Future #1 Pheno Hunt w/ Lab Testing

theChimp Our Future #1 pheno hunt begins with four seeds of unknown age and storage history. Because there was no reliable way to predict their viability, the first seed was started separately to determine the viability of this project. On July 5, the test Future #1 (FU-0) seed was planted directly into a starter plug. No specialized germination method was used. The plug was kept consistently moist. Its successful emergence and normal early development served as a practical viability test for the remaining seed stock. Once FU-0 demonstrated viability, three additional Future #1 (FU-1,2,3) seeds were started on July 11. The three seeds were placed on top of a damp paper towel resting on a plate. The towel and seeds were sprayed with water, and the entire plate was enclosed inside a large resealable plastic bag to maintain moisture during germination. The plate remained at an average temperature of 80.6°F. Compared with placing the germination materials directly on the clone tray, the plate distributed the heat more evenly across the seeds and is something I highly recommend. After three days, all three seeds had cracked, as evidenced by the brown discharge visible on the paper towel, and two (FU-1,3) had developed visible taproots. Each germinated seed was then planted into an individual BudTrainer cup filled with FoxFarm Ocean Forest soil. Before planting, the cups were watered until runoff so the soil was evenly hydrated. The three cups were placed in the primary 2×4 grow tent, where they joined the original Future #1 seedling. Together, these four plants now form the complete Future #1 pheno hunt. The original plant holds an approximately one-week developmental lead, which will be considered when comparing early growth rates and vigor. My immediate goal is to identify two or three strong plants from the four-seed population. Early selection will focus on establishment, vigor, structure, branching, internodal spacing, overall health, etc. Clones will be taken from the strongest candidates once they have produced enough healthy vegetative growth. The original plants will eventually be compared through flowering for characteristics including stretch, plant structure, aroma, resin production, flower development, yield, maturity time, and overall quality. We will also be sending flower samples from each plant to an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory for THC and Terpene analysis. The best-performing phenotype will become the leading mother candidate. A mother plant maintained from this selection will provide genetically identical clones for future grows. Once the selected phenotype has demonstrated consistent performance, a clone may later be reversed for feminized pollen and seed production.