Brainwreck 3.0 - Organic

Both plants are in Black Gold Organic soil with fertilizer (to cover the vegetative stage). As a marijuana farmer the one thing I have learned is that seeds are like brother and sister, not clones. They have somewhat similar characteristics - but not exactly. For instance, at 4 weeks of age this young lady stands 16" tall, while the Redankolous is barely 4" - but has this massive full canopy. I let them go an extra week in vegetative, I am going photo-period today. I had not planned to top either plant this time.... I want the quality from Brainwreck 1.0 - back. The quality changed after topping (I suspect). But she might grow out of the tent, in which case I would be forced to top her, we'll see. Anyway I have a second opinion, finally - been smoking it all myself. I went to Austin to visit my son. He quickly used a word exactly the same as mine; clarity. The clarity and purity of organically grown weed is definitely superior to the weight and quantity of the chemical grows. It quickly moved to the top of the best pot he had ever smoked. Nutrients for flowers start next week. In week 3 I did magnesium spray. I did want to point out that this is my first time growing sativa (Redankolous).

This particular 'Brainwreck' sibling is one super aggressive female - just like all the women in my life. After week 4 post I went photo-period with both plants. The brainwreck literally started growing flowers 2 days later. She is also setting up for big bud. What she has done is staggered the nodes on the side stems to create a "Y", (meaning instead of two sprouts side by side, one is high - the other low) this is setting-up for a bud explosion - 1 week later and the two nodes have flower that is connected (from the start). She is also putting adding spikes (seeming for strength), and putting flower in nodes that would not typically have flower. As for the runt redankolous, I am sure she is a little embarrassed. I certainly do not expect her to have flower 1 week later. Whatever is going on under there, will turn out. I am not topping either plant. I have not even cut away the fan leaves, like previous grows. Brainwreck is using them to establish strength, because another flower-bearing stem grows from the elbow of the fan leaf. I do understand and agree that they look over watered, but cycling wet to dry, and watering once a week - has proven results. I think the bright light is making them look more pale than they actually are, and the plants actually kill of the bottom leaves on their own. Thats why I am doing no trimming this time. They will stop feeding the leaves they do not want to waste nutrition on - especially during flowering. Something else I found fascinating, and to my own point, all the leaves on Brainwreck with any yellow, are fan leaves. This plant will be a classic example of how weed grows.

The runt Redankolous finally took off, she is at the standard 21inches that I am familiar with. Cannot wait to see how big the Buds get on Brainwreck.... She staggered her nodes, and put spikes at the bottom of the primary nodes (i'm saying for strength). This actually displays a form of intelligence, in my opinion. This is my third Brainwreck plant from the same batch of seeds. None of the other has shown similar growth pattern. Like putting bud spikes where bud will not grow. However, she sways pretty good when you touch her... so we will see how successful she is in her growth method. I know growth is supposed to be all about the DNA, but in this case I am not so sure.

Still no grow technique, either plant. I have a hard time smoking sativa (I cough my head off) so I typically only grow indica, now I think I understand why. The sativa Redankulous has dumped a ton of resin with 4 weeks to go. The increase in resin must equal the increase in my cough. We will see if organic sativa is the same as regular sativa. The indica Brainwreck is carrying some major bud. She is really top heavy, but holding-up well. Something else I noted, like I said no topping or trimming.... I have heard that people trim and top to expose more flower to the light source. If you notice in this weeks Brainwreck photo the flower on the bottom left node is completely covered by a fan leaf, And that particular flower has been completely cover the entire time. That flower has never been exposed to the light, and is one of the largest on the plant. So I have exposed another myth. The plant distributes nutrients to where she wants them, regardless to light source exposure. The only nutrient that cannot be relocated by the plant is boron. Also, They both have stopped feeding the fan leaves, which I did not trim. Things are about to get gnarly.

These are what organically grown plants, self-defoliated, and not topped look like. Have to remember to get a measurement on the top (monster) bud before harvest. Next photos will be at harvest.

What happened on the way to the forum... never expected Brainwreck 3.0 to climb to 33 inches> This of course was a problem for getting light to Redankolous. So I topped Redan @ day 90. And again @ day 93. First topping the plant, and then 3 nodes. I really want to nail the harvest this time. Brainwreck is going to day 93. I have sampled Redan @ 90 days, well pleased with the quality.... first harvest is dry enough to smoke. The second 3 tops are drying now (from day 93) - I will sample and compare to the other days harvest. I will harvest the full plant for Redan on day 95, which is day 93 for Brainwreck. Obviously I staggered the harvest for Redan because I am trying to get light to the bottom (underdeveloped) flower. This is a known high volume producer, hindered by light issues. If I do not like Redan development on day 95, I will harvest Brainwreck so I can lower the light.... is my first thought. But to get my next crop started I need the tent for drying, so I will harvest everything. (update 8/20/23) The tops harvested on day 3 finally dried - 48 hours. I found no difference between the flower harvested on day 90 and day 93. They both contain very pleasant albeit low levels of THC. This tells me that this plant is not even close to maturity. What this also tells me is that common sense should have told me long ago that I cannot use the same grow times as people using high-powered chemicals, for my organic crop. My new challenge is to discover the grow time for organic crops, indoors. From what I understand the weed being sold in the state stores are 2/3's amber trichomes. They claim to do it for the mellowing affect, but the weed is weak. I plan to harvest based on the amber trichomes, as well. But not leave it so late.

There is nothing to be gained from the Redankolous grow, I will edit out from title. I did get a couple of mature buds out of her,, will the full Sativa affect which I actually despise. So I'm kinda of glad she did not mature. I'm using her to appease myself, whilst I let brainwreck grow. Brainwreck is showing no signs of maturity in week 15. We will keep on keepin on.

The visual differences in growth between weeks 15 and 17 is that the more mature flowers at the top have stopped growing white pistils and turning them brown, while the lower flowers further from the light are still growing white pistils. In other words, she is working on consistency. Surely, the flowers that have stopped showing any signs of outward growth, are being developed within. I did a trim job on the top half only. I trimmed only what she had already dried-up and killed off - nothing green. I took this weeks photo without the benefit of the tent light, as a point of difference. I am surprised at how green she is in the photo, looks a lot more brown to the naked eye, but the photo does not lie. My week 17 trichome inspection did reveal a row of about 5 baby amber trichomes on the cola. But this is not enough to make me harvest. She should turn brown at harvest time, especially since I am growing organic. I believe that is the natural state, all brown harvest. I have seen flower being harvested surrounded by green foliage. I believe that to be down to powerful chemical nutrients. Also, what you have to be careful of is that the trichomes on yellow (dead) leafs are yellow in color. So as the plant turns all brown the trichome distinguishing becomes tricky. As I am only doing every-other-week, postings - I am adding the following update on 9/19/23. On day 120 (and after extensive research) I changed the photo-period to a 10 hour day to speed-up the process. From what I understand some people mistakenly go back to 18/6 so they can start another plant. This will slow a flowering plant down. The results of switching to a 10 hour day were almost instantaneous. 2 days later - she started turning the remaining green, a dark purple. Still a ways to go but at the increased pace I am expecting a harvest in week 19, 20 at the latest. Of all my experiences growing this is the first time I am seeing a color other than white/brown (fibers) or green. Well pleased.

Week 19 and I am still holding out hope for a fully ripe harvest. I am beginning to see more white trichomes, but still plenty of crystal. I would be okay harvesting now. Surely the weed is pretty decent. But now that I am seeing color for the first time, I would like to see some red. The finishing time is tremendous, but if the weed is as good as I think it is - I am going to reveg. If successful I will use a different organic flower food for flowering, first using seaweed for the reveg. And start a second plant, of course. I am on a 10 hour photoperiod now so the 2nd plant is a no-go. I plan to top the second plant, while waiting to see if the reveg takes.

19 weeks is enough. I am ready to move on to other projects. This is my 3rd grow of this seed; the 19 week duration produced flower that embodied the sativa side of the family. The odd thing is you get the mind and body, jointly. I feel the body effect of the sativa, but my mind is too alert for sleep. What the 19 week duration also produced was 1.6 ounces (Dry!) The most weed I have actually ever had at one time. The maturity of the flower means that a little dab will do you. I have 4 small mason jars (blacked-out) and filled. The main cola is 7.6 grams (Dry!). That is a 1/4 ounce in the main cola alone. I cannot address the taste. I am an ex cigarette smoker, lost my taste buds long ago. But the quality actually surprised me. I never did see any amber trichomes, and I'm thinking that is a good thing. This is the first time seeing any actual color (purple). Did not get to the red pistils, however. Good flower I will be smoking for awhile in my single hitter. Got some Big Bambu Hemp for when company comes over.