hermex
Active Member
Hi all. Thanks for landing here. The topic is somewhat difficult for me to nail down because I am primarily just b***hing about my buddy's setup and practices. Along the way I'll share why I'm frustrated. I posted this in the newbie section because I think that what I am preaching will help some new growers. Rather than just saying, "this is what I do, do it" I'll hope to compare what my buddy has going on to my rationale for the way I am doing things.
About six months ago I got a call from a concerned friend who was having trouble with his garden. His main concern was that his yields were not what he expected. I asked about his climate and equipment and was blown away to hear that he had 4 - 1000w lights and it was his first grow! The veg room was of similar extravagance. As for what he was doing, there was a concoction of chemicals and supplements and procedures and yadda yadda, all of which had been handed down from other growers.
My first indication that something was off was that it took him days upon days to get back to me and the day to see the room was always being pushed off because of work and such: if you have the inclination to grow with 4k of juice then you make it your first priority. Personally, I started with 1 600w light and used it for both veg and flower until I could purchase a small t5. Over 5 years I have gradually pieced together a 2400w setup (4 - 600w in 10x14 room) for flower and a modest veg (6 bulb t5 in 4x5 closet). Nonetheless, I eventually got into the room. Walking into the basement I noticed the trash that could be taken out: boxes, wrappers, and other clutter. Nothing flowed well, everything had some obstruction like a leaning broom, a shelf in disarray, chemicals scattered about other shelves. There was just a general state of confusion.
The flower room was about 10 x 15 ft with walls covered in white plastic. The 4 1000w HPS lights were connected by rigid, non insulated ducting and permanently fixed to the ceiling Next door to the flower room was a veg room with a 2 x 1000w MH setup. I immediately noticed the light leaks between the two rooms. After asking some questions I learned that he had run through one batch of eight plants and did not get what he had expected and had also had some hermie problems. The room was currently empty and ready for the batch that was in a veg room at another location. For my standards, the basement was overall dank, in need of a thorough cleaning, and needing some mechanical attention for each of the rooms.
Let's start with what I found in the veg room at the other location. There was a large tent that housed a 600w cool tube and a 600w XXXL hood. Inside were terribly neglected plants that would surely have been heard to say, "kill me, please" with the lower branches whispering, "I shouldn't be." Later I found out that it was as it looked, like someone had taken shears and pruned the branches as if they were an outside hedge. My recommendation to immediately cut off half of the branches and shear the remaining up to only their tops was dismissed as eliminating too much weight....mind you the request for help was because the yield was low to begin with. What I have learned is that he has no idea how to conceptualize plant growth. These 5 ft plants of which he was so proud were jammed into 3 gallon plastic pots and were so root bound that you couldn't get your finger in the soil past the first knuckle.
These plants had grown into the light and were burned. Some were jammed into the corner and had a 45 degree angle in their stems from lack of rotation. My hand barely produced a shadow at the floor of the tent. All of these plants had been severely neglected and it was showing. Some were trying to flower in a futile attempt to throw seeds and survive. Others were yellowing and their oldest leaves would fall off if you blew on them (no, there was no oscillating fan.)
I have since learned that this person does not want to spend any time with his garden. He does not smoke and does not appreciate the plant. He offered to pay me to work in his garden and I refused because he has not taken any of my advice for larger pots, daily maintenance, or trimming.
It is now time to trim his second harvest. The first turned out as expected for what he did: wispy, leafy, and horrid tasting. Unfortunately his only criteria is weight and the people he deals with are not selective. I am a caregiver and a patient, so I appreciate the difference in quality. Honestly, with his 5 ft plants versus my 2 ft plants, I'm pretty happy with the yield difference. He gets 5-6 ounces that is full of leaf and shake (spin pro and nearly zero hand manicuring). I get 2-3 ounces of premium top buds that have been trimmed of all of their multi blade leaves and had their single blade leaves either removed or substantially trimmed. I have gone nug for nug and joint for joint and the taste, appearance, and medicinal value are noticeably different.
Wow, I sure do feel better and all I've done is complain about the lack of daily care and overall respect for the plant! I will try to write a little more next time. For now I am going to go help trim the second harvest. To his credit there will be 3-4 pounds when all is said and done......I just wouldn't buy it, maybe you would. Even though my recommendations went unheard the first time, I will continue to share my opinions with him. On a side note, I have some G13, white widow, and sour diesel clones that I took from his plants: Maybe when I grow his own genetics my way and he sees the difference he'll get on board. If he were supplying dispensaries he'd have no choice because they'd reject the product. Thanks for reading. Check back for more and urge your representatives to support quality regulations for medicinal marihuana!
About six months ago I got a call from a concerned friend who was having trouble with his garden. His main concern was that his yields were not what he expected. I asked about his climate and equipment and was blown away to hear that he had 4 - 1000w lights and it was his first grow! The veg room was of similar extravagance. As for what he was doing, there was a concoction of chemicals and supplements and procedures and yadda yadda, all of which had been handed down from other growers.
My first indication that something was off was that it took him days upon days to get back to me and the day to see the room was always being pushed off because of work and such: if you have the inclination to grow with 4k of juice then you make it your first priority. Personally, I started with 1 600w light and used it for both veg and flower until I could purchase a small t5. Over 5 years I have gradually pieced together a 2400w setup (4 - 600w in 10x14 room) for flower and a modest veg (6 bulb t5 in 4x5 closet). Nonetheless, I eventually got into the room. Walking into the basement I noticed the trash that could be taken out: boxes, wrappers, and other clutter. Nothing flowed well, everything had some obstruction like a leaning broom, a shelf in disarray, chemicals scattered about other shelves. There was just a general state of confusion.
The flower room was about 10 x 15 ft with walls covered in white plastic. The 4 1000w HPS lights were connected by rigid, non insulated ducting and permanently fixed to the ceiling Next door to the flower room was a veg room with a 2 x 1000w MH setup. I immediately noticed the light leaks between the two rooms. After asking some questions I learned that he had run through one batch of eight plants and did not get what he had expected and had also had some hermie problems. The room was currently empty and ready for the batch that was in a veg room at another location. For my standards, the basement was overall dank, in need of a thorough cleaning, and needing some mechanical attention for each of the rooms.
Let's start with what I found in the veg room at the other location. There was a large tent that housed a 600w cool tube and a 600w XXXL hood. Inside were terribly neglected plants that would surely have been heard to say, "kill me, please" with the lower branches whispering, "I shouldn't be." Later I found out that it was as it looked, like someone had taken shears and pruned the branches as if they were an outside hedge. My recommendation to immediately cut off half of the branches and shear the remaining up to only their tops was dismissed as eliminating too much weight....mind you the request for help was because the yield was low to begin with. What I have learned is that he has no idea how to conceptualize plant growth. These 5 ft plants of which he was so proud were jammed into 3 gallon plastic pots and were so root bound that you couldn't get your finger in the soil past the first knuckle.
These plants had grown into the light and were burned. Some were jammed into the corner and had a 45 degree angle in their stems from lack of rotation. My hand barely produced a shadow at the floor of the tent. All of these plants had been severely neglected and it was showing. Some were trying to flower in a futile attempt to throw seeds and survive. Others were yellowing and their oldest leaves would fall off if you blew on them (no, there was no oscillating fan.)
I have since learned that this person does not want to spend any time with his garden. He does not smoke and does not appreciate the plant. He offered to pay me to work in his garden and I refused because he has not taken any of my advice for larger pots, daily maintenance, or trimming.
It is now time to trim his second harvest. The first turned out as expected for what he did: wispy, leafy, and horrid tasting. Unfortunately his only criteria is weight and the people he deals with are not selective. I am a caregiver and a patient, so I appreciate the difference in quality. Honestly, with his 5 ft plants versus my 2 ft plants, I'm pretty happy with the yield difference. He gets 5-6 ounces that is full of leaf and shake (spin pro and nearly zero hand manicuring). I get 2-3 ounces of premium top buds that have been trimmed of all of their multi blade leaves and had their single blade leaves either removed or substantially trimmed. I have gone nug for nug and joint for joint and the taste, appearance, and medicinal value are noticeably different.
Wow, I sure do feel better and all I've done is complain about the lack of daily care and overall respect for the plant! I will try to write a little more next time. For now I am going to go help trim the second harvest. To his credit there will be 3-4 pounds when all is said and done......I just wouldn't buy it, maybe you would. Even though my recommendations went unheard the first time, I will continue to share my opinions with him. On a side note, I have some G13, white widow, and sour diesel clones that I took from his plants: Maybe when I grow his own genetics my way and he sees the difference he'll get on board. If he were supplying dispensaries he'd have no choice because they'd reject the product. Thanks for reading. Check back for more and urge your representatives to support quality regulations for medicinal marihuana!
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