Strain
Harvest report for MiteJack, I mean, BlackJack by Nirvana. As many of my grows that were in the wrong place at the wrong time, BlackJack was overwhelmed by a pack of ravenous killer spider mites. They had a taste for leaf. This plant did not begin infested and so its a sad end when you get to about week 3 of flower. You can see it was doing its own thing, random update, and then toast. Thats how fast an exploding mite population can be. But I digress, lets overview:
These two started taken as regular clones. Growth was moderate as best as I was exiting winter and realizing how much temperatures were effecting things. I also didn’t have the amendment I have now, and was more inconsistent with soil.
Still, a little bout with deficiency, a little food, they entered flower in just okay shape, but the initial stretch and performance indicated they were fine.
As the mites moved, I got a shipment of ladybugs which certainly slowed the population down. Still, reenforcements were too late, and within a couple days these BlackJacks had it too. Unlike other BlackJacks in the tent, these plants were less infested but more importantly less developed. I see that a plant that is only partway and gets mites has far less potential than a beauty plant that gets mites further in development. My next step is to move the plants outside for a week or two in the Canadian Maritime summer climate to allow predators and harsh weather to go to town. Again, in comparison to previous MiteJacks, the pistils were still white at this point and so I was only going to get so far with the plants tossed in the shade. Yield took a big hit, even for mited plants.
Another factor in the youngness of infection, is the lack of full development of the flavour profile. It tastes and smells in the typical range of BlackJack, but because of wash (see below), and the partial swell, much of the flavour is missing. Normally, the sweetness is much more pronounced especially in aroma.
Potency never gets really effected with mites and so this is still sativa leaning, nicely placed in the head or eye sockets depending how much you blast. You just end up vaping less because of the lack of flavour. BlackJack is sort of in the middle of the road for frost, and I usually see a decrease after a omnipotent miting and then scrubbing.
I’d still recommend BlackJack as this was a specific case. Check out Nirvana, I recommend, and this strain is worth your time. Disappointing experience this time 🤷♂️🏻