Hello growers!
Wish you all a very happy new year!
Our first interview in 2023 is with Guru Roberts who enjoys growing and teaching everything about it. We hope you love reading this quick interview just as much as we did.
1. Question: Hello Roberts! We are very excited to conduct this interview today. Your profile tells us a lot about your skills. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? What does your name stand for?
Answer: Hello guys! I am very happy to be a part of this interview. And, thank you for your compliments.
I am a medical cultivator in the United States. I am very active on YouTube since my channel focuses on helping people grow some amazing strains. I cover a lot of stuff there, including the strains I have grown and some tips. I also do educational and strain videos for AMS part-time.
My name stands for Roberts, since my name is Robert, and I go by MR. Sour on YouTube.
2. Question: Why did you start cultivating cannabis?
Answer: I started cultivating cannabis to treat my medical issues and reduce the dependency on addictive opiates I was using. It has helped me tremendously to overcome my issues.
3. Question: How has cannabis helped you?
Answer: Cannabis has helped me in many ways. Not only for the medication, but I have expanded my network of associates, and friends worldwide. As I mentioned already, I started cultivating cannabis with a specific goal, and I have come a long way since then. I have developed a deeper understanding of the herb, thanks to all my research.
Since I believe that cannabis has a lot of potential to help many people worldwide, I’m planning to pursue my interests a lot more in this field. My recent goal is to legally replace my job income through influencing, and employment with companies in the industry.
4. Question: Do you remember how and why you started using Growdiaries?
Answer: Back when I was beginning to grow cannabis, I needed something to keep records and help me learn. I was learning to grow under a tight budget, along with improper equipment. I was seeking knowledge and a community. I believe that recording what you do is an important part of learning something, and that’s when I stumbled upon Growdiaries.
5. Question: What do you love about Growdiaries?
Answer: I’m so glad that I’m a part of this wonderful community. As a man who has started an educational channel, you can understand that I feel very much at home here. I have to mention again that I love the community as everyone helps others to learn here.
And, of course, I love the contests too. I mean, who wouldn’t? Not only do you get to share what you’ve experimented with, but you also get to learn from others and win cool prizes for it!
6. Question: Do you train your cannabis plants? If yes, can you describe one technique that’s easy for even beginners?
Answer: Yes I train my cannabis plants. I think it’s the best way to get good yields. For beginners, I’d suggest that they start with LST as it’s very easy to learn and get used to.
I also train autoflowers and suggest that even beginners try. Yes, autoflowers have little time compared to photoperiods, so newbies may be a little hesitant, but it’s not difficult to train them at all.
In fact, I start by training them very aggressively. The plants adjust to the training very well in my opinion. First, I LST them in such a way that they grow horizontally. This is the way I prepare them before flowering so that the final stretch occurs without any issues.
Most people avoid training during flowering but I LST the branches outwards to encourage the plant to open outwards like a bush. This way, all parts of the plant get equal light in flowering and I get maximum yields. I also make sure that the plant has several colas to absorb all that light.
For photoperiods, I start by Topping the tip after it has grown a bit. Usually, I wait until the plant has at least three nodes. This may sound very early for some, but I believe it’s the best time to start. Then, I continue with LST as usual until the plant grows a bit.
Later, once I’m satisfied with the growth, I switch the light/dark cycle so the plant can begin flowering. I also continue to LST during the flowering period just like I do with autos so the plant opens up and produces a lot of buds.
7. Question: Are you a DIY person or do you purchase most equipment, including nutrients?
Answer: I am very much a DIY person! I love building things with my hands.
Back when I started, my budget was very tight, so I started building grow rooms. I built two grow rooms which are 3x5x6 ft. It’s pretty easy to make your own grow room if you understand the basics; however, I get that it can be intimidating for people with no experience in building things.
I try to do a lot of things on my own if I can do it. If you’re really tight on budget, you can start checking out the sample packs offered by many companies. This way, you can try those nutrients first before deciding if you want to invest in them. Nutrients can be expensive, so experimenting with them before going all-out is really going to help.
8. Question: Can you describe a few things you do (DIY) that perhaps saves money?
Answer: Things that save me money. Hmm…let’s see. Well, one good thing about growing beautiful strains and sharing them with others is that you get free seeds, haha! And, that's why I love this community — your hard work is appreciated and you’ll have many companies approaching you to showcase your work.
Apart from seeds, you can also get lighting equipment, and nutrients (sometimes). All you need to do is work hard to understand how the plant grows and then get good at it. Just experiment with your plants and you’ll be successful at the end of it.
Most importantly, you must learn to grow well because your buds are far less expensive compared to dispensaries. In my opinion, that’s the biggest win of all. In addition, growing your own stuff helps you understand exactly what goes into your plants, making it very safe for you. After all, many of us use cannabis for medicinal purposes, so it’s important to do everything to get it right.
9. Question: Can you name a few growers who have inspired you here? What do you like the most about their growing style?
Answer: Anybody who puts in the effort to grow their own cannabis is an inspiration to me.
But, talking of inspiration, I really hope I can inspire others through my documentation. I plan to build a huge resource for anyone who wants to grow their own medicine. This is my own way of giving back to the community.
When I started, it was all about keeping track of my strains, things I did from research, and just thinking about what I wanted to do, but now I want to help others do things.
10. Question: Is there any strain you grow in particular? Would you recommend it to beginners?
Answer: I rarely grow particular strains as I love experimenting with everything. I get a lot of testers and new releases from companies, so I grow various strains, depending on what I’m feeling at that moment.
11. Question: What are your favorite strains, and why?
Answer: I don’t have any particular favorite, really. This is because I love most of the strains I have grown. As I said, I grow various strains including sativas and indicas, and just go along with my preference at that point in time. I also like hybrids since they give you a glimpse of both worlds at the same time.
12. Question: Who are your favorite breeders?
Answer: My favorite breeders are Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds, Doctors Choice, PEV Seeds, Weed Seeds Express, Fast buds, and Sweet seeds. There are still many companies to try. There are many good breeders out there. With new ones starting daily as laws lift, I’m sure it will get even better for both breeders and growers.
13. Question: What type of nutrients do you use to grow cannabis?
Answer: I really like Athena, or Gen1:11 Nutrition if looking for an organic mineral feed. I also use Blue Planet nutrition regularly.
14. Question: What was the latest strain you grew?
Answer: The strain I’m growing right now is AMS Supreme auto (harvesting in a few days).
15. Question: What was the latest strain you smoked?
Answer: The last strain I smoked would be auto Creeper from Super Sativa Seed Club.
16. Question: Any tips for our readers to enjoy cannabis more? Perhaps, concentrates, gummies, etc?
Answer: As far as tips go, if it is your first grow, any harvest is a success. Harvest time will make a difference in effects as well. Practice makes perfect. My best advice is to research and research some more. An additional tip is to use sugar trims to infuse or make bubble hash regularly. Be responsible, and enjoy.
