I've been scouring sites and I'm not finding an answer to why I'm experiencing black ash. I need to admit that I haven't grown a plant in over 30 years but I never experienced this back then.
all of the black ash has come from immature 'test' buds or accidental decapitations that I've dried and tried. we're talking about a container grow outdoors, to answer that question and this plant has been in bloom since November. the plant in question has had nothing but water and lots of that since December and, was just harvested yesterday (and I still don't have an abundance of amber trichs). this was an experimental plant from local seed prior to purchasing quality seeds. There is one surviving clone that has been blooming since December 17 (I'm keeping far better records, now) and shows no signs of slowing down but also gives black ash.
using my faulty memory from decades back, I began with chemical ferts and sprays. I've attempted to flush out or wash off any trace of that as I've switched to tobacco tea to control pests and organics for food. my grow medium for the original plant was potting soil and sand in a black plastic 15 x 12" round pot (which did not drain well - another story) and never transplanted. (I'm shy of that having had poor luck way back when.)
my local water has a pH of 7 +/- and no chlorine. even so, my water system includes a water tank and I decant prior to watering anyway. I've been attempting to keep the soil pH just below that. I finally found lime but this plant never saw any and when pH levels did head down toward 4, at one point, ash brought it back. the clone is in slightly different medium, drains well and has been relatively stable in soil pH. all ferts are pH balanced prior to application.
it's been cool and very dry this winter. the buds dry incredibly quickly which I've tried to slow down by putting trimmed buds into glass jars. the biggest chunk of plant I've hang dried was from the clone and it lasted a week on the stalk before I jarred it in panic of it getting too dry too soon. those will be one week in the curing jar process tomorrow and do not appear to be overly dry, so far.
no sizzle, no fizzle. nose and taste are fine. black ash. Why?
and please, before you begin by saying, 'go to your local nursery or head shop...' I'm not in a country that has those things. they know, for instance, what perlite is but they don't import it. think primitive. think 30 years ago. and thank you in advance for your input.
all of the black ash has come from immature 'test' buds or accidental decapitations that I've dried and tried. we're talking about a container grow outdoors, to answer that question and this plant has been in bloom since November. the plant in question has had nothing but water and lots of that since December and, was just harvested yesterday (and I still don't have an abundance of amber trichs). this was an experimental plant from local seed prior to purchasing quality seeds. There is one surviving clone that has been blooming since December 17 (I'm keeping far better records, now) and shows no signs of slowing down but also gives black ash.
using my faulty memory from decades back, I began with chemical ferts and sprays. I've attempted to flush out or wash off any trace of that as I've switched to tobacco tea to control pests and organics for food. my grow medium for the original plant was potting soil and sand in a black plastic 15 x 12" round pot (which did not drain well - another story) and never transplanted. (I'm shy of that having had poor luck way back when.)
my local water has a pH of 7 +/- and no chlorine. even so, my water system includes a water tank and I decant prior to watering anyway. I've been attempting to keep the soil pH just below that. I finally found lime but this plant never saw any and when pH levels did head down toward 4, at one point, ash brought it back. the clone is in slightly different medium, drains well and has been relatively stable in soil pH. all ferts are pH balanced prior to application.
it's been cool and very dry this winter. the buds dry incredibly quickly which I've tried to slow down by putting trimmed buds into glass jars. the biggest chunk of plant I've hang dried was from the clone and it lasted a week on the stalk before I jarred it in panic of it getting too dry too soon. those will be one week in the curing jar process tomorrow and do not appear to be overly dry, so far.
no sizzle, no fizzle. nose and taste are fine. black ash. Why?
and please, before you begin by saying, 'go to your local nursery or head shop...' I'm not in a country that has those things. they know, for instance, what perlite is but they don't import it. think primitive. think 30 years ago. and thank you in advance for your input.