The knowledge-grow

ShotGunBob Hey, first of all i want to thank Original Sensible Seeds for letting me grow their nice genetic. The first week includes the germination process and with her first real leaves i started to count the days. 11 days ago i put the seed between a paper towel and 48 hours later i planted her. She lost her shell within 24 hours. I took a picture every few hours to show you this process. She is doing fine. Soil: Biobizz lightmix Light: Mars Hydro ts1000 The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Photosynthesis 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + Light= 6 O2 + C6H12O6. The Importance of Photosynthesis The processes of all organisms—from bacteria to humans—require energy. To get this energy, many organisms access stored energy by eating food. Carnivores eat other animals and herbivores eat plants. But where does the stored energy in food originate? All of this energy can be traced back to the process of photosynthesis and light energy from the sun. Photosynthesis is essential to all life on earth. It is the only biological process that captures energy from outer space (sunlight) and converts it into chemical energy in the form of G3P ( Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate) which in turn can be made into sugars and other molecular compounds. Plants use these compounds in all of their metabolic processes; plants do not need to consume other organisms for food because they build all the molecules they need. Unlike plants, animals need to consume other organisms to consume the molecules they need for their metabolic processes. The Process of Photosynthesis During photosynthesis, molecules in leaves capture sunlight and energize electrons, which are then stored in the covalent bonds of carbohydrate molecules. That energy within those covalent bonds will be released when they are broken during cell respiration. How long lasting and stable are those covalent bonds? The energy extracted today by the burning of coal and petroleum products represents sunlight energy captured and stored by photosynthesis almost 200 million years ago. Plants, algae, and a group of bacteria called cyanobacteria are the only organisms capable of performing photosynthesis. Because they use light to manufacture their own food, they are called photoautotrophs (“self-feeders using light”). Other organisms, such as animals, fungi, and most other bacteria, are termed heterotrophs (“other feeders”) because they must rely on the sugars produced by photosynthetic organisms for their energy needs. A third very interesting group of bacteria synthesize sugars, not by using sunlight’s energy, but by extracting energy from inorganic chemical compounds; hence, they are referred to as chemoautotrophs. The importance of photosynthesis is not just that it can capture sunlight’s energy. A lizard sunning itself on a cold day can use the sun’s energy to warm up. Photosynthesis is vital because it evolved as a way to store the energy in solar radiation (the “photo-” part) as high-energy electrons in the carbon-carbon bonds of carbohydrate molecules (the “-synthesis” part). Those carbohydrates are the energy source that heterotrophs use to power the synthesis of ATP via respiration. Therefore, photosynthesis powers 99 percent of Earth’s ecosystems. When a top predator, such as a wolf, preys on a deer, the wolf is at the end of an energy path that went from nuclear reactions on the surface of the sun, to light, to photosynthesis, to vegetation, to deer, and finally to wolf. If you want to learn everything about photosynthesis than visit: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/overview-of-photosynthesis/ See you next week.

ShotGunBob Hey🤙 The first thing i noticed this week was a very strong smell. The plant is so small but smells like a big girl. She is doing fine but has a few red spots on her leaves. 24 hours of light might stress her a little. Next week i reduce the light to 20 hours. I have to repod her but had no time. I think in one week we will see her preflower. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Mendelian inheritance Gregor Mendel, the Moravian Augustinian monk who founded the modern science of genetics. Mendelian inheritance is a type of biological inheritance that follows the principles originally proposed by Gregor Mendel in 1865 and 1866, re-discovered in 1900 and popularised by William Bateson.These principles were initially controversial. When Mendel's theories were integrated with the Boveri–Sutton chromosome theory of inheritance by Thomas Hunt Morgan in 1915, they became the core of classical genetics. Ronald Fisher combined these ideas with the theory of natural selection in his 1930 book The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection, putting evolution onto a mathematical footing and forming the basis for population genetics within the modern evolutionary synthesis. Five parts of Mendel's discoveries were an important divergence from the common theories at the time and were the prerequisite for the establishment of his rules. Characters are unitary. That is, they are discrete (purple vs. white, tall vs. dwarf). Genetic characteristics have alternate forms, each inherited from one of two parents. Today, we call these alleles. One allele is dominant over the other. The phenotype reflects the dominant allele. Gametes are created by random segregation. Heterozygotic individuals produce gametes with an equal frequency of the two alleles. Different traits have independent assortment. In modern terms, genes are unlinked. According to customary terminology we refer here to the principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel as Mendelian laws, although today's geneticists also speak of Mendelian rules or Mendelian principles,as there are many exceptions summarized under the collective term Non-Mendelian inheritance. If you are interested in Mendels work follow this link. www.dnaftb.org/1/bio.html See you next week

ShotGunBob Actually i wanted to change the time of light to 20 hours but her leaves are looking better so i decidet not to. I know, i told you this last week but her smell is fucking strong! Her leaves smell like a typical coffee shop. I repoted her in to a 8.5 L container and it looks like the little stress didn't bothered her. No sings of preflower yet. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Music Deepti Sharma, Urvi Gupta, Ancy J Fernandes, Archana Mankad, Hitesh A Solanki Int. J. of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences 5 (1), 282-287, 2015 This study was an attempt to understand the effect of music on plant growth and development. Eight medicinal and ornamental plants were selected for the study. Two sets of selected plants were prepared, one of them was subjected to rhythmic soft-melodious music, and a control set of plants was not exposed to any particular music. Music was played for fixed period for a month. After the treatment various growth and physiological parameters of treated plants were studied against the control plants. From the results, it was observed that plant growth in treated plants was better than control plants with treated plants especially showing increased level of various metabolites. Follow this link to read the full study. https://scholar.google.de/scholar?q=music+and+plants&hl=de&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DiwpmNkZpIsoJ See you next week.

ShotGunBob She is healthy as always and growing fast enough. Yesterday i saw the first little preflower but at this stage i call it still veg not flower. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. What is fertilizer and why do plants need it? In order for a plant to grow and thrive, it needs a number of different chemical elements. The most important are: Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - Available from air and water and therefore in plentiful supply Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (a.k.a. potash) - The three macronutrients and the three elements you find in most packaged fertilizers Sulfur, calcium, and magnesium - Secondary nutrients Boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc - Micronutrients The most important of these (the ones that are needed in the largest quantity by a plant) are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If you have read the articles How Cells Work and How Food Works, you have heard about things like amino acids, cell membranes and ATP. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are important because they are necessary for these basic building blocks. For example: Every amino acid contains nitrogen. Every molecule making up every cell's membrane contains phosphorous (the membrane molecules are called phospholipids), and so does every molecule of ATP (the main energy source of all cells). Potassium makes up 1 percent to 2 percent of the weight of any plant and, as an ion in cells, is essential to metabolism. Without nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the plant simply cannot grow because it cannot make the pieces it needs. It's like a car factory running out of steel or a road crew running out of asphalt. If any of the macronutrients are missing or hard to obtain from the soil, this will limit the growth rate for the plant. In nature, the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium often come from the decay of plants that have died. In the case of nitrogen, the recycling of nitrogen from dead to living plants is often the only source of nitrogen in the soil. To make plants grow faster, what you need to do is supply the elements that the plants need in readily available forms. That is the goal of fertilizer. Most fertilizers supply just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium because the other chemicals are needed in much lower quantities and are generally available in most soils. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium availability is the big limit to growth. The numbers on a bag of fertilizer tell you the percentages of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in the bag. So 12-8-10 fertilizer has 12-percent nitrogen, 8-percent phosphorous and 10-percent potassium. In a 100-pound bag, therefore, 12 pounds is nitrogen, 8 pounds is phosphorous and 10 pounds is potassium. The other 70 pounds is known as ballast and has no value to the plants.

ShotGunBob A few more pistols have grown and I think next week she goes full flower mode. She lost one branch because i LST her a little to much. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Vegetative propagation or cloning from cuttings is the most popular and fastest method to grow Cannabis. People have been cloning plants in one way or another for thousands of years. For example, when you take a cutting from a plant and grow it into a new plant (vegetative propagation), you are cloning the original plant because the new plant has the same genetic makeup as the donor plant. Vegetative propagation works because the end of the cutting forms a mass of non-specialized cells called a callus. With luck, the callus will grow, divide and form various specialized cells (roots, etc.), eventually forming a new plant. Nature­ has been cloning organisms for billions of years. For example, when a strawberry plant sends out a runner (a form of modified stem), a new plant grows where the runner takes root. That new plant is a clone. Similar cloning occurs in grass, potatoes and onions. Another form of plant cloning called tissue culture propagation is done by taking pieces of specialized roots, breaking them up into root cells and growing the cells in a nutrient-rich culture. In culture, the specialized cells become unspecialized (dedifferentiated) into calluses. The calluses can then be stimulated with the appropriate plant hormones to grow into new plants that are identical to the original plant from which the root pieces were taken. This procedure has been widely used by horticulturists to grow prized orchids and other rare flowers. It also happens to be the most difficult and requires a decent amount of experience to get it right. Grafting and budding are horticultural techniques used to join parts from two or more plants so that they appear to grow as a single plant. In grafting, the upper part (scion) of one plant grows on the root system (rootstock) of another plant. In the budding process, a bud is taken from one plant and grown on another.

ShotGunBob Oh man this plant is great, you can defoliate her every week and every time she responds well, no stress no nothing. She looks perfect as always. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Fermentation When vegetation dries, the individual cells which maintained life processes die. But marijuana can still be conditioned by means of fermentation. Fermentation is the process in which microbes and plant enzymes break down complex chemicals into simpler ones, mainly starch and sugars into alcohol and simple acids. In the process chlorophyll is destroyed, giving the material a more ripened appearance. If the fermentation is stopped early, the marijuana has a sweeter taste because of the sugars which the ferment produced. Fermentation occurs when the moisture content of the marijuana is raised above 15 percent and the temperature is above 60 degrees. The more tightly packed the material, the faster the ferment proceeds. The rate of ferment is controlled primarily by varying the moisture content, but each batch proceeds at its own rate because of differences between plants in nitrogen content. (Nitrogen is necessary to maintain fermenting bacteria.The process is delicate; should the ferment proceed too rapidly, the marijuana may be converted to compost. Watch the fermentation closely. After the desired color or flavor (from a dried sample) is reached, dry the grass quickly to stop the process. During fermentation, flavorings can be added to give the marijuana a spicy aroma. Such spices as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, sage, or vanilla are placed between the fermenting materials. Orange, lemon, or lime peels are also used. About half an ounce of spice or four ounces of peel are used for each cubic foot of material to be fermented. The spices are wrapped in cloth sachets. The citrus peels are strung. They can be placed between the layers of marijuana.

ShotGunBob Hey, she is a bushy plant and therefore you have to do defoliation once a week. But don't be scared as i mentioned befor she doesn't responds with stress! She produces many branches. Her smell is stronger than last week. She started to produce "buds". The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Grow lights In 1868, Russian Botanist Andrei Famintsyn successfully grew produce in a way that no other person had ever done before, in thousands of years of human civilization. Famintsyn was the first to use artificial grow lights effectively in agriculture. These days, grow lights are a key factor for both urban farmers and larger companies. If you are considering taking up a new urban farming project, you need to know the basics of grow lights. If you're wondering: What grow lights are best for your project? What are the main grow light options? Why use grow lights? What are grow lights exactly? Grow lights are defined as any artificial lights (typically electrical in source, not sunlight) that can be used exclusively for food production, or in combination with natural light. They can be classified by type: - incandescent - fluorescent - light-emitting diodes (LED) - high intensity discharge lamps (HID) HID lights can be further classified into two popular types: a. high pressure sodium lights b. metal halide lights What makes LED lights different? LED lights, along with fluorescent lights, are a good option for beginners. LED lights are very economical and highly efficient in providing the necessary light spectra for many types of plant growth popular in the urban farming community. Benefits of LED(s): - Compatible with standard electrical sockets - Low cost - Can be placed close to plants in tight spaces, 12+ inches of spacing suggested, without affecting growth negatively. - Durability (according to one study, the average LED light operating 12 hrs per day can last over 10 years) Where to get grow lights? Grow lights can be easily found online with vendors like Amazon. However for beginners, if possible, we suggest finding a local agriculture supply store for beginners, where you can get some personalized advice on building your full urban farming system from scratch.

ShotGunBob Hey, she developed alot buds and i still have to defoliat her so that the flower gets enough light. She is thirsty every two days 4 L . Her smell is hardcore! The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. What are trichomes? When it comes to cannabis, there is quite a bit more than what meets the naked eye. If you fancy the flower, at some point in time you have probably asked yourself about those tiny little crystals that always seems to cover the leaves and buds of your favorite strains. They tend to be shiny, sticky, and always carry the most amazing aromas. Upon looking closer, however, these blankets of frost appear to be large collections of what are known as trichomes. The actual definition of trichome is “fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists.” Originating from the Greek word “Tríchōma,” meaning “growth of hair,” these tiny microscopic mushroom-looking protuberances look like something out of a science fiction novel. But they are actually the very factories that produce the hundreds of known cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that make our favorite cannabis strains potent, unique, and effective.The production of trichomes can be observed in many species of plants throughout nature, taking on various physical forms as well as serving many different purposes. For example, trichomes found on some carnivorous plants aid in helping to catch prey. In cannabis, trichomes function as a defense mechanism. When female cannabis plants begin to produce flowers in the wild, they often become vulnerable to various insects and animals as well as non-living environmental variables such as potentially harmful UV rays. Trichomes serve as a deterrent for animals because their bitter taste and strong aromas render cannabis flowers unpalatable. At the same time, they also serve a dual function in protecting their plants from damaging winds and even some varieties of fungal growth.Trichomes exist in many shapes and sizes, but there are three that appear most often on cannabis plants. Bulbous trichomes are the smallest of the bunch, and they appear on the surface of the entire plant. Bulbous trichomes are as small as 10-15 micrometers, which is tiny enough to only be comprised of a handful of cells. Capitate sessile trichomes are slightly larger and contain both a head and a stalk. These trichomes are quite a bit more abundant than their bulbous brethren, but cannot hold a candle to the bountifulness and size of the third trichome variety. Capitate-stalked trichomes range from anywhere between 50-100 micrometers wide, meaning they’re much larger and can actually be seen by the naked eye. Their structure consists of a stalk comprised of epidermal and hypodermic cells that build up to a basal cell which attaches to a large gland head. This gland head, held together by a waxy cuticle layer, serves as the epicenter for cannabinoid and terpenoid synthesis.All three types of trichomes produce cannabinoids, though it is the capitate-stalked trichomes that will appear in abundance in and around the calyxes of budding flowers, producing the highest concentration of essential oils due to their size. Cannabinoid synthesis within the trichome begins as cannabis plants move into their bloom phase. As they begin to produce flowers, trichomes form along the outer surface of the above-ground plant vegetation and begin to transport vacuoles and plastids from their stalk into the gland head. At this point, cells within the gland head will begin to metabolize and form precursors for what will eventually become cannabinoids. The rate and concentration at which a cannabis plant produces trichomes will be contingent on both genetics well as some environmental factors. Though plants containing higher concentrations of trichomes don’t always produce the highest concentration of cannabinoids and/or terpenes, variables such as UV light greatly affect cannabinoid and terpene synthesis within the trichome head. Typically, plants that receive a broader spectrum of light will produce higher concentrations of cannabinoids, though in many cases these reactions will be strain-specific.A trichome’s lifecycle largely parallels that of the cannabis plant on which it resides, making it incredibly valuable for farmers to monitor. The life of a trichome can be analogous to a parabola, where the apex represents the point at which maturation exceeds and degradation begins. For the most part, trichomes will display maturation on this parabola by changing opacity from a clear translucent state to a cloudy white and, later on, amber hue. This transition of color within a trichome head represents its peak ripeness and farmers typically use this as a sign to harvest, as it’s the point when the trichome has reached full maturation and will begin to degrade from this point forward. It is important to understand that not all strains of cannabis are the same and some trichomes will display maturation differently. Nevertheless, trichome coloration remains the standard for determining a harvest time for most strains.

ShotGunBob She is building alot dense buds who smell delicious. She is a thirsty and hungry plant so make sure you give her everything she ask for. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. CO2 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that fills our atmosphere, and it’s essential for plants to complete the process of photosynthesis wherein plants convert CO2 into energy. High levels of CO2 in a cannabis garden can result in stronger plants with increased yields – if introduced correctly. So how do you control and add CO2 to your cannabis grow room for the best possible end product? Plants extract CO2 from the atmosphere via the plant’s stomates, which are the pores that plants “breathe” through. Photosynthesis begins as the plant uses CO2 in combination with light bulbs or light from the sun to produce both sugar and oxygen. The sugar is used by the plant to grow while the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. Increasing CO2 levels in your cannabis garden will allow your plants to create more energy – if you provide adequate lighting as well. Again, light is the second requirement to create energy for your plants, meaning you must match your CO2 levels with your lighting. However, before we dive into how this is done, there are a number of other considerations to make before investing in a CO2 system. The benefits of introducing CO2 into a grow space are well known and widely accepted. However, if you’re a novice grower and/or under a tight budget, there might be a number of ways for you to initially increase your yields before investing in a costly CO2 system. Make sure you first know how to: Grow a healthy garden with a quality product. Prevent and/or treat mold and pest infestations. Set up a secure, sealed grow space Use an adequate high-powered light system. Utilize quality strain genetics. Use quality nutrients and growing mediums. If you have a handle on the above points, you should be ready to try increasing your yields using added CO2. There are multiple ways to introduce CO2 to your garden, but most methods do not guarantee controlled ppm (parts per million, used to measure CO2 levels in atmosphere). For this reason, it’s important to invest in a quality CO2 setup. If the systems below are too costly or demanding for your space, you may consider holding off on CO2 supplemented grows until you’re ready to make the jump. CO2 Generators CO2 generators, which look something like patio heaters, produce carbon dioxide by burning propane or natural gases. They can be set up to automatically power on or off when CO2 levels reach a specific ppm. Natural gas or liquid propane are very easy to acquire, but the burning of these gases produces heat which can be difficult to regulate in small grow spaces. Because of this, CO2 generators are better suited for large grow spaces with equipment for climate control. Compressed CO2 Compressed CO2 tanks can be acquired at hydroponic stores, compressed gas facilities, or even home brewing stores. In this case, the CO2 is produced by the manufacturers and is collected and compressed into tanks that can be then made available for purchase. This allows you to introduce controlled quantities of CO2 into your garden via emitters without having to own a CO2 generator. The benefit of this setup is that without a CO2 generator, you’re no longer producing heat when releasing CO2 into your garden. For this reason, compressed CO2 is ideal for smaller grow spaces. CO2 levels in our atmosphere are around 400 ppm. Interestingly, studies show CO2 levels can continually increase plant growth as ppm reach upwards of 10,000. Note that once CO2 is above 3,000 ppm it starts to become dangerous for humans to breathe, and at 5,000 ppm it is considered lethal. Most gardeners have found that when you are producing high-quality light in your garden, a CO2 level of 1,200 to 2,000 ppm will increase the growth of your plant significantly. Additionally, when using CO2 your plants can handle a higher average temperature – around 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Be aware that if your CO2 levels are too high for the amount of light or heat generated in the garden, you will see your plants become damaged from excess CO2. The CO2 emitted should ideally fall from above the garden, as CO2 is heavy and will sink to the ground. Using fans will help keep the CO2 moving around the room and make it available for more plants to absorb. CO2 should only be emitted during the time that the lights are on; plants photosynthesize while it is dark out. Growing cannabis is an ever-changing practice. Taking on a challenge such as introducing CO2 could evolve your garden, taking it to the next level. Have you spent any time with CO2 in your garden? Take the opportunity to share your experiences in the comments section below.

ShotGunBob I had to change nutrients because I couldn't get hesi. I always wanted to try advanced nutrients so I decided to buy grow, micro, bloom. The ABGOG is doing pretty well and has a super sweet but typical auto flower smell. Her buds are dense but down below are a few fluffy ones. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. The oldest Cannabis Strains Now that you understand what landrace cannabis is, we can begin to examine some of these ancient strains further. It’s very interesting that just a handful of strains would go on to become the foundation for the thousands of varieties out there today. Landrace strains are the foundation of all modern strains out there. Let's explore the origins of these ancient varieties and the unique features of each. A landrace can be defined as a wild growing cannabis variety that evolved in the isolation of a specific geographic region. Over the ages, those isolated strains began to take on their own distinct characteristics best suited for survival in the particular region in which they evolved. Those strains are oftentimes named after their native region and hints to these varieties are sometimes found in the names of their crossbred progeny. During the 1970s and 80s, cannabis aficionados traveled the world and began collecting landrace strains to cultivate them in their own local gardens. These strains are called heirlooms and were then propagated in other environments like California and Europe. Arjan Roskam, the founder of Greenhouse Seeds in Amsterdam, has caught attention through his Strain Hunters project and the documentaries that accompanied their travels. The Strainhunters travel the world to find and collected largely untouched landrace strains to retrieve original genetic material that can be used to developed new strains with. Landraces are very important for breeding purposes because they are the winners of the natural "survival of the fittest" game. Different climates formed strains with different appearance and cannabinoid composition - although they are members of the same family and there is very little distinction between them from a botanical point of view. THE ORIGINS OF CANNABIS SATIVA Cannabis Sativa The cradle of Cannabis sativa landraces is Asia, Anatolia, and Northern Africa. These landraces tend to be much taller (up to 3-4 meters) and lankier than their Indica counterpart, with greater internodal spacing, and long, often airy, flower clusters and a significant stretch during their very long flowering period. The leafs are slender and exhibit deeply jagged serrations. The aroma of Sativa flowers is often described as fruity and floral. Cannabis sativa landraces have adapted to a life near the equator with longer summers and more intense sunlight and are not able to mature properly at even mild Northern or Southern latitudes. Some famous Sativa strains are Thai, Acapulco Gold, Durban Poison, and Panama Red. THE ORIGINS OF CANNABIS INDICA Cannabis Indica Cannabis indica landraces were naturally developing in the mountain regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Indica landraces exhibit a much shorter (only up to 2 meters) and more compact stature and are more resinous than their Sativa cousins. Indicas finish their flowering earlier, showing only little stretch during their flowering period. The leafs of an Indica are broad and exhibit much less deeply jagged serrations. The flower clusters of an Indica plant are tightly packed and very dense. The aroma of Indica buds is often described as musky and earthy. The plants are well adapted to growing in mild Northern latitudes. Two of the most famous pure Indica strains are Hindu Kush and Afghani. CANNABIS RUDERALIS Eastern Europe, the Himalayas and Siberia are the roots of Cannabis ruderalis, the cannabis oddity. Cannabis ruderalis is not only the smallest member of the cannabis family, reaching heights of just 1 meter, but also the least potent when it comes to cannabinoids. Its most exceptional trait is its capability to start flowering without a change in the light levels, which is an adaptation to the harsh climates in extreme Northern and Southern latitudes. In these regions the summer days can be as long as 20 hours, but the season lasts for a very short time. Breeders cleverly harnessed this genetic trait to create the autoflowering strains we know today. With autoflowering plants it is possible to harvest a plant in as little as 60 days from germination, which allows for two or more harvests per season in temperate climates. Now that you understand what landrace cannabis is, we can begin to examine some of these ancient strains further. It’s very interesting that just a handful of strains would go on to become the foundation for the thousands of varieties out there today. AFGHANI It should come as no surprise where Afghani weed comes from, and it is one of the most recognisable landraces around. This strain stays true to its indica origins by inducing a long, yet enjoyable couch-locking high. This feeling will go really well with this bud’s beautiful combination of sweet, spicy, and skunky aromas. Afghani 1 The feminized Afghani and Afghani 1 seeds are definitely worth checking out for those in love with this charming indica. These strains are known for growing to manageable heights and churning out large yields, despite their compact structure. Dense and heavy buds will make you an Afghani advocate for life. Thai Contrary to the previous strain, Thai is a pure sativa. This means that it’ll give you an energetic, cerebral high that's perfect for any wake and bake. Additionally, the effects are often uplifting and creative; if you’re struggling with an artistic block of sorts, a bowl of Thai will surely take you out of it. Overall, this is the perfect strain for the productive stoner. But don’t smoke it at night unless you’re planning an all-nighter. We have a couple of great strains crafted from these legendary genetics. Thai Fantasy is very easy to grow outdoors, and will withstand harsh conditions due to its hardy and vigorous nature. AK-420 is a resilient, high-yielding specimen that is a great choice for any novice grower. Nepalese Nepalese essentially refers to any strain grown in the region of Nepal. This includes the country itself and nearby surrounding areas. This environment has imbued Nepalese genetics with super earthy genetics with a hint of berry sweetness. These strains are known for featuring the relaxing and uplifting effects of an indica, with the growth profile of a sativa. The amazing Nepal Jam takes Nepalese genetics to a whole new level. This is a 100% sativa strain that’s sure to give you a lot of gorgeous buds, whether indoors or outdoors. But if you’re looking for something with a bit more punch, Vision Cookies is the Nepalese strain for you. This will produce big buds with 20% THC. And these will leave you couch-locked due to the plant’s 70% indica genetics. Hindu Kush This landrace strain, which derives from the mountain range of the same name, is one of the most famous genetics out there. Stretching over 800km between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the harsh climates of the region created robust genetics of worldwide distinction. Just by taking a whiff of Hindu Kush bud, you will quickly understand why this area is known for its unmatched hashish. The aroma mixes a blend of spices and musky undertones with an unmistakable scent of old-school hash. Kush varieties usually induce intense body highs and happy mental stimulation. For medicinal consumers, this is a great strain for soothing insomnia, depression, or stress. The feminized Hindu Kush seeds combine these positive effects with a short flowering time. If you enjoy making hash or concentrates, these are the seeds to sow. But if you’re looking for a hybrid that’s perfect for indoor growth, our Kalini Asia is the way to go. Only growing around a metre tall, this plant will produce a hefty haul of top-quality buds. And with 22% THC, this Hindu Kush and Pure Purple Afghani cross will make you fall in love straight away. ACEH From the hills of Aceh, an Indonesian province, this is a rare, pure sativa landrace strain. It boasts beautifully sweet and tropical aromas that are inherent in its exotic genetics. Its punchy and sweet earthy flavour will help kickstart your high immediately. Aceh is a great strain to help combat mood disorders because of its euphoric, cerebral high. It’ll be hard coming up with sad thoughts after a few puffs of dank Aceh! The average THC levels of this strain might be lower than usual (around 10% THC), but the high is still described as powerful and energetic. Like most landrace strains, Aceh shares a common attribute of resilience. With plants that have adapted to the hot and humid climate of this region, you can successfully harvest a variant of this landrace in less than 10 weeks of flowering! See you next week

ShotGunBob This plant is a beast! Her trichomes changed quickly all milky and therefore I started to flush her. I'm so hyped because this plant is just 11 weeks old and has huge amounts of buds. At first she didn't had alot of trichomes, only the little ones but now she is getting frosty.She is almost done and i definitely grow her again. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Plant Talk Plants communicate and interact with each other, both aboveground and below, in surprisingly subtle and sophisticated ways. It’s every plant’s worst nightmare. In the fall of 2009, in a Victorian greenhouse at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, Zdenka Babikova sprinkled vegetation-devouring aphids on eight broad bean plants and sealed each plant’s leaves and stems inside a clear plastic bag. This was no act of malice, though; it was all in the name of science. Babikova, a PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, knew that aphid-infested bean plants release odorous chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air to warn their neighbors, which respond by emitting different VOCs that repel aphids and attract aphid-hunting wasps. What she didn’t know was whether the plants were also sounding the alarm beneath the soil surface. Five weeks earlier, Babikova filled eight 30 cm–diameter pots with soil containing Glomus intraradices, a mycorrhizal fungus that connects the roots of plants with its hyphae, the branching filaments that make up the fungal mycelium. Like a subterranean swap meet, these hyphal networks facilitate the trade of nutrients between fungi and plants. In each pot, Babikova planted five broad bean plants: a “donor” plant surrounded by four “receiver” plants. One of the receivers was allowed to form root and mycorrhizal contact with the donor; another formed mycorrhizal contact only, and two more had neither root nor mycorrhizal contact. Once the mycorrhizal networks were well established, Babikova infested the donor plants with aphids and sealed each plant in a separate plastic bag that allowed for the passage of carbon dioxide, water, and water vapor but blocked larger molecules, such as the VOCs used for airborne communication. Four days later, Babikova placed individual aphids or parasitoid wasps in spherical choice chambers to see how they reacted to the VOC bouquets collected from receiver plants. Sure enough, only plants that had mycorrhizal connections to the infested plant were repellent to aphids and attractive to wasps, an indication that the plants were in fact using their fungal symbionts to send warnings. The remarkable conclusions from this study, published last May, are the latest shoots in a growing thicket of data revealing the unexpectedly complex ways that plants exchange information with one another. Researchers are unearthing evidence that, far from being unresponsive and uncommunicative organisms, plants engage in regular conversation. In addition to warning neighbors of herbivore attacks, they alert each other to threatening pathogens and impending droughts, and even recognize kin, continually adapting to the information they receive from plants growing around them. Moreover, plants can “talk” in several different ways: via airborne chemicals, soluble compounds exchanged by roots and networks of threadlike fungi, and perhaps even ultrasonic sounds. Plants, it seems, have a social life that scientists are just beginning to understand

ShotGunBob It is hard to check out her trichomes because her trichomes are very small. I noticed a view amber ones but the she still alot white hairs and her buds are still getting bigger. I know i talk alot about her density and big buds but every week they are getting bigger and bigger. Impressive! The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. How to flush cannabis plants Flushing cannabis simply involves running pure water though the soil or medium. When trying to stop a nutrient lockout or when switching nutrients, perform a flush by excessively watering your plants with water that has a pH level between 5.5-6.5 (for hydroponics) or 6.0-6.8 (for soil). Fully saturate your pots, and repeat 15 minutes later. The flush should clear any blockage and make room for your new feeding schedule. To be certain a flush was successful, you can use a TDS (total dissolved solids) reader to determine how pure the water runoff is. You want the TDS reading of the water draining out of the pot to be close to the TDS reading of the pure water you are flushing with. This reading will ensure that the nutrients have been washed out of the soil. When looking to perform a flush before harvest, there are more factors to consider. Make sure your plants will be ready for harvest once the flush is complete. Flushing too early or too late will result in a lower-quality product. Different growing mediums require different flushing time frames before harvest: Soil: 2 weeks Rockwool and coco: 1 week Hydroponics: 1 week or less When not to flush cannabis plants The only time flushing is not encouraged is when you are growing in amended organic soil. This is because your soil already holds all the nutrients the plants need to thrive. By flooding the soil, you can wash away and damage the complex ecosystem that you’ve worked so hard to develop in the soil itself. Furthermore, these plants almost always receive pure water during waterings. The nutrient uptake by plants in this environment is natural, diverse, and easy for the plant to process. Once you’ve properly flushed and harvested your garden, it’s important to dry and cure the cannabis correctly. It is through a quality flush and a long cure that your cannabis will be able to fully express itself.

ShotGunBob Hey, right after I took this pictures I harvested her. 13 weeks are over and her trichomes are 75% milky and 25% amber. Her hairs are still mostly white and that is a little confusing to me. She has a really sweet smell. The Knowledge Grow! Every week i'm going to add 1 interesting fact about plants, growing, or scientists that helped us to understand the flora. Decarboxylation cannabis. The process involves applying low heat for an extended period of time to convert cannabis’ non-intoxiating THCA into THC, the cannabinoid known for its psychoactive effects. Without decarboxylation, the effects of DIY edibles may be weak or lackluster, at best. Decarboxylation is easy enough to do at home using tools you likely already have in the kitchen. Beyond the basic oven method, here you’ll also find instructions for decarbing in a mason jar and by sous vide, which are excellent alternatives for those concerned about the pungent scent of cannabis cooking. How to decarb in an oven How to decarb in a mason jar How to decarb by sous vide Oven Baking tray (preferably Pyrex) Aluminium foil or parchment paper Cannabis Directions Set your oven temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and place the oven rack in the middle position. Ovens are hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, placing it in the middle will ensure that you are decarboxylating at the ideal temperature. Cut a piece of aluminium foil to the size of your baking sheet and lightly crumple it, then lay it across the baking sheet. This will minimize the direct contact of the cannabis to the baking sheet, which conducts heat better than aluminium foil and will get hotter than the air in the oven. Lightly break up the cannabis until it is about the size of a grain of rice, too fine of a grind increases the risk of burning. Spread the cannabis across the aluminium foil, then lightly lay another piece of aluminium foil on top. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. The cannabis should look lightly toasted and golden brown. When it is cool enough to handle, carefully put your decarboxylated cannabis into a storage container to use for future cooking. Mason jar Mason jar with lid Baking tray Kitchen towel Cannabis Oven gloves Set your oven between 220 and 240 degrees Fahrenheit and place the oven rack in the middle position. Break up the cannabis until it’s about the size of a grain of rice, put it into the mason jar and lightly screw on the lid. Lightly wet the kitchen towel and lay it over the baking sheet then put the mason jar on the towel. The damp towel will help anchor the jar to the baking sheet and keep it from falling over. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 60 minutes. Every 15 minutes, carefully remove the mason jar from the oven with the oven gloves and give it a shake to disperse the cannabis evenly. After 60 minutes, remove the jar from the oven, and let cool for 30 minutes before storing or using it for cooking. How to decarb by sous vide Immersion circulator Container for immersion circulator (a large pot or plastic tub would work) Vacuum sealer or zip-top freezer bag Cannabis Prepare your water bath by filling your container with hot tap water, then place the immersion circulator inside. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure the right amount of water is in the container. Set the immersion circulator to 203 degrees Fahrenheit. Grind the cannabis finely. Since the temperature will be so precise, there is no need to worry about overheating the cannabis and destroying THC, terpenes, or flavour. You do, however, want to maximize surface area, so a finer grind is the best for this method. In a vacuum sealer or, using the water displacement method* in a zip-top plastic bag, seal the cannabis as flat and as tight as possible to minimize air pockets and maximize surface area. Place the sealed cannabis bag into the water bath for 90 minutes, then carefully remove and let it cool to room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Dry off the bag carefully, open it and place your decarboxylated cannabis into a container for future cooking. See you next week.

ShotGunBob This is a moneymaker, 180 g in 13 weeks is a great outcome. She had a quiet long veg cycle for a automatic but the 4-5 weeks were actually perfectly timed. In the last 2 weeks the buds fattened up and even at the end she still had alot of white hairs. I had problems with her tiny trichomes because you really have to search for spots to have a good look at the trichomes. I learned alot of new things and I hope all the people who visited this diary did as well. Thank you for the love during this grow! Feel free to visit my other diaries💚 stay safe. The knowledge-grow Week 1, Photosynthesis Week 2, Mendelian inheritance Week 3, Music Week 4, Fertiliser Week 5, Cloning Week 6, Fermentation Week 7, Grow lights Week 8, Trichomes Week 9, CO2 Week 10, oldest Cannabis Strains Week 11, Plant talk Week 12, How to flush Cannabis Week 13, Decarboxylation