Cola Issues - Pictures...Advice??

Hello - Just a beginner - first time grow. 400 HPS right now. I grew this one way too big and it doubled on me during flowering. So fast that it went right into the light and the result was this nasty looking cola. The rest of the plant is fine but what is weird is that the top buds are not rippening like the lower ones. The pistols won't turn white.

Probably not much I can do now but figured I would put it out there. I will be harvesting in about 2 weeks. Hope I did the picture thing right...

I mean the pistols won't turn red...just staying white while the others progress just fine.

That happens. You can always harvest the ripened lower buds and leave the top buds to mature for a while.

Thanks...that makes me feel better. Thanks for the quick reply!

yes your top cola looks weird BUT it also looks bigger and bushier then most so you might get more yeild

also, your plant didn't hit the light in one day... don't be lazy next time. Move the shit up when your plant is growing.

True - i blame by hubby b/c he wanted the light as close as possible. I'll keep my hopes up for a bigger yield! Thanks everyone.

Quick Question - given that this plant is 5 ft tall with one 400 watt hps bulb with reflector hood - how far away should the light be from the top of the plant?

BigBush said:

Quick Question - given that this plant is 5 ft tall with one 400 watt hps bulb with reflector hood - how far away should the light be from the top of the plant?

Click to expand...

Porobably about 12 inches... but the best way to find out is to put your hand under the light and where the light doesn't make your hand too hot, is the distance you should put it from your plant top.

i keep my 400w about a foot to a foot and a half away, like GrowSpecialist said i put my hand at the top of the plant and held it there for a bit, it felt uncomfortable i raised it, if it felt like i could keep it there all day i kept it

Wow, I am having the exact same problem. My plants just kept growing taller and I now am out of space the light is on the ceiling as high as it gets and the plants have grown up into the reflector. I have tied the top down twice so the top is all curly but it is still too tall ant the top is burning. The rest of the plant however is BEAUTIFUL all the branches are covered with big dense buds and look like they are getting ripe, but the top is like yours, still all white hairs. At this point I am about two weeks from harvest on the lower branches. I am not sure what to do about the top.

Take string, Rap it around the middle of the steam and take a hook and keep the string down so the plant is sorta bending and it will naturally grow horizontal.

if you want to lower your lights try putting a fan to blow between the light and the top of the buds....also some plants mature differently than others if your top colas are still growing thats awesome...let em go for as long as they want to plump up....

I am stringing the top of the plant to the side of the light simply because it is easier then trying to raise the lights using a ladder and reaching over a huge plant. For a day or two I tie it to the left and then switch it and tie it to the right, trying to make sure I don't lose even lighting type crap. Don't know if it is right but since I got the cola away from the light (b/c it would not stop growing) the cola started ripening much more. I didn't bend or anything - just tied it back just a little so it wasn't so close to the top of the light. The rest of the plant is loving it b/c now it gets more. And doesn't everyone like to get more!!

sounds like your doing good with it, the most important thing that ive learned about growing in my limited experience has been that you cant know everything you'll need to know your first few times you grow, different strains different materials different grow spaces all make for different situations you have to deal with and you learn while you grow and make changes for next time

Here's my update! Just thought I would post my newbie results. 4 seeds - only one female 400 Watts - MH then HPS for flowering. Veg for about 2 months (little too long) and the plant grew to 5 ft. Flowered for about 2 more months and just got done drying. Total weight was 3 OZ or about 85 grams. For a first time grow I don't think I did too bad. Would have been more if those darn seed were female...

Still have the cola on the plant and a few branches prob with about 1/4 oz of bud (when dry) left on there. Hopefully get another oz out of the cola and little buds. Planning on rejuvenating and trying my hand at some cloning. I really like this bubblicious strain. Easy to grow, likes to grow big, didn't mind the higher temps in my closet and produced some stinky bud. Just went into the jars today for curing.

Anyone know if I will loose more weight during the curing process?

lol, same prob as you, 1 female started with 4 plants, under a 400 watter. my first grow, just bot a 4 foot by 4 foot by 6.5 tent today cant wait. i heard the weight about dry by curing read that on hear in a search dont want mold? right

definitely don't want mold - I am watching them closely in the curing jars. This was such a fun and spiritual experience. Thanks to all the ganja folks for helping!