raise to 7.0. N is the most used mineral in plants, and K is most used in flowers, because of this they both share the big protein highway channels inside the stems, any flow of N then takes "Highway capacity" away from K, I'd much rather have 100 trucks delivering potassium during flower than 60 potassium/40 Nitrogen, simplified rationale but you get the idea. By dropping ph 5.6-5.8 the highways used to transport N&K have real trouble uptaking through the rootzones. Nitrogen & Pottasium are both "Mobile" nutrients, if the plant cannot absorb these nutrients through the rootzone because of ph drop, it can mobilize existing nutrient within the plant and distribute it to new more critical processes elsewhere "new growth" The plant will start to yellow leaves, this is when we hit back the PH to 7 over the course of the week. The plant will look to replenish the chlorophyll that was lost within its leaves and replenish the pigment with whatever pigment would provide the best photon capture for the controlled environment within the grow tent. Factors affecting pigments in plants 1 Genetics 2 Medium PH 3 Temperature 4 Genetics are blueprints/designs held in code 5 The pigment that makes a plant purple is anthocyanin, you must make the plant decide its in its best interest to replace chlorophyll with anthocyanin, I got no purple from these plants' last grow, seems to me you can control the environment the plant will alter the pigmentation to better absorb the high levels of blue/UV in a controlled environment. I thought in previous grows this may have been luck or a genetic fluke. These clones came from a previous grow that did not show any signs of purpling. Unless I got ultra-stoned and took cuttings off another plant which Is a distinct possibility! 6 Anthocyanin production requires energy from the blue/UV wavelength which is harvested by CRY, Phototropin & UVR8 7 Blue light also repairs DNA damage to cells from UV using Photolyases, once I realized this I decided to try 12 hours of UV exposure @ 280nm as opposed to the maximum recommended of 6 hours, previous grows did not cope well with prolonged 6 hours usage, These are fresh bulbs too so they are strong as sheesh, the damage is evident and with the plant under tremendous stress I am in no doubt yield will be affected, I'm not here for yield. 8 Photosynthesis: Rate of energy conversion 9 Photomorphogenesis: Plants show various responses to UV light. UVR8 has been shown to be a UV-B receptor.[11] Plants undergo distinct photomorphogenic changes as a result of UV-B radiation. They have photoreceptors that initiate morphogenetic changes in the plant embryo (hypocotyl, epicotyl, radicle)[12] Exposure to UV- light in plants mediates biochemical pathways, photosynthesis, plant growth and many other processes essential to plant development. The UV-B photoreceptor, UV Resistance Locus8 (UVR8) detects UV-B rays and elicits photomorphogenic responses. These response are important for initiating hypocotyl elongation, leaf expansion, biosynthesis of flavonoids and many other important processes that affect the root-shoot system.[13] Exposure to UV-B rays can be damaging to DNA inside of the plant cells, however, UVR8 induces genes required to acclimate plants to UV-B radiation, these genes are responsible for many biosynthesis pathways that involve protection from UV damage, oxidative stress, and photorepair of DNA damage.[14] 10 95% of uvr8 stress response happens @ peak 280nm this has also been proven to hold a synergistic stress response if coupled with a peak of 380nm. 11 Stress response @ 280nm is 10x that of 290nm. 12 Godfather 34% THC High Times 2022 Cup Winner. 13 Monster-cropped, Super-cropped. 14 Full 12-Hour UV supplemental program. 15 Do not fcuk with UV @ 280nm unless you understand the risks. 16 Do not fcuk with strain unless you enjoy physical/mental paraplegia. 17 It was all the Purpinator! Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a family of powerful antioxidants that fight the effects of aging and oxidative stress. To date, more than 635 different anthocyanins have been identified. (2) What is the color of anthocyanins, and what does this tell us about where we can find them? The definition of anthocyanins is “blue, violet, or red flavonoid pigments found in plants.” In regard to anthocyanin’s structure, anthocyanins are water-soluble, glycoside pigments that can vary in color depending on their specific pH. The exact type of anthocyanin that a fruit or veggie contains is partially what determines how deeply red, purple, violet, blue or even orange it will be. This is one reason why the same food, such as eggplants or onions, can come in many different shades. Here’s the cool thing about most antioxidants: Not only do they benefit you when you eat them, but they also benefit the plants that contain them too. Plants produce phytochemicals like anthocyanin as a protective mechanism; phytochemicals help build plants’ resistance and protect them from being destroyed. For example, anthocyanin can offer a plant protection from being eaten by predators (like bugs, birds or rodents) and from environmental stressors like ultraviolet light, cold temperatures and drought. What do anthocyanins do inside the body once we consume them? We still have a lot to learn to about the exact bioactivity, uptake, absorption and roles of phytonutrients, including anthocyanin. We do know that anthocyanins seem to play a role in fighting free radical damage, which leads to aging and the formation of numerous diseases. (3) Beyond their capacity to fight free radicals/oxidative stress, anthocyanins have many other effects when it comes to protecting cells, tissues and vital organs that we’re still uncovering. For example, research suggests that anthocyanins have positive effects on gut health when they interact with microflora, which can help decrease inflammatory markers associated with many chronic diseases, plus they can support hormonal balance. What are the health benefits of anthocyanins? Some of the conditions that research suggests anthocyanins may help prevent include: Cardiovascular disease and risk factors, such as high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries Cancer Impaired immune function Diabates Neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia Symptoms of poor cognitive function, including poor memory and trouble concentrating Fatigue Poor recovery from exercise/physical activity Vision loss Obesity 1. Protection Against Cardiovascular/Heart Disease Overall, many studies have found that having just one to two(or ideally more) servings of anythocyanin-rich foods per day can protect you from problems from high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. While it’s great to have antioxidant-rich foods every day, even having them several times per week can improve your health. One finding from the Iowa Women’s Health Study, which included more than 34,000 postmenopausal women, found that women who consumed anthocyanin-rich strawberries and blueberries once per week or more experienced significant reductions in risk of death from heart disease/coronary artery disease. (4) Another large body of research from the Nurses’ Health Study I and II, which followed over 46,000 women from and 23,000 men for more than a decade, found evidence that the those with the highest intakes of anthocyanin (especially from blueberries and strawberries) had a significantly decreased risk for developing hypertension, myocardial infarction and/or having a heart attack compared to those with the lowest intake. (5) This was true even after controlling for other factors like exercise level, family history and BMI. Anthocyanin benefits for diabetes and pancreatic disorders have also been unearthed in recent years, and again the efficacy is attributed to the multiple, simultaneous biological effects these pigments cause in the body, including prevention of generation of free radicals, decreased lipid peroxidation, reduced pancreatic swelling, and decreased blood sugar concentrations in urine and blood serum. (6) 2. Improved Immune Function Anthocyanin bioflavonoids may provide protection from DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, plus they have anti-inflammatory effects and help boost production of cytokines that regulate the immune responses. They have also been shown to support hormonal balance by reducing estrogenic activity, help regulate enzyme production that aids nutrient absorption, and strengthen cell membranes by making them less permeable and fragile. (7) 3. Protection Against Cancer Research suggests that anthocyanin can decrease the risk of developing various types of cancer due to its antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. This has been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo research trials in humans and animals. Studies show that anthocyanins have the ability to naturally fight cancer by blocking cell proliferation and inhibiting tumor formation by interfering with the process of carcinogenesis. One way anthocyanins inhibit tumorigenesis by blocking activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. (8) Anthocyanin - Dr. Axe 4. Improved Cognitive Function Studies have found that diets high in antioxidants like anthocyanin lead to a reversal in certain age-related deficits that affect neural and behavioral parameters, including memory and motor functions. Anthocyanins have been credited with protecting memory, coordination and neural function in older populations. One study out of Korea found that administration of isolated anthocyanins from purple sweet potato enhanced cognitive performance and inhibited lipid peroxidation in brain tissues in mice. (9) 5. Enhanced Exercise Performance and Recovery Antioxidants seem to improve physical performance by lowering exhaustion and the negative effects of excessive oxygen and radical accumulation during physical activities. In one double-blinded clinical trial that involved 54 female and male athletes, when one group was given 100 milligrams of anthocyanin pills per day for six weeks, the participants in that group were found to experience a significant improvement in their VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption) compared to the second group that received 100 milligrams of placebo pills daily. (10) Some studies have also found that fruit juices that contain anthocyanins, such as 100 percent tart cherry and blueberry juices, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that wind up positively influencing muscle damage following exercise and the ability to properly recover. (11) There’s even evidence from animal studies that anthocyanins consumed as part of a high-fat diet can help inhibit both body weight and adipose tissue increases. (12) 6. Enhanced Vision and Eye Health Anthocyanin has been shown to help enhance night vision and overall vision by protecting the eyes from free radical damage. One study found that oral intake of anthocyanosides from black currants resulted in significantly improved night vision in adults. Research suggests that the enhancement of rhodopsin regeneration and protection against inflammation are at least two mechanisms by which anthocyanins improve sight and protect the eyes. (13)

As buds progress through to flowering the percentile of the pistil (long yellow hairs) decreases until eventually, all the pistils are brown/orange and no more yellow appears, this is when you can tell a plant is at end of its cycle. A useful way to judge when it's time to start checking trichomes.

—